Epson today announced that it had succeeded in developing a prototype postcard-sized mini-projector using an LED light source. With a footprint of just 13.8 by 10.3 centimeters (just smaller than a sheet of A6 paper) and a slender profile, the 500-gram prototype can fit easily into the palm of your hand. The mini-projector can be viewed at first hand by visitors to the IFA trade show to be held in Berlin, Germany, from September 2 to 7.

Although the company has no immediate plans to market the mini-projector, company representatives believes that the prototype demonstrates just how compact mobile 3LCD projectors could one day become.

In addition to allowing ever more compact design, LED light sources provide several advantages over conventional lamps including immediate projection readiness, a long running time, and swift switch-off. The use of an LED light source in a projector is a first for 3LCD.

The current development is the latest in a long series of technical breakthroughs for Epson projectors. One of the very first companies to enter the projector market, Epson has stayed ahead of its competition by continually providing features and technologies that offer users real benefits. Recent developments include Crystal Clear Fine (C2 Fine) technology that dramatically enhances aperture ratios, definition, and image quality to enable the development of 3LCD projection TVs offering an even more realistic viewing experience.