14 DAY TRIAL // 3M, the US-based multinational corporation, recently developed a technology that is set to revolutionize mobile displays. Scientists from 3M created an ultra-compact and advanced LED-illuminated projection engine, conceived in such manner that it can be integrated into any personal electronic device that we can think of. With incredible small dimensions, being about the size of a wireless earpiece, the 3M mobile projection engine is capable of delivering excellent VGA resolution images.
As digital media becomes more and more accessible via mobile devices, it's clear that users need the comfort of large displays. "3M mobile projection engines achieve the size, efficiency, image quality and affordability needed for consumer adoption of this promising new product category," said Mike Kelly, executive vice president of 3M Display and Graphics Business. "This development continues 3M's long history as a global leader in advanced projection display technology. What is really exciting is that this technology is available now."
When integrated into a host device, a cell phone for example, the new technology can project high-quality images, larger than 40 inches, with no-speckle and a high-fill factor. The projection engine uses a LCOS (advanced liquid crystal on silicon) electronic imager together with 3M optics technology.
The 3M miniature projection concept is surely great, but it will need seriously thinking and research in order to be flawlessly integrated into mobile phones and make mini-projectors out of them. A mobile phone with this kind of projector would first require a more powerful battery, not to mention the fact that the handsets usually pack lots of features in their small cases (camera, speaker, GPS and so on), so an extra feature, although small as the 3M projection engine, would make the handsets a bit bigger.
3M will collaborate with important consumer electronics providers in order to launch the new projection engine in the first quarter of 2008. Until then, the company will present the mobile projection technology at the forthcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, held from 7 to 10 January 2008.