arasor international: introduction, page-20

re: laser televisions As I understand, in their partnership Novalux makes near infrared semiconductor lasers; and ARR makes or converts these lasers to visible. Neither of them make TVs. They will just supply the laser and projection chips.

However, deciding between plasma and LCD TV is hard enough, but by Christmas 2007 there may be another flat panel option to consider. A new type of TV technology powered by lasers promises to deliver more realistic images than current display technologies, be more energy efficient and cost less than LCD and plasma TVs of the same size.

Behind these claims is Arasor, an Australian optoelectronics manufacturer, and Novalux, the Silicon Valley-based makers of the Necsel Laser Colour light engine. The names will be unknown to most, but Mitsubishi and Samsung should ring a bell or two.

These are two of the world’s top eight electronics brands that Arasor and Novalux say have been taking an interest in laser TV technology, with the pair claiming that Samsung will be among several (unnamed) brands to present laser TV prototypes at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show in January 2007. Consumer models, according to Novalux CEO, Mr Jean-Michael Pelaprat, are expected to be available by Christmas 2007 or in early 2008.

Pelaprat expects laser TVs to be available in screens sizes starting at 40 inches (100 cm) and upwards, and will complete directly with plasma TVs. In fact, he predicts that laser TV will make plasma obsolete.

“If you look at any screen today, the colour content is roughly about 30–35 percent of what the eye can see,” he said.

“But for the very first time with a laser TV we’ll be able to see 90 percent of what the eye can see. All of a sudden what you see is a lifelike image on display.”

Combine that with energy efficiency, price advantage and the fact that the laser TVs will be half the weight and depth of plasma TVs, and Mr Pelaprat says “plasma is now something of the past”.

This seems to leave LCD TVs out of the firing line, as they are popular in sizes less than 40 inches. However, the laser light engine may be used in LCD TVs as a replacement for traditional fluorescent and LED backlighting.

While the prototype TV was a rear projection model, which are traditionally much deeper than flat-panel TVs, Novalux CEO Mr Jean-Michael Pelaprat expects consumer TVs using laser technology to be “…about the same depth as current plasma models”.

He said prices for a 65 inch (165 cm) laser TV are expected to be around $2,500, compared to $6,000–7,000 for an equivalent-sized plasma panel.

The optoelectronic chip-laser display technology is also expected to find its way into other types of displays including mobile phones (where it will be used to project images onto any surface) incar heads-up displays, PDAs, home theatre and commercial cinema projectors.

http://www.gadgetguy.com.au/articles/360/laser-tv-home-theatre-large-screen-tvs-and-panels-rear-projection