Date: 15/03/2010

Sony develops high efficiency RGB Laser module targeting large projector displays

Display technology expert Sony has developed RGB laser light source module for large screen projectors such as digital cinema projectors. The module has three high power lasers for three primary colors: Red, Green and Blue (RGB). With a combined output power of 21W (equivalent to 5,000 lumens), in a single package measuring 152mm x 114mm x 30.5mm, this is the industry's smallest module in its power range, Sony claims.

This RGB laser module is made using semiconductor diodes for producing red and blue laser lights, and a compact, high power solid-state SHG laser for the green. Sony developed both the red and green lasers internally. The three lasers generate output power of 10W for red, 6W for green, and 5W for blue, resulting in a total of 21W. The energy conversion ratio of the lasers is high in the range of 15 to 22% (18% on average), representing extremely high efficiency for power visible lasers. This module offers extended lifespan of over 10,000 hours.

This module is targeted for 1,000 lumen home theater projectors to 10,000 lumen large screen projectors in multiplex theatres using digital cinema projectors. This is due to the scalability of the module design, which outputs collimated light beams for each of the three colors, enabling multiple modules to be stacked.

Sony lists following advantages of this laser module over traditional xenon lamps based projectors,

Higher brightness (realized by stacking multiple modules)
Extended light source lifespan
Lower power consumption.
Higher contrast, wider color gamut.
Miniaturization of optical components such as prisms

Sony to commence sample shipments of these modules in second half of 2010.