Date: 19/01/2011

USB pluggable SVGA resolution pico projector solutions

Himax has unveiled the World's First USB 3.0 pico-projector solution enabling displaying from note books and laptops and any portable devices with USB3.0 interface on a pico projector. USB 3.0 pico-projector solution combines SVGA (800x600) high-resolution LCOS microdisplays from Himax Display with a USB 3.0 semiconductor device from (ET12U320A) from Evolution Technology Corporation, a subsidiary of Faraday Technology Corporation. The unit can be powered through devices such as desktops or laptops via their USB ports, without the need for an additional external power supply.

This technology enhances the adoption of pico projector allowing portable device user to watch the display on a bigger projected screen, mainly the videos and any such wide screen presentation materials. Pico projector is finding more adoption due to its ability to project high resolution images even in daylight and also 3D is possible. Himax says by incorporating USB 3.0, Himax's LCOS solution is able to deliver video at a data transfer rate which is 10 times faster than the prevalent USB 2.0 platform, whose data transfer rates was a bottleneck limiting only video resolution up to VGA (640x480) resolution. However, the USB 3.0 interface provides a higher bandwidth which facilitates higher-resolution videos playing in a seamless real time environment while still maintaining compatibility with USB enabled devices currently on the market. Himax Display offers a series of high-resolution LCOS microdisplays now with support up to SVGA resolution and plans to develope products up to Full HD (1920x1080) resolution in the future.

HC Tsai, Vice President of Himax Display, commented, "Himax's world-leading LCOS USB 3.0 picoprojector solution demonstrates a breakthrough in the pico-projector market and brings two major benefits to customers: The first is an unprecedented real-time, seamless and high-quality video streaming projection. The second is the higher portability and enhanced convenience of the picoprojectors through utilizing the ubiquitous USB port and eliminating the need for external power supplies.

"Our LCOS USB 3.0 solutions can be adapted with laptops, desktops, monitors, digital photo frames, digital cameras, handsets and other consumer electronics devices. We believe this solution will become the leading mainstream choice for pico-projectors." Adds HC Tsai.