3D TVs started to arrive in consumer electronic stores in early March to great fanfare, and consumers are intrigued...but are also curious. The big question, of course, is whether these new TVs can transport the 3D excitement from movie theaters to our homes.
Based on excitment generated by the first available HDTV models with 3D video capabilities, the answer is a resounding yes.
Research has shown that users prefer wide screen, high definition, 2D/3D motion pictures with fast refresh [without motion blur] and always in focus images for all forms of video [static, streaming, and broadcast] communications.
3D Content Meets 3D Laser Projector:
3D content is proliferating rapidly. Movies, games and increasingly live sports and concert videos are being filmed in 3D. One unique challenge facing this emerging category is the lack of in-home 3D displays. The 120Hz LCD panels and plasma screens typically require shutter glasses for viewing 3D content, but next generation display technologies employ passive 3D glasses… which are lighter weight, cost less and are more acceptable to the wearer.
Microvision's laser scanning PicoP Display technology platform enables 3D content in the home that is viewed through lightweight passive glasses… all without the purchase of a new, large, expensive flat panel monitor. Recently, in June of 2009, Ben Averch of Microvision made a presentation at the 2009 Projection Summit. His presentation addressed the burgeoning 3D content market and the unique value proposition for a mobile 3D laser projector…using Microvision’s PicoP Display Engine.
In March 2009, Microvision received a patent on laser PicoP based 3D projector. That means the laser PicoP Display Engine of today will have upward growth mobility to High Definition projection [first] and then to 3D projection using passive glasses. That’s an exciting growth road map for the little master of the pico projector domain.
Here’s the information on the patent…
Title: THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE PROJECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract:
An image projection system having an optical projector and a method for projecting an image. The image projection system enables viewing the images in three dimensions and securely viewing the images in a public forum. The image projection system may include a portable, handheld optical projector that is spaced apart from a display screen and that redirects an image signal to the display screen. The image signal is scattered by the display screen and transmitted to a viewer’s eyes through a set of eyewear worn by the viewer. The display screen preserves the polarization state of the image signal. The portable handheld optical projector may be a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a portable computer, or the like that includes one or more sets of light emission systems capable of projecting the image signal. The optical projector may be portable and handheld, or stationary or semi-stationary.
Here’s the link to the patent document…
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/20090079941.html
This is great news for the simple reason...
The next big thing that the display industry is going into is 3D. Look at the number of 3D movies coming out lately… they have dramatically increased. Here’re some quotes from the patent application…
3D Technology:
“In addition to displaying images in two-dimensions, projection display manufacturers have developed systems for displaying images in three-dimensions. One technique for creating three dimensional (“3D”) projection display systems is to create two separate monochromatic images…
Although these systems are inexpensive to implement, the color reproduction of the images is poor and the filters may not completely block the adjacent eye’s image, which causes ghosting. Further, the technique uses large immobile equipment to project the images.”
“Another technique for creating a 3D image is to project separate images having different polarization states…
This technique offers better color reproduction than the red-blue monochromatic technique, however the projection displays are large, stationary, expensive to implement, and, because about half the light is lost, inefficient.”
“Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a three-dimensional display system and a method for displaying three-dimensional images that is; cost efficient to manufacture, makes efficient use of light, and may be either stationary or portable.”
“The portable handheld optical projector may be a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a portable computer, or the like that includes one or more sets of light emission systems capable of projecting the image signal. The optical projector may be portable and handheld, or stationary or semi-stationary.”
Microvision 3D Projector patent states…
“In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an image projection system comprises a light emission system and a scanning device, wherein the light emission system includes a plurality of light sources. For example, the light sources may be two sets of red-green-blue (“RGB”) lasers, where one set of lasers transmits light in a first polarization state and the other set of lasers transmits light in a second polarization state that is different from the first polarization state. Thus, this embodiment comprises two red lasers, two green lasers, and two blue lasers, where the red lasers emit light having different polarization states from each other, the green lasers emit light having different polarization states from each other, and the blue lasers emit light having different polarization states from each other. The light can be linearly polarized or circularly polarized. In the case of a linear polarization state, the light transmitted to one filter may be vertically polarized and the light transmitted to the other filter may be horizontally polarized. In the case of a circular polarization state, the light transmitted to one filter may be right circularly polarized and the light transmitted to the other filter may be left circularly polarized. It should be noted that the light may be coherent light or non-coherent light.
The light from one set of lasers is combined and redirected towards a display screen using a scanning device and the light from the other set of lasers is combined and redirected towards the display screen using the same scanning device as the first set of lasers or a different scanning device. The scanning device spatially modulates the light to vary the color and intensity of each pixel. The scanned beam displays are configured to slightly vary the content between the two two-dimensional images as they are projected into a viewer's eyes. The brain uses this difference in content to create an illusion of depth. More particularly, the light from one set of RGB lasers is in a first polarization state and the light from the other set of RGB lasers is in a second polarization state that is the opposite of the first polarization state. The light from all the lasers may be combined into a single light beam and spatially modulated in unison. Thus, all the light sources are scanned through the same angular extent. The three-dimensional image may be created by temporally delaying the video signal and modulating the intensity of each laser. The scattered light strikes eyewear worn by a viewer, wherein the eyewear includes a filter associated with the viewer's left eye and a filter associated with the viewer's right eye.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, privacy in a public forum may be provided by the image projection system. The eyewear worn by the viewer is configured to decode polarized light. The light can be linearly polarized or circularly polarized. The portable handheld source of electromagnetic radiation projects an image in a first polarization state and an inverse image in a second polarization state that is complementary to the first polarization state. The viewer wearing the eyewear can filter one set of images seeing only the desired content transmitted by the portable handheld source of electromagnetic radiation, whereas others see a “white image” on the display screen. Thus, the viewer can view projected images that are of a personal nature or confidential while others are prevented from viewing or decoding the images. Alternatively, privacy in a public forum can be achieved by using eyewear that is synchronized to the polarization states of the light.”
The display screen is a polarization preserving screen. Thus, the light striking display screen and the light scattered by display screen have the same polarization state. In accordance with one embodiment, display screen comprises a microlens array coated with a layer of aluminum. In accordance with another embodiment, display screen comprises a surface having a silver finish. Suitable screens may be available from Da-Lite Screen Company, Warsaw, Ind., 46581.
Eyewear set comprises of a frame having bow, temples, and filters that transmit images to the left and right eyes. Filters are configured to decode polarized light. The polarized light can be linearly polarized light or circularly polarized light. Filters comprise a quarter-wavelength plate laminated to a polarizer. It should be noted that the type of plates laminated to polarizer are not limitations of the present invention. For example, plates can be waveplates, polarizer filters, combinations of polarizers, combinations of waveplates, polarizing optics, or the like. In addition, the polarization transmission characteristics of filters are not limitations of the present invention. Filters may be configured to decode vertically or horizontally polarized light or right or left circularly polarized light. Techniques for coupling plates to polarizers are known to those skilled in the art.
Here’s what I think…
The PicoP Display Engine will first go with High Definition images and then progress to 3D projection. That looks like the growth path for the next 2 to 3 years with huge revenue growth potential.
Anant Goel
http://www.wealthbyoptions.com/
Showing posts with label Patents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patents. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Microvision: Breakeven Expected at the End of 1st Qtr 2011
For the first time in a long time I’m very confident that Microvision could have the breakeven operation by the end of 1st Qtr of 2011. And that’s much earlier than that projected by Oppenheimer in their recent report update of February 2010.
I have followed this company for nearly 12 years... but did not start investing in it until 2007, because they did not have a plan for building revenue until they brought on Alex Tokman. Microvision had all the symptoms of being an interesting science project with very little else to do with monetizing the technology… but all that changed after the 2006 re-organization when Tokman was appointed as the CEO. Many of you would agree that he is not there to build a science experiment… he is there to build a solid business based on solid technology, wrapped up as tightly in IP as a 200+ patent portfolio would allow.
The reason I mention Oppenheimer report as the point of reference… because, it is perhaps the most comprehensive and in-depth analysis of Microvision’s business and financial model by an institutional analyst. Even though I don’t agree with their projections of Microvision revenues and profit margins, I don’t see any reason to pick a fight over numbers that none of us can be hundred percent sure… one way or the other.
One more thing…
Recently, someone suggested “brevity as a virtue”. So, from now on, unless I’m writing the next chapter to my book, I plan on presenting my findings, research, analysis and conclusions in this very virtuous manner... that is, as briefly as possible.
So, here we go...
There is confluence of evidence that Microvision has launched its laser based PicoP projector SHOWwx in the US market on March 8th, 2010. It is also evident that SHOWwx is being sold in the US; directly from Microvision website...
http://www.microvision.com/displayground/
http://www.microvision.com/pico_projector_displays/index.html
Now, the next question is about profit margins, revenues and the timeline for operational “breakeven”... where the operating profits sustain the operating cost on a monthly basis.
Looking at all the available information─ the annual report, the latest earnings report and the Q&A from the most recent earnings conference call ─ my analysis shows the breakeven Qtr as Q1 of 2011.
Here’s why…
First Qtr of 2011
Total Revenue: $30.95 million
Total Operating Expenses: $11.975 million
Net Income from Continuing Operations: $500,000
Income Tax Expenses: $0
Minority Interest/Other Expenses: $0
Total Non Recurring Events: $0
Net Income Applicable to Common: $500,000
Shares Outstanding: 90.136 million… includes 5 million share worth additional funding in August 2010 and the rest for stock options.
Earnings Per Share: $0.006
I am not going to attempt to persuade you; towards my way of thinking. However, I just feel that this is a very different point in time for Microvision, where a real product has been launched… and that will change the way information and entertainment is displayed in the mobile world. There are other companies that are getting these pico products out there... but, I see their product introduction to the market as the “teaser horses". And as “Sam” from the Yahoo Message Board says…
“... if you know anything about horse breeding; you do not want to come back as a teaser horse. Sure you get into the breeding shed, but even if the mare accepts the jump; poor Picho still loses out as he's fitted with a leather apron to ensure that his efforts, in advance of the waiting stud, remain chaste.”
Is Microvision the "stud" of the stable?
Well, we just have to wait and see when we get our hands on that SHOWwx on order!
When all is said and done, in the end, I see Microvision’s laser PDEs to dominate pico projection technology… and I have seen nothing from any of the other companies that would dissuade me from this view.
Do the delays frustrate the heck out of me?
Yes!
Do I wish I had my own SHOWwx months ago to use in presentations...and gift them to my friends and family?
Yes!
As far as missed deadlines go, the biggest issue was Corning misguided judgment that they would have green lasers in quantity 2 years ago… a major failure in projecting the production timeline. I, for one did not drain my brain worrying about the exact definition of the end of summer launch in 2009. I have seen new product releases before and I am well aware that if there is a situation where Murphy's Law might apply… then the September 2009 launch was one of them.
I’m very encouraged that Corning has finally overcome the G-1000 green laser production issues… and the second generation G-2000 is coming along nicely for production in Q4 of 2010. I am also very encouraged that OSRAM is making good progress and has started shipping small quantities of green laser to Microvision. It will not surprise me at all, if Microvision were to announce the Osram shipping good news any day soon.
If Osram (and Corning) can overcome the last mile quality production hurdles, we will see validation in a cell phone… with product available in the market by early 2011. Frankly, I do not care who is or was first to market. I think we will see some announcements before the end of April/May this year to help support the stock price and perhaps even push up the pps to next level… in the $5 to $6 range.
Some of you may think that my analysis is somewhat pessimistic… while the others may consider it way too optimistic. I can understand your rationale… because to this day, I still battle with my optimism and pessimism on a daily basis.
I would not say that the current stock pps is so great that it represents the exuberance of the year 2000… the Dot.com era. Nor does it represent the enthusiasm of a long waited product validation and launch. The current price, I believe, is based on a combination of facts that are still not very clear and people hedging bets that they will reap a significant reward by investing at lower levels. The volume has been up and I cannot detect any significant profit taking at this point. The MVIS story has substance in product and potential for the long term investors.
Obviously there are several companies that have committed to MVIS in the form of contracts to distribute the SHOWwx. I would find it hard to believe that these companies would make such a commitment without some degree of due diligence in both the supply and demand equation. Without going into details, let me say that I do not think a price of $550 for SHOWwx is too much… although it is a lot.
Profit from the SHOWwx is a short term cash flow gig and has never been the driving factor for the company's long term goal. We all know that the embedded PicoP─ in all things digital─ is the “holy grail”. However, that thinking may be changing considering the fact that SHOWwx does have many may applications and once second generation green laser production is up and the cost goes down the SHOWwx could be very profitable… especially when it is sold directly from the company’s on-line store.
I strongly believe that Microvision could be on its way to breakeven operation… as early as at the end of Q1 of 2011.
Anant Goel
PS: Thanks to "Sam" from YMB for letting me use some of his words and quotes.
http://www.wealthbyoptions.com/
I have followed this company for nearly 12 years... but did not start investing in it until 2007, because they did not have a plan for building revenue until they brought on Alex Tokman. Microvision had all the symptoms of being an interesting science project with very little else to do with monetizing the technology… but all that changed after the 2006 re-organization when Tokman was appointed as the CEO. Many of you would agree that he is not there to build a science experiment… he is there to build a solid business based on solid technology, wrapped up as tightly in IP as a 200+ patent portfolio would allow.
The reason I mention Oppenheimer report as the point of reference… because, it is perhaps the most comprehensive and in-depth analysis of Microvision’s business and financial model by an institutional analyst. Even though I don’t agree with their projections of Microvision revenues and profit margins, I don’t see any reason to pick a fight over numbers that none of us can be hundred percent sure… one way or the other.
One more thing…
Recently, someone suggested “brevity as a virtue”. So, from now on, unless I’m writing the next chapter to my book, I plan on presenting my findings, research, analysis and conclusions in this very virtuous manner... that is, as briefly as possible.
So, here we go...
There is confluence of evidence that Microvision has launched its laser based PicoP projector SHOWwx in the US market on March 8th, 2010. It is also evident that SHOWwx is being sold in the US; directly from Microvision website...
http://www.microvision.com/displayground/
http://www.microvision.com/pico_projector_displays/index.html
Now, the next question is about profit margins, revenues and the timeline for operational “breakeven”... where the operating profits sustain the operating cost on a monthly basis.
Looking at all the available information─ the annual report, the latest earnings report and the Q&A from the most recent earnings conference call ─ my analysis shows the breakeven Qtr as Q1 of 2011.
Here’s why…
First Qtr of 2011
Total Revenue: $30.95 million
- Contract Revenue: $955,000… based on 4th Qtr 2009 and projected at 15% per Qtr growth
- Product Revenue: $30,000,000… based on 60,000 SHOWwx sold in Q1, 2011 at $500 bundled price with VGA doc.
- Cost of Contract Revenue: $487,000
- Cost of Product Revenue: $18,000,000… COG at 60% [40% margins with green laser cost at $90 or less]. Assumes direct & affiliate on-line store sales.
Total Operating Expenses: $11.975 million
- Research & Development: $7.806 million… based on 4th Qtr 2009 and projected at 1% growth.
- Sales, General & Admin: $4.169 million…based on 4th Qtr 2009 and projected at 2% growth.
- Others: $0
Net Income from Continuing Operations: $500,000
- Other Income/Expenses Net: $0
- Earnings before Interest & Taxes: $494,000
- Interest Income: $24,000
- Interest Expenses: $18,000
Income Tax Expenses: $0
Minority Interest/Other Expenses: $0
Total Non Recurring Events: $0
- Discontinued Operations: $0
- Extraordinary Items: $0
- Effect of Accounting Changes: $0
- Other Items: $0
Net Income Applicable to Common: $500,000
Shares Outstanding: 90.136 million… includes 5 million share worth additional funding in August 2010 and the rest for stock options.
Earnings Per Share: $0.006
I am not going to attempt to persuade you; towards my way of thinking. However, I just feel that this is a very different point in time for Microvision, where a real product has been launched… and that will change the way information and entertainment is displayed in the mobile world. There are other companies that are getting these pico products out there... but, I see their product introduction to the market as the “teaser horses". And as “Sam” from the Yahoo Message Board says…
“... if you know anything about horse breeding; you do not want to come back as a teaser horse. Sure you get into the breeding shed, but even if the mare accepts the jump; poor Picho still loses out as he's fitted with a leather apron to ensure that his efforts, in advance of the waiting stud, remain chaste.”
Is Microvision the "stud" of the stable?
Well, we just have to wait and see when we get our hands on that SHOWwx on order!
When all is said and done, in the end, I see Microvision’s laser PDEs to dominate pico projection technology… and I have seen nothing from any of the other companies that would dissuade me from this view.
Do the delays frustrate the heck out of me?
Yes!
Do I wish I had my own SHOWwx months ago to use in presentations...and gift them to my friends and family?
Yes!
As far as missed deadlines go, the biggest issue was Corning misguided judgment that they would have green lasers in quantity 2 years ago… a major failure in projecting the production timeline. I, for one did not drain my brain worrying about the exact definition of the end of summer launch in 2009. I have seen new product releases before and I am well aware that if there is a situation where Murphy's Law might apply… then the September 2009 launch was one of them.
I’m very encouraged that Corning has finally overcome the G-1000 green laser production issues… and the second generation G-2000 is coming along nicely for production in Q4 of 2010. I am also very encouraged that OSRAM is making good progress and has started shipping small quantities of green laser to Microvision. It will not surprise me at all, if Microvision were to announce the Osram shipping good news any day soon.
If Osram (and Corning) can overcome the last mile quality production hurdles, we will see validation in a cell phone… with product available in the market by early 2011. Frankly, I do not care who is or was first to market. I think we will see some announcements before the end of April/May this year to help support the stock price and perhaps even push up the pps to next level… in the $5 to $6 range.
Some of you may think that my analysis is somewhat pessimistic… while the others may consider it way too optimistic. I can understand your rationale… because to this day, I still battle with my optimism and pessimism on a daily basis.
I would not say that the current stock pps is so great that it represents the exuberance of the year 2000… the Dot.com era. Nor does it represent the enthusiasm of a long waited product validation and launch. The current price, I believe, is based on a combination of facts that are still not very clear and people hedging bets that they will reap a significant reward by investing at lower levels. The volume has been up and I cannot detect any significant profit taking at this point. The MVIS story has substance in product and potential for the long term investors.
Obviously there are several companies that have committed to MVIS in the form of contracts to distribute the SHOWwx. I would find it hard to believe that these companies would make such a commitment without some degree of due diligence in both the supply and demand equation. Without going into details, let me say that I do not think a price of $550 for SHOWwx is too much… although it is a lot.
Profit from the SHOWwx is a short term cash flow gig and has never been the driving factor for the company's long term goal. We all know that the embedded PicoP─ in all things digital─ is the “holy grail”. However, that thinking may be changing considering the fact that SHOWwx does have many may applications and once second generation green laser production is up and the cost goes down the SHOWwx could be very profitable… especially when it is sold directly from the company’s on-line store.
I strongly believe that Microvision could be on its way to breakeven operation… as early as at the end of Q1 of 2011.
Anant Goel
PS: Thanks to "Sam" from YMB for letting me use some of his words and quotes.
http://www.wealthbyoptions.com/
Monday, October 19, 2009
Microvision: Opportunity of a Lifetime… in our Lifetime (Part 4)
The cost of missing out can be greater than the cost of messing up.
“The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized in the lifetime of the opportunity.”
…Leonard Ravenhill
Here’s the REASON #4… to not let this opportunity pass you by and why you should quickly reposition your assets now…
REASON #4
It is my belief that in the coming short years, all sorts of video devices and services will dominate our communications world.
Here’s why…
Research shows that we humans prefer video communication over any other forms of communications. The reason cited is that retina is actually a piece of the brain that has grown into the eye and processes neural signals when it detects light.
What does this mean, in simple terms, to us humans… specifically for our preference for visual over any other forms of communications like sound, smell and touch? Well, this may be because our brain [in the retina] receives information first and processes it before that received from other channels [like audio, smell or touch].
May be this “brain in the retina” explains why survey after survey, the research points to our preference for “Video” over “Widgets”. Recent research survey from CES 2009 enforces the belief that “Video will continue to be the preferred means of all human communications”.
Now, let’s take it a step further and gather some information from real life consumers that are user of communications products… to establish their preferences and requirements:
• Video vs. Other Forms of Communications: Research has shown that users prefer video communication over other forms of communication [sound, smell, touch] and video will continue to be the preferred means of all human communications.
• Users Preference for Image Quality: Research has shown that users prefer wide screen, high definition, 2D/3D video with fast refresh [without motion blur] and always in focus images for all forms of video [static, streaming, and broadcast] communications.
• User Preference for Mobility: The entire world [users and service providers] is getting into the instant gratification mode and going mobile in all forms of communications and entertainment across the globe.
• Product Features Leading to Technological Convergence: Technological convergence is the tendency for different technological systems to evolve towards performing similar tasks. Today, we are surrounded by a multi-level convergent media world where all modes of communication and information are continually reforming to adapt to the enduring demands of technologies, “changing the way we create, consume, entertain, learn and interact with each other”.
Convergence in this instance is defined as the interlinking of computing and other information technologies, media content and communication networks that have arisen as the result of the evolution and ubiquity of the Internet as well as the activities, products and services that have emerged in the digital media space.
• Customers Requirements: Customers desire all digital/video devices to be low power, low cost, multi-media enabled, multi-tasking, integrated & all inclusive, easy to use, low maintenance, professionally supported and warranty serviced.
• Consumer Defined Shared vs. Private Information: Consumers desire the option [in product models or optional features] or built-in switch able flexibility in these digital/video devices to be able to switch between “shared” vs. “private” mode.
It is my belief that in the coming short years, products and services like the following will flourish…
• Pico Projectors for large Image Experience from Portable Computing and Small Mobile Devices (like laptops, cell phones, smartphones, media players, digital cameras, camcorders, etc.)
• High Definition Lamp and Pico Projectors in Home Theater for Shared Viewing Experience
• Pico Projectors in HD Mobile TV/Projector for shared viewing experience
• Pico Projectors in Mobile TV for private viewing experience…like watching TV in bed for mom and dad… and personal mobile TV/Projector for little Jonny.
• Green PicoP Projector in Mobile TV for shared viewing experience… targeting the third world countries with focus on low energy consumption.
• Display Eyewear
• Augmented Virtual Reality
• 3D and Hologram Images
• Night Vision
• Interactive Video Gaming
• Video on Demand
• Music Videos
• Visual Learning Systems & Simulators
• Video/Audio Transcription
Microvision is in the right place at the right time with the commercial availability of their laser based PicoP display engine developer’s kit [PEK] for use in multitude of above mentioned applications… besides the recently launched world’s first laser PicoP projector code named SHOWwx.
Laser based PicoP display engine specs and features are several notches above the competition… namely:
“always in focus, hi-resolution images, large size images from 12” to 100”, wide projection angle, rich and vivid colors with wider color gamut, small/sleek form factor, short throw ratio, longer battery power, simple plug n play, and movie capable (production version expected 2-3 hour battery life).”
Microvision’s PicoP display engine offers enhanced and superior specs and features compared to what’s considered desirable at this stage of Pico projection development…
• Size: The height or thickness of the projector is its most important characteristic; the technology must be able to be embedded in thin handheld devices. Both height and volume should be minimized. The initial products will have projector engine sizes ranging in height from 7 to 14 mm and in overall volume from 5 to 10 cc.
• Brightness: The brighter the better. Brightness is limited by the available brightness of the light sources, either lasers or LEDs, the optical efficiency of the projector design, and by the need for low-power operation in order to maximize battery life. Initial product offerings will be in the range of 5-10 lumens.
• Image size: In general, the shorter the distance it takes for the projector to produce large images, the better—at least up to a point. A one-to-one distance/image-size ratio (projection angle of 53 degrees) is probably a good target. The first round of products on the market will have projection angles in the range of 30-45 degrees.
• Focus-free operation: Focus-free operation is a very desirable attribute in mobile applications. It is like “point and shoot” in a camera. Unlike typical projectors used in business settings, pico-projectors are designed for mobile use (in other words, the distance from the projector to the image will likely change often).
• Resolution: Resolution can be expected to continue to grow as product technology matures. The wide screen format is generally desirable for viewing video content. Initial product offerings will typically offer resolutions from QVGA (320 x 240) to WVGA (848 x 480).
• Color: Pico-projectors typically use either lasers or red, green and blue LEDs for light sources. In both cases, the result is large color gamut that far exceeds the usual color range experience of TVs, monitors, and conference-room-type projectors. White LEDs used with color filters yield a reduced color gamut.
• Contrast: The higher the better. Just as brightness is a measure of the absolute whiteness of pico- projectors, contrast is the measure of their absolute darkness. Contrast is the dynamic range of a display, making the difference between washed out images and crisp dramatic-looking images.
• Battery life: A starting goal for mobile devices is that they should last for the length of a complete movie. This puts the lower limit at around 1.5 hours.
Laser based Pico display technology is superior to what’s out there right now… DLP by Texas Instruments, LcoS by 3M and FLCOS by Micron Displaytech. The competition believed that green lasers wouldn’t be ready for years and its cost would be excessive. They also had concerns about laser projection “speckle” and laser safety issues. It is for these reasons, in my opinion, that they did not pursue the laser pico display technology path and essentially left the laser PicoP technology to Microvision un-contested.
Microvision on the other hand believed in the green lasers as being the differentiating technology that would make PicoP display engine as superior to LEDs based Pico projection technology… and also as a serious contender, in terms of quality and brightness of images, to the lamp based projection technology.
There were several hic-ups along the way. However, after three years of hard work, anxious wait for green lasers and sweating it each passing day, and 115 issued patents later, the world’s first laser based PicoP projector was commercially launched on September 15th, 2009.
Not only that, another announcement was made [on 10/8/2009] of a major OEM purchase order as a major milestone accomplished in the history of Microvision. The stakeholders of Microvision [investors, partners and consumers] can finally take comfort in this announcement as a milestone that…
“…validates the performance and quality of our first laser projector offering. On the heels of announcing our first shipments of the SHOWwx laser pico projector, and receiving the purchase order from an international distributor, this is another significant milestone in our go-to-market strategy.” ... Alex Tokman, CEO of Microvision.
We are truly at the turning point in the history of Microvision, that some may call the “validation” phase. Because, that’s what the commercial release and the two purchase orders from global consumer electronic OEMs represent as …
• Validation of Microvision’s laser based PicoP display engine technology, its quality, its reliability, and a viable commercial fabrication & production milestone.
• Validation of performance and quality of PicoP display engine at the core of the world’s first laser based PicoP projector SHOWwx.
• Validation of Corning's green laser technology, its reliability, and a viable commercial fabrication & production milestone.
• Validation of technical and performance superiority of laser based PicoP projector as compared to other two technologies on the market… DLP from Texas Instruments and LcoS for 3M.
• Validation of consumer preference for Microvision’s PicoP projector: wide screen, high definition, longer battery life, 2D video with fast refresh without motion blur, small physical size and always in focus images for all of video [static, streaming, and broadcast] communications.
• Validation of acceptable safety standard for laser based PicoP projectors in consumer use and adoption.
• Validation of speckle as a non-issue and as virtually non-existent with Microvision’s laser based PicoP display engine.
• Validation of fundamental design flaws of Microvision competitors: low resolution images, faded colors, short battery runs, longer throw distance, and requiring constant manual focus adjustments.
• Validation of Microvision as a product company rather than just a R&D house with 115 issued patents and with many more on file.
• Validation of global consumer electronic OEMs recognizing laser based PicoP projectors as a viable and superior alternative to DLP, LcoS and FLOCS technology.
• Validation of growing demand for Pico projectors from carriers and content providers on a global basis.
• Validation of consumer demand for quality Pico projectors.
• Validation of growing demand for green lasers and the ensuing competition in green laser product arena.
Microvision is ready as a supplier of laser PicoP projectors to consumers and PicoP display engines to its OEM partners… and offers the best of breed PicoP display technology.
Is Microvision [NASDAQ: MVIS] ready for prime time SHOW time and worthy of your investment dollars… you be the judge?
Stay tuned for REASON #5… as we move forward in our journey to explore “Microvision: Opportunity of a Lifetime… in our Lifetime”
Anant Goel
http://www.wealthbyoptions.com/
“The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized in the lifetime of the opportunity.”
…Leonard Ravenhill
Here’s the REASON #4… to not let this opportunity pass you by and why you should quickly reposition your assets now…
REASON #4
It is my belief that in the coming short years, all sorts of video devices and services will dominate our communications world.
Here’s why…
Research shows that we humans prefer video communication over any other forms of communications. The reason cited is that retina is actually a piece of the brain that has grown into the eye and processes neural signals when it detects light.
What does this mean, in simple terms, to us humans… specifically for our preference for visual over any other forms of communications like sound, smell and touch? Well, this may be because our brain [in the retina] receives information first and processes it before that received from other channels [like audio, smell or touch].
May be this “brain in the retina” explains why survey after survey, the research points to our preference for “Video” over “Widgets”. Recent research survey from CES 2009 enforces the belief that “Video will continue to be the preferred means of all human communications”.
Now, let’s take it a step further and gather some information from real life consumers that are user of communications products… to establish their preferences and requirements:
• Video vs. Other Forms of Communications: Research has shown that users prefer video communication over other forms of communication [sound, smell, touch] and video will continue to be the preferred means of all human communications.
• Users Preference for Image Quality: Research has shown that users prefer wide screen, high definition, 2D/3D video with fast refresh [without motion blur] and always in focus images for all forms of video [static, streaming, and broadcast] communications.
• User Preference for Mobility: The entire world [users and service providers] is getting into the instant gratification mode and going mobile in all forms of communications and entertainment across the globe.
• Product Features Leading to Technological Convergence: Technological convergence is the tendency for different technological systems to evolve towards performing similar tasks. Today, we are surrounded by a multi-level convergent media world where all modes of communication and information are continually reforming to adapt to the enduring demands of technologies, “changing the way we create, consume, entertain, learn and interact with each other”.
Convergence in this instance is defined as the interlinking of computing and other information technologies, media content and communication networks that have arisen as the result of the evolution and ubiquity of the Internet as well as the activities, products and services that have emerged in the digital media space.
• Customers Requirements: Customers desire all digital/video devices to be low power, low cost, multi-media enabled, multi-tasking, integrated & all inclusive, easy to use, low maintenance, professionally supported and warranty serviced.
• Consumer Defined Shared vs. Private Information: Consumers desire the option [in product models or optional features] or built-in switch able flexibility in these digital/video devices to be able to switch between “shared” vs. “private” mode.
It is my belief that in the coming short years, products and services like the following will flourish…
• Pico Projectors for large Image Experience from Portable Computing and Small Mobile Devices (like laptops, cell phones, smartphones, media players, digital cameras, camcorders, etc.)
• High Definition Lamp and Pico Projectors in Home Theater for Shared Viewing Experience
• Pico Projectors in HD Mobile TV/Projector for shared viewing experience
• Pico Projectors in Mobile TV for private viewing experience…like watching TV in bed for mom and dad… and personal mobile TV/Projector for little Jonny.
• Green PicoP Projector in Mobile TV for shared viewing experience… targeting the third world countries with focus on low energy consumption.
• Display Eyewear
• Augmented Virtual Reality
• 3D and Hologram Images
• Night Vision
• Interactive Video Gaming
• Video on Demand
• Music Videos
• Visual Learning Systems & Simulators
• Video/Audio Transcription
Microvision is in the right place at the right time with the commercial availability of their laser based PicoP display engine developer’s kit [PEK] for use in multitude of above mentioned applications… besides the recently launched world’s first laser PicoP projector code named SHOWwx.
Laser based PicoP display engine specs and features are several notches above the competition… namely:
“always in focus, hi-resolution images, large size images from 12” to 100”, wide projection angle, rich and vivid colors with wider color gamut, small/sleek form factor, short throw ratio, longer battery power, simple plug n play, and movie capable (production version expected 2-3 hour battery life).”
Microvision’s PicoP display engine offers enhanced and superior specs and features compared to what’s considered desirable at this stage of Pico projection development…
• Size: The height or thickness of the projector is its most important characteristic; the technology must be able to be embedded in thin handheld devices. Both height and volume should be minimized. The initial products will have projector engine sizes ranging in height from 7 to 14 mm and in overall volume from 5 to 10 cc.
• Brightness: The brighter the better. Brightness is limited by the available brightness of the light sources, either lasers or LEDs, the optical efficiency of the projector design, and by the need for low-power operation in order to maximize battery life. Initial product offerings will be in the range of 5-10 lumens.
• Image size: In general, the shorter the distance it takes for the projector to produce large images, the better—at least up to a point. A one-to-one distance/image-size ratio (projection angle of 53 degrees) is probably a good target. The first round of products on the market will have projection angles in the range of 30-45 degrees.
• Focus-free operation: Focus-free operation is a very desirable attribute in mobile applications. It is like “point and shoot” in a camera. Unlike typical projectors used in business settings, pico-projectors are designed for mobile use (in other words, the distance from the projector to the image will likely change often).
• Resolution: Resolution can be expected to continue to grow as product technology matures. The wide screen format is generally desirable for viewing video content. Initial product offerings will typically offer resolutions from QVGA (320 x 240) to WVGA (848 x 480).
• Color: Pico-projectors typically use either lasers or red, green and blue LEDs for light sources. In both cases, the result is large color gamut that far exceeds the usual color range experience of TVs, monitors, and conference-room-type projectors. White LEDs used with color filters yield a reduced color gamut.
• Contrast: The higher the better. Just as brightness is a measure of the absolute whiteness of pico- projectors, contrast is the measure of their absolute darkness. Contrast is the dynamic range of a display, making the difference between washed out images and crisp dramatic-looking images.
• Battery life: A starting goal for mobile devices is that they should last for the length of a complete movie. This puts the lower limit at around 1.5 hours.
Laser based Pico display technology is superior to what’s out there right now… DLP by Texas Instruments, LcoS by 3M and FLCOS by Micron Displaytech. The competition believed that green lasers wouldn’t be ready for years and its cost would be excessive. They also had concerns about laser projection “speckle” and laser safety issues. It is for these reasons, in my opinion, that they did not pursue the laser pico display technology path and essentially left the laser PicoP technology to Microvision un-contested.
Microvision on the other hand believed in the green lasers as being the differentiating technology that would make PicoP display engine as superior to LEDs based Pico projection technology… and also as a serious contender, in terms of quality and brightness of images, to the lamp based projection technology.
There were several hic-ups along the way. However, after three years of hard work, anxious wait for green lasers and sweating it each passing day, and 115 issued patents later, the world’s first laser based PicoP projector was commercially launched on September 15th, 2009.
Not only that, another announcement was made [on 10/8/2009] of a major OEM purchase order as a major milestone accomplished in the history of Microvision. The stakeholders of Microvision [investors, partners and consumers] can finally take comfort in this announcement as a milestone that…
“…validates the performance and quality of our first laser projector offering. On the heels of announcing our first shipments of the SHOWwx laser pico projector, and receiving the purchase order from an international distributor, this is another significant milestone in our go-to-market strategy.” ... Alex Tokman, CEO of Microvision.
We are truly at the turning point in the history of Microvision, that some may call the “validation” phase. Because, that’s what the commercial release and the two purchase orders from global consumer electronic OEMs represent as …
• Validation of Microvision’s laser based PicoP display engine technology, its quality, its reliability, and a viable commercial fabrication & production milestone.
• Validation of performance and quality of PicoP display engine at the core of the world’s first laser based PicoP projector SHOWwx.
• Validation of Corning's green laser technology, its reliability, and a viable commercial fabrication & production milestone.
• Validation of technical and performance superiority of laser based PicoP projector as compared to other two technologies on the market… DLP from Texas Instruments and LcoS for 3M.
• Validation of consumer preference for Microvision’s PicoP projector: wide screen, high definition, longer battery life, 2D video with fast refresh without motion blur, small physical size and always in focus images for all of video [static, streaming, and broadcast] communications.
• Validation of acceptable safety standard for laser based PicoP projectors in consumer use and adoption.
• Validation of speckle as a non-issue and as virtually non-existent with Microvision’s laser based PicoP display engine.
• Validation of fundamental design flaws of Microvision competitors: low resolution images, faded colors, short battery runs, longer throw distance, and requiring constant manual focus adjustments.
• Validation of Microvision as a product company rather than just a R&D house with 115 issued patents and with many more on file.
• Validation of global consumer electronic OEMs recognizing laser based PicoP projectors as a viable and superior alternative to DLP, LcoS and FLOCS technology.
• Validation of growing demand for Pico projectors from carriers and content providers on a global basis.
• Validation of consumer demand for quality Pico projectors.
• Validation of growing demand for green lasers and the ensuing competition in green laser product arena.
Microvision is ready as a supplier of laser PicoP projectors to consumers and PicoP display engines to its OEM partners… and offers the best of breed PicoP display technology.
Is Microvision [NASDAQ: MVIS] ready for prime time SHOW time and worthy of your investment dollars… you be the judge?
Stay tuned for REASON #5… as we move forward in our journey to explore “Microvision: Opportunity of a Lifetime… in our Lifetime”
Anant Goel
http://www.wealthbyoptions.com/
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Microvision: Protect Your Intellectual Property Part 3
I hope you read part 1 and part 2 on the subject of “Microvision: Protect Your Intellectual Property”. If not, here’s the link to those two posts…
http://mirro7.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html
Part 3 is all about communicating the observations that some folks [besides me] have made over the last few months and most recently at the Annual Stockholders Meeting [ASM] on September 15th.
Microvision Wants to be Major Player in the Imaging Market Place:
“Laser steering projector is the bread and butter of Microvision for the foreseeable future and we are going to focus on the embedded PicoP to make the company profitable.” … Believed to be the words of Alex Tokman, CEO of Microvision, at the Annual Shareholders Meeting!
“Microvision is positioning itself thru patents and IP to be a major player in the image community. He (Alex) said: “Microvision is not going to be a small component provider that can be marginalized by bigger players.”
Alex sees Microvision as an INTEL type company. He is going to make the company a major player in the image industry. That may very well explain the “Image by PicoP” as the slogan chosen for the world’s first laser based PicoP projector SHOWwx. Please read my post on…
Yes Virginia: “It’s Intel Inside… but Image by PicoP.”
Here’s the link…
http://mirro7.blogspot.com/2009/09/yes-virginia-its-intel-inside-but-image.html
In my humble opinion, Alex Tokman is set on a course to turn Microvision not only like an Intel… but also Qualcomm at the same time.
Here’s why…
First, the observations we have made over the last few months…
“The slides on patents and IP at the ASM were probably the most interesting of all the slides in the presentation. We have seen earlier versions of these back in May 2009. These slides showed a marked increase in patent filings by the company after Alex Tokman took over as CEO. However, now there also seems to be a renewed and significant emphasis on bigger picture kinds of claims regarding things like applications. Most all of the early patents were about hardware and how you make the hardware work... and it is those patents that got Microvision on the IEEE Spectrum and Wall Street Journal [The Patent Board] list.”
So, why this emphasis on “bigger picture” kinds of claims including things like “applications”?
I think the answer lies in the CEO’s head and from time to time is reflected in his actions and statements. I won’t be surprised to see more patents coming out of Microvision that also cover services and applications… besides the PicoP display engine hardware. It is possible that in the future, Microvision business model may resemble, in some ways, that of Qualcomm. Qualcomm business model consists of “chip sales” along with the sale of “Intellectual Property Rights” for innovative Applications and Services to the wireless companies.
I have known about Alex Tokman for many years before he came to Microvision. However, the news about Alexander Tokman coming on board as the new President and COO of Microvision caught my attention, and subsequent interest in Microvision, as I have known of him from his days at GE. What Tokman did at GE was quite remarkable.
“Alexander Tokman joined Microvision in July 2005 as a President and COO. Tokman was responsible for managing Microvision’s operations, including sales, marketing, research and development, and supply chain. He was named President and CEO in January 2006. Tokman, a 10+ year GE executive, joined Microvision from GE Healthcare, where most recently he served as General Manager of Global Molecular Imaging & Radiopharmacy—a self-contained, global multi-technology business unit. Over the past five years at GE Tokman defined, developed, and successfully commercialized several new technology businesses including PET/CT, which added $500M+ of organic top line growth to the company within the first three years of its commercial introduction.”
Having said that, and knowing what little I know about Alex Tokman, I can confidently say that he has the vision to see the huge potential Microvision’s PicoP display engine [laser-scanning 1 MEMS] technology offers as the leader of the pack.
That’s right, leader of the pack!!!
Here’s why…
“…in view of the limitations and image quality issues associated with current Pico display technologies being offered or being pursued by others.”
TI is stuck with DLP technology, 3M is pushing Color Filter LcoS technology, Syndiant is working with light panels on LcoS technology, Expaly is working with laser based LcoS technology, Micron Displaytech is working with FLCOS technology, bTendo [2006 start-up] is working with laser-scanning 2MEMS technology , and Maradin [2007 start-up] is working with laser-scanning 1 MEMS technology.
The only two Pico display technologies on the market to-day are: DLP by TI and LcoS by 3M… the rest of the rat pack are still “working” on their R&D. While there are some interim Pico projectors based on technology such as color filter LCOS [ 3M technology] and DLP [TI technology] that were in a position to get to market earlier… but they have major drawbacks in fulfilling the size, power, image quality, resolution and always in focus requirements of the market, particularly for embedded devices. We are already seeing color filter LcoS products being designed out in favor of field sequential LcoS and many former “DLP-only design houses” also have field sequential LcoS designs underway.
Syndiant [2004 start-up] talks “big game”, at their website, about light modulating panels that use Field Sequential LcoS [FSLCOS] to provide a very high resolution display that will be always be in focus when RGB lasers are used as the light source. Currently, however, they use, so they claim, LEDs as the light source. It is interesting to note that Syndiant Pico projectors are not on sale yet and we haven’t seen any of their projector demos at any of the trade shows thus far.
"In summary, if we are to believe everything that we read at Syndiant’s website, then all the competition, including Microvision, should pack-it-in… because Syndiant’s technology is so much superior and costs so much cheaper."
However, before we recommend that competition to Syndiant, including Microvision, should pack-it-in and move-on to some other un-charted technology frontier… we should look at the Intellectual Property of Syndiant that they should have, really, to protect such a valuable technology. Our patent search found the following…
• Syndiant: No Patents found
However, Syndiant claims, at their website, to have four (4) patents. In reality, it seems they may have only one patent issued in four different countries... the United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Australia.
“Syndiant has achieved four patents in the United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Australia relating to the digital backplane and various methods, systems and devices for controlling a digital backplane, light modulating elements and spatial light modulators. Syndiant has a number of other patents pending.”
Here’s the link…
http://www.syndiant.com/tech_faqs.html
• Microvision (1 MEMS): 557 Patents (among those are a massive amount of World Patents and European Patents). Patent search shows 557 patents [World Patents] for Microvision. That number is rather too high… may be due to other “Microvision” named companies that got wrapped-in the search. The latest number of issued patents is like 115 plus many more on file.
• Maradin (1 MEMS): 2 Patents (World Patents included)
• bTendo (2 MEMS): 2 Patents (World Patents included)
• Micron Displaytech (FLCOS): 144 Patents (World Patents included)
• Explay (LCOS): 29 Patents (World Patents included)
• 3M (LCOS): Very large number among hundreds of Patents
• Texas Instruments (DLP): Very large number among hundreds of Patents
• Light Blue Optics (Holographic Laser Projection): 59 Patents (World Patents included). They're using Micron/Displaytech FLCOS technology.
Now you be the judge! All that wonderfull Syndiant technology with everything "superior" and basically "no" patents?
In any case, Pico projector for mobile devices will be a huge market. All Microvision needs, to become a huge financial success is a small percentage of the overall market adoption rate. In my humble opinion, Alex Tokman is set on a course to turn Microvision not like an Intel… but also Qualcomm at the same time.
Here’s another reason why…
Microvision has been at it for over 14 years and has spent close to $250 million dollars to-date on Research and Development of its single MEMS laser-scanning PicoP technology in one form or the other. Along the way, I am sure, it has explored the dual MEMS and multitude of different combinations that come to mind. Some of these alternative technologies, I’m sure deserved ample lab time before being put on the back-burner… while others were explored and discarded without even making it to the lab.
Alex Tokman mentioned a few things as to why he believes that Microvision’s PicoP display engine is going to be successful…
• Uniqueness: nobody has lasers… nobody is doing what we are doing.
• Thin Form Factor: nobody has our size and nobody can do HD images without getting bigger.
• Longer Battery life: up to 2 hours currently vs. 45 minutes for the competition.
• Infinite focus: nobody else has it.
• Larger screen experience: from 12” to 150” diagonal under certain ambient light conditions.
• Superior small font readability: we are the only one that has 8 pt readable fonts.
• Uniformity of brightness: Images are uniformly bright from edge to edge, unlike some other competitors.
• No rainbow effect and virtually no speckle.
• Twice the color gamut (range) of NTSC
• WVGA resolution with sharper image detail and fast refresh rate
Corning and Osram [the two supply chain partners] are not only improving the laser light technology, but performance and price as well. The next generation of Green Laser [Corning GL-2000] and Microvision PicoP display engine will bear this out.
“With the enormous size of the future Pico projector market [in terms of units & dollars] the financial rewards will certainly attract deep pocketed competitors that will infringe [and engage in unscrupulous deeds] to test your resolve, create distraction, put financial burden of litigation… all in the hopes of extracting a cheap, if not free, licensing agreement from Microvision.”
With that in mind, the questions to ask are…
• How well Microvision is prepared and how it plans to fend-off infringement to its Intellectual Property in the future… for the sake of its future?
• How serious Microvision is in not only selling PicoP display engines and associated components… but also selling “Intellectual Property Rights” to innovative Applications and Services built around their PicoP display technology?
• How strongly Microvision CEO believes in his own statement about [not] getting marginalized by bigger OEM players that it may some day call customers… like Apple, Motorola, Sony, Nokia and so on.
The availability and quality of green lasers will be crucial not only to the viability of Microvision’s PicoP display technology… but also to its financial success as a growth company. The most recent news about green lasers only reinforces my belief that Microvision will be a huge financial success…
Japan's QD Laser has developed a compact green laser that could energize the market for high-definition micro projectors.
Martyn Williams, IDG News Service
Saturday, October 10, 2009 06:00 PM PDT
Here’s the link to the news article…
http://www.pcworld.com/article/173455/green_laser_developed_for_microprojectors.html
What’s so significant about this news is…
“QD Laser is planning mass production next year and the laser should cost around US$10, said Mitsuru Sugawara, the company's president and CEO, during an interview at Ceatec. That will make it significantly cheaper than the only other competitor on the market, a micro green laser from Corning, according to Sugawara.”
Famous Paul Masson once said: “We will sell no wine before its time.”
This slogan applies very well to Microvision’s lauch of the world’s first laser PicoP projector SHOWwx on September 15th, 2009.
And the good thing is: “It only gets better with time.”
Anant Goel
http://www.wealthbyoptions.com/
http://mirro7.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html
Part 3 is all about communicating the observations that some folks [besides me] have made over the last few months and most recently at the Annual Stockholders Meeting [ASM] on September 15th.
Microvision Wants to be Major Player in the Imaging Market Place:
“Laser steering projector is the bread and butter of Microvision for the foreseeable future and we are going to focus on the embedded PicoP to make the company profitable.” … Believed to be the words of Alex Tokman, CEO of Microvision, at the Annual Shareholders Meeting!
“Microvision is positioning itself thru patents and IP to be a major player in the image community. He (Alex) said: “Microvision is not going to be a small component provider that can be marginalized by bigger players.”
Alex sees Microvision as an INTEL type company. He is going to make the company a major player in the image industry. That may very well explain the “Image by PicoP” as the slogan chosen for the world’s first laser based PicoP projector SHOWwx. Please read my post on…
Yes Virginia: “It’s Intel Inside… but Image by PicoP.”
Here’s the link…
http://mirro7.blogspot.com/2009/09/yes-virginia-its-intel-inside-but-image.html
In my humble opinion, Alex Tokman is set on a course to turn Microvision not only like an Intel… but also Qualcomm at the same time.
Here’s why…
First, the observations we have made over the last few months…
“The slides on patents and IP at the ASM were probably the most interesting of all the slides in the presentation. We have seen earlier versions of these back in May 2009. These slides showed a marked increase in patent filings by the company after Alex Tokman took over as CEO. However, now there also seems to be a renewed and significant emphasis on bigger picture kinds of claims regarding things like applications. Most all of the early patents were about hardware and how you make the hardware work... and it is those patents that got Microvision on the IEEE Spectrum and Wall Street Journal [The Patent Board] list.”
So, why this emphasis on “bigger picture” kinds of claims including things like “applications”?
I think the answer lies in the CEO’s head and from time to time is reflected in his actions and statements. I won’t be surprised to see more patents coming out of Microvision that also cover services and applications… besides the PicoP display engine hardware. It is possible that in the future, Microvision business model may resemble, in some ways, that of Qualcomm. Qualcomm business model consists of “chip sales” along with the sale of “Intellectual Property Rights” for innovative Applications and Services to the wireless companies.
• Alex Tokman sees Microvision as an Intel type companyEventually, in my opinion, Microvision may not only be selling PicoP display engines and associated components… but also selling “Intellectual Property Rights” to innovative Applications and Services built around their PicoP display technology. That’s one sure way of [not] getting marginalized by bigger OEM players that it may some day call customers… like Apple, Motorola, Sony, Nokia and so on.
• We will [not] get marginalized by bigger OEM players that we may some day call customers
• Choice of marketing slogan like: “Image by PicoP”
• Bigger picture claims that include “applications” of PicoP in their hardware type patent applications
• Early development of PicoP Evaluation Kit [PEK]
• Aggressive marketing [and sales] of PEK for a broader applications Value Added Resellers.
I have known about Alex Tokman for many years before he came to Microvision. However, the news about Alexander Tokman coming on board as the new President and COO of Microvision caught my attention, and subsequent interest in Microvision, as I have known of him from his days at GE. What Tokman did at GE was quite remarkable.
“Alexander Tokman joined Microvision in July 2005 as a President and COO. Tokman was responsible for managing Microvision’s operations, including sales, marketing, research and development, and supply chain. He was named President and CEO in January 2006. Tokman, a 10+ year GE executive, joined Microvision from GE Healthcare, where most recently he served as General Manager of Global Molecular Imaging & Radiopharmacy—a self-contained, global multi-technology business unit. Over the past five years at GE Tokman defined, developed, and successfully commercialized several new technology businesses including PET/CT, which added $500M+ of organic top line growth to the company within the first three years of its commercial introduction.”
Having said that, and knowing what little I know about Alex Tokman, I can confidently say that he has the vision to see the huge potential Microvision’s PicoP display engine [laser-scanning 1 MEMS] technology offers as the leader of the pack.
That’s right, leader of the pack!!!
Here’s why…
“…in view of the limitations and image quality issues associated with current Pico display technologies being offered or being pursued by others.”
TI is stuck with DLP technology, 3M is pushing Color Filter LcoS technology, Syndiant is working with light panels on LcoS technology, Expaly is working with laser based LcoS technology, Micron Displaytech is working with FLCOS technology, bTendo [2006 start-up] is working with laser-scanning 2MEMS technology , and Maradin [2007 start-up] is working with laser-scanning 1 MEMS technology.
The only two Pico display technologies on the market to-day are: DLP by TI and LcoS by 3M… the rest of the rat pack are still “working” on their R&D. While there are some interim Pico projectors based on technology such as color filter LCOS [ 3M technology] and DLP [TI technology] that were in a position to get to market earlier… but they have major drawbacks in fulfilling the size, power, image quality, resolution and always in focus requirements of the market, particularly for embedded devices. We are already seeing color filter LcoS products being designed out in favor of field sequential LcoS and many former “DLP-only design houses” also have field sequential LcoS designs underway.
Syndiant [2004 start-up] talks “big game”, at their website, about light modulating panels that use Field Sequential LcoS [FSLCOS] to provide a very high resolution display that will be always be in focus when RGB lasers are used as the light source. Currently, however, they use, so they claim, LEDs as the light source. It is interesting to note that Syndiant Pico projectors are not on sale yet and we haven’t seen any of their projector demos at any of the trade shows thus far.
"In summary, if we are to believe everything that we read at Syndiant’s website, then all the competition, including Microvision, should pack-it-in… because Syndiant’s technology is so much superior and costs so much cheaper."
However, before we recommend that competition to Syndiant, including Microvision, should pack-it-in and move-on to some other un-charted technology frontier… we should look at the Intellectual Property of Syndiant that they should have, really, to protect such a valuable technology. Our patent search found the following…
• Syndiant: No Patents found
However, Syndiant claims, at their website, to have four (4) patents. In reality, it seems they may have only one patent issued in four different countries... the United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Australia.
“Syndiant has achieved four patents in the United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Australia relating to the digital backplane and various methods, systems and devices for controlling a digital backplane, light modulating elements and spatial light modulators. Syndiant has a number of other patents pending.”
Here’s the link…
http://www.syndiant.com/tech_faqs.html
• Microvision (1 MEMS): 557 Patents (among those are a massive amount of World Patents and European Patents). Patent search shows 557 patents [World Patents] for Microvision. That number is rather too high… may be due to other “Microvision” named companies that got wrapped-in the search. The latest number of issued patents is like 115 plus many more on file.
• Maradin (1 MEMS): 2 Patents (World Patents included)
• bTendo (2 MEMS): 2 Patents (World Patents included)
• Micron Displaytech (FLCOS): 144 Patents (World Patents included)
• Explay (LCOS): 29 Patents (World Patents included)
• 3M (LCOS): Very large number among hundreds of Patents
• Texas Instruments (DLP): Very large number among hundreds of Patents
• Light Blue Optics (Holographic Laser Projection): 59 Patents (World Patents included). They're using Micron/Displaytech FLCOS technology.
Now you be the judge! All that wonderfull Syndiant technology with everything "superior" and basically "no" patents?
In any case, Pico projector for mobile devices will be a huge market. All Microvision needs, to become a huge financial success is a small percentage of the overall market adoption rate. In my humble opinion, Alex Tokman is set on a course to turn Microvision not like an Intel… but also Qualcomm at the same time.
Here’s another reason why…
Microvision has been at it for over 14 years and has spent close to $250 million dollars to-date on Research and Development of its single MEMS laser-scanning PicoP technology in one form or the other. Along the way, I am sure, it has explored the dual MEMS and multitude of different combinations that come to mind. Some of these alternative technologies, I’m sure deserved ample lab time before being put on the back-burner… while others were explored and discarded without even making it to the lab.
Alex Tokman mentioned a few things as to why he believes that Microvision’s PicoP display engine is going to be successful…
• Uniqueness: nobody has lasers… nobody is doing what we are doing.
• Thin Form Factor: nobody has our size and nobody can do HD images without getting bigger.
• Longer Battery life: up to 2 hours currently vs. 45 minutes for the competition.
• Infinite focus: nobody else has it.
• Larger screen experience: from 12” to 150” diagonal under certain ambient light conditions.
• Superior small font readability: we are the only one that has 8 pt readable fonts.
• Uniformity of brightness: Images are uniformly bright from edge to edge, unlike some other competitors.
• No rainbow effect and virtually no speckle.
• Twice the color gamut (range) of NTSC
• WVGA resolution with sharper image detail and fast refresh rate
Corning and Osram [the two supply chain partners] are not only improving the laser light technology, but performance and price as well. The next generation of Green Laser [Corning GL-2000] and Microvision PicoP display engine will bear this out.
“With the enormous size of the future Pico projector market [in terms of units & dollars] the financial rewards will certainly attract deep pocketed competitors that will infringe [and engage in unscrupulous deeds] to test your resolve, create distraction, put financial burden of litigation… all in the hopes of extracting a cheap, if not free, licensing agreement from Microvision.”
With that in mind, the questions to ask are…
• How well Microvision is prepared and how it plans to fend-off infringement to its Intellectual Property in the future… for the sake of its future?
• How serious Microvision is in not only selling PicoP display engines and associated components… but also selling “Intellectual Property Rights” to innovative Applications and Services built around their PicoP display technology?
• How strongly Microvision CEO believes in his own statement about [not] getting marginalized by bigger OEM players that it may some day call customers… like Apple, Motorola, Sony, Nokia and so on.
The availability and quality of green lasers will be crucial not only to the viability of Microvision’s PicoP display technology… but also to its financial success as a growth company. The most recent news about green lasers only reinforces my belief that Microvision will be a huge financial success…
Japan's QD Laser has developed a compact green laser that could energize the market for high-definition micro projectors.
Martyn Williams, IDG News Service
Saturday, October 10, 2009 06:00 PM PDT
Here’s the link to the news article…
http://www.pcworld.com/article/173455/green_laser_developed_for_microprojectors.html
What’s so significant about this news is…
“QD Laser is planning mass production next year and the laser should cost around US$10, said Mitsuru Sugawara, the company's president and CEO, during an interview at Ceatec. That will make it significantly cheaper than the only other competitor on the market, a micro green laser from Corning, according to Sugawara.”
Famous Paul Masson once said: “We will sell no wine before its time.”
This slogan applies very well to Microvision’s lauch of the world’s first laser PicoP projector SHOWwx on September 15th, 2009.
And the good thing is: “It only gets better with time.”
Anant Goel
http://www.wealthbyoptions.com/
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