The report, entitled “2007 Laser Projection Systems: A study of the use of lasers as an illumination source for projection systems’, predicts that applications requiring the lowest power lasers will drive growth in the laser projection market.
RPTV is the first target for laser projectors, in part because they require the lowest power lasers of any current projection market.A rear-projection TV set requires about 3 W output each of red, green and blue, and the price for the set of three lasers needs to be in the $150 range.
The first pico-projectors will be available in 2008 and by 2012, sales are likely to be in the millions. These projectors require low-power lasers, typically on the order of 100-200 mW/color.
Mitsubishi is expected to be a leading player in the laser projector market and is planning to announce an RPTV product at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas in January 2008.
The report highlights a wide variety of front projector markets that are expected to grow. This includes consumer and professional front projectors ranging from 5 lm pico-projectors to 30,000 lm large-venue projectors.
In terms of how laser projector technology is expected to evolve, the price will be a key factor. Laser projection will be introduced at a premium, maybe as much as $1000. Since lamps for a projector are in the order of $30-$50, the price challenge for lasers is severe.”