3M develops mini projector
Let it shine!
Manufacturer 3M is projecting big things with its latest innovation: a tiny projector for electronic gadgets.
The company has developed an LED-illuminated projection engine that’s designed to be incorporated into “virtually any personal electronic device”. It claims the engine can project at least a 40in, 640 x 480 image when it's incorporated into, say, a mobile phone.
3M's projector could find its way into mobile phones this year
Although relativity little’s been said so far about the engine’s technical make-up, the company has stated that it’s combined of a Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) electronic imager and 3M’s own optical technology.
The unit appears to be about the size of a cockroach, but 3M’s official measurement is that it’s less than 1in thick and about the size of a Bluetooth wireless earpiece.
3M will partner will unnamed electronics companies this year to help market the projector, which is on display at this year’s CES show in Las Vegas.
COMMENTS
Energy usage - relevant?
If you could run it off a normal charger, I can see some huge benefits:
For roadwarriors, there are gadgets that can connect your phone to a projector (like Irma) and are powered by the charger. If a phone charger provides enough juice, then you would only need your handset in the future.
For media junkies, you would have the option of viewing your media on the phone's screen, or by projecting it somewhere using only a charger and your phone (rather than e.g. a much larger & heavier laptop.
Sounds like win-win to me!
It's cool
I'd like to carry a mobile with that thing. Even 5 seconds should be enough to show off!...
Energy usage?
Somebody better with the mathematics than I am will be able to calculate just for how long a mobile phone battery would be able to shine a projected image of sufficient brightness over a 300 sq in. surface. Not very long, is my guess.
