Commercializing Red-Green-Blue Microlaser Technology to Revolutionize Projection Displays

Increased demand for bigger, brighter, and higher resolution large-screen, high-definition televisions and projection displays prompted a joint venture between Laser Power Corporation and Proxima Corporation to explore the use of laser technology to meet this demand. As relatively early-stage companies, the joint venture partners lacked sufficient internal funds for research and development, while other more established firms considered the use of lasers in projection displays as too risky to meet the required rate of return for private funding. In short, the joint venture had the necessary expertise and vision, but it lacked the funds to develop projection displays that could be purchased or manufactured through licensing and placed in a variety of products. Co-funding from the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) allowed the companies to pursue the development of a high-resolution multimedia laser projection display. The joint venture successfully developed red-green-blue microlasers and prototyped a projector display unit. Although commercialization of the display unit was not cost effective, the microlasers were applied to a wide variety of other displays. Laser Power Corporation sold the microlaser technology to Melles Griot, which continues to develop it.