CES is always a whirlwind of activity and this year was no different.
We were manning three suites at the Westgate Hotel to demonstrate to customers, analysts and partners the breadth of our technology. We also had a number of products on hand that have launched or have been announced that incorporate our PicoP® display technology. Our demos highlighted that our PicoP® technology platform can be adapted to a variety of applications and markets: consumer electronics, automotive, eyewear displays and imaging and sensing.
MicroVision Technology on the CES Floor
Sony MP-CL1
On the show floor Sony was featuring the MP-CL1 in two stations in its extensive booth with a dedicated staff person at each station describing the product and its use cases. Sony launched this product that incorporates MicroVision’s technology in October and has been selling the product in multiple countries since then.
At one station the MP-CL1 was shown projecting a movie on the canopy of a bed, highlighting its use as a personal entertainment device for streaming media, while at the second station the pico mobile projector was in a display case connected to an Xperia phone and small Sony Bluetooth speaker, projecting out onto a wall. The demonstrator had handheld white boards that could be used to show the always-in-focus nature of the laser projection.
Celluon PicoBit
Celluon was exhibiting in the area CES has designated Tech West in the Sands expo center. The company that was first to bring out a product with the latest engine incorporating MicroVision technology last year had its newest innovation on hand, the PicoBit. This smart projector with an integrated Android OS was a CES Innovation Award winner in the Portable Media Players and Accessories category.
Haier R2D2™
Also at the show, Haier was featuring its R2D2™ refrigerator that includes a projector incorporating MicroVision’s PicoP display technology.
Sharp RoBoHoN
Sharp’s RoBoHoN robot smartphone was on display at the Qualcomm booth, highlighting the Snapdragon chip that is part of RoBoHoN’s smartphone function.
MicroVision Product Concepts and Prototypes
In our suites, which were by invitation only, there was a wide array of product concept demonstrations to highlight the capabilities of our technology beyond projection. These demonstrations are MicroVision-developed prototypes to demonstrate to OEMS the features and benefits of products with PicoP display technology.
Here is a summary of the demonstrations and products:
HD projection with auto keystone correction – This MicroVision developed feature supports enhanced usability and product differentiation by automatically adjusting the image to a rectangular shape regardless of the angle of the device. Provided through a reference design for OEM implementation in products to simplify the user interface and improve the overall mobile viewing experience.
Smart projector –A projector with an integrated Android OS and Android TV application that can stream media without connecting to a smartphone, tablet or laptop. Creates a mobile TV experience.
Embedded projection – A tablet with a display engine based on PicoP® display technology embedded inside that maintains the product’s thin form factor and delivers HD quality images and focus-free operation. Adds a big screen display option and a potential second screen to a tablet or smartphone.
Interactive projection and adjustable screen sizing – Provides flexibility for interacting with projection and adapting projected images to the space available.
Dual-mode projection: wall and table-top – Enables near projection right onto a table top or distance projection on a wall, screen or ceiling without loss of resolution or brightness with MicroVision’s patent-pending extreme keystone adjustment.
Nomad eyewear display – PicoP® display technology enables the high contrast, high resolution and wide field of view essential to eyewear products.
MicroVision laser beam scanning depth sensing, 3D scanner application – MicroVision’s technology enables a single, integrated module capable of high resolution, programmable pattern generation for highly accurate scanned images and HD display functionality. Combines structured light and time of flight in a single application that can also support display, creating an opportunity for streamlined imaging and display solutions.
10 degree field of view embedded HUD – MicroVision’s wide field of view, laser-based head up display (HUD) solution for Tier-1 suppliers’ and automotive OEMs’ HUD system development. A high brightness display solution that enables wide field of view laser HUD systems with industry leading low power consumption and no background glow.
HD laser aftermarket HUD – MicroVision’s laser-based display solution for compelling aftermarket HUD products. PicoP® display technology enables a high brightness, 720p HD compact display engine featuring low power consumption ideally suited to aftermarket HUD systems.
Commercial Products
For most of the following products we had live demonstrations on hand.
This smartphone-sized projector packs a punch. The Sony MP-CL1 provides a sharp, clear picture in an extremely pocketable form factor… It seems that the laser projection system in this little guy really makes a difference as far as brightness is concerned. – Techradar.pro
Celluon PicoPro Pico Projector – In market March 2015
Overall, it’s the best small projector I’ve tested…–9to5Mac
…it offers enough to make it our Editors’ Choice pico projector. –PCMag
…everyone who saw it in use immediately wanted one. Lasers continue to surprise and astound. –TrulyGadgets
Celluon PicoBit Smart Projector* – Revealed Fall 2015
- CES 2016 Innovation Award winner – Portable Media Players and Accessories
ViewSmart PS1 Pico Projector – Announced December 2015
- A mini smart projector with built-in Android operating system.
Qualper Embedded Laser Projector Smartphone – Announced December 2015
- A smartphone with an embedded display engine featuring PicoP® display technology.
Haier Star Wars R2-D2™ Moving Refrigerator* – Announced October 2015
- A life-size moving R2-D2 that’s a refrigerator and has a built-in laser projector featuring PicoP® display technology. R2-D2 is a trademark of Lucasfilm Ltd.
Sharp Corporation RoBoHoN Mobile Robot Phone* – Announced October 2015
- Sharp and MicroVision worked together to develop a display engine that would fit the unique form factor of Sharp’s innovative mobile phone robot, RoBoHoN. Focus free projection was a key feature for this product to enable a clear projected image whenever and wherever RoBoHoN projected. Because it is a moving robot it was essential that RoBoHon have the ability to generate a projected image on many surfaces without the need of manual intervention. At this time the engine MicroVision and Sharp developed is being used exclusively for RoBoHoN.
My photography doesn’t do justice to the displays in our suites or on the show floor, but hopefully gives a sense of the many demos and products MicroVision had on hand at the show. For commercially announced products refer to the OEMs for information on availability timing and locations.
PicoP is a trademark of MicroVision, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.