MicroVision is a pioneer in laser beam scanning (LBS) technology that we market under our brand name PicoP®. LBS technology is a display and imaging methodology using a MEMS mirror, lasers and electronics to both project images and video (display) and capture three dimensional data (imaging) from a tiny engine. For the past several years we have been focused on commercializing our technology for screenless display applications. As a result we talked about our patented solution as PicoP® display technology.
In 2015 we commercialized our technology for personal projection through a licensing deal with a major electronics brand. Our customer is selling display engines that incorporate our technology and several products have come to market. We expect more products in the market later this year. Display will remain a big part of our technology story for the foreseeable future. But it’s not the whole story.
Looking at 2017 and beyond, we are broadening the scope of where to apply our technology for future growth – in essence, expanding “beyond projection”. Looking at the markets we are exploring like 3D imaging and sensing and Augmented Reality, as well as the fundamental way our technology works, we decided that we should refresh how we refer to our technology. Going forward we will use the branding of PicoP® scanning technology.
MicroVision’s platform approach for our advanced display and imaging solution means that it can be adapted to multiple applications and form factors. The benefits of a scanning engine based on our technology are the same even if the name has been updated:
- High definition, focus free images even in motion
- Vivid, saturated colors with an 80,000:1 contrast ratio
- Laser brightness at low power
- Power efficiency for multi-hour battery-powered use
- Thinner than a pencil
- Quiet, fan-free operation
- Industry leading throw ratio
- Keystone correction
- Low persistence and lag
- Single engine for simultaneous image capture and projection.
A real advantage for MicroVision is that the inherent capabilities to address new, emerging markets are already part of PicoP scanning technology. We have development to do to align our capabilities with the market requirements, but we don’t have to invent a whole new way of capturing or displaying information. We are just expanding on the base of what we have already engineered and making sure the name we apply to it is relevant for all the applications we are addressing.