The Alcatel-Lucent Microprojector: What Every Cell Phone Needs

The Alcatel-Lucent microprojector is a remarkable optical device that enables a new generation of pocket multimedia devices capable of projecting large video images for a host of applications. The cell phone is an obvious candidate for embedding a microprojector module as the market opportunity is ready and waiting, but many other uses are envisioned. Digital cameras, multimedia players, ultra-portable notebook computers, wearable computers, instrumentation (industrial, medical, security) are but a small sampling of where microprojectors might be used. Our choices of a laser-based lighting system and LCoS display panel resulted in a design that is extremely power efficient (10 lumens output with 2W electrical power) and compact (6 cubic centimeters volume). The use of laser light sources results in vivid color images, but requires innovative optical design to mitigate image speckle and careful thermal engineering to keep the lasers temperatures within their operating specifications. The end result is a best-in-class microminiaturized video projector that is truly "What Every Cell Phone Needs."