The time when outstanding market forecasts were promised to fiber optics telecom market for micro-optical mirrors arrays is gone. However, the MOEMS market still represents the largest part of the overall MEMS market with Texas Instruments’ DMD devices.
In 2010, the MOEMS market will be more than US$3B. Today, projection and display is more than 50% of the total MOEMS market and this application will keep the largest market share for the years to come as DMD for projection and TV is now a high volume market with high growth expected for projection and large-screen TVs (> 40”).
Moreover, MEMS technologies can also be used to produce displays with enhanced features.
The need for large and thin screens with high-quality images is the main market driver. In 2010, the market for RPTV will be close to the market for front projection. Texas Instruments is market leader for front projection and RPTVs. In 2010, the market will be above US$1.8B.
But such a high-volume market is attracting a strong competition. If TI’s DLPTM is still the dominant technology, other MEMS-based competing technologies are appearing. Some will target specific markets like the SONY licensed GLV technology from Silicon Light Machines (a demonstrator on a 10x50 m² screen has been shown at Laser Dream Theater EXPO 2005).
Others may directly enter the main stream market. However, it is challenging for newcomers to enter this competing market. Miradia and Reflectivity are two US startups which are in prototyping phase for delivering a microdisplay chip soon. A third start-up created in 2001, Keyotee has closed in 2005 because of cash problems. It is now trying to sell its IP.
Between 2008 and 2009, laser-based display technology might enter the market as well (no mercury, longer lifetime, no color wheel) but thermal and luminous flux issues are still to be solved.
At the same time, scanning 2D micro-mirror could arrive on the market using laser (developments are running at Samsung, Microvision, Hyperscan …). Some companies, like Microvision in the US, are also targeting the Head Up Display market for automotive applications.
In a close future, the market volume growth will be directly linked by the customer choice between LCD/Plasma/Projection technologies. The final choice will be mainly done on the quality of the image.Texas Instrument is a strong leader and will remain ahead for at least 4 years as it is pursuing a vigorous campaign to make sure that consumers know the DLP brand.
The makers of LCD-microdisplay systems have responded by launching an industry-education effort, the 3LCD Group. Formed by Epson, Fujitsu, Hitachi, Sanyo, Panasonic, and Sony, the group will be promoting the approach and using its 3LCD logo in an effort to form technology brand awareness to counter TI's DLP.
Outside RPTVs and projection, promising applications are emerging. The most interesting one could be micro displays for portable applications (such as the iMoD technology from QUALCOMM). Micro displays based on MEMS technologies are becoming more and more important and if QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies (QMT) is able to introduce a new display on the market, we will certainly see a stronger growth after 2008.
Longer term applications also include HUDs, HMDs, AFS…
The new MEMS4Display 06 report is presenting:
- The current trends and markets for MEMS
- The different MOEMS applications
- A specific analysis on the MEMS-based microdisplays
- Projection and RPTV market forecasts
- Other DMD applications
- MEMS-based microdisplay competition
- The future of RPTV: LEDs and lasers
- A analysis and short description of the different players
- Analysis per micro-mirrors application : portable applications, future applications
- …
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Market forecasts analysis of the competition, different applications with a specific analysis on theMEMS-based microdisplays.