Seiko Epson Corporation

In 1989, Epson commercialized 3-liquid crystal display projectors (3LCD projectors) using high temperature polysilicon (HTPS) TFT panels. From that point on, 3LCD projectors began to take the place of traditional 3-color CRT projectors due to their small size, light weight, and portability, in addition to their bright projection images.

In 1994, 3LCD projectors started to open up the new market of "data projectors", by satisfiying the demand for "PC-connected presentations". The market has grown into the current 促600 billion-plus projector business thanks to the outstanding development of HTPS and other optical technologies.

Figure 1 indicates the roadmap of HTPS and 3LCD projectors, and also shows the main optical technology making up the projector's key components in historical order on the map. Elements indicated with ▼ in the figure are the core technologies responsible for the higher density and higher resolution of HTPS.

* HTPS = High Temperature Poly-Silicon
* TFT= Thin Film Transistor

Reprinted from "Nikkei Microdevice" June 2008 issue, p73-81.

Road map of 3LCD projectors & HTPS

The history of Epson's HTPS and projectors in detail.

• Development Background
• The Progress of Technology
• The Future of Projection Technology