Projector makers

Lite-On Technology (based in Taiwan) is a provider of innovative products including imaging products, enclosures, power supplies and LEDs. Lite-On has over 35,000 employees and 37 factories worldwide.

Lite-On is developing LCoS pico-projector modules and stand-alone projectors on an ODM basis. They hope to start shipping modules in Q2 or Q3 2010.

Lite-On's web site

3M is fundamentally a science-based company, producing thousands of imaginative products: from health care and highway safety to office products and abrasives and adhesives. 3M has over $25 billion in sales annually, and are traded in the NYSU (ticker: MMM).

3M have an active pico-projection program, with 3 generations already released, all based on LCoS technology. 3M were one of the first companies to actually offer a pico projector, the MPro-110. In August 2009 they have released their 2nd generation projector, the MPro-120 (here's our review), and have recently added the MPro-150 (here's our review).

You can follow 3M Pico Projector news here.

3M's web site

Microvision is a public company based in the US with around 150 employees, focused on display systems. Microvision has developed their own laser-beam-steering pico projection engine, the PicoP.

Microvision is also offering two stand alone pico projectors, the Show WX plus and the older Show WX classic.

You can read the latest pico-projector news from Microvision here.

Microvision's web site

Optoma makes projectors, using TI's DLP technology, and is also producing pico-projector modulse, including the PK-100, the PK-101 (219$), the PK-102, the PK-301 and the PK 201. The PK-201 and PK-301 use TI's second-gen pico-projector DLP chip.

In October 2009, we have interviewed Optoma's director of product and marketing. You can read pico-projector news from Optoma here.

Optoma's web site