Young Optics aims to ship pico-projector in mid-2008

Young Optics Incorporated (YOI) stated that it expects to begin shipping its pico-projector by the end of second quarter or the beginning of the third quarter, with the Taiwan-based maker of light engines building a device using Texas Instruments' (TI) technology and LED lighting.

The new product utilizes a DPL chip and RGB LED light module that consumes less than one watt and has a brightness of 7 lumens, according to Claude Hsu, president of YOI. He added that pico-projector revenue will account for 3% of the company's total revenues this year, and the proportion will increase further in 2009.

The company has previously looked to the rear projection TV market to drive its sales, but due to LCD TVs moving forward to larger sizes, the decline in Microdisplay (MD) RPTV shipments accelerated throughout 2007, resulting in a big drop in Young Optics revenues in the latter half of 2007. Therefore, the company is looking to decrease its shipment share of optical modules for TVs to 54% this year, down from 83% in 2007. In addition, the company will not ship electronic components any more. As for high-end optical engine products utilized in video walls, the company will increase the shipment share to 11% this year, up from 7% in 2007.

In related news, Aptek Optical, a supplier of aspherical optical lenses, has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Young Optical since the two companies completed the merger this February.

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