Thursday, December 19, 2013

MVIS Heads Up Display


On the road: A mock-up shows a driver’s view of Microvision’s head-up display.
Head-up displays, which project visual data onto the windshield and the driver’s view of the road, are debuting in a growing number of car models. But more vibrant, compact, and efficient displays being developed by Microvision, a company based in Redmond, Washington, could help the technology become much more common. 
Japan’s Pioneer Corporation plans to release its first head-up display product based on Microvision’s novel technology this year. Major carmakers in Detroit are also planning to integrate the technology into their vehicles by 2016, says Lance Evans, a director of business development at the company. Microvision’simage projector relies on semiconductor lasers and a microscopic mirror. 


The company’s head-up display is already in some concept cars but has so far been too costly for commercial models, says Evans. Now, falling prices of green lasers—a significant cost component of the display—should make the technology competitive with conventional displays, he says. 
 Most existing head-up displays generate images using LCDs. Light-emitting diodes produce light and liquid crystal arrays act as shutters, controlling whether or not light reaches each pixel. This approach drains power, and the images often aren’t bright enough to be visible in daylight. Newer displays use either liquid crystal devices or hundreds of tiny mirrors to reflect light onto each pixel. While more energy efficient, these displays are still not very bright. 
 Microvision’s system uses a set of three lasers—red, green and blue—and a single, millimeter-wide silicon mirror that tilts on two axes. The lasers put out light at different intensities, and the three colors are mixed to produce the final pixel color. As the lasers shine light on the mirror, it rapidly scans horizontally and vertically, painting the image onto the windshield one pixel at a time. This happens so fast that the image looks static. Evans says that the lasers’ pure, saturated colors result in more vivid images with a higher contrast ratio, so they are visible in daylight. Illuminating one pixel at a time also saves energy. And the use of a single mirror rather than an array makes the device smaller, simpler, and cheaper. 
 The final cost of Microvision’s product will hinge on the price tag of advanced green lasers. Materials for true green lasers have traditionally been difficult to engineer, so most green lasers contain semiconductors that emit infrared light, which is converted to green using complicated optics. In the past few years, though, half a dozen key players, such as Nichia,Osram Opto Semiconductors, and Soraa, have developed cheaper pure-green lasers. They’re slowly scaling up production, which should lower costs. Evans expects that costs should fall to a tenth of current levels by the end of this year. 
“Green lasers alone are $200 each now,” he says. “Car companies are looking at the whole display to be that much.” Microvision’s laser-scanning display technology beats its competitors in terms of image quality, says Krishna Jayaraman, an analyst at Frost & Sullivan
While other companies are also developing laser-based head-up displays, Microvision was the first to propose the approach and has a technology lead. Chris Chinnock, president of the display market research firm Insight Media, points out that mobile connectivity is on the rise, and drivers need more and more information to be displayed in the least distracting way possible. That means the head-up display market for cars could be on the cusp of significant growth.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

"Desk Free Computer" from Apple

With Laser Powered projector and wireless charging.


Desk-Free

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday awarded Apple a patent for a completely wireless portable computer that uses a projection system, rather than a conventional LCD display, as its primary mode of visual output. 

Monday, December 16, 2013

Just because this looks REALLY cool

Beam of darkness makes objects invisible from a distance




A research team from the University of Singapore has developed a device that can make objects invisible by bathing them in a beam of darkness.
The system takes the conventional approach to optics -- which generally aims to make images as sharp and clear as possible -- and turns it completely on its head. Usually imaging systems focus light into a pattern known as a point spreading function, which consists of a spiked central region of high intensity (the main lobe) surrounded by a concentric region of lower intensity light and a higher intensity lobe after this. In order to achieve the best resolution, the central region should be narrowed and intensified, while the outer lobe is supressed. This makes sure that the image is very bright and sharp with well-defined edges.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Hud for Ski-goggles from Recon Instruments.

  • See the website Here:
    Dual Core CPU. Bluetooth. Wifi. ANT+. GPS. High Resolution Display.Speed is accurately calculated by GPS and barometric pressure data
  • Jump analytics show airtime either in the park, or backcountry kickers
  • Track your vertical feet by run, by day and over the course of the season
  • The onboard altimeter tracks your altitude to within 1 meter
  • Find your way around new resorts and easily track down points of interest
  • Never lose track of friends or family on the slopes again
  • View calls and read text messages immediately, as you receive them
  • Be in full control of your favourite tunes as you ski or board

Thursday, December 5, 2013

New Smartphone Batteries


Advanced Lithium/Sulfur Cells Developed for Smartphone Batteries

Posted on Dec 1 2013 - 10:00pm by Giancarlo Perlas


Advanced LithiumSulfur Cell Developed for Smartphone Batteries

The most commonly used Smartphone batteries are Lithium-ion-based (Li-Ion). Some variations of this type of battery also exist like the Li-Po or the Lithium-ion Polymer used by the iPhone 5. But a new battery that runs on lithium and sulfur cells might become a game-changer in the future.
According to a new report from Gizmag, a new kind of battery has been discovered. This new material is made up of advanced Lithium/Sulfur cells and is known with the abbreviation Li/S. The revolutionary invention was made by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Advantages of Li/S Cells for Smartphone Batteries

Based on the news, the advanced Li/S offers a unique combination of enhanced power, faster recharge speed, more durability and increased energy capacity.
Gizmag explained that the increased energy-storage capacity is made possible by the two electrons produced each time a molecule is processed through the battery’s structure. Then, its composition of lithium anode, carbon-sulfur cathode and electrolyte enables it to produce approximately 1.7 to 2.5 volts depending on the charge state of the cell. The voltage produced is double the amount of current that the usual Li-Ion battery gives off.
Looking at the advantages stated by the report, Smartphone batteries with Li/S cells will surely address one of the top Smartphone problems users which is related to the quick draining of the battery.

Read more at http://thedroidguy.com/2013/12/advanced-lithiumsulfur-cells-developed-for-smartphone-batteries/#66ErzBcGyqg8Xtbi.99