Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) RPTVs (also D-ILA or SXRD)

Technology Overview & Description

One of the newer rear-projection display technologies, LCOS (or LCoS) is similar to LCD and consists of a liquid crystal layer which sits on top of a pixelated, highly reflective substrate. Below the substrate exists another layer containing the electronics to activate the pixels. This assembly is combined into a panel and packaged for use in a projection subsystem. Currently LCOS light valves are manufactured in 1280 x 768 (720p) and 1920 x 1080 (1080p) chip configurations (among others), with 4K (3480 x 2048) systems also being readied for professional markets (Sony already has two SXRD units on the market with 4096 x 2160 resolution.) Pick a resolution, any resolution...

LCOS is a reflective LCD display panel with high open area ratio. Basically, by placing the wiring area and switching elements under the reflection layer, there is no black matrix area - so it is possible to view a near-seamless image. LCOS systems can be created as 1 chip and 3 chip systems.

At the moment (meaning the next 15 minutes), LCOS technology is fairly competitive in terms of price and performance advantages compared to LCD and DLP systems. Pixels on LCOS panels can be made smaller than is possible with most other microdisplay technologies, without compromising picture quality or manufacturability. LCOS displays can be scaled to 1080i/p resolution (1920x1080 pixels) and beyond, without increasing the size and cost of the panel and other optical components in the light engine.

What's Next

The future, we hope, now that manufacturer Syntax-Brillian has entered the picture and picked up where Intel dropped the ball. Better, faster, cheaper. LCOS technology is still relatively expensive compared to LCD and DLP, and with Intel opting out of mass production in 2004 that can be expected to remain for some time. This means that HDTVs based on LCOS technology may remain more expensive than the competition. Right now the main players are JVC, Philips, Sony and Syntax-Brillian (with a one-off from Mitsubishi and a couple front projection products from Canon) so we'll have to look out to see how effectively they manufacture and market their products.

Despite a lot of hoopla, Sony Electronics actually seems to be driving this market single-handedly - at least as far as the consumer market is concerned. While companies like Brillian continue to post endless press releases of financials and new marketing initiatives (including the acquisition of Syntax Groups and the Olevia brand or LCD TVs) the name recognition is through SXRD and Sony.

LCOS Display Advantages

• Excellent color reproduction
• Excellent contrast ratios
• High resolutions
• No "screen door" effect
• No screen burn-in issues

LCOS Display Disadvantages

• Fairly expensive
• Limited manufacturers (costs don't get driven down as quickly)
  
• No sign of wide market penetration, indicating higher prices for the long haul (see above)
  

Philips 55PL9773 Cineos LCOS Television