What is so difficult about LCoS?
by Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Mar 13th 2006 at 4:00PM
LCoS is all the rage today in the world of projection
TVs, between American's
Favorite Sony SXRD and JVC's D-ILA. ExtremeTech even did a shootout recently of some of the latest
LCoS TV's. It is now a major contender for most consumers who are considering a projection TV today. LCoS hasn't always been all peaches and cream, for years fortunes were lost in attempt to cash in on this promising technology. Thompson was the first to to give up after releasing a commercial LCoS in 2001. The next to attempt to realize the dream was Toshiba, as well as Phillips and Mitsubishi. Intel even announced that they would produce LCoS chips at CES 2004, only to cancel those plans 10 months later. The most recent to announce that they were canceling their plans was LG, only 6 months after the annoncement.
We all know the great benefits of LCoS, but what makes them so difficult to produce?
Thanks Warren!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MadcapMagician @ Mar 13th 2006 5:17PM
Here's some help for ya'... I have no idea... :)
James @ Mar 13th 2006 7:28PM
I don't really care if it is difficult as long as somebody can do it at a price I'm willing to pay. I have an unnatural love for my 60" SXRD right now. I've got to get back to watching it...
Ken @ Mar 14th 2006 1:31AM
Sony sure did well on their SXRD's - I cannot believe others have not jumped on board (other than JVC - and I have not seen their 1080p's)
Z @ Mar 14th 2006 2:17AM
Three words Yield and Color Uniformity. The first manufactures had issues with chips changing color over time. I have the Sony SXRD, I'm on my second light engine and I'm still not happy. Check http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=636342&page=16&pp=30 for a hint. Green and Pink snow during the Olympics just isn't cool!
Mike @ Mar 14th 2006 2:31AM
Heat, consistency in production,and quality persistence due the heat. As you may know, LCoS degrades over time where blue color goes kaput. Some manufacturers did overcome the problem, some could not. LG might be in the latter list.
Also, BOM ( bill of material ) to make an LCOS is higher than other technologies, namely DLP. While DLP can use a single DMD chip with a color wheel, LCD can on only be of use with 3 panels - 1 for each color. Those are the main difficulties.
J @ Mar 14th 2006 8:32AM
the deposition step for layering the LCOS has a very high warping/failure rate. yields on LCOS chips are actually pretty low for Sony and JVC. Improvements to the yield are supposedly costly. Word has it that Brillian (now syntax brillian) has a very high yield process due to some proprietary technique and i think they had the highest rating for a consumer level LCOS (nobody's gonna buy a $30,000 jvc)
HDTV_Watcher @ Mar 14th 2006 6:40PM
LG is just delaying the roll out of the LCoS to US Markets. They did not give up on LCoS.
The are selling the TVs in Australia.
From LG's LCoS Provider:
We expect to deliver approximately 1,000 LCoS Sets to our largest OEM customer, LG Electronics for its LCoS televisions in Australia and Korea over the next month and we're targeted to deliver the balance of the current open purchase order to them during this summer," he said. "Our cell test yields, as measured against fully agreed upon specifications with our customers, are now consistent at the 50 percent level and, although not as high as we would like, yields continue to increase. In addition, we have now finished the transfer of our entire production line from our Petaluma, California facility to our South Korean manufacturing plant. At full deployment, this plant will have a capacity of 28,000 LCoS microdisplay chipsets per month and has been designed for phased expansion ultimately to a capacity of up to 120,000 microdisplay chipsets per month."
Randy Winters @ Mar 15th 2006 12:27PM
Any company walking away from uncounted millions invested in LCOS technology can only be due to costs and quality. We still have not heard clear honest answers From these manufacturers.
LCOS has a film like appearance that no single chip DLP can match at this time.
Sony has proven without any doubt that LCOS will remain the industry standard for the immediate future.
Ask any professional who calibrates these TV's for an opinion.