| World's first "pico projector" debuts -- but where's the Linux? |
May 02, 2008
 Sunlink International has announced a Windows CE-based PMP (personal media player) with a built-in "pico projector." The battery-operated, index card-sized "SunView Mobile PMP" features an adjustable-focus FLC (ferroelectric liquid crystal) projector claimed capable of casting a 54-inch VGA (640x480) image up to two meters (6.5 feet).
(Click here for a larger view of Sunlink's SunView)
The SunView represents a collaboration between Sunlink and iView Limited, integrating the latter's IPL630 projection module. The IPL630 module comprises a light source of unspecified type that is aimed through a 640x480 display panel from Displaytech. The Displaytech panel uses "fast-switching" Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal (FLC) technology, said to "eliminate" motion smears, while providing extremely high resolution for its size. Rather than using separate pixels for red, green, and blue, FLC allows for full-spectrum in each pixel, enabling higher resolutions than panel displays based on AMLCDs (active-matrix liquid crystal diodes).
FLC (left) and "typical active-matrix LCD" on right
(Source: Displaytech. Click to enlarge)
With adjustable focus, and a resolution of 640 x 480, the project has enough muscle to cast a 54-inch diagonal image two meters (6.5 feet). The companies do not specify its brightness, however, suggesting that you'll probably need to pull the curtains.
The SunView "pico" projector comes with a remote control
(Click to enlarge)
The SunView comes with an infrared remote control, mono speaker, and buttons that turn it on and off or put it to sleep. It also has a 3.5-inch touchscreen display with 320 x 240 resolution, allowing the operator to review images before they are projected.
Based on Windows CE 5.0, the device includes Microsoft Office viewers that let it display PowerPoint, Word, and Excel documents. It can also play video in WMV, AVI, and MPEG formats, still photos in BMP and JPEG formats, and MP3, WMA, or WAV audio files. Judging from the device's hardware specifications, however, there's no reason it shouldn't be able to run embedded Linux just fine, assuming that the bootloader is not locked to a single OS.
The SunView uses a Samsung S3C2440A processor clocked at 400MHz, plus 64MB of RAM and 32MB of flash storage. It also includes a USB 1.1 client port, but the main way of getting content onto the device is likely to be its SD expansion slot. Sunlink provides no word on whether the slot tops out at standard 2GB cards, or supports high-capacity "SDHC" cards. However, it wouldn't be difficult for a presenter to simply carry multiple cards.
Power is provided by a rechargeable 1200mAh lithium-polymer battery, and a green LCD on the SunView flashes when it needs recharging. Sunlink didn't provide information on battery life. The device also accepts power from an external AC-to-DC "wall wart."
Features and specifications listed by Sunlink for the SunView include:- Processor -- Samsung S3C244A clocked at 400MHz
- Memory -- 64MB RAM, 32MB ROM
- Displays:
- 320 x 240 pixel touchscreen
- 640 x 480 pixel projector, with manual focus, usable up to 6.5 feet (2 meters)
- Storage -- SD expansion slot
- Compatible media:
- PowerPoint, Word, and Excel documents
- WMV, AVI and MPEG video
- BMP and JPEG photos
- MP3, WMA, or WAV audio
- Battery type -- 1200mAH lithium-polymer battery
- Dimensions -- 5.3 x 3.1 x 1 inches
- Weight -- n/a
Sunlink showed the SunView at last month's Hong Kong Electronics Fair, but has yet to announce pricing, distribution details, or any plans to port the device to Linux. Further information on iView's projector modules may be available from that company's website, here.
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