Lasers have a bright future in projection displays

Summary form only given. Solid-state visible lasers are a new technology that is experiencing the rapid improvements in cost/performance characteristic of the semiconductor industry. Within 3-4 years, these advances will produce reasonably priced red, green, and blue lasers that will be excellent candidates to replace conventional incandescent and gas arc lamp projection sources in large screen projection displays. These laser lamps can serve as "drop in" replacements for light valve illuminators or they can be directly scanned and projected in modulated raster beams.