First of all, front and rear projection systems (LCoS and DLP) are the prime targets for their backlights to be replaced. Currently, ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) lamps are used for these systems. Lasers on the other hand are better for front/rear projection systems. Lasers have a very large color gamut, high brightness, high power conversion efficiency, and long lifetimes. What that means is that a laser-based backlight will generate really nice colors, will be very bright, consume very relatively little energy and will last a very long time.

Arasor and Novalux began work on the laser TV project nearly two years ago and found interest among TV makers who were seeking alternative technologies to plasma and LCD for flat panel displays. Consumers have favored LCD because the displays are cheaper than plasma flat screens.

Families that still watch the old-fashioned and bulky CRT (cathode ray tube) TVs also will have more choices when they are ready to upgrade. Laser technology can produce twice the color content that can be generated by LCD or plasma, said Greg Niven, vice president of marketing at Novalux, based in Sunnyvale, California, which has raised $32.2 million in two rounds since its inception in 1998.

One major claim of laser advocates is the ability to produce undiluted, perfect colors allowing precise hue mixing. With the color enhancement capable with lasers, up to 90% of the spectrum that is currently unviewable could be regained. Other improvements that laser advocates claim are bulbs that will never blow out, and increased efficiency by using two-thirds less power than traditional rear projection televisions. Historically, however, lasers have been too bulky and expensive for widespread adoption.

The laser technology advocates claim that the technology will allow displays with a richer, more vibrant color palette than the conventional plasma, LCD or CRT displays.

They also claim the displays will:

* be half the weight and cost of Plasma or LCD displays
* require around 25% of the power required by Plasma or LCD displays
* be very thin like Plasma and LCD displays are today
* have a very wide colour gamut
* have a 50,000 hour life

Left you see a Laser-TV with Novalux and Arasor components at the right a Plasma-TV

Up to eight high profile manufacturers are looking to invest in the technology while Mitsubishi, already a popular manufacturer of consumer electronics, announced it will be bringing a Laser TV to market in the US in the second half of 2008.

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