08 Aug 2012

ST acquires projection technology developer, bTendo

STMicroelectronics has acquired the intellectual property and hired most of the staff of Israeli-based start-up, bTendo, to accelerate the propagation of video-sharing market for smartphones and other portable consumer devices.

ST had previously worked with bTendo, to combine the start-up's Scanning Laser Projection engine with ST’s MEMS, video processing and semiconductor process technologies and has now produced evaluation samples for integration into next-generation smartphones, digital cameras and laptops.

The Scanning Laser Projection engine produces a focus-free high-resolution output that, ST says, will allow users to display their video, pictures and presentations virtually anywhere.

The engine is said to provide the smallest foot print available in the market with the best efficiency, and meets the toughest mobile-makers design requirements. The module is smaller than 1.7cm3 and less than 5mm high.

“We’re making pico-projectors small, power-friendly, and convenient enough to suit smart phones, digital cameras and laptops,” said Benedetto Vigna, Executive Vice President and General Manager of ST’s Analog, MEMS and Sensors Group. ”Combining ST’s IP and technical expertise with bTendo’s Scanning Laser Projection engine is enabling us to meet the demands of the emerging market of embedded projectors in next-generation portable consumer devices while preparing to simultaneously open up new markets.”

Underscoring ST’s efforts in this area, Pacific Media Associates, a leading projector-market research firm, forecasts the market for pico-projectors to expand to 58 million units in 2015, up from about 3 million units shipped in 2011, a compound annual growth rate of more than 80%.

According to ST, its acquisition of bTendo’s IP and expertise leverages the strong progress of the companies’ existing joint-development efforts and positions the company to fully benefit from this significant market growth.

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