Microvision Announces Availability of Evaluation Kit for MicroHUD Head-Up Display -- HUD -- System
BOTHELL, Wash.--Aug. 2, 20044, 2004--| Evaluation kit will allow customers and developers to work with the world's only laser-scanning Head-up Display |
Microvision, Inc. announced today the commercial availability of an evaluation kit featuring its new, compact MicroHUD(TM) head-up display system. The system is a head-up display engineering prototype created to enable users to evaluate the unique benefits of laser scanning technology in a variety of head-up display applications. According to Microvision, because of the small size of its Head-up display package, the system can potentially be applied to both OEM and after-market opportunities. Potential uses include automobiles, light and heavy trucks, rail, public transit, public safety and law enforcement, light aircraft, marine vessels, construction and mining equipment and defense vehicles and equipment.
The MicroHUD evaluation kit, which is available for under $100,000 depending upon quantities ordered, comes packaged in a rugged handheld carrying case containing a projection head unit and a control electronics unit. The head unit contains a laser scanning projection engine utilizing Microvision's third generation, open-air MEMS scanner and a unique proprietary optical design. A red laser diode illumination source provides completely speckle-free high-resolution imagery that is fully readable in bright sunlight and provides greater background transparency in low ambient, or night, conditions than competing backlit displays. The control electronics contain a battery; a Windows CE thin client computer and an 802.11b wireless link, enabling the MicroHUD evaluation kit to be completely portable and easily compatible with a broad range of computer hardware. The MicroHUD evaluation kit can be set up with either a car HUD windscreen or a separate optical combiner element that is included with the system.
"We started our work on HUDs under development contracts to BMW and VW/Audi who have very demanding requirements with respect to performance, package and price," said Todd McIntyre, Microvision's senior vice president of business development, "and we've been successful achieving a combination of these features that is unique in the industry. However, we've created something that can potentially address the need of both OEM and aftermarket customers in many other markets as well. We are already in a position to move down the price curve very aggressively for the evaluation kit even with moderate volumes. This can potentially be a uniquely affordable solution for a range of smaller commercial and private aircraft applications. With GPS and telematics becoming more prevalent in vehicles used in everything from defense to commercial trucking and construction, there are a growing number of potential new applications for a compact head-up display solution. We have already sold advanced MicroHUD prototypes to 3 automotive OEMs and 3 Tier 1 automotive suppliers, and we think it makes great sense to start letting more prospective customers get a first-hand look at the unique advantages of a laser scanning head-up display solution. We are making this easy to buy, easy to set up or install and easy to use, so I think there's a good chance we will see increased interest from a variety of sources."
According to McIntyre, the MicroHUD evaluation kit was developed in response to interest from a variety of customers seeking an affordable high-performance head-up display contained in the smallest package in the industry. Laser scanning offers important performance advantages over flat panel display technology including: exceptionally high contrast ratios especially at night, high resolution, high color saturation, and minimal thermal heat dissipation.
"We think this tool is going to provide an opportunity for customers to work with the system in their own application environments, to learn its advantages and to have a meaningful dialogue with us about price and performance requirements for volume production."
About Microvision: www.microvision.com
Headquartered in Bothell, Washington, Microvision Inc. is the world leader in the development of high-resolution displays and imaging systems based on the company's proprietary silicon micro-mirror technology. The company's technology has applications in a broad range of military, medical, industrial, professional and consumer products.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this release, including future product benefits, product applications, potential market opportunities, potential product performance and pricing, are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the company's forward-looking statements include the following: our ability to raise additional capital when needed; market acceptance of our technologies and products; our financial and technical resources relative to those of our competitors; our ability to keep up with rapid technological change; our dependence on the defense industry and a limited number of government development contracts; government regulation of our technologies; our ability to enforce our intellectual property rights and protect our proprietary technologies; the ability to obtain additional contract awards; the timing of commercial product launches and delays in product development; the ability to achieve key technical milestones in key products; dependence on third parties to develop, manufacture, sell and market our products; potential product liability claims and other risk factors identified from time to time in the company's SEC reports, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.