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Every project supported by Gebert Rüf Stiftung is made accessible with a web presentation that informs about the core data of the project. With this public presentation, the foundation publishes the funding results achieved and contributes to the communication of science to society.

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Micro-projection System

Editorial

Für den Inhalt der Angaben zeichnet die Projektleitung verantwortlich.

Cooperation

Dieses von der Gebert Rüf Stiftung geförderte Projekt wird von folgenden weiteren Projektpartnern mitgetragen: EPFL, Lemoptix.

Project data

  • Project no: GRS-021/08 
  • Amount of funding: CHF 180'000 
  • Approved: 29.10.2008 
  • Duration: 12.2008 - 12.2010 
  • Area of activity:  Venture Kick, seit 2007

Project management

Project description

Video projection systems are now widely used for professional and home purposes. This project aims to develop a new paradigm for projection system, based on single analog MEMS scanning micro-mirror technology instead of matrix of millions of digital mirrors currently used in these systems. This technology will result in a considerable miniaturization as compared to existing solutions. Projectors will then become embeddable, and could be placed into any mobile device such as mobile phone or portable computers. Due to the use of laser source, the projector brightness is strongly increased and then become ideal for application in very bright environment. The first application that will be tested in the frame of the project is the use of such MEMS projector for surgery application: vital information about the patient will be projected directly within the physicist’s scope of vision in order to increase his response time and decrease the surgery time.

What is special about the project?

The project bridged the gap between basic research phase that have been done on MEMS scanning micro-mirrors and implement it in a more complex value-added system: a micro-projector. The project was truly multi-disciplinary; it enabled collaboration re-enforcement, synergy and exchange of knowhow between laboratory partners, active in very different technical fields (optics, electronics, MEMS). The project was a joined collaboration between LMIS4 and GR-KA EPFL laboratories, the HES-so Sion and Lemoptix SA.

Status/Results

The project achievements were above expectations as full color VGA resolution MEMS-based laser microprojector has been successfully developed within the project duration. Real condition testing of the projector at the CHUV for surgery application were successful and the first Microprojector product will be release on the market for medical/surgery and industrial application by beginning of 2011.

Publications

D. Raboud, T. Barras, F. Lo Conte, L. Fabre, L. D. Kilcher and N. Abelé, “MEMS based color-VGA micro-projector system” Eurosensors XXIV, Linz, Austria, September 5-8, 2010;
Christophe Winter, Laurent Fabre, Fabrizio Lo Conte, Lucio Kilcher, Nicolas Abelé, “Micro-Beamer Based on MEMS Micro-Mirrors and Laser Light Source”, Eurosensors 2009;
Gerhard Lammel, Sandra Schweizer, Philippe Renaud, Optical Microscanners and Microspectrometers Using Thermal Bimorph Actuators, 2002, book ISBN-10: 0792376552;
F. Khechana, H. van Lintel, J.L. Massieu, S. Ackley, P. Renaud, Thermally actuated micro scanner for barcode reader applications, IEEE Optical MEMS and Their Applications, pp. 57-58, 2005;
S. Schweizer, P. Cousseau, G. Lammel, S. Calmes, and P. Renaud, Two-dimensional thermally actuated optical microprojection, SENSORS AND ACTUATORS A-PHYSICAL, vol. 85, no. 1-3, pp. 424-429, 2000.

Media

RSR, La Première, «On en parle», 18/02/2010, «un micro-projecteur»;
24Heures, 14/09/2009, «Lemoptix s’apprête à équiper les téléphones de mini-projecteurs»;
Inno-swiss, 30/06/2009, «Lemoptix, développeur de micro projecteurs miniatures, attire des Business Angels dans son capital»;
World Radio Switzerland (WRS), 18/09/2009.

Links

Persons involved in the project

Dr. Nicolas Abelé, Projektleiter, nicolas.notexisting@nodomain.comabele@epfl.notexisting@nodomain.comch
Philippe Renaud, EPFL-STI-IMM-LMIS4, Station 17, 1015 Lausanne, Tel: 021 693 25 96, philippe.notexisting@nodomain.comrenaud@epfl.notexisting@nodomain.comch
Marco Boella, Lemoptix SA, Chemin des saules 1, 1185 Mont-sur-Rolle, Tel: 079 200 42 00, marco.notexisting@nodomain.comboella@lemoptix.notexisting@nodomain.comcom

Last update to this project presentation  03.12.2020