MicroDisplay

About MicroDisplay

MicroDisplay Corporation, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Fremont, California, was an integrated design manufacturer of microdisplay products based on Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) technology. As a reported spin-off from MIT, the company focused on developing semiconductor display products for the consumer electronics market. Over its operational history, MicroDisplay developed twenty-two LCOS microdisplays and seven microdisplay controllers, establishing itself as a commercial producer of single-panel LCOS microdisplay technology.

The company's strategic focus was on providing high-performance, mass consumer-priced components, particularly targeting the rear-projection High Definition digital television (HDTV) market. Its E-series single-panel LCOS microdisplay was specifically aimed at this sector. LCOS technology functions by using a liquid crystal layer on top of a silicon wafer, which acts as a reflector, to modulate light and create images. This technology was a key component for applications like HDTVs and miniature information displays for portable devices.

MicroDisplay secured significant financial backing, raising a total of $18 million in a Series C funding round on January 13, 2004. This investment round included participation from notable institutional investors such as August Capital, Mobius Venture Capital, and Nokia. Despite its technological developments and financial backing, the company is now considered deadpooled.