Osram signs laser TV deal with Coherent

LONDON — Lighting firm Osram GmbH has signed a licensing agreement allowing it to use Optically Pumped Semiconductor Laser (OPSL) technology from Coherent Inc. for consumer laser-based projection displays for use in laser-TV and so called "pocket projectors" for hand-held devices.

The license allows Osram (Munich, Germany) to develop and deploy red, green, and blue (RGB) lasers using intellectual property from Coherent (Santa Clara, Calif.).

"Coherent has developed and shipped multi-watt RGB lasers and demonstrated laser projection television utilizing our OPSL technology. We believe Osram is an excellent technology partner with the resources and business model necessary to develop this technology for the next phase of the consumer display market," said John Ambroseo, Coherent's president and chief executive officer, in a statement.

Osram is one of the two leading lighting manufacturers in the world. Sales in the year ending September 30, 2006 totaled 4.6 billion euros (about $6.0 billion). Osram employs more than 40,000 people worldwide, supplies customers in approximately 150 countries and has 49 production facilities in 18 countries.