The Academy's Scientific and Technical Awards are given to companies and engineers who have developed significant technologies that have contributed to the motion picture industry.

Five of Nichia's LD engineers involved in the development of the blue and green laser light sources used in laser projection systems for movie theaters have been awarded in the category of "Technical Achievement Award".

Nichia's blue and green laser diodes have been widely adopted in laser projection systems for movie theaters, and Nichia's contribution to their widespread use has been highly regarded.

From the left:
 Tsuyoshi Hirao (Development of the LD chip)
 Tomonori Morizumi (Development of the reliability technology)
 Yoshitaka Nakatsu (Development of the green LD)
 Kazuma Kozuru (Development of the package)
 Yoji Nagao (Development of the blue LD)

Cinema projector light sources are rapidly transitioning from conventional bulb-type lamps to Nichia's laser diode sources, a new technology developed specifically for the cinema industry, thus the background of Nichia's award and recognition. A variety of reasons justify this shift, including:

Long Lifetime

Laser diodes have a longer lifetime compared to lamp-based light sources, significantly reducing the frequency of replacements. This not only cuts down on operational costs and maintenance efforts but also reduces the amount of waste generated, thereby lessening the environmental impact.

High Image Quality

Laser diodes offer a wider color gamut, achieving more vivid colors and deeper blacks. The high contrast ratio makes images clearer and more realistic, enhancing the visual experience.

Brightness

Laser diodes can emit very bright light, enabling clear projection of images on large screens. This allows cinemas to offer a more impressive movie experience.

Stable Light Output

The long-lasting laser light source experiences less light output depreciation over time compared to lamp-based sources, ensuring greater stability. This leads to less deterioration in image quality and maintaining consistent video quality over a longer period of time.

Energy Saving

Laser diodes are more energy-efficient than conventional lamp-based light sources and can therefore reduce power consumption. This not only cuts down on operational costs but also reduces energy usage and carbon dioxide emissions, making it an excellent choice for minimizing environmental impact.

Quick Start-up and Shutdown

Laser diodes have a significantly faster start-up and shutdown time versus lamp-based light sources, reducing the preparation time for projectors.

High Installation Flexibility

Laser projectors can have a smaller cooling mechanism due to their low power consumption, making them more compact than conventional lamp-based projectors. Additionally, unlike lamp-type light sources, there are no restrictions on the installation direction, making the placement flexible and allowing for projection from various angles and positions. This increases flexibility in cinema spatial design.

The superior performance of laser projectors is not only utilized in cinemas but is also widely used to meet visual needs in various fields. Many applications are expanding for various reasons:

Many home projectors are equipped with Nichia’s laser light source. The laser products featured below utilize the same technology found in Nichia's Academy Award winning blue and green laser light sources.

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