Intel delays HDTV market debut

Intel has delayed its planned entry into the widescreen high-definition television (HDTV) market until next year.

The company had intended to begin volume production of its one-megapixel Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) chips - code-named Cayley - later this year, aiming to use them to bring the cost of a 60in display screen below $2,000.

LCOS technology sandwiches a layer of liquid crystal between a cover glass and a highly reflective, mirror-like surface patterned with pixels, sitting on top of a silicon chip. These layers form a microdisplay that can be used in projection displays such as large-screen, rear-projection TVs.

"The LCOS digital silicon market segment is in a nascent stage," said an Intel spokesman in a statement

"Because technology transitions are happening very quickly we are evolving our product development plans and won't bring our initial product to market this year.

"The trend towards digital TV is inevitable and we're bullish about the silicon opportunities that exist and remain committed to this emerging area."

Intel could be holding fire in order to keep pace with changes in chip design. At the launch of Cayley, the company stated that LCOS chips would develop in line with Moore's Law - so multi-megapixel chips have not been ruled out.

Similar chips are produced by Texas Instruments, which is also planning a two-megapixel LCOS chip.