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MicroVision, Inc.

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FY2008 Annual Report · MicroVision, Inc.
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The Bigger Picture
2008 Annual Report

The SHOWWX™

Our pocket-sized pico 
projector, embedded with 
the PicoP® display engine.

On with the SHOW

Today’s mobile devices are tiny miracles—with the emphasis on tiny. Their video-play-

Going inside

ing power is amazing, but constrained by the necessarily small size of their displays.

Enter the SHOWWX™, our game-changing, pocket-sized pico projector that connects

to mobile devices and projects always-in-focus, DVD-resolution imagery on just about

any surface. In 2008, a prototype of the SHOWWX won raves for the size and clarity of

its picture. Next steps? Rolling out the SHOWWX for the consumer market as we also

work with our OEM partners to embed the PicoP® display engine into their products.

In 2008, we readied the
SHOWWX for the consumer
market. We’re also designing
our PicoP display engine to
be sold to Original Equipment
Manufacturers as an embedded
component for a wide variety
of mobile devices.

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

1

Dear Fellow Shareowner,

The year 2008 was a very productive

conditions and longer than expected

and reliability of our MEMS scanning

year for Microvision as we continued
to execute on our PicoP® commercial-
ization roadmap. We made tremen-

development and commercialization

mirror, resulting in: (i) unmatched

cycles by some of our key component

small font readability and viewing

suppliers—both of which delayed the

screen size versus the existing com-

dous progress on our goals to launch

full achievement of our planned

petitive offerings; (ii) a 25 percent

our first PicoP display engine enabled

objectives for the year.

reduction in the form factor versus

accessory projector and accelerate

the path to market for new PicoP-

enabled applications while carefully

managing operating expenses.

Despite these delays, the tireless

efforts of the Microvision team and

the growing enthusiasm of our OEM

and supply chain partners continue

We are focused on the big picture.

to support the level of energy and

We at Microvision want to fundamen-

optimism that have become synony-

tally change how people on the

mous with the kind of Microvision

move interact with, view and share

that I gave my commitment to build.

“ We at Microvision want to fundamentally change how people on the move

interact with, view and share information whether at home, in their cars or

in public places.”

earlier prototypes; and (iii) exceeding

drop test performance requirements

of the MEMS, one of the most critical

components of the PicoP display

engine. The company also com-

pleted ASIC electronics with world-

renowned electronics component

manufacturers to enable the initial

accessory product launch in 2009.

Supply Chain. We strengthened our
supply chain by engaging Asia

Optical, one of the world’s largest

manufacturers of digital cameras,

DVD engines, and electronics assem-

information whether at home, in their

I would like to reflect on some of

blies, to manufacture the PicoP dis-

cars or in public places. Everything

the key accomplishments achieved

play engine and first PicoP accessory

we do is intended to be aligned with

by this amazing Microvision team in

projector. We actively managed all

our vision of creating greater value

the past year.

for our shareholders and customers

by shaping positive and unforgetta-

ble experiences at every point of

contact with our company.

2008 Recap

Technology, Supply Chain,
Business Development

Technology. We made considerable
improvements to the PicoP platform

in the areas of image quality, optical

We made substantial progress on the

engine maturity, overall product size

objectives set early in 2008 in com-

key component suppliers, and while

we received delivery of next-genera-

tion green lasers for our customer trial

units in September, the green laser

suppliers experienced longer than

expected development and commer-

cialization cycles for this critical com-

ponent which forced us to delay our
accessory product launch plans.

pleting multiple cus-

tomer development,

technology, and

supply chain mile-

stones that are essen-

tial for bringing our

first PicoP-enabled

consumer product

to market. However,

2008 also brought

deteriorating economic

2

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

The PicoP display engine: In 2008, we further advanced the PicoP product

miniaturization and power reduction while continuously improving image

quality. Whether embedded into consumers’ mobility products, vehicle dis-

plays, innovative eyewear or other novel product design applications, the

PicoP display engine offers customers a new and valuable display capability.

Business Development. We began 
customer and user trials in late 2008 

display applications that aligned with 

our strategic roadmap. We also con-

Barcode Scanner. The barcode scan-
ner segment achieved 25 percent 

in order to finalize the accessory 

tinued to develop our laser barcode 

revenue growth over the prior year, 

product design. The trial units incor-

scanner business.

but sales were impacted by the dete-

porated several important advance-

ments including new-generation 

green lasers, an improved PicoP dis-

play engine and several critical image 

quality enhancements. The outcome 

of these initial customer trials and our 

progress during 2008 culminated in 

the successful delivery and demon-

stration of the company’s pre-pro-

duction ultra-miniature plug-and-play 

accessory pico projector code named 
SHOWWX™ at the MacWorld Expo, 
the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), 

and GSMA Mobile World Congress 

in early 2009. As a result of these 

demonstrations, we developed a core 

funnel of prospective OEM customers 

which include handset manufacturers 

and distributors, mobile operators, 

and large consumer electronics 

brands and distributors. 

We made commercially available the 

PicoP Evaluation Kits (PEKs) as part 

of our strategy to increase embed-

PicoP Automotive Display Applications. 

We developed PicoHUD, the first 

head-up display (HUD) demonstrator 

based on the PicoP display engine. 

PicoHUD is more than half the size, 

four times brighter and has almost 

fifteen times greater contrast com-

pared to existing best-in-class HUD 

solutions. These compact units are 

being marketed to global mobility 

players for aftermarket automotive 

applications such as navigation and 

telematics that facilitate improved 

driver situational awareness. During 

2008 we delivered HUD and instru-

ment cluster display (ICD) prototypes 

to several global automotive Tier 1 

integrators for vehicle embedded 

applications.

riorating economy. Our continued 

focus on product quality resulted in 

a dramatic improvement in the field 

return rate to less than 0.5 percent 

of all units shipped and improved 
production yield of the ROV™ bar-
code scanner to greater than 98 per-

cent. The cross-functional product 

development best practices created 

through the transformation of the 

barcode scanner segment in 2007 

have been adopted by the PicoP 

new product development programs.

2009 Priorities

Supported by our strong and grow-

ing brand reputation across an 

emerging marketplace, we expect 

2009 to be a pivotal year for us. 

“The tireless efforts of the Microvision team and the growing enthusiasm of 

our OEM and supply chain partners continue to support the level of energy 

and optimism that have become synonymous with the kind of Microvision 

ded product opportunities. PEKs 

that I gave my commitment to build.”

are designed to help prospective 

customers develop their own novel 
products which we expect will facili-

tate the creation of a new ecosystem 

of applications based upon our core 

technology.

Automotive Display, Wearable 
Display, Barcode Scanner

In 2008, we supported new business 

development opportunities for PicoP-

enabled automotive and wearable 

PicoP Wearable Displays. We signed 
contracts with two customers for 

development of a High Definition 

(HD) PicoP display engine, totaling 

$1.5 million. Microvision’s HD devel-

opment program is part of our ongo-

ing strategy to anticipate future mar-

ket needs and continually improve 

the PicoP platform. We also delivered 

on all ongoing eyewear government 

contracts and received new funding 

opportunities for 2009. 

Our priorities are crystal clear:

1. Launch the first PicoP-enabled 

accessory projector and begin to 

convert strong OEM interest into 

sustainable, profitable customer 

relationships.

2. Develop several opportunities 

for PicoP-embedded applications, 

including mobile phones for 
commercialization in 2010. 

3
Microvision 2008 Annual Report        3
Microvision 2008 Annual Report  

We have developed a core funnel

products, including still and video

On behalf of everyone at Microvision,

of prospective OEM customers

cameras, portable media players and

we look forward to continuing our

for the launch of a PicoP-enabled

mobile television players. As a result,

dialogue with you as we grow our

accessory product. We also plan

we have introduced new customer

business, take advantage of this

to implement a distribution strategy

tools such as PEKs to increase the

unique market opportunity and stay

for a Microvision-branded PicoP

business opportunities in these and

focused on the big picture.

accessory product to maximize

other application areas.

our go-to-market flexibility.

“ We developed a core funnel of prospective OEM customers which include

handset  manufacturers  and  distributors,  mobile  operators,  and  large  con-

sumer electronics brands and distributors.”

Thank you for your confidence and

support.

Sincerely,

We have streamlined our 2009 oper-

The opportunity in front of us is

ating plan by consolidating programs

very compelling. We have already

and are working to efficiently manage

welcomed a strategic supply chain

Alexander Y. Tokman
President and Chief Executive Officer

our resources through the economic

partner, Walsin Lihwa, as a new major

July 20, 2009

downturn.

During the past year we have seen

tremendous growth in the global

demand for pico projectors.

We are seeing increasing interest

in embedding pico projectors in

a growing number of consumer

investor in 2009. Walsin Lihwa’s

investment and public statements

in making the investment are in con-

cert with our belief that we are well

positioned to execute on this large

and emerging market opportunity.

Through hard work and solid execu-

tion of our plan, we believe we can

increase shareholder value.

4

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

Selected Financial Data—2008

A summary of selected financial data as of and for the five years ended December 31, 2008 is set forth below. It should be read in 
conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this annual report.

Years ended December 31
(in thousands, except per share data)

Statement of Operations Data

2008 

2007 

2006 

2005 

2004

Revenue

$  6,611 

$  10,484 

$  7,043 

$  14,746 

$  11,418

Net loss available for common shareholders 

  (32,620) 

  (19,787) 

  (27,257) 

  (30,284) 

  (33,543)

Basic and diluted net loss per share 

(0.53) 

(0.40) 

(0.81) 

(1.35) 

(1.56)

Weighted average shares outstanding, 

basic and diluted 

Balance Sheet Data

Cash and cash equivalents 

  61,643 

  49,963 

  33,572 

  22,498 

  21,493

$  25,533 

$  13,399 

$  14,552 

$  6,860 

$  1,268

Investments available-for-sale 

  2,705 

  22,411 

— 

— 

Working capital 

Total assets 

Long-term liabilities 

  24,347 

  30,043 

  19,160 

(4,723) 

  36,964 

  45,298 

  35,325 

  23,363 

  25,538

  1,776 

  2,201 

  2,616 

  4,412 

52

—

903

Mandatorily redeemable preferred stock 

— 

— 

— 

  4,166 

  7,647

Total shareholders’ equity (deficit) 

  27,651 

  33,061 

  21,864 

(3,509) 

  7,190

Statement of Operations data for 2004 includes financial information for our previously consolidated subsidiary Lumera. Lumera was deconsolidated in July 2004.

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
1420 Fifth Avenue 
Suite 1900 
Seattle, WA 98101 
Telephone (206) 398 3000 
Facsimile (206) 398 3100 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

To the Board of Directors 
and Shareholders of Microvision, Inc.: 

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated 
statements of operations, mandatory redeemable convertible preferred stock and shareholders’ equity, 
comprehensive loss and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of 
Microvision, Inc. at December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, and the results of their operations 
and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008 in conformity 
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  In addition, in our 
opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index presents fairly, in all 
material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related 
consolidated financial statements.  Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material 
respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria 
established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring 
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”).  The Company’s management is responsible 
for these financial statements and the financial statement schedule, for maintaining effective internal 
control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over 
financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over 
Financial Reporting.  Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, financial 
statement schedule and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our 
integrated audits.  We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company 
Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the 
audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material 
misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all 
material respects.  Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence 
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting 
principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial 
statement presentation.  Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an 
understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness 
exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on 
the assessed risk.  Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered 

6

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

    
necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our 
opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable 
assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for 
external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company’s internal 
control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the 
maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and 
dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are 
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally 
accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made 
only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide 
reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or 
disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect 
misstatements.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the 
risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of 
compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 
Seattle, Washington 
March 5, 2009 

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      7

Microvision, Inc. 
Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, except per share information) 

Asse ts

Current assets

  Cash and cash equivalents

  Investment securities, available-for-sale

  Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $57 and $123

  Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts

  Inventory

  Other current assets

    T otal current assets

  Property and equipment, net

  Restricted investments

  Other assets

      T otal assets

Liabilitie s and Share holde rs' Equity

Current liabilities

  Accounts payable

  Accrued liabilities

  Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts

  Liability associated with common stock warrants

  Current portion of capital lease obligations

  Current portion of long-term debt

    T otal current liabilities

  Capital lease obligations, net of current portion

  Long-term debt, net of current portion

  Deferred rent, net of current portion

    T otal liabilities

Commitments and contingencies 

Shareholders' Equity

  Common stock, par value $.001; 125,000 shares authorized; 68,080 and

  56,730 shares issued and outstanding

  Additonal paid-in capital

  Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

  Accumulated deficit

    T otal shareholders' equity

De ce mbe r 31,

2008

2007

$

25,533

$

$

$

2,705

537

695

1,525

889

31,884

3,701

1,332

47

36,964

$

3,487

$

3,545

62

331

41

71

7,537

45

322

1,409

9,313

-- 

68

319,662

(38)

(292,041)

27,651

13,399

22,411

1,885

443

761

1,180

40,079

4,047

1,125

47

45,298

2,146

4,154

970

2,657

44

65

10,036

88

393

1,720

12,237

-- 

57

292,374

51

(259,421)

33,061

45,298

      T otal liabilities and shareholders' equity

$

36,964

$

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 

8

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
    
Microvision, Inc. 
Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands, except per share information) 

Contract revenue

Product revenue

T otal revenue

Cost of contract revenue

Cost of product revenue

T otal cost of revenue

    Gross margin

Research and development expense

Sales, marketing, general and administrative expense

Gain on disposal of fixed assets

T otal operating expenses

Loss from operations

Interest income

Interest expense

Impairment of investment securities, available-for-sale

Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net

Other expense

Ye ars Ende d De ce mbe r 31,

2008

2007

2006

$

4,874

$

9,010

$

1,737

6,611

1,708

2,143

3,851

1,474

10,484

4,916

1,690

6,606

5,275

1,768

7,043

3,398

4,768

8,166

2,760

3,878

(1,123)

22,575

15,730

(5)

38,300

14,944

15,779

(117)

30,606

10,715

17,362

(198)

27,879

(35,540)

(26,728)

(29,002)

1,130

(48)

(300)

2,196

(58)

1,358

(513)

-- 

(483)

(27)

719

(5,753)

-- 

1,627

(23)

Net loss before Lumera transactions

(32,620)

(26,393)

(32,432)

Equity in losses of Lumera

Gain on sale of investment in Lumera

-- 

-- 

-- 

6,606

(290)

8,738

Net loss 

(32,620)

(19,787)

(23,984)

Stated dividend on mandatorily redeemable convertible preferred stock

Accretion to par value of preferred stock

Inducement for conversion of preferred stock

Net loss available for common shareholders

Net loss per share basic and diluted

-- 

-- 

-- 

-- 

-- 

-- 

(59)

(138)

(3,076)

$

$

(32,620) $

(19,787) $

(27,257)

(0.53) $

(0.40) $

(0.81)

Weighted-average shares outstanding basic and diluted

61,643

49,963

33,572

The accompanying notes are an integral part of consolidated financial statements. 

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      9

 
 
 
 
 
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Microvision 2008 Annual Report

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Microvision 2008 Annual Report      11

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Microvision, Inc. 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss (in thousands) 

Net loss

Other comprehensive gain (loss)

    Unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities, available-for-sale:

        Unrealized holding gain (loss) arising during period

        Less: reclassification adjustment for gains realized in net loss

        Net unrealized gain (loss)

Comprehensive loss

Years Ended December 31,

2008

2007

2006

$

(32,620) $

(19,787) $

(23,984)

(89)

-- 

(89)

(1,962)

(6,606)

(8,568)

17,357

(8,738)

8,619

$

(32,709) $

(28,355) $

(15,365)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 

12

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
Microvision, Inc.  
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands)  

Cash flows from ope rating activitie s

  Net loss

  Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operations:

    Depreciation

    Gain on disposal of fixed assets

    Non-cash expenses related to issuance of stock, warrants, and options,

     and amortization of deferred compensation

    Non-cash interest expense, net

    Loss (gain) on derivative instruments

    Impairment of short-term investment securities

    Inventory write-downs

    Allowance for receivables from related parties

    Equity in losses of Lumera

    Gain on sale of investment in Lumera

    Net accretion of discount on short-term investments

    Increase in deferred rent

    Non-cash deferred rent

  Change in:

    Accounts receivable

    Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts

    Inventory

    Other current assets

    Other assets

    Accounts payable

    Accrued liabilities

    Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts

Ye ars Ende d De ce mbe r 31,

2008

2007

2006

$

(32,620) $

(19,787) $

(23,984)

989

(5)

2,831

-- 

(2,196)

300

475

(241)

-- 

-- 

(97)

-- 

(275)

1,348

(252)

(1,239)

184

-- 

1,188

(642)

(908)

953

(117)

1,897

371

482

-- 

84

23

-- 

(6,606)

(80)

-- 

(277)

(719)

122

198

408

(6)

461

515

770

      Net cash used in operating activities

(31,160)

(21,308)

Cash flows from inve sting activitie s

  Sales of investment securities

  Purchases of investment securities

  Sales of restricted investment securities

  Purchases of restricted investment securities

  Decrease in restricted investment

  Decrease in restricted cash

  Collections of receivables from related parties

  Sale of long-term investment - Lumera

  Proceeds on sale of property and equipment

  Purchases of property and equipment

      Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

20,400

(986)

-- 

(350)

143

-- 

241

-- 

5

7,200

(29,504)

2,329

(2,329)

143

-- 

227

8,637

117

(495)

18,958

(1,058)

(14,238)

1,218

(198)

1,825

4,753

(1,627)

-- 

1,181

542

290

(8,738)

-- 

1,042

(231)

214

639

(1,465)

121

83

(689)

(1,139)

149

(26,014)

-- 

-- 

1,100

(268)

-- 

755

-- 

12,142

200

(2,152)

11,777

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      13

 
 
 
Microvision, Inc. 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued) (in thousands) 

Cash flows from financing activitie s

  Principal payments under capital leases

  Principal payments under long-term debt

  Increase in long-term debt

  Payments on notes payable

  Payment of embedded derivative feature of preferred stock conversion

  Payment of preferred dividend

  Net proceeds from issuance of common stock and warrants

      Net cash provided by financing activities

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

Supple me ntal disclosure  of cash flow information

Cash paid for interest

Supple me ntal sche dule  of non-cash inve sting and financing activitie s

Property and equipment acquired under capital leases

Other non-cash additions to property and equipment

Conversion of preferred stock into common stock

Issuance of common stock for payment of principal and interest on senior

   secured exchangeable convertible notes

Conversion of convertible debt into common stock

Inducement for conversion of preferred stock

Ye ars Ende d De ce mbe r 31,

2008

2007

2006

(41)

(65)

-- 

-- 

-- 

-- 

24,442

24,336

12,134

13,399

(45)

(58)

-- 

(1,400)

-- 

-- 

35,896

34,393

(1,153)

14,552

25,533

$

13,399

$

(40)

(55)

536

(9,600)

(1,074)

(43)

32,205

21,929

7,692

6,860

14,552

48

$

92

$

786

-- 

199

-- 

-- 

-- 

-- 

$

$

$

$

$

$

-- 

46

-- 

1,388

-- 

-- 

$

$

$

$

$

$

80

115

4,417

1,755

344

3,076

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements 

14

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
The Company  - Note 1 

Microvision is developing compact, low power, high-resolution display and imaging systems based on its 
integrated photonics module technology platform.  Microvision’s technology has potential applications for 
a broad range of consumer, automotive, medical, industrial, and military products. The Company’s 
proprietary technology platform combines bi-axial Micro-Electrical Mechanical system (MEMS) light 
scanning technologies, lasers, optics, electronics, with its system controls expertise to produce compact 
display or imaging solutions that the Company anticipates will lead to introduction of new applications and 
products in the consumer and automotive markets. Historically, Microvision has entered into development 
agreements with commercial and U.S. government customers to develop applications using its light 
scanning technologies.  Microvision has one commercially marketed product, ROV, a hand-held bar code 
scanner that incorporates the Company’s proprietary MEMS technology.    

Microvision’s strategy is to design, develop and supply a proprietary display engine called PicoP®, an 
ultra-miniature video projector capable of producing large, color rich, high resolution images that is small 
and low power enough to be embedded directly into mobile devices, such as cell phones.  Microvision is 
also marketing PicoP-based miniature projection engines to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to 
be embedded into a variety of consumer products. The primary goal for consumer display applications is to 
provide users with a large screen, high resolution viewing experience from their mobile devices.  

Microvision is currently developing a small accessory projector that would be the first commercial product 
based on its PicoP display engine.  The accessory projector is expected to display images from a variety of 
video sources including cell phones, portable media players, PDAs, gaming consoles, laptop computers, 
digital cameras, and other consumer electronics products.  It would allow users to watch movies, play 
videos, and display photos and other data onto a variety of flat or curved surfaces. Microvision expects that 
the accessory product will be commercially available during 2009.  

The PicoP display engine, with some modification, could be embedded into a vehicle or integrated into a 
portable standalone aftermarket device to create a head-up display (HUD) that could project point-by-point 
navigation, critical operational, safety and other information important to the vehicle operator.  In working 
with Tier 1 suppliers, the Company has produced prototypes that demonstrate the PicoP's ability to project 
onto an automobile windshield a high-resolution image readable during day or night.  The Company 
believes that the PicoP display engine could also be modified to be embedded into a pair of glasses to 
provide a mobile user with a see-through or occluded personal display to view movies, play games or 
access other content. The Company has worked with the U.S. government and commercial customers to 
further develop the optical design and integration of the PicoP display engine for wearable applications 
such as helmet mounted displays and full color see-through eyewear. 

Microvision has incurred significant losses since inception.  The Company’s operating plan for 2009 
includes the launch of its first accessory product, further development of the PicoP display engine for 
embedded applications and further development of HUD and eyewear applications.  The Company will 
require additional capital in 2009 to fully fund its product launch and its other development efforts.  

Microvision’s operating plan calls for the addition of sourcing, technical and other staff and the purchase of 
additional laboratory and production equipment.  The Company’s capital requirements will depend on 
many factors, including, but not limited to, the rate at which it can, directly or through arrangements with 
OEMs, introduce products incorporating the PicoP display engine and image capture technologies and the 
market acceptance and competitive position of such products, the progress of its research and development 
program, the cost of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual 
property rights, competing technological and market developments and the ability of the Company to 
establish cooperative development, joint venture and licensing arrangements.  If revenues are less than 
anticipated, if the level and mix of revenues vary from anticipated amounts and allocations or if expenses 
exceed the amounts budgeted, the Company may require additional capital earlier than expected to further 
the development of its technologies, for expenses associated with product development, and to respond to 
competitive pressures or to meet unanticipated development difficulties.  In addition, the Company’s 

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      15

 
 
 
operating plan provides for the development of strategic relationships with systems and equipment 
manufacturers that may require additional investments by Microvision. 

The Company plans to obtain additional cash through the issuance of equity or debt securities in the next 
several months.  There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available to the Company or 
that, if available, it will be available on terms acceptable to the Company or on a timely basis.  If adequate 
funds are not available during 2009 to fully implement its plan, or planned revenues are not generated, the 
Company may be required to reduce the scope of its business to extend its operations as it pursues other 
financing opportunities and business relationships.  This reduction in scope could include delaying product 
launch and projects resulting in reductions in staff and operating costs as well as reductions in capital 
expenditures and investment in research and development.  With these adjustments to its operating plan, the 
Company believes it currently has sufficient cash, cash equivalents, and investment securities to fund 
operations through at least February 28, 2010.   

Summary of significant accounting policies – Note 2 

Use of estimates 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles of the 
United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of 
assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements 
and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ 
from those estimates.  The Company’s management has identified the following areas where significant 
estimates and assumptions have been made in preparing the financial statements:  revenue recognition, 
valuation of auction-rate securities (“ARS”), allowance for uncollectible receivables and management 
loans, inventory valuation and valuation of derivative financial instruments. 

Principles of consolidation 
The consolidated financial statements include Microvision and equity investments in which Microvision 
has the ability to exercise significant influence but does not have voting control. 

Cash and cash equivalents; investment securities, available-for-sale; and 
fair value of financial instruments 
The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, investments available-for-sale, 
accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and long-term debt.  The carrying value of cash 
and cash equivalents, investments available-for-sale other than ARS, accounts receivable, accounts payable 
and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to the short maturities.  In the case of the ARS, the 
carrying value approximates fair value due to an other than temporary impairment adjustment.  The 
carrying amount of long-term debt at December 31, 2008 and 2007 was not materially different from the 
fair value based on rates available for similar types of arrangements.   

The Company accounts for investment securities in accordance with the provisions of Statement of 
Financial Accounting Standards (“FAS”) No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity 
Securities (“FAS 115”) and FAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“FAS 157”).  FAS 115 addresses the 
accounting and reporting for investments in equity securities that have readily determinable fair values and 
for investments in debt securities.  FAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair 
value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  FAS 157 was issued in September 2006 
and the Company’s adoption of FAS 157 effective January 1, 2008 for financial assets and liabilities did 
not have a material impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.  

Included in the FAS 157 framework is a three level valuation inputs hierarchy with Level 1 being inputs 
and transactions that can be effectively fully observed by market participants spanning to Level 3 where 
estimates are unobservable by market participants outside of the Company and must be estimated using 
assumptions developed by the Company.  The Company discloses the lowest level input significant to each 
category of asset or liability valued within the scope of FAS 157 and the valuation method as exchange, 
income or use.  The Company uses inputs which are as observable as possible and the methods most 
applicable to the specific situation of each company or valued item. 

16

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
In accordance with FAS 115 and related guidance, the Company considers fair valued assets impaired 
when the value is less than cost.  When the impairment is significant, the Company judges whether the 
impairment is temporary or other-than-temporary.  A significant impairment is generally considered other-
than-temporary in the period when there is deemed sufficient reason to conclude that the fair value of the 
asset is not expected to fully recover prior to the expected time of sale or maturity. 

The Company’s cash equivalents and investment securities available-for-sale are comprised of U.S. 
government and agency securities, corporate debt and, since 2007, ARS.  The Company classifies 
investment securities available-for-sale purchased with 90 days or less remaining until contractual 
maturities as cash equivalents.  Investment securities purchased with more than 90 days until contractual 
maturities are classified as current investment securities available-for-sale on the consolidated balance 
sheet with unrealized gains and losses included in the consolidated statement of comprehensive loss.  
Interest income, realized gains and losses, and other-than-temporary impairments are recognized in the 
period earned or incurred and presented separately in the consolidated statement of operations.  Changes in 
the fair values of derivatives are realized in the period of remeasurement and recorded in Gain (loss) on 
derivative instruments, net in the consolidated statement of operations.  The cost of securities sold is based 
on the specific identification method.   

Inventory  
Inventory consists of raw material, work in process and finished goods for the Company’s ROV and Flic 
products.  Inventory is recorded at the lower of cost or market with cost determined using the weighted-
average method.  Management periodically assesses the need to provide for obsolescence of inventory and 
adjusts the carrying value of inventory to its net realizable value when required.  In addition, Microvision 
reduces the value of its inventory to its estimated scrap value when management determines that it is not 
probable that the inventory will be consumed through normal production during the next twelve months.   

Restricted investments  
As of December 31, 2008, restricted investments were in money market funds and serve as collateral for 
$1.3 million in irrevocable letters of credit.  Two letters of credit totaling $982,000 are outstanding in 
connection with a lease agreement for the corporate headquarters building in Redmond, WA.  The required 
balance decreases over the term of the lease, which expires in 2013.  In addition, a $350,000 letter of credit 
is outstanding under the terms of a supplier agreement. 

Property and equipment 
Property and equipment is stated at cost and depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets (two to 
five years) using the straight-line method.  Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of 
estimated useful lives or the lease term. 

Revenue recognition 
Revenue has primarily been generated from contracts for further development of the light scanning 
technology and to produce demonstration units for commercial enterprises and the U.S. government.  We 
recognize contract revenue as work progresses on long-term cost plus fixed fee and fixed price contracts 
using the percentage-of-completion method, which relies on estimates of total expected contract revenue 
and costs. Our revenue contracts generally include a statement of the work we are to complete and the total 
fee we will earn from the contract. When we begin work on the contract and at the end of each accounting 
period, we work with the members of our technical team to estimate the labor and material and other cost 
required to complete the statement of work compared to cost incurred to date. We use information provided 
by project managers, vendors, outside consultants and others as we deem necessary to develop our cost 
estimates. Since our contracts generally require some level of technology development to complete, the 
actual cost required to complete a statement of work can vary from our estimated cost to complete. We 
have developed processes that allow us to make reasonable estimates of the cost to complete a contract. 
Historically, we have made only immaterial revisions in the estimates to complete the contract at each 
reporting period. Recognized revenues are subject to revisions as the contract progresses to completion and 
actual revenue and cost become certain. Revisions in revenue estimates are reflected in the period in which 
the facts that give rise to the revision become known. In the future, revisions in these estimates could 
significantly impact recognized revenue in any one reporting period. The U.S. government can terminate a 
contract with the Company at any time for convenience.  If the U.S. government cancels a contract, we 
would receive payment for work performed and costs committed to prior to the cancellation. 

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      17

 
 
 
 
 
 
The Company recognizes losses, if any, as soon as identified.  Losses occur when the estimated direct and 
indirect costs to complete the contract exceed unrecognized revenue.  The Company evaluates the reserve 
for contract losses on a contract-by-contract basis. 

Revenue from product shipments is recognized in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, 
Revenue Recognition.  Revenue is recognized when the product is shipped, there is sufficient evidence of 
an arrangement, the selling price is fixed or determinable and collection is reasonably assured.  Revenue for 
product shipments with acceptance provisions is recognized upon acceptance of the product by the 
customer or expiration of the contractual acceptance period, after which there are no rights of return.  
Provisions are made for warranties at the time revenue is recorded.  Warranty expense was not material for 
any periods presented. 

Concentration of credit risk and sales to major customers 
Concentration of Credit Risk 
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk are primarily 
cash equivalents, investment securities available-for-sale and accounts receivable.  The Company typically 
does not require collateral from its customers.  The Company has an investment policy that generally 
directs investment managers to select investments to achieve the following goals: preservation of principal, 
adequate liquidity and return.  As of December 31, 2008, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and 
investments available-for-sale securities portfolio are comprised of short-term highly rated money market 
funds and commercial paper, and the student loan ARS (“SLARS”).     

As of December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company held $3.0 million and $8.8 million in ARS, respectively.  
During February through May 2008, $5.8 million in municipal ARS were sold at par value leaving $3.0 
million in SLARS.  As of December 31, 2008, 90% of total cash and cash equivalents and investment 
securities available-for-sale had variable interest rates or are very short-term discount notes traded in active 
markets.  Therefore, the Company believes its exposure to credit market and interest rate risk is not 
material.  The remaining 10% is composed of the $3.0 million par value SLARS.  The SLARS are highly 
rated long-term bonds and are structured with variable interest rate resets to be determined via a Dutch 
Auction process every 28 days.  However, beginning in February 2008 as global credit markets 
significantly deteriorated, each auction has failed rendering the SLARS temporarily illiquid through the 
auction process and secondary markets for them.  Given the adverse credit market conditions, the fair value 
of the principal of these bonds has become affected by changes in interest rates, the spread between short 
and long rates, and credit market liquidity.  As a result, in the quarter ended September 30, 2008, the 
Company estimated that the fair value of the SLARS was approximately $2.7 million and that the $300,000 
adjustment was other than temporary.  If market conditions worsen, the Company may have to further 
adjust the estimated fair value of the SLARS, including additional charges to earnings if it believes the 
adjustment is other than temporary.  In the event the Company needs access to the funds invested in the 
SLARS, it could be required to sell them below the original purchase value.  Any of these events could 
affect the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.  However, 
based on the Company’s current operating plan and ability to access its $25.5 million held in cash and cash 
equivalents and other highly liquid investments held as of December 31, 2008, it does not expect to be 
required to sell the securities materially below the current estimated value.   

Concentration of Sales to Major Customers 
The United States government accounted for approximately 34%, 61%, and 51% of total revenue during 
2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.  Two commercial customers accounted for approximately 15% and 
11%, respectively, of total revenue during 2008, one commercial customer accounted for approximately 
15% of total revenue during 2007 and one commercial customer accounted for approximately 11% of total 
revenue during 2006.  Contracts with three commercial customers represented 35%, 22%, and 17% of total 
revenues during 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  The U.S. government accounted for approximately 
19% and 28% of the accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. 

Income taxes 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for differences between the financial statement and tax bases 
of the assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future, based on enacted 
tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income.  

18

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected 
to be realized.  Income tax expense is recorded for the amount of income tax payable for the period 
increased or decreased by the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the period. 

Net loss per share 
Basic net loss per share is calculated on the basis of the weighted-average number of common shares 
outstanding during the periods.  Net loss per share assuming dilution is calculated on the basis of the 
weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and the dilutive effect of all potentially dilutive 
securities, including common stock equivalents and convertible securities.  Net loss per share assuming 
dilution is equal to basic net loss per share because the effect of dilutive securities outstanding during the 
periods including options and warrants computed using the treasury stock method, is anti-dilutive.   

As of December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, the Company excluded the following convertible securities 
from diluted net loss per share as the effect of including them would have been anti-dilutive.  The shares 
shown represent the number of shares of common stock which would be issued upon conversion as of 
December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006.   

Publicly traded warrants

Options and private warrants

Notes payable

2008

6,703,000

9,804,000

-- 

De cember 31,

2007

-- 

9,518,000

-- 

2006

12,362,000

10,906,000

620,000

16,507,000

9,518,000

23,888,000

Research and development 
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. 

Fair value of financial instruments 
The Company’s financial instruments generally include cash and cash equivalents, investments available-
for-sale, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and long-term debt.  The carrying 
amount of long-term debt at December 31, 2008 and 2007 was not materially different from the fair value 
based on rates available for similar types of arrangements.  The carrying value of the Company’s financial 
instruments, other than ARS, approximates fair value due to the short maturities.   

Long-lived assets   
The Company evaluates the recoverability of its long-lived assets when an impairment is indicated based 
on expected undiscounted cash flows and recognizes impairment of the carrying value of long-lived assets, 
if any, based on the fair value of such assets.  

Stock-based compensation 
The Company has one stock-based incentive compensation plan as of December 31, 2008 and a separate 
board of director stock-based compensation plan.  In June 2008, the Company determined it would no 
longer issue additional options from the Independent Director Stock Option Plan.  Both are more fully 
described in Note 11. 

The Company accounts for stock-based employee compensation arrangements in accordance with the 
provisions of FAS No. 123, as revised December 2004, Share-Based Payment (“FAS 123(R)”).  The 
Company adopted FAS123(R) effective January 1, 2006.  The Company accounts for non-employee share-
based compensation in accordance with the provisions of FAS No. 123 and Emerging Issues Task Force 
(“EITF”) Issue No. 96-18.  The following table shows the amount of stock-based compensation expense 
included in the statements of operations for each period shown: 

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Cost of contract revenue

Cost of product revenue

Research and development expense

    Year Ended Dece mber 31,

2008

2007

$

85,000

$

138,000

$

25,000

824,000

20,000

365,000

Sales, marketing, general and administrative expense

1,873,000

1,274,000

2006

80,000

70,000

246,000

1,429,000

$

2,807,000

$

1,797,000

$

1,825,000

Reclassifications 
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year financial statements to conform to classifications 
used in the current year.  These reclassifications had no impact on net loss, shareholders’ equity or cash 
flows as previously reported. 

New accounting pronouncements 
In October 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) released a FASB Staff Position, 
FSP FAS 157-3 — Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When The Market for That Asset Is Not 
Active, to clarify the application of the provisions of FAS 157 in an inactive market.  Implementing this 
standard upon its issuance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position 
and results of operations. 

In February 2008, the FASB released a FASB Staff Position, FSP FAS 157-2 — Effective Date of FASB 
Statement No. 157, which delays the effective date of FAS 157 for all nonfinancial assets and liabilities, 
except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis, to 
fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008.  The Company is currently assessing the financial impact 
of FSP FAS 157-2 on its financial statements. 

In June 2007, the EITF reached a final consensus on EITF Issue No. 07-1, Accounting for Collaborative 
Arrangements (“EITF 07-1”).  EITF 07-1 discusses how to determine whether an arrangement constitutes a 
collaborative arrangement, how costs incurred and revenue generated on sales to third parties should be 
reported by the participants, how an entity should characterize payments made between participants and 
what participants should disclose in the notes to the financial statements about a collaborative arrangement.  
EITF 07-1 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 
and interim periods within those fiscal years.  The Company is currently assessing the financial impact of 
EITF 07-1 on its financial statements. 

Long-term contracts – Note 3 

Cost and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts comprises amounts of revenue 
recognized on contracts that the Company has not yet billed to customers because the amounts were not 
contractually billable at December 31, 2008 and 2007.  The following table summarizes when the Company 
will be contractually able to bill the balance as of December 31, 2008 and 2007. 

Billable within 30 days

Billable between 31 and 90 days

Billable after 90 days

   Year Ended Decembe r 31,

2008

2007

688,000

$

434,000

-- 

7,000

-- 

9,000

695,000

$

443,000

$

$

The Company’s current contracts with the U.S. government are primarily cost plus fixed fee type contracts.  
Under the terms of a cost plus fixed fee contract, the U.S. government reimburses the Company for 
negotiated actual direct and indirect cost incurred in performing the contracted services.  The Company is 
under no obligation to spend more than the contract value to complete the contracted services.  The period 
of performance is generally one year.  Each of the Company’s contracts with the United States government 

20

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
can be terminated for convenience by the government at any time.  To date, the U.S. government has not 
terminated a contract with the Company. 

In December 2007, we entered into a $1 million contract with a commercial customer to develop prototype 
units based on our PicoP technology, for evaluation of future consumer electronics product applications.  
The development work under this contract was initiated and fully completed in 2008.  

In May 2007, the Company announced that it had entered into a $3,181,000 contract with the U.S. Air 
Force to provide a lightweight, see-through, full-color eyewear display prototype to the government.  The 
contract, which continues a development effort with the Air Force, specifies the development, design, 
verification, testing, and delivery of a lightweight, see-through full-color wearable display for evaluation by 
several DOD project offices.  As of December 31, 2008 this contract had been completed. 

In September 2006, the Company entered into a 12 month development agreement with Visteon, a major 
global Tier 1 automotive supplier, to develop a commercial scanned-beam head-up display (HUD) product 
for automotive applications.  Under the agreement, Visteon and Microvision will design and produce a 
series of advanced HUD samples, including devices specifically designed to be compatible with automotive 
environmental requirements.  As of December 31, 2007 this contract had been completed.  

In September 2006, the Company entered into an 18 month, $5,945,000 contract with General Dynamics 
C4 Systems to supply full-color, daylight readable, see-through helmet-mounted displays as part of the U.S. 
Army's Mounted Warrior HMD Improvement Program.  General Dynamics holds prime contracts with the 
U.S. Army for other Warrior programs including Land Warrior, Air Warrior and Future Force Warrior 
Advanced Technology Demonstration.  The contract specifies the development and delivery of ten full-
color display units for evaluation.  As of December 31, 2008 this contract had been completed. 

The following table summarizes the costs incurred on the Company’s revenue contracts: 

Costs and estimated earnings incurred on uncompleted contracts

Billings on uncompleted contracts

Included in accompanying balance sheets under the following captions:

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted

 contracts

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted

 contracts

December 31,

December 31,

2008

14,166,000

(13,533,000)

633,000

$

$

2007

9,357,000

(9,884,000)

(527,000)

695,000

$

443,000

(62,000)

633,000

$

(970,000)

(527,000)

$

$

$

$

Cash equivalents, investment securities, available-for-sale, and fair value measurements – Note 4 

The Company accounts for investment securities in accordance with the provisions of FAS 115 and FAS 
157.  General descriptions of each are included in Note 2.   

FAS 157 defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a 
liability in its principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants 
on the measurement date.  FAS 157 establishes a three level fair value inputs hierarchy, and requires an 
entity to maximize the use of observable valuation inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.  A 
company is to utilize market data, assumptions and risks it believes market participants would use in 
measuring the fair value of the asset or liability, including the risks inherent in the inputs and the valuation 
techniques.  The hierarchy is summarized below.   

Level 1 - Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. 

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      21

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 2 - Observable inputs such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not 
sufficiently active to qualify as level 1 or, other observable inputs. 

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data, which requires a company to 
develop its own assumptions, which are significant to the measurement of the fair values. 

The Company’s investment securities are comprised of debt securities.  Generally, they are issued by the 
U.S. government, its agencies, corporations, and currently, student loan financial aid organizations.  
Accounting for these investments is discussed in Note 2. 

The principal markets for the debt securities are dealer markets which have a high level of price 
transparency.  The market participants for debt securities are typically large money center banks and 
regional banks, brokers, dealers, pension funds, and other entities with debt investment portfolios. 

As of December 31, 2007, the Company held $8.8 million aggregate par value of ARS, $5.8 million in 
municipal ARS and $3.0 million in SLARS.  The municipal ARS were sold at par value during the period 
from February through May 2008.  

At December 31, 2008, the Company continued to hold $3.0 million par value SLARS.  The SLARS 
owned by the Company are highly rated long-term bonds, structured with variable interest rate resets, 
purchases and sales to be determined via a Dutch Auction process every 28 days.  They were issued to fund 
US government guaranteed student loans.  However, beginning in February 2008 as global credit markets 
significantly deteriorated, insufficient clearing bids have been submitted for the SLARS.  The auctions 
have thus failed, the interest rates have been reset to “maximum rates” instead of “auction rates” and the 
SLARS have been temporarily illiquid through the auction process and secondary ARS markets. 

At the time of the Company’s initial investment, and through the filing date of this report, the SLARS held 
by the Company have maintained the following credit factors: 

• 

• 
• 
• 

guaranteed by the Federal Family Education Loan Program (“FFELP”) and other federal and state 
student loan guarantee programs,  
collateralized by the student loans funded with the SLARS proceeds and collections thereon,  
no declines in the credit ratings of the issuers; and,  
no material changes in loan collection rates.   

At the time of the Company’s initial investment, the SLARS and AMBAC, the insurer of half of the 
SLARS, held AAA ratings.  As of December 31, 2008, one of the SLARS was downgraded to A by only 
one of its rating services.  Based on its revised lower rating of AMBAC, Moody’s reduced its rating on the 
insured SLARS to that of AMBAC, Baa1.  AMBAC has since been down-graded to A by Standard & 
Poor’s and to Baa1 by Moody’s rating services.  AMBAC is continuing actions to manage its credit rating.  
The US government guarantee on the student loan collateral reduces the impact of the ratings changes on 
the SLARS.    

Prior to June 30, 2008, the Company used the market approach to measure fair values of its investments in 
all debt and equity securities and the income approach for derivatives.  Under the market approach, prices 
and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or 
liabilities are used to estimate values.  Under the income approach, valuation techniques to convert future 
amounts to a single present amount are used.  During the quarter ended June 30, 2008, the Company 
determined the market did not have sufficient liquidity and market participant activity to continue 
supporting the market approach to value its SLARS, and changed to the income approach.   

As of September 30, 2008, based on continuing low market liquidity and auction failures with significant 
uncertainty as to when such conditions would improve, the Company determined that the estimated fair 
value of the SLARS no longer approximated par value, and the impairments were other-than-temporary.  
The Company used a discounted cash flow model, with rates adjusted for liquidity, to determine the 
estimated fair values of the SLARS as of September 30, 2008 and recorded an “impairment of investment 
securities, available-for-sale” of $300,000 on the consolidated statement of operations.  The Company also 
reclassified the SLARS from Level 2 to Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because of the significance of 
sufficiently unobservable assumptions and inputs developed by the Company and used in the valuations.  

22

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
As of December 31, 2008, the Company derived the same conclusions regarding the valuation approach, 
inputs hierarchy and fair values for the SLARS.  

The following table summarizes the activity for those financial assets where fair value measurements are 
estimated utilizing Level 3 inputs: 

Balance, December 31, 2007

T ransfer into Level 3, September 30, 2008

Recognized loss included in earnings

Balance, December 31, 2008

$

$

-- 

3,000,000

(300,000)

2,700,000

The valuation inputs hierarchy classification for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring 
basis in accordance with FAS 157 are summarized below as of December 31, 2008: 

Assets

    Corporate debt securities

    Auction rate securities

Liabilities

    Liability associated with

        common stock warrants

Level 1

Level 2

Leve l 3

Total

$

$

-- 

-- 

-- 

$

$

$

4,984,000

-- 

4,984,000

$

$

-- 

2,700,000

2,700,000

331,000

$

$

$

4,984,000

2,700,000

7,684,000

331,000

The corporate debt securities are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy because they are 
valued using actual and quoted pricing sources with sufficient levels of price transparency using the market 
approach.  The liability associated with common stock warrants is classified within Level 2 because it is 
valued using the Black-Scholes option valuation method using inputs with sufficient levels of observability 
using the income approach.  Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the 
lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.   

The Company’s investments and liability associated with common stock warrants are summarized below as 
of December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007. 

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      23

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost/

Gross

Gross

Amortized

Unrealized

Unrealized

Estimated

Cash

Investment

Securities,

Available-

Cost

Gains

Losses

Fair Value

Equivalents

For-Sale

Liability

Associated

With

Common

Stock

Warrants

Other

Current

Assets

Classification on Balance Sheet

$

$

5,022,000

$

2,700,000

7,722,000

$

-- 

-- 

-- 

$

$

(38,000) $

4,984,000

$

4,979,000

$

5,000

$

-- 

2,700,000

-- 

2,700,000

(38,000) $

7,684,000

$

4,979,000

$

2,705,000

$

-- 

-- 

-- 

$

331,000

$

331,000

Classification on Balance Sheet

Cost/

Gross

Gross

Amortized

Unrealized

Unrealized

Estimated

Cash

Investment

Securities,

Available-

Cost

Gains

Losses

Fair Value

Equivalents

For-Sale

Liability

Associated

With

Common

Stock

Warrants

Other

Current

Assets

As of December 31, 2008:

  Assets

    Corporate debt securities

    Auction-rate securities

  Liabilities

    Liability associated with

       common stock warrants

As of December 31, 2007:

  Assets

    Corporate debt securities

$

9,074,000

$

54,000

$

(5,000) $

9,123,000

$

    U.S. government and agency securities

    Auction-rate securities

    Warrants

4,486,000

8,800,000

-- 

3,000

-- 

-- 

(1,000)

-- 

-- 

4,488,000

8,800,000

130,000

$

22,360,000

$

57,000

$

(6,000) $

22,541,000

$

-- 

-- 

-- 

-- 

-- 

$

9,123,000

$

4,488,000

8,800,000

-- 

$

22,411,000

$

-- 

-- 

-- 

130,000

130,000

  Liabilities

    Liability associated with

        common stock warrants

$

2,657,000

$

2,657,000

As of December 31, 2008, the unrealized losses on the Company’s investments in debt securities were due 
primarily to changes in interest rates and credit market conditions. 

The realized gains and losses associated with the liability attributed to common stock warrants were 
primarily due to changes in the Microvision stock price and decreasing terms to expiration. 

The maturities of the investment securities available-for-sale as of December 31, 2008 are shown below: 

Gross

Gross

Amortized

Unrealiz ed

Unrealize d

Cost

Gains

Losses

Estimated

Fair Value

$

$

5,022,000

-- 

2,700,000

7,722,000

-- 

(38,000) $

4,984,000

-- 

2,700,000

$

7,684,000

Maturity date:

Less than one year

Due in 1-3 years

Greater than five years

Inventory – Note 5 

Inventory consists of the following: 

24     

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Raw materials

Work in process

Finished goods

December 31,

December 31,

2008

2007

45,000

$

-- 

1,480,000

1,525,000

$

122,000

10,000

629,000

761,000

$

$

The inventory at December 31, 2008 and 2007 consisted of raw materials, work in process and finished 
goods for ROV and the discontinued Flic bar code product.  Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or 
market, with cost determined on a weighted average basis.  Management periodically assesses the need to 
provide for obsolescence of inventory and adjusts the carrying value of inventory to its net realizable value 
when required.  In addition, Microvision reduces the value of its inventory to its estimated scrap value 
when management determines that it is not probable that the inventory will be consumed through the 
normal course of business during the next twelve months.  In 2008, 2007, and 2006, Microvision recorded 
inventory write-downs of $475,000, $84,000, and $1,181,000, respectively.  During the second quarter of 
2006, the Company determined that it would no longer promote the Nomad product and recorded an 
expense of $210,000 to reduce the value of Nomad inventory to zero.  In addition, the Company recorded 
$100,000 as additional accelerated depreciation expense related to fixed assets used in Nomad production. 
Both inventory and fixed asset balances related to Nomad production were zero at December 31, 2008 and 
December 31, 2007. 

Accrued liabilities – Note 6 

Accrued liabilities consist of the following: 

Bonuses

Payroll and payroll taxes

Compensated absences

Deferred rent credit

Adverse purchase commitments

Professional fees

Other

Property and equipment, net – Note 7 

Property and equipment consists of the following: 

December 31,

2008

2007

500,000

$

1,500,000

809,000

623,000

311,000

119,000

343,000

840,000

656,000

458,000

306,000

-- 

447,000

787,000

3,545,000

$

4,154,000

$

$

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      25

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Production equipment

Leasehold improvements

Computer hardware and software/lab equipment

Office furniture and equipment

Less: Accumulated depreciation

December 31,

2008

2007

3,124,000

$

3,310,000

7,192,000

1,496,000

15,122,000

(11,421,000)

2,815,000

3,304,000

6,879,000

1,490,000

14,488,000

(10,441,000)

3,701,000

$

4,047,000

$

$

Depreciation expense was $989,000, $953,000, and $1,218,000 in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. 

Receivables from related parties – Note 8 

In 2000, 2001 and 2002, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to provide unsecured lines of 
credit to each of the Company's three officers. The lines of credit carry interest rates of 5.4% to 6.2% and 
were due within one year of the officer's termination. 

In January 2006, two officers with outstanding loans left the Company and their loans became due in 
January 2007.  In May 2007, the Company foreclosed on 50,000 shares of Lumera common stock pledged 
as collateral for one of the officer's loans and sold the shares for net proceeds of $227,000.  A third officer 
with outstanding loans left the Company in August 2007 and his loans became due in August 2008.  

Under the terms of a settlement agreement with one of the former officers who left in January 2006, the 
Company received payments of $241,000 in 2008. The Company is pursuing collection of the remaining 
outstanding balances from the other former officers. 

As of December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the total amount outstanding under the lines of credit 
was $1,851,000 and $2,496,000, respectively.  As of December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the 
allowance for receivables from related parties was $1,851,000 and $2,496,000, respectively.     

The interest on the lines of credit is forgiven if the executive is an employee of the Company at December 
31 of the respective year.  Compensation expense of $22,000 was recognized in 2006, for interest forgiven.  

Common stock – Note 9 

In July 2008, the Company raised approximately $26.0 million, before issuance costs of approximately 
$2.0 million, through a registered direct public offering of 11,172,000 shares of common stock and 
warrants to purchase 6,703,000 shares of its common stock. Details of the warrants are described below in 
Note 10. 

On June 21, 2007, the Company exercised its right to call its publicly traded warrants issued in 2006.  The 
Company received $34.1 million from the exercise of 12,855,000 publicly traded warrants. 

In November 2006, the Company raised $7.9 million, before issuance costs of $779,000, through an 
underwritten public offering of 3,318,000 shares of its common stock. 

In June and July 2006, the Company raised an aggregate of $27.1 million, before issuance costs of $2.2 
million, through an underwritten public offering of 11.6 million shares of its common stock and warrants to 
purchase 12.4 million shares of its common stock.  The warrants had an exercise price of $2.65 per share, a 
five year term, and were not exercisable for one year from the date of issuance.  The Company could call 
the warrants after one year from the date of issuance if the average closing bid price of its stock exceeded 
$5.30 for any 20 consecutive trading days.  In connection with the offering, the Company issued the 

26     

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
underwriter a warrant to purchase 537,500 shares of Microvision common stock at an exercise price of 
$2.76 per share.  The Company also issued the underwriter a warrant to acquire 537,500 warrants, identical 
to those sold in the offering, at an exercise price of $0.16 per warrant.  Both underwriter warrants were 
issued with a 4 year term.  In June 2007, the Company called the public warrants as described above and 
the underwriter exercised the warrants for warrants in connection with the call.     

Warrants – Note 10 

In July 2008, the Company raised approximately $26.0 million, before issuance costs of approximately 
$2.0 million, through a registered direct public offering of 11,172,000 shares of our common stock and 
warrants to purchase 6,703,000 million shares of our common stock.  The warrants have an exercise price 
of $3.60 per share, a five year term, and are not exercisable for one year from the date of issuance.  The 
Company can call the warrants after one year from the date of issuance if the average closing bid price of 
its stock is over $7.20 (200% of exercise price) for any 20 consecutive trading days.  The warrants are 
listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the ticker “MVISW”. 

On June 21, 2007, the Company exercised its right to call its publicly traded warrants issued in its June and 
July 2006 financing transactions.  The Company received $34.1 million from the exercise of 12,855,000 
publicly traded warrants.  A total of 45,000 warrants expired unexercised. 

The following summarizes activity with respect to Microvision common stock warrants during the three 
years ended December 31, 2008: 

O utstanding at De ce mbe r 31, 2005

Granted:

Exercise price greater than intrinsic value

Exercise price equal to intrinsic value

Exercised

Canceled/expired

O utstanding at De ce mbe r 31, 2006

Granted:

Exercise price greater than intrinsic value

Exercise price equal to intrinsic value

Exercised

Canceled/expired

O utstanding at De ce mbe r 31, 2007

Granted:

Exercise price greater than intrinsic value

Exercise price equal to intrinsic value

Exercised

Canceled/expired

O utstanding at De ce mbe r 31, 2008

Exe rcisable  at De ce mbe r 31, 2008

Warrants to

purchase

common

share s

4,120,000

12,900,000

537,000

-- 

-- 

17,557,000

537,000

25,000

(13,803,000)

(252,000)

4,064,000

-- 

6,703,000

-- 

-- 

(1,257,000)

9,510,000

2,807,000

$

$

We ighte d

ave rage

e xce rcise

price

6.99

2.66

2.81

-- 

-- 

3.50

2.65

3.42

2.59

6.30

6.19

-- 

3.60

-- 

-- 

6.11

4.32

6.04

The following table summarizes information about the weighted-average fair value of Microvision 
common stock warrants granted for the periods shown: 

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      27

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exercise price greater than fair value

Exercise price equal to fair value

Exercise price less than fair value

Year Ended December 31,

2008

2007

2006

$

1.59

$

-- 

$

-- 

-- 

2.08

0.47

1.81

-- 

2.00

The fair values of the Microvision common stock warrants granted were estimated on the respective grant 
dates using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions used 
for grants in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively: dividend yield of zero percent for all years; expected 
volatility of 65%, 47%, and 65%; risk-free interest rates of 3.2%, 4.9%, and 5.0% and expected lives of 5, 
0.3, and 5 years, respectively.   

The following table summarizes information about Microvision common stock warrants outstanding and 
exercisable at December 31, 2008: 

Warrants outstanding 
Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life (years)

Weighted
ave rage
exce rcise
price

Number
outstanding at
De cember 31,
2008

472,000
7,065,000
1,304,000
469,000
200,000

9,510,000

$

2.24
4.36
1.87
1.19
1.61

2.93
3.60
3.91
5.03
34.00

   Warrants exercisable

Number
excercisable  at
December 31,
2008

Weighted
average
excercise
price

$

472,000
362,000
1,304,000
469,000
200,000

2,807,000

2.93
3.61
3.91
5.03
34.00

Range of exercise prices

$2.76-$3.51
$3.60-$3.61
$3.77-$3.94
$5.03-$5.32
$34.00

$2.76-$34.00

Share-Based Compensation – Note 11 

The Company accounts for equity instruments issued to employees in accordance with the provisions of 
FAS123(R).  FAS 123(R) requires all employee share-based awards to be valued at fair value and expensed 
over the applicable service period.  The valuation of and accounting for share-based awards includes a 
number of complex and subjective estimates.  These estimates include, but are not limited to, the future 
volatility of the Company’s stock price, future employee stock option exercise behaviors and future 
employee terminations.  The Company uses the estimated forfeiture and straight-line expense attribution 
methods.   

As a result of adopting FAS 123(R), the Company’s net loss for each of the years ended December 31, 
2008, 2007 and 2006 included $2.8 million, $1.8 million and $1.8 million of share-based employee 
compensation expense.  In addition, basic and diluted net loss per share was greater by $0.05, $0.04 and 
$0.05 per share, respectively.  

The share-based employee compensation expense charged against loss was as shown below (in thousands): 

Share-based employee compensation expense charged against loss $

2,807

$

1,797

$

1,825

    Year Ended Dece mber 31,

2008

2007

2006

28

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
The Company accounts for equity instruments issued to non-employees in accordance with the provisions 
of FAS 123 and EITF 96-18. 

Stock Option Exchange 

Subject to the terms of its tender offer filed in April 2006, on May 17, 2006, the Company exchanged 2.2 
million existing options for 2.2 million new options affecting 105 employees.  The new options have an 
exercise price of $2.77.  The new options vested 25% on the grant date and will vest 25% on each 
subsequent annual anniversary.  The tender offer did not result in the acceleration of vesting of any options.  
The new options have the same expiration dates as the options exchanged.  The Company also adjusted the 
exercise price of 386,000 options not subject to the tender offer to $2.77 on the same date affecting 19 
employees. 

The tender offer was accounted for in accordance with FAS 123(R).  The Company will recognize 
$496,000 incremental fair value as additional non-cash compensation.  The incremental expense is 
recognized ratably over the vesting periods of the options, 25% on the grant date with the remaining 75% 
straight-line over the remaining vesting period.  The incremental fair value of the modified options was 
estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions. 

Weighted average:

   Exercise price

   Volatility

   Expected term (years)

   Risk free rate

   Pre-vest forfeiture rate

Description of Incentive Plans 

Pre-

Post-

modification

modification

$

$

8.84

73%

6.9

5.0%

5.0%

2.77

65%

4.2

5.0%
5.0%  

The Company currently has two share-based incentive plans.  The 2006 Incentive Plan described below is 
administered by the Board of Directors, or its designated committee ("Plan Administrator"), and provides 
for various awards as determined by the Plan Administrator.  The Company terminated using a second 
share-based incentive plan, the Independent Director Stock Option Plan described below, in June 2008.  

In July 2006, the 1996 Stock Option Plan (the “1996 Plan”) expired.  In September 2006, Company 
shareholders approved the 2006 Microvision, Inc. Incentive Plan which amends, restates and renames the 
1996 Plan (“2006 Incentive Plan”).  All awards outstanding under the 1996 Plan remain outstanding under 
the 2006 Incentive Plan.  The 2006 Incentive Plan retained the 8.0 million share authorization of the 1996 
Plan and permits granting non-qualified stock options (“NSOs”), incentive stock options (“ISOs”), stock 
appreciation rights, restricted or unrestricted stock, deferred stock, other share-based awards, or cash 
awards to employees, officers and certain non-employees of the Company.  Any award may be a 
performance-based award.  Awards granted under the 2006 Incentive Plan have generally been to 
employees under non-qualified stock option agreements with the following provisions: exercise prices 
greater than or equal to the Company’s closing stock price on the date of grant; vesting periods ranging 
from three years to four years; expiration 10 years from the date of grant; and optionees who terminate their 
service after vesting have a limited time to exercise their options (typically three to twelve months).  In 
June 2008, the Company shareholders approved an amendment to the 2006 Incentive Plan to increase the 
common stock reserved for issuance under the plan to 11.4 million shares and allow non-employee 
directors to participate in the plan.    

The Independent Director Stock Option Plan (“IDSOP”) has 900,000 shares authorized and permits 
granting NSOs to independent directors of the Company.  In June 2005, shareholders approved an 
amendment to the Director Option Plan, increasing the number of shares reserved for the plan by 400,000 
to 900,000 shares. Under the IDSOP, upon initial election or appointment to the Board of Directors, 

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      29

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors received a fully vested option to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock and a second option to 
purchase 15,000 shares of common stock.  Upon reelection to the Board, Directors received a subsequent 
option to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock.  The second initial option grant and any reelection 
grant vested the earlier of one year from date of grant or the day before the next regularly scheduled annual 
shareholder meeting.  Grants awarded under the IDSOP generally, had the following terms: exercise price 
equal to the Company’s closing stock price on the date of grant, expiration 10 years from the date of grant, 
and vested grants remain exercisable until their expiration dates if a director leaves the Board.  In June 
2008, the Company shareholders approved an amendment to the 2006 Incentive Plan described above to 
allow non-employee directors to participate in the plan.  Annual grants were made to independent directors 
from the IDSOP concurrent with each director’s annual reelection in June 2008.  The Company does not 
intend to issue additional options from the IDSOP.  

Options Valuation Methodology and Assumptions 

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to determine the fair value of options granted 
and uses the closing price of its common stock as the fair market value of its stock on that date. 

The Company considers historical stock price volatilities, volatilities of similar companies and other factors 
in determining its estimates of future volatilities.  

The Company uses historical lives, including post-termination exercise behavior, publications, comparable 
company estimates, and other factors as the basis for estimating expected lives.  

Risk free rates are based on the U.S. Treasury Yield Curve as published by the U.S. Treasury.  

The following table summarizes the weighted-average valuation assumptions and weighted-average grant 
date fair value of options granted, excluding grants issued under the Company's tender offer which require 
an incremental valuation methodology and are disclosed above, during the periods shown below: 

    Year Ended Dece mber 31,

2008

2007

2006

Assumptions (weighted average)

Volatility

Expected term (in years)

Risk-free rate

Expected dividends

Pre-vest forfeiture rate

65%

5.1

3.0%

-- 

5.0%

68%

6.2

5.0%

-- 

5.0%

Grant date fair value of options granted

$

1.32

$

2.67

$

72%

6.1

5.0%

-- 

5.0%

2.26

Options Activity and Positions 

The following table summarizes activity and positions with respect to options for the year ended December 
31, 2008:  

30

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
Options

Shares

Weighted

Average

Weighted

Remaining

Average

Exercise

Price

Contractual

Aggregate

Term

(years)

Intrinsic

Value

Outstanding at December 31, 2005

5,320,000 $

11.09

6.8 $

3,000

Granted  *

Exercised

Forfeited or expired  *

Outstanding as of December 31, 2006

Granted 

Exercised

Forfeited or expired

Outstanding as of December 31, 2007

Granted 

Exercised

Forfeited or expired

Outstanding as of December 31, 2008

Vested and expected to vest as of December 31, 2008

Exercisable as of December 31, 2008

4,280,000

(16,000)

(3,873,000)

5,711,000

1,617,000

(84,000)

(1,790,000)

5,454,000

2,276,000

(143,000)

(590,000)

6,997,000 $

6,745,000 $

3,163,000 $

2.99

2.77

9.62

6.04

4.08

2.78

9.05

4.52

2.33

2.72

2.93

3.98

4.02

5.12

6.9

1,384,000

6.9

3,320,000

7.2 $

63,000

7.1 $

59,000

6.1 $

27,000

* Includes 2.2 million shares exchanged pursuant to stock option exchange disclosed above 

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006 
were $87,000, $163,000, and $5,000, respectively. 

As of December 31, 2008, the Company’s unamortized share-based compensation was $4.7 million.  The 
Company plans to amortize this share-based compensation cost over the next 2.4 years.  

In October 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the payment of one half of each independent 
director’s annual retainer fee to be paid in the Company’s common stock.  The common stock was valued 
at intrinsic value on the date of grant.  A total of $50,000 was expensed on the grant date.  Each 
independent director received 7,092 shares of common stock.      

In March 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the issuance of 125,000 nonvested equity 
shares of the Company’s common stock to the executive employees under the terms and conditions of the 
2006 Incentive Plan.  The shares vest over a three year period from the date of grant.  The nonvested equity 
shares were valued at intrinsic value on the date of grant and the share-based compensation expense will be 
amortized over the three year service period. 

As of December 31, 2008, the Company’s unamortized nonvested equity share-based compensation was 
$177,000.  The Company plans to amortize this nonvested equity share-based compensation over the next 
2.2 years. 

Commitments and contingencies – Note 12 

Agreements with the University of Washington (“UW”) 

In October 1993, the Company entered into a Research Agreement and an exclusive license agreement 
(“License Agreement”) with the UW.  The License Agreement grants the Company the rights to certain 
intellectual property, including the technology being subsequently developed under the Microvision 

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      31

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
research agreement (“Research Agreement”), whereby the Company has an exclusive, royalty-bearing 
license to make, use and sell or sublicense the licensed technology.  In consideration for the license, the 
Company agreed to pay a one-time nonrefundable license issue fee of $5,134,000.  Payments under the 
Research Agreement were credited to the license fee.  In addition to the nonrefundable fee, which has been 
paid in full, the Company is required to pay certain ongoing royalties.  Beginning in 2001, the Company is 
required to pay the UW a nonrefundable license maintenance fee of $10,000 per quarter, to be credited 
against royalties due. 

Litigation 

The Company has sued its former CEO and President Richard Rutkowski and his spouse to collect 
$1,733,000 in outstanding loans from the Company that were due in January 2007 and remain unpaid. 
Counterclaims were filed by Mr. Rutkowski and his spouse, seeking to recover damages in an amount in 
excess of $15,000,000. The Company believes these claims are without merit and intends to defend them 
vigorously. However, an adverse outcome could have a material adverse affect on its financial condition. 

The Company is subject to other various claims and pending or threatened lawsuits in the normal course of 
business. The Company is not currently party to any such other legal proceedings that management 
believes would have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or 
cash flows. 

Lease commitments 

The Company leases its office space and certain equipment under noncancelable capital and operating 
leases with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year.   

The Company entered into a 90 month facility lease that commenced in February 2006.  The lease includes 
extension and rent escalation provisions over the 90 month term of the lease. Rent expense will be 
recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. 

Future minimum rental commitments under capital and operating leases for years ending December 31 are 
as follows: 

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

T hereafter

T otal minimum lease payments

Less: Amount representing interest

Present value of capital lease obligations

Less: Current portion

Capital

leases

O perating

leases

$

47,000

$

40,000

8,000

-- 

-- 

-- 

844,000

870,000

904,000

938,000

564,000

-- 

95,000

$

4,120,000

(9,000)

86,000

(41,000)

45,000

Long-term obligation at December 31, 2008

$

The capital leases are collateralized by the related assets financed and by security deposits held by the 
lessors under the lease agreements.  The cost and accumulated depreciation of equipment under capital 
leases was $1,017,000 and $932,000, respectively, at December 31, 2008 and $1,017,000 and $886,000, 
respectively, at December 31, 2007. 

32

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
Net rent expense was $861,000, $830,000, and $1,082,000 for 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.  Sub-
lease income of $0, $0, and $125,000 for 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively, was included as a reduction 
in rent expense. 

Long-term debt 

During 2006, the Company entered into a loan agreement with the lessor of the Company’s corporate 
headquarters in Redmond to finance $536,000 in tenant improvements.  The loan carries a fixed interest 
rate of 9% per annum, is repayable over the initial term of the lease, which expires in 2013, and is secured 
by a letter of credit.  The balance of the loan was $393,000 at December 31, 2008. 

Adverse purchase commitments 

The Company has periodically entered into noncancelable purchase contracts in order to ensure the 
availability of materials to support bar code scanner production.  Management periodically assesses the 
need to provide for impairment on these purchase contracts and records a loss on purchase commitments 
when required.  In December 2008, the Company recorded a loss of $119,000 to cost of product revenue as 
a result of commitments to purchase materials for the ROV scanner that were in excess of its estimated 
future proceeds from the sale of the ROV scanners.  In December 2006, the Company recorded a loss of 
$310,000 to cost of product revenue as a result of commitments to purchase materials for the Flic scanner 
that are were excess of its estimated future proceeds from the sale of the Flic scanners.  

Income taxes – Note 13 

A provision for income taxes has not been recorded for 2008, 2007, and 2006 due to the valuation 
allowances placed against the net operating losses and deferred tax assets arising during such periods.  A 
valuation allowance has been recorded for all deferred tax assets because based on the Company's history 
of losses since inception, the available objective evidence creates sufficient uncertainty regarding the 
realizability of the deferred tax assets. 

At December 31, 2008, Microvision has net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $217.6 million, 
for federal income tax reporting purposes.  In addition, Microvision has research and development tax 
credits of $4.3 million.  The net operating loss carry forwards and research and development credits 
available to offset future taxable income, if any, will expire in varying amounts from 2009 to 2027 if not 
previously utilized.  In certain circumstances, as specified in the Internal Revenue Code, a 50% or more 
ownership change by certain combinations of the Company’s stockholders during any three-year period 
would result in limitations on the Company’s ability to utilize its net operating loss carry-forwards.  The 
Company has determined that such a change occurred during 1995 and the annual utilization of loss carry-
forwards generated through the period of that change will be limited to approximately $761,000.  An 
additional change occurred in 1996; and the limitation for losses generated in 1996 is approximately 
$1,600,000. 

Deferred tax assets are summarized as follows: 

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      33

 
 
         
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Deferred tax assets, current

   Reserves

   Other

T otal gross deferred tax assets, current

Deferred tax assets, noncurrent

   Net operating loss carryforwards

   R&D credit carryforwards

   Depreciation/amortization deferred

   Other

T otal gross deferred tax assets, noncurrent

Deferred tax liabilities, noncurrent

   Convertible debt

T otal gross deferred tax liabilities, noncurrent

Net deferred taxes before valuation allowance

Less: Valuation allowance

Deferred tax assets

           De ce mbe r 31,

2008

2007

$

1,990,000

$

2,460,000

996,000

2,986,000

712,000

3,172,000

74,605,000

4,258,000

15,665,000

3,520,000

98,048,000

68,658,000

3,601,000

10,848,000

2,581,000

85,688,000

(1,828,000)

(1,828,000)

99,206,000

(1,209,000)

(1,209,000)

87,651,000

(99,206,000)

(87,651,000)

$

-- 

$

-- 

The valuation allowance and the research and development credit carry forwards account for substantially 
all of the difference between the Company’s effective income tax rate and the Federal statutory tax rate of 
34%. 

Certain net operating losses arise from the deductibility for tax purposes of compensation under 
nonqualified stock options equal to the difference between the fair value of the stock on the date of exercise 
and the exercise price of the options.  For financial reporting purposes, the tax effect of this deduction when 
recognized is accounted for as a credit to shareholders’ equity. 

The Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in 
Income Taxes, on January 1, 2007.  The Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits which would 
require an adjustment to the January 1, 2007 beginning balance of retained earnings.  The Company did not 
have any unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2007 and at December 31, 2008. 

The Company recognizes interest accrued and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in tax expense.  
During the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 the Company recognized no interest or penalties. 

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various states.  The tax years 
2005-2007 generally remain open to examination by major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is 
subject. 

Retirement savings plan – Note 14 

The Company has a retirement savings plan (“the Plan”) that qualifies under Internal Revenue Code 
Section 401(k).  The Plan covers all qualified employees.  Contributions to the Plan by the Company are 
made at the discretion of the Board of Directors.  

Under the Plan, the Company matches 50% of employee contributions to the Plan up to 6% of the 
employee’s per pay period compensation.  During 2008, 2007, and 2006, the Company contributed 
$365,000, $295,000, and $308,000, respectively, to the Plan under the matching program.  

34

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
Segment Information – Note 15 

Microvision operates as one segment.  At January 31, 2006, Lumera was a significant unconsolidated 
equity investment of Microvision.  For the one month period ended January 31, 2006, Lumera revenue was 
$168,000, gross profit was $82,000, loss from operations was $1,109,000 and net loss was $1,040,000.   

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) - Note 16 

The following table presents the Company’s unaudited quarterly financial information for the years ending 
December 31, 2008 and 2007: 

Revenue

Gross Margin

Year Ende d De cember 31, 2008

December 31,

September 30,

June 30,

March 31,

$

1,525,000

$

894,000

$

1,622,000

$

287,000

285,000

719,000

2,570,000

1,469,000

Net loss available for common shareholders

(9,873,000)

(8,443,000)

(9,266,000)

(5,038,000)

Net loss per share basic and diluted

(0.15)

(0.13)

(0.16)

(0.09)

Revenue

Gross Margin

Year Ende d De cember 31, 2007

December 31,

September 30,

June 30,

March 31,

$

2,988,000

$

2,599,000

$

2,662,000

$

2,235,000

1,092,000

846,000

999,000

941,000

Net loss available for common shareholders

(6,022,000)

(4,718,000) 

(2,155,000)

(6,892,000)

Net loss per share basic and diluted

(0.11)

(0.08)

(0.05)

(0.16)

Subsequent Events – Note 17 

During January 2009, the Company terminated 9 employees or approximately 5% of its workforce. The 
Company expects to record expense of approximately $202,000 related to the severance agreements for 
these employees in the first quarter of 2009.  The cost associated with the work force reduction will be 
accounted for in accordance with FAS 146—Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal 
Activities, which requires that the liability for the costs associated with the exit or disposal activity be 
recognized and measured at fair value in the period in which the liability is incurred.   

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      35

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MICROVISION, INC. 
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES SCHEDULE 
(in thousands) 

Balance at

Charges to

Charges to

Additions

Description

    Year Ended December 31, 2006

beginning of

fiscal period

costs and

expense s

        Allowance for receivables from related parties $

1,931

$

542

$

        T ax valuation allowance

    Year Ended December 31, 2007

        Allowance for receivables from related parties

        T ax valuation allowance

    Year Ended December 31, 2008

        Allowance for receivables from related parties

        T ax valuation allowance

71,028

2,473

76,565

2,496

87,651

-- 

23

-- 

-- 

-- 

Balance at

end of

other

accounts

Deductions

fiscal period

-- 

$

5,537

$

-- 

-- 

2,473

76,565

-- 

11,086

-- 

11,555

-- 

-- 

(645)

-- 

2,496

87,651

1,851

99,206

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND  FINANCIAL 
DISCLOSURE 

There have been no changes in or disagreements with accountants in accounting or financial disclosure matters 
during the Company’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007. 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF 
OPERATIONS 

Overview 

We are developing miniature display and imaging engines based upon our technology platform. Our technology 
platform utilizes our expertise in two dimensional Micro-Electrical Mechanical systems (MEMS), lasers, optics and 
electronics to create a high quality video or still image from a small form factor device with lower power needs than 
conventional display technologies.  

In 2006, we announced our strategy to develop and supply a proprietary display engine called PicoP to potential 
original equipment manufacturing (OEM) customers who will embed them into a variety of consumer and 
automotive products. The primary objective for consumer applications is to provide users of mobile devices with a 
large screen viewing experience produced by a small embedded projector. Mobile devices may include cell phones, 
PDA's, gaming consoles and other consumer electronics products. These potential products would allow users to 
watch movies, play videos, display images, and other data onto a variety of surfaces. The PicoP with some 
modification could be embedded into the dashboard of an automobile or an airplane or integrated into a portable 
aftermarket device to create a head-up display (HUD) that could project point-by-point navigation, critical 
operational, safety and other information important to the driver or pilot. The PicoP could be further modified to be 
embedded into a pair of glasses to provide the mobile user with a see-through or occluded personal display to view 
movies, play games or access other content.   

We have incurred substantial losses since inception and expect to incur a substantial loss during the fiscal year 
ending December 31, 2009. 

36

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
Key Accounting Policies and Estimates 

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated 
financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the 
United States.  The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect 
the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent liabilities.  On 
an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, contract losses, bad 
debts, investments and contingencies and litigation.  We base our estimates on historical experience, terms of 
existing contracts, our evaluation of trends in the display and image capture industries, information provided by our 
current and prospective customers and strategic partners, information available from other outside sources, and on 
various other assumptions we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis 
for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other 
sources.  Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. 

We believe the following key accounting policies require more significant judgments and estimates used in the 
preparation of its consolidated financial statements: 

Revenue Recognition.  We recognize contract revenue as work progresses on long-term, cost plus fixed fee, and 
fixed price contracts using the percentage-of-completion method, which relies on estimates of total expected 
contract revenue and costs.  Our revenue contracts generally include a statement of the work we are to complete and 
the total fee we will earn from the contract.  When we begin work on the contract and at the end of each accounting 
period, we work with the members of our technical team to estimate the labor and material and other cost required to 
complete the statement of work compared to cost incurred to date.  We use information provided by project 
mangers, vendors, outside consultants and others as we deem necessary to develop our cost estimates.  Since our 
contracts generally require some level of technology development to complete, the actual cost required to complete a 
statement of work can vary from our estimated cost to complete.  We have developed processes that allow us to 
make reasonable estimates of the cost to complete a contract. Historically, we have made only immaterial revisions 
in the estimates to complete the contract at each reporting period. Recognized revenues are subject to revisions as 
the contract progresses to completion and actual revenue and cost become certain.  Revisions in revenue estimates 
are reflected in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known.  In the future, revisions in 
these estimates could significantly impact recognized revenue in any one reporting period.  If the U.S. government 
cancels a contract, we would receive payment for work performed and costs committed to prior to the cancellation. 

Our product sales generally include acceptance provisions.  We recognize revenue for product shipments upon 
acceptance of the product by the customer or expiration of the contractual acceptance period. 

Losses on Uncompleted Contracts.  We establish an allowance for estimated losses if a contract has an estimated 
cost to complete that is in excess of the remaining contract value.  The entire estimated loss is recorded in the period 
in which the loss is first determined.  We determine the estimated cost to complete a contract through a detailed 
review of the work to be completed, the resources available to complete the work and the technical difficulty of the 
remaining work.  If the revised estimated cost to complete the contract is higher than the total contract revenue, the 
entire contract loss is recognized.  The actual cost to complete a contract can vary significantly from the estimated 
cost, due to a variety of factors including availability of technical staff, availability of materials and technical 
difficulties that arise during a project.  Most of our development contracts are cost plus fixed fee type contracts.  
Under these types of contracts, we are not required to spend more than the contract value to complete the contracted 
work. 

Allowance for uncollectible receivables.  We maintain allowances for uncollectible receivables, including accounts 
receivable, cost and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts and receivables from related 
parties.  We review several factors in determining the allowances including the customer’s and related party’s past 
payment history and financial condition.  If the financial condition of our customers or the related parties with whom 
we have receivables were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional 
allowances could be required. 

Inventory.  We value inventory at the lower of cost or market with cost determined on a weighted average cost basis.  
We review several factors in determining the market value of our inventory including evaluating the replacement 
cost of the raw materials and the net realizable value of the finished goods.  If we do not achieve our targeted sales 

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      37

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
prices, if market conditions for our components or products were to decline or if we do not achieve our sales 
forecast, additional reductions in the carrying value of the inventory would be required.   

Investments Available-For-Sale and Fair Value Measurements. We account for investment securities in accordance 
with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“FAS”) No. 115, Accounting for Certain 
Investments in Debt and Equity Securities (“FAS 115”) and FAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“FAS 157”).  
FAS 115 addresses the accounting and reporting for investments in equity securities that have readily determinable 
fair values and for investments in debt securities.  FAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for 
measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  Adopting FAS 157 on January 1, 
2008 for financial assets and liabilities did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results 
of operations or cash flows. 

FAS 157 defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in 
its principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement 
date.  FAS 157 establishes a three level fair value inputs hierarchy, and requires an entity to maximize the use of 
observable valuation inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.  We utilize market data, assumptions and 
risks we believe market participants would use in measuring the fair value of the asset or liability, including the risks 
inherent in the inputs and the valuation techniques.  The hierarchy is summarized below.   

•  Level 1 - Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities 
•  Level 2 - Observable inputs such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not 

sufficiently active to qualify as level 1 or, other observable inputs   

•  Level 3 - Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data, which requires us to develop our 

own assumptions, which are significant to the measurement of the fair values 

Estimating valuation inputs and selecting and applying valuation methods may require significant judgments by 
management.  Changes in the estimated inputs and valuation methods could result in materially different values, 
credits and charges presented in the consolidated financial statements.   

The investments are stated at fair value and classified as cash and cash equivalents or current investment securities 
available-for-sale on the consolidated balance sheets with unrealized gains and losses included in the consolidated 
statements of comprehensive loss.  We classify investment securities available-for-sale purchased with 90 days or 
less remaining until contractual maturity as cash equivalents on the balance sheet in “Cash and cash equivalents.”   
Interest income, realized gains and losses, and other-than-temporary impairments are recognized in the period 
earned or incurred, and presented separately in the consolidated statements of operations.  Changes in the fair values 
of derivatives are realized in the period of remeasurement and recorded in “Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, 
net” in the consolidated statements of operations.  The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification 
method.   

Employee Share-Based Compensation.  We issue share-based compensation to employees in the form of options 
exercisable into our common stock and restricted or unrestricted shares of our common stock.  We account for 
employee share-based compensation under the guidance provided by Financial Accounting Standards Board 
(“FASB”) Statement No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment (“FAS123(R)”).  The value of equity shares is determined 
using the fair value method, which is based on the number of shares granted and the closing price of our common 
stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on the date of grant.  The value of options is determined using the Black-
Scholes option pricing model with estimates of option lives, stock price volatilities and interest rates, then expensed 
over the periods of service allowing for pre-vest forfeitures.    This widely accepted method results in reasonable 
option values and interperiod expense allocation, and comparability across companies.  Changes in the estimated 
inputs or using other option valuation methods could result in materially different option values and share-based 
compensation expense.   

The key accounting policies described above are not intended to be a comprehensive list of all of our accounting 
policies.  In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by generally 
accepted accounting principles, with no need for us to apply judgment or make estimates.  There are also areas in 
which our judgment in selecting any available alternative would not produce a materially different result to our 
consolidated financial statements.  Additional information about our accounting policies, and other disclosures 

38

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
required by generally accepted accounting principles, are set forth in the notes to our consolidated financial 
statements. 

Inflation has not had a material impact on our revenues, or income from continuing operations over the three most 
recent fiscal years.  

Results of Operations  

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007 

Contract Revenue.   

(in thousands)
Government revenue
Commercial revenue
T otal contract revenue

2008

2,237
2,637
4,874

$

$

% of
contract
revenue
45.9
54.1

2007

6,430
2,580
9,010

$

$

% of
contract
reve nue
71.4
28.6

$ change

(4,193)
57
(4,136)

$

$

% change
(65.2)
2.2
(45.9)

We earn contract revenue from performance on development contracts with the United States government and 
commercial customers.  Our contract revenue in a particular period is dependent upon when we enter into a contract, 
the value of the contracts we have entered into, and the availability of technical resources to perform work on the 
contracts.   

Contract revenue from government contracts was substantially lower during 2008 than in 2007 due to reduced 
contract activity and lower beginning backlog in 2008 compared to the previous year.  We expect that we will have 
fewer opportunities to enter into new development contracts as we move closer to the commercialization of products 
based on our PicoP display engine. 

As long as most of our revenue is earned from performance on development contracts, we believe there may be a 
high degree of variability in revenue from one period to another. 

In December 2007, we entered into a $1 million contract with a commercial customer to develop prototype units 
based on our PicoP technology, for evaluation of future consumer electronics product applications.  The 
development work under this contract was initiated and fully completed in 2008.  

Our backlog of development contracts at December 31, 2008 was $714,000 in government contracts and $228,000 
in commercial contracts compared to $2.0 million in government contracts and $1.8 million in commercial contracts 
at December 31, 2007.  The decrease in backlog from 2007 is primarily attributed to completion of government and 
commercial development contracts in 2007 and early 2008.  We plan to complete the entire contract backlog during 
2009. 

Product Revenue. 

(in thousands)
Bar code revenue
Nomad revenue
T otal product revenue

2008

1,737
0
1,737

$

$

% of
product
revenue
100.0
0.0

2007

1,393
81
1,474

$

$

% of
product
reve nue
94.5
5.5

$ change
344
(81)
263

$

$

% change
24.7
(100.0)
17.8

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      39

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bar code revenue includes the sales of ROV and our discontinued Flic bar code scanners.  The increase in bar code 
revenue for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007 was due to the increased sales 
of our ROV product line.  

Our quarterly revenue may vary substantially due to the timing of product orders from customers, production 
constraints and raw material availability. 

The backlog of product orders at December 31, 2008 was approximately $276,000, compared to $245,000 at 
December 31, 2007, all of which is scheduled for delivery during 2009. 

Cost of Contract Revenue.   

(in thousands)
Cost of contract revenue

2008

$

1,708

% of
contract
revenue
35.0

2007

$

4,916

% of
contract
revenue
54.6

$ change

$

(3,208)

% change
(65.3)

Cost of contract revenue includes both the direct and allocated indirect costs of performing on development 
contracts.  Direct costs include labor, materials and other costs incurred directly in performing on a contract.  
Indirect costs include labor and other costs associated with operating our research and development department and 
building our technical capabilities and capacity.  Cost of contract revenue is determined both by the level of direct 
costs incurred on development contracts and by the level of indirect costs incurred in operating and building our 
technical capabilities and capacity.  Both the direct and indirect costs can fluctuate substantially from period to 
period. 

The cost of contract revenue as a percentage of revenue was lower in 2008 than in 2007 as a result of negotiating 
better terms on contracts and from the sale of prototype units that have been previously expensed to internally 
funded programs.   

The cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue can fluctuate significantly from period to period, depending on the 
contract cost mix and the levels of direct and indirect costs incurred.  However, over longer periods of time we 
expect modest fluctuations in the cost of contract revenue, as a percentage of contract revenue. 

Cost of Product Revenue. 

(in thousands)
Cost of product revenue

2008

$

2,143

% of
product
revenue
123.4

2007

$

1,690

% of
product
revenue
114.7

$ change
453

$

% change
26.8

Cost of product revenue includes both the direct and allocated indirect costs of manufacturing products sold to 
customers.  Direct costs include labor, materials and other costs incurred directly in the manufacture of these 
products.  Indirect costs include labor and other costs associated with operating our manufacturing capabilities and 
capacity.  

Our overhead, which includes the costs of procuring, inspecting and storing material, facility and depreciation costs, 
is allocated to inventory, cost of product revenue, cost of contract revenue, and research and development expense 
based on the proportion of direct material purchased for the respective activity.  During 2008 and 2007, we expensed 
approximately $143,000 and $289,000, respectively, of manufacturing overhead associated with production capacity 
in excess of production requirements. 

The increase in cost of product revenue for 2008 compared to 2007 was a result of increased revenue from the sales 
of ROV and the increase in inventory write-downs during the respective periods.  In 2008, cost of product revenue 
included $475,000 of inventory write-downs compared to $84,000 for the same period in 2007. 

40

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
The cost of product revenue as a percentage of product revenue can fluctuate significantly from period to period, 
depending on the product mix, the level of overhead expense and the volume of direct materials purchased.   

Research and Development Expense.   

(in thousands)
Research and development

2008
22,575

$

2007
14,944

$ change
7,631

$

$

% change
51.1

Research and development expense consists of: 

•  Compensation related costs of employees and contractors engaged in internal research and product 

development activities, 

•  Laboratory operations, outsourced development and processing work, and 
•  Other operating expenses.  

In addition, we allocate our research and development resources based on the business opportunity of the available 
projects, the skill mix of the resources available and the contractual commitments we have made to customers. In 
order to accelerate our time to market and because contract revenue was lower for the year ended December 31, 
2008 compared to the same period in 2007, we directed more of our research and development work to internally 
funded projects compared to the same period last year.  We have increased spending in research and development as 
part of our strategy to accelerate the time to market for products based on the PicoP.   The increase in cost is 
primarily attributable to increases in payroll costs and contracted services.   

We believe that a substantial level of continuing research and development expense will be required to develop 
additional commercial products using the light scanning technology.  Accordingly, we anticipate our level of 
research and development spending will continue to be substantial.   

Sales, Marketing, General and Administrative Expense.   

(in thousands)
Sales, marketing, general and administrative

2008
15,730

$

2007
15,779

$

$

$ change

(49)

% change
(0.3)

Sales, marketing, general and administrative expense includes compensation and support costs for marketing, sales, 
management and administrative staff, and for other general and administrative costs, including legal and accounting 
services, consultants and other operating expenses. 

We continue to aggressively manage these costs as part of our strategy to accelerate the development of PicoP-based 
products while controlling our cash used in operations.   

Interest Income and Expense.   

(in thousands)
Interest income
(in thousands)
Interest expense

2008

1,130

2008

48

$

$

2007

1,358

2007

513

$ change

(228)

$ change

(465)

$

$

% change
(16.8)
% change
(90.6)

$

$

The decrease in interest income in 2008 from 2007 results primarily from lower interest rates on our investment 
securities compared to 2007. 

In March and December 2005, we issued convertible notes (the "Notes") with an aggregate principal amount of $20 
million. The last payment on the Notes was made in March 2007, resulting in a decrease in interest expense for the 
year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. 

Impairment of investment securities, available-for-sale. 

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      41

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
Impairment of investments, available-for-sale

2008

2007

$ change

$

(300) $

0

$

(300)

% change
        n/a

At December 31, 2008, our marketable securities portfolio included $3.0 million par value AAA rated student loan 
auction-rate securities ("SLARS"). Based on the length of the historical duration of failed SLARS auctions and 
significant uncertainty of the prospective duration of inactivity and lack of liquidity in the SLARS market, we 
determined that the estimated fair values of the SLARS were less than par value and the impairments were other-
than-temporary.  We used a discounted cash flow model, with rates adjusted for liquidity, to determine the estimated 
fair values of the SLARS as of December 31, 2008. We recorded an "impairment of investment securities, available-
for-sale" of $300,000 for the period ended December 31, 2008.  

Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments, Net.   

(in thousands)
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net

2008

2007

$

2,196

$

(483) $

$ change
2,679

% change
(554.7)

We issued warrants to purchase 2,302,000 shares of common stock in connection with the issuance of the Notes.  
The warrants met the definition of derivative instruments that must be accounted for as liabilities under the 
provisions of Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 00-19, Accounting for Derivative Financial 
Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock (“EITF 00-19”), because we cannot 
engage in certain corporate transactions affecting the common stock unless we made a cash payment to the holders 
of the warrants.  In July 2008, warrants to purchase 750,000 shares of common stock expired unexercised.  We 
record changes in the fair values of the warrants in the statement of operations each period.  We valued the 
remaining warrants to purchase 1,552,000 shares of common stock at December 31, 2008 using the Black-Scholes 
option pricing model with the following assumptions:  expected volatility of 72%; expected dividend yield of 0%; 
risk free interest rates ranging from 0.6% to 0.8%; and contractual lives ranging from 1.2 years to 1.9 years.  The 
change in value of the warrants of $2.3 million in 2008 was recorded as a non-operating gain and is included in 
“Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net” in the consolidated statement of operations.  

Prior to December 9, 2008 we held warrants to purchase 170,500 shares of Lumera common stock.  On December 9, 
2008, Lumera merged with GigOptix, LLC and the combined company will conduct business as GigOptix, Inc.  Our 
Lumera warrants were exchanged for warrants to purchase shares of the new company’s common stock, after 
applying a 0.125 exchange ratio and exercise price escalation.  As of December 31, 2008, the fair value of the 
warrants was determined to be zero and the change in value of $130,000 in 2008 was recorded as a loss to “Gain 
(loss) on derivative instruments, net.” 

Gain on sale of investment in Lumera. 
Gain on sale of securities of equity investment: 

(in thousands)
Gain on sale of investment in Lumera

2008

2007

$ change

$

0

$

6,606

$

(6,606)

% change
(100.0)

During 2007, we sold 1,714,000 shares of Lumera common stock for gross proceeds of $8.7 million and we 
recorded a gain of $6.6 million.   

As result of the merger discussed above, the 36,000 shares of Lumera common stock we held were exchanged for 
5,000 shares of GigOptix common stock. 

Income Taxes.   

No provision for income taxes has been recorded because we have experienced net losses from inception through 
December 31, 2008.  At December 31, 2008, we had net operating loss carry-forwards of approximately $217.6 

42

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
million for federal income tax reporting purposes.  In addition, we have research and development tax credits of $4.3 
million.  The net operating loss carry forwards and research and development credits available to offset future 
taxable income, if any, will expire in varying amounts from 2009 to 2027 if not previously utilized.  In certain 
circumstances, as specified in the Internal Revenue Code, a 50% or more ownership change by certain combinations 
of our shareholders during any three-year period would result in a limitation on our ability to utilize a portion of our 
net operating loss carry-forwards.  We have determined that such a change of ownership occurred during 1995 and 
that the annual utilization of loss carry-forwards generated through the period of that change will be limited to 
approximately $761,000.  An additional change of ownership occurred in 1996 and the annual limitation for losses 
generated in 1996 is approximately $1.6 million. 

We adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, on January 
1, 2007.  We did not have any unrecognized tax benefits which would require an adjustment to the January 1, 2007 
beginning balance of retained earnings.  We did not have any unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2007 or at 
December 31, 2008. 

We recognize interest accrued and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in tax expense.  During the years 
ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, we recognized no interest and penalties. 

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 

Contract Revenue.   

(in thousands)
Government revenue
Commercial revenue
T otal contract revenue

2007

6,430
2,580
9,010

$

$

% of
contract
revenue
71.4
28.6

2006

3,586
1,689
5,275

$

$

% of
contract
reve nue
68.0
32.0

$ change
2,844
891
3,735

$

$

% change
79.3
52.8
70.8

Contract revenue was higher during 2007 than in 2006, due to higher beginning government contract backlog and an 
increased level of activity on commercial contracts compared to the prior year. 

In May 2007, we announced that we had entered into a $3.2 million contract with the U.S. Air Force to provide a 
lightweight, see-through, full-color eyewear display prototype to the government.  The contract, which continued a 
development activity with the Air Force, specified the development, design, verification, testing, and delivery of a 
lightweight, see-through full-color wearable display for evaluation by several DOD project offices. 

Our backlog of development contracts at December 31, 2007 was $2.0 million in government contracts and $1.8 
million in commercial contracts compared to $5.2 million in government contracts and $1.6 million in commercial 
contracts at December 31, 2006.   

Product Revenue. 

(in thousands)
Bar code revenue
Nomad revenue
T otal product revenue

2007

1,393
81
1,474

$

$

% of
product
revenue
94.5
5.5

2006

1,589
179
1,768

$

$

% of
product
reve nue
89.9
10.1

$ change

(196)
(98)
(294)

$

$

% change
(12.3)
(54.7)
(16.6)

In May 2007, we announced the launch of ROV, our new bar code scanner product.  We had planned to begin 
commercial shipments of ROV during the third quarter of 2007.  During our Beta evaluation, we determined that 
ROV did not meet our quality standards and we delayed the launch of ROV production until we could correct the 
deficiencies.  Commercial shipments of ROV began during the fourth quarter of 2007. 

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      43

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The decrease in bar code revenue in 2007 compared to 2006 was the result of the timing of the release of ROV.  We 
believe that many of our customers were waiting for the availability of ROV before placing orders for our bar code 
scanning products.   

The decrease in Nomad revenue was the result of our decision in June 2006 to no longer promote the Nomad 
product.  The Nomad had not gained the commercial acceptance we had planned when it was introduced. 

The backlog of product orders at December 31, 2007 was approximately $245,000, compared to $353,000 at 
December 31, 2006. 

Cost of Contract Revenue.   

(in thousands)
Cost of contract revenue

2007

$

4,916

% of
contract
revenue
54.6

2006

$

3,398

% of
contract
revenue
64.4

$ change
1,518

$

% change
44.7

The cost of contract revenue as a percentage of revenue was lower in 2007 than in 2006 as a result of negotiating 
better terms on contracts entered into in late 2006 and early 2007.  We target a gross margin for each contract of at 
least 40%; however, the gross margin can vary based on the technical challenges encountered in completing the 
contract. 

Cost of Product Revenue. 

(in thousands)
Cost of product revenue

2007

$

1,690

% of
product
revenue
114.7

2006

$

4,768

% of
product
revenue
269.7

$ change

$

(3,078)

% change
(64.6)

During 2007 and 2006, we expensed approximately $289,000 and $1,224,000, respectively, of manufacturing 
overhead associated with production capacity in excess of production requirements. 

The decline in cost of product revenue as a percentage of product revenue for 2007 compared to 2006 is attributable 
to the following factors: 

•  The decision in June 2006 to no longer support the Nomad product line.  During 2006, we recorded 
expenses of $1.2 million associated with the Nomad product line that were not repeated in 2007. 

•  Reduced direct cost and overhead on the Flic product line resulting in a savings of approximately 108% for 

the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. 

•  The absence of losses associated with noncancelable purchase contracts.  In 2006, we recorded a loss of 

$310,000 to cost of product revenue as a result of commitments to purchase materials for the Flic scanner 
that were in excess of our estimated future proceeds from the sale of the Flic scanners. 

Research and Development Expense.   

(in thousands)
Research and development

2007
14,944

$

2006
10,715

$ change
4,229

$

$

% change
39.5

The increase in research and development expense in 2007 compared to 2006 was the result of our increased 
spending as part of our strategy to accelerate the time to market for products based on the PicoP.   The increase in 
cost was primarily attributable to increases in payroll costs and contracted services.   

Sales, Marketing, General and Administrative Expense.   

44

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
(in thousands)
Sales, marketing, general and administrative

2007
15,779

$

2006
17,362

$ change

$

(1,583)

% change
(9.1)

$

In early 2006, we announced our plan to reduce spending in sales, marketing, general and administrative expenses.  
The decrease in sales, marketing, general and administrative expense in 2007 compared to 2006 is the result of the 
cost reduction efforts. 

Interest Income and Expense.   

(in thousands)
Interest income

(in thousands)
Interest expense

2007

2006

1,358

$

719

$

$ change
639

% change
88.9

2007

2006

$ change

513

$

5,753

$

(5,240)

% change
(91.1)

$

$

The increase in interest income in 2007 from 2006 results from higher average cash and investment securities 
balances. 

In March and December 2005, we issued convertible notes (the "Notes") with an aggregate principal amount of $20 
million. The last payment on the Notes was made in March 2007, resulting in a decrease in interest expense for the 
year ended December 31, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. 

Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments, Net. 
The following table shows the gain on derivative instruments, net: 

(in thousands)
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net

2007

2006

$ change

$

(483) $

1,627

$

(2,110)

% change
(129.7)

In connection with the issuance of the Notes in 2005, we concluded that the note holders' right to convert all or a 
portion of the Notes into our common stock is an embedded derivative instrument as defined by FAS 133, 
Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (“FAS 133”). We determine the value of the 
derivative features at each balance sheet date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. We retired the Notes in 
March 2007 and decreased the value of the derivative feature to zero. The change in value of $68,000 from 
December 31, 2006 to the date of retirement of the Notes was recorded as a non-operating gain and is included in 
"Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net" in the consolidated statement of operations. 

We issued warrants to purchase 2,302,000 shares of common stock in connection with the issuance of the Notes. 
The warrants met the definition of derivative instruments that must be accounted for as liabilities under the 
provisions of EITF 00-19, because we cannot engage in certain corporate transactions affecting the common stock 
unless we made a cash payment to the holders of the warrants.  We record changes in the fair values of the warrants 
in the statement of operations each period.  We valued the warrants at December 31, 2007 using the Black-Scholes 
option pricing model with the following assumptions: expected volatility of 67%, expected dividend yield of 0%, 
risk free interest rates ranging from 3.05% to 3.07%, and contractual lives ranging from 0.6 years to 2.9 years. The 
change in value of the warrants of $85,000 in 2007 was recorded as a non-operating loss and is included in "Gain 
(loss) on derivative instruments, net" in the consolidated statement of operations.  

At December 31, 2007, we held warrants to purchase 170,500 shares of Lumera common stock.  Changes in the fair 
value of the warrants are recorded in the statement of operations each period.  As of December 31, 2007, the 
warrants were valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: expected 
volatility of 83%, expected dividend yield of 0%, risk free interest rate of 3.11%, and contractual life of 3.2 years. 
As of December 31, 2007, the fair value of the warrants decreased to $130,000 and the change in value of $465,000 
in 2007 was recorded as a loss to "Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net." 

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in losses of Lumera and Gain on sale of securities of equity investment. 

Equity in losses of Lumera: 

(in thousands)
Equity in losses of Lumera

2007

2006

$

0

$

(290) $

$ change
290

% change
(100.0)

Gain on sale of securities of equity investment:  

(in thousands)
Gain on sale of investment in Lumera

2007

2006

$ change

$

6,606

$

8,738

$

(2,132)

% change
(24.4)

In 2006, we sold 2.9 million shares of our Lumera common stock for $12.2 million. We recorded a "Gain on sale of 
investment in Lumera" of approximately $8.7 million. In January 2006, we recorded a charge of $290,000 for our 
proportion of Lumera net loss for the period preceding the change in accounting method which resulted from the 
reduction of our ownership in Lumera. 

During 2007, we sold 1,714,000 shares of Lumera common stock for gross proceeds of $8.7 million and we 
recorded a gain of $6.6 million. As of December 31, 2007, we owned 36,000 shares of Lumera common stock. 

Income Taxes.   

At December 31, 2007, we had net operating loss carry-forwards of approximately $200.0 million for federal 
income tax reporting purposes.  In addition, we had research and development tax credits of $3.6 million.   

Inducement for Conversion of Preferred Stock.  

(in thousands)
Inducement for conversion of preferred stock

2007

2006

$

0

$

(3,076) $

$ change
3,076

% change
(100.0)

In September 2004, we raised $10.0 million before issuance costs of $90,000 from the sale of 10,000 shares of 
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and a warrant to purchase 362,000 shares of common stock.  The preferred 
stock terms included a dividend of 3.5% per annum, payable quarterly in cash or registered common stock, at our 
election, subject to certain conditions.   

The net cash proceeds of $9,910,000 were allocated to the preferred stock and the warrant based on the relative fair 
values of the securities.  The warrants were valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following 
assumptions:  expected volatility of 75%, expected dividend yield of 0%, risk free interest rate of 3.4%, and 
contractual life of five years.  Proceeds of $1.3 million were allocated to the warrant and recorded as an increase to 
additional paid-in capital.  

Subsequent to the relative fair value allocation, the effective conversion price of the convertible preferred stock was 
less than the closing price of our common stock on the date of commitment to purchase the preferred stock, resulting 
in the recognition of a beneficial conversion feature in accordance with EITF No. 00-27, Application of Issue No. 
98-5 to Certain Convertible Instruments.  This beneficial conversion feature was measured at $1.2 million, which 
represents the difference between the fair value of the common stock and the effective conversion price.  The 
beneficial conversion feature was recorded as additional paid-in capital and a deemed dividend to preferred 
stockholders.  It was amortized using the effective interest method over the three year stated life of the preferred 
stock.  During 2005, we recorded $280,000 in dividends on the preferred stock and $303,000 in amortization of the 
beneficial conversion feature of the preferred stock.  

In May 2006, we entered into a Conversion Agreement with the holders of our preferred stock.  As consideration for 
converting 5,000 preferred shares, we issued a total of 1,353,066 shares of our common stock, $.001 par value, of 

46

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
which 565,000 shares were issued as an inducement to convert ("Incentive Shares").  The value of the Incentive 
Shares of $2.0 million together with unamortized discounts of $0.6 million and fees of $0.1 million were recorded as 
"Inducement for conversion of preferred stock" in the consolidated statement of operations. 

In connection with the conversion, we agreed to register the Incentive Shares and to a 45-trading-day price 
protection provision.  We determined that the price protection feature of the Incentive Shares included an embedded 
derivative feature as defined by FAS 133. We estimated the initial value of the derivative feature at conversion to be 
$401,000 using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: expected volatility of 65%, 
dividend yield of 0%, risk free interest rate of 4.9%, and contractual life 0.3 years and recorded it as a non-operating 
expense included in "Inducement for conversion of preferred stock" in the consolidated statement of operations.  
The value of the price protection feature fluctuated with the value of our common stock and, to a lesser extent, with 
changes in valuation variables. In August 2006, the Company determined and recorded the final value and paid the 
liability of $1,074,000. The change in estimated fair value of the derivative feature of $673,000 was included as a 
non-operating expense in "Gain (loss) on Derivative instruments, net".   

Liquidity and Capital Resources 

We have incurred significant losses since inception.  We have funded operations to date primarily through the sale 
of common stock, convertible preferred stock, warrants, the issuance of convertible debt and, to a lesser extent, from 
development contract revenues and product sales.  In July 2008, we received $26.0 million, before issuance costs, 
from the issuance of 11,172,000 shares of our common stock and warrants exercisable for 6,703,000 shares of our 
common stock at $3.60 per share.  At December 31, 2008, we had $28.2 million in cash, cash equivalents, and 
investment securities, available-for-sale.  Our cash, cash equivalents, and investment securities available-for-sale 
balance includes $2.7 million in auction rate securities (“ARS”).  There is currently no established market for these 
ARS and if we were required to sell them in a short period of time we may receive less than our book value for 
them.   

Our operating plan for 2009 includes the launch of our first accessory product, further development of the PicoP 
display engine for embedded applications and further development of automotive HUD and eyewear applications.  
In order to fully fund our product launch and our other development efforts, we will require additional capital in 
2009.  We plan to obtain additional cash through the issuance of equity or debt securities.  There can be no 
assurance that additional cash will be available or that, if available, it will be available on terms acceptable to us on a 
timely basis.  If adequate funds are not available in the next several months to fully implement our plan we will 
begin to reduce the scope of our business to extend our operations as we pursue other financing opportunities and 
business relationships.  This reduction in scope could include delaying product launch and development projects 
resulting in reductions in staff, operating costs, capital expenditures and investment in research and development.  
With these adjustments to our operating plan, we believe we currently have sufficient cash, cash equivalents, and 
investment securities to fund operations through at least February 28, 2010.   

Cash used in operating activities totaled $31.2 million during 2008, compared to $21.3 million during 2007.  During 
2008, the increased cash outlay was primarily driven by the acceleration of research and development activities on 
our PicoP and related technologies for planned PicoP and other product applications.  The balance of the change was 
largely due to lower contract revenue in 2008 than in 2007.  

We had the following material gains and charges, and changes in assets and liabilities during the year ended 
December 31, 2008. 

• 

“(Gain) loss on derivative instruments”  In connection with the issuances of our Notes in 2005, we issued 
warrants to purchase 2,302,000 shares of our common stock, which are accounted for as derivative security 
liabilities according to guidance in EITF 00-19.  The value of the warrants fluctuates with our common 
stock price and the decreasing lives of the warrants as they approach expiration.  The net decrease in our 
stock price during 2008 combined with decreasing terms to expiration resulted in a $2.3 million non-cash 
non-operating gain recorded in “(Gain) loss on derivative instruments, net” on the consolidated statements 
of operations and a non-cash adjustment in operating cash flows recorded to “(Gain) loss on derivative 
instruments” on the consolidated statements of cash flows.  We record the fair values of the warrants in 
“Liability associated with common stock warrants” on the consolidated balance sheets.  The valuation 
assumptions and method are detailed in the Results of Operations section above.   

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      47

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
• 

• 

“Accounts receivable, net”  Our accounts receivable decreased by approximately $1.3 million from the end 
of 2007 due to lower contract revenue near the end of 2008. 

"Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts"  We ended 2008 with 
$908,000 less than 2007.  This was mostly a result of receiving a $500,000 advance cash payment from a 
customer in December 2007 for contract revenue work performed in January 2008.  The balance of the 
decrease is associated with completing contracts in the third quarter of 2008 and lower contract revenue 
near the end of 2008. 

•  “Inventory”  Ending inventory increased by $764,000 over 2007 as a result of the timing of our production 
schedule for ROV and lower than expected sales volumes.  We value inventory at the lower of cost or 
market with cost determined on a weighted average cost basis.  The following table shows the composition 
of the inventory at December 31, 2008 and 2007: 

Raw materials

Work in process

Finished goods

Investing Activities 

December 31,

December 31,

2008

2007

45,000

$

-- 

1,480,000

1,525,000

$

122,000

10,000

629,000

761,000

$

$

Cash provided by investing activities totaled $19.0 million in 2008 compared to cash used in investing activities of 
$14.2 million in 2007.  We invested the proceeds from our July 2008 issuance of common stock and warrants of 
$26.0 million, before issuance fees, into money market accounts and short term investments.  As a result, the 
purchases and sales of these investments appear in cash and cash equivalents changes instead of in investing 
activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows.  Cash provided by investing activities in 2008 was generated 
from the net sales of investment securities to fund continuing operations which were purchased in 2007.  The 2007 
net purchases in investing activities of $22.3 million were made with proceeds from the call of our publicly traded 
warrants and sale of Lumera common stock.   

Financing Activities 

Cash provided by financing activities totaled $24.3 million in 2008, compared to $34.4 million in 2007, largely as a 
result of the relative sizes of our financing transactions completed in 2008 and 2007, coupled with cash payments 
totaling $1.4 million in 2007 to retire our Notes.  The following is a list of our securities issuances during 2008, 
2007 and 2006. 

• 

• 

• 

In July 2008, we raised an aggregate of $26.0 million before issuance costs of approximately $2.0 million 
through a registered direct public offering of 11.2 million shares of our common stock and warrants to 
purchase 6.7 million shares of our common stock.  The warrants have an exercise price of $3.60 per share, 
a five year term, and are not exercisable for one year from the date of issuance.  The warrants are callable 
after one year from the date of issuance if the average closing bid price of our stock is over $7.20 for any 
20 consecutive trading days. The warrants are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the ticker 
“MVISW.” 

In June 2007, we called our publicly traded warrants issued as part of a 2006 mid-year financing 
transaction.  The warrant holders had until July 6, 2007 to exercise their warrants or the warrants would 
expire.  We received $34.1 million from the exercise of 12,855,000 warrants. 

In November 2006, we raised $7.9 million before issuance costs of $779,000 through an underwritten 
public offering of 3,318,000 shares of our common stock.  

48

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
• 

In June and July 2006, we raised an aggregate of $27.1 million before issuance costs of $2.2 million 
through an underwritten public offering of 11.6 million shares of our common stock and warrants to 
purchase 12.4 million shares of our common stock.  In connection with the offering, we also issued the 
underwriter a warrant to acquire 537,500 warrants, identical to those sold in the offering, at an exercise 
price of $0.16 per warrant.  The underwriter exercised the warrants for warrants in connection with the call 
in June 2007.   

The following is a list of scheduled payments we made in connection with our Notes during 2007 and 2006. 

•  During 2007: 
o 
o 

cash payments of $1.4 million in principal and $28,000 in interest, and 
issued 459,000 shares of our common stock in payment of $1.4 million in principal and $21,000 in 
interest. 

•  During 2006: 
o 
o 

cash payments of $9.6 million in principal and $722,000 in interest, and 
issued 1.4 million shares of our common stock in payment of $1.7 million in principal and 
$88,000 in interest. 

We may also raise cash through future sales of our common or preferred stock, warrants, and issuance of debt 
securities or through other borrowings.  Should expenses exceed the amounts budgeted in our current operating plan, 
we may require additional cash earlier than expected to further the development of our technology, for expenses 
associated with product development, and to respond to competitive pressures or to meet unanticipated development 
difficulties.  Our operating plan also provides for the development of strategic relationships with systems and 
equipment manufacturers that may require additional investments.  There can be no assurance that additional 
financing will be available to us or, if available, it will be available on acceptable terms on a timely basis.  If 
adequate funds are not available to satisfy either short-term or long-term capital requirements or planned revenues 
are not generated, we may be required to limit our operations substantially.  This limitation of operations may 
include reductions in staff and discretionary costs, which may include non-contractual research costs.  Our cash 
requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to, the rate at which we can, directly or through 
arrangements with original equipment manufacturers, introduce products incorporating our technology and the 
market acceptance and competitive position of such products.  

Future operating expenditures and capital requirements will depend on numerous factors, including the following: 

• 
• 
• 

• 
• 

the progress of research and development programs, 
the progress in commercialization activities and arrangements, 
the cost of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property 
rights, 
competing technological and market developments, and 
our ability to establish cooperative development, joint venture and licensing arrangements. 

In order to maintain our exclusive rights under our license agreement with the University of Washington, we are 
obligated to make royalty payments to the University of Washington with respect to the Virtual Retinal Display 
technology.  If we are successful in establishing original equipment manufacturer co-development and joint venture 
arrangements, we expect our partners to fund certain non-recurring engineering costs for technology development 
and/or for product development.  Nevertheless, we expect our cash requirements to remain high as we expand our 
activities and operations with the objective of commercializing our light scanning technology. 

The following table lists our contractual obligations (in thousands): 

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      49

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than 1 year

1-3 ye ars

3-5 ye ars

More than 5 years

Total

         December 31,

Contractual O bligations:

Open purchase obligations *

Minimum payments under capital leases

Minimum payments under operating leases

Minimum payments under long-term debt

Minimum payments under research, royalty

 and licensing agreements

    T otal

$

$

3,991

$

104

$

47

844

103

735

5,720

$

48

1,774

206

1,733

3,865

$

$

74

-- 

1,502

172

1,733

3,481

$

-- 

-- 

-- 

-- 

$

4,169

95

4,120

481

--   †

4,201

-- 

$

13,066

* 

† 

Open purchase obligations represent commitments to purchase inventory, materials, capital equipment, 
maintenance agreements and other goods used in the normal operation of our business.   

License and royalty obligations continue through the lives of the underlying patents, which is currently  
through at least 2017. 

New accounting pronouncements  

In October 2008, the FASB released a FASB Staff Position, FSP FAS 157-3—Determining the Fair Value of a 
Financial Asset When The Market for That Asset Is Not Active, to clarify the application of the provisions of FAS 
157 in an inactive market.  Implementing of this standard upon its issuance did not have a material impact on our 
consolidated financial position and results of operations. 

In February 2008, the FASB released a FASB Staff Position, FSP FAS 157-2—Effective Date of FASB Statement 
No. 157, which delays the effective date of FAS 157 for all nonfinancial assets and liabilities, except those that are 
recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis to fiscal years beginning after 
November 15, 2008. We are currently assessing the financial impact of FSP FAS 157-2 on our financial statements. 

In June 2007, the EITF reached a final consensus on EITF Issue No. 07-1, Accounting for Collaborative 
Arrangements (“EITF 07-1”). EITF 07-1 discusses how to determine whether an arrangement constitutes a 
collaborative arrangement, how costs incurred and revenue generated on sales to third parties should be reported by 
the participants, how an entity should characterize payments made between participants and what participants should 
disclose in the notes to the financial statements about a collaborative arrangement. EITF 07-1 is effective for 
financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those 
fiscal years. We are currently assessing the financial impact of EITF 07-1 on our financial statements. 

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK 

Interest Rate and Market Liquidity Risks 
As of the end of 2008, 90% of our total cash, cash equivalents and investment securities available-for-sale have 
variable interest rates or are very short-term discount notes traded in active markets.  Therefore, we believe our 
exposure to the market and interest rate risk is not material.  The remaining 10% is composed of $3.0 million par 
student loan auction-rate securities (“SLARS”).  Our SLARS are highly rated long-term bonds and are structured 
with variable interest rate resets to be determined via a Dutch Auction process every 28 days.  However, beginning 
in February 2008 as global credit markets deteriorated significantly, each auction has failed rendering the SLARS 
temporarily illiquid through the auction process and adverse credit market conditions have resulted in inactive 
secondary ARS markets.  Given the adverse credit market conditions, the fair value of the principal of these bonds 
has become affected by changes in interest rates, the spread between short and long rates, and credit market 
liquidity.  As a result, in the quarter ended September 30, 2008, we estimated that the fair value of our SLARS was 
approximately $2.7 million and that the $300,000 adjustment was other than temporary.  If market conditions 
worsen, we may have to further adjust the estimated fair value of the SLARS, including additional charges to 
earnings if we believe the adjustment is other than temporary.  In the event we need access to the funds invested in 
the SLARS, we could be required to sell these securities at an amount below our original purchase value.  Any of 
these events could affect our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.  However, based 

50     

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
on our current operating plan and ability to access our $25.5 million held in cash and cash equivalents and other 
highly liquid investments held as of December 31, 2008, we do not expect to be required to sell these securities 
materially below their current estimated value.   

Our investment policy generally directs that the investment managers should select investments to achieve the 
following goals: principal preservation, adequate liquidity and return.  As of December 31, 2008, our cash and cash 
equivalents and investments available-for-sale securities portfolio are comprised of short-term highly rated money 
market funds and commercial paper, and the SLARS.   

The values of cash equivalents and investment securities, available-for-sale by maturity date as of December 31, 
2008, are as follows: 

Cash and cash equivalents

Less than one year

One to two years

Greater than five years

Amount

Percent

$

$

16,173,000

9,365,000

-- 

2,700,000

28,238,000

57.3 %

33.1

-- 

9.6

100.0 %

Foreign Exchange Rate Risk 
All of our development contract payments are made in U.S. dollars.  However, in the future we may enter into 
additional development contracts in foreign currencies that may subject us to foreign exchange rate risk.  We intend 
to enter into foreign currency hedges to offset material exposure to currency fluctuations when we can adequately 
determine the timing and amounts of the foreign currency exposure. 

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND 
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES 

Our common stock trades on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “MVIS.”  As of July 20, 2009, there 
were approximately 372 holders of record of 76,163,000 shares of common stock outstanding.  We have never 
declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock.  We currently anticipate that we will retain all future earnings 
to fund the operations of our business and do not anticipate paying dividends on the common stock in the 
foreseeable future. 

Our common stock began trading publicly on August 27, 1996.  The quarterly high and low sales prices of the 
Company’s common stock for each full quarterly period in the last two fiscal years and the year to date as reported 
by The NASDAQ Global Market are as follows: 

Quarter Ended

2007

March 31, 2007

June 30, 2007

September 30, 2007

December 31, 2007

2008

March 31, 2008

June 30, 2008

September 30, 2008

December 31, 2008

2009

March 31, 2009

June 30, 2009

July 1, 2009 to July 20, 2009

Common Stock

HIGH

LOW

$                         

4.08

$                        

2.98

5.90

6.08

4.75

3.62

4.40

3.83

$                         

4.65

$                        

1.82

4.05

3.16

2.20

2.35

1.85

1.06

$                         

2.20

$                          

.77

3.30

3.22

1.20

2.70

Microvision 2008 Annual Report      51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                           
                          
                           
                          
                           
                          
                           
                          
                           
                          
                           
                          
                           
                          
                           
                          
 
Stock Performance Graph

Comparison of 5-year cumulative total return among Microvision, Inc., NASDAQ® Market Index, 
and Peer Group Index 

The following graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return on an initial $100 investment in the Company’s common 
stock for the five fiscal years ended December 31, 2008, to two indices: The NASDAQ Market Index and an index of peer compa-
nies selected by the Company (Peer Group). The companies in the Peer Group are Kopin Corporation, Planar Systems, Inc. and 
Universal Display Corp. The graph and table assume that $100 was invested on December 31, 2003, in the Company’s common 
stock,  the  NASDAQ  Market  Index,  and  the  Peer  Group  and  that  all  dividends  were  reinvested.  The  past  performance  of  the 
Company’s  common  stock  is  not  an  indication  of  future  performance.  We  cannot  assure  you  that  the  price  of  the  Company’s 
common stock will appreciate at any particular rate or at all in future years.

Assumes $100 invested on Jan. 1, 2004; 

$ 150

Assumes dividend reinvested; 

Fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2008

125

100

75

50

25

Fiscal year ending

2003 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008

Microvision, Inc. 

100.00 

91.86 

47.24 

41.86 

51.18 

22.05

Peer Group Index 

100.00 

56.43 

64.95 

65.22 

70.45 

NASDAQ Market Index 

100.00 

108.41 

110.79 

122.16 

134.29 

32.89

79.25

52     

Microvision 2008 Annual Report

Corporate Information

Board of Directors 

Richard A. Cowell
Slade Gorton  
Jeanette Horan  
Marc Onetto*  
Alexander Y. Tokman 
Brian Turner  

Principal, Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.
Of Counsel, K&L Gates, LLP; Former U.S. Senator
Vice President, Enterprise Business Transformation, IBM
Senior Vice President, Worldwide Operations, Amazon.com
President and Chief Executive Officer, Microvision, Inc.
Former Chief Financial Officer, Coinstar, Inc.

Executive Officers 

Alexander Y. Tokman
Ian D. Brown  
Sridhar Madhavan  
Thomas M. Walker  
Jeff T. Wilson  

President and Chief Executive Officer
Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Vice President, Engineering
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Chief Financial Officer

Transfer Agent 

American Stock Transfer and Trust Company
59 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038   Shareholder Services   

 800.937.5449

Stock Listing 

Microvision, Inc. common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Stock Market under the symbol MVIS.

Investor Inquiries 

Microvision, Inc.
Attn: Investor Relations, 6222 185th Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052   

 425.936.6847   

ir@microvision.com

Corporate Counsel 

Ropes & Gray LLP
One International Place, Boston, MA 02110

Independent Accountants  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Forward–Looking
Statements

Statements contained in this annual report that relate to future plans, events or performance and potential applications of our technology, 

including projections of revenues and results, timing of product releases, plans for product development, sales, customers and channel part-

ners, performance under contracts, signing of contracts, future operations and shipping of products, as well as statements containing words like 

“expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “targeting,” “planning,” “intending,” “will,” “poised,” and other similar expressions, are forward-looking

statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected 

in the Company’s forward-looking statements include the following: market acceptance of and the current developmental stage of our tech-

nologies and products; our financial and technical resources relative to those of our competitors; our ability to obtain financing; our history of 

negative cash flows and current expectation of additional losses; our lack of manufacturing experience and ongoing capital requirements; our 

dependence on key personnel; our ability to keep up with rapid technological change; changes in display technologies; government regulation 

of our technologies; our ability to enforce our intellectual property rights and protect our proprietary technologies; the ability to obtain addi-

tional contract awards and to develop partnership opportunities; the timing of commercial product launches; the ability to achieve key techni-

cal milestones in key products; dependency on advances by third parties in certain technology used by us and other risk factors identified from 

time to time in the Company’s SEC Filings, it’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and its Quarterly Reports 

on Form 10-Q. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-

looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason.

*Not standing for re-election at 2009 Annual Shareholder Meeting.

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© 2009 Microvision, Inc. All rights reserved. The Microvision logo, PicoP, ROV and SHOWWX are trademarks of Microvision, Inc. 
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cert no. SCS-COC-00648

www.microvision.com

Microvision, Inc. 6222 185th Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052 USA     Tel 425.936.MVIS (6847)     Fax 425.882.6600