EXHIBIT 5.1



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                               PALMER & DODGE LLP
                    ONE BEACON STREET, BOSTON, MA 02108-3190

                                                       TELEPHONE: (617) 573-0100
(617) 573-0100                                         FACSIMILE: (617) 227-4420


                                  June 14, 1999


PixTech, Inc.
Avenue Olivier Perroy
Zone Industrielle de Rousset
13790 Rousset, France

Dear Sirs:

     We are rendering this opinion in connection with the Registration Statement
on  Form  S-8  (the  "Registration  Statement")  filed  by  PixTech,  Inc.  (the
"Company") with the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the "Commission") under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), on or about the date hereof.
The  Registration  Statement  relates to 2,500,000  shares (the "Shares") of the
Company's Common Stock,  $0.01 par value,  offered pursuant to the provisions of
the Company's 1993 Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").

     We have acted as your counsel in  connection  with the  preparation  of the
Registration  Statement  and are  familiar  with  the  proceedings  taken by the
Company in  connection  with the  authorization  of the issuance and sale of the
Shares.  We have examined all such documents as we consider  necessary to enable
us to render this opinion.

     Based  upon the  foregoing,  we are of the  opinion  that  when  issued  in
accordance  with the  terms of the Plan,  the  Shares  will be duly  authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     We  hereby  consent  to  the  filing  of  this  opinion  as a  part  of the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under Item 5 thereof.

                                                     Very   truly   yours,
                                                     /s/ Palmer & Dodge LLP
                                                     PALMER & DODGE LLP


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