DLP Projector

This is a relatively new technology in the market since 1997 developed by TI. One interesting aspect is that this display technology is fully digital from the source and processing until it is emitted from the projector.

This technology consists of a integrated circuit covered with hundreds of thousands of tiny mirrors. When light falls on activated or "on" mirrors, light is reflected through the projection lens and onto the screen. Those "off" mirrors reflect light onto a light absorber causing the effect of a dark image. Shades of gray are dependant on the amount of time each pixel reflects light onto the screen. The longer the whiter the screen.

How does the DMD ( Digital Micromirror Device) work?

Mirrors that are switch on or activated, tilt in such a manner as to reflect light towards the projector lens, thus creating a white pixel

Mirrors which are off tilt in such a way that light is reflected towards a light absorbing material, thus creating a black pixel. The length of time light is reflected off the mirror causes the different shades between black and white and determines the level of brightness shown on the screen.

There are two methods for the production of colour.

One DMD chip projector uses a spinning colour wheel to act as a prism, separating individual colours from the light source. Each colour goes through the DMD independently and sequentially. This process happens so fast that our eyes perceived as multi coloured pictures.

In three DMD Chip projector light is broken into its three components red green blue and each colour goes into a separate DMD chip and later all three reflected light is recombined before entering the lens.