LED Projectors and LED Projection Technology

ATLANTA, GA - InfoComm 2011 - Digital Projection International (DPI), an Emmy® Award-winning manufacturer of high-performance projection systems, announces an expansion of the already robust single-chip LED product line with the new M-Vision WUXGA LED. The new WUXGA resolution M-Vision delivers native 1920 x 1200 pixel imagery and over 60,000 hours of LED illumination life. Ideal for critical 24/7 projection applications, as well as any application needing long-life projection systems with unmatched color saturation, lumen maintenance and color stability. Combined with the already established products within the M-Vision Cine LED and dVision LED product lines, the new M-Vision WUXGA LED ensures that Digital Projection International offers the most extensive and capable DLP-based LED product line available today.

A combination of consistently stable, long-term light output and a supremely low-maintenance illumination system defines DPI's new M-Vision WUXGA LED display. The new 1920 x 1200 resolution M-Vision utilizes Texas Instruments' DarkChip DLP technology, ensuring unmatched black levels, RGB bit depth and dynamic range. As the LED projector does not incorporate a traditional lamp, media environments utilizing the new display will benefit from their Lifetime Illumination%u2122 60,000+ hour lifespan. Providing 3-chip color saturation from a small-form single chip display, the M-Vision WUXGA LED presents a powerful yet remarkably affordable solution for a variety of commercial applications including visualization and simulation where image quality, long-life and low long-term cost of ownership are equally valued.

In all of Digital Projection's LED displays, the RGB-based LED illumination system eliminates the need for a color wheel to produce primary colors. Instead, red, green and blue LED's produce primary color illumination, rendering a color gamut and color saturation similar to that of a 3-chip DLP projector with no color wheel artifacts. In addition, the M-Vision WUXGA LED includes DPI's FastFrame technology, which assures fast-moving content appears remarkably sharp and free of motion smear.

Installation is incredibly flexible due to the M-Vision WUXGA LED's compact and lightweight chassis design, and extraordinary lens shift range of .7 of frame vertical and .3 of frame horizontal. Multiple lens options provide further flexibility, with both fixed, zoom and conversion lenses available. Connectivity includes two HDMI inputs, as well as RGB via D-15, component, composite and S-Video inputs.

Word is out about DP's new $7,000 M-Vision Cine 230, and the reviews are resoundingly positive! 

Electronics industry veteran Scott Wilkinson of both Home Theater Magazine and UltimateAV.com recently reviewed the Cine 230, giving the projector a coveted TOP PICK rating.  Wilkinson's overall impressions of the projector's performance include: gorgeous color, exquisite detail, excellent shadow detail, exceptional video processing, and stellar optics.

Read the review here: http://www.hometheater.com/content/digital-projection-m-vision-cine-230-dlp-projector

View the M-Vision Cine 230 Details Page by clicking here.

And don't forget -- you can WIN AN M-VISION CINE 230 by registering here.

 

Robert Heron and Patrick Norton of Revision3 fame recently put Digital Projection's M-Vision Cine 230 through its paces, and were quite impressed with the results. Robert and Patrick, reviewing under the HDNation programming on Revision3, specifically singled out the 230's exceptional color performance, as well as its solid performance right out of the box.

According to Robert Heron, "The M-Vision Cine 230 is one of the best single-chip projector's i've ever witnessed."

Click here to watch the full review via www.revision3.com.

View the M-Vision Cine 230 Details Page by clicking here.

And don't forget -- you can WIN AN M-VISION CINE 230 by registering here.

Both the M-Vision Cine LED and dVision 35-WQXGA were chosen as finalists for the 2010 Manufacturers' Excellence Awards in September.

Digital Projection has two home theater projectors in consideration for the 2010 CEDIA Expo Manufacturers' Excellence Awards. Thirty products from across the custom electronics channel have been selected as potential "Best New Product" winners. Winners will be announced at the Electronic Lifestyles Awards Banquet, sponsored by Custom Retailer, on September 25th during CEDIA Expo 2010.

Lifetime Illumination%u2122 displays have now reached the consumer channel with Digital Projection's 60,000+ hour lifespan LED projector. The 10,000:1 contrast, 1080p resolution M-Vision Cine LED produces the dynamic range, rich color saturation and vivid contrast of a 3-chip DLP® display, but from a smaller, more efficient and more cost effective chassis. Additionally, the single-chip M-Vision Cine LED does not rely on a color wheel, which renders the projector completely free of the color wheel artifacts that some home theater enthusiasts find distracting. The M-Vision Cine LED presents a powerful yet remarkably affordable solution for home theaters and media rooms where image quality and long-life usage are equally important.

DPI's single-chip dVision 35-WQXGA XC boasts the highest resolution of any DLP® -based product available today. WQXGA is the nomenclature that represents 2560 x 1600 pixels - nearly twice the resolution of a 1080p projector. Twice the resolution means the imagery produced by the dVision WQXGA is by far the most awe-inspiring imagery available to home entertainment enthusiasts. The dVision 35-WQXGA XC produces an amazing 4,096,000 pixels from a single projector. Over 4,000,000 pixels results in imagery with more resolution, detail and small area contrast than the industry previously thought possible.

In addition to the unprecedented pixel density, the dVision 35-WQXGA XC presents a superior solution for moving between 1.78:1 and 2.35:1 aspect ratio content (or any content wider than 1.78). Traditionally, an anamorphic lens has been required in order to move between different aspect ratios. Anamorphic lens solutions add significant cost, as well as mechanical and optical complexity to a home theater system.

Furthermore, anamorphic optics consume about 10% of the projector's brightness while also reducing the contrast ratio. Bypassing the need for an anamorphic solution when employed in a constant height application, the dVision 35-WQXGA XC presents a compelling alternative to purchasing and installing a peripheral anamorphic lens.

CEDIA's 2010 Expo, the premier tradeshow for new technologies, training, and networking in the residential electronic systems industry, will take place September 22-26, 2010. Atlanta, Georgia's World Congress Center will once again host the Expo. Digital Projection will once again highlight their extensive product line of precision projectors in a massive AV display in Booth 4436. More information about attending or exhibiting at the 2010 CEDIA Expo can be found here: http://www.cedia.net/expo/index2010.php.

Earlier this year, Digital Projection International introduced the revolutionary M-Vision Cine LED. By now, most of us are aware of the M-Vision LED's many performance and cost of ownership benefits.

Those attributes include:
- Small form factor
- Extraordinarily wide color gamut - wider than the commonly defined NTSC
- 60,000 hour illumination engine life
- Very low maintenance - Lifetime Illumination%u2122 projector
- Low power consumption (350 watts@110V)
- Very low operating temperature
- Extremely quiet operation (30 dBA)

One facet of the projector that has challenged audiences accustomed to purely lamp-driven projectors is the relatively low light output as compared to other projection illumination technologies.

With a proper light meter, on average, we measure around 600 lumens from the new M-Vision Cine LED. When comparing LED specifications with lamp-lit projectors, customers that have yet to see the LED projector in action might be tempted to overlook the LED-driven projector on spec alone.

This would be a critical mistake, as due to the way humans perceive light projected from a Light Emitting Diode, those 600 lumens seem much brighter. Over the course of dozens of M-Vision Cine LED demonstrations, when asked to estimate how bright the projected image is, the average of the perceived brightness fell between 1500 and 2000 lumens.

This disparity between LED illumination and traditional UHP lamp illumination can be explained as a result of the Helmholtz-Kohlrausch effect (H-K effect). The IEC defines the H-K effect as, "A change in brightness of perceived color produced by increasing the purity of a color stimulus while keeping its luminance constant within the range of photopic vision." In other words, for any two-color stimuli with the same luminance, the perceived brightness induced by the color stimuli of higher purity will be higher than that of lower purity.

The fact is that the color saturation of separate red, green and blue LED light combined, is such that the output appears much brighter than it really is. In addition, because the LED can be literally turned off and on during its duty cycle, the 10,000:1 contrast ratio also contributes to the perceived brightness and sharpness of the image. Finally, because the illumination system begins at 600 lumens and is estimated to last 60,000 hours or over 8 years of continuous use, the projector's luminance decay curve will be essentially a horizontal line! In other words it will stay at the same brightness level throughout the life of the projector.

Taking the above into consideration, it's still important to utilize the proper projector for the proper environment. The M-Vision Cine LED is most at home in an area with controlled ambient light. It is suitable for residential theaters and commercial applications alike, including rear screen applications such as command and control or visualization/simulation environments. We have also seen successful LED installations in museums and other digital signage applications.

Digital Projection offers several models of LED illuminated projectors including the 1920 X 1080 M-Vision Cine LED as well as the higher-lumen dVision LED 1080p, WUXGA and WQXGA.

The 60,000+ hour lifespan M-Vision Cine LED recently received top designations in Home Theater Magazine, Sound & Vision Magazine and UltimateAVmag.com

Digital Projection Inc.'s M-Vision Cine LED recently received top ratings in separate lab reviews. Home Theater Magazine, a nationally renowned consumer electronics publication, recognized the Cine LED projector with a "Top Pick" designation in their April 2010 issue. Additionally, Sound & Vision Magazine gave the Cine LED their coveted "Certified and Recommended" approval in the upcoming April/May 2010 issue. UltimateAVmag.com, a widely recognized web portal specializing in high-performance audio and video electronics, also gave the Cine LED high marks in a recent comprehensive review.

Digital Projection Inc., the only Emmy® Award-winning manufacturer of high performance projection systems, unveiled their M-Vision Cine LED projector at the recent CEDIA Expo in Atlanta, Georgia. With an estimated lifespan of more than 60,000 hours, the Cine LED delivers a Lifetime Illumination%u2122 projector solution to both home cinema and commercial AV channels. Available in both zoom and fixed lens configurations, the M-Vision Cine LED delivers a precision projector solution capable of running a remarkable eight hours a day for over 20 years. When compared to commonly used UHP lamp-based projectors, the M-Vision Cine LED marks a new standard in environmental responsibility with no lamp replacement, low wattage consumption and prodigious lifespan.

In addition to the projector's unprecedented lifespan, the Cine LED utilizes Texas Instruments' DLP® technology for its proven reliability, long-term color stability and consistent performance. The Cine LED's expanded color gamut range and over 10,000:1 contrast performance ensure, as Scott Wilkinson, editor of UltimateAVmag.com noted, "superb color and image detail." For more information on the M-Vision Cine LED projector, including full technical specifications, please click here to visit the M-Vision portal.

Home Theater Magazine (HTM) conducted rigorous lab tests using the M-Vision's 1.56-1.86 lens configuration. Using a 100" Stewart Filmscreen StudioTek 100 screen, the Cine LED was set up at a throw distance of 142 inches. Testing occurred in HTM's professional lab using the Spears & Munsil High Definition Benchmark Blu-ray Edition test disc, as well as the HQV Benchmark Blu-ray test disc. According to the Home Theater reviewers, both discs produced "virtually no sign of rolloff at the highest resolution," with excellent 2:2 and 3:2 deinterlacing. In summary, after both viewing test discs and Blu-ray movies, the M-Vision Cine LED's image detail was deemed "impeccable," while its colors were "rich but natural." HTM's April issue is now available through newsstands across the country, and can also be purchased from their website, http://hometheatermag.com/.

Sound & Vision Magazine (SVM) also conducted their review with a 1.56-1.86 lens configuration, but on a slightly smaller 80" Stewart Filmscreen StudioTek 100 screen. Brent Butterworth, contributing technical editor for SVM, chose to begin the review by analyzing where LED technology fits into the current projector timeline. Butterworth's analysis is a valuable resource for those seeking perspective on how LED-based projection will change the AV industry. In regards to performance, Butterworth remarked that he was "witnessing a minor miracle: a new video-display technology that looked really good from its inception." Butterworth continued that, when compared to the typical UHP projector performance, "in certain ways the LED-driven picture actually looked better than what I'm used to seeing." Closing review remarks note, "This first-generation projector performs beautifully, and it should keep on performing beautifully day in and day out for many years to come." SVM's April/May issue will be available within the next few weeks, but the full review can be read now at by clicking here.

The first to review the M-Vision Cine LED was Scott Wilkinson of both UltimateAVmag.com and Home Theater Magazine. Wilkinson conducted his review, which was later expanded into the HTM review mentioned above, using the M-Vision's 1.56-1.86 lens configuration and 100" Stewart Filmscreen StudioTek 100 screen. In his "Real World Performance" section, Wilkinson analyzed the LED's performance against key demo clips that focus on specific projector performance points. Wilkinson advised, "The opening below-deck shots seen shortly after the beginning of Master & Commander offer a great test of shadow detail, and as expected, the Cine LED's performance in this regard was exemplary." When viewing a select scene in Contact, Wilkinson described the colors as "beautifully natural, including skin tones." Wilkinson's closing summary concluded, "After spending some time with this projector, I'm convinced that LED illumination is a viable alternative to conventional lamps, offering many advantages and few drawbacks." The full UltimateAVmag.com review can be read by clicking here.

George Walter, Digital Projection's Vice President of Home Cinema, commented, "We are thrilled that the new M-Vision Cine LED has been received so positively, and we greatly appreciate the time that each reviewer spent analyzing its vast capabilities." Walter continued, "With exceptional contrast and color dynamics at an incredibly affordable price point, the Cine LED introduces a new era of precision performance and efficiency to home entertainment enthusiasts worldwide."

DPI's new dVision 30-1080p LED, dVision 30-WUXGA LED and dVision 35-WQXGA LED displays present three compelling solutions for critical 24/7 projection applications, as well as any application needing long-life projection systems with unmatched color saturation, lumen maintenance and color stability. As DPI's LED-based displays do not contain traditional lamps, all three dVision series projectors deliver unprecedented long-term cost of ownership benefits including lower overall maintenance and over 100,000 hours of LED illumination life. Combined with the M-Vision Cine LED displays, which DPI launched and commenced shipping in Q4, 2009, Digital Projection offers the most extensive and capable DLP-based LED product line available today.

A combination of consistently stable, long-term light output and supremely low-maintenance illumination systems defines DPI's new dVision LED displays. All three projectors utilize Texas Instruments' DarkChip DLP technology, ensuring unmatched black levels and dynamic range. Equally important, the RGB-based LED illumination system eliminates the need for a color wheel to produce primary colors. Instead, red, green and blue LED's produce primary color illumination, rendering a color gamut and color saturation similar to that of a 3-chip DLP projector. In addition, since there is no spinning color wheel in the system, color wheel artifacts are eliminated and fast-moving content appears remarkably sharp and free of motion smear. These benefits are especially important for applications requiring the display of fast moving content, such as sports events, fast jet simulation and gaming.

The new dVision LED projectors inherit the field-proven reliability and exceptional optical qualities of DPI's robust dVision chassis. Suitable for both commercial and residential venues, dVision projectors are quiet, elegantly designed and offer a diversity of system capabilities that support nearly any application. Installation flexibility is assured through an extensive array of ultra-accurate optics, which provide throw ratios as short as .75:1 and as long as 6.5:1. Furthermore, the dVision's quick-change motorized lens mount provides an extensive range of horizontal and vertical lens shift, allowing the projectors to be placed in a wide variety of locations in relation to the screen. Intuitive user controls and comprehensive source compatibility assure all dVision displays are simple to integrate, control and operate.

Chuck Collins, VP of Commercial AV for DPI, remarked, "The time-tested durability and performance of the dVision chassis, combined with the longevity and precise colorimetry of an LED illumination source, means we can now provide a proven solution with the lowest maintenance and long-term cost of ownership for demanding 24-7 and high-use multi-channel applications."

Digital Projection, Stewart Filmscreen, S1Digital and Crestron recently entertained and educated numerous AV integrators, industry partners and interested parties at the "3D for REAL" AV showcase in Torrance, California. Focusing on now-available 3D precision products, as well as the media server options that can accomodate both 2D and 3D content, the showcase delivered education seminars on everything dealers need to consider regarding 3D home entertainment.

Joaquin Rivera of Stewart Filmscreen commenting on 3D screen considerations

Courtesy of Digital Projection's TITAN Reference 1080p 3D precision projector, Eric Leicht of AV Partners, DP's West Coast Rep, summarized the key points to consider in commercial and residential 3D applications. Joaquin Rivera of Stewart Filmscreen then covered the dynamics of choosing an appropriate screen for 3D home entertainment.

George Walter, vp of Home Cinema for Digital Projection, then covered both the essentials and deep details of 3D technology methods, pros and cons of existing delivery methods, and the current state of the 3D market. With such an overwhelming desire for accurate 3D information and technology details, audience members from both days actively participated in Walter's dynamic seminar. Digital Projection has the distinct position of offering the only single-projector, full resolution 3D projectors for home entertainment, and Walter has been integral as one of DP's key 3D technology specialists.

Attendees of the educational seminars witnessed an industry first as well. DP unveiled that both Panasonic and Samsung 3D Blu-ray players are now completely compatible with both DP's TITAN and LIGHTNING 3-chip 3D precision projectors. This is yet another massive 3D milestone, as DP has once again delivered exclusive 3D capabilities to our dealers, end-users and industry partners. Congratulations and extensive thanks to the entire DP engineering and product development team for pioneering the software that made this possible!

Paul Heitlinger, founder of S1Digital, wrapped up the seminars with a demonstration on how the S1Digital media server streams, stores and manages digital home entertainment content.

Digital Projection's highly-rated M-Vision Cine LED projector in action

Demonstrations of all 3D-related products mentioned above took place after the education sessions. DP's widely recognized M-Vision Cine LED projector, boasting 3-chip color quality in a 60,000+ hour lifespan single-chip display, entertained attendees with Blu-ray footage.

Unveiled at CEDIA 2009, DP's now-shipping 3-chip HIGHlite Cine 260 display worked in conjunction with Crestron's ADMS media server solution in the demonstration area's loft. The HIGHlite delivers an absolutely stunning 12,000:1 contrast, over 2,000 lumens and gorgeous DLP image quality -- all for less than $30,000 MSRP.

A huge thanks to AV Partners, Stewart Filmscreen, S1Digital, Crestron, XPand (who supplied an amazing amount of glasses for the event -- many many thanks!) all of the attendees and everyone else that made the "3D for REAL" showcase happen.

See key displays from DP's over 21 distinct 3D projector line at both InfoComm and CEDIA this summer.

Digital Projection Inc. (DPI), an Emmy® Award-winning manufacturer of high performance projection systems, has just introduced an integrated suite of image and lens calculators to the audio/video industry. Entitled the Calculator Toolbox, users can quickly calculate essential data such as the image size and throw distance of a projector given a few basic parameters. In addition to the suite's core functionality are numerous other tools and guides intended to demystify the projector selection process, as well as identify the true long-term cost of ownership of any projection system within any application. The Calculator Toolbox delivers a dedicated portal whereby the audio/video industry can confidently research and specify the key aspects of a projector installation in order to configure the perfect display solution.

Digital Projection Inc. began developing the functionality and architecture of the Calculator Toolbox, as well the supporting databases, in late 2008. What began as a modest browser-based lens calculator has steadily grown, at the behest of DPI's dealers and industry partners, to encompass all aspects of the projector selection process. Mike Levi, President of Digital Projection Inc., commented, "We wanted to create a true first for our dealer network. Innovation takes time, and I feel that we have now created an immensely helpful industry toolkit." Levi continued, "The industry at-large will benefit from the suite of tools, though DPI dealers will specifically appreciate some higher-value functionality, such as the ability to discover appropriate lenses, screen brightness and contrast targets for their specific installation."

The entire calculator suite integrates seamlessly with DPI's projector database, creating a one-stop destination for dealers that need guidance as well as accurate results. As a case in point, when a DPI dealer proceeds through one of the calculators, the process commences with the option to print or email a cumulative report detailing all aspects of their process. Suitable for sending directly to an end user, or to Digital Projection with a purchase order, the professionally formatted report presents a simple yet graphically dynamic end result.

For end-users interested in finding the most appropriate projector for their space, the Calculator Toolbox offers accessible suggestions and guides throughout the different calculators. Users simply use the guides and suggestions to estimate the amount of ambient light on the screen, screen size in one's venue, or projector brightness needed for a certain size screen. Additionally, the calculators allow users to edit certain data points without having to start a new session, which allows users to experiment with different options in real time.

In conjunction with the Toolbox release, DPI's Find the Perfect Projector (FPP) portal also received a complete overhaul. The FPP portal allows users to identify the projector(s) that best suit their application based on simple parameters. As the FPP portal intuitively coordinates with the Calculator Toolbox, users can then take the recommended projector and immediately harness the full suite of calculator tools without reentering data.

The Calculator Toolbox portal will also contain previously released projector tools such as DPI's Screen Brightness and Cost of Ownership calculators. The Screen Brightness calculator has been an integral tool to the DPI dealer network, as it quickly and easily calculates both the image contrast ratio and screen brightness of any projector given a few key data points. Also included in the Toolbox portal will be DPI's Cost of Ownership calculator, which allows for an immensely detailed analysis of overall power consumption, lumen production per wattage consumption, lifetime cost of a projector and more. Qualifying the cumulative cost of a projector through its lifespan is essential when comparing the overall efficiency of one projector versus another.

The Calculator Toolbox operates within all mainstream web browsers, making it easily accessible to anyone with internet access. DPI dealers and interested parties can find a direct link to the Toolbox at the dedicated navigation button mentioned above, as well as at the top of each projector landing page at www.digitalprojection.com.

LEDs have long been considered a promising but technically challenging prospective light source for front projection displays. Indeed, LED illuminated rear screen televisions hit the consumer market a few years ago and their performance benefits were impressive: instant on, tens of thousands of hours of operational life, the production of a broader and more stable color space than traditional lamp technologies and efficient lumen-per-watt performance. The question has always been whether an LED illumination system could be bright enough to support front projection applications.

In a back corner of our exhibit at CEDIA 2008, Digital Projection first demonstrated our prototype LED illuminated single-chip projector. It is based on a bold LED concept known as Phlatlight. More of a tightly spaced, tiny array of LEDs then a single really bright LED, the R, G and B Phlatlight's employed in our prototype are capable of producing thousands of raw lumens with just 360 watts of maximum illumination power.

Even more interesting, the switching time of the LEDs is so fast they not only replace the traditional lamp system - they also remove the need for the motor driven color wheel, previously required by all single chip projectors. Removal of the color wheel also means removal of color wheel artifacts. For anyone sensitive to the color-wheel induced rainbow effect, eliminating that visual artifact is a huge, if not revolutionary, benefit.

Additionally, because the LEDs can be turned all the way off, implementations of these systems with dynamic black will be able to match CRT black levels on full-field black scenes.

Reproducible color gamut is another interesting benefit of LED illumination systems. Because the color point of the red, green and blue LEDs can be defined so precisely, they enable single-chip projectors to produce a color space and color saturation far beyond that of color-wheel based single-chip projectors (but still not on par with 3-chip systems).

With such a compelling set of benefits, one might be convinced that LED illumination is the optimum solution for every application. The barrier to that concept, and the primary reason LED illumination will have very clear limits for front and large screen rear projection applications, is total system lumen output. Our prototype produced 480 ANSI lumens on screen. While we can envision the light output increasing to 700 - 800 lumens in 2010, brightness gains beyond that threshold are likely to be limited and slow to emerge.

By comparison, DP offers single and dual color wheel-based single chip projectors producing 6000+ lumens today. Even our entry-level single-chip projectors produce 1500+ lumens. Of course, our three chip systems can deliver up to tens of thousands of lumens and color depth beyond any single chip solution - color wheel or LED based.

That is where we get back to the question of the future LED illuminated single-chip projector's suitability for specific applications. When using a small to medium sized screen in a very dark to theatrically dark venue, such as a very small conference room or a small home theater, the LED illuminated displays of the future may be an extraordinary alternative. However, if the application requires a mid-size screen and the venue has any ambient light striking the screen, more lumens are required to produce imagery with high environmental dynamic range and suitable visual appeal.

Other than dedicated home theaters, the majority of single-chip projectors purchased today are employed in venues with some ambient light. As compelling as the benefits are, for that majority of front projection applications, LED will not provide a dynamic front projection solution any time soon.

Nonetheless, the ongoing evolution of LED illumination systems marks a huge improvement in single chip image quality and provides extraordinary benefits in long-term cost of ownership. As the technology progresses from working prototypes to finished products, DP's future LED illuminated displays are certain to expand the single-chip projection marketplace. Simply stated, the technology dramatically improves the economics of employing projection systems in applications where superb color performance is required, but humble lumen output is sufficient.

About Us:

A digital imaging pioneer and industry leader, Digital Projection International (DPI) manufactures and distributes an extensive and expanding line of ultra high-performance 3-chip and single-chip DLP® projection systems. These projectors are the reference standard for demanding applications such as large-venue, live-event staging, Fortune 5000, homeland security, education, medical and scientific research, command and control, digital cinema, commercial entertainment, worship and elite home cinema.

Multiple company accolades include two Emmy® Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. DPI remains the first and only projector manufacturer to win the coveted award.

Company History:
Digital Projection International (DPI) was originally formed in 1987 as a division of the Rank Organization. Specifically, Rank created DPI to identify the projection technology of the future, and to begin groundbreaking research and development of precision, high-performance, large-screen displays, which would be based on this core technology.

In 1989, the team uncovered Texas Instruments' Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) and was impressed with its potential. Namely, it could very accurately reflect individual pixels of light. Digital Projection began designing the subsystems that would comprise the display and also began conducting scientific tests to assure each silicon-based chip could withstand the rigors of an extremely bright light source. To complement their skills, they turned to another Rank-owned company, Cintel Limited, a world leader in the film to video conversion process, to produce the 'state-of-the-art' video electronics that the projection systems would soon employ.

In 1992, the first static DMD images were projected at Texas Instruments, and the first on a 3-chip DMD projection system were demonstrated at Rank-Brimar in Manchester, England. In 1995, Rank-Brimar demonstrated its prototype large-screen projection system. In 1996, DPI Limited was established as a separate company to complete development work, manufacture and market the Company's first products - soon to be known as POWER Displays.

By 1995, this engineering effort led to the company creating a chassis that would become the highest-level implementation of the DMD for projection applications. Prototypes of DPI's projection systems were demonstrated worldwide throughout 1995 and 1996 and were met with worldwide acclaim.

In December 1996, Digital Projection International's management team purchased the company from the Rank Organization and began final preparations for the manufacture, sale and support of their revolutionary POWER displays. DPI's U.S. headquarters officially opened in May 1997.

After commencing production and winning projector sales for some of the worlds most important venues through 1997, DPI was awarded two Emmy® awards for Outstanding Achievement in Engineering Development by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1998. Displays by Digital Projection International are the first and only projectors to win the coveted award.

In September 1999, the IMAX Corporation purchased DPI as a way to complement IMAX Theatre's Oscar -winning extended format global business and to increase its depth of engineering resources for addressing the large-venue staging and systems integration projection markets. Thus, Digital Projection International became a wholly owned subsidiary of the IMAX Corporation.

In December 2001, DPI's management team, led by Brian Critchley, concluded the management purchase of the company from IMAX Corporation. The management buyout marked a return to independent ownership. By this time, Digital Projection International's extensive line of POWER and LIGHTNING projectors were being utilized in an ever-increasing number of applications.

In February 2002, DPI and NEC Viewtechnology announced a strategic alliance for the development, manufacture, marketing and distribution of advanced digital projection systems. The agreement was intended to bring both companies accelerated growth in entertainment, large-venue imaging and other critical projection markets. Later that year, the companies announced a venture to co-manufacture and develop digital cinema projectors based on 3-chip DLP Cinema technology by Texas Instruments.

The impact of this strategic alliance was quickly apparent. In October 2002, DPI exhibited the world's first fully-integrated DLP Cinema projector, the Digital Projection Cinema-branded iS10, at an industry trade show. Since then, Digital Projection International has been the first to ship both fully-integrated and console-based projectors utilizing Texas Instruments' revolutionary DC2K DLP Cinema platform.

In late 2003, DPI introduced the very first of it's rugged, Professional Series displays, the 2K-resolution LIGHTNING 35HD Pro. This product quickly became the reference standard for major staged events and installations requiring high brightness and native 2K resolution. In 2004 and 2005, DPI's lineup expanded to include the Mercury series, the first compact and value-driven 3-chip DLP displays, as well as with the HIGHlite Pro and TITAN Pro range, projectors which further enhanced the Company's Professional Series lineup.

Today, DPI manufactures and distributes an extensive line of ultra high-performance 3-chip and single-chip DLP and DLP Cinema based projection systems. Digital Projection International's projectors continue to be the reference standard for demanding applications such as scientific visualization, prestigious awards shows, command and control, film festivals, post-production, digital cinema, commercial entertainment, home cinema and houses of worship.

DPI will continue to be driven by its pioneering spirit. Digital Projection International's legendary pursuit of innovative technology, unmatched customer service and unwavering promise to anticipate the needs of the industry assure it will remain the leader in projection system development and customer fulfillment.

Mission Statement:
To earn the highest level of customer satisfaction by providing world-class customer services guided by quality, courtesy, timeliness and integrity. To lead the large-screen display industry by profitably delivering projection products that provide unique solutions for the most discerning customers.

For every employee of Digital Projection International, these are more than words. It's the way we've done business since 1989. As a company, we strive to meet the changing demands of the industry by providing the world's most profound display solutions, but the core values we uphold - dedication, hard work and superior customer services - are just as important.

Here are the most commonly used display resolutions and aspect ratios, plus how they're typically used.

1280 x 720 (720p - 16 x 9 or 1.78:1): Great for High Definition Video applications.

1400 x 1050 (SX+ - 4 x 3 or 1.33:1): Predominantly a computer resolution. Also excellent for edge blending as the 4 x 3 aspect ratio maximizes screen height.

1920 X 1080 (1080p - 16 x 9 or 1.78:1): The benchmark for full 1080 high definition displays.

1920 x 1200 (WUXGA - 16 x 10 or 1.6:1): Outstanding for applications where both computer and 1080p sources will be displayed, as well as Video Editing where extra pixels allow for viewing the Operating System's taskbar without blocking Video.

2048 x 1080 (2K resolution - 1.89:1): Although this aspect ratio doesn't match the native aspect ratio of films which are typically 1.85 or 2.35:1, this format is predominantly used for digital cinema.