The fastest growing type of video projector (in terms of sales) in use today is the DLP (Digital Light Processing) projector. Like LCD, the actual image is displayed on a chip, however, the chip used in a DLP projector is different. The chip in a DLP projector is referred to as a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device). In essence, every pixel on a DMD chip is a reflective mirror.
The video image is displayed on the DMD chip. The micromirrors on the chip (remember: each micromirror represents one pixel) then tilt very rapidly as the image changes. This process produces the grayscale foundation for the image. Then, color is added as light passes through a high-speed color wheel and is reflected off of the micromirrors on the DLP chip as they rapidly tilt towards or away from the light source. The degree of tilt of each micromirror coupled with the rapidly spinning color wheel determines the color structure of the projected image. As the amplified light bounces off the micromirrors, it is sent through the lens and can be projected on a large screen. For further technical explanations, click on the DLP projector resource links on the upper right sidebar of this page.
Advantages Of The DLP Projector
The advantages of this system make the DLP projector suitable for not only business and home theater application, but DLP technology is also in use in some movie theaters for feature film projection. Basically the films are digitally converted and stored to either to a hard drive or optical disc (similar to DVD - only in High Definition), then fed into the DLP projector and projected onto the movie screen. The high resolution DLP chips made for this application render an image that is almost as good as 35 or 70mm film, without all those film scratches!
Other advantages of the DLP projector include excellent color accuracy, no "screen door" effect(as with LCD), due to its micro-mirror construction, compactness, low power consumption, and high contrast and brightness (although typically not as bright as LCD types but much "smoother" looking).
Limitations Of The DLP Projector
1. Just as with LCD, each DLP chip has a finite number of pixels.
2. Although a DLP projector doesn't exhibit the "screen door" effect of many LCD units, a DLP projector can exhibit what is referred to as "the rainbow effect". Basically, the "rainbow effect" is exhibited by a brief flash of colors (like a small rainbow) when the viewer rapidly looks from side to side on the screen or looks rapidly from the screen to side of the room. Fortunately, this does not occur frequently and many people do not have sensitivity to this effect at all.
3. Just as in LCD projectors, the light source must be changed every 1,000 to 2,000 hours.
Although DLP isn't perfect, the DLP projector has become a real favorite amongst home theater enthusiasts.
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