LED DLP _front_ projectors?

[Teazle]

Was this anticipated display tech absent from CES? I can't find any recent info from Google & was hoping something would be announced. TIA.

[Brandon B]

Haven't seen anything yet about a useably bright LED HT projector. There were scads of pocket and mini projectors that were DLP and LED though.

BB

[DavePS3]

Go with DLP. The LCD projectors yellow with age... and it doesn't take long for the process to start. It's gradual but it's not the bulb... it's the polarizer. LCD claims they're using organic compounds to combat the yellowing but as I say, the polarizer is the problem and it is and cannot be changed to, organic material. LCD's are cheap for a reason. They were made for data projection. The low cost made people think they were a good option for a big picture. You get what you pay for!

[Brandon B]

More or less old information. Epson's new C2F LCD panels (which are in every brand except Sony) use an inorganic process that is no longer subject to the degradation you are talking about. As do Sony's Bi:Na LCD panels. There are still many LCD units in production with the older panels, but they are mostly business/presentation machines.

The new crop of high performance LCDs targetted at HT use the new panels and should not have this problem.

BB

[Teazle]

Thanks for replies. Ah well, maybe next year for the LED DLP fronts.

[MouseRider]

Originally Posted by Teazle

Was this anticipated display tech absent from CES? I can't find any recent info from Google & was hoping something would be announced. TIA.

LEDs that have enough brightness to work as a front projection system is still not quite consumer grade yet. Even the latest "daylight visible" LEDs which are used in traffic lights, sign boards and tail lights aren't bright enough to be projection sources for front projectors.

As I'm sure you know, they do have them for rear projection systems as you don't need as much brightness and now those are evolving to lasers.

Where LED front-projection did appear this year is in TI's concept for a mobile phone that had a built-in DLP projector. It can project a screen up to 15" in a lit room. The technology opens the way to phones with built-in projectors or add-ons for phones which support video out like the Nokia N95.

Originally Posted by DavePS3

Go with DLP. The LCD projectors yellow with age... and it doesn't take long for the process to start. It's gradual but it's not the bulb... it's the polarizer. LCD claims they're using organic compounds to combat the yellowing but as I say, the polarizer is the problem and it is and cannot be changed to, organic material. LCD's are cheap for a reason. They were made for data projection. The low cost made people think they were a good option for a big picture. You get what you pay for!

He's referring to LED driven DLP projector.

[Tok]

The big problem with a LED light source for front projection is light output. Even the LED DLP rear projection suffer from dimmer images.

I don't think LED HT projectors will become the common place anytime soon. I think we are more likely to see some front projectors using laser light sources in the coming years.

The only big advantage of DLP at this point is sharpness since most consumer grade DLPs are single chip and all the color are perfectly converged. DLP has fallen behind LCD in the last two years and TI has not done a lot to push it forward. Now with RP sets on their way out and FP still being rather niche, TI is going to have to find other devices to show off DLP technology.

[welwynnick]

I've been looking forwards to LED FPs as well; there are so many potential advantages. I guess it will take another year, but laser sources may get there first.

Nick

[IvanDrago]

LED Projectors = Super Long Life Bulbs = Gravy Train of overpriced bulbs ends.

Yeah, I'm sure Front Projector manufacturers are DYING to get this technology on the shelves.

[welwynnick]

Its like selling vacuum cleaners with bags, or printers with expensive cartirdges. Its just a different business model, and in this case a PJ that doesn't need regular, expensive bulb repalacements will be worth more to the consumer. I don't think LED souce PJs will be any more expensive than UHP PJs, but I'd still buy one even it it was. Most manufacturers are heading in this direction, and any that getrs left behind in the technology race will be instantly left on the shelf.

Nick

[Teazle]

I'd hope the novel selling point of "No bulbs to change!" would be worth more to projector manufacturers than the modest income from replacement bulbs. Apart from that there's the improved colour space offered by the LEDs, less noise and heat (I think?), etc.

[Brandon B]

The projector mfrs aren't making a lot of money off the lamps, the lamp companies (Ushio, Philips) are.

The projection companies would love to go to LED.

BB

[gvortex7]

Originally Posted by Teazle

I'd hope the novel selling point of "No bulbs to change!" would be worth more to projector manufacturers than the modest income from replacement bulbs. Apart from that there's the improved colour space offered by the LEDs, less noise and heat (I think?), etc.

The replacement bulb for my Mitsubishi DLP projectors sells for about $330. I don't think I would consider that a "modest" income for manufucturers. How much do you think it costs to manufacture one of those high-intensity light bulbs? The profit margin on those must be astronomical.

[Ben]

From everything I've been told, we are probably 3 years away, at a minimum, from seeing and truly usable LED projectors. IT will happen, though...

[Teazle]

Originally Posted by gvortex7

The replacement bulb for my Mitsubishi DLP projectors sells for about $330. I don't think I would consider that a "modest" income for manufucturers. How much do you think it costs to manufacture one of those high-intensity light bulbs? The profit margin on those must be astronomical.

I suppose (im)modesty of income would be a function of sales volume as well as margin.

Thanks to everyone for replies!