An Introduction to Laser/LED Hybrid Projection Technology. Jason Holstein

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1 An Introduction to Laser/LED Hybrid Projection Technology

2 Overview Laser/LED Hybrid illumination is the latest development in projector technology. Lamp-free, mercury-free, virtually maintenance-free and with no moving parts, Laser/LED Hybrid technology offers many improvements over traditional projectors. This environmentally friendly technology delivers a stunning image quality with ultra-high contrast ratios of more than 10,000:1. Affordably priced with models under $4,000, a Laser/LED Hybrid projector is the perfect solution for professional AV, corporate use, education, and home entertainment. How Do You Project Today? The vast majority of projectors on the market today use a combination of lampbased illumination and a processing technology such as Digital Light Processing (DLP) from Texas Instruments. About half of all projectors presently on the market utilize DLP technology. Traditional projectors rely on a lamp to provide illumination. The light from the lamp passes through a color wheel to generate different colors that make up the projected image. A microchip, such as the DLP chip, processes the digital signal to translate it into the image that appears on screen. This approach generally works well and delivers high quality images. However, there are drawbacks. The mechanical spinning color wheel is a moving part that makes the projector more prone to damage which may require costly repairs. The color wheel can also create what is known as the rainbow effect, a stroboscopic effect in which certain individuals may see erratic flashes of color. This is due to the combination of the eyes and brain processing the image delivered from the highspeed spinning color wheel. Lamp technology is a cost-effective way to generate high lumen brightness. However, operating hours for projector lamps average only around 5,000 hours, depending on usage. The lamps need to be replaced once burned out. Projector lamps can range in price from approximately $200 to as much as $400. Projector lamps also contain the toxic substance mercury, which ultimately ends up in landfills. There is also brightness degradation. A lamp-based projector will lose brightness rapidly in an almost exponential fashion. Within the first year, for example, a lamp-based projector may lose up to 30% of its original brightness. ViewSonic Corporation 381 Brea Canyon Road, Walnut, California (909)

3 With lamp temperatures of 60 degrees Celsius and the moving parts of the color wheel, a traditional lamp-based projector generates both high levels of heat and noise from the cooling fan. Laser/Led Hybrid Technology: A New Way To Project As the name implies, Laser/LED Hybrids utilize a combination of laser light and light emitting diodes. This is called Solid State Illumination (SSI), as opposed to the conventional lamp-based solution. Just like a solid state hard drive or other solid state electronics, SSI requires no moving parts and delivers a more stable and rugged product. In the Laser/LED Hybrid model, a blue laser light is filtered through phosphor to produce the color green. LEDs provide the red and blue colors. A DLP chip or other similar technology processes the image, as with a lamp-based projector. Benefits Of Laser/LED Hybrid Projectors Laser/LED hybrid projectors offer numerous benefits over traditional lamp based projectors: No lamps to replace Environmentally friendly and mercury-free Energy savings and intelligent power control Better brightness and sustainability Solid state illumination for reliable performance Let s explore these and other benefits in more detail. Solid State Illumination The solid state illumination requires no moving parts which results in a sturdier and more stable design. Since it doesn t rely on a color wheel, the laser hybrid projector minimizes ghost images and the rainbow effect. Lumens A laser/led hybrid projector has fewer lasers than a pure-laser projector. A purelaser projector typically includes 20 to 30 lasers for a brightness of 2000 to 3000 ViewSonic Corporation 381 Brea Canyon Road, Walnut, California (909)

4 lumens. However, the large amount of costly lasers results in a higher priced product. The hybrid projector delivers a much more cost-effective solution. Laser/ LED Hybrid projectors generally output about 100 lumens per laser. The laser illumination provides a product lifetime of over 20,000 hours of operation. Energy Savings Hybrid projectors are much more energy efficient, generating nearly twice as many lumens per watt as a lamp-based projector. Other features further increase the energy savings. For example, the lack of a lamp means that the light source can be turned on and off instantly. Users of lamp-based projectors will typically leave the device powered on for long periods of time to avoid waiting for warm up. The wait time on a lamp-based projector is required for the unit to cool down until the internal temperature is at a level safe for re-igniting the lamp. A hybrid projector, on the other hand, can be switched on and off instantly as needed to reduce power usage. Intelligent Power Control A hybrid projector also utilizes intelligent power control. This means that the projectors intelligently controls the amount of power delivered to the illumination source. For example, when watching darker movies, less energy is required. Whereas a 200-watt lamp will always use 200 watts when powered on, regardless of the image being projected, a hybrid with intelligent power control will automatically and instantly adjust the illumination level based on the content displayed. Over time, this can result in a drastic reduction of energy usage, along with the associated costs of electricity. Mercury Free Saving energy is just one way that hybrid technology is eco-friendlier than other types of projectors. The lack of a mercury-based lamp eliminates toxic waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Lamp Free No lamp also means there is no cost for replacement lamps, nor the expenditure of time and effort to replace the lamps. In some environments, projectors may go unused for days or weeks awaiting a replacement lamp. With lamp-less SSI technology, there is no need for this lost opportunity. Furthermore, users need not be concerned about a lamp going dark just before a critical meeting or presentation. The SSI technology used in a hybrid projector creates a more reliable solution. ViewSonic Corporation 381 Brea Canyon Road, Walnut, California (909)

5 Brightness Degradation While all light sources will necessarily degrade over time, the laser light of a hybrid will retain its brightness much better than a lamp. Rather than a vast exponential decline, the brightness of a hybrid will diminish much more slowly and steadily. Year after year, a hybrid projector will remain consistently brighter than its lamp-based counterpart. Heat Reduction Hybrid projectors also run cooler. A laser may generate about 30 degrees Celsius of heat, whereas a lamp will typically generate approximately 60 degrees. This means a lower fan speed, which also results in much quieter operation. With less heat generated, the hybrid projector can also save on facility cooling costs. Less heat, less energy and no lamps to replace mean that a hybrid projector delivers lower total cost of ownership than comparable lamp-based projectors. Lack of a lamp and moving parts results in a product that will withstand prolonged usage and remain virtually maintenance free, so customers also save on the labor costs of upkeep for the device. Conclusion For customers seeking the latest projection technology in a cost-saving, eco-friendly solution without compromising brightness, contrast or image quality, a Laser/LED Hybrid projector is the ideal choice. Hybrid projectors provide greatly reduced total cost of ownership, making them a smart long-term investment. You ll save time and money, while enjoying a vivid and vibrant picture that you can rely on, year after year, to keep up with the most demanding presentation needs. ViewSonic Corporation 381 Brea Canyon Road, Walnut, California (909) The information contained herein is provided for convenience of reference only. ViewSonic assumes no liability for any errors or omissions in the information displayed. DLP and the DLP logo are registered trademarks of Texas Instruments. Corporate names and trademarks stated herein are the property of their respective companies. Copyright 2012 ViewSonic Corporation. All rights reserved. [16238_00B_0612] 5