Christie Digital Ships Worldís First Stereo DLPô Projectors

Mirage Line Establishes New Benchmark For Stereoscopic Projection

17-Apr-01

Christie Digital Systems, a pioneer in high performance projection, is the first to deliver a complete suite of stereoscopic single projectors featuring three-chip DLPô technology. Specifically designed for stereo, the new Mirage line offers advanced performance features to revolutionize virtual reality (VR), entertainment and simulation markets worldwide. ""With the introduction of Mirage from Christie Digital Systems, a noteworthy improvement in the projection of stereoscopic moving images is taking place. The Stereo3Dô image is the cleanest, clearest, and easiest ever seen. Moreover, the setup of projection is vastly simplified, and requires no tweaking for continued performance at a high quality level,"" remarks Lenny Lipton CTO, COB, Founder, StereoGraphics Corporation.Since the introduction of its high performance CRT stereo projectors in 1985, Christie Digital has established itself as the leading manufacturer of stereoscopic projectors for virtual CAVEÆ systems, workbenches, power walls and other 3D and simulation environments. The Mirage line further expands Christie Digitalís portfolio of stereo products.The single projector solutions are optimized to work with Liquid Crystal (LC) shutter glasses for active stereo, or with LC modulators placed in front of the lens, for passive Stereo3D with polarized eyewear. The product line consists of three new models: the Mirage 2000, an SXGA projector at 2000 Lumens, the Mirage 5000, an SXGA version at 5000 Lumens, and the Mirage 10000, an XGA projector delivering an incredible 10,000 Lumens. ""The Mirage sets a new standard for performance and will change the way people look at stereoscopic images in the future. Brighter and sharper stereo projection will facilitate the visualization of more advanced computer-generated models - opening the doors to enhanced human perception and understanding. New discoveries, patents, and medical breakthroughs, are expected as a direct result of the new Mirage projection technology"", notes Bill Speer, Product Manager for Christie Digital Systems. Addressing Market Conditions3D, stereoscopic environments have grown exponentially over the years due to a healthy computer graphics industry, robust competitive design processes and flexible software in two major markets: high-end professional and entertainment-based sectors. As a result of such activity there is a growing need for single projector active and passive digital stereo solutions that offer high brightness, crisp/clean imagery and excellent brightness uniformity.Until now, 3D stereoscopy was the realm of well-funded research organizations and corporations. The availability of a single, stereo three-chip DLP projection solution affords organizations with smaller budgets an investment designed for the long run. As well, digitally-powered 3D projectors represent significant technological advances from current technology platforms.Benefits Of Stereo DLP ProjectionAll Mirage projectors feature a Christie Digital-built light engine with micromirror technology. Inherently faster than LCD and CRT, micromirror technology has the ability to synchronize the left and right views required for stereoscopic imaging without time lag, ghosting, or other artifacts. Further, reflective technology does not require polarized light to display each synchronized view. Assembled, aligned and tested at Christie Digitalís facility in Canada, the light engine is created with advanced manufacturing techniques to ensure conformity to demanding specifications. The optical components and micromirrors are assembled in a clean room environment under class 100 conditions with extreme accuracy using Christie Digitalís proprietary Spatial Light Imaging Construction (SLICô) process. The SLIC process guarantees superior optical alignment and convergence accuracy. High quality optics and lenses have been designed with special coatings optimized for active and passive stereo. Mirage projectors use xenon illumination systems to produce superior color accuracy and brightness uniformity.Proprietary electronics developed by Christie Digitalís engineers help achieve optimum performance for both active and passive stereo. These proprietary electronics provide higher bandwidth, frame rates and pixel and clock speeds, culminating in the most advanced digital signal processing for all types of stereo images. Several image control features such as the following are setting new standards for stereo imaging: - Dark Interval Adjustment (DIAô) - a proprietary feature designed to enhance the overall stereo effect. The DIA allows adjustment of the critical dark time between left and right views and provides a method to keep the color temperature consistent over a wide range of 3D computer sources - Primary Control Adjustment (PCAô) - a feature that allows the user accurate control of each primary color- Intelligent Lens System (ILSô) - provides the ability to recall the focus, zoom and positioning settings of each source input, allowing the projector to display multiple aspect ratios correctly sized and positioned on the same screen - Light Output Control (LiteLOCô) - a feature that automatically adjusts lamp power to maintain a constant brightness level over the life of the lampMirage offers a significant improvement for professional use and applications in stereoscopic visualization with interactive computer graphics models, especially for high-end UNIX workstations. The brightness and clarity of the system increases the awareness of the visual cues needed for stereo and the user perceives an enhanced depth perspective with less eyestrain. The projector is extremely stable and does not drift over time, providing plug-and-play with low maintenance requirements.In entertainment venues, a single Mirage projector can now display what was previously accomplished with a pair of 70mm movie projectors. The Mirage can project digital formats directly from a server and, because the source material is on digital media, there are no costs associated with film processing or film wear. Digital projectors are more stable and there are no alignment issues (common in two-projector setups). Emerging markets such as theme parks and location-based entertainment (LBE) are now taking advantage of such stereoscopic projection. Where To See MirageStop by booth M9624 at the 2001 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show (April 23-26, 2001) to pick up your polarized glasses and see an enveloping demonstration of Mirage 5000.Product Availability And PricingChristie Digital is now accepting orders for delivery on all Mirage projectors. Pricing is available exclusively from Christie Digitalís worldwide resellers. For more details on Mirage, visit www.christiedigital.com and select the immersive portfolio segment. For more information about Christie Digital Systems, visit www.christiedigital.com.

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