Silicon Optix Introduces The Cinema Anyplaceô Video/Graphics Scaler/Switcher With Panamorphô Lens

New Package Converts Both New And Installed Home-Theater Projection Systems Into The Full 2.35:1 Cinemascope Aspect Ratio Of Most Major Motion Pictures

4-Mar-05

Silicon Optix Inc. introduces the Cinema AnyPlaceô video/graphics scaler/switcher with support for the popular Panamorph widescreen conversion (anamorphic) lenses by Panamorph, Inc. Cinema AnyPlace is an adaptation of Silicon Optixís OptiScale scaler, with additional features providing for easy conversion of projection systems to significantly higher widescreen performance. A universal Panamorph lens comes bundled with the product.Using the combination of Cinema AnyPlace and Panamorph lens, the home-theater enthusiast can now fully utilize the pixel-producing capabilities of high-end home-theater projectors for all widescreen content. The Cinema AnyPlace uses advanced scaling techniques to extract and scale ìletterboxedî 2.35:1 content into a full-screen 16:9 presentation, fully utilizing the entire resolution of todayís most popular home-theater projectors. The Panamorph lens then optically stretches the image to the 2.35:1 format, thus enabling the home reproduction of close to 80% of Hollywoodís big-ticket releases in their native screen aspect ratios. The result is that resolution is increased by 33% and net brightness is increased by 20%. Pixel structures are also compressed to create a more filmlike effect. The annoying halos of unused light above and below the 2.35:1 content are completely eliminated.Cinema AnyPlace includes the same state-of-the-art scaling and quick-switching capabilities as the Silicon Optix OptiScale and Image AnyPlace products. Full support for Silicon Optixís advanced geometry correction enables projectors to be mounted off-axis, or doubled up to increase the total light output appearing on the screen.A wide variety of input signals can be selected, switched, and scaled to a multitude of popular output resolutions. Input switching between channels is accomplished in about one second and is completely artifact-free. State-of-the-art deinterlacing is applied to all SDTV interlaced input signals and 1080i HDTV interlaced signals.Input signals include RGB analog, RGB DVI, two channels of SDTV composite, one channel of SDTV S-video, one channel of SDTV component, and one channel of HDTV component. All output resolutions in the range of VGA (640x480) to SXGA+ (1400x1050) are supported. Popular 16:9 output formats such as WXGA (1366x768), WVGA (852x480), and 720p (1280x720) are provided, as is full aspect-ratio management for projection through the Panamorph lens of all source material in the proper aspect ratio. Cinema AnyPlace attains the highest possible image-scaling quality for all scaling ratios by using the 65-tap image filter technology of the embedded Silicon Optix sxW1 Image Processing IC. The aspect ratio is automatically compensated for under all conditions.In addition to its switching, scaling, and deinterlacing capabilities, Cinema AnyPlace provides a host of ergonomic features for the home-theater enthusiast:ï Quick and convenient selection of all aspect-ratio treatmentsï Extensive panning and zoomingï Controlled front-panel illuminationï Quiet operationï Multilingual onscreen display (OSD)ï RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485 controllabilityìWe are really excited to provide a high-performance scaler specifically optimized for integrated use with Panamorph lenses,î said Steve Wood, VP and GM of Silicon Optixís system business division. The Panamorph has demonstrated itself to be the most cost-effective optical aspect-ratio expansion system on the market. With our scaling technology, uniquely well suited for handling aspect-ratio control, we truly have a great combination.îìFull-resolution imaging of major motion pictures is the next wave in the home theater industry,î said Shawn Kelly, President of Panamorph. ìThe Cinema AnyPlace providing optimized images for use with the Panamorph represents that critical marriage of key components that will launch this new trend, both for new systems and for upgrading systems already installed. Weíre thrilled to be working with Silicon Optix on such a great, industry-changing opportunity.îThe Cinema AnyPlace video/graphics scaler/switcher will be available in March 2005 at an MSRP of $3995, or bundled with the Panamorph lens for $5495. Silicon Optix will demonstrate this solution in Booth 749 at EHX Spring 2005. Visit http://www.ehxweb.com for more about this event.For more information on Silicon Optix, visit http://www.siliconoptix.comFor more information on Panamorph, visit http://www.panamorph.com

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http://www.siliconoptix.com
http://www.panamorph.com
http://www.ehxweb