Vidikronís New HDTV-Ready Sole One Offers Top DLP Performance And Value
Efficient Single-Chip Projector Delivers Ultra-Bright, Crystal Clear Picture Vidikron of America, the world leader in high-performance video projectors and support components, once again takes the lead in applied video-projector technology with the new Sole One, introduced at CEDIA Expo í99, September 24-26. Based on Texas Instrumentsí Digital Light Processingô (DLP) reflective projection system, the Sole One uses a single digital Micromirror Deviceô (DMD) semiconductor chip to produce a surprisingly bright, crystal-clear image. Unlike LCD projectors, in which light must pass through brightness-robbing polarizing filters, DLP projectors such as the Sole One reflect light from thousands of tiny mirrors on a DMD chip. Each mirror corresponds to one pixel of the image, and can independently pivot so the light striking it is reflected toward the projection lens or away from it. The combined effect from thousand of mirrors on a DMD chip is a much brighter image with greater contrast than any LCD projector can hope to achieve. To create a color image with only one DMD chip in the Sole One, white light from a powerful lamp is passed through a rotating color wheel, which alternately filters red, green and blue light from it. As each primary color is reflected from the DVD chip in turn, its mirrors are pivoted in a pattern that produces that colorís image. Thanks to our human persistence of vision, the rapidly alternating primary-color images blend into a full-color picture that rivals any projection system in its palette and saturation. The Sole One fulfills the promise of DLP technology with exceptionally vivid color and ultra-high brightness that maintains a remarkable 85 percent center-to-edge uniformity. Its DMD chip includes over 786,000 mirrors in an array measuring 1024x768, which corresponds to true XGA resolution. Itís also capable of compressed SXGA performance. The mirrors are very close together, greatly reducing the ""screen door"" effect common to LCD projectors. This sleek projector is prepared for today and tomorrow. The S-Video and RCA composite inputs are joined by an RGB input (D15 connector) that can be switched to YUV component form the wireless remote. In addition, the Sole One can accept interlaced or progressive signals with horizontal scanning rates from 15 to 60 kHz, making it ready for the HDTV revolution. The manual-zoom, f3.0 lens ranges in focal length from 35 to 45.5mm, which makes it easy to accommodate screen sizes form 24 to 300 inches (diagonal). The Sole One also offers multiple aspect ratios, and can be configured for front or rear projection and mounted on the floor or ceiling. Setup is a snap with its onscreen menus, and RS-232 and wireless mouse ports let you control it form a computer. Even the long-life lamp (lasting 1,000 hours) is user-replaceable. The Vidikron Sole One is currently available in a matte white finish from Vidikron dealers at a suggested price of $10,995.