Researchers at North Carolina State University and ImagineOptix debut new means of polarising projector light sources-- potentially leading the way to 90% efficient liquid crystal (LC) projectors.

Current LC projectors generate light from unpolarised light sources (such as LEDs) before passing it through a filter. However filters "waste" around 50% of originally generated light, turning it into heat... the reason projectors need (generally noisy) cooling fans.

The NC State technology uses a "polarisation grating-polarisation conversion system" (PGPCS). It consists of a small single-unit assembly made out of x4 immobile parts. A lens array focuses light into a grid of spot, before passing the light through a polarisation grating (a thin layer of liquid crystal material on a glass plate) and a louvered wave plate (a collection of clear, patterned plates giving beams of light the same polarisation).

Finally a second lens array focuses spots of light back into a single, uniform light beam. Only around 10% of the unpolarised light turns into heat, meaning the system needs no fans.

The researchers promise "[battery powered] projectors able to run for almost twice as long... LC projectors of all kinds can be made twice as bright but use the same amount of power that they do now."

Being compact and fan-free, the technology also finds future application in pico projectors, as well as projectors for use in mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

Go Researchers Almost Double Light Efficiency in LC Projectors

rAVe has long said that HDBaseT will be the future way meeting rooms, classrooms and signal routing will be done in systems in the ProAV market. Norway’s projectiondesign showed a concept projector integrated with an HDBaseT interface (video, data and power over the network) at InfoComm.

The HDBaseT interface is a dedicated data, video, power and communications interface that supports up to 10.2 Gbps (effectively 4K2K Ultra High-Definition Blu-ray resolution), audio, control and up to 100 watts of remote power over standard CAT5e/6 LAN cabling at up to 100 meters in length.

“We are excited to have projectiondesign adopting HDBaseT and becoming a member of the HDBaseT alliance, a terrific addition to the growing list of early technology adopters such as AMX, Extron, Crestron, Samsung, Sony Pictures and LG,” says Micha Risling, HDBaseT Alliance marketing chair.

The projector projectiondesign will be using with an HDBaseT input is the F35.

Go HDBaseT Concept

Future laser projectors might get a boost of power through a co-development from Sumitomo Electric and Sony-- a green semiconductor laser diode with optical output power of over 100mW at 530nm, a world first according to the 2 companies.

Mountable on laser projectors or other display devices, the new laser diode reportedly features x2 the luminosity of conventional gallium nitride (GaN) diodes, as well as a broader colour gamut when combined with current red and blue laser diodes.

The companies say the technology is also more power efficient.

The technology draws from both Sumitomo production techniques and technology from Sony's GaN Blu-ray laser developments. It should appear sometime soon in either advanced laser projectors or compact, energy-efficient models.

Go Sumitomo and Sony Annouce True Green Semiconductor Laser Diode

Texas Instruments DLP unveils a new family of image processing chips designed for front projectors that enables broader standardization of 3D and interactive technologies.

Projectors with the new chipset design (to be incorporated in shipping units starting late summer 2012) will display content from common 3D-formats supported by HDMI 1.4, from almost any mobile device-- including tablets, smart phones, laptops and Blu-ray players.

Pacific Media Associates (PMA) predicts WW projector shipments will reach 11.3m units in 2012, growing by nearly 20% Y-o-Y growth.

The analyst says ultra-short-throw and medium-throw projector shipments will remain strong, with combined growth reaching over 25% Y-o-Y through the forecast period.

The W. European market should move to a 50/50 mix of ultra-short-throw vs. medium-throw.

The solid-state LED-based projector segment will show strongest growth in 2012-- nearly 60%, thanks to embedded pico projectors in cameras and mobile devices. PMA expects similar strong growth for hybrid laser/LED and laser-based projectors, which should start showing up more frequently in home theatres, as well as classrooms, conference rooms and cinemas by late 2013.

Go PMA Quarterly Projector Industry Forecast

The HDBaseT Alliance InfoComm 2012 stand hosts the an interesting concept projector from projectiondesign-- a version of the F35 projector with an integrated HDBaseT interface.

As a dedicated data, video, power and communications interface, HDBaseT supports up to 10.2Gbps (4K2K resolution) video, audio, control and up to 100W of remote power over 100m of standard CAT5e/6 cabling.

"We believe that HDBaseT will significantly impact the AV integrators’ complex installation requirements in a positive way – reducing costs, cabling and infrastructure requirements, and work load,” projectiondesign says. As an early HDBaseT adopter, projectiondesign joins AMX, Extron, Crestron, Samsung, Sony and LG.

Go projectiondesign F35