European Custom Installer

System Integration for the Connected Home

Projection and Screens

Hitachi Projects 3D Image on Real Object

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Hitachi CEATECHitachi Ltd. develops a technology to project a 3D image in real space, superimpose that image on an object and makes it possible for several people to see the 3D image without special glasses.

The technology displays a 3D image created with 24 projectors in real space by using several lenses and translucent half mirrors. Hitachi expects this will be used for digital or digital signage, design verification, skill trainings in the manufacturing and medical fields, etc.

At CEATEC Japan 2010, Hitachi showed their Full-parallax 3D Display Technology which enables you to view a 3D image from wide vertical and horizontal angles (horizontal view angle of 60° and a vertical view angle of 30°)

The secret sauce? Hitachi says the depth resolution was improved by 1.6X so it can display natural 3D images.

Oh, did we mention this? When the object is moved, the camera sensor can detect the new location and the new angle of the object, follow it, and superimpose the image as it changes location.

Go Hitachi’s Full-parallax 3D Display

World's First Large-screen Home Cinema Laser Display

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MitsubishAt IFA Berlin Mitsubishi Electric exhibited its 3D home cinema laser display technology for the first time in Europe.

Under the slogan "Three Dimensional Cinema Colour," the Laser-Display is a 75" screen surrounded by a narrow, silver-coloured frame, and can deliver film and video game experiences in 2D and 3D.

Says Lars Doerholt, Deputy Division Manager at Mitsubishi Electric Germany, Visual Information Systems, "Our Home Cinema Laser Display sets new standards in the field of home cinema …with only half the power consumption of comparable flat-screen televisions..."

Mitsubishi Electric is developing Cinema Colour for the consumer sector with its laser display technology and 6-colour processor. This generates a colour space that is about 2X the size of a traditional flat screen TV. The “smooth 120 File Motion (120 Hz) allows for high-precision detail and sharpness even for motion sequences,” says Mitsubishi Electric.

Go Home Cinema Laser Display

High-End Home Theatres Get Sony 4K Projector

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Sony releases its first high-resolution projector for the home theatre market-- the SXRD-based 4K VPL-VW100ES projector.

Sony 4K ProjectorDesigned to meet the needs of both custom installers and the more demanding customers, it delivers 2000 ANSI-lumens of brightness and 1000000:1 dynamic contrast.

It supports 2D and 3D anamorphic films, and carries a built-in transmitter and picture position memory memorising zoom lens position.

Both 2D and 3D 1080P content get a visual boost through the Super Resolution 4K upscaler.

Installation options include a dual triggers, 2.1 motorised zoom, expanded throw distances, RS232 interface, control over IP and compatibility with most home automation systems.

The VPL-VW100ES will start shipping in December, for prices around $25000.

Go Sony Introduces First 4K Projector For Home Theatre Installations

PMA Reports 16% Increase in Projector Sales in Q2

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According to Pacific Media Associates (PMA), the worldwide front projector market grew by 16% in Q2 2011 compared to the same quarter last year.

Front ProjectorPMA divides the front projector industry into three brightness ranges, each associated with its own set of buyer types and applications: New Era (under 500 lumens), Mainstream (500 to 4999 lumens), and High-End (5000 or more lumens).

The New Era range showed unprecedented Y/Y growth with a 195% uptick in unit sales vs. Q2 2010. Part of this phenomenal growth can be attributed to an increase in shipments of products with embedded pico projectors, such as camcorders, digital still cameras, and mobile phones. The New Era projector category also gained ground due to strong initial shipments of Wide XGA personal projectors.

In the Mainstream range, unit sales dropped by 4% in Q2 2011 compared to Q2 2010. Education Markets remained strong and the number of interactive projectors increased dramatically in Q2, but corporate and home markets were still sluggish due to the world economic situation. "The year/year slowdown in the mainstream market was seen mainly in developed markets, many of which saw buoyant sales during last year's second quarter because of the industry's post-recession inventory correction, sporting events like Euro Football, and strong education technology spending from the US stimulus” says Michael Abramson, VP of Projector Research at Pacific Media Associates. “Despite the weak comparisons, ultra-short-throw projectors, including the emerging interactive models, continued to outperform the overall market, even in developed countries."

Go DepthQ products

Digital Projection's CEDIA Winner

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Digital Projection unveils launches the first 3D-capable dVision projector at CEDIA Expo 2011-- the dVision 35-1080p 3D, now a Manufacturer's Excellence Awards finalist in the Best New Product category.

Digital VisionThe dVision 31-1080p 3D uses single chip DLP technology to produce up to 2900 lumens of brightness and contrast rations of up to 7500:1.

It is capable of both active (through IR or DLP link) and passive (via optional LCD modulator) 3D, and displays multiple 3D formats at full 1920x1080 resolution, 120Hz.

With x2 300W lamps (with adjustable iris), Digital Projection says it is equally capable at both 3D and 2D display.

An X-port backplane allows installers to configure the projector to accept HDMI 1.4, display port or HDSDI input, with dual link DVI as a standard.

Throw ratios range from .75:1 to 6:5:1, and a quick-change motorised lens mount provides extensive horizontal and vertical lens shift range.

Go Digital Projection dVision 35-1080p 3D

Pacific Media Associates: Picos Triple in a Year

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The WW pico projector market reaches around 830000 units in H1 2011-- growing by over 300% from 270000 units in H1 2010, according to Pacific Media Associates (PMA).

Pico The pico category includes all battery-powered (or battery-powerable) models, including companion (stand-alone) models and devices with embedded optical engines.

PMA expects pico projectorss to continue improving in brightness and resolution-- predicting average brightness will increase to 35 lumens by 2012 and over 47 lumens by 2014, while 80% of companion pico projectors will handle WVGA resolution or better by 2014.

The analyst is currently preparing its 4th annual pico projector ecosystem survey, and will soon start inviting OEMs to take part.

Go Pico Projector Market Triples in First Half (PMA)

1000-lumen Projector with Wavien Engine

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Wavien On its InfoComm stand, Wavien showed a production prototype of a 1000-lumen projector to be manufactured and sold by AAXA Technologies, Inc. This new projector uses Wavien's proprietary DPR light engine, and Wavien claims it “outperforms LED projectors by producing 1000 lumens of brightness and a lifetime of 25,000 hours at the cost of a conventional desktop projector.”

AAXA, founded in 2008, is a developer and distributor of a new class of projector known as "micro" projectors and "pico" projectors.

"Wavien's DPR light engine provides a maintenance-free light source for projectors suitable for home theater/gaming applications, classrooms and small conference rooms. It outperforms LED projectors, providing a higher output, smaller footprint and longer lifetime, at a lower cost," states Dr. Kenneth Li, President and CEO of Wavien, Inc., who is also the inventor of the DPR technology.

"The maintenance-free features of LED and hybrid projectors created expectations in consumers that all state-of-the-art projectors should use those technologies. We have identified a void in the market for affordably priced projectors with a screen brightness of about 1000 lumens. LED projector outputs are too low, and hybrid projectors are costly," adds Gary Huang, VP Sales and Marketing at AAXA.

Wavien, based in California, is a technology licensing company developing long-life, high-performance light sources and engine prototypes for the projection and general lighting industries. Wavien currently offers its unique "Dual Paraboloid Reflector" ("DPR") technology using ultra-high-pressure arc lamps for education and business uses, and xenon lamps for cinema projectors.

Go Wavien and its "Dual Paraboloid Reflector" technology

Go AAXA Technologies