All modern video projectors for home or business use are built around three different technologies. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) video projectors, Digital Light Processing (DLP) video projectors, and Liquid Crystal On Silicon (LCOS) video projectors all produce roughly comparable images, but the way that they produce that image is quite a different story. The best video projectors in the world right now are being based on the new LCOS technology, but LCD and DLP video projectors are by no means obsolete. This article takes a look at how each creates a projected image, and where each is best suited for use.
LCD Video Projectors:
Liquid Crystal Display based video projectors are defined as a transmissive technology. Inside the projector are three tiny transparent LCD screens through which the light passes. There are panels for each primary color: Red, green, and blue. The projector switches on and off thousands of tiny pixels embedded in each of the three screens. As the light passes through them the combination of the three colors creates the image which is then focused onto the viewing screen by the lens. LCD projection technology is usually much better than DLP projection for qualities such as color saturation. Consumer LCD projectors are available in all price ranges from $500 and up and can be used in portable or mounted locations.
DLP Video Projectors:
Digital Light Processing video projectors are different than LCD's in that inside each unit is a chip containing thousands of tiny little mirrors, each one controlling a pixel of the image. These mirrors are manipulated to catch the light from the high output lamp and send it out through the lens in the desired color. DLP based video projectors generally produce lower quality images and less vibrant colors than their LCD counterparts. In addition, DLP projectors require more energy and brighter lamps to project the same brightness of picture due to the more inefficient way that they create the image.
LCOS Video Projectors:
LCOS is essentially a cousin of LCD in that both create images the same way. The difference with LCOS video projectors is that much higher resolutions and much higher brightness levels can be achieved with the same wattage lamp. LCOS panels reflect light better than LCD panels, so more light makes it through to the lens. At the same time, many more pixels can be crammed on to the the same chip, easily allowing for 1080p HDTV projection quality. For projecting huge images, 1080p quality is a definite necessity. The downside to LCOS video projectors is that they are often more than twice as expensive as a comparable LCD or DLP video projector. Prices on will eventually come down, but for now LCOS video projectors are definitely luxury items.
All modern video projectors for home or business use are built around three different technologies. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) video projectors, Digital Light Processing (DLP) video projectors, and Liquid Crystal On Silicon (LCOS) video projectors all produce roughly comparable images, but the way that they produce that image is quite a different story. The best video projectors in the world right now are being based on the new LCOS technology, but LCD and DLP video projectors are by no means obsolete. This article takes a look at how each creates a projected image, and where each is best suited for use.
LCD Video Projectors:
Liquid Crystal Display based video projectors are defined as a transmissive technology. Inside the projector are three tiny transparent LCD screens through which the light passes. There are panels for each primary color: Red, green, and blue. The projector switches on and off thousands of tiny pixels embedded in each of the three screens. As the light passes through them the combination of the three colors creates the image which is then focused onto the viewing screen by the lens. LCD projection technology is usually much better than DLP projection for qualities such as color saturation. Consumer LCD projectors are available in all price ranges from $500 and up and can be used in portable or mounted locations.
DLP Video Projectors:
Digital Light Processing video projectors are different than LCD's in that inside each unit is a chip containing thousands of tiny little mirrors, each one controlling a pixel of the image. These mirrors are manipulated to catch the light from the high output lamp and send it out through the lens in the desired color. DLP based video projectors generally produce lower quality images and less vibrant colors than their LCD counterparts. In addition, DLP projectors require more energy and brighter lamps to project the same brightness of picture due to the more inefficient way that they create the image.
LCOS Video Projectors:
LCOS is essentially a cousin of LCD in that both create images the same way. The difference with LCOS video projectors is that much higher resolutions and much higher brightness levels can be achieved with the same wattage lamp. LCOS panels reflect light better than LCD panels, so more light makes it through to the lens. At the same time, many more pixels can be crammed on to the the same chip, easily allowing for 1080p HDTV projection quality. For projecting huge images, 1080p quality is a definite necessity. The downside to LCOS video projectors is that they are often more than twice as expensive as a comparable LCD or DLP video projector. Prices on will eventually come down, but for now LCOS video projectors are definitely luxury items.
