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Dwin Home Theater HDTV DLP Projectors
Dwin Home Theater HDTV Video Processors
Dwin Home Theater HDTV Plasma Displays
Dwin Home Theater HDTV Dual Plasma Displays
Front projection systems for home theater have swiftly gained
popularity, especially after the introduction of high-definition
1280 x 720 (720p) resolution digital micromirror devices, or DMD’s,
as part of Texas Instruments’ DLP™ (Digital Light Processing)
Technology. Since it was introduced in 1996, DLP has become the
preferred standard for the home theater front projection market.
A DMD device works by focusing white light from the projector lamp
through a rotating color wheel and onto panel of thousands of microscopic
mirrors. Each mirror corresponds to an individual pixel of a digital
image; the mirror switches ‘on’ or ‘off’ coordinated
with the video input signal. These sequences of reflected light
are directed through the projection lens and onto the screen. The
human eye then integrates each of these pixels and sees a full-color
image on the screen.
DLP projectors are regarded as the finest available for displaying
high definition video images. DLP-based systems offer superior
color reproduction, black levels, contrast and motion picture response.
Since
1990, DWIN has designed and built all of its projectors and video
processors exclusively for the home theater market. In addition,
all DWIN video systems incorporate proprietary, patented, award-winning
video processing circuitry. Although many manufacturers employ
the same DLP technology, there are important differences in processor
technology and projection optics that can dramatically influence
picture quality, system performance and installation ease.
Optics Designed for Home Theater, not Presentations
The best way to replicate a realistic cinematic experience in the
home is to deliver the best picture quality possible. To do this,
a DLP projector must be supported by an optical system that can
deliver low black levels for good shadow detail in dark scenes
and high contrast for bright scenes.
Competitive projectors use lens
and optical systems that were originally designed for the business
display market. These systems are fine for a conference room
slide show but are sub-par for a movie experience in the home
theater.
Most other projector brands
use an optical design called telecentric where a total-internal-reflectance
(TIR) prism is placed between the DMD and the projection lens to
separate the illumination and projection light. The TIR prism’s
surface reflections significantly increase the scattered light
entering the projection lens, resulting in a degradation of contrast
and black level.
DWIN’s TransVision® 3-Enhanced
optical system is designed without a TIR prism between the DMD
and the projection lens. This non-telecentric design guarantees
the highest contrast ratio of any single-chip DLP projector in
the home theater front projection market.
Optical Lens Shift Offers Optimal Screen Position
For the best home theater viewing experience, a screen should installed
so that eye level is approximately at the bottom-third of the
screen height.
To assure a proper screen height in most home theater
installations, DWIN's TransVision is the only projection system
that has a lens-shift mechanism with an offset range of 40% of
screen height from lens level. This means, for example, with
a TransVision flush-mounted to the ceiling and used with a 100" wide
screen, you could place the top visible portion of the screen
a full 2 feet down from the ceiling. (To calculate the proper
screen and projector installation dimensions for optimal viewing,
use the projector throw distance calculator located on the DWIN
web site).
Competitive
projectors lack this wide-ranging optical lens shift capability.
To position the screen for proper viewing level, rival projectors
must be mounted using an unattractive extension pole or they must
be tilted. Unfortunately, tilting the projector causes a "keystone"-shaped,
distorted image. To correct this problem, these projectors offer
digital keystone adjustment.
Unfortunately,
digital keystone correction is no solution at all. This "adjustment" reduces
the width of the image at the bottom of the screen by allowing
the user to electronically alter the image until it is the same
width at the top and bottom. Reducing the image width consequently
reduces the horizontal resolution and the picture quality deteriorates
considerably.
Separate Components
Simplify System Integration and Installation
The complex array of signal choices available in home theater systems
creates installation challenges for competing projectors. A ceiling-mounted
projector, with built-in video inputs and processing, requires
multiple video source cables to be pulled inside interior walls
to the projector and additional equipment to switch and control
the video sources.
To make installation cost effective and easy, DWIN’s TransVision® 3-Enhanced
is the only digitally connected high definition video projection
system comprising two separate components: a 720p DLP™ projector
and a dedicated video processor.
DWIN's two-component system design
allows the TransVision digital video processor to be conveniently
located in the home cinema component rack near all of the video
sources. The processor handles all scaling, format conversions
and source switching, then outputs a pure-digital signal to the
projector.
For maximum installation convenience, DWIN's
new DuoVision™ dual-display
processor builds on this concept by allowing TWO different DWIN
displays (plasma or projector) to be controlled from a single processor
unit.
DWIN is unique among projector manufacturers in that it connects
its processor unit to the projector via a high-bandwidth DVI cable.
This ensures the image remains in pure digital form from the processor
to the display, delivering exceptional picture quality and no image
degradation. DWIN’s proprietary DVI cable, developed in conjunction
with Total Technologies Limited, has a 0.75 inch circular connector
that can easily be pulled through one-inch conduit. DWIN offers
these proprietary cables in six different lengths: 25, 30, 35,
40, 45, and 50 feet.
Finally, cable and satellite providers have
recently announced that their future set top boxes will have a
DVI-HDCP output. HDCP, or High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection,
is an encryption/decryption standard for DVI signals.
DWIN has licensed DVI and HDCP technologies
and has implemented them throughout its entire product line to
ensure that customers can take advantage of future higher-resolution
sources without having to replace or upgrade existing equipment.
Perhaps even more
impressive than all of its technical capabilities, in a 720p DLP
market which ranges in price from $10,000 to $17,000, the US-built
TransVision® 3-Enhanced is priced at $11,950 -
making it not only one of the best projection systems, but the
best value as well.
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