Texas Instruments has announced a new DLP display controller that’s noticeably smaller than previous iterations and designed to cater to next-generation compact 4K UHD projectors as well as augmented reality glasses.
Here at New Atlas we regularly feature home and business projectors, and have even tried many ourselves to see what the big-screen fuss is all about. Many are built on Texas Instruments' Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology.
The company's new DLPC8445 display controller is reportedly the smallest of its kind – just 9 x 9mm (0.35 x 0.35 inches) – and comes in around 90% smaller than previous-generation chips. This means consumers can expect projectors to be made even more compact in the near future without sacrificing image quality.
In fact, the chip is designed to “replicate the on-screen experience of high-end TVs and gaming monitors in a compact projector form factor.” Working with a compatible digital micromirror device (DMD) and a suitable light source, the technology enables 4K visuals at 100 diagonal inches or more, while also including measures to eliminate lag, image tearing, and stuttering.
That last part is made possible thanks to support for frame rates up to 240Hz, as well as “sub-millisecond display latency that matches or surpasses the world's top-tier gaming monitors and reduces lag time for gamers.”
The new chip is also the first to integrate variable refresh rates, “displaying new frames from the source without lag, regardless of whether the source is dynamically changing frame rate.” Again, this will be especially welcome for current-gen console gamers – Texas Instruments confirms that “when combined with the speed of DMDs, it can respond to changes in frame rates in less than 1ms.”
The DLP controller is reportedly the first designed for battery-powered laser projectors, and includes image correction hacks to dynamically adjust for surface imperfections for installation flexibility. The new chip will likely debut with a 4K DMD, but the company plans to pair the technology with DMDs of different sizes and resolutions “to address emerging trends in display applications such as augmented reality glasses.”
The DLPC8445 controller is now available to manufacturers, so we won't have to wait too long for the next batch of compact high-resolution projectors to appear.
“Immersive on-screen entertainment is no longer just sought after by movie enthusiasts and gamers, but by everyday consumers as well,” said the company’s Jeff Marsh. “Where consumers once needed a large TV or monitor for a crisp, clear image, they can now use a lifestyle or gaming projector and transform a wall into the screen size they want with 4K UHD quality. Our new controller is the latest example of how TI DLP technology is helping engineers develop epic displays for take-anywhere entertainment.”
Source: Texas Instruments