DLP Technology - A Brief Introduction

Commonly found in projectors and rear projection televisions today, DLP technology has allowed for sharp accurate cutting-edge image reproduction. Developed by Dr Larry Hornbeck of Texas Instruments in 1987, each DLP has a semi-conductor called the Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) chip. Aboard each DMD chip are thousands of tiny mirrors on hinges capable of reflecting light by changing its angle at a rate of several thousands times per second. The colour of the light is determined by the colour wheel. This is located in front of the projector bulb and consists of a wheel with individual segments of colour. As the wheel spins each segment passes through the light path creating the corresponding coloured light. Computer controlled, the mirrors reflect the appropriate coloured light at various intensities at the right times to create the image we see on screen.

Still confused? Take a look at a macromedia FLASH demo and explanation of the DLP technology (2.28MB)