DLPA078C February   2017  – October 2024 DLP160AP , DLP160CP , DLP2000 , DLP2010 , DLP230GP , DLP230KP , DLP230NP , DLP3010 , DLP3310 , DLP4710 , DLP471TP , DLPC3420 , DLPC3421

 

  1.   1
  2.   Abstract
  3.   Trademarks
  4. 1Introduction to Optical Modules
    1. 1.1 DLP Display Chip or Digital Micromirror Device (DMD)
    2. 1.2 Illumination
    3. 1.3 Illumination Optics
    4. 1.4 Projection Optics
    5. 1.5 Flash Memory Board
  5. 2Core Optical Module Specifications
    1. 2.1 Brightness
    2. 2.2 Size
    3. 2.3 Resolution
    4. 2.4 Illumination Power Consumption
    5. 2.5 Throw Ratio
    6. 2.6 Offset
    7. 2.7 Contrast Ratio
  6. 3Additional Optical Module Specifications
    1. 3.1 Brightness Uniformity
    2. 3.2 Focus Uniformity
    3. 3.3 Color Management
    4. 3.4 Thermal Management
    5. 3.5 Optical Zoom
    6. 3.6 Depth of Focus
  7. 4Optical Module Specification Examples
  8. 5Get Started with Development
  9.   Revision History

4 Optical Module Specification Examples

There are two categories of optical module specifications: core and additional. Core specifications are essential for defining the performance and characteristics of the module. Additional specifications are less commonly used but can be essential for specific applications. When determining optical module requirements, it is important to carefully consider all possible specifications. Understanding the end-use of the projection system is fundamental to determining the necessary specifications of the optical module. Table 4-1 is an example of the type of questions considered by the product developer to better define the required specifications of a DLP Display projection optical module.

Table 4-1 Use Case Considerations
Use Case Considerations Optical Module Specifications Impacted
Size of the product and space available for projection system Size, power consumption, thermal management solution
Ambient lighting environment Brightness, image size, DLP IntelliBright™algorithms
Battery-powered operation or plugged in to a power outlet Brightness
Distance from the projection surface and image size target Throw ratio
Type of video content (for example, movies, signage, PowerPoint presentations, and so forth) Resolution, brightness, contrast ratio, color management
Projection surface shape (flat or curved) Depth of focus
Orientation (distance, angle, position) between the optical module and the projection surface Throw ratio, keystone correction, offset
Operating environment temperature Thermal management solution
Maximum allowable bill of materials cost Brightness, resolution, throw ratio

Developers can use Table 4-2 to accelerate communication with DLP Display projection optical module manufacturers. Optical module manufacturers list target and boundary specifications to effectively identify the appropriate option. The target specification should be the ideal specification, within practical constraints, while the boundary specification should define the minimum or maximum acceptable specification.

Table 4-2 Example Optical Module Specification Table
Specification Example
Description Provide a high level description of the application and “must-have” optical module specifications/features.
Brightness (lumens) > 30 lumens
Resolution (x by y pixels) 854 × 480
Size (x-y-z dimensions in mm) – note if one dimension is higher priority 25mm × 25mm × 6mm
(minimize thickness)
Power consumption (watts) < 1.5W
Throw ratio 1.0:1.5
Offset (typically 0% or 100-120%) 100%
Optional Specifications
Brightness uniformity > 70%
Contrast ratio (full on, full off) > 500:1
Contrast ratio (checkerboard) > 200:1
Optical zoom (note as required or not required) Not required
Long depth of focus (note as required or not required) Not required
Focus method (for example manual, motorized, autofocus) Motorized