Comparing DLP HDTV Units to Plasma and LCD Reveals Strengths and Weaknesses
Digital Light Processing or DLP is one of the latest HDTV technologies that is taking the television industry by storm. Developed by Texas Instruments, DLP is a process in which millions of microscopically small mirrors called Digital Micromirror Devices or DMDs reflect light onto the television screen. The large number of mirrors, each representing one or more pixels, ensures a high quality image. DLP HDTV can come in the form of front projectors, which are standalone units, or rear projectors, which compete against LCD and Plasma flat-screens. DLP projectors have mostly supplanted CRT projectors, and is also one of the primary technologies used in digital cinemas.
One or Three Chips?
One disadvantage to DLP HDTVs is that most single-chip systems, which are standard in home units, can produce a “rainbow effect” of red, blue, and green shadows when showing a bright object moving quickly across a black background. This is caused by the movement of the color wheel, which rapidly spins in front of each DMD to produce color. Some people rarely see this effect, while others perceive it all the time. As the effect can lead to eye strain, headaches and migraines in some viewers, anybody considering purchasing a DLP HDTV would be well-served to see an in-store demonstration of the unit they are considering before purchasing. More recent DLP units incorporate several technologies that greatly lessen this effect, and three-chip projectors do not have this problem at all.
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