DLPA068C November 2019 – May 2022 DLP160AP , DLP160CP , DLP2000 , DLP2010 , DLP230NP , DLP3010 , DLP3310 , DLP470NE , DLP470TE , DLP4710 , DLP471NE , DLP471TE , DLP471TP , DLP480RE , DLP550HE , DLP550JE , DLP650LE , DLP650NE , DLP650TE , DLP651NE , DLP660TE , DLP670RE , DLP780NE , DLP780TE , DLP781NE , DLP781TE , DLP800RE , DLP801RE , DLP801XE , DLPA1000 , DLPA2000 , DLPA2005 , DLPA3000 , DLPA3005 , DLPC2607 , DLPC3420 , DLPC3421 , DLPC3430 , DLPC3433 , DLPC3435 , DLPC3438 , DLPC3439 , DLPC4422 , DLPC6401
How bright can a DLP projection system get? The short answer is very bright. One of the core advantages of DLP technology is its high optical efficiency, enabling bright projection systems with low power consumption and compact size. If limitations on size and power are not a factor, you can create displays with over 10,000 lumens like the ones used at major sporting events during player introductions or halftime shows.
However, for this paper, the scope of the question will be limited to "What is the maximum brightness of a DLP projection solution for my size and power requirements?" The answer is “it depends” – there are tradeoffs that can be made at a system design level which depend upon the product design priorities. To make a brighter projection solution, it is necessary to also increase one of (or a combination of) these variables:
| Variable | Contribution | Limitation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illumination source output capability | Amount of light that can be generated | Source and DMD etendue(5) | ||
| Optics size | Amount of light that can be collected | Size and cost | ||
| DMD chip size | Amount of light that can be reflected | Size and cost | ||
| Illumination source drive power | Illumination source brightness level | Thermal limit and cost of power design | ||
| Illumination thermal solution | Amount of heat dissipated from the illumination source | Size and cost | ||
For a production-ready optical engine, the first three variables in Table 5-1 will be constant.
The last two variables in Table 5-1 (illumination source drive power and the illumination thermal solution) can vary depending on the design requirements of the final product. For example, a given optical module can achieve different brightness outputs depending on the current supplied to the LEDs or lasers. Lamps have a fixed power input and output, but can often be switched for higher power bulbs.
DLP technology is flexible and can be used with any illumination source. There are three main types of illumination typically used in DLP projection systems: lamp, LED, and laser. Lamp sources offer a cost effective solution; LED and laser sources offer high efficiency, solid state illumination. Lamp illumination is often used in classroom, conference room, and home theater projectors. LED illumination is often found in small, battery powered projection systems. Laser illumination is used to reduce size and increase brightness of products ranging from portable displays to high brightness, large venue projections.
For LEDs and lasers, increasing the input power to the illumination source will cause them to output more light, but also causes more heat to be generated by the illumination system. This necessitates a more efficient thermal system to keep the illumination sources at their recommended operating temperatures. Therefore, as brightness increases, so does the illumination device temperature, which in turn drives an increase in the complexity of the illumination thermal system. It is worth noting that higher illumination source output will also result in a higher heat load on the DMD. Therefore, at some point, the size of the DMD thermal solution may need to be increased as well.
Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that as the power to the illumination source increases, so does brightness, but at a decreasing rate, resulting in increased heat generation. Although illumination power and brightness varies for different illumination types, all illumination sources will have an optimal brightness range in which they can operate with maximum efficiency. The thermal management solution must be carefully designed to remove the necessary heat from the system while minimizing the impact to the product’s size and cost.