Nexgen's first projector will be the CineX NHT-720, a DLP home cinema
projector that uses the HD-2 chip set with 1280 x 720 resolution.
It is powered by a 200W VIP lamp, with output rated at 1000 lumens
and contrast at 1500:1. A Faroudja chip supports de-interlacing
of 480i video and there is 3:2 pull down support, but the swW1-LX
provides scaling functions to produce the 720p image.
Nexgen, which is a subsidiary of Chi Mei Opto Electronics, plans
to offer the projector to OEMs on a worldwide basis and will market
the product under its own name too. A derivative version aimed at
the business market will follow shortly.
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Keystone correction is a major innovation in this product. Using
the swW1-LX chip, keystone correction can be achieved even if
the projector is placed at a 40-degree horizontal or 30-degree
vertical angle to the screen. What this means is that the projector
can be placed virtually anywhere in a home entertainment room
and still provide proper keystone-corrected images on the screen.
"The warping algorithms in the swX1-LX produce a very different
keystone-corrected image than what you will see with alternative
2-D keystone correction systems," explains Dennis Crespo,
VP of marketing at Silicon Optix. "Our correction algorithms
maintain the correct geometric aspect ratio, even in radical off-normal
projector placements. Circles are round and squares are not rectangular."
The CineX NHT-720 features manual keystone correction that can
be adjusted by the user with a remote. Future products will feature
Auto AnyPlace technology that performs the keystone correction
automatically. In fact, Silicon Optix plans to demonstrate this
capability at its suite at CES in January. "We see most manufacturers
going very quickly to the automatic keystone technology,"
says Crespo.
In addition to its AnyPlace technology, the Silicon Optix sxW1-LX
Advanced Image Processor is capable of a full range of features,
including eWARP lens distortion correction and real-time geometry
processing, high-quality shrink and zoom, arbitrary image rotation,
advanced color reproduction, frame-rate conversion, de-interlacing,
and picture-in-picture display modes.
Crespo says this capability can be used to enable two key features
in projection systems. First, the ability to pre-warp an image
allows designers to trade-off optical lens complexity or cost
with silicon complexity. In the 3M WallDisplay, for example, the
image is heavily pre-distorted to enable projection at a very
steep angle and short throw distance. This allows 3M to reduce
the cost of the projection lens considerably.
The other advantage is the flexibility in projector placement
that comes from the wide keystone correction capability. This
is what Nexgen has pursued along with several other customers
that will be announced soon.
The swX1-LX is priced at around $89 in lots of 10K or more, and
there is some additional cost, in the tens of dollars, for the
Auto AnyPlace circuitry. However, Silicon Optix expects pricing
to come down considerably in the near future as the chip is used
in a number of volume applications.
Nexgen, Zoe Huang,
Zoe_Huang@mail.nexgen.com.tw
Silicon Optix, Dennis Crespo, 408-490-7779, dennis.crespo@siliconoptix.com
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