"In DLP technology, the most core device is the DMD imaging device, which is arranged with a lot of small lenses. Digital signals can be used to control the individual deflection of each lens. When the light is projected on the DMD chip, the light will be transmitted to different angles according to the deflection direction of the lens, so as to achieve the final display." Said zheng haibing, business development manager of Texas instruments (TI) DLP in China.
Dr. Michael Mignardi of TI once published a blog about the development of DLP in TI E2E community. In this blog, Michael Mignardi mentioned that the predecessor of DLP business was TI optoelectronics division. The earliest task was to develop an MEMS technology that could guide the optoelectronics.
The earliest DMD devices only had 840 microscopes, but now there are more than 8 million microscopes in one DMD device.
The figure shows the typical DLP product module composition, which is mainly divided into the following major modules: DMD, DMD controller, DMD micro-mirror drive, PROM, etc.
Advantages of DLP technology
Since the characteristics of DLP technology are reflective modulation, which is essentially different from liquid crystal, it also has some unique features, including:
To provide vivid and clear image quality for traditional and emerging display applications;
The product is highly reliable and has been running for more than 20 years. At the same time, it supports various light sources, so it is widely trusted in various industrial and automotive terminal products.
DLP cinema technology is widely acclaimed, is by far the most eye-catching projection technology, has been widely praised in the industry;
Because the micromirror can rotate at high speed, the powerful and flexible chipset can provide customers with high speed and accurate control, and also can make the data transmission rate of millions of pixels up to 60 Gbps mirror.
Sufficient resource support to simplify the design process, including online reference design, evaluation modules, software, E2E community support and design network solutions.
Because the micromirror is a reflection technology, so the light source requirements are not high, including bulbs, LED, laser, etc. have a good compatibility.
Development and application of DLP technology
Zheng haibing illustrated the development process of DLP technology with a picture, as shown below:
Can be seen in the since 30 years of history, can be roughly divided into three stages, the first phase is the technology of preheating period, the second stage is the stage, the main application field is the cinema, since 2009 the outbreak of the third stage is DLP technology, can be seen in the micro, automotive, industrial, and other fields, DLP technology has made breakthrough progress.
Currently, DLP technology has a market share of more than 85% in the global digital projector market, and more than 90% in China.
In 2009, we hope that projectors can be combined with consumer electronics, so we launched DLP Pico technology, micro projection module, which can be increasingly integrated in mobile phone accessories, portable devices and other constantly updated scenes.
Zheng Haibing said, TI see the market there are a lot of developers to buy the projector and pull down, then try other new product development, so TI launched the development for this suite, set up the department for the industrial market, "we found that the DLP technology in 3 d scanning, print, spectrum analysis, digital exposure, etc." "Zheng haibing said. At present, in addition to this, TI also achieves the best experience effect in HUD head-up display.
Currently, TI has positioned DLP in four major markets, including display, industrial, sensing and automotive.
According to
Display is the most widely used market for TI DLP products. Over the past 20 years, TI has been trying to guide the market trend. Referring to the advantages of DLP technology in the display field, zheng haibing said: "first of all, the light source in recent years of innovation so that DLP technology does not exist in the short board problem, solid-state light source compared to the traditional light bulb service life increased a lot, at the same time rich color, currently DLP technology has in the solid-state light source projector industry occupies the first place, shipments up to 13 million units.
Zheng also said that DLP technology is developing rapidly in the field of screen less TV for the Chinese market. "this market is a breakthrough and innovation for Chinese customers, and there is a rapid development in the Chinese market. "The screen less TV makes full use of DLP technology, TI provides the resolution, miniaturization, portability, high brightness, large size and other features to give customers the best user experience.
Zheng also stressed that DLP technology still keeps its innovation capability in the cinema market. "now the film industry needs higher technology, such as the 120-frame 'Billy Lynn's long walk in the middle'. DLP technology is very suitable for innovative scenes because of its faster speed."
At present, DLP technology in the display market has a variety of resolution, size, brightness combination, can meet from AR glasses, pocket projection, home theater, no screen TV to digital cinema applications.
As shown in the figure.
"DLP technology is the only technology that supports such a wide range of display markets." "Zheng haibing stressed.
This year, TI announced the launch of two more cost-effective support 4K UHD resolution 0.47 "platform products, respectively, DLP470TE and DLP470TP, 470TP low brightness but better heat dissipation, suitable for portable applications, DLP470TE support higher brightness, support more cost-effective screen TV projection, while DLP660TE is used for high-end display. With more and more demands for differentiated display products, TI is also continuously subdividing the DLP product line.
True 4K requires 8.3 million pixels, while DLP technology has more than 8 million micromirrors, which can ensure one-to-one correspondence, thus meeting the demand of true 4K.
The sensing
For sensing applications, DLP technology is mainly used for spectral scanning. Zheng haibing introduced that at present, DLP spectral analysis is mainly focused on near-infrared light, which can support spectral analysis of 900 to 2500nm. This is also due to the obvious biological characteristics in the nir part, including food safety, ingredient detection and other fields.
In addition to spectral scanning, DLP technology can also be used in 3D scanning modeling. Because DLP technology can flexibly generate various structural lights and also supports different light sources, it is convenient to detect different substances.
industrial
DLP technology can support ultraviolet light of 405 nanometers, so it has advantages in industrial applications, especially in fields such as digital exposure. "Traditionally, PCBS require masks, which are updated with changes to the circuit diagram. By using DLP digital exposure technology, not only can the mask plate, but also can achieve high precision and high speed manufacturing. "Zheng haibing said.
In addition, in the field of 3D printing, DLP technology can also play a full role. SLA technology using DLP technology can achieve higher accuracy and speed, especially suitable for medical, jewelry and other fields.
The car
The automobile market is now the most popular application field. DLP technology tries in AR HUD head-up display and intelligent headlamp.
For AR HUD, DLP technology has features such as wider viewing Angle, farther virtual image, brighter display effect, support for wearing sunglasses for viewing, and better temperature resistance.
With wide viewing angles, Zheng Haibing said, the current commercial HUD technology for 7-8 ° probably FOV visual Angle, unable to display more information, real AR characteristics, FOV need more than 12 °, and when to 20 °, HUD technology lane can display information and other more ADAS elements.
As you can see, as the viewing Angle increases, the more content you can carry.
In 2017, Lincoln's Continental luxury car developed its HUD using DLP technology, while the 2018 navigator will carry a brighter and wider DLP HUD.
In 2017, TI has released the latest generation support AR HUD DLP3030 - Q1 chipsets, Zheng Haibing said that compared to the second generation of the first generation product promotion many, including using CPGA encapsulation chip size was reduced by 65%, support the work of a higher temperature, at the same time provides better environment and tools, software development can help depot, Tie1 and other customers to develop better.
In addition, the operating temperature is very critical, when you are up to 15,000 nettles brightness environment, including outdoor environment, your cab environment high temperature, can support its stable work, so our second generation to upgrade to 105 degrees car temperature requirements.
For intelligent headlights, DLP technology can achieve anti-glare, projection of custom signposts and other personalized functions.
Stronger ecological chain
As you can see from the picture, for optical machines, the design is very complicated, which is not something that an electronics or chip company can do. Therefore, TI has made great efforts to develop ecological partners in China.
"In the past few years, we have been working with upstream and downstream partners, solution manufacturers and end customers to build an ecological environment. So far, we have more than 50 eco-partners who can provide optical design, system solution design, software design, whole machine design or system solution. With these partners, we can help new customers evaluate DLP technologies more quickly and develop them more quickly.”
TI creates a huge DLP industry chain
In addition, zheng haibing stressed that TI also makes full use of Internet resources, providing a large number of design documents on TI's official website, and providing communication between customers and TI engineers in E2E Community and TI E2ETM Chinese Community.
Below are various products developed based on DLP presented by some of TI's partners
Zheng haibing is introducing hisense 100-inch laser TV. Compared with traditional LCD TV, the laser TV adopts optical short-focus design, which has advantages in installation, placement, resolution and so on. At the same time, the projected light screen adopts special treatment, which can resist the ambient light and is the same as watching TV experience. At the same time, zheng also said that through direct cooperation with TV manufacturers, the development of laser TV operating environment more like television
.
Various DLP development kits, zheng haiping said that DLP technology is opto-electromechanical integration products, it is difficult to have a single customer to make a single terminal product. Therefore, TI provides reference design from optical design, machine structure, heat dissipation, product design and other design as well as the construction of a huge cooperative system partner, which can simplify the customer development threshold. The development kit can help customers verify the concept or preliminary idea of product design as soon as possible, ranging from 0.2 "to 0.6" in size and supporting various resolutions. Currently the cheapest EVM is only $99, making cost no longer a barrier to development.
HUD EVM is hot recently, and the technology is not new, but the technology breakthrough should be people-oriented, and the experience is better, not just something advertised. The world's first AR support module can help customers quickly, and EVM includes optical engine control board.
Nut 1895 movie player type projection
Millet laser TV, holding in the hand is the optical machine core components
Zheng haibing said, now more and more customers in the projection form for all kinds of innovation, because of the progress of light source, the use of laser or LED light source can achieve a longer life, so it has won the trust of manufacturers.
MOTOROLA projection accessories, through the attachment form, can solve the phone standby power consumption, size, heat dissipation and other problems, improve the user experience.
The world's brightest LED light projection developed by iView can reach 1700 lumens. In the light source and light path design has been improved.
Guang jing shi rui other light units together
Project computer developed by guangjing xirui
The finishing touch creates the vision each kind of light unit to combine
A complete picture of the optical machine of anwar photoelectric
Schindler's solution is the lenovo yoga with a projected laptop
Crystal optronics industrial optical engine products
Wen ting taike PRO9000 optical machine, is the industry's highest optical machine
Visitech optical products
The drive board and lens of kai shi guang yan
Tianruishi embedded machine vision solution
HUD DLP PGU provided by shunyu vehicle
HUD PGU provided by jinghua precision co., LTD
