Ground-breaking wireless presentation from a PDA to a projector:
`ProjectConnect(TM)' component set will extend capabilities of DLP(TM)technology
Illustrative images for this story may be found at http://www.dlp.com/dlp/resources/resources.asp
Continuing to show how DLP(TM) technology uniquely enables the development of projectors featuring the optimum combination of low weight and high brightness, Texas Instruments (TI) (NYSE:TXN) today demonstrated at Infocomm (Booth 20018) a prototype of its wireless `ProjectConnect(TM)' component set which allows `transparent to the user' wireless connection between a laptop computer or PDA and a projector. The prototype projectors demonstrated are from two of the leading innovators in the display technology industry, InFocus (NYSE:INFS) and Plus Vision Corporation.
"The 2lb and 3lb projectors we're demonstrating here today are only part of the story," said Dennis Fritsche, Manager for Business Products at TI's DLP(TM) Products division. "Our goal is to increase usability and to reduce the overall weight of the complete projection solution - not just the projector - and this TI wireless, DSP-based ProjectConnect(TM) component set is a further step in that direction. The road warrior will be grateful to shave off unnecessary weight with the elimination of the VGA cable when using a laptop as the source to a projector. To reduce travel weight even further, road warriors will have the option to eliminate the need for the laptop entirely via wireless presentation to the projector from a PDA."
"Moreover, seamless wireless connectivity enhances the lives of internal presenters as well," continued Fritsche. "Now, there is no need to have to power down laptops, transport them to conference rooms, and power them back up: instead, the internal presenter can `hot sync' the presentation to the PDA, bring the PDA to the conference room and start presenting - it really is that simple. Perhaps of equal importance is the new use model this technology enables. Wouldn't it be great to use your preferred mobile data source - a phone, for example - to access your data and display it on a really small projector you had tucked away in your computer bag? Well, we are not too far away from that with this technology."
The prototype demonstration also underlines a substantial difference between the Texas Instruments wireless ProjectConnect(TM) component set and wireless product offerings that have recently become available. Where alternative wireless connections require the user to make compromises, the wireless Project Connect(TM) component set allows the laptop use model to be preserved. In addition, solutions using this component set do not require the installation of software application programs common to both the projector and laptop: anything viewed on the laptop is seen projected on the screen. The implication of this is that no software installation or version maintenance is required on the projector, and the projector does not need special storage media to hold the presentation.
Presenters just click on the wireless connectivity icon on the laptop desktop and then use the laptop as if a cable connection is in place. This solution allows a presenter to develop, edit and manipulate presentations and other files in real time: to the presenter, it is not apparent that a cable connection is not present. Wireless connectivity with a PDA is achieved with similar ease. The wireless ProjectConnect(TM) component set also makes the setting up of a presentation easier, saving valuable time.
"Our strategy over time," concluded Fritsche, "is to embed increasing functionality into DLP technology: in the future, we envision that our wireless ProjectConnect component set will become an example of that. Integrating valued features into the DLP component set will continue to enhance the performance of projectors, while driving down their size, weight and cost."
The Texas Instruments wireless ProjectConnect(TM) component set is fully compliant with the 802.11b standard (currently, the prevalent wireless standard in the marketplace). Moreover, the wireless ProjectConnect(TM) component set is designed to allow the incorporation of additional semiconductors to support other major wireless standards such as Bluetooth and 802.11a as they mature in the marketplace. Texas Instruments offers differentiated semiconductors with superior performance characteristics in the 802.11b, 802.11a, and Bluetooth spaces. Another key component of the ProjectConnect(TM) wireless component set - which is designed for maximum speed and low cost - is based on the Texas Instruments C6X, the world's most powerful family of Digital Signal Processors (DSPs). Shipments of wireless ProjectConnect(TM) component sets are expected in the first quarter of 2002.
This is only the latest in a series of announcements TI has made in recent weeks of developments in DLP(TM) technology designed to enable the projector of the future to be lower in weight and smaller in size while delivering higher brightness, higher contrast and improved image quality. Earlier announcements have included:
- New versions of the DMD delivering higher brightness
- DAD1000 & DDP1000 ASICs for lower weight, lower cost, improved image
- A new DMD manufacturing process which delivers improved contrast
- SCR technology for improved brightness and color saturation
- The DLP(TM) Widescreen Component Set for improved home theater performance
- The DLP Composer(TM) software tool for reduced time to market
Today, TI supplies DLP(TM) subsystems to more than thirty of the world's top projector manufacturers, who then design, manufacture and market projectors based on DLP(TM) technology. There are now over fifty products based on DLP(TM) technology in the market. Since early 1996, over 750,000 DLP(TM) subsystems have been shipped. Over the past four years, DLP(TM) technology-based projectors have consistently won some of the audio-visual industry's most prestigious awards, including, in June 1998, an Emmy Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
At the heart of TI's Digital Light Processing(TM) technology is the Digital Micromirror Device(TM) optical semiconductor chip. The DMD switch has an array of up to 1,310,000 hinged, microscopic mirrors which operate as optical switches to create a high resolution, full color image.
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