Recent years have seen stiff competition among TV display producers for superiority, with plasma and liquid crystal displays (LCD) being the main players. Plasma televisions have gained in the number of sets sold and either is an excellent choice for the average family.

As new technologies continue to be developed, we are seeing a shift from plasma and LCD to a new technology called DLP or digital light processing. Digital light processing creates LCD-like images when viewed side by side, but they use different ways of creating images. DLP uses technology that employs optical semiconductors to digitally manipulate light. The display chip offers the best images in any type of product: large screen digital televisions or projectors for homes, businesses, professionals or digital cinema. Used around the world, DLP technology is used in more than 10 million systems by more than 75 manufacturers.

DLP creates visual excellence with its ability to drive small projectors or illuminate large movie screens up to 75 feet. Image clarity is excellent, with a brightness and depth that must be seen to be appreciated. The DLP chip is a digital micromirror device that uses an array of up to 2 million hinge-mounted microscopic mirrors, each measuring less than one-fifth the width of a human hair. When connected to a light source and projection lens, the mirrors reflect a fully digital image onto a screen or other device by tilting toward the light source. When the source is turned off, the mirrors tilt creating dark pixels.

Speed ​​is key in DLP technology. A bitstream image code directs each mirror to turn on and off several thousand times per second reflecting pixels in up to 1024 shades of gray to convert the signals into detailed gray images. White light passes through a 3-color wheel (red, green, and blue), giving it the ability to produce up to 16.7 million colors. Home television systems use single-chip configurations, while movie projectors use three-chip configurations. It is interesting and surprising to learn that a three-chip DLP cinema projector can produce more than 35 billion colors using a prism. These color tones are produced from three basic colors combined with the on and off states (flashes) of each micromirror. A DLP display has a higher refresh rate and allows action-packed movies and sporting events to look smoother. Sports enthusiasts appreciate the intricate details of images viewed on a DLP display.

Competition and demand work together to drive prices down, and there is very little difference between the price of DLP and LCD. To make a wise choice between the two, it would be nice to see them side by side at your local electronics retailer. Then make a purchase decision based on your comparison and needs.