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SXRD 4K Projection: The Inside Story
Introduction
When the history of digital projection is written, October 2005 will stand out as a milestone. After numerous demonstrations, impassioned industry discussions and mounting anticipation, it was in October 2005 that the Sony SRX-R105 and SRX-R110 became the world's first commercially available 4K projectors, with deliveries to Landmark Theaters, the National Geographic Society and Sony Pictures Entertainment. As with any such dramatic departure, the launch of these projectors raises many questions. · Why has Sony entered the high-end digital projection market? Why has such a large company, so well known in other categories, decided to pursue such a niche? What is the significance of 4K (4096 x 2160) resolution? What source devices support 4K? What signal transport delivers 4K? What applications does 4K serve? What is the technology behind the projectors' new microdisplay device: Sony's Silicon X-tal Reflective Display (SXRDTM) panel? How does it perform not simply in terms of resolution, but also the vital parameters of contrast, brightness, response time, aperture ratio and long-term stability? How do the Sony SRX-R110 and SRX-R105 projectors work? How are they connected and controlled? To begin to answer these questions, Sony has prepared this document.
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Table of Contents
Introduction ...........................................................................................................2 Table of Contents..................................................................................................3 Sony and Digital Projection...................................................................................4 4K Resolution .......................................................................................................6 4K Digital Cinema ...............................................................................................10 The SXRD Microdisplay......................................................................................14 The Projectors ....................................................................................................30 A Final Word .......................................................................................................35 Specifications......................................................................................................36
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Sony and Digital Projection
To casual observers, Sony's involvement in Large Venue and Digital Cinema projection may come as a surprise. But industry insiders understand Sony's deep involvement in the technology of digital entertainment almost every step of the way, from acquisition and production to postproduction and projection. In addition, modern microdisplay technologies are shared between large-venue and home theater digital projectors. As a company that also makes consumer products, Sony has a multi-million dollar incentive to excel in microdisplays. · Sony and projection. We announced our first video projection system when Richard Nixon was in the White House and the original Godfather was in first-run theaters. The year was 1972. We were also the first company to deliver a consumer video projector in the United States. Since that time, we've been a leader in projection systems for commercial airliners, lecture halls, casino sports book, command & control rooms, conference rooms and living rooms. We launched our first "universal" PAL/NTSC/RGB projector, the VPH-1020Q in 1982. In 1989, our HDIH2000 high definition projector found such high profile applications as the "World of Coke" exhibit in Atlanta. And we continued to develop and refine professional CRT projectors up to the much loved VPH-G90U (1999). Today's SRX-R105 and SRX-R110 represent the latest generation in Sony projection technology.
Our first projection systems (left) and our legendary 9-inch CRT projector, the VPH-G90U (right).
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Sony and display picture quality. Sony monitors are used for critical picture evaluation. Our BVM Series Trinitron® monitors are front and center when digital program content is scrutinized for exposure, focus, color, contrast and detail.
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Familiar fixtures on movie sets are the Sony HDC-F950 CineAltaTM camera and BVM-F24U monitor.
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Sony digital production equipment. We build the CineAltaTM digital cinema equipment used to shoot for more high-profile movies than all other digital systems combined. We're also a leader in high definition broadcast cameras, recorders and switchers. Sony Pictures Entertainment. Not only is Sony actively involved in digital production of movies and television shows, but Sony Pictures Imageworks is also an innovator in photorealistic digital effects. And Sony Pictures Studios offer world renowned production and postproduction facilities.
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As you can see, Sony's involvement in digital production is comprehensive. Our commitment to display picture quality is legendary. And our passion for projection is measured not in months or years, but in decades.
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4K Resolution
The Sony SRX-R110 and SRX-R105 are the world's first commercially available 4K projectors. That raises some obvious questions. What is 4K? What signal sources support it? For what applications is 4K suited? And how do you get a 4K signal into the projectors? In digital projection, 4K refers to a resolution of 4096 pixels horizontal x 2160 pixels vertical. This is slightly more than four times the pixels of the highest high definition TV specification (1920 x 1080). Think of 4K as delivering four times the pixels per square inch. For example, if you held a credit card up to a screen 27 feet wide, the card would be covered by over 1,000 pixels. And each pixel would be the size of the letter "E" in the word LIBERTY on a US quarter.
Greater immersion
Just as high definition is more involving than standard definition, 4K is far more immersive than HD. 4K projection enables you to sit close to the screen and still retain the illusion of a seamless, continuous picture. As you sit closer, you become more immersed in the visual experience.
4K Projection
4096 x 2160 8,847,360 pixels
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