|
P R E S S R E L E A S E
Electrohome Ships 1000th 3-Chip Digital Light Processing™ (DLP™) Projector, Solidifying Lead in High Brightness Market
Company shines as first to embrace Texas Instruments' innovative technology
KITCHENER, Ontario, Canada - April 15, 1999 - Electrohome
Projection Systems, a leading manufacturer of high-performance projection solutions, today
announced the shipment of its 1000TH projector based on 3-Chip Digital Light
Processing (DLP) technology, securing the company's leadership in the high
brightness, large venue projection market.
"As Electrohome was one of the first vendors to
embrace DLP technology, we are extremely pleased that the company has been able to
establish itself so quickly within the high-brightness, large venue projection
market," says Sherel Horsley, Senior Vice President and Manager of Marketing for
Texas Instruments Digital Imaging division. "With more companies advocating the
superiority of DLP technology for their rental/staging, electronic cinema and other fixed
installation applications, we are delighted that companies like Electrohome have been able
to realize the technology's value so soon after its creation."
What makes Texas Instruments' 3-Chip DLP technology so
innovative, is its light modulator semiconductor chip, that has an array of 508,800 (SVGA)
or 786,432 (XGA) hinged, microscopic mirrors mounted on a standard logic device. These
tiny mirrors, known as Digital Micromirror Devices (DMDs), operate as optical
switches to create stunning high-resolution, full colour, digital images.
Electrohome is known within the industry for its visionary
thinking, and announced its adoption of DLP technology for 3-chip digital projectors with
the launch of its Vista line of projectors at INFOCOMM '96. Since that time, Electrohome
has launched eight projectors in the Vista family including its VistaGRAPHX 7000 Roadie.
The Roadie, in less than one year, has redefined the standard for high performance
Rental/Staging projectors and judging by the number of units sold, is now the world's
favourite Rental/Staging projector. With the shipment of its 1000th unit, Electrohome
claims it represents approximately 30% of the market share of this segment.
"It's a great testament to Electrohome, as well as
Texas Instruments, that this technology has been embraced so quickly," says Alan
Caskey, Vice President, Sales, Electrohome Ltd. "As the digital projection market
continues to expand, we are confident that our leadership position will be strengthened as
more and more companies use DLP technology in product planning and development."
Electrohome and Texas Instruments announced an official
technology alliance in June 1995. Since that time, Electrohome has adopted 3-chip DLP
technology to develop products of high performance to meet the needs of professional,
high-end, large audience projection displays. Electrohome was a believer in the technology
from its inception, seeing its potential to become the leading tool used in
high-brightness projection systems. Electrohome was also the first company to announce
production plans for 3-chip DLP professional projection systems.
At INFOCOMM 1996, Electrohome launched the world's first
professional market SVGA projection system: the VistaPro. Launched in the fall of
1997, the VistaPro 2000 SVGA model featured 2000 ANSI lumens. At NAB98, an entirely new
light engine was introduced as the VistaGRAPHX 2500. This model compressed the XGA panel
with 786,432 DMDs into an area the size of a thumbnail, making it the world's only XGA,
3-chip DLP projector operating at 110-volt power.
The VistaGRAPHX Roadie was then introduced at INFOCOMM 1998
as the world's first purpose-built projector for the Rental/Staging market. In keeping
with the company's quality-driven mission to create the world's best high performance
projection solutions, Electrohome will continue to adopt Texas Instruments' optical light
engines and create solutions for a digital-ready world.
Today, Texas Instruments supplies DLP subsystems to more
than 25 of the world's top projector manufacturers, who then design, manufacture and
market DLP-based projectors. Over the past three years, DLP-based projectors have
consistently won some of the audio-visual industry's most prestigious awards, including an
Emmy Award from the American Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. There are now in
excess of 50 DLP-based products on the market ranging from portable desktop models to
high-performance Rental/Staging models.
About Electrohome
Established in 1979 and headquartered in Kitchener,
Ontario, Canada, Electrohome Projection Systems represents the Visual Communications
Division of Electrohome Limited. Founded in 1907, Electrohome Limited supplies the best
high-performance projection solutions in visual communications to customers around the
world, specialising in large-screen video/data/graphic projection systems. Electrohome's
VistaGRAPHX line is part of the company's Captivating Business Unit and has set the new
standard for images in the high-end professional digital projection market. Electrohome
remains a leader in the development of high-quality, reliable, customer-driven products.
VistaPro and VistaGRAPHX are registered trademarks of
Electrohome Limited.
Digital Light Processing, DLP, Digital
Micromirror Device and DMD are trademarks of Texas Instruments.
###
|