How LCD Projectors Work

LCD projectors employ a three-panel LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) system, referred to as 3LCD. LCD projectors crisply reproduce bright, naturally colored images that are easy on the eyes. LCD projectors are also capable of detailed shadow reproduction that is ideal for demanding business and home theater applications.

The white light from the projector lamp is split into red, green, and blue components using two dichroic mirrors, special mirrors that only transmit light of a specified wavelength. Each red, green and blue beam then passes through a dedicated LCD panel made up of thousands of miniscule pixels. An electrical current turns the panel's pixels on or off to create the grayscale equivalent of that color channel. The three colors are then recombined in a prism and projected through the projector lens and onto the screen.

By using a combination of three LCDs to produce a final image, LCD projectors are capable of billions of colors and smooth grayscale gradations. The resolution of the image is determined by the number of pixels in the LCD panels used. Currently LCD panels offer resolutions as high as true HD (1920 x 1080) for home theater applications. New panels promise resolutions as high as 4K (3840×2160).

LCDs are not just found in projectors. They are found in many of the electronics you use everyday, from a cell phone to an MP3 player to your digital alarm clock. LCDs are very common because they offer distinct advantages: they are thinner, lighter, and draw less power than many competing display technologies.

A reliable, sophisticated technology with universal appeal, 3LCD is the world's most popular projection technology, delivering high quality images for the most demanding business and consumer audiences.

Source: 3LCD.com, September 2007