Mitsubishi’s Laser DLP HDTV

by Sze | Filed under MultiMedia

Mitsubishi's Laser DLP HDTV

Mitsubishi has announced a new rear-projection DLP technology using three lasers, one each for red, green, and blue replacing the tried-and-true lamp-based microdisplay light engine.

Compared to current DLP HDTVs, the new technology is able to deliver deeper blacks. Current lamp-driven projection technologies require the lamp to be permanently switched on, which can cause a lighter shade of black onscreen. Since the lasers switch off entirely, they have the potential to create a pure black.

Mitsubishi also claims that the laser light source can produce better color, is more efficient, and has an essentially “permanent” life span, as opposed to the bulb, which needs to be replaced every 3,000 hours or so in standard DLPs. Current DLPs also use a color wheel that can introduce rainbows, artifacts that the three-color lasers would likely eliminate or greatly reduce.

The laser-powered sets aren’t expected to hit stores until late 2007, at which time plasma prices will have fallen even further.