The large area display technology world laughed in 1994 when DLP was presented as the an alternative to CRT and LCD projection; even film projection for Hollywood. From rear projection television to business projectors to cinema projection solutions, step by step DLP captured market share starting in 1995. Today, 20 years later, there are more than 150K DLP “cinema” systems deployed. The developments of that DMD SLM and specialized processing and signal configurations of that non-persistent reflective RGB display was a significant challenge. The core barriers were overcome. DLP delivered. Today the rapid improvement of direct view LED display color rendering, image quality, precise bit depth, reliability, HDR, contrast ratio, cost, brightness and microelectronics packaging suggests a real future possibility of LED replacing DLP projection systems in particular applications. A review of the current advantages and challenges in work will lay out a path toward LED becoming a real threat to DLP.
Gary Feather, Chief Technology Officer, NanoLumens
After 10 years at Texas Instruments in defense systems, including working in the Pentagon, Mr. Feather joined TI Corporate Research. Leveraging SLM inventions from others, he became one of the original members of the TI DMD/DLP team. Feather focused on all products applications in display for DLP. Products were launched in 1995 leading to a multibillion dollar industry over the past 20 years. Mr. Feather later became VP for Sharp Corporation in display, medical and mobile communications products. His teams launched the world’s first internet connected LCD TV products and drove technology solutions for large area 2K and 4K display systems through 2012. Mr. Feather now serves as the CTO of NanoLumens, a leading visualization company in LED displays for large area commercial industrial solutions. LED market solutions are being shipped in retail, gaming, sports, corporate and transportation. Mr. Feather is a graduate of Virginia Tech and holds 11 patents.
