™ SXRD 4K Projection Technology for Visualization, Simulation, Auditoriums and Postproduction
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-R110 and SRX-R105 became the world's first commercially available 4K projectors, with deliveries to Landmark Theaters, the National Geographic Society and Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Table of Contents Introduction ...........................................................................................................2 Table of Contents..................................................................................................3 Sony and Digital Projection...................................................................................4 4K Resolution .......................................................................................................6 The SXRD Microdisplay...
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.
Sony digital production equipment includes such landmarks as the F23 CineAlta camera and BVM-L230 master monitor. • Sony digital production equipment. We build the CineAlta™ digital cinema equipment used to shoot 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.
4K Resolution Sony launched 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 the metric system, "K" is short for kilo, the prefix for 1000. But in the binary system of computers, "K" equals 2 to the tenth power, or 1024. In the jargon of digital cinema, "4K" refers to an image that's 4 x 1024, or 4096 pixels wide.
More visual information If your business depends on rapid decision-making based on visual information, it pays to make that information as clear and accessible as technology will allow. That's why Command & Control and Visualization customers have "edge blended" multiple projectors into a single image. This incurred some sacrifice in real estate at the edges, as well as distracting shifts in brightness and color. 4K SXRD projection represents a major advance.
further still, with pixels that are roughly 1/4 the area of HD pixels at a given screen size. In this way, the gaps are rendered all but invisible with SXRD 4K projection. Here's an enlargement of a section of the screen where an HD projector shows four pixels (left). In this same area, a 4K projector shows 16 pixels (right). This makes the gaps between the pixels far less visible.
With Sony's HD-to-4K upscaling, the stairstep jaggies of HD images are visibly reduced in 4K projection. You don't get added resolution. (That can only come from the source.) But you do get a noticeably smoother picture. 4 HD images Thanks to the four input slots, Sony 4K SXRD projectors can also accept four HD inputs to display four simultaneous high definition images. Each image appears complete in its own quadrant of the common screen. And each retains full 1920 x 1080 resolution.
High Definition Image 2 High Definition Image 1 1920 H x 1080 V 1920 H x 1080 V The projectors can also display two side-by-side, full-resolution HD video feeds. Differentiation Until recently, Large Venues, Rental and Staging, Trade Shows and Museums could count on high definition projection to deliver a reliable "wow factor." Unfortunately, this impact is fast being eroded. A growing share of home HDTVs is now capable of displaying the full resolution of a 1080-line high definition picture.
projectors, this minimizes the loss of real estate at the edges and distracting shifts in brightness or color. This also eliminates the effort and cost of running and maintaining multiple projectors to cover the same field, as well as the cost of external processing. • Simulation. Unprecedented resolution and a visually seamless picture combine to deliver the most immersive display available from a fixed-pixel projector.
The SXRD Microdisplay In the United States, literally hundreds of fixed-pixel projector models are available from dozens of companies. These projectors serve every conceivable market from home television rear projection to custom installation front projectors, portable business projectors, fixed installation projectors, large venue projectors and digital cinema projectors. But behind the apparent diversity, almost every one of these projectors depends on just three types of microdisplays.
• Long Operating Life. Sony required materials and operating structures that could withstand thousands of hours in the high heat of a large-venue projector without performance degradation. • Minimum Artifacts. Some projection systems tend to introduce artifacts not present in the original picture. Sony sought to reduce artifacts. • Practical Manufacturing Process. Despite their performance advantages, LCoS panels continue to frustrate companies that would mass produce them.
Filtered Light Input Pre-Polarizer H-LCD Liquid Crystal Layer Post-Polarizer Valved Light Output Light passes through a high temperature polysilicon LCD (H-LCD) panel, which features pre- and post-polarizing filters.
crystal where it is aligned as the image requires and reflected back out. If the SXRD pixel has rotated the light, it then is not aligned with the post-PBS polarization and is allowed to pass. If the incoming light has not been rotated, then it is blocked by the post-PBS and reflected back into the source light path. 4th Aluminum Process 3rd Aluminum Process 2nd Aluminum Process 1st Aluminum Process Polysilicon Process Silicon Substrate Photomicrograph of the SXRD panel silicon backplane in cross section.
Sony produces the SXRD panel's silicon backplane at our Kokubu Technology Center. The backplane uses a 0.35 micron process and an innovative drive circuit. A special planarization technique yields an extremely flat silicon backplane—important for cell gap uniformity. The panels themselves are assembled at Sony's Kumamoto Technology Center. There, Sony affixes the Index Matching Indium-Tin-Oxide (IMITO) glass to the backplane before we cut the wafer into individual panels.
The BRAVIA VPL-VW50 projector takes advantage of Sony's thirdgeneration SXRD panels. At the time of its launch, the 0.61-inches diagonal third-generation SXRD panel was the world's smallest microdisplay to achieve full 1920 x 1080 resolution. This device is featured in Sony's BRAVIA® VPL-VW100 and VPLVW50 home theater projectors. With panel sizes from 0.61 to 1.55 inches and pixel counts from 2.0 to 8.8 megapixels, SXRD technology is also highly scalable.
High Pixel Density All other things being equal, smaller microdisplay panels are better than larger. Smaller panels not only mean lower manufacturing costs for the microdisplays themselves. They also mean smaller size and lower cost for the optical engine and for the projection lens that focuses the picture onto the screen. For this reason, the "pixel density" of a microdisplay is of enormous practical importance. Higher pixel density is the key to delivering high performance at reasonable prices.
are hidden in the silicon backplane behind the reflective surface. This arrangement enabled Sony to reduce inter-pixel gaps by 90%, compared to previous H-LCD panels. In the case of the 4K panel, the distance from the center of one SXRD pixel to the center of the next is 8.5 micrometers, while the inter-pixel gap is just 0.35 micrometers! According to Sony's review of currently available technology, this is the world's smallest inter-pixel spacing. 0.
2.0 μm 3.0 μm 4.0 μm A thinner Liquid Crystal layer (right) means fewer LC molecules to twist and more available power to twist each molecule. The result? Faster response. In practice, response time decreases dramatically as you reduce the LC layer thickness. So reducing the panel thickness by 50% means cutting the response time by more than 75%. @50°C Response rise, fall [msec] 12.5 10 7.5 5 SXRD 2.5 0 0 tr, tf < 2.5ms 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.
Initialized reflectivit 120% 100% rise fall 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 0 1 2 time [ms] 3 4 Measured response time of the SXRD panel is less than 2.5 milliseconds. Specified response is 2.5 milliseconds for the rise time (tr) and also 2.5 milliseconds for fall time (tf). This speed means incredibly clean motion rendering. High contrast, low dark level Contrast, an essential requirement of any display system, is measured as the ratio between the brightest possible bright and the blackest possible black.
at 50°C Dark level [%] 1.0 Contrast Ratio 75:1 0.1 SXRD Panel: Contrast Ratio 4000:1 0.01 Contrast Ratio 750:1 Contrast Ratio 7500:1 0.001 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 Cell thickness [μm] Dark level (left scale) and contrast ratio (right scale) vary dramatically as the Liquid Crystal layer thickness varies. This graphs shows contrast ratio of the SXRD panel alone, when measured with a conoscope. Spacer-less design.
Thanks to these features and additional refinements to the SXRD panel structure, contrast is substantially improved over H-LCD designs. The contrast ratio of Sony's 4K SXRD panel alone is better than 4000:1, when measured with a conoscope, a tool for analyzing the optical properties of bifringent materials. Total contrast ratio of Sony 4K projectors, when viewed on a screen with unity gain is greater than 1800:1. That's comparable to other digital projection technologies.
Sony's design program for SXRD projection called for the closest possible fidelity to the original picture. For this reason, SXRD projection does not resort to color wheels, optical actuators, special dithering or sub-pixel processing. Color Wheels. These are a throwback to the mechanical color television proposals of the 1950s. Color is separated by a rotating color wheel that is timed to coincide with a subframe for each color segment on the wheel, such as Red, Green and Blue.
design, you get stable, consistent color under all viewing conditions, in addition to high optical efficiency. In addition, the Sony 4K projectors mount the SXRD panels into optical engines that provide almost precisely equal length for the Red, Green and Blue beams. This feature also helps provide consistent, natural color.
Optical Actuators. Most microdisplay projectors offer a one-to-one relationship between the pixels on the microdisplay and the pixels on the screen. But in a move oddly reminiscent of interlace scanning, recent projection systems divide each display frame into two "subframes." A pivoting mirror outside the display panel called an optical actuator toggles the screen image back and forth. The system shows the pixels of the first subframe, then toggles to show the pixels of the second.
Thanks in part to the pitch of the SXRD pixels, Sony projectors do not use an optical actuator. Each pixel has its own, unique space on the screen, not shared with any other pixel. And the SXRD system displays all the pixels, all the time. Spatial Dithering. Some projection systems use electronic processing to conceal resolution limitations and deliver a subjectively pleasing picture on typical moving images.
The Projectors Sony now offers four SXRD 4K projectors designed for Visualization, Simulation, Auditoriums and Postproduction, the 100 Series. The four projectors are differentiated by light output, input configuration, how they accept 4K signals and maximum refresh rate.
Lamp House Lamp Power Supplies Lamp House Optical Block Power Input Signal processing Input Cards Lens This view of the projector internal layout shows the two, symmetrical lamphouses. Xenon lamp Microdisplay projection lamps are not simply responsible for screen brightness, but also for color gamut. Sony chose a Xenon lamp both because Xenon is recommended in the Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) specification and because it delivers a flat and wide spectral response.
1. XYZ Color Space P3/DCDM 709 DCI W/P 6500K 1. XY The P3/DCDM color gamut is substantially broader than the ITU 709 gamut for video. Sony projectors support both ITU 709 and P3 color spaces. The projectors differ in power supply, lamps and projected brightness. The SRX-S105 and R105 each incorporate two 1 kilowatt Xenon lamps for a maximum output of 5,000 lumens, with both lamps operating at 100%. This is appropriate for screens up to 25 feet (7.6 meters) wide.
Circuitry To accommodate the full range of SD, HD, computer and Digital Cinema inputs, the projectors have four input slots that accept optional input boards. Optional Input Board LKRI-001 LKRI-002 LKRI 003 LKRI-004 Description Analog Input Board HD-SDI, SD-SDI (4:2:2) Input Board Dual-Link HD-SDI (4:4:4), SingleLink HD-SDI (4:2:2) Input Board DVI Interface Input Board Internal signal transport is accomplished by Low Voltage Differential Signal (LVDS).
PC-based control The projectors are designed to be operated by a PC running the Microsoft Windows® XP Professional operating system. You can attach the PC directly via RS-232C interface, or use a single PC to manage a fleet of projectors via Ethernet. The control system tracks lamp life and service intervals and can alert you to error conditions via automated emails. A conventional handheld infrared remote control is also supplied for basic on/off and input switching functions.
A Final Word While our story has been long and detailed, our conclusions are short and simple. • Sony is in projection for the long haul. We've been doing this for 35 years. And our SXRD 4K projectors are already used in high-profile applications in the commercial, educational, content creation and digital cinema sectors. • With the SXRD panel, Sony is a leader in projection technology. Our Silicon X-tal Reflective Display (SXRD) panel is not simply a development for the 4K projectors.
Specifications SXRD DEVICE Display device SXRD (Silicon X-tal Reflective Display) panel Size 1.55 inches, diagonal Resolution 4096 (H) X 2160 (V) Pixels Reflectivity 72% Contrast (device only) More than 4000:1 Pixel pitch 8.5 μm Spacing between pixels 0.35 μm Response speed 5.0 msec (2.5 msec tr + 2.5 msec tf) Liquid crystal mode Vertical Aligned Mode Alignment layer Inorganic Thin Film Backplane process 0.
SRX-R110, SRX-R105: Video: SD Component (Y,Cb,Cr) HD (RGB; Y/Pb/Pr) Computer: XGA, SXGA, UXGA Power requirements SRX-S110, SRX-R110: AC 200 to 240 V, 50/60 Hz, 30 A SRX-S105, SRX-R105: AC 100 to 240 V, 50/60 Hz, 30 A Operating temperature 5° C to 35° C (41° F to 90° F) Storage temperature -20° C to 60° C (-4° F to 140° F) Operating humidity 35% to 85% (without condensation) Storage humidity 10% to 90% Dimensions (W x H x D) Approx.
Pb: ±0.35 Vp-p ±2dB, positive, 75Ω Pr: ±0.35 Vp-p ±2dB, positive, 75Ω OPTIONAL LKRI-002 HD-SDI, SD-SDI (4:2:2) INPUT BOARD Inputs BNC x 2 (Input x1, Loop-through out x1) HD-SDI SMPTE-292M / ITU-R-BT.709 / BTA-S004 SD-SDI SMPTE-259M / ITU-R.
LKRX-110: 2kW Xenon lamp bulb for replacement (for SRX-S110, SRX-R110) LKRX-B110: 2kW Xenon lamp house unit for replacement (for SRX-S110, SRX-R110) LKRX-105: 1kW Xenon lamp bulb for replacement (for SRX-S105, SRX-R105) LKRX-B105: 1kW Xenon lamp house unit for replacement (for SRX-S105, SRX-R105) LKRA-001: 8-inch Exhaust Duct Adaptor PRSSRXRS: Rigging & Stacking Cage PRSSRXTS1: Projector Stand Required specifications for control PC OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition (English and Japanese only) w
COMPATIBLE FORMATS AND STANDARDS Signal format Pixel count 525 Line 625 Line XGA XGA XGA XGA SXGA SXGA SXGA SXGA SXGA SXGA+ UXGA WUXGA WUXGA 720P 720P 1080i 1080i 1080i 1080i 1080i 1080i 1080P 1080P 1080P 1080P 1080P 1080P 1080P 1080P 1080P 1080P 1080P 1080P 1080P DC 1080P DC 1080P DC 1080P DC 1080P DC 1080P DC 1080P DC 1080P DC 1080P DC 1080P DC 1080P 720 x 480 @60i 720 x 567 @50i 1024 x 768 @60P 1024 x 768 @70P 1024 x 768 @75P 1024 x 768 @85P 1280 x 960 @60P 1280 x 960 @75P 1280 x 1024 @60P 1280 x 1024
Sony Electronics Inc. Broadcast and Production Systems Division 1 Sony Drive Park Ridge, NJ 07656 www.sony.com/sxrd DI-0099A Second Edition, Version 3.11; January 2, 2008 © 2007 Sony Electronics Inc. All rights reserved. Features and specifications are subject to change without notice. Nonmetric weights and measures are approximate. Sony, BRAVIA, CineAlta, Qualia and SXRD are trademarks of Sony. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
