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9 January 2009

 

Luminus launches PhlatLight LED PT-121 chipset

At this week’s CES ’09 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Luminus Devices Inc of Billerica, MA, USA launched the PhlatLight LED PT-121 chipset, which is designed to deliver high brightness levels, enhanced color, and long-term performance and reliability for next-generation, lamp-free data projectors.

The PT-121 is enhanced when used in conjunction with Texas Instruments’ digital light processing (DLP) technology. Each chipset consists of a red, green and blue LED, and is best suited to data projectors that use micro-displays ranging from 0.65-1”. Like other PhlatLight LEDs, the PT-121 offers instant start up without the warm-up and cool-down periods required by existing conventional mercury lamp technologies. The PT-121 also includes a wide color gamut that exceeds NTSC standards and surpasses 60,000 hours of lifetime, eliminating the need to replace the projector light source.

“Texas Instruments and Luminus have a long-standing collaborative relationship that fosters innovation,” says Lars Yoder, Texas Instruments’ vice president for DLP Front Projection Products. “The integration of our individual expertise in DLP chip technology and PhlatLight LEDs results in expanding the global market with unmatched levels of picture quality and product reliability of DLP projectors,” he claims.

“The PT-121 is built for next-generation, lamp-free data projectors providing a high-brightness, mercury-free technology, not available in traditional lamp technologies,” says Luminus’ president & CEO Udi Meirav.

When combined, the red, green and blue chips produce more than 2000 lumens of white light at a color temperature of 8000K in time sequential pulsed mode. There is also 100% uniform surface emission for high collection efficiency and low optical losses. In addition, the monolithic emission area per color allows single-lens collection and simplified optics, the firm adds.

PhlatLight LEDs power Acer pocket projector and Chi Lin and Delta HD home theater projectors

Luminus also announced that ODM/OEM manufacturer Chi Lin Technology (a subsidiary of Taiwan’s Chi-Mei Group) is bringing to market a new home theater projector that combines its PhlatLight LED PT-120 chipset and Texas Instruments’ DLP technology to offer an expanded color gamut, high color and brightness stability, and what is claimed to be best-in-class reliability. Designed specifically for home theater projectors, the PT-120 chipset light source is expected to never need replacement.

Luminus also announced that its PT-120 chipset is the solid-state light source inside Delta Electronics Inc’s HT-8000 - the industry’s first full high-definition (HD) LED-based DLP projector for the consumer market (available in Q1/2009), which combines PhlatLight LEDs, Delta’s optical engine technology, and Texas Instruments’ DLP capability.

“This new brightness breakthrough allows us to create lamp-free projectors delivering dramatically improved picture quality and superior reliability,” claims Jeff Fu, director for Projection Display at Delta’s Display Solutions business unit. “With this product, we believe the era of the HD LED home theater projector has arrived. PhlatLight LEDs will continue to be a key component of our DLP product line.”

Luminus also says that it has achieved brightness levels with its PhlatLight LED PT-39 chipset to power the Acer Inc’s new K10 lightweight pocket projector. PhlatLight LEDs offer high levels of brightness and performance not available today in pocket projectors using traditional lamp technologies.

The PT-39 chipset is designed specifically for projection systems that use micro-displays ranging from 0.4” to 0.55” with individual red, green and blue LEDs and work in conjunction with Texas Instruments’ digital light processing technology. The combined technologies enable PhlatLight LEDs to work more efficiently in the Acer K10, suiting a mobile projector.

The K10 is Acer’s first projector to use PhlatLight LED technology, and emits a high brightness of up to 100 ANSI lumens, says Victor Chien, director of Acer’s Digital Display business unit. “As part of Acer’s continued drive to offer greener and more environmentally friendly products, LED lamp technology is free from hazardous substances such as mercury or halogen gases and consumes less power than traditional lamps,” he adds.

Luminus is displaying the Acer K10 at CES, as well as the new Delta Electronics HT-8000 and Chi Lin home theater projectors.

See related items:

Luminus’ LEDs used by Samsung and LG in ultra-compact projectors

Luminus Devices awarded 21st US patent

Luminus launching PhlatLight LEDs for lighting applications

Search: Luminus PhlatLight LEDs LED-based projectors

Visit: www.luminus.com

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