Specialty and Architectural Lighting — Projection

While projector lamp modules may fit only one or a limited number of projectors, the bulb inside of the cage may fit dozens or hundreds of projectors from a wide range of manufacturers. This makes bare projector bulbs a popular and versatile product. While it's far easier to replace the entire projector lamp module, bare bulbs are often significantly less expensive. The challenge with buying projector lamps - in housing or bare bulbs - is how...

Extending lamp life by smart operator use of features provided in the projector settings, can reduce the frequency of buying replacement lamps  - saving on both the purchase price of the new lamp and the staff time and hassle factor of replacement. The major lamp manufacturers - Philips, Osram, Ushio, Panasonic, Iwasaki, Phoenix - have improved the lamp technology such that new lamps can now deliver 4000 hours or more even when operated at full power 100% of the time....

Projector replacement lamp marketing is a circus of confusion for the customer. Sellers of projector lamps stretch the limits of language to present their lamps in the best possible light. "Genuine original lamp" "High quality lamp" "Compatible replacement lamp" "Original lamp inside" "OEM compatible" "High quality bulb inside" "Made from original parts" "OEM lamp" "OEM lamp module" "Factory original module" Each of these phrases may accurately describe what the customer is buying. The problem for...

Ultra-high-performance projection lamps are more than just another component in today's LCD / DLP digital projector universe. These high pressure lamps, the original invented by Philips in 1994, are the critical factor in the quality of image projected for the viewer. Whether it's video or data, without a quality lamp, images intended to teach, sell or motivate will fall short - no matter how many bells and whistles come with the projector. Projector manufacturers work...

The language being used to describe the replacement light source for digital projectors is a case study in sales talk often meant to confuse rather than clarify. Here is an example from the web site of a reseller: “We carry 4 versions of the Optoma EW531 Lamp. There are 3 OEM versions: the OEM lamp directly from the bulb manufacturer of the original lamp included with this projector, the same OEM lamp sold by Optoma,...

A footlambert (or foot-lambert) is a unit of luminance. It is used primarily in the projection industry to provide a value for luminance of images on a projection screen. 1 footlambert (fL) is equal to 3.43 candela per square meter (cd/m2). When the footlambert value is known for a projection system (the projector and a screen), assumptions can be made about the clarity of images when viewed with varying ambient light levels in a room....

With an increase in the number of laser projectors on the market, everyone from industry professionals to armchair bloggers seem to be weighing in on the pros and cons of laser versus lamp digital projection. With 2019 here, it seems like a good time to compare the specs, review the arguments, and attempt to provide a basic decision guide for anyone buying a projector for commercial or institutional applications. Compare The Specs Light Source Rated...

When buying a projector - whether for a classroom, conference room or sports bar - “brightness” will certainly be one of the specifications at the top of the list to consider. However, it's not only the projector that determines the perception of brightness for the viewer. While the lumen output of the projector is a key variable, the reflective properties of the screen have a significant bearing on how “bright” the images appear. In addition,...

Brightness sits at the top of the list when thinking about the quality of a projected image whether for conference rooms, classrooms, houses of worship or home theater applications. What are the factors that affect the brightness of a projected image? Projector Brightness When buying a digital projector one of the key metrics found on manufacturer specification sheets is brightness. Measured in lumens, this quantifies the light output of the projector. More lumens, more brightness...

The UHP lamp (ultra high pressure lamp, usually mercury arc) refers to projector lamps with an internal pressure of over 3000 lbs per square inch. The acronym also stands for ultra high performance. Originally developed by Philips in 1995, it is a common light source for digital data front projection, video front projectors and rear projection televisions because it has very high light output available for the small environments of micro display projectors. The main...

The interactive projector market is forecast to reach over 2.5 billion dollars in North America by 2022. – averaging over 20% annual growth from 2018. Interactive projectors allow users to interact with the projected image with special pens, a finger or other pointing devices. While interactive projectors are used in both conference rooms and education, the projected growth is being driven by the significant advantages of interactive technology in the education sector. Interactive projectors can...

For several years we’ve heard the drum beat of the impending take-over of the traditional metal halide LCD / DLP projector lamp by either LED or laser based projection systems. At this point in time (early 2016) the verdict remains on the side of traditional metal halide replacement lamps. Using the projector database tool on Projector Central, we get the following number of projectors currently availabe by light source: Metal Halide: 5643 (1400 currently available)...

Digital projector specifications always include values for brightness and contrast. While there are many factors that determine the best projector for an application, knowing the brightness and contrast may quickly qualify the projector, or not, for it’s intended use. Brightness is projector light output measured in lumens - the higher the lumens, the brighter the projector. Generally, projector prices go up as lumen output increases. Contrast is presented as a ratio between the brightest and...

With a glut of non-original lamp modules in the projector replacement lamp market, buyers of these lamps should be aware of potential diminished projector performance issues that may result. According to Philips Lighting, manufacturer of UHP projector lamps, “lamps that are originally installed in a projector are based on co-development activities between the lamp/driver manufacturer and the projector manufacturer”. This co-development helps ensure optimal lamp ignition and brightness performance as well as precisely designed cooling...