Image Light Amplifier (ILA) technology for large-screen projection

The paper-describes the configuration and performance of Image Light Amplifier (ILA(R)) projectors. The ILA projector combines the advantages of a CRT-type projector with the high brightness capability of a xenon are lamp projection light source; The projector has no defined pixel structure such as that found on liquid crystal display (LCD) and digital mir-l-or device (DMD) projectors. Thus, dynamic video images with continuous edges and a highly realistic image quality are projected. The ILA projector will directly accept all standard video and computer formats from PAL/NTSC at 15.625/15.750 kHz horizontal scan frequencies to work station formats at 90 kHz. The enabling technology of the projector is the Hughes-JVC ILA modulator which accepts a low-intensity image from a cathode ray tube (CRT) and replicates the image on a high-intensity white xenon air light beam. The ILA uses solid-state thin film and liquid crystal technology to create a compact, rugged, image light modulator, The ILA projector incorporates three ILA modulators for the RGB channels. Projectors with up to 12,000 lumens output, a contrast ratio of 1000:1, and a resolution of 2800 x 1500 TV lines are available. Two series of models, with one or thr ee projection lenses, are available. Besides single-projector-applications, such as electronic cinema, ILA projectors also are used in installations requiring high levels of raster shaping and the one and two-dimensional seamless blending of multiple projector images.