Yamaha Digital Cinema Projector Projector User Manual


 
Superior 900:1
Contrast Ratio
The DPX-1 has an exceptionally high
contrast ratio of 900:1. This is the key to
achieving the fine gradations from white to
black that make Natural Black so effective.
DLP™ Optical System Provides
Numerous Quality Benefits
Digital Light Processing™ technology, developed by Texas
Instruments, has a number of advantages that caused
Yamaha to choose it as the basis for this projector. Its
single panel architecture allows the use of a small,
lightweight optical system, and the fact that it is a reflective
rather than transmissive technology provides greater
efficiency. In addition, the all-digital nature of the DLP™
system, as opposed to the analog nature of other systems,
means that color and motion are more accurately
controlled, resulting in superior image quality.
Extra-Large DMD™
Semiconductor
The key component of the DLP™ system is the Digital
Micromirror Device™ optical semiconductor chip. This
DMD™ switching unit has an array of 786,432 hinged,
microscopic mirrors which operate as optical switches to
create a high resolution, full color image. To maximize
DMD™ quality, Yamaha uses a large 0.9-inch
semiconductor that generates greater light output than the
smaller 0.7-inch chip used in other DLP™ projectors, so
less magnification is required and greater detail is
obtained.
Unique Tri-Color Wheel Optimizes
Movie Images
The DPX-1 is the first home theater projector to employ a
true tri-color wheel. Conventional color wheels contain a W,
or white (transparent), section to brighten them for
presentations via computer. The W section is not used in
movie mode, but its presence reduces movie contrast
because of the extra light transmission.
By eliminating the W section, the tri-color wheel
provides greater area for each of the three primary colors
(red-green-blue, or RGB) that create the images. This
results in much higher movie image contrast, which is 40%
better than that of conventional DLP™ projectors (and note
that other projectors’ contrast ratios often refer to computer
mode, not movie mode). In terms of color reproduction, the
tri-color wheel improves the depth and solidity of images in
colorful scenes which were previously difficult to capture,
and Texas Instruments’ latest RGB movie sequencing
further boosts color performance.
“Fine-tuning” the video signal to
achieve the highest possible
quality.
The DPX-1 ensures that movies are seen at maximum
quality by automatically choosing between a 3:2 Pull-
Down Cinema Progressive Circuit for film and an
ordinary progressive circuit for video.
A highly precise 13-Bit Digital Gamma Correction
Circuit is used to realize the full potential of the excellent
gradation-producing properties of the DMD™ element. The
system chooses from among five gamma correction curves
depending on the input format to ensure maximum image
quality.
In order to decrease video noise levels without affecting
sharpness, a Field-Adaptive Noise Reduction Circuit
detects the changes in brightness of the images, analyzes
the images to distinguish between outlines/edges and
surface areas, and provides the optimum filtering for each
area.
Three-Dimensional Noise
Reduction decreases the noise
component related to the frame
memory time axis, thus helping
to effectively minimize noise that
causes the reproduction of
coarse images.
The DPX-1 Optical System
DMD™
Projection Lens
Condensing Lens
Shaping Lens
Tri-Color Wheel
Light Source
Conventional Color
Wheel (RGBW)
DPX-1 Tri-Color
Wheel (RGB)
The 0.9-inch DMD™ chip has 786,432 mirrors (picture elements) that are
set at a 17 micron pitch. Each element is mechanically switched +/- 10° in
15 micro-seconds by the attractive force of static electricity. The device has
a service life of more than 100,000 hours.
Digital Video Signal Processing
Circuits
With other projectors, black contrast may be
soft and fuzzy rather than sharp and clear.
DPX-1: Deep blacks are
clearly defined, all dark
gradations are sharply and cleanly
rendered.
Conventional projectors: due
to “floating black” effect,
rendering of deep blacks is very
difficult.
Yamaha Natural Black makes subtle
degrees of black in textures, shadows and
so on stand out more clearly.
A B
A
B
Natural
Black
Makes a Dramatic
Difference
When you watch a movie, shadows should stand
out from the background, black levels should be
solid even in dark scenes, and blacks should
maintain their depth when the scene becomes
brighter. Which is exactly what happens with
Yamaha Natural Black. Because even though it’s
usually the bright colors that you notice, how a
video system reproduces gradations of black is
extremely important. This is what determines
contrast, and is very often the difference
between an image that is merely good, and one
that is sharp and rich at every level of brightness.
Yamaha put a great deal of effort into improving
black reproduction, and with Natural Black, we’ve
achieved levels of black that are about 18%
“blacker” than those of conventional projectors.
Natural Black and other Yamaha innovations take home
theater image quality to an entirely new level.
Digital Cinema Projector
DPX-1
Black reproduction by DPX-1 and conventional projectors.
Black Level White Level
Black Level White Level
Simulated image for descriptive purposes.