By Leslie Dwight MENSAH
Panasonic has showcased the latest innovation in the technology of projectors at the GITEX (Gulf Information Technology Exhibition) 2013 held in Dubai?s World Trade Centre from October 20-24.
The new lamp-free projectors use a combination of LED and laser diodes as the source of light, as opposed to the conventional lamp- or bulb-based projectors currently in the market.
The new light source has a longer lifespan — 20,000 hours or about 5 times more than a normal bulb-based projector — and can be used continuously for more than two years without the need to replace a lamp or change a filter.
The LED/laser combination also provides a higher level of colour purity than an ordinary lamp, enabling colour production with wider colour space.
?This newly-developed LED/laser-combined light source enables solid reliability, excellent total cost of ownership and long-lasting brightness that is?unprecedented by conventional lamp-based projectors,? said Panasonic in a statement.?
There are four models — PT-RW330, PT-RZ370, PT-RW430, and PT-RZ470 — in this first-generation lamp-free projector series, all of which feature digital link connectivity, the statement added.
Panasonic Digital Link offers end-users a much simplified AV infrastructure with high-definition video, audio and control signals — all carried over a single CAT5E or higher Ethernet cable for up to 100 metres.
The full-HD PT-RZ370 and WXGA RW330 models, with 3,500 lumen of brightness, are ideal for classrooms or meeting rooms which typically require a simple installation for everyday use.
The two other models have a higher contrast ratio (20,000:1) with edge-blending, portrait mode and 3D function for more professional use such as digital signage and projection onto extra-wide screens.
Panasonic, which sees great market potential in the Middle East/Africa region, expects to sell 20,000 projectors in the region during the current fiscal year ending March 2014, more than 20 percent higher than in the previous fiscal year.
?The Middle East projector market is driven by growing business demand. It is no more a product catering to a niche segment, and the market is bullish on projector demand forecasts,? said Yuichiro Suzuki, Senior Manager, System Solutions, Panasonic Marketing, Middle East and Africa.
?These next-generation visual solutions are ideal for Middle East homes, offices and large venues. Our projectors not only incorporate the latest technologies but are competitively priced as well,? he added.
Other benefits of the lamp-free projector series include images that appear quickly and no cooling requirement after use, enabling 24/7 operational capabilities. The projectors also feature a number of eco-management functions which allow power consumption to be reduced by between 20 to 30 percent.
Approximately 75 percent of the original brightness level is retained even after 10,000 hours of use, and as a unique technology from Panasonic, the projectors use a built-in colour sensor to help maintain the white balance in images.
The projectors have been modelled to resist the effects of dust and other particles in the air, facilitating their use in a wide range of environments. A range of display modes have been also been provided in the projectors, including DICOM mode for medical applications and REC 709 for HD-TV standard.
