Sony Projector Gets Bright Images From Black Screen

da_foz writes "Sony has developed a new projector that can give a bright, unfaded picture without the need to eliminate ambient light. The secret is that they project onto a black screen instead of a white one. Their screen uses species filters so that white ambient light is absorbed, but the red, green, and blue light from the projector is reflected. Sony sees a possible use in home entertainment systems because of the ability to have a much bigger picture than conventional TVs as well as businesses adopting the projectors for presentations."

Comments

Finally

[Todd Fisher]

We'll finally be able to see the Gettysburg Address Power Point presentation the way Lincoln intended it to be viewed.

Are three colors protected by patents?

[ironring]

This appears to be a very cool technology. I have wanted to put a front projection system into my home, but have no way to control ambient light during the day. When this screen becomes available, it will probably push me over the edge.

I assume the three frequencies that are reflected are fairly well tuned. I wonder if this means I will be stuck purchasing a Sony projector to match these? I also wonder if Sony may be able to stop others from making matching projectors since they probably own some Patents around this technology?

Re:Are three colors protected by patents?

[ContemporaryInsanity]

'but Sony knows how risky it is to play "exclusive" in the market and make things incomatible from rest of the world'

Err, one word, Memory Stick, well, two words then.

Re:Black?

[Anonymous Coward]

Pot, Kettle... meet Mr. Projector Screen.

Re:Black?

[bs_testability]

Actually, if it only reflect three specific wavelengths
then it's probably the _blackest_ thing you've ever seen.

Re:100.. 160 inches?

[vslashg]

To me it seems like having a 24 inch penis. Sure, it'd be big and impressive, but not of much practical use to anyone.

God, no kidding. Most people in locker rooms look at me with pure envy. It's nice to hear someone actually sympathize for once.

black != "black body"

[FreeUser]

If it reflects _anything_, it isn't black.

Of course it is. Every black object in the world reflects some light.

You are confusing black bodies, an abstract notion defined by physiscists which does not exist in the real, physical world, and the color black, which our eyes percieve just fine whether or not it is a shiny surface with a lot of reflection, or a matted surface with minimal (but still greater than zero) reflection. The black BMW I had the misfortune of following the other day positively glinted in the midday sun.

With light, black is defined as the abscence of color. With pigment, black is the presenece of all color (analogous to white light).

Could we have a notebook screen instead?

[Militant Apathy]

A related technology that could make notebook computers usable outdoors would be the real killer app, as far as I'm concerned.

It seems like a feasible variation, at least to me -- keep the mostly-black coating to absorb nuisance ambient light, but allow transmission at narrow RGB wavelengths. Then backlight it with an LED screen, with the diodes tuned to the three transmission frequency ranges.

Don't know whether it's technically possible, but if it is, I bet it's in the works already.