Laser projection: A pioneering solution in digital display technology
Laser projection technology represents a significant leap in the world of digital display systems, combining advanced optics, and innovative light sources. SCHOTT's portfolio showcases a variety of applications from cinema, immersive experiences (e.g. events) to compact pico projectors, all tailored to meet the high-end market demands for high reliability, high luminance and brightness, and superior image quality.
Why are laser projectors better than any other type of projector?
What is a laser projector
A laser projector uses laser beams to transmit images, offering better brightness and color accuracy compared to traditional projectors. There are two types of laser projectors: RGB laser projectors, which use separate red, green, and blue lasers to create the full color spectrum directly, and laser pumped phosphor projectors. The latter provides more economical laser projection systems by using a conversion technique to convert blue laser light into other colors using a phosphor material. This method allows for high-quality projections at a reduced cost.
The key USPs of laser projectors:
High reliability and long lifetime
Laser projectors are renowned for their high reliability. The absence of lamps in laser projectors eliminates the most common failure point in traditional projectors, significantly extending their usable life and making them ideal for continuous operation in event and cinema projectors.
Based on blue laser light, such systems are economically attractive and SCHOTT offers the adequate conversion material on a ceramic basis allowing for longest lifetimes and highest reliability.
High brightness, luminance and solarization resistance
For environments that demand the highest visual impact—like large venues and outdoor spaces—laser projectors provide high luminance and high brightness, ensuring clear, vivid images even in ambient light. SCHOTT N-BK7HTS and N-BK7HTSultra enable high luminance and sharp images by mittigating solarization in the optical path.
High power density
The high-power density of laser projectors ensures that they can deliver exceptional brightness even in compact sizes, making them perfect for pico and mobile projectors, from business presentations up to home theaters. This impressive capability is enhanced by the conversion technology used in laser pumped phosphor projectors, which efficiently converts blue laser light into a full spectrum of colors using phosphor materials. This process not only allows for a more vibrant and dynamic image projection but also contributes to the compactness of the design, optimizing space without sacrificing performance.
SCHOTT offers converters with high irradiance limits and allows for highest brightness levels of laser pumped phosphor projectors.
In most cases, laser projectors have a high lumen output, especially in immersive experience applications. Due to their high lumen output and compact design, they generate a high power density in the optical path. This leads to solarization, especially within the prism set, resulting in a blurred image. To mitigate this effect, SCHOTT has developed N-BK7HTSultra that counteracts this effect.
High efficacy
Laser projectors are not only powerful but also demonstrate high efficacy. Efficacy refers to the measurement of the amount of useful light output per unit of laser power, typically measured in lumens per watt. Their ability to efficiently convert electricity into bright, high-quality light supports both economic and environmental benefits, reducing operational costs and energy usage.
Image quality and color accuracy
In applications where image quality is paramount, such as detailed designs and precise color rendering in digital cinema, laser projection excels with unmatched color accuracy and image clarity. This superior performance is largely attributed to the conversion technology employed in laser pumped phosphor projectors. By converting blue laser light into a broad spectrum of colors using phosphor materials, these projectors ensure true-to-life images. This process not only enhances the color accuracy but also maintains the integrity of the projection even in settings with varying light conditions.
High irradiance
Laser projectors offer high irradiance, providing intense light output for bright, clear images even in challenging environments. High irradiance ensures that projectors can maintain exceptional image quality in large venues or spaces with high ambient light. This feature is particularly important for applications that require precision and clarity, such as cinema and event projection. With SCHOTT's advanced materials, laser projectors can achieve superior light intensity without compromising reliability or efficiency, making them an ideal choice for high performance displays.
Overview of product portfolio
Ceramic laser phosphor converters
These converters enhance brightness and luminance, crucial for creating striking visual experiences.
Learn more
Aspherical lenses for projectors
Aspheres lenses for projectors provide a clear image by reducing optical aberrations, essential for high-quality projection.
Discover more
Prism for projectors
Our prisms, including TIR prisms and custom optical prisms, are designed to efficiently manage light paths within projectors, enhancing overall image quality.
Explore moreSCHOTT laser projection in action
FAQs
A laser projector uses laser beams to transmit images. This technology allows for higher quality projections with better brightness and color accuracy compared to traditional projectors.
Laser phosphor projectors with ceramic based converters use either a phosphor wheel with ceramic rings or a static ceramic phosphor converter along with blue laser diodes. The blue laser light is used to excite the phosphor, which emits the necessary light components that, combined with direct blue light, create the full-color spectrum.
Laser projectors offer superior longevity, energy efficiency, and image quality. They generally provide higher brightness levels and more consistent color accuracy, making them suitable for both high-end cinema and immersive experience projectors. Additionally, laser projectors have a wider color gamut and can maintain their brightness over a longer period, ensuring lasting performance. The use of high-quality components further enhances these benefits, extending the operational life of the projectors, improving reliability, and reducing maintenance needs. High-quality components also contribute to the projector's ability to deliver enhanced image clarity, consistent high levels of MTF and color precision. These are crucial for professional-grade presentations and cinematic experiences.
Inorganic materials in projectors provide higher thermal stability and better durability, which are crucial for maintaining the color and brightness consistency over the projector's lifespan.
Given their numerous advantages in efficiency, performance, and quality, laser projectors are increasingly becoming the preferred choice for both consumer and professional markets, suggesting a dominant role in the future of projection technology.
Laser projectors can last more than 20,000 to 30,000 hours without major maintenance, significantly longer than traditional lamp-based projectors. SCHOTT supports long lifetime by inorganic material that do now show major aging behavior. Lifetime of such projectors is typically limited by the lifetime and performance of the blue laser sources.
Laser projection in cineplexes refers to the use of laser technology to provide a cinema-quality viewing experience with greater brightness and color precision, enhancing overall audience engagement.
Achieving high brightness in a pico projector involves optimizing the light source, such as using blue lasers, static phosphor converters and advanced optical components to amplify the output without increasing the size.
Small footprint projectors that enable high power densities, can be optimized by using solarization stabilized optical glasses and efficient static converter materials to maintain performance in a compact form.
Projection optics are crucial for focusing and manipulating the light path. Ensuring sharp, clear images that are free of distortions and aberrations. These properties are essential for high-quality projections in cinemas and events.
