LAS VEGAS, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Instruments (TI) (NYSE: TXN) DLP Cinema(R) announced plans for the next generation DLP Cinema electronics platform at ShoWest, the largest annual convention for the motion picture industry. Scheduled to be released by the end of 2009, the next generation electronics platform for DLP Cinema projectors will be deployed by its three OEM licensees, Christie, Barco and NEC at commercial theatres around the world starting in 2010. DLP Cinema projectors are installed in nearly 10,000 screens with over 97 percent of the digital cinema market share worldwide.
DLP Cinema's highly anticipated next generation electronics platform is compliant with a newly adopted set of Digital Cinema Initiative (DCI) standards. The next generation electronics platform utilizes the same highly reliable DLP Cinema chipset but integrates high security requirements and specification architecture defined by the DCI while providing a cost reduction to OEM partners.
The next generation DLP Cinema electronics platform delivers value by combining the three boards needed to produce images into a single board while retaining the necessary functionary required for use. In addition, the next generation DLP Cinema electronics platform features increased bandwidth to integrate alternative content to incorporate live 3-D broadcasting.
"For over 10 years, Texas Instruments technology has been the industry standard for digital image quality and the next generation DLP Cinema electronics platform will continue to deliver the ultimate movie going experience with precise images in vibrant colors," said Nancy Fares, business manager for DLP Cinema Products Group. "DLP Cinema is proud to support the motion picture industry and is dedicated to developing products and innovations to enhance the movie going experience throughout the years to come."
Five Years of 3-D Technology
The increasing availability of 3-D digital movies continues to serve as a catalyst for adoption of digital cinema installations. The 3-D movie format is viewed as the future of cinema and hailed as the most important technical innovation since the advent of color. This year, DLP Cinema celebrates its fifth anniversary of enabling 3-D in a single projector solution through the use of the DLP Chip capable of lighting up screens as big as 100 feet and 3-D screens as big as 75 feet.
DLP Cinema honors the heritage of the ultimate viewing experience while spearheading the latest technology innovations, such as IMAX Corporation's use of the DLP Cinema projection solution into for its theatres announced last year at ShoWest 2008. Monsters vs. Aliens, which opened on March 27, will play in 74 IMAX(R) theatres using IMAX's digital projection system powered by DLP Cinema.
"Our partnership with DLP Cinema helps ensure we will continue to deliver the best cinema experience that IMAX audiences around the world have grown accustomed to," said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "We are excited that the rapid digital roll-out is the force behind Monsters vs. Aliens playing in a record number of IMAX theatres."
DLP Cinema projection technology is installed in nearly 10,000 screens on every continent except Antarctica. Today there are over 2,000 screens in the country that offer the digital 3-D experience powered by DLP Cinema technology, and this number will continue to increase as more DLP projectors are deployed globally. Since last year's introduction, IMAX(R) digital projection systems powered by DLP Cinema projectors have reached a total of 74 locations worldwide.
DLP Cinema at ShoWest
DLP Cinema technology will be utilized throughout the tradeshow including displaying digital screenings of upcoming summer release movies. In addition, 2009 marks the ninth consecutive year DLP Cinema has served as corporate sponsor at ShoWest.
A special screening will be held on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 featuring a 'Salute to the $100 Million Movies' of 2008 shown in a digital format. The showing will highlight 28 movies including for the first time, two 3-D blockbusters that surpassed the $100 million revenue mark. The overwhelming box office success of Bolt and Journey to the Center of the Earth will be displayed by DLP Cinema.
About DLP Cinema
DLP Cinema is a proprietary technology that delivers clear, sharp, bright and accurate images to movie theatres globally. To manufacture and market under the DLP Cinema trademark, technology licensees, including Barco, Christie and NEC, must meet stringent standards and guidelines meant to ensure the best possible performance and picture quality. This digital picture and standard of excellence ensures that a DLP Cinema movie screening looks flawless and each showing is as perfect as the first with no annoying scratches, tears or weaving that detract from the movie-going experience. For more information, or to find a DLP Cinema theatre near you, please visit www.dlpcinema.com.
About Texas Instruments DLP Products
DLP display technology from Texas Instruments offers clarity down to the most minute detail, delivering pictures rich with color, contrast and brightness projectors for business, home, professional venue, digital cinema (DLP Cinema(R)) and large screen HDTVs. Many of the world's top projection and display manufacturers design, manufacture and market products based on DLP technology. DLP is the only imaging technology with a legacy in digital cinema where it set the industry standard demonstrated by the deployment of DLP Cinema technology in over 8,000 theatres worldwide. At the heart of every DLP chip is an array of up to 2.2 million microscopic mirrors which switch incredibly fast to create a high resolution, highly reliable, full color image. DLP technology's chip architecture and inherent speed advantage provides razor-sharp images and excellent reproduction of fast motion video. Since early 1996, more than 20 million DLP subsystems have been shipped. For more information, please visit www.dlp.com.
About Texas Instruments:
Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) helps customers solve problems and develop new electronics that make the world smarter, healthier, safer, greener and more fun. A global semiconductor company, TI innovates through design, sales and manufacturing operations in more than 30 countries. For more information, go to www.ti.com.
DLP and DLP Cinema are registered trademarks of Texas Instruments.
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