Projectors | Canon Global

Technology in ProductsProjectors

Projectors and the technologies within are more widely used than ever

Projectors can be flexibly adapted to whatever media need to be projected. This is why projectors are used in such settings as conference rooms and classrooms as well as for a wide range of purposes including product descriptions in stores and sporting events.
Canon’s projectors project a bright, high-resolution image to all four corners of the projection screen. Our unique optical system and lens technologies facilitate ease of use and deliver beautiful images.

May 11, 2023

#Technology in Products＃Camera

How projectors work

A projector consists of a light source, an illumination optical system, a color separation / combination optical system, a liquid crystal panel, and a projection lens. Light emitted from the light source passes through the illumination optical system, is transmitted through or reflected off the liquid crystal panel, and is magnified by the projection lens to project an image.

Diagram of a projector’s internal components

Light source

Light sources can be broadly classified into three types: lamps, lasers, and LEDs. Conventionally, most light sources have been lamps, but in recent years lasers are more popular, since they are easier to maintain and power on/shut down more quickly. Laser light sources include those with R (red)/G (green)/B (blue) lasers and those that use a combination of B+Y (Y is R+G) light by shining a blue (B) laser on yellow (Y) phosphors to produce white light. Most projectors today employ this method of using a blue laser and yellow phosphors, as it makes possible low costs and compact size.
　There are other methods that use LED light sources, which are relatively inexpensive compared to lamps and lasers. These light sources are used in small projectors and mobile projectors that do not require a high luminance, as it is difficult to achieve high luminance and the light source is considered low-efficiency.

Light source	Advantages	Disadvantages
Lamps	•Inexpensive •Lamps can be replaced by the user	•Must be replaced (life span: approx. 2,000-10,000 hours) •Takes time to power on •Limited installation positions •High exhaust temperature
LEDs	•Reduced maintenance burden (life span: approx. 20,000 hours) •Fast power-on •A variety of installation positions (including 360 degrees) •Relatively inexpensive •Low exhaust temperature	•Low brightness
Lasers	•Reduced maintenance burden (life span: approx. 20,000 hours) •High brightness •Fast power-on •A variety of installation positions (360 degrees possible) •Low exhaust temperature	•Expensive

Types of panels

There are three main types of projector display panels: transmissive Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS), and DLP.

In an LCD panel, light emitted from a light source is broken down into the three primary colors of RGB light and transmitted to the RGB LCD panel through which the image is displayed. The transmitted light is recomposed by a dichroic prism, magnified by a projection lens, and projected onto a screen. A distinct feature of LCD projector panels is that there is no difference between white luminance and color luminance. With older models, the electric circuits between pixels of the liquid crystal panel used to appear as a grid on the projected image. Since then, however, those grids have become less noticeable in recent years by refracting light with microlenses.

How transmissive liquid crystals work

How transmissive liquid crystal optical systems (LCD) work

“LCOS” stands for liquid crystal on silicon and refers to reflective liquid crystal panels. With an LCOS panel, images are displayed on a reflective liquid crystal layer on a silicon substrate. Light is reflected from a light source, and images are directed to a projection lens. The circuit that actuates the liquid crystals is located behind the reflector, so a clean image can be produced without a grid appearing.

How reflective liquid crystals work

How reflective liquid crystal optics (LCOS) work

The “DLP” stands for digital light processing. A DLP panel uses a display panel with the same number of highly reflective microscopic mirrors, called digital micromirrors, as pixels. Each of these mirrors is individually actuated to create images.
　Color reproduction is achieved through one of two methods: the 3-chip method, in which light from the light source is broken down into the three primary colors of RGB; or the 1-chip method, in which light is passed through a high-speed rotating color wheel (a color-coded disk). In the 1-chip method, RGB images are projected at different time intervals, which causes color breakup in moving images, and rainbow-like afterimages are apparent in rare instances. Contrary to LCD projectors, the mechanism of pixel actuation is located on the backside of the panel. This makes the pixel grid less noticeable, and the mechanism relatively simple, easily allowing for reduced size and weight.

How a digital micromirror works

How DLP works

Liquid crystals	Advantages	Disadvantages
Transmissive LCD	•Many inexpensive models •Color areas appear brighter •Good color quality	•Grid-like lines are visible throughout image •Harder to achieve a high resolution compared to other systems of the same size
Reflective liquid crystal LCOS	•Facilitates a high resolution such as 4K •Rich expression of intermediate colors and dark tones •Easy to achieve higher contrast	•Main unit is large in size •Expensive
DLP	•Many lightweight and compact models	•Rainbow-like afterimages (color breakup) •Poor expression of tones and a prone to blackouts and whiteouts

Canon’s projector technology

Thanks to the reflective liquid crystal (LCOS) panel, proprietary optical system, AISYS and lens technology developed over the company’s long history, Canon’s projectors project bright, high-resolution, and beautiful images even in the periphery of the large screens they project onto. A wide range of models are available for different uses and environments, in order to meet the needs of customers. These include models with a laser light source and a long life of approximately 20,000 hours, high-spec models such as 4K models, and ultra-short-throw models that are appealing because they take up less space.

AISYS

Canon uses the reflective liquid crystal (LCOS) panel as the image display element in its flagship projectors. The LCOS panel is used in combination with a polarizing beam splitter (PBS), which is an optical element that divides light into reflected and transmitted light depending on the direction of polarization. To achieve a high contrast, light should ideally enter the LCOS perpendicularly at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the polarization and separation surface of the PBS. However, this would result in a longer focal length and a unit larger in size. To overcome this problem, Canon developed its proprietary optical system, AISYS. AISYS consists of an “illumination optical system” that controls the light from the light source and a “color separation / combination optical system” that separates and combines light into the three primary colors of RGB before sending it to the projection lens.

Significantly smaller and brighter How reflective liquid crystal optics (LCOS) and AISYS work

AISYS’ optical light source system uses a lens system with different refractive indices in the vertical and horizontal directions to consolidate light from the light source. Luminous flux in the horizontal direction is consolidated at a large angle to increase luminance. Luminous flux in the vertical direction is consolidated at a narrow angle to prevent light leakage that occurs in a PBS or LCOS, thereby helping to increase contrast and making possible a smaller device size.
The color separation and composition optical system, which allows light to enter the projection lens as an image, separates light from the illumination optical system into the three primary colors of RGB and then directs the light into the dedicated LCOS for each color. The reflected light from each panel is then appropriately combined. In general, the LCOS system divides the light from the light source into three paths for the three primary colors, RGB, while Canon’s color separation and composition optical system divides the light into two paths, R+B and G, thus reducing the size of the optical unit and accordingly, the size of the projector itself.

Real 4K high resolution

There are two types of methods of achieving 4K high resolution^＊1, “Shift 4K”^＊2 and “Real 4K.” Shift 4K is a technology that uses a panel with a 2K resolution^＊3, but it pseudo-divides the pixels by shifting the projected light at high speeds to project an image at 4K resolution. Although this technology provides a more realistic image than 2K resolution, finer details may be blurred due to the pseudo-division of pixels.
In contrast, real 4K panels can be larger in size, depending on the type, resulting in larger projectors. However, Canon’s LCOS allows for a compact panel. In combination with Canon’s unique AISYS optical system, real 4K panels can display high-resolution images while maintaining a compact and lightweight form.

Canon’s flagship model uses a real 4K panel and a unique projection lens optimized for the panel, enabling high-resolution projection of even the smallest details.Canon helps customers to achieve more realistic and immersive visual expression.

^＊1：　4K resolution: There are various standards such as 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160) and Real 4K (4,096 x 2,160).
^＊2：　The terminology differs depending on the manufacturer.
^＊3：　2K resolution: There are various standards such as FHD (1,920 x 1,080), WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200), and WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600).

Difference between the Shift 4K and Real 4K methods of display

Dedicated lenses

Canon’s projector lenses are the result of a fusion of its more than 40 years of lens development, and the latest technologies, inheriting the excellent optical performance of EF and RF lenses widely praised in the camera industry. Canon’s projector lenses provide outstanding color reproduction, high resolution, high contrast, and image quality that is sharp, clear, and vivid. In addition, overall reliability, including quality, precision, strength, environmental resistance, and operational durability, are thoroughly considered right from the design stage.

UD lenses

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How chromatic aberration is caused by lenses

Since the refractive index of RGB light passing through a lens differs depending on its wavelength, color blurring, or what is known as “chromatic aberration,” occurs when projecting an image onto a screen. Chromatic aberration includes axial chromatic aberration in the direction of the optical axis and off-axis transverse chromatic aberration (off-axis color shift).
For high-resolution 4K images, further steps had to be taken to correct chromatic aberration.
Canon has succeeded in suppressing chromatic aberrations that occur in projectors by using ultra-low dispersion (UD) lenses that produce less chromatic aberration.

Floating lens system

The optical performance of a typical projector varies depending on the projection distance. Aberrations tend to occur particularly often when projecting images at short distances.

Floating lens system

Canon’s projectors use a floating system that minimizes aberrations by moving multiple lens groups independently during focusing.This system enables projection of a high-resolution image at all projection distances.

Peripheral focus correction (marginal focus)

This function, available with Canon’s 4K projectors, corrects image curvature that occurs when projecting an image onto a curved surface, such as a domed ceiling. Focus adjustment brings the four corners of the image projected on the curved surface into focus. Combined with the lens characteristic of a deep depth of field, this feature enables projection of high-resolution images in which every corner of the large screen is in focus.

Peripheral focus correction system

A lens with a short throw and a high shift

・Short throw
A short throw and wide lens shift allow an image to be projected onto an entire wall from the ceiling, even in narrow spaces such as museums and retail locations.

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A lens with an ultra-short throw allows projector installation in narrow spaces.

・High shift mechanism
This feature allows the projection screen to be shifted vertically and horizontally without tilting the main unit via a mechanism that shifts the projection lens in parallel.

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Stable, high-quality image projection with a mechanism for high shift

The combination of a short throw and high shift, which are notable features of Canon’s projection lenses, enables projection on a large screen at a short distance and ease of use during presentations.

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