Audio Video News

Texas Instruments (TI) today announced a new, super-compact display controller that will make it possible to build the “smallest, fastest, and lowest-power 4K ultra-high-definition (UHD) projectors ever.”

At only 9mm by 9mm (0.35 x 0.35 inches), or the width of a pencil eraser, the TI DLPC8445 controller is one-tenth the size of its predecessor, enabling go-anywhere projectors for movies, gaming, and even augmented reality glasses.

With the new chip, designers will now be able to replicate an immersive gaming experience with “sub-millisecond display latency and frame rates up to 240 Hz” in projector a fraction of the size of a high-end monitor and capable of projecting images up to 100 inches (diagonal), according to TI.

In another first for a DLP chipset, the new controller will support variable refresh rate (VRR), which TI says will enable designers to sync frame rates and eliminate lagging, image tearing, and stuttering. It is also the first controller that can be used with laser-illuminated, battery-powered projectors (click here for technical detail). The chip will also include advanced image-correction capabilities that adjust for surface imperfections on the fly.

"Immersive display entertainment is now sought out by everyday consumers, not just movie enthusiasts and gamers," said Jeff Marsh, vice president and general manager of DLP Products at TI. "Where consumers once needed a big TV or monitor for a crisp and clear display, they can now use a lifestyle or gaming projector and transform a wall into the screen size of their choosing with 4K UHD quality. Our new controller is the latest example of how TI DLP technology is helping engineers develop epic displays for entertainment that can be taken anywhere."