Electrohome Ships New Generation of Projectors: the HAL Series; Reflective Light Valve Technology Offers Breakthrough Projector Resolution.

KITCHENER, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 1998--Electrohome Projection Systems, a leading manufacturer of high-resolution video/data/graphics projection systems, today announced the availability of its new generation of digital light valve projectors, known as the HAL series. The first model of the new HAL family of high resolution projectors is the DLV 1280.

Based on IBM's revolutionary reflective light valve technology and designed for the professional display and control room environment, the HAL DLV 1280 offers SXGA resolution and 1,000 ANSI lumens of brightness. HAL is an efficient three-panel system composed of an illumination source, drive electronics and a high-quality optical light engine. With a 500 watt Xenon lamp, the HAL DLV 1280 displays razor-sharp images while maintaining constant color temperature, color tracking and accurate color reproduction.

"We've designed the HAL to meet the mission-critical needs of control room environments," said Bill Speer, product manager for Electrohome. "Because control room operators rely on large projection screens to display minute critical details, and because as many as 75 projection systems are often used simultaneously, ease of use, precise edge-matching and stable images with low maintenance are essential. Electrohome is pleased to pass these `essentials' on to our customers in a new digital architecture."

HAL meets the need for higher resolution (1280x1024) and brighter, more legible displays under high ambient-light conditions. This resolution capability, along with a contrast ratio of 100:1, make even the smallest font sizes easily readable. The HAL DLV 1280 offers excellent brightness uniformity, providing seamless images for multiple projector installations. The projector is equipped with a standard 2.1-3.1 zoom lens. Optional short throw, medium and long throw lenses are also available.

HAL will accurately project CAD/CAM renderings and super-computer generated graphics. True 1280x1024 panel resolution translates complex electronic video and/or electronic data into precise images.

The DLV 1280 contains intuitive, menu-driven projector control software for quick and easy projector set-up and operations. An auto setup feature automatically adjusts any new signal input for optimum performance.

HAL is available in limited quantities in April through Electrohome's dealer network at a suggested U.S. list price of $28,995 (including a standard 2.1-3.1 zoom lens). To see the HAL DLV 1280 in action, visit Electrohome in Booth #M8144 at the Multimedia Pavilion in the Sands Convention Center for the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show, April 6-9, 1998.

Established in 1979 and headquartered in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, Electrohome Projection Systems represents the Visual Communications Division of Electrohome Limited. Founded in 1907, Electrohome Limited supplies total solutions in visual communications to customers around the world, specializing in large-screen data/graphic projection systems. With over 2000 installations in 40 countries, Electrohome is a world leader in control room projection systems.

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For sales in North America, please call(800) 265-2171.

Please visit http://www.electrohome.com.

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Background Information on HAL Technology

Why is SXGA, 1280x1024, resolution important?

In higher ambient lighting environments, there is a greater need for higher resolution and increased legibility. SXGA resolution displays "all of the information, all of the time" and allows for razor-sharp details and smaller font sizes to appear on screen.

Description of the Technology

The digital light valve chip used in the DLV 1280 is a leading-edge CMOS device. The light valve is 1280x1024 pixels with a 1.3" diameter. Figure 1 shows the light valve cell, a sandwich structure composed of a glass cover and a liquid crystal layer mounted on the light valve chip. Each pixel can be considered as a mirror, which is also one side of an electrode against a liquid crystal layer, a switching transistor and a storage capacitor. Light is polarized in the projection system by the use of polarizing optics (Figure 2). When voltage is applied to the Liquid Crystal layer it changes its electro-optical properties. When polarized light is directed at the light valve cell, it is reflected from the mirrored array. Voltage applied to the liquid crystal rotates the polarization 90 degrees, allowing light to pass through the optics, which turns pixels ON - non-rotated light is absorbed by the polarizing optics and the pixel is OFF.

History of the Technology

The basic technology was designed by IBM's Watson Research Facility, Yorktown Heights, New York. The technology was then further refined by the IBM Display Business Unit, Yasu, Japan, where process capability was established and final product revisions were made. According to Bill Speer, Electrohome product manager, "This technology is the best of all the high resolution contenders. The chip contains a 1280x1024 array with 1.3 million pixels resolution for applications requiring high resolution, large screens and uncompromising clarity, such as corporate board rooms, training rooms and command/control centers."

Why did Electrohome select reflective light valve technology over other technology?

In transmissive systems, as the resolution is increased, the aperture ratio falls, causing a loss of brightness. In reflective systems, as the devices go to higher resolution, the aperture ratio remains constant and brightness is maintained. In choosing this technology, Electrohome sees a clearly established path to higher resolutions such as UXGA and higher.

What are the trends in Presentation Graphics and Control Centers?

In presentation meeting rooms and command control centers, the trend is toward higher ambient light environments. This demands brighter and sharper projection displays that show greater detail with more legibility. There is an increasing need to visualize large amounts of data to make critical decisions based on the information displayed.

Why is HAL better in boardrooms than portable projectors?

In both private and public sectors, the need for training and presentations is increasing. As a result, low cost LCD-based projectors have become very successful in this market. However, these LCD-based projectors use low resolution panels that "resize" or "compress" images. Compression techniques involve dropping pixels, and the resulting images do not have the quality of images displayed in true resolution. The DLV 1280 is superior because the SXGA panels display 1280x1024 images in native resolution. In this market, the key benefits are resolution, image quality and readability. In addition, HAL's full suite of lenses allows for increased flexibility of image size and mounting locations.

Why is HAL different from competitors' models?

Compared to existing LCD and CRT projection systems, HAL offers a solution that requires no convergence, can fit in any room size, is bright even in well-lit rooms and is easy to maintain. Reflective technology uses light more efficiently and provides brighter and sharper images. The projector is backed by Electrohome's superior quality and service guarantee. Electrohome is the leader in control room projection, pioneering a number of firsts since 1987.

CONTACT: Rogers Communications [phone]

Angela Cincotta or Sarah Mensching

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Bill Speer (for technical inquiries)

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Dorina Belu (for all other inquiries)

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