Wolf Cinema DLD-380FD - Manual (Page 8)

8
High Contrast and Dynamic Range
The DLD-380FD provides for exceptionally high native contrast and outstanding overall
dynamic range. Much of the high contrast performance is based on the inherent advantages and
structure of the D-ILA panels themselves, but additional benefits are derived from the use of lasers
as a light source. Lasers output light in a very narrow cone compared with LEDs or lamps, and they
do so over a much smaller emitting area. It is therefore easier to capture all of the light as emitted
from a laser than from an LED or lamp. This results in greater efficiency when delivering light to
the D-ILA panels, and higher overall contrast due to less stray light. [Figure 6]
Figure 6: Collection of Light from an LED vs. a Laser Diode
Stable, Long-Term Imaging Brightness
The DLD-380FD projection system provides for ANSI brightness of approximately 1,600
lumens, which is the right level for many dedicated home theater applications. In addition to the
long 20,000-hour laser lifetime, these projectors feature an Auto Intensity Mode option that employs
3 dedicated sensors to adjust the light source power and color to maintain stable brightness.
All light sources lose output over time, but by setting the output power to the 50% point in
the beginning, end users can maintain this level for the full lifetime of the light source. This is done
by slight increases in the laser current over time to overcome efficiency losses, as illustrated in
Figure 7. An added side benefit is the lower electrical power use, which reduces operating costs as
well.
Figure 7: Light Source Brightness vs. Time