--- PROJECTOR TERMINOLOGY ---
1035i. An interlaced resolution of 1035 lines used in early HDTV systems in Japan.
1080i. An interlaced resolution of 1080 lines used in HDTV systems.
16:9. An aspect ratio used to describe a projected image, where the width is 16 units to a depth of 9 units.
2:2 pull-down. A method that describes how film is transferred to video, which every frame is transformed into two fields so it can be played on a PAL television.
2:3 pull-down. A telecine method of transferring 24 fps film to 30 fps video, which interlaces additional frames to create five video frames out of four film frames.
3LCD. The three color system used by LCD projectors, using three mirrors to project red, blue and green colors to make up the entire color spectrum.
480i. An interlaced resolution where 480 lines of video is shown at 30 frames per second.
480p. A standard that shows 480 lines of video at 60 frames per second. Sometimes referred to as Enhanced Definition Television.
720p. A High Definition Television standard that shows 720 lines of video at 60 frames per second.
802.11a. A wireless networking standard for Ethernet transmissions, which can support a maximum bandwidth of 54Mbps and operates in the 5Ghz band.
802.11b. A wireless networking standard for Ethernet transmissions, which can support a maximum of 11Mbps and operates in the 2.4Ghz band.
802.11g. A wireless networking standard for Ethernet transmissions, which can support a maximum of 54Mbps, and operates in the 2.4Ghz band.
8VSB. An AM broadcast method that can carry MPEG2 streams.
a-Si. Amorphous silicon, or silicon with no crystalline structure that is not conductive.
AC-3. Adaptive transform coder 3. A lossy compression method used in Dolby Digital.
Active matrix. A form of LCD display common in projectors and laptops, sometimes known as thin-film transistor.
Active matrix TFT. A form of LCD display common in projectors and laptops that uses a single panel of glas to control all three primary colors.
AES/EBU. Audio Engineering Society/European Broadcasting Union. A standard used to describe the three-pin connector used in sending digital audio.
AGC. Audio gain control. A feature in VCRs to adjust incoming video.
AM. Amplitude modulation. A way of sending information using varying signal levels.
Analog hole. Describes the potential to create quality copies of copy-protected digital content, by digitizing unprotected analog output.
Anamorphic. A way to change aspect ratios by stretching or compressing an image.
Anamorphic lens. A lens with multiple optical magnifications, so an image of one aspect ratio can be projected into a different aspect ratio.
ANSI contrast. A measurement of black/white contrast that is measured using a pattern of 16 alternating black and white rectangles.
ANSI lumens. A measurement of brightness.
Aperture. The diameter of a lens that controls how much light can reach the sensor.
Aperture correction. A method of compensating for loss in sharpness.
Aspect ratio. The ratio of an image's width to its height.
ATA rated case. A reinforced case that is durable enough to be shipped via common carrier.
Auto balance. A way to detect errors in color balance.
Back room projector. A projector with a special type of lens that can be used from a long distance, at the back of a room, to project an image.
Backlit. Technology that lights the buttons on a remote control or control panel from within the device, so that it can be seen in a darkened room.
Bandwidth. Refers to how much data can pass through a connection, expressed in Hertz.
Brightness. An attribute of luminance that describes how much light is emitted in an area.
Carry-on case. A carrying case for a projector that is designed to fit into the overhead bin on an airplane.
Chromatic aberration. A lens defet that causes colors to focus at different distances from the lens, which results in a halo effect.
Chromaticity. The quality of color, except for brightness, defined by wavelength and saturation.
Chrominance. The hue and saturation of a color.
Coated optics. Materials that are put onto high quality lenses to regulate how much light is reflected back into the lamp.
Color dynamics. A description of a color's definition and contrast that are a result of dynamic range and contrast ratios.
Color temperature. The white quality of a light souirce.
Component video. The delivery of quality video in a format containing all components of the original image.
Composite video signal. A picture signal that includes vertical and horizontal blanking, and synchronizing signals.
Compressed resolution. A projector resolution when the unit is able to project an image greater than its native resolution.
Contrast ratio. A ratio between white and black in an image.
DB. Decibel. A measure of sound pressure.
DCDi. Directional correlation deinterlacing. A video algorithm that eliminates the appearance of jagged edges that result from interlacing.
Diagonal screen. A measurement of the diagonal length of a screen.
Dichroic. A mirror that reflects or refracts wavelengths of light, which will separate white into its component colors.
DLP. Digital light processing. A commercial name of a Texas Instrument projector technology that uses thousands of microscopic mirrors to project a digital image.
Distribution amplifier. An amplifier that keeps a projector's signal noise free over a long distance.
DTV. Digital television. A broadcasting method that uses digital modulation and compression to fit more channels into the same bandwidth.
Dual scan passive matrix. A newer type of passive matrix technology used in low-end LCD displays.
DVI. Digital visual interface. A standard that defines the interface between digital devices.
EDTV. Extended definition television. A type of digital television that uses the 480p progressive scan video format.
Fader. A projector control used to regulate the balance of sound between internal and external speakers.
Field. A half of a video frame which contains either all of the even-numbered lines or all of the odd-numbered lines in the frame.
FM based remote. A remote control that uses an FM transmitter to broadcast instructions, useful in larger rooms because there is no requirement for line-of-sight.
Focal length. The distance between a lens' surface and the focal point.
Form factor. The size and shape of a projector.
Front room projector or position. A projector that is located close to the screen.
Full on/off contrast. The ratio of light of an all white image, and the output of an all black image.
Halogen lamps. A lamp used in lower-priced projectors with a life of about 40 hours.
Hard wired remote. A remote control that uses a cable to connect to the projector instead of a wireless connection.
HDCP. High bandwidth digital content protection. A way to protect copyrighted digital material through encryption.
HDMI. High definition multimedia interface. An uncompressed digital interface.
High gain screen. A screen that has a high reflective property which increases the effective brightness of the image.
Infrared remote. A line of sight wireless remote control system.
Interlaced video. A system where each frame of video has two fields of odd and even lines, which are shown rapidly so that the viewer sees a single, integrated image.
International power supply. A projector or other piece of equipment that can be used in both 110 and 220 volt systems without an adapter.
Invert image. When an image is turned upside down, usually referring to a ceiling mounted projector that is mounted upside down.
IR communication standard. A standard for wireless communications between a computer and its peripherals.
Keystone. A video distortion effect that occurs when the projector is not set up directly in front of the screen.
Keystone correction. A method of correcting a keystoned image.
Laser pointer. A small pointer with a battery operated laser, which projects a beam of light onto a screen.
LCD. Liquid crystal display. A format for digital presentations, often used in a laptop computer or on projectors.
Lens shift. A feature of a projector that shifts the optical lens in any direction to avoid keystoning and other anomalies.
Letterbox. A way to preserve a presentation's original aspect ratio, when the projector has a different aspect ratio than the original presentation.
Long throw lens. A lens designed to use on a projector from a long distance, such as in the back of a conference room.
Lux. A standard for light measurement.
Maximum distance. The greatest distance a projector can send an image and keep it in focus.
Maximum image size. The biggest image a projector can show in a darkened room.
Maximum resolution. The greatest resolution a projector can display.
Menu driven. A control system on a projector that offers a menu of categories to show the various options available.
Metal halide lamp. A lamp often used in higher-end projectors, with a half life of between 1000 and 2000 hours.
Mid room projector. A projector that can sit in the middle of a room, up to about 25 feet from a screen.
Minimum distance. The closest that a projector can be positioned and still project a focused image.
Native resolution. The physical resolution of a display device, expressed in the number of vertical by horizontal pixels.
NTSC. A standard for video with 525 lines of resolution, transmitted at 30 frames per second in a 6 Mhz band.
OHP. Overhead projector.
Overhead projector. A device that has a light source, reflective platform, and lens, used for projecting images from transparencies onto a screen.
PAL. An international high resolution broadcast standard.
Passive matrix LCD. An older LCD system.
Poly-Si LCD. LCD technology used in more modern LCD projectors.
Power zoom. A zoom lens with a motor-controlled zoom in and zoom out function.
Progressive scan. A display where all horizontal lijnes are displayed simultaneously in a single frame, as opposed to an interlacing system that shows two separate alternating fields.
Projector. A device that combines light, an optical system, electronics, and a display for projecting an image from a computer or other source onto a screen.
QXGA. A type of display resolution with four times the resolution of an XGA display.
Rear screen projection. A projection system where the projector is behind the screen.
Reverse image. A feature of projectors where an image can be flipped horizontally. This is used in rear projection projectors.
RGB. Red, green, blue. The traditional type of monitor or projection system used to display the full spectrum of color onto the display device.
S-video. A standard that uses a 4-pin connector to send video data.
SDTV. Standard definition television. A type of digital television that uses the 480i format.
SECAM. An international video broadcast standard with high resolution.
Short throw lens. A lens that can project a large image from a short distance.
SRGB. Standard red, green, blue. A proposed standard for rendering color evenly over multiple platforms.
SVGA. A definition of a display resolution with 800 horizontal pixels and 600 vertical pixels.
SXGA. A definition of a display resolution with 1280 horizontal pixels and 1024 vertical pixels.
TFT. Thin film transistor.
UXGA. A definition of a display resolution with 1600 horizontal pixels and 1200 vertical pixels.
VGA. A definition of a display resolution with 640 horizontal pixels and 480 vertical pixels.
Wi-Fi. Wireless fidelity. A wireless networking standard often used to connect digital devices.
Wi-Fi 802.11a. A wireless networking standard for Ethernet transmissions, which can support a maximum bandwidth of 54Mbps and operates in the 5Ghz band.
Wi-Fi 802.11b. A wireless networking standard for Ethernet transmissions, which can support a maximum of 11Mbps and operates in the 2.4Ghz band.
WSXGA. A group of SXGA displays capable of creating an image with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
WXGA. A group of XGA displays capable of creating an image with an aspect ratio of 16:9.
XGA. A display resolution with 1020 horizontal pixels and 768 vertical pixels.
Zoom lens. A lens that can adjust the size of the projected image without having to physically move the projector.
Zoom lens ratio. The ratio between the smallest and largest image a lens can show from a given distance.
