Texas Instruments (TI) has announced availability of their new 0.2-inch DLP2000 chipset and affordable LightCrafter Display 2000 evaluation module (EVM). These new offerings will allow developers to implement DLP display technology with any low-cost processor. The DLP2000, is a 0.2-in, nHD (640×360) 16:9 array which is priced at $19.99. The LightCrafter Display 2000 EVM, which only works with the DLP2000, is being offered to developers for $99. These prices are both significant reductions from current TI chip and EVM prices.

In addition to the affordable price point, TI is highlighting the 16:9 aspect ratio, compact form factor, low power consumption, and low computer processing requirements.  All these features are designed to get developers thinking about DLP as a possible display solution where they might have looked past it before. Despite the low resolution, the chip has a 16:9 aspect ratio which will handle any 16:9 input if processing video images is the target application.

The innovation is really in the evaluation module (EVM) that works with standard prototyping development sets such as BeagleBone Black (a TI open-source development platform) and Raspberry Pi.  The combination of BeagleBone Black and the LightCrafter Display 2000 EVM will allow smaller developers to get into the projected display space quickly and inexpensively.  This will serve to promote DLP display experimentation in more application spaces such as Smart home displays, Internet of Things displays, Control panels (for factories and warehouses), Mobile smart TVs and of course Ultra-mobile pico projectors.

Key features and benefits of the DLP2000 chipset and EVM

• Extremely affordable pico display solution: Designed with developers in mind, this $99 EVM is a building block to pair with low-cost processors for display applications.

• Expanded display possibilities: The 0.2-inch diagonal display is based on the smallest DLP Products digital micromirror device (DMD), designed for compact, space-constrained display applications.

• Developer-friendly: The new EVM features a standard interface and plug-and-play functionality for quick assessment, allowing signals from the display controller to connect with any 24-bit RGB-capable processor and providing solutions with a high-definition (HD) aspect ratio.

• Compatible with low-cost processors: Inclusive software drivers and BeagleBone Black code examples ease the programming process.

Display market analyst firm PMA Research has been following the pico and personal projector market since its inception and has tracked steady growth in this product segment. PMA expects the pico and personal projector market Y/Y growth of more than 15% worldwide this year.