At InfoComm 2019, Digital Projection, Inc. previewed their new Satellite MLS Projection system. The keystone of this new system is the separation of the light source, with its associated power and thermal management, to a remote location, which enables a small, compact projection ‘Head’ that only contains the minimal optical and video processing. The Satellite MLS offers integrators simple building blocks that will allow them to address a wide range of applications, from single projector installs to complex, multi-channel domes, caves and simulators.

The projector ‘Head’ is compact, quiet, light-weight and consumes very little power. This offers huge benefits at every stage of a system design, from transportation and installation, to serviceability and lifespan. By separating the projection Head from the light source and linking the two by robust and flexible fiber-optic cables up to 100m long, Digital Projection’s latest innovation offers the installer many more options, particularly where space and access are restricted. The Satellite MLS will be developed around WUXGA, Native 4K and 8K resolutions and will also incorporate Digital Projection’s industry leading ‘MultiView’ technology.

Given the modular design of the system, there can be a one-to-many, or many-to-one relationship between the light sources and the projection Heads. Many multi-projector installations require only relatively low luminance per channel. The Satellite MLS is an extremely cost-effective means for a “one to many” relationship as a single 10,000 lumen light source can feed multiple projection Heads, equally splitting – and precisely controlling  the brightness of each image through the life of the system. This intelligent control mechanism will ensure precise matching of any number of channels, and will also dramatically reduce system downtime for scheduled maintenance. In a many-to-one relationship, multiple 10,000 lumen Satellite MLS light modules can be combined to feed a single, ultra-compact projection Head, resulting in a lumens-per-kilogram ratio that currently would require utilizing many large projectors to achieve.

Each projection Head is designed with a closed-loop cooling system, essentially sealing all of the critical optical components from ingress of contaminants. A further benefit of the reduced thermal dissipation and small size is that supplementary environmental enclosures become easier to design and manufacture, further reducing total system costs.

PMA Research, the industry’s leading Display Market analyst firm, produces numerous monthly and quarterly market reports about the projection industry. Their Quarterly Worldwide Census and Forecast series of reports shows the increasing popularity of laser- based projectors, and their substantial contribution to the projection industry’s revenues