DataWall: Seamless, full motion, ultra high resolution projection display
 

Introduction:

Conventional projection display technology fails to reach really high resolution because of technical and developmental limitations on both display and computer display driver technology and a too conservative view of what can and should be achieved. We seek to vault these limitations by using just available technology creatively to acheive the highest resolution projection display to date.

Goals:

The DataWall will have a resolution of 2048 pixel high by 3840 pixels wide. This is the resolution currently proposed for the digital cinema standard. Unlike large scale video walls this display will be seamless, with no gaps between image panels or change in brightness across panels. The display will support full motion, full color imagery. High resolution video is possible with high resolution video camera input. Since the display is implemented by projection, it can be used in either front projection or rear projection, direct or folded optics mode.

The size of the display is variable and is set by the type and configuration of the projection lens and associated optics. This means that it can be integrated as another parameter into the physical design problem space. For example, one type of display might be a diarama overhead which needed to be 30 feet wide to fill the space. In this case a front projection approach from behind and above the audience would be appropriate. Another example might be a 6ft high display wall with which the viewers were to interact by pointing or drawing directly. In this case a folded optics rear projection approach would suffice. A final example uses multiple projectors outside a ¾ tranluscent sphere, solving the seam and distortion problems with creative optics and image warping, to create an immersive environment.
 
Floor/Wall/Ceiling display space Inside wall unit
 

Approach:

Light Modulation Engine
There are two clear front runners for the technology at the heart of this system.

Huges JVC has demonstrated seamlessly butting Kopin AMLCD Active Matrix modules as input to their the Image Light Amplifier. The TI Digital Micromirror Device, is an array of time addressable moving mirrors, which affords very sharp bright imagery at reasonable cost. Seamlessness is acheived by dispensing the light from a central arc source and then butting the multiple displays though an optical integration compositing device. Each of these engines will create a full color image of 1280 by 1024 pixels. Six arranged in a 2 by 3 grid will create a 2048 by 3840 pixel image.
 
 
TI Digital Light Modulator Schematic TI 2Chip Light Engine
 

Graphics Module
Feeding the light modulation engines are six Intel 200MHz Pentium Pro processors, each with an Integraph GLZ5T or the Digitial 4D60T graphics cards capable of high preformance 3D graphics rendering with Texture map support. The graphics engines allow us to create and navigate 3D information spaces, textures allow us to integrate anti-aliased text and imagery.
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System Diagrams

TI DMD Approach


 

Hughes ILA Approach

for more information contact ronmac@media.mit.edu