Download - Better Light, Better Image HPA Technology Retreat 2012 Laser Engines for Digital Cinema Have we checked all the boxes? Bill Beck Co-founder; EVP [email protected].

Better Light, Better Image

HPA Technology Retreat 2012Laser Engines for Digital Cinema

Have we checked all the boxes?

Bill BeckCo-founder; EVP

[email protected], NH


Laser Light Engines – at a glance• LLE is a VC backed start-up in Salem, NH• Multi-disciplinary; systems oriented; image quality and IP-centric

• Vision: create a new category of solid-state illuminationLaser-driven, no-speckle, fiber-coupled RED/GREEN/BLUE (RGB) light

• Mission: develop and sell RGB laser light “engines” to performance projection markets, including D-Cinema

• Strategy: universal modules and engines for retrofit and new designs• Core competencies: systems approach; laser design; despeckling; projector interface;

fiber delivery


AND THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGYRequirements drive demand…


Critical RequirementsFull brightness 3D •Constant >11 fL; 60 - 200 klm…pre-3D cut•No speckle on silver or white high gain screens for all types of content

Retrofit installed base•>50% of screens converted; most with new projectors•Universal engines will drive high production volumes

Better image quality•Complete despeckling (SCR% = Xenon)•Increased contrast ratio (>5000:1) and bit depth (>10)

Reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)•Lower OPEX must pay back first cost of retrofit engines


EXCEEDS THESE REQUIREMENTSLLE Technology…


Full Brightness 3D• High output, low étendue modules and engines

– Key to power scaling and efficient fiber delivery (retrofit)

• Optimum primaries maximize lm/laser watt (>300)• Maximum lm/W minimizes projector thermal load• Despeckled RED/GREEN primaries work in 3D

– Silver and white, high gain screens


Retrofit Installed Base• Interfaces demonstrated for all major Cinema and

performance projection designs• Small, flexible fiberoptic cables connect engine to projector

– Single White; single RGB or multi-RGB bundles – Pedestal, Booth Rack or Server Closet options– 2-100 meter remote delivery demonstrated

• Universal, stackable engines drive volume manufacturing– Simplifies engine design; reduces cost– Provisioning and sparing more flexible and economical


Better Image Quality• Complete 2D and 3D despeckling in side by side tests vs. Xenon

– All types of content live or animation / motion or still– All types of screens silver or white / high gain or unity gain– All types of projectors DLP® and LCOS / D-Cinema and non-cinema– All major 3D systems Polarization / Spectral

• SCR% = to Xenon out of the laser; no projector modifications required– Key is massive spectral broadening – NOT large numbers of discrete narrowband lasers

• Spectrally broadened primaries enable despeckling; high f# and contrast• Low étendue, pulsed lasers enable >5000:1 contrast; greater bit depth


Keys to lower TCO• Low acquisition cost

– Universal retrofit design drives highest production volumes– Highest efficacy primaries reduces required laser watts and cooling– Use of mature, lowest $/W pump and BLUE diodes

• Long lifetime– Use of longest lifetime pump and BLUE diodes will enable >30,000 hour lifetime

• Reduced light engine and HVAC power consumption• Figure of merit is: $ / klm-hour

– 6kW Xenon - $0.14 /klm-hr (does not include original lamp/lamp house BoM)– Retrofit Laser Engine - $0.07/klm-hr (Lower for integrated engine)

Better Light, Better ImageRemaining Challenges Power Scaling for Brighter 3D Complete despeckling on white and silver high gain screens Universal fiber-based retrofit designs Hollywood ready image quality Simplified regulatory requirements (LIPA focus) Manufacturing scale-up and cost reduction

LLE has checked all the technology boxes – even knocked the 3D speckle curveball out of the park……now it’s time to build and ship some laser light engines