SANYO

DVI means Digital Video Interface, and is, as its name suggests, designed for a digital rather than an analogue input. It can be also used on some Sanyo projectors for optional devices such as wireless communication and is a true plug and play input. This type of connection is becoming more common within the range of display products.

A component signal is even more preferable to a composite signal than an S-Video signal. This is because the colour signal has been further separated into red and blue individual or component parts, with a separate luminance (brightness) signal. (The green signal is not transmitted, but reconstituted electronically by mixing the red and blue signal components).Using this method to relay signal information improves picture quality because crosstalk or interference between the video signals is reduced.

You can if the projector you are using has a monitor out port. But if not, you could connect your equipment using a VGA splitter, which has two outputs.

Do not allow the projector to become overheated. Most causes of lamp failure can be attributed to excessive heat. Always follow the instructions in the user manual for powering down the projector after use, to ensure that an adequate cool-down period has been allowed to reduce lamp and projector temperatures sufficiently. Always use your projector in an environment that is clean and dust-free, if possible, and make sure that the air filters are cleaned regularly. If your projector has an 'economy mode' use it whenever full brightness is not necessary.

Although it is hoped that a projector lamp will continue to operate satisfactorily throughout its anticipated working life, it has to be accepted that failure may occur before that anticipated time has elapsed. General Failure: The lamp in a projector is categorised as a consumable item, and even with proper use and maintenance a small proportion of lamps may fail well before their expected life span has elapsed. Neither the life expectancy nor the performance of a lamp can be guaranteed, and the duration of its useful operation will depend to a large extent on the conditions under which it operates. Usage Failure: As a projector lamp ages, the ends of the two electrodes within the strike chamber cavity gradually erode and the gap between them slowly increases. Erosion of these electrodes will occur every time the lamp is started and eventually, a point is reached at which the Ballast Power Unit can no longer supply the amount of current demanded by the lamp in order to strike and maintain the arc between the electrode tips. It is at this stage that performance deteriorates, with the light output falling off , the lamp starting to flicker at switch on or going out soon after strike up, or even failing to come on at all. Temperature Failure: Two factors that always result in high lamp glass temperatures are the non-adherence to correct power down procedures, and blocked or partially blocked air filters. It is essential that the projector be powered down properly after use in order to allow the cooling fans to reduce the lamp temperature sufficiently. The hottest part of a working lamp is the strike stem containing the two electrodes, and if the airflow over the lamp is in any way restricted by blocked filters, temperatures around the strike chamber will rise sufficiently to soften the glass. The usual consequence of this is that the pressurised strike chamber balloons outwards at its weakest point, producing a bulge or swelling in the stem. The stem itself is pulled off axis as a result, effectively moving the strike area away from the focal point of the reflector. Elevated temperatures can also generate microcracks in the stem, allowing the ingress of air that is then burned by the heat from the lamp arc, usually leaving black oxide deposits on the internal surfaces of the chamber walls as well as on the strike electrodes. The microcracks grow rapidly, and after a very short time the integrity of the structure is compromised and the stem shatters. Any mains voltage interruption or power cut, however momentary, will produce similar results to those outlined above.

Just like any light bulb used in other applications, projector lamps have an expected operating life span. The lamp life is expressed in hours and typically numbers 1000 to 2000 depending on the model of projector. The success or failure rate of the lamps is based on a complicated statistical anaysis of much research and test data, and the end result is that a majority - but not all - of the lamps will meet the life expectancy specified. Some will fail much sooner than others, but this is part of the acceptable operating range of the rating.

For most business presentations, either technology would be satisfactory. A projector using LCD technology, however, does have advantages under certain conditions. LCD images generally tend to be more vibrant with richer colours, and full-motion video is better from an LCD projector than a DLP projector of similar type. Detailed spreadsheet presentations also appear slightly sharper through an LCD projector. Not that DLP technology produces fuzzy or blurred images - it doesn't, but when compared side by side with the same input signal, the LCD is typically a bit sharper and perhaps preferable. Another advantage of LCD is that it is more light efficient, producing a higher ANSI lumen output than a comparable DLP model with the same wattage lamp.

DLP (Digital Light Processing) projectors use a high-speed, rotating colour wheel to create an image, reflecting light from thousands of micromirrors (one mirror per pixel). Portable DLP projectors can only display one colour at any one time, so moving images can suffer from a coloured patterning effect on the screen. In most single-chip DLP projectors, a clear (white) panel is included in the rotating colour wheel along with the red, green and blue in order to give increased brightness. This, however, can lower the colour saturation and the DLP image appears less rich and vibrant.

As projectors become smaller and brighter, it is tempting to purchase something like a 2000 ANSI lumen, sub 3kg model believing this to be adequate for the purpose. Whilst this may be true, the small ultraportable projectors were never designed to dissipate the greater heat build up associated with running for such extended periods. You would do better to consider a larger, portable-style unit, which with its larger LCD panels and increased cooling capacity would be more able to cope with the operating conditions, so increasing the projector's life and reducing lamp costs and service down time.

One of the first things to consider is what the projector will be used for - will you be using it for video or as a monitor for data presentations? If your priority is for video, Sanyo have a range of specialist Home Theatre units, the 'PLV' models. Particularly with data projectors, you will need to consider things like room size and how many people are expected to be in the audience. These factors will determine such things as sceen size, which, in turn is a factor when choosing the type of lens to use. The sort of images being presented is also important. For data inputs with detailed images such as spreadsheets, then a minimum of XGA resolution would be required. If only power point presentations or video is being used, then a projector with an SVGA resolution would be adequate and less expensive. Lighting conditions must also be considered. Can any natural daylight entering the room be blocked with blinds or curtains, for instance? As a rough guide to requirements, 500 ANSI lumens per square metre of screen surface should give a bright and well-contrasted image.