WHAT IS A PROJECTOR?
A projector or image projector is an optical device that projects an image onto a surface, commonly a projection screen. Most projectors create an image by shining a light through a small transparent lens, but some newer types of projectors can project the image directly, by using lasers
A device that is used to project rays of light, especially an apparatus with a system of lenses for projecting slides or film on to a screen.
A projector is an output device that takes images generated by a computer or Blu-ray player and reproduce them by projection onto a screen, wall, or another surface. In most cases, the surface projected onto is large, flat, and lightly colored. For example, you could use a projector to show a presentation on a large screen so that everyone in the room can see it. Projectors can produce either still (slides) or moving images (videos). A projector is often about the size of a toaster and weighs only a few pounds.
TYPES OF PROJECTORS
Types of a Projectors
On the basis of its display property, Projectors can be classified in three types. They are:
- Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
- Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
- Digital Light Processing (DLP)
Fig. 2 – Types of Projectors
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
A CRT projector is basically a video projecting device. It uses a tiny cathode ray tube which has high-brightness for image generation. A Lens is kept in front of the CRT face which focuses the image and enlarge it onto a big projection screen.
A CRT projector focuses on the image or video by its lenses to project it on screen. These images are processed with help of three separate colored (red, green and blue) CRT tubes.
Fig. 3 – Cathode Ray Tube
CRT projectors are not portable as they are huge in size and heavy in weight. Their electricity consumption is also high because of three light guns. At initial stage, it may be difficult and tricky to set up a CRT projector, but the users say that a CRT projectors have a brilliant and outstanding picture quality. People say that these projectors are nevertheless than newer technologies and are compatible with new improvement.
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
The meaning of Liquid Crystal Display is approximately clear from its name. The word LCD resembles two states of matter, the liquid and the solid. A Liquid Crystal Display uses liquid crystal to project an image or object.
Fig. 4 – LCD Projector
These types of display panel is generally used in computer, Laptops, TVs, portable video games and cell phones. Displays in LCD technology are much thinner as compared to CRT technology.
Digital Light Processing (DLP)
Digital Light Processing (DLP) is a video innovation made by Texas Instruments that is utilized for front and back projection units. DLP is used in both back and front projections. It is regular for back projection in TVs and also utilized in front projectors for units intended for organizations and classrooms.
Fig. 5 – DLP Projector
A DLP comes in two noteworthy structures i.e. 1 chip DLP and 3 chip DLP. Digital Light Processing makes utilization of micro mirrors called a Digital Micro mirror Device to reflect light and shading onto a screen. These micro mirrors are situated in a semiconductor chip and are little. Most of the DLP chips are manufactured by Texas Instruments.
Features of Projectors
- Contrast. Contrast in video displays is expressed in a ratio, as in 1,000,000:1 or 1,000:1. …
- Color accuracy and adjustments. You want you projector to display accurate colors, of course. …
- Lens zoom. …
- Lens shift. …
- Light output. …
- Low Noise. …
- Resolution. …
- Dynamic iris.
How a Projector Works
A projector is an optical gadget that projects a picture (or moving images) onto a surface, usually a projection screen. Most projectors create a photo through projecting a bright light via a small lens. However, some newer types of projectors can project the image directly, by using the usage of lasers.
Fig. 6 – How Projector Works
A digital retinal display, or retinal projector, is a projector that projects a photograph at once on the retina as a substitute of using an external projection screen.
Now, Pico Projectors are also in great demand as they are very small (handheld) in size and offers high quality image.
Applications of a Projector
The applications of Projectors include:
In Classrooms
Projectors are used in schooling area for describing a topic. With the aid of a projector, videos or photograph become more enjoyable and children can easily learn by fun way. Further, we can easily zoom-in or zoom-out the image to clear the vision and to search minor points.
In Companies
Projectors are used in big MNC’s and enterprises for meeting, presentation and conference purposes.
At Home
Projectors are even used as home theaters that permit you to see the movie or any serial on a massive display with a first-rate sound nice, which makes you feel like you are staring at live.
Fig. 7 – Applications of a Projector
STEPS FOR CONNECTING A LAPTOP TO A PROJECTOR
1. Make sure your computer and laptop are both turned off.
2. Connect the video cable (usually VGA) from your laptop’s external video port to the projector. (Unsure what video output you have?
3. Plug your projector into an electrical outlet and press the “power” button to turn it ON.
4. Turn on your laptop.
5. If you need audio for your presentation, connect the laptop’s “audio out” port to the projector, or to another sound system.
6. Sync the projector and laptop by holding down the FUNCTION (Fn) key and pressing one of the following keys to toggle: F4, F5, F7, F8
How to Set Up a Computer Projector for PowerPoint Presentation
The best way to share a PowerPoint presentation with a large group is to project your slides on a screen using a digital projector connected to your computer’s video output. Most modern computers and a growing number of tablets have a built-in Video Graphics Adapter (VGA) or High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) video output or can output video to one of those formats through a third-party adapter.Step 1
Press the “Power” buttons on your laptop and projector to turn them off.
Step 2
Connect a VGA or HDMI video cable to the Video output on your computer, being careful to insert the plug correctly. If your computer or tablet requires an adapter, insert it into the computer’s output and then plug the cable into it.Step 3
Connect the other end of the cable to the Video input on your projector.Step 4
Connect the 3.5 mm plug on the audio cable to your computer’s Line Out or Headphone jack, and insert the other end into your projector’s Audio input. If your projector does not have an audio input, you can plug speakers or another audio system into your computer’s output. Alternately, if your laptop and projector both use an HDMI connection and support audio-over-HDMI, you can skip this step.Step 5
Press the “Power” button on your projector to turn it on, and then do the same with your laptop computer.Step 6
Press the “Input” or “Source” button on your projector corresponding to the video input you used. On some projectors, you may need to press the button several times, or you might need to select the correct input from a menu.Step 7
Press your computer’s key combination to activate its video port if its display does not appear on the projector. Doing this typically requires that you hold down the “Function” key while pressing a certain F-key. Different F-keys are used from one computer to another, but you’ll generally look for a key with a picture of a monitor and a computer, just a monitor or a text label such as “LCD,” “CRT” or “VGA.”
Step 8
Set your laptop computer display resolution to match the resolution of the projector system.
- Open the Display Properties dialog box for your laptop computer, and click the Settings tab.
- Under Screen Area, move the slider to adjust the display resolution of your laptop. If you are unsure which setting to choose, try 800×600 pixels; this is a common setting for many projector systems.
- If you will be using audio in your presentation, connect the cable between your laptop computer and the projector, and test the volume by playing a sound file or part of your presentation.
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