Question

Based on research on the digital light processor (DLP) chips. DLP chips have only been in production for several years, yet their manufacturer claims a "10-year plus" lifetime. These chips are micro-mirrors that move as much as 15 degrees, three times during a TV frame.

Question: Explain how the manufacturer could make such a claim when no one has had the chip for more than 4 years.

Answer 1

Digital light processor consists of a number of small tilted mirrors capable of producing colored images when light passes through. These mirrors turn about a certain angle for each image. DLP is mainly used for video projectors.

When a light is to be projected,first the light passes through a color spinning wheel and then bounces off from a chip which consists of a number of microsized tilted mirrors and passes through a lens after reflection from the mirrors and finally fall on the screen.

It is said that the mirrors move as much as 15degrees three times during a tv frame and it is assured to have 10+ years of lifetime. This lifetime is assured based on the amount of usage. In case of video projectors, they are mainly used only for power point presentations, in office meetings etc. They dont consume much power during usage and only run for a short span of time. So in these cases their lifetime can be assured to be 10 or more years.

In case of consumer use like tv etc or in case of cinemas, the time of usage of these DLP chips is high. These need to operate for a longer period of time and they consume more amount of power while running for a long time. So the chips get heated up and their internal functions may slow down which limits their lifetime to 4years. Some chips are available which make use of prisms to reflect the light on the screen but they are more expensive than the previous one.

Depending on the power consumption and usage the manufacturer decides the lifetime of a DLP.