How-To: Build a Video Projector
by: Andrew Seltz
Mix big screen home theater dreams with a skimpy budget and you
have the makings of a fantastic do-it-yourself project. Just think of
how impressed all your friends will be watching blockbuster movies on
a video projector you made with your own 2 hands. It was just these
motivations that landed me in front of my web browser digging for
information for this project. There are a lot of cheesy websites that
promise the moon and sell you a plastic magnifying lense and the
instructions to stick a television into a box and put this lens on the
front. You will get an image, but it will look like you made it
yourself. - dark, and blurry. Is there any way to make this work? The
short answer is yes. A video projector is essentially a high
resolution LCD video screen with a really bright light shining through
it and a projector lense enlarging onto the screen. New portable
models use very tiny, and expensive, LCDs
along with sophisticated
light sources and high quality lenses. If you are willing to end up
with a projector that isn't quite so tiny, you can scavenge the parts
you need from an LCD computer monitor and add some electronic
components and relatively inexpensive lenses. For $200-$500 you should
be able to create a high resolution bright projector that will really
impress your friends.
The parts you need are:
High resolution LCD computer monitor
Projector lens (and possibly 2 fresnel lenses depending on the plans you use)
Cooling fan(s) - bright lights get hot when you shove them in a box
Bright lightsource (one approach to the project is to use an old overhead projector)
Electrical power supply
There are dozens of websites with step-by-step plans for free or for
sale. Some sell parts that you'll need. Two that I've found to be
excellent are LumenLab and the DIY Projector Company. They both sell
parts and parts kits. LumenLab sells a very nicely produced PDF
instruction guide with detailed plans. DIY offers plans free, but
expects that you'll buy one of their kits to actually make the
projector. They both use the LCD in a box with a lamp approach.
InventGeek has a great article explaining the whole process in depth
including the theory behind projectors. I recommend you check it out.
The DenGuru website shows another approach to the project. They use an
old overhead projector for both the lightsource and lens. You strip
the LCD panel out of its frame and lay it on the projector like a
transparency. Ugly, but it works! Check out their tutorial.
Break out your toolkit and get busy - and let's be safe out there
people!
About The Author
Andrew Seltz is a Go-To Guy! His wide range of interests and experiences have made him a walking search engine for his friends and colleagues. His passion for film and video production have made him particularly interested in Big Screen Televisions and Home Theaters. Visit his site: www.AndrewSeltz.com
|
Guide to Buying a Flat Screen TV
Guide to Buying a Flat Screen TV
by: Nathan James
If you?re ready to invest in one of the fabulous new flat screen televisions that everyone is talking about these days, there are some things you should know. There are several different types of flat screen technology, and it?s important you understand the pros and cons before you spend thousands of dollars on a TV.
Most people buy electronics as a long term investment, hoping their TV will last them for many years to come. By understanding the basics of flat screens you are much more likely to make a wise decision.
Plasma versus LCD
The two major types of options when it comes to buying a flat screen TV is plasma or LCD (liquid crystal display). Plasma televisions are more expensive than LCD televisions, but the vast difference in price seems to be getting smaller. However, if you?re looking for a massive flat screen TV, plasma is often your only option. The larger the LCD, the...
Guide to Buying a Flat Screen TV
Lcd tv > Guide to Buying a Flat Screen TV
HDTV ? The High Resolution Television
HDTV ? The High Resolution Television
by: Gagandeep Dhaliwal
The expansion of hdtv is High-definition television. The hdtv means television signals broadcast with a higher resolution than traditional formats like NTSC, S?CAM, PAL. The hdtv is broadcasted digitally, except for early analog formats in Europe and Japan.
Historically, the term high-definition television was also used to refer to television standards developed in the 1930s to replace the early experimental systems, although, not so long afterwards, Philo T. Farnsworth, John Logie Baird and Vladimir Zworkin had each developed competing TV systems but resolution was not the issue that separated their substantially different technologies. It was patent interference lawsuits and deployment issues given the tumultuous financial climate of the late 20's and 30's. Most patents were expiring by the end of WW2 leaving the market wide open and no worldwide standard for television agreed upon....
HDTV ? The High Resolution Television
Lcd tv > HDTV ? The High Resolution Television
Gaming Laptops - The Five Essential Features To Consider When Buying A Gaming Laptop
Gaming Laptops - The Five Essential Features To Consider When Buying A Gaming Laptop
by: Laura Alter
Gone are the days when you would have been laughed at if you walked into an all-night LAN party carrying your trusty laptop and expecting to hang with the giant computer towers standing at everyone?s feet. The gaming laptop computers of today sport huge, crisp LCD screens, cutting-edge video cards and full-size keyboards. Not only can these gaming laptop computers hang with the standard clunky computer tower, but they can also be ordered fully custom to meet the exact specifications of any gamer.
Since there are so many customizable components in these laptops, a standard practice has been to create what some call a ?system builder.? This is the page where you get to add and subtract components through drop-down menus in order to create the best gaming laptop computer for your needs and your budget. This type of page can be overwhelming to someone...
Gaming Laptops - The Five Essential Features To Consider When Buying A Gaming Laptop
Lcd tv > Gaming Laptops - The Five Essential Features To Consider When Buying A Gaming Laptop
10 Top Tips To Consider When Purchasing A Digital Camera
10 Top Tips To Consider When Purchasing A Digital Camera
by: David Crossley
A digital camera is an electronic device to transform images into electronic information. New digital cameras are typically multifunctional and the same device can take pictures, video and audio.
Many digital cameras can connect directly to a computer to transfer data. Early cameras used the PC serial port. USB is the most commonly used method, though some have a Firewire port or use Bluetooth. Some cameras are able to attach to computer networks wirelessly via Wi-Fi.
Here are 10 top things to consider when looking to purchase a digital camera: -
1. Price: This can vary from around $100 to upto $10,000 for a high end professional camera. You can buy one with good resolution and options for under $600. Ones with more manual control settings can be found for around $600-2000 dollars, usually suited to serious amateurs.
2. Resolution: To print good quality...
10 Top Tips To Consider When Purchasing A Digital Camera
Lcd tv > 10 Top Tips To Consider When Purchasing A Digital Camera