Tri-LCD 3D projectors: it's happening!

Both users and manufacturers have been turning over the idea of a tri-LCD 3D projector. In view of the lack of available products currently on the market, in contrast to DLP projectors that are already on sale in the 720p segment, certain questions need to be rasied.

We decided to put our questions to Frédéric Haton, head of marketing of Epson France projector division.

Digital Versus: Is it technically possible to make a general consumer tri-LCD 3D projector (single projector set-up)?

Frédéric Haton: The answer is, it is.

Digital Versus: Why aren't there any such products currently on the market, while there are in the DLP segment?

FH: Theoretically, both DLP and LCD technologies can display images in 3D seeing as they both use components with a refresh rate of 100 or 120 Hz. Right now however (Editor's note: Frédéric Haton says that this is his personal opinion), various obstacles exist to rolling it out for the general consumer. The products are incompatible with home Blu-Ray players and you need a computer Blu-Ray with the NVIDIA graphics card + glasses kit to view a film in 3D. The risk is that customers may find such a set-up too complicated. The lack of content on the market also means that there's no point launching products at the current time.


Digital Versus: How long can we expect to have to wait to see tri-LCD 3D projectors?

FH: There won't be any 3D Epsons in the first half of 2010. The first announcements will come at IFA, with, if all goes well, availability around November 2010.

Digital Versus: Will you, as with DLPs, start your campaign in the 720p segment?

FH: Epson will start with Full HD 3D. There's currently only one 720p product in the catalogue and nothing further has been planned on the roadmap going forward.

Digital Versus: Will it be possible to convert (via a firmware update) products currently on the market to make them 3D compatible?

FH: A model such as the Epson EH-TW5500 could in theory give 3D output with their C2Fine panels. However, right now, we're only able to say that new products will be 3D compatible. No guarantees for current products.

Digital Versus: Is Epson working on the transformation of 2D content to 3D like Samsung has with the UE46C7700 TV?

FH: Epson is working on this and a good few other technologies (such as wireless data transmission). We don't yet have any information on which technologies will be available in our forthcoming products.


Thanks to Epson for the answers to our questions on tri-LCD 3D technology. The news is reassuring and it looks as if we won't have to wait too long (September 2010). Rendezvous at IFA for more on this.


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