Hitachi Demonstrates Its “DVD World” Concept and Ultravision DLP Television For First Time In North America At CES 2000
Jan 7, 2000 11:51 AM
Next Generation Digital Products for Home Theater and DVD Showcased
CES – LAS VEGAS, Nev., http://www.hitachi.us/tv, January 7, 2000 — The Home Electronics Division of Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT), today unveiled its all-digital, large screen High Definition (HD) rear projection television for the first time in North America. Hitachi is bringing together the world of “totally” digital entertainment through its Digital Vision 2000 and is demonstrating its home theater and DVD product lines throughout the show. In addition to the UltraVision/DLP tm television, Hitachi’s DVD Camcorder and DVD Player / CD Recorder Dual Deck will also be shown.
“Hitachi is welcoming the millennium by celebrating its 10th Anniversary of the UltraVision product line,” said Kenji Nakamura, director of business development for Hitachi America, Ltd., Home Electronics Division. “We are pleased to demonstrate several new products under this brand, including the UltraVision/DLP television and DVD products.”
Hitachi to Incorporate DLP Technology in “UltraVision Digital” Line-up CES 2000 marks the first North American showing of Hitachi’s rear projection television using Digital Light Processing (DLP tm) technology. UltraVision Digital/DLP is an all-digital, large screen high definition rear projection television and will be available to consumers in U.S. in the Fall of 2000.
“By combining Hitachi’s innovative video engineering and optical technology and success in traditional projection television with Texas Instrument’s DLP technology, we are poised to produce and deliver a rear projection television set with the most superior picture quality DLP has to offer,” stated Gary Bennett, executive vice president of sales for Hitachi America, Ltd., Home Electronics Division.
At the heart of UltraVision Digital/DLP is the Digital Micromirror Device (DMD), an optical semiconductor chip that has an array of microscopic mirrors mounted on a standard logic device. These tiny mirrors operate as optical switches to create high resolution, full color images, with close to 1 million mirrors contained on a single .8 inch chip. To give you an idea of their relative size, 7 of these mirrors measure 100 microns, approximately the diameter of a human hair. Coupling this device with Hitachi’s newly developed UltraVision 10-element lens system ensures maximum picture performance, such as 1280 X 720 display resolution, screen brightness five times that of a large tube television, and a contrast ratio of 500:1. With this level of performance and color accuracy, UltraVision /DLP represents the ultimate digital home theater experience.
Along with high definition (720p) display capability, the speed of the Digital Micromirror Device provides excellent motion video with virtually no artifacts, while the single chip design means no convergence issues and no phosphor burn, in an UltraSlim, UltraLight cabinet. To round out the home theater experience, Hitachi’s UltraVision/DLP tm includes premium sound as well, with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound for life-like sound for the latest Hollywood blockbusters.
In addition to its superior video and audio performance, UltraVision Digital/DLP is also a high quality XGA capable computer display monitor, enabling a PC interactive experience. Its ability to reproduce outstanding graphics is the key to its success as a multimedia solution. Families can surf the Web, send and receive e-mail, play video games, or perform school or work tasks on a large, high quality display right in their living room. With Hitachi’s advanced Picture in PC (PiPC) function, users can take advantage of both capabilities, achieving the ultimate in “Simulsurfing.” Now it will be possible to keep up with the game or monitor the news in a sub-picture, while the PC remains in the main screen. With its multiscan capabilities for television and PC, and inputs for a wide variety of sources including a DVD player, VCR, digital set top box and home PC, Hitachi’s UltraVision with DLP television is the one set to meet any and all viewing needs.