With anything in technology and electronics, there is one constant. Technology is always changing, most often for the better. For gadget geeks, that can mean hours of pouring over tech specs and user reviews. For the average electronics consumer, it tends to cause more confusion than good. As far as projectors and rear projection tv’s go, the latest and greatest in technology is best reflected in the open competition between three technological advances, DLP, 3LCD, and LCoS.

DLP, or digital light processing: In DLP projectors, the image is created by microscopically small mirrors laid out in a matrix on a semiconductor chip. Each mirror represents one or more pixels in the projected image. These mirrors can be repositioned rapidly to reflect light directly through the lens. Colors are either produced by placing a spinning color wheel between the light source and the micro-chip or by using individual light sources to produce the primary colors.

3LCD or 3 Liquid Crystal Display: In short, 3LCD is a sophisticated technology that utilizes 3-chips to deliver color. The light source projects white light onto a combination of mirrors that split the light into its three basic video colors. Each of the three LCD chips take the electrical signal they receive and creates the image. The three color images are combined using a prism to form a full-color image consisting of millions of colors. The singular, full-color image passes through a lens and is projected onto a screen.

LCoS or Liquid Crystal ove Silicon: LCoS is a “micro-projection” or “micro-display” technology typically applied in projection televisions. It is a reflective technology similar to DLP projectors; however, it uses liquid crystals instead of individual mirrors. By way of comparison, 3LCD projectors use transmissive LCD chips, allowing light to pass through the liquid crystal. In LCoS, liquid crystals are applied directly to the surface of a silicon chip coated with an aluminized layer, with some type of passivation layer, which is highly reflective. Thus, the light source reflects off of the silicon chip as opposed to being passed through the liquid crystals.

As is the case with any technology. there are advantages and disadvantages in the three examples here. Picture quality, projector or tv size, and cost are all considerations one should make before choosing any of these three. Armed with these explanation, one can most certainly make a well informed choice.

There are a lot of ways to enhance the experience of a home theater, but few consider the things that will keep your projector operating at the optimum level. The projector is not like a lawn mower, it won’t need an oil change, or need the ever-elusive oil/fuel mix. You won’t need to change strings like on your weed whacker, or rotate the tires. Fortunately, every common maintenance consideration you will have for a projector is simple, and easy to do.

The first tip for basic upkeep of the projcetor is to keep a fresh lamp inside. The light source is maybe the most important part of a projector,…no light, no picture! There are ways to tell how long your lamp has been used, like the lamp life counter found on most projectors. Be sure to reset the counter when you change the lamp. If your lamp is rated for say 3000 hrs of use, when the counter gets about 1500 hrs, start shopping for a new replacement lamp. Not all projectors have a lamp life counter, so think about keeping a log, or write down the dates the lamp was changed. You can get fairly accurate in predicting how long your lamp has left if you know how much you use the projector, and the time since the last lamp change.

While changing your lamp, it is the perfect time to clean the filters that are inside the projector. Doing this will eliminate the possibility of the filter being clogged with excess dust, thus causing the projector to overheat. If the projector overheats, it could cause the lamp to burn out early, or even explode. Also, be sure to check the lens for excess dust or fingerprints. Use a cleaning cloth that does not scratch the lens as you clean it. Thes tips should help maintain your projector, and ensure that it projects the best images possible.