BARCO Extends D-Cine Digital Cinema Projector Family
Combining the D-Cine projector family with the new ACSAR switcher and router and the RC567 control system results in the greatest degree of functionality in the marketplace
Las Vegas - March 5, 2001 - BARCO, the world leading developer and manufacturer of large screen display technology, has added two new members to its family of high-performance D-Cine Digital Cinema projectors. In addition to the D-Cine DP50, BARCO now introduces the DP60 and DP70 versions. This digital cinema projector family combines DLP Cinema™ chip technology from Texas Instruments, along with the industry’s most advanced lamp houses, and BARCO’s expertise in electronics, optics and mechanics.
BARCO is proud to add two new members to the family: the DP60 and the DP70. BARCO’s D-Cine DP60 is based on the well-established Cinemeccanica lamp console, whereas the DP70 relies on the compact, sturdy features of the Strong DPC digital projection console.
Combining these lamp houses with state-of-the-art ‘Dark Metal’ DLP Cinema™ DMDs and BARCO’s world leading illumination and optical expertise, these projection systems deliver high-contrast (1000:1) images with an industry standard light output of 12 ft Lambert. The fully digital 24 frames per second signal input guarantees natural film-like motion. The result is an image on the screen that is bright, stable, uniform images without jump, weave, flicker or focus flutter.
BARCO’s D-Cine projectors are highly flexible and easy-to-use standards-based solutions. They display a multitude of SMPTE standardized input signals on virtually all film screens up to 60 ft. wide. A wide range of lenses allows installation at almost any distance from the screen. Further, the dust proof construction results in a constant brightness level at all times, a consistently clean display quality and a very reliable operation.
Using the RC567 control system, these systems become easy-to-adopt standard solutions. The RC567 is a convenient, highly integrated and easy-to-use remote control that provides user-definable touch screen operation of the projector and the projection head and a theater automation interface. It comes in various versions from simple push button to advanced touch screen remote control. The simple push button control system features 4 LED indicators to give information on the projector, the power, the communication and the errors. By using the touch screen remote control, the user can operate advanced features of the projector without requiring a laptop computer, which would otherwise be required. In additon, service and setup functions are password protected to keep unauthorized users from accessing them.
In order to convert incoming signals to the SDI 292m operating standard of the D-Cine projectors, BARCO has developed a powerful video scaler and matrix switcher: the ACSAR. This robust, modular box enables the projectors to display all sources from VGA to S-XGA as well as HDTV inputs. In fact, this ACSAR opens new opportunities for STV advertising or alternative theater applications, such as live broadcast, PC presentations, art-house movies, to name a few. The picture-in-picture feature makes the projector ideal for PC gaming applications in the theater.
“To date, over 1,000,000 people are estimated to have witnessed Digital Cinema trials in well over 5,000 showings worldwide,” said Keith Morris, Marketing Manager Barco Digital Cinema. “By working together with producers, studios, distributors and exhibitors we will be able to achieve what it is all about: deliver a better picture for a better cinema experience for the movie audience!”
BARCO has four key activities: Barco Projection Systems, BarcoView, BarcoVision and Barco Graphics. In 2000, the entire Barco group, without BarcoNet, which was split off from BARCO in the second half of 2000, delivered a revenue of $751 million. Approximately 50 % of this revenue is realized outside Western Europe. BARCO has a network of subsidiaries, distributors and agents in 97 countries throughout the world. BARCO has been quoted on the Brussels Bourse since 1986, and is now quoted on Brussels/Euronext. BARCO is a BEL 20 and a Next 150 company.
