Desktop Tiled Display

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This work is done in collaboration with JVC USA. While computer chips and networks have increased exponentially in performance, displays have remained stuck to the 1 million pixels (1 Mpixels) barrier (1280x1024). In collaboration with JVC, we built a 4 mega pixels high resolution desktop display at UC San Diego and at the University of Sydney. Although the idea of tiling displays is not new, we solved the problem of uniform illumaination and colors across the tiled projector display. Variations can be due to the light sources, the optical components (filters, mirrors, ...) or the chip inside each projector. As a result, the image produced is not uniform: variations of colors and/or intensity occur. We solved the problem by using a common light source for the projectors. The white light is created by a Xe arc lamp, passes through a set of red, green , blue dichroic filters. A bundle of optical fibers guide the red, green , blue light to each projector D-ILA chips. Desktop size was achieved by the use of short throw lens fitted on each projector. The image created by one projector is 21 inch diagonal. The total image area for a 3 x 1 display is 50.4 inches by 12.6 inches. The Sydney display is driven by a PC cluster with graphics cards; the UCSD display by a three Infinite Reality 2 SGI Onyx2. The UCSD display was extended from a 1 x 3 display to a 3 x 3 display by Steve Reinsch (JVC) during 2001. Research in Sydney is proceeding independently from UCSD. It will focus on improving the optics of the display and on a thorough characterisation of the display. The display is currently available to researchers and students. This project was initiated by: Dr Bernard Pailthorpe (Associate Director at the San Diego Supercomputer Center, UCSD from April 1999 to December 2000) Professor of Physics at the University of Sydney, Director of Sydney VisLab Dr Nicole Bordes (VisLab manager at the San Diego Supercomputer Center, UCSD from May 1999 to December 2000); Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney, Sydney VisLab Dr William Bleha, Vice President of Engineering at JVC. We would like to acknowledge Mr Shihara, president of JVC - Carlsbad division, for supporting this project.