Article
Christie gets into digital signage space with MicroTiles launch
Customizable video tiles propel the projection company into a new sector of the market.
November 12, 2009
Christie has announced a new product that will propel the visual display company into the digital signage industry. Christie this week launched MicroTiles, which are modular digital display tiles that can be stacked and clustered like building blocks to create display walls of any shape or scale.
Christie is a visual solutions company that traditionally specializes in DLP Ccnema projectors, LCD and DLP projectors, networking solutions, 35mm film projectors, rear screen projection modules and DLP projection cubes and wall display controllers.
In addition to customization and scalability, the MicroTiles system boasts superior color and image reproduction, a wide viewing angle and minimal seams on display walls with only a one-millimeter gap between the tiles. The technology is LED- and DLP-based and is designed for commercial use in public areas. The LED light engine, a key component of MicroTiles, is rated at 65,000 hours to half brightness usage, or nearly 7.5 years of continuous operation. The use of LED bulbs means no lamps or other consumable parts to replace.
With a screen size of 16 inches (408mm) wide x 12 inches (306mm) high, the tiles also feature a shallow depth of 10 inches (260mm) and require two inches (50mm) of minimal clearance for rear ventilation. Christie engineers designed the MicroTiles to be serviced from the front. The tiles are "self-aware" – meaning that time-consuming and costly color calibration needed to keep conventional video walls looking uniform, is automatically completed by the sensors built into the MicroTiles.
The walls of tiles are controlled by a simple unit that processes the signal from the most popular digital signage and media players.
Christie said the project has been in an R&D phase for two years.
"MicroTiles represent a distinct revolution in display technology, that allows users to create their own digital canvas or digital wallpaper," said Bob Rushby, the co-inventor and chief technology officer at Christie. "With MicroTiles, users can express their creativity and vision, and assemble the displays in ways that have previously been unattainable using current flat panel LCD, plasma or LED walls. Assemble the tiles any way you like, take them apart and re-assemble them in a new configuration, and they ‘recognize' each other every time and adjust the image automatically.
Christie MicroTiles will be on display at these North American events:
• IAAPA/G2, Nov. 17-20 in Las Vegas, Electrosonic booth # 5659 in the Theming and Tech Pavilion • I/ITSEC, Nov. 30 – Dec. 3 in Orlando, Fla, Christie booth # 1449 • Christie MicroTiles Product Showcase, Dec. 9 in New York City.
Christie MicroTiles will be launched in Europe at ISE, Feb. 2-4, 2010, and in Asia in the first quarter of 2010.
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