Barco demonstrates dedicated projection solutions for planetariums at IPS 2004
IPS2004, Valencia - At the International Planetarium Society conference 2004, that took place from July 5 till 8 in Valencia, Barco demonstrated its state-of-the-art solutions for large-screen dome projection. Six SIM4 DLP™ projectors filled l'Hemisfèric theatre with starry skies and breathtaking video images. As a world’s first, two Barco Galaxy WARP stereo three chip DLP™ projectors produced seamless, high-brightness active stereo images that immerse the audience in a stereoscopic virtual experience.
Barco’s SIM4 was specifically designed for multi-channel projection on curved and hemispherical screens, and feature perfect color matching, excellent color uniformity and color saturation, automated brightness matching, built-in geometry distortion, built-in edge –blending, and excellent contrast. The integrated lens shift can achieve 100% vertical optical off-axis projection allowing the placement of projectors in the perimeter of the dome.
Next to being a perfect match for powerful image generators, SIM4 DLP™ projectors can also be part of Barco’s I-Dome DLP™ projection system. This system allows the use of PC’s and can handle the complete visualization, including predistortion to produce a correct picture on a spherical screen and proprietary optical blending of the images to achieve the true black levels needed to project a starry sky.
Barco’s Galaxy WARP™ projectors can perform real time geometry distortion at double refresh rates (active stereo) and deliver a 5,000-lumen brightness, which not only makes them a bright solution for projection on large hemispherical domes but also adds the possibility to project active stereoscopic images. By predistorting the image inside the system, a correct geometry can be achieved without requiring any additional computational power from the image generator.
As an option, proprietary optical soft-edge blending can be combined with electronic blending to result in one multi-channel image with imperceptible blends in bright and dark images.
At the Barco booth # 21, visitors had the opportunity to gain knowledge of the various specific optimizations necessary to achieve sharp images with the true black levels needed to project a starry sky. This is combined with the brightness and versatility to cover the hemisphere with complementary scientific outreach programs and shows, totally surrounding the audience with multi-channel video and sound. Demonstrations included the easy lamp replacement, the dedicated Polaris software - driven by multi-channel image generators- calculating and generating user-specified pre-distorted test patterns, the versatile laser array system (LDAT) for fast, accurate alignment and easy maintenance, and the xRACU user-interface offering multi-system remote alignment.
Other Barco products at the show included the Solaris, a high-resolution 40-inch LCD display (Barco booth), a stand alone stereoscopic plug and play virtual environment (SGI stand nr 10), and an iQ networkable presentation projector (RSA Cosmos stand nr 15).
In just one year’s time, Barco’s projection systems became the leading projection solution for planetariums and science centers with installations in Germany (Planetarium Hamburg and Kiel, Berlin), France (l’Astronef, St-Etienne), Spain (Planetarium Valladolid, Museo de la Ciencia Barcelona), UK (Mme Tussaud London Planetarium, Armagh Planetarium), Greece (Athens “Eugenides” Planetarium, New Technology Museum and Science Center-Thessaloniki), Finland (Tampere Planetarium), Huntsville - Alabama, USA (Sci-Quest interactive Theater), and in Mexico City (Papalote Museo del Niño).
About Barco
Barco, an international company headquartered in Kortrijk, Belgium, provides visualization and display solutions for professional markets. Barco designs and develops solutions for large screen visualization, display solutions for life-critical applications, and systems for visual inspection. Barco has a network of subsidiaries, distributors and agents in almost 100 countries. Barco is quoted on Euronext Brussels and is a BEL 20 and a Next 150 company.
