Small Form LCD Projectors?

HRieke asks: "Does anyone know as to where to buy low power LCD projectors or parts? I have two needs on this matter: I am computerizing my car in conjunction with my Master's thesis (if approved), the second as a wall video display. Ideally, I would use the device with a PC in the trunk, or LART . My idea is to have the a display projected on the windshield, from over the left shoulder, displaying realtime IR images, possible hazards, and GPS location, at a low lumens level, and for the unit to have small power requirements / low heat waste. Resolution is not that important, 800x600x16bbp is ideal, but I'd settle for even for 640x480x8bbp. After searching a bit, I found the DLP units from Texas Instruments. Be sure to look at the DLP image library too. Are there any other projectors like these?"

LCD / DLP projectors

[gatzke]

There are a few small projectors out on the market. Many are now XGA resolution (1024x768), under 5 lbs, and around 800-1000 lumens. The footprint is usually smaller than a sheet of letter paper (A4 for you Eurotrash and other non-American)

I think Compaq has the smallest version at 4.5, XGA, 800 lumens and 5-6 K$.

I wanted a simple LCD screen (like from a laptop) so I could roll my own laptop/lugable PC. I hate laptop keyboards, and my destop could be "compressed" to fit in a small bag. I couldn't find anything reasonable. I could rip off a laptop LCD, but they are usually hardwired or use special chips to run a signal (no standard analog VGA connector) Sony glasstron goggles are probably the best bet, but the 800x600 SVGA version is still 2.5 K$.

Good luck.

ed

Re:NOT over the left shoulder, surely?

[ecloud]

I *should* test this out with a photoslide and a flashlight and have a friend project the slide image to see what the best angle and location are.

Actually you will need a lens to project the image, in front of the flashlight and slide. It'd be easier to test with a slide projector. Check thrift stores for old ones (there are types which are more compact and cheaper than the usual carousel kind).

Re:LCD / DLP projectors

[Zoyd]

I think Compaq has the smallest version at 4.5, XGA, 800 lumens...

Plus corporation [pluscorporation.com] just announced [justreviewed.com] the world's smallest projector [ti.com]: 2.9 lbs., 7 x 9 x 1.9", XGA, 800 lumens, no price yet.

Re:LCD / DLP projectors

[Zoyd]

Better link for Plus Corporation [plus-america.com].

'heads-up' projection, geometry & optics

[dutky]

You may have a small problem trying to project and image onto the windowshield, that will be visible to the driver, from behind the drivers seat. Since the windowshield is at a 45 degree angle, any image projected horizontally towards the windowshield from inside the vehicle will be reflected down towards the top of the dash board, not back towards the driver. (obviously this could be solved by mounting a vertical sheet of glass between the driver and the windowshield, but this poses some fairly severe safty hazzards and would probably make the vehicle no longer street legal)

A traditional 'heads-up' display is projected upwards (from a point approximately between the viewer's feet or knees) onto an inclined glass sheet which reflects the image back toward the viewer. In order to achieve a similar effect in an automobile you will need to mount the projector in the dashboard behind the instrument pannel, project upwards through the windowshield. With a small enough projector this shouldn't be a problem, but will require a fair amount of physical modification to the vehicle itself./P

NOT over the left shoulder, surely?

[BandSaw]

If you are going to see your display reflected in the windscreen glass, don't you need to have the display on the top surface of the dashboard, pointing upwards?

The only way I can see your "over the shoulder" method working is if you have a mirror on the dash to reflect the image back up to the windscreen glass.

As far as the display goes, I would suggest a small color tv screen (tube style, not lcd), due to the much lower cost and higher brightness. The down side of this is that putting in a tube will be more invasive to the structure of the car.

You might want to visit a cadillac dealer and see how the night vision system which comes with some of the new caddys is set up. They project the night vision image up onto the windscreen, AFIK.

Re:NOT over the left shoulder, surely?

[hrieke]

Well, yes.
One of the things that I have noticed while driving is that there is a good reflection from the driver and passenger seat, if you don't mind being vane. (grin)
I *should* test this out with a photoslide and a flashlight and have a friend project the slide image to see what the best angle and location are.
I will check out the cadillac system here in the near future in any case.
When (and *if*) this does come to completion, I will Open Source the whole thing, and post a copy here.
And thanks!

Henry

Re:XFree86 compatible projectors

[hrieke]

At work we have an Epson LCD projector, and it works with the Sun laptops, and a Dell laptop with Linux on it.
So I know they do work.

Re:'heads-up' projection, geometry & optics

[agent_of_eris]

Getting the projector to reflect off from the windshield will still not achieve the desired effect. A reflection of the projector would give you the same results as looking directly into the projector. You could, however use your windshield to reflect the image from a dash-mounted LCD pannel.