LCOS is used in order to produce large and enhanced image to raise the viewing experience. For most of us, it would be a new technology but the reality is that it is not widely used in the past. Like other HD technology, LCOS too guarantees picture clarity and is used in all kinds of televisions like front and rear projection. This technology uses silicon semiconductors in order to direct electric current in one direction. In case of LCOS, there is no need of using and turning tiny mirrors on and off. Instead, it uses liquid crystals that when energized forms a path of light.

When light passes via LCD panels towards lens, it gets modulated by the liquid crystals when light passes through it. You can call it as transmissive technology. LCOS combines these two innovative concepts. Instead of using tiny mirrors, it uses liquid crystals. Opening and closing of these crystals will decide whether the light will reflect from the mirror or it will get blocked. In this way images gets displayed on the screen. It uses layers of liquid crystals that control light on individual pixels. Under basic components of LCOS technology comes lamp that provides white light, one splitter that is used to split up incoming single-color light into primary colours like red, green and blue. Mirrors are used to separate various colours that falls on separate LCOS devices. Later on these colours are combined using prism and colour image is magnified and displayed on the screen. Image produced must be magnified in case of LCOS system because it generates sharp and small image. Pixels generated using this process are natural and smooth.

Such an enhanced concept will definitely demand high price. Products using LCOS technology are much costlier than other LCD or DLP products. In terms of weight, don’t compare LCOS products with DLP and LCD units. Even the lightest LCOS product weighs 12 pounds. Due to so many factors like high price and heavy weight, this technology is not released in the market that deals with cheap portable projectors. You can notice that in today’s world, people still prefer to go for cheap and best monitors and that uses LCD and DLP concept. This is the reason why LCD and DLP get more attention than LCOS. No one can deny this fact that LCOS is the future technology in television world.

It’s not so easy to develop this technology widely for televisions but one thing is sure that whenever this technology will enter in the market, it will make LCD and DLP monitors dull.

This article will help you understand the pros and cons of LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon) and DLP (Digital light processing) screens. It will help you to make the best choice when you are confused between LCOS and DLP screens. Though both LCOS and DLP are worth purchasing, however understanding their differences will help you to make a right purchase.  They do have some similarities, yet the differences between them are worth knowing when you are confused about what to buy.

It is believed that LCOS screen produces excellent and natural image as compared to the LCD or DLP display system. The images produced by LCOS are smooth and refined whereas images produced by DLP have rainbow effects which generally bothers viewers. LCOS screens are brighter and slimmer than DLP screens. Therefore DLP screens require more space in your room as compared to LCOS. The size of LCOS screens have unlimited potential for pixels count. Most of LCOS screens are available in the SXGA (1365×1024) resolution class and higher.

In a DLP screen the light is separated into three components and then combined back to create images. For this DLP screens require two beam splitters whereas LCOS display systems require four splitters as the light is polarized and then analyzed to create images. The image produced by LCOS screens is brighter with wide view angle. Brightness and wide viewing angles adds as a plus point to LCOS TV.

LCOS display systems are quite expensive as compared to DLP display systems. If you don’t want to spend much on your display system then you can go for DLP screens. The cost of LCOS display system depends on resolution that the model provides. However the price of LCOS display system is comparatively low than the DLP home theater projectors. There are few models of LCOS screens available in the market as compare to DLP screens. Both types of screens require lamps as their light source and LCOS screens have limited lamp life which is 1000 to 1500 hour. In every three to five years, the lamps need to be replaced. Some of the models of LCOS screens require good money for the replacement of lamp as compared to LCD or DLP screen lamps.

The most common model of LCOS TV with Sony and JVC market whereas most common models of DLP screen with Samsung and Mitsubishi market. Both pros and cons should be properly checked of LCOS and SLP screens before choosing any type of screen. It is important for you to consider reviews and talk to someone who owns LCOS or DLP screen to choose the best option.

LCOS (Light Crystal over Silicon) is a technological expertise which is used in display systems. LCOS shares a few elements with LCD and DLP (Digital Light Processing) displays. In this way, LCOS systems are not absolutely new today, though it was only in recent times that commercial manufacture became feasible. This unique system is all-set to take over LCDs. Features of LCOS make it stand out of the crowd. To know more about LCOS, explore the account below.

Technology of LCOS

1. It is a reflective technology that uses liquid crystals in place of individual mirrors.

2. Usually three LCOS chips are used by LCOS-based projectors.

3. Technology of LCOS is usually of very high resolution.

4. The latest LCOS machines are light and weigh about 12 lbs. But they can be much bigger and heavier than that.

5. LCOS technology has not yet been tailored for cheaper mass-market portable projectors. Many well-informed people seeking the most stylish home theater solutions go for products using LCOS technology because of its unique mix of performance characteristics that neither LCD nor DLP offer.

Functioning of LCOS

Functioning of LCOS commences with an intense light beam passed through a condenser lens. This lens focuses and directs the beam. Its filter ensures that only visible light can pass through. The white light is separated into colored components by polarizing it with a light beam splitter. Then, the single light beam is separated into three and each has a different color (red, green and blue).

The mechanism may also use dichroic mirrors to detach differently colored light beams. Such mirrors reflect or block some wavelengths of light while they allow the rest to pass through.

Then every individual beam hits a designated LCOS micro-device. This device has a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a clear thin-film transistor (TFT) and a silicon semiconductor. The colored beam passes via polarizing filters and strikes the micro-device. The liquid crystals are a control device and manage the quantity of light hitting the pixilated, reflective surface of the silicon semiconductor. The more voltage received by a particular pixel, results in passing through the more light.

Through a prism, the light reflected from these micro-devices is passed. This prism merges the light and generates a full-color image. This is directed through a projection lens that delivers the image on the screen.

Advantages of LCOS

1. Due to partially inbuilt high resolution and partially to high fill factors on the chips, visible pixelation on an LCOS machine is absent. So the resulting video image emerges as smooth as silk.

2. With LCOS the pixel edges are likely to be smoother. This gives them an analog-like response. Practically, this gives the LCOS a smoother image, more natural feel and look and feel.

3. Color wheel is absent in it which completely avoids chances of being bothered by eye-strain, rainbow artifacts, or headaches.

Features of LCOS make it unique among the crowd of DLP and LCD. LCOS has definitely a promising and budding future.

LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon) is a micro display technology that is used in display systems. This technology has some elements of LCD (Liquid crystal display) and DLP (Digital light processing) displays.  It is a reflective technology like DLP projectors; however it uses liquid crystals in place of individual mirrors. In terms of comparison, LCD projectors use transmissive LCD layer that allows light to pass through the liquid crystal. In LCOS, Liquid crystal is applied straight on a silicone layer coated with an aluminized layer with some type of passivation layer which is highly reflective to produce a bright and high contrast image. LCOS technology can produce high quality image with great resolution as compare to LCD and plasma display technologies.

LCOS display system project excellent and natural image as compare to the LCD or DLP display system.  LCD and DLP have a tendency to create rainbow effects which usually bother viewers whereas LCOS produce smooth and refined images. Most of LCOS are in the SXGA (1365×1024) resolution class and higher which makes them expensive.  As the LCOS display system requires three complex micro devices to create a quality image. Therefore the cost of this system is much more as compare to LCD or DLP systems.

The two main categories of LCOS displays are three panel and single panel. The three panel designs use three chips, one per display that shows the red, green and blue components in sequence to create an image.  These three panel LCOS depends on two beam splitter within the television to join the colors together, creating an image. Whereas, the single panel LCOS design use juts one display chip to produce the green, blue and red colors in sequence.  These single panel LCOS depends on the viewer’ eye to combine the color stream produced to create an image.

In a DLP display system the light is separated into three components and then combined back. This design requires two beam splitters. In LCOS display system four splitters are required as the light is polarized and then analyzed.

Pros of LCOS display system:

1. The resolution range of LCOS display system tend to start at SXGA allowing native 720p high definition image to be displayed.

2. LCOS display system can be very bright just like the LCD display system.

3. This display system offers a very smooth, film like picture because of its pixel structure.

4. The display system has excellent color saturation and accuracy.

Cons of DCOS display system:

1. This display system can be expensive. The price of this system depends on resolution. However the price of this system is comparative low as compared to the DLP™ home theater projectors.

2. It is believed that most of the LCOS projectors have limited lamp life which is 1000 to 1500 hour. Moreover, some of the models of LCOS projectors require good money for the lamp replacements as compare to LCD or DLP projectors lamp.

The cons should be properly checked before purchasing LCOS display system.

The 0.71-inch WUXGA is the world’s first LCOS panel of its size to achieve such a level of resolution and the technology is based on the company’s Aspectual Illumination System optical engine meant to maximize the panels’ performance achieving high brightness and high contrast while maintaining a compact design. It even supports HDTV projection.
These panels will be used in design, simulation, medicine and other similar sectors where users need high performance imaging.

Liquid Crystal on Silicon technology uses liquid crystals on the surface of a silicon chip coated with an aluminized layer with a highly reflective coating, while LCD projectors work based on transmissive liquid crystal display chips letting the light to pass through the liquid crystal.
The technology produces higher resolution than LCD and Plasma and is more cost effective.