How Does Projector Work? Everything You Need to Know About

You might be wondering, in which way does a projector work? What is a projector’s mechanism of operation? A projector works by using a light source to project an image onto a surface using lenses and mirrors to focus and direct the light, the image is then created with a LCD or DLP chip which contains mirrors that are adjusted to reflect different light intensity.

Big screen projectors are available in different forms, and they have numerous types, but the main purpose of all the projectors is to create a cinema-like view at the convenience of your home. With a projector, you don’t need to leave the blanket to watch your favorite upcoming movies in a theatre. And you can even revive the memories related to the best movies that you have already watched with your friends and family.

But before getting a projector, you should know everything about its physics. Even if you already have one and are questioning how does projector work, then read this article till the last line! This article contains all the relevant information you have been searching for, for days. So scroll ahead without further delays and explore the working of the projectors!

What is a Projector?

A projector is an output device that takes the picture from the computer or other connected device to a large screen which can be a wall, screen, or any other surface.

The light-colored surface is preferred if the user wants to see a clear view of the picture. The projectors are not only used for entertainment purposes, but they are a great source of presenting information related to business meetings, and it is also considered a great way to promote learning in the classroom.

But the question is still there, how does the projector work? 

Let’s read below to find the answer!

How Do Projector Works?

If curiosity about the working of a project has aroused in your mind, then you must know that there are different types of projectors, and every type has a separate way of displaying its output.

Let’s get the details about them one by one!

1. Digital Light Processing DLP Projector

Do you want to watch movies with high-quality pictures? Are you looking for the most realistic experience with a projector? Then DLP projectors can give you the most incredible picture view that can beat the quality of a human eye.

This projector can process pictures with up to 35 million colors. This amazing projector works with the help of Digital Micromirror Device chips. The pixel quality depends on the number of digital micro-mirrors in the chips.

The color wheel reflects the light onto the mirrors in the chip after splitting the simple, transparent light into red, green, and blue colors.

The tiny mirrors help in blending the colors to easily pass through the lens and display the picture on the big projector screen.

2. Liquid Crystal Display or LCD Projectors

Liquid Crystal Display projectors or LCD projectors are the most common types of projectors that are specifically designed with three panels that are made of liquid crystal and glass, or they can be manufactured by two dichroic mirrors and three regular mirrors.

The LCD projectors simply catch the picture in the form of white light that passes through the mirrors and then convert that light into the colored lights of the visible spectrum, green, blue, and red.

These colored lights are then transferred for the reflection into three LCD panels to create a big picture on the screen. The picture which is displayed is vibrant in color, huge in size, and clear in view.

3. Liquid Crystal on Silicon or LCOS Projector

The advanced type of projectors that are a beautiful mesh of LCD and DLP projectors are known as LCOS projectors.

The difference lies in the manufacturing process of DLP and LCOS projectors, as, unlike DLP projectors, these projectors don’t contain mirrors but have a particular silicon manufacturing.

This projector splits the light into three visible colors with the help of dichroic mirrors and reaches the microdevice, which is embedded in the projector after passing through the filters.

With the help of an integrated lens, the lights, after being filtered, display a high-quality image.

4. The Gun Projectors

Gun projectors which are also known as Cathode Ray Tube projectors or the so-called CRT projectors, are an ancient type of projector.

These projectors use a magnifying lens to create images on the large projector screen. The projector exhibits three horizontal cathode ray tubes. Each tube emits a specific light, either green, blue or red. The image is then displayed after blending these three lights through a phosphor-coated surface.

Difference Between Three Main Projector Types – DLP vs. LCD vs. LCOS

Depending on the preference of the user, these three types of projectors are quite much different from each other. They differ not only in their budget but also in their benefits and disadvantages.

DLP projectors are the most budget-friendly projectors that create the most vibrant colors of the image.

But if you are interested in getting a projector that is good for gaming purposes and that could help you to pursue your career as a gamer, liquid crystal on silicon are the best option to avail. These projectors are instant in their response and display the screen right after getting the input.

LCD projectors are the most suitable projectors that are perfect to place in a bright room. It produces a lot of vibrant colors with a high lumen rating that is enough to create great picture quality.

Final Words

Projectors are both complex in design and implementation. The different types vary in their budget, specifications, and core technologies which is why the market is flooded with a great range of projectors for prospective buyers. Projectors are the best source to play games and enjoy movies on a giant cinema screen at home.

We have explained the mechanism of all the projectors one by one. So grab the projector of your choice and let your fun expand!