July 18, 2007

Casio Still Slimmest.

What's happened in the world in the year since Casio introduced their Super Slim projector line? Italian officials have banned ultra thin models from runway fashion shows, the formerly gregarious "Screech" has become a super-jerk in his quest to become the biggest loser, and Apple has released the iPhone as one of the slimmest "smart" phones ever made. Coincidence? Possibly.

Of course Casio isn't responsible for the world's obsession with size, but they are still the thinnest portable projector on the market. So how did they get so slim? And what other ingenues are waiting in the wings?

How'd They Do That?

We talked about the Casio Super Slim projectors back in September 2006, but since the technology has yet to be beat, we think it's worth another look.

Projectors have historically been significantly bulkier than laptops, but are still often carried along side them in a laptop bag or attache case. Because projector lenses were at least 2-inches wide, the average "height" of a projector was well over two-inches. The people at Casio saw this as an opportunity to innovate, creating their Super Slim line with a remarkable 1.7-inch height.

How Slim Is It?

The Super Slim projectors from Casio are just 1.69 inches tall, and just 1.26-inches at its slimmest point. They were able to achieve this extreme thinness without enlarging the footprint. The actual physical dimensions of the XJ-S30 and S35 are: 10.63" (W) × 7.83" (D) × 1.69" (H).

So How Did They Lose Those Extra Inches?

To achieve the ultra-slim frame, proprietary technologies had to be created. First, the lens had to be made smaller, while keeping the image bright and clear. Second, the cooling system had to be made more efficient to keep the projector cool with the size decrease.

The Super Slim Lens

The slimmer lens is achieved using an aspherical (meaning not perfectly spherical) reflector along with a condenser lens that maximizes the characteristics of the light source lamp. The 'lead screw' system technology successfully reduces the diameter of the front cell, and improves the telecentric ratio, which keeps the image from becoming distorted. Essentially the people at Casio found a way to keep a smaller lens looking great, by adding this original technology.

The Super Efficient Fan with Heat Pipe

The Super Slim projectors have a brightness of 2000 lumens, which is a desirable brightness for a portable projector because it allows for lights on use. To maintain a cool projector at that brightness, in the Super Slim frame, a specially designed cooling system had to be created.

The Super Slim projectors have a patent pending process which includes a high static pressure Sirocco fan and a heat dispersion system called Heat Pipe. The fan pulls cooler air into two chambers surrounding the light engine, then directs the hot air out through the front of the projector, away from the audience. The Heat Pipe system channels the heat away from the projector as well. Working together these technologies create a quiet, efficient cooling system for the Super Slim projectors. In fact, the system is effective enough that you don't have to wait for the projector to cool down before packing up.

Invasion of the Nano Projectors

A buzz is beginning about new cell phone projectors. This new nano-technology proves to be an interesting playground for techie types. Of course the cell phone projector isn't going to be bright enough for the gang on movie night, but it will be bright enough to temporarily blind friends, family, or colleagues. Their rumored US release date is mid 2008. Pocket projectors are also popular for some applications, with more stand-alone features like SD card slots and battery power options.

Stay tuned Projector Friends for the next Projector People Post!

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