RPTVs Demystified

Like many people, you may be filled with a burning curiosity to understand what makes an RPTV perform its magic. Actually, it’s largely done with smoke and mirrors. (Only joking – if there is smoke coming out of your rear-projection TV you have a problem!)

First, a video image is projected via a projectors lamp inside the box, then a system of lenses and mirrors redirect the image onto the internal surface of a translucent screen.

When this technology was first developed, CRTs (cathode-ray tubes – responsible for making old-fashioned TV sets so bulky) were used, and it worked quite well. The down side to this was that the tube made the case extremely heavy and, typically, a floor-standing cabinet was needed to accommodate it.

So, as screens grew larger, and the industry began to take up the new, wider 16:9 aspect ratio (the ratio of height to width), those old CRT cabinets were gradually replaced by new models which provide top quality performance in light, compact enclosures.

Rear projection TVs come ready with high definition capability these days. This is an important point – they are equipped to handle everything HDTV broadcasting and discs can throw at them. And make no mistake – High-Definition TV will deliver wide-screen television in much more detail and clarity than we are used to from traditional televions. As well as tuners for analog and cable TV – not to mention being able to receive digital cable signals without the need for a set top box – HD tuners come as standard with modern RPTVs, which makes them capable of taking full advantage of all the exciting TV innovations which will be coming soon.

Need a good source for an OEM Infocus bulb replacement for your projector? Try here: projector replacement bulb store.