Press Room

Panoram Introduces "Missing Link" for Visualization System Upgrades to DLP Technology

February 3, 2003 - Sun Valley, Calif. - Panoram Technologies announced today the introduction of the Extreme Bandwidth Scaler (EBS-1), a solution that resolves a key compatibility issue with single-pipe SGI Onyx computers and three-projector stereo-optic capable visualization systems. The solution provides a way to upgrade these systems from CRT to DLP projection technology without costly expansion of the computer system.

The Extreme Bandwidth Scaling solution is expected to have far-reaching implications for immersive visualization applications in oil/gas exploration, engineering/design, university research, and other disciplines that utilize an Onyx one pipe computing solution. With the EBS-1 as part of Panoram's total system solution, Panoram becomes the only visualization supplier in the world that can provide full stereo-optic functionality to a 3 projector DLP display system driven from an Onyx one pipe computer.

"There is a substantial install base of visualization centers throughout the world who are ready to upgrade from CRT to DLP based projection technology," explains Theo Mayer, Panoram President and CEO. "But they are not ready to upgrade to a two or three pipe Onyx solution. Christie Digital's Mirage projectors are stunning stereo capable DLP imaging devices, but there is a bandwidth issue that limits the use of these DLP marvels to two projector solutions with single-pipe Onyx computers. The EBS-1 allows the use of popular three projector configurations without the need to migrate to a three pipe Onyx. Visualization technology leaders who understand the nature of this issue will rejoice when they hear about Panoram's Extreme Bandwidth Scaler."

The compatibility issue stems in part from the bandwidth limitation of a single pipe Onyx computer, in part from multi-pipe compatibility issues of the software applications designed to run on the Onyx, and in part from the input requirements of Christie Digital's Mirage projectors in stereo mode.

Many of the existing visualization systems use one-pipe SGI Onyx computers to feed three channels of high-resolution video to three projectors blended at the edges to create a single large image or "desktop." This applies to both flat screen and curved screen configurations. In a one-pipe system, a multi-channel graphics card (DG5-8) from SGI allows a single pipe Onyx to be configured to a three-channel display using an IRIX operating system level utility called IRCombine. This creates a MegaDesktop in which nearly any application can be run in a window at any size, anywhere on the screen. The display now acts like a giant monitor. Even multi-pipe systems are often operated in this single pipe mode because of its compatibility with nearly all software applications.

In 3D stereo-optic mode, the screen refresh rate is at a very high 96 frames per second. This taxes the computer graphics system to the point where the maximum size of each channel in a three-channel system is limited to an XGA (1024x768) resolution. This worked fine with CRT projectors, but the high frame rate capable DLP projectors require the source to be at the projector's native SXGA (1280x1024) resolution. This is more than the single-pipe Onyx can deliver.

The EBS-1 is a high bandwidth scaler that is able to convert the video signal from 1024x768 to 1280x1024 at refresh rates up to 120 frames per second, allowing existing single-pipe Onyx computers to work with the new Mirage projectors just as they did with the CRT's.

The EBS-1 is based on Panoram's Pure Digital I/O technology platform, which features a full digital image path, 385 Mb of high speed video RAM and nearly 3 gigaflops of on-board image processing power.

In a typical CRT to DLP upgrade scenario, three EBS-1 units are interconnected with a matrix switcher and three of Panoram's PanoMaker V warping and blending processors, enabling the system to accommodate the scaled video signals from the Onyx in stereo mode and non-scaled signals from other sources as well as the Onyx at full resolution when not in stereo.

The Extreme Bandwidth Scaling solution is not available as a stand-alone device but forms the core of Panoram's upgrade and new system offerings in the GVR-X curved screen, PW-X rear screen and FFP-X front projected solutions. For more information, call 1-888-PANORAM (1-888-726-6726) or 818-504-0714.