The road for small-pitch LED screens to enter theaters is long and difficult

When talking about the LED display industry, we have to mention small spacing. The birth of small-pitch LED displays marks the official entry of LED display technology into the indoor application field. It is expected to replace the original indoor large-screen display technology and fill the technical gap. The potential market space is more than 100 billion. So is it just around the corner for small-pitch LED displays to enter the movie market?

Most of the playback equipment used in general theaters is projection technology. Since the projection system uses the principle of reflection imaging, the distance at which the projected light reaches the center of the screen and the surroundings are different, and the positions of the three primary color light sources in the projection tube are different. This feature causes the projection image to easily have a small amount of pixel defocus and color fringing. In addition, the movie screen uses a white screen, which reduces the contrast of the picture.

One of the most prominent features of the LED display screen is that it can achieve high brightness. It generally adopts the principle of self-illumination. Each pixel emits light independently. The imaging difference based on position is almost zero, and the LED screen can use an all-black screen background to make the image contrast better. Coupled with the self-luminous characteristics, the LED screen can be imaged in a brighter indoor lighting environment. In this way, the hardware requirements for the theater environment are greatly reduced.

LED small spacing can break the limitations of theater playback area through seamless splicing. After the spacing is greatly reduced, the clarity can rival projection technologies such as DLP. However, it is not perfect. Compared with the same-sized imaging in a projection theater, the cost of a small-pitch LED screen is relatively high, and the initial investment is relatively large. The fineness of the image quality is currently not up to the "film" level. When small-pitch LED screens enter the film market, in addition to making breakthroughs in technology and cost, they also need to consider how to convince filming, post-production, distribution, theaters and other links to abandon DLP and choose LED.

The technical specifications of digital movies at home and abroad all refer to DCI or are based on DCI specifications. Digital movie projectors and movie servers in theaters must pass DCI certification. The reference technology used by DCI in establishing certification standards is DLP projection invented and carried forward by TI. In 2009, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors recognized DLP as the industry standard for color accuracy, and the technology is the first choice for movie theaters, post-production studios and 3D technology manufacturers around the world. DLP technology has become an irreplaceable link in the modern film industry chain. As a new thing, LED screens will not be recognized by the entire film production and broadcast market overnight.

Therefore, it is very far away for small-pitch LED displays to replace projection systems in commercial theaters. However, with its high brightness, no seams, and flexibility, its application in indoor commercial projection fields such as private theaters, entertainment centers, small screening rooms, and clubs is still worth looking forward to.