The first ProFX laser projector — Advanced Laser Projection's Multi-Plane Imager, capable of full-color laser video at very large scale.
The ProFX Multi-Plane Imager used lasers as its light source to project full-color video onto any surface up to 30 feet across — in high contrast and with a nearly infinite depth of field, so the picture stayed crisp even on curved or irregular screens. Green and blue came from argon-ion lasers and red from an argon-pumped dye laser; the three beams were modulated by acousto-optic modulators, converged into a single beam, and scanned into a raster by a polygon mirror spinning faster than 30,000 rpm. The finished image emerged from the top of the roughly 1,200-pound cabinet and was aimed at the screen by a computer-controlled steering mirror.
Specifications (ProFX / Taurus)
- Laser source: two argon-ion lasers plus one dye laser (or one–two white-light lasers), beams internally converged
- Image: full color on any surface up to ~30 ft across; larger in a darkened room
- Optics: throw ratio from 1:1 to 25:1 and greater, with a nearly infinite depth of field
- Signal inputs: NTSC composite (PAL optional), S-Video, Y/R-Y/B-Y, and RGB
- Light output: 4.5 laser watts of white raster; contrast ratio greater than 300:1; edge-to-edge uniformity within 10%
- Cabinet: about 29 in wide × 51 in tall × 70 in long, ~1,200 lb; 208 VAC three-phase, 125 A/phase; water-cooled
- Laser safety: the ProFX is a Class II laser product; the Taurus — which adds conventional laser-show effects to the video — is Class IV
From Linden Laser Systems’ published specifications (laservideo.com).
