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Topic: Imax Secures Kodak Laser Projection Technology

System Notices
Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi

Posts: 215

Registered: Apr 2004

posted 10-17-2011 11:50 AM

Imax Secures Kodak Laser Projection Technology

Source: hollywoodreporter.com

quote:
TORONTO - Imax Corp. has a new way to deliver digitally-remastered Hollywood movies to institutional and dome theaters.

The large format exhibitor on Monday said it secured the exclusive rights to a range of laser projection patents from Eastman Kodak Company to improve its digital cinema offering.

Toronto-based Imax said it acquired around 50 patent families to deliver digital content, including supers-sized Hollywood films, to 80 to 100 feet institutional theater screens and to dome theatres that previously screened only analog film.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Imax is to return royalties to Kodak as part of the agreement.

The new laser-projection technology will be rolled out by the second half of 2013.

"Because this technology produces the deepest blacks, and the brightest 3D of any system demonstrated to date, it will truly make the movies more exciting for consumers, and that creates a strong value proposition for the studios and exhibitors as well,” Kim Snyder, president of entertainment imaging and vp of Eastman Kodak Company, said in a statement.

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Jonathan Goeldner
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1360
From: Washington, District of Columbia
Registered: Jun 2008

posted 10-27-2011 10:51 AM

has been there any details if the (4:3) screen size will stay intact - since standard IMAX-Digital screens are 1.78:1 ?

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Keegan O'Brien
Film Handler

Posts: 39
From: Eugene, Oregon, United States
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 10-27-2011 07:12 PM

quote: Jonathan Goeldner
has been there any details if the (4:3) screen size will stay intact - since standard IMAX-Digital screens are 1.78:1 ?

The interesting thing is that the new D-IMAX screen at my local theater is 1.44:1, but the digital image of course doesn't fill that space. The manager told me back in February that there servers were 4K ready, so I wouldn't be surprised if the 1.44:1 screen and 4K ready servers were in preparation for this new system.

So, yes, it's safe to assume the new PJ's will have 1.44:1 chips.

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Carsten Kurz
Film God

Posts: 4340
From: Cologne, NRW, Germany
Registered: Aug 2009

posted 11-02-2011 08:21 AM

So far, Kodak Laser Projection Technology is 2k DLP based. And even if they upgrade it to 4k, TIs DLPs are the only ones available for now. Of course, IMAX bought patents, not existing technology, so they are certainly not restricted to any existing aspect ratio. Just that developing their own DLPs is very, very unlikely.

Besides that, I wouldn't assume that any current screen aspect ratio decision is based on something that IMAX just now aquired patents for.

Of course, if they go 4k, they could realize any geometry with less impact on resolution than on existing 2k or 2*2k systems. But then again, features are usually not shot in IMAX aspect ratios, so wether you scale or mask the source or the projection raster - makes no big difference. This will probably only bring brighter images, especially in 3D, on the largest IMAX screens with digital technology.

- Carsten

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Eric Robinson
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 538
From: Santa Rosa, CA
Registered: Jan 2005

posted 11-30-2011 01:05 AM

I'm curious about the technology.

Does the laser scan the DLP like a CRT type setup?

Is the laser white which is then separated into RGB or are there 3 independant lasers Red, Green, Blue, respectively?

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Markus Ito
Film Handler

Posts: 27
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Registered: Apr 2011

posted 11-30-2011 04:15 PM

The way I understand it, there will be three discrete lasers (red, green, blue) that will be combined to create white laser light. This will then go through whatever the projector uses to create the image. The end result is pretty much identical to regular projector, except that the laser takes the place of the lamp.

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Jake Spell
Master Film Handler

Posts: 294
From: Johns Island SC
Registered: May 2009

posted 11-30-2011 08:22 PM

I think thats about it. I saw some of the vids showing the press release of the tech. IIRC they use 21 lasers (7 red, 7green, 7blue) and they are aimed at one DLP chip each. So basicaly you still have three DLP chips but no complex prisms to split the white light into the three primary colors.
As Markus said its similar to a regular projector what they are doing is changing the light source. One other benefit is that lasers are polarized light so there is no need for polarizers in front of the lens, just polarized glasses.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 12-03-2011 02:02 PM

Semes to me that they also secured Laser Light Engines design... but not solely to themselves and I doubt kodak would also give anyone any exclusive on this important of technology.

Mark

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Tom Petrov
Five Guys Lover

Posts: 1121
From: El Paso, TX
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 01-14-2012 10:42 AM

Interesting story now that Kodak is on its death bed. I'm interested to know if Imax purchases more Kodak patents soon.

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 01-14-2012 11:44 AM

The dying buying the dead. [Razz]

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Tom Petrov
Five Guys Lover

Posts: 1121
From: El Paso, TX
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 01-14-2012 12:11 PM

I dunno Brad, IMAX is certainly not dead. In 2004 IMAX shares were $4.50 a share, today they are close to $19

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