We demonstrated the MERCURY HD on a 7' screen, the MERCURY 5000HD on a 9' screen and the new LIGHTNING 35HD R on a 13' screen. Additionally, we had iVision HD-7 units in the Stewart Filmscreen and the Vantage booths.

Also, our partners at Crestron were delighted with the MERCURY HD we loaned them and the folks at Terranex made good use of a LIGHTNING 35HD R and a MERCURY HD. We can't forget Texas Instruments either. They displayed a static MERCURY HD and did a dynamic rear screen exhibition of the 35HD R.

The CEDIA folks said that a new attendance record was achieved and we are fairly confident that most of the estimated 24,000 attendees stopped by to at least check us out.

We're looking forward to another great show at CEDIA 2005!

Customized MERCURY Performance

DPI offers a full range of lenses for our new MERCURY series. A glance at our pricing reveals that each lens results in a different throw ratio when used on a MERCURY 5000gv versus a MERCURY HD or 5000HD. It also reveals that there are two versions of each lens, one optimized for high brightness - normally recommended for use on a MERCURY 5000gv or 5000HD, the other optimized to produce maximum contrast, normally recommended for use on the MERCURY HD.

However, you may have applications where mixing lenses and projectors allows you to create a projection solution more optimized for your customer. As an example, let's assume we have a boardroom application where the quiet operational benefits of a MERCURY HD are important, but the ambient light level in the room dictates the projector produce more than the product's standard 1,600 ANSI lumens. For purposes of this example, we will assume the application requires a 1.44-1.8 lens (high-contrast part number: 102-735),

By simply specifying the MERCURY HD with the high-brightness version of the 1.44-1.8 lens (part number: 001-737), the projector's brightness will increase by more than 25%. The result will be a 'custom' MERCURY HD, producing roughly 2,000 ANSI lumens with a similar, but opposite impact on contrast. In a boardroom environment with ambient light, the slight loss of projector black level will never be noticed, but the added lumens will deliver a 25% improvement in the environmental on-screen dynamic range produced in the environment.

As another example, let's assume we have an educational theater application where the 20-foot, 16 x 9 aspect ratio screen requires more than the 1,600 ANSI lumens produced by a MERCURY HD, but the theatrically dark environment requires higher contrast than the 1000:1 produced by a MERCURY 5000HD. In this case, we can specify a MERCURY 5000HD with a high-contrast version of whatever lens is required. The result will again be a custom MERCURY chassis, producing roughly 3,200 ANSI lumens with contrast approaching 2000:1. This custom MERCURY is the perfect solution to put 12-14 Ft candles onto the 20-foot screen while at the same time maximizing contrast.

Bottom line, you should feel free to mix and match MERCURY lenses and projectors to create products with custom lumen and contrast performance. By applying this technique, which has no incremental cost, you assure the most precise solution for each and every customer.

• Dealers and Special Contractors may purchase up to two demo units per calendar year.
  
  
• Demo units may be purchased at 5% off of DPI's published end column Commercial AV
  dealer pricing (End Column x .95).
  
  
• Excluding iVision, which already comes standard with a lens, the 5% demo discount may
  also be applied to (1) projection lens for each demo projector purchased.
  
  
• Dealers in good credit standing receive standard payment terms - 2% cash with order,
  1% 10 days, net 30 days.