Texas Instruments is known for computers and semiconductors. When you think of the longtime Dallas-based business, you probably don't think of movies, but the company's DLP (digital light projection) technology helped change movie viewing.
“This is the Digital Cinema DMD,” said DLP Cinema Senior Assistant Architect Tim Ryan, holding a small square chip in his hand. “Digital micromirror device”
The technology, developed 25 years ago at Texas Instruments DLP, takes the projected light onto a chip packed with tiny mirrors and reflects it back into a brighter, clearer image. It helped transition movies from film to digital.
“The first movie to be released digitally was Star Wars: Episode I in 1999,” Ryan said proudly. “We have fundamentally changed an entire industry – a global industry – that has been producing, distributing and showing films on celluloid for 100 years!”
Today, 9 out of 10 movie theaters around the world use Texas Instruments DLP Cinemas.
“It's a game changer in terms of environmental quality,” said Jeffrey Marsh, DLP product business manager and Texas Instruments vice president. “We're seeing more vibrant colors, sharper images.” . He said, “They say the magic is in the mirror.''
On Thursday, employees held a costume contest and gathered in a theater on Texas Instruments' campus to celebrate the company's 25th anniversary.
“We're celebrating 25 years of movie technology magic,” said Product & Test Manager Griselda Hermosillo, dressed as Rey from Star Wars. “So we're dressed up as our favorite movie characters.”
At Texas Instruments, a galaxy far, far away is just around the corner.
