Editing Digital light processing (section)

{{short description|Set of chipsets}}
{{Redirect|DLP projector|other projection devices|movie projector}}
{{Further|History of display technology}}
{{update|date=July 2024|reason=This article seems to describe the state of this technology as of around 2011}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

[[File:Texas Instruments Digital Light Processing Logo.svg|thumb|Logo]]
[[File:Christie Mirage 5000.jpg|thumb|right|220px|The Christie Mirage 5000, a 2001 DLP projector]]

'''Digital light processing''' ('''DLP''') is a set of [[chipset]]s based on optical [[MEMS|micro-electro-mechanical]] technology that uses a [[digital micromirror device]]. It was originally developed in 1987 by [[Larry Hornbeck]] of [[Texas Instruments]]. While the DLP imaging device was invented by Texas Instruments, the first DLP-based projector was introduced by Digital Projection Ltd in 1997. Digital Projection and Texas Instruments were both awarded [[Emmy Awards]] in 1998 for the DLP projector technology.

DLP technology is used in DLP front projectors (standalone projection units for classrooms and business primarily), DLP rear projection [[television set]]s, and digital signs. It was also used in about 85% of [[digital cinema]] projection as of around 2011, and in [[additive manufacturing]] as a light source in some printers to cure resins into solid 3D objects.<ref>{{cite web|title=How Digital Light Processing Works|url=https://thre3d.com/how-it-works/light-photopolymerization/digital-light-processing-dlp|publisher=THRE3D.com|access-date=3 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221025534/https://thre3d.com/how-it-works/light-photopolymerization/digital-light-processing-dlp|archive-date=21 February 2014}}</ref>

DLP was used in a variety of display applications from traditional static displays to interactive displays and also non-traditional embedded applications including medical, security, and industrial uses. Smaller "pico" chipsets were used in mobile devices including cell phone accessories and projection display functions embedded directly into phones.