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Buyer's Guide

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HDTV Glossary

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aspect ratio
The ratio of the width to the height of a direct-view picture or projected image. The standard aspect ratio for HDTV is currently 16:9 (rectangular, wide screen image). The National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) standard for analog television broadcasts is 4:3 (traditional square format).

ATSC
(Advanced Television Systems Committee) The U.S. government body that issued the new Digital TV (DTV) Standard which includes HDTV broadcasts.

burn-in
A permanent disfigurement of areas on a screen, caused by still images being displayed continuously for long periods of time. This phenomenon can sometimes occur in Plasma – based TVs.

component
A video transmission that continuously separates the three video lines: one for luminance and the two remaining for color. The cable is typically represented by three separate connectors, Red, Green & Blue

composite
Until recently it was the only video input available on most consumer based products; it carries all three video sub signals together in one signal.

contrast ratio
The difference between the lightest and darkest portions of an image. The larger the contrast ratio, the greater the ability of a projector to show subtle color details and tolerate a room's ambient light.

CRT projection
CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) projection is an analog display solution used in televisions and computer monitors. The tube in a CRT system is a vacuum through which electrons pass, striking a phosphorescent surface on which the projected image is created. CRT projectors output three identical images in red, green and blue. These are then combined to create the final projected image.

DCR™
Digital Cable ready is the newly approved Plug and Play standard that incorporates a POD ( point of deployment ) card or cable card, that replaces the need for a cable box for one way transmission service.

DLP® technology
DLP® technology delivers crystal clear, razor-sharp image in a broad range of projection and display applications including business projectors, home entertainment projectors, large screen HDTVs, video walls and projection systems used in commercial entertainment. DLP Cinema® technology, which delivers large screen images that are superior in many respects to film, is helping to revolutionize the movie industry.

At the core of every DLP® projection system is an optical semiconductor called the DLP® chip, which functions as an extremely precise light switch. The DLP® chip contains an array of millions of microscopic mirrors. By switching these mirrors on and off a DLP® projection system can deliver lifelike, razor-sharp images.

Dolby Digital Sound System
A popular 5.1-channel home theater sound system consisting of left and right surround speakers; right, left, front and center speakers; and a LFE (low-frequency effects) channel.

DVI
(Digital Video Interface) a hi-speed Digital connection for video typically found in HDTV’s and computers

HD-Ready TV
A TV that is able to display high-definition content, but typically doesn’t have a built-in tuner, and an external tuner must be purchased to receive over-the-air broadcasts through an antenna.

HDMI
(High Definition Multimedia Interface) a hi-speed Digital interface for both video and multichannel audio that also incorporates HDCP copy protection.

HDTV antenna
An HDTV antenna is necessary to pick up the digital HDTV broadcast signal.

HDTV converter
An HDTV converter enables an analog television to display digitally transmitted programming by translating HDTV broadcast signals into analog signals. However, it should be noted that the picture and sound quality associated with HDTV can only be fully experienced through a high definition digital television set.

HDTV decoder
An HDTV decoder enables your high definition television to receive channels broadcast in HDTV.

HDTV receiver
HDTV receivers pick up signals broadcast in high definition format.

HDTV tuner
An HDTV tuner allows reception of over the air high definition digital television signals. An HD Tuner is usually part of an HD receiver and tunes-in the digital signal received.

High Definition Television (HDTV)
HDTV is a new television standard that uses digital signals rather than the current analog broadcast standard. HDTV signals contain over 700 horizontal lines of resolution, compared to the 525 lines of resolution that analog provides. HDTV is also geared toward a rectangular wide screen format (16:9) for a true theater-like experience.

HDTV images are digitized and compressed before signal transmission to enable their tremendous quantity of information to pass through easily. The signals are then decompressed when they reach the television. From football to sitcoms, the result is a clear, crisp picture that brings every broadcast to life with more detail and truer color than any other picture format can offer.

home theater receiver
The receiver is the heart of a home theater system; it enables a projector or television to intake and translate an incoming broadcast signal for display. Most receivers consist of an amplifier, decoder, AM/FM tuner, audio/video switcher and decoder.

home theater system
A home theater system is a combination of products configured in the home for the presentation of high-quality images and sound. Products typically found in home theater systems include a VCR, stereo television or HDTV, receiver and DVD.

interlaced scanning
A video component or signal that assigns alternating scan lines (odd & even) in a video frame to one of two fields, which are then displayed separately (the opposite of progressive scanning). Denoted as “i” in DTV format names.

LCD projection
LCD or Liquid Crystal Display is used in portable computers, digital watches and, in home entertainment products. An LCD display consists of a liquid crystal solution suspended between two glass plates. When an electric current is passed through the liquid crystal solution, it causes the crystals to align in a certain configuration. As a result, light can pass through certain crystals and not through others, thereby producing the projected image.

LCOS
(Liquid Crystal on Silicon) is a display technology that utilizes reflective Liquid Crystal displays. Variants of this core technology have been developed by several manufacturers.

NTSC
(National Television System Committee) The standards committee that issued the US Analog Color TV standard that has been reaching North American homes via antenna, cable and satellite over the past 50 years.

PAL
(Phrase Alternation line) An analog television standard used in most other parts of the world except North America, France, and Japan among others.

plasma television
This display solution consists of millions of phosphor-coated miniature glass bubbles containing plasma. An electric current flows through the screen, causing certain plasma-containing bubbles to emit ultraviolet rays, triggering the phosphor coating to produce the proper color (red, green or blue).

progressive scanning
Also known as sequential scanning, a video component or signal that processes or displays each scan line of a video frame in sequence. This method reduces flicker and increases stability. Denoted by “p” in the DTV standards

resolution
The degree of sharpness of a displayed image. On screen, resolution is expressed as a matrix of pixels. For example, a SVGA resolution of 800 x 600 translates to 800 pixels horizontally and 600 pixels vertically, or 480,000 pixels total. The larger the pixel count, the greater a projector's resolution.

RF video
RF signals vary widely depending on your cable and satellite provider and the type of signal being broadcasted.

S-video
In S-video format, color and luminance data are separated, resulting in sharper, more colorful images. This format is commonly available on S-VHS video players and DVD players.

SDTV
(Standard Definition) Part of the DTV standard that covers digital signals of 480i and 480p resolution that offer discernible improvement over conventional analog NTSC picture resolution, with less noise; similar to DVD or satellite TV quality but not considered high-definition television (HDTV). Images can be displayed in either the 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios

Set-Top Box
(STB): An external receiver that converts cable, satellite or internet signals (such as analog or digital cable, or DTV) for connection and display on a television. HDTV-ready TVs must be connected to a compatible HDTV tuner set-top box in order to receive digital television programs.

subwoofer
A subwoofer is an individual speaker commonly found in home theater sound systems that processes bass sounds as low as 15 hertz.

surround sound
A sound system arrangement designed to place the listener in the center of the sound.

viewing angle
The maximum angle at which an image can be viewed from an off-center point.