Equipe
ProMap Quattro FAQ
Questions
What Video Formats are Supported by ProMap Quattro ?
Can I Define My Own Custom Video Formats ?
Does ProMap do Auto Format Selection ?
Does ProMap Quattro Support Passive Stereo ?
Does ProMap Quattro Support Active Stereo ?
How Are Aliasing Artefacts Avoided ?
How Stable is the Mapping & Blending Set-up ?
How Many Channels can be Configured ?
What Video Connectivity is Provided ?
What if I Need Analog Video Input ?
Does Quattro need a PC server ?
Answers
ProMap TM is designed for use with digital projectors such as the Equipe Contour 100 TM, Contour 300 TM and Contour 600T TM visualisation projectors for curved and complex shapes of screen. Such digital projectors provide sharp and bright images at very low cost but do not have the capacity to electronically bend the picture as it is drawn to match a curved surface screen. It is therefore necessary to "map" the position of each picture element (pixel) to a different position on the internal projector image such that an observer of a curved screen sees an undistorted image. This has to be done without loss of picture quality that could be caused by splitting the image into pixels, whilst avoiding adding any delay in updating the scene that requires instantaneous visual cueing to control movements.
Visual simulation displays are transitioning today towards very high-resolution digital projection, which is replacing traditional CRT based calligraphic projectors used in many FAA regulated training devices. Only ProMap Quattro is able to handle all the current simulation formats in use.
Amongst the formats ProMap Quattro can support are the following:
q QXGA (2048x1536) up to 60Hz
q TXGA (1400 x 1920) up to 60 Hz
q WUXGA (1920x1200) up to 75Hz
q HDTV (1920x1080) up to 75Hz
q UXGA (1600x1200) up to 85Hz
q SXGA+ (1400x1050) up to 120Hz
q SXGA (1280x1024) up to 120Hz
Yes. The ProMap Composer GUI software allows you to define any video format, within the bandwidth limitations of the ProMap hardware.
Yes. The ProMap Composer GUI software performs auto format selection when you start setting up your project, but there is also the option to force the use of a particular format if you know what it should be.
Yes. Passive stereo is where you have twice the number of projects, IG channels and mapping channels. No special eyeglasses are required for this scheme, and ProMap can be used to accurately align each set of projectors with their “other eye” counterparts, resulting in the best stereo experience possible.
Yes. Active stereo is where the projectors, IG and mapping system all run at a high refresh rate, displaying first the left eye image, and then the right eye image of each frame. The viewer must wear special active shutter eyeglasses to complete the system. ProMap Quattro can be used for this type of system as it includes the necessary interconnect for the control of the eyeglasses. Refresh rates of up to 120Hz are possible, depending on the resolution chosen.
ProMap Quattro applies advanced digital filtering techniques to eliminate aliasing effects that can be caused by mapping pixels to a new position. This results in virtually zero aliasing artefacts, while maintaining optimum resolution over the image. ProMap Quattro employs very advanced “bicubic” image filtering for ultimate image quality.
Yes. Where two images overlap, a blend region is defined where one projector fades out as another fades in. Using digital techniques this blend region is almost imperceptible to the observer as the correct proportion from each projector is precisely calculated.
Unlike CRT blending, ProMap alignment rarely needs adjusting after initial set-up. Independent digital shading of each colour plane provides the means to compensate for colour shifts between projectors and colour variations within each projector field. Compensation for shading variations within curved dome displays and back projection hotspots can also be pre-calculated and removed by loading into the ProMap shading system.
ProMap Composer, a powerful Windows GUI, allows complete control of mapping, blending and hot-spot compensation using a WYSIWYG editing environment. Mapping is defined by a B-Spline mesh pre-calculated to match the optical geometry. It may then be finely adjusted for precise alignment to the observer's eye position. A portable laptop control handset is used to make all adjustments.
Up to four ProMap channels are contained within a PC that can be expanded, by adding more PCs using a standard network, to an unlimited number of channels.
Because of the high signal bandwidth used, ProMap Quattro has only digital video input. This is by means of a standard dual-link DVI-D connector. On the output side, ProMap Quattro has both analog and digital video available through a single DVI-I connector.
Then we can provide our ProMap ADVantage product. Although this does not have the ultra high bandwidth of Quattro, it can still be used in most applications.
No. Quattro can run stand-alone or in any equipment that is able to provide a +/-12V power supply. The USB port handles all communication.