What is a DMD chip and why does it matter?

A DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) is the core component of a DLP projector. It's an array of extremely small rotatable mirrors, each between 10×10 and 17×17 micrometers depending on the chip. Each mirror can be mechanically tilted into an ON or OFF state based on the incoming video signal's pixel data, which is how the image is formed.

The DMD chip matters because it determines the projector's native resolution, contrast performance, and fill factor (the percentage of the image area that's actually illuminated). Three-chip DLP projectors use separate DMDs for red, green, and blue, which is why they produce superior image quality for professional applications.

Read more about projectors in our Comprehensive Guide to Projectors article.