Runco PFP-11, Vivix Pixel for Pixel, PFP-7 manual Side Bar Level

Side Bar Level

Some displays, especially phosphor-based displays such as CRT projectors and Plasma (flat panel) displays, can be 'burned' by still-images or otherwise not using the full display or raster. Examples of this include ATM's, where the bank logo is permanently burned into the display. This is also the reason why most projector manufacturers strongly recommend against the use of video games with projection televisions, as many video games have still images in them.

Some types of projectors are not susceptible to burns, like DLP™ projectors. Since a DLP™ projector uses tiny mirrors to create the image, burning the image is not a concern as the reflectivity of the mirrors does not decay like the phosphor in a CRT or Plasma.

Besides still images, using a 4:3 image on a widescreen display could cause a '4:3 burn' (see below):

Side

Bar

Area

‘4:3 burn’

Side

Bar

Area

Widescreen display

The example above shows what would happen on a widescreen display if a small 4:3 image were used more often than widescreen images. This happens most frequently with CRT projectors or RPTV's, or Plasma displays.

To minimize this problem, the PFP-7/PFP-11can provide SIDE BARS, which will put grey bars up on either side of a small 4:3 image (see 'side bar area' in the drawing above). This illuminates the other- wise unused portion of the display, minimizing a potential 4:3 burn.

SIDE BAR LEVEL is the amount of illumination in the side bars. The goal is not to make them so bright that they are much brighter than the 4:3 image itself (which could cause a reverse 4:3 burn), but not too dim where they cannot be effective. While there is not a recommended level, Runco recommends keep- ing the side bar level at a moderate level, approximately the same as the average light used on the 4:3 portion of the image.

NOTE: SIDE BAR LEVEL is only active on 16:9 screens. For 4:3 screens, side bar level is not active.

IMPORTANT: Runco is not responsible for image burns on any display. Please exercise caution when using a 4:3 image on a 16:9 screen with Plasmas and CRT-based televisions.

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