model uses a laser light source

instead of a bulb to achieve

4,000 lumens of brightness at

WUXGA (1920 x 1200) resolu-

tion. The projector uses a 3LCD

panel for color output, and com-

bined with the laser light source

and an advanced filter design,

the new model can last up to an

estimated 20,000 hours without

requiring maintenance.

“The picture quality of the

laser model was just as good,

if not better, than our exist-

ing projectors,” says Troyer, so

CTS purchased an additional

20 projectors, in the first phase

of introducing the new models

across campus. There are ad-

ditional features which make

the VPL-FHZ55 a great choice,

Troyer says. “This model boots

up in about 6 seconds, which is about one-fifth of the time

of a projector with a bulb. Instructors can start teaching that

much faster.”

The laser light source will also maintain its brightness far

longer than bulbs, so the picture quality will remain more

consistent over the life of the projector. “One of our points

of emphasis as a department is minimizing classroom down-

time, so all of these features made the new laser projector a

very attractive technology for us,” says Troyer.

“We’re looking forward to rolling out more of Sony’s laser

projectors on our campus,” says Troyer. “When we get to the

point of having all laser projectors, it will save our department

a lot of time, money and effort in maintenance, giving us more

resources to devote to other support issues that contribute to

instruction. I will have one less thing to worry about.”

As one of the nation’s larg-

est public institutions, the

University of Minnesota

includes some 65,000 students

on five campuses across the

state, with its main campus in

Minneapolis-St. Paul. In the year

2000, the leadership of the uni-

versity began an ambitious plan

to install video projectors in all

325 centrally scheduled class-

rooms and nearly 200 depart-

mental classrooms on campus.

Today, all classrooms have

projectors installed, and they

are maintained by the universi-

ty’s Classroom Technical Servic-

es, which installs and maintains

all classroom AV equipment on

campus. “From the outset, we

chose Sony as our projector

manufacturer, because of the

superior picture quality and choice of lenses they offered,”

says Ray Troyer, engineering manager for CTS for the past

15 years. “We’ve been very pleased with our Sony projectors

overall, and with our partnership with them during that time.”

There were some challenges which were inherent to a

technology that uses bulbs, however. “Any projector that

uses a bulb needs to have it replaced periodically,” says Troyer.

“With the large number of projectors we use, that meant we

were replacing a couple bulbs a week on an ongoing basis.”

With each bulb costing $500-$600, plus the cost of labor, bulb

replacement alone was a substantial cost to the university.

In addition, the mercury content of the bulbs meant they

had to be disposed of by the university’s hazardous waste

team, which added time and work. “Plus, you have the added

environmental concern because of the mercury,” Troyer adds.

In 2013, representatives from Sony demonstrated a new

projector technology for Troyer and CTS, one that uses a laser

light source instead of a traditional lamp and bulb. Troyer was

immediately interested, because the technology would elimi-

nate the high ongoing maintenance costs of bulbs.

As soon as they were available, CTS purchased five Sony

VPL-FHZ55 projectors. Sony’s first lamp-less projector, this

New projector technology changes paradigm of classroom AV management

“One of our points of emphasis is minimizing classroom downtime,

so all of these features made this a very attractive technology for us.”

SPONSORED CASE STUDY

The University of Minnesota installs new Sony laser projectors

For more information, go to www.sony.com/laser.