Sharp Announces Groundbreaking High Definition front Projector; Setting New Standard in Consumer Home Theater

Business Wire, August 8, 2001

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 8, 2001

SharpVision(R)High Definition DLP(TM)Projector Combines

Next Generation Picture Technology and Elegant Design

Sharp Electronics Corporation today introduced the XV-Z9000U, the world's first single-panel, DLP(TM) technology-enabled high definition (HD) front projector for home theater.

This groundbreaking home theater product incorporates Sharp's proprietary Computer & Video Integrated Composer (CV-IC) technology with Texas Instruments DLP technology to provide remarkably high resolution imagery and brilliant clarity, delivering one of the best pictures available in consumer home theater today.

"The SharpVision XV-Z9000U combines Sharp's industry-leading expertise in front projection for the home theater market with Texas Instruments DLP technology, and the result is phenomenal," said Frank DeMartin, director of product marketing, Sharp Electronics Corporation. "With the XV-Z9000U, Sharp has reached an exciting new level of home theater performance, providing consumers for the first time with truly superior picture quality, flexibility in installation, and ease of use."

Sharp's unique CV-IC Technology optimizes the film or video content for enhanced viewing through two key scaling processes: Advanced Interlaced to Progressive (I/P) Conversion and Enhanced 3:2 Pull Down. These sophisticated processes provide optimal conversion of Interlaced signals to the Progressive format, and allow for the most accurate reproduction of film-based content, creating a truly cinematic experience.

The XV-Z9000U revolutionizes the consumer home theater experience through the following key benefits:

-- Remarkably high resolution imagery - 1280 x 720 pixel array and the
combination of DLP and CV-IC technology

-- Super high contrast - 1,100:1 contrast ratio provides deep dark blacks,
excellent dark scene detail and tremendous depth of field through: advanced
optics design, Sharp's proprietary gamma adjustment algorithm and Texas
Instruments Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) chip

-- High brightness - produced by 250-watt high pressure lamp, utilizing only
pure light wavelengths

-- Precise color reproduction - more accurate color than CRT units, through DLP
and optics technologies including a five times (5x) six-segment color wheel,
delivering subtlety of color ranging from the most natural of flesh tones to
vibrant reds, greens and blues

-- Home theater-friendly design and engineering - flexible installation and
maintenance, whisper-quiet fan (32dB), and maximum control and connectivity

To further enhance picture quality, the projector's color wheel spins at five times speed, virtually eliminating color separation artifacts producing smooth, high-grade pictures and incredibly accurate color reproduction.

The XV-Z9000U is designed exclusively for high-end home theater use, and is engineered for flexible installation providing optimal performance. The XV-Z9000U's single-chip design incorporates a natural projection angle system and lens shift function to eliminate keystoning from virtually any angle of installation.

The XV-Z9000U will be available this month at a suggested retail price of $10,995.95.

For more information on Sharp's full line of front projectors, contact Sharp Electronics Corporation, Sharp Plaza, Mahwah, New Jersey 07430 or call 1-877-388-SHARP. For online product information, visit Sharp's Web site at www.sharp-usa.com.

Sharp Electronics Corporation is the Mahwah, N.J.-based sales and marketing subsidiary of Japan's Sharp Corporation, a worldwide developer of the core technologies that are integral to shaping the next generation of home entertainment, appliance and digital office equipment systems. A leader in liquid crystal display (LCD), Sharp is the developer of the revolutionary Viewcam(R) camcorders, AQUOS(TM) LCD Televisions and SharpVision(R) line of LCD projection products. Sharp continues to demonstrate its home entertainment leadership by advancing technologies such as High Definition Television (HDTV) and 1-Bit audio technology. Sharp Electronics employs approximately 2,900 people nationwide to support its more than 50 product lines.

DLP is a trademark of Texas Instruments. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.