Bench Talk

New Tech Tuesdays

Join Rudy Ramos for a weekly look at all things interesting, new, and noteworthy for design engineers.

For decades, going to the movies has been a cherished American tradition, offering a unique blend of social interaction and captivating storytelling. This experience has evolved from the days of double features to the modern multiplexes and megaplexes, capable of simultaneously seating thousands and offering a selection of featured films. Yet, despite these advancements, movie theater attendance has seen a notable decline in recent years.

The allure of the cinema experience has historically been its ability to immerse viewers in a story, evoking a spectrum of emotions and taking us to new worlds. Movies can transport audiences to imaginary realms, across the universe, or deep underwater, providing a brief respite from reality.

However, recent statistics indicate a downward trend in moviegoing. In 2023, U.S. and Canadian theaters sold around 825.2 million tickets, an improvement from 2022 but still short of the pre-pandemic sales of nearly 1.23 billion tickets in 2019.^[1] This decline can be attributed primarily to two factors: The burgeoning availability of online content^[2] and the technological advancements in home entertainment systems. Streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, Max, and others offer a vast array of content directly to consumers, creating stiff competition for traditional cinemas. Moreover, the advancements in home entertainment technology have significantly enhanced the movie-watching experience. Modern large-screen televisions (TVs) and sophisticated surround sound systems provide a cinema-like audio-video experience, making the comfort of staying home more appealing.

The Modern Television

The significant shift in how we consume films underscores the impact of technology on entertainment. High-quality visuals and sound in home settings have not only made movie-watching more accessible but also transformed the sensory experience, catering to our natural desire for vivid storytelling.

Great films tap into our emotions with compelling narratives and target our visual and auditory senses with high-quality imagery and sounds. Modern films are shot and edited to produce high-resolution images and immersive sound that greatly enhances our sensory experience. Cutting-edge technologies like Hybrid Log-Gamma (HLG), High Dynamic Range (HDR), Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, Tomlinson Holman Crossover (THX^®), and spatial audio help deliver an incredible picture and sound to the viewer through their big-screen smart TVs and connected surround sound systems.

The latest technologies in television sets from major manufacturers like LG, Samsung, Sony, TCL, and Hisense are marked by advancements in screen technology, enhanced brightness and contrast, better connectivity, and innovative features for an improved viewer experience. These advancements reflect a focus on improving picture quality, gaming performance, and user experience, with an emphasis on smart connectivity.

Immersive State of the Art Tech

In the ever-evolving world of television technology, manufacturers continually introduce advanced features to enhance the viewing and gaming experience through smart wireless connectivity and superior picture and sound quality. LG's latest G3 OLED Evo TV is a prime example, featuring a Micro-lens Array (MLA) and Brightness Booster Max technology to improve brightness and energy efficiency. This smart TV supports HDR formats like HDR10 and HLG, along with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision. Gamers will appreciate its 120Hz refresh rate, NVIDIA G-Sync compatibility, Zero Connect Box for wireless audio and video transmission, and the convenience of wireless AV connections.

Samsung, on the other hand, offers its Neo QLED TVs, which incorporate a Neural Quantum Processor with 14-bit processing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) upscaling, along with features like Shape Adaptive Light Control, Real Depth Enhancer Pro, Auto HDR Remastering, and a built-in SmartThings Zigbee & Matter Thread One-Chip Module. These TVs are available in sizes ranging from 50 to 140 inches, featuring bezel-less designs and 144Hz refresh rates.

Not to be outdone, Sony's Bravia XR lineup merges color-emitting quantum dots with OLED technology for enhanced color brightness and pure imagery. They support 4K through 8K at 120Hz, have a variable refresh rate (VRR), auto gaming mode, and are powered by Google TV. These TVs are noted for their excellent motion resolution, color accuracy, and HDR performance, and they come with eco-friendly settings and a gaming dashboard.

Another manufacturer, TCL, has also incorporated mini-LEDs with High Brightness Ultra LED (ULED) backlight technology in their TVs for exceptional HDR performance and near-OLED black levels. They support Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG and are well-suited for gaming with VRR and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support.

Lastly, Hisense TVs use ULED technology, known for excellent brightness, HDR colors, reasonable backlight control, and perfect contrast. They offer solid motion handling, run on Google TV, and feature impressive upscaling capabilities.

Critical electronic components, as seen in Figure 1, are at the core of these state of the art televisions, carefully designed and integrated to help deliver dynamic visuals and rich sounds that rival the quality of the finest cinema settings. These technological advancements in television hardware and software showcase the industry's dedication to providing exceptional, immersive viewing experiences that accommodate the evolving preferences of today's moviegoers.

Figure 1: Reference design block diagram of 8K OLED television. (Source: Texas Instruments)^[3]

The Newest Products for Your Newest Designs^®

This week's featured components are integral to the functioning of modern televisions, and advancements in these areas contribute to the ongoing development of TV technology. This week, we spotlight components from Texas Instruments and Diodes Incorporated that help produce modern televisions' high-resolution images and immersive sounds.

The Texas Instruments TAS5828M 50W Stereo Class-D Amplifier represents a significant leap in audio technology, particularly suitable for modern televisions and high-fidelity soundbars. This high-performance, closed-loop Class-D amplifier with an integrated audio processor is designed to deliver superior audio quality with high efficiency. In modern televisions, the TAS5828M enhances the audio experience by providing clear, powerful sound with minimal distortion, even at high volumes. Its ability to support various audio I/O configurations allows it to integrate into different television designs easily. For hi-fi soundbars, this amplifier’s closed-loop architecture ensures consistent audio performance, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of high-resolution audio. This can create an immersive sound environment, enveloping the viewer in a rich, detailed sound field. The amplifier's high efficiency also means it can deliver this exceptional audio experience while minimizing power consumption, which is essential for today's energy-conscious electronics market.

The TAS5828MEVM Evaluation Module is also available from Texas Instruments. This evaluation module showcases the capabilities of the TAS5828M, highlighting its closed-loop architecture and enhanced processing features. The module facilitates easy configuration and testing, enabling engineers to optimize the amplifier's settings and performance when designing advanced audio systems.

Next, the Diodes Incorporated AL3069 Four-Channel Boost Controller is crucial in designing high-efficiency LED backlighting systems for modern televisions. This controller is adept at managing LED current sinks across four channels, vital for achieving uniform and vibrant backlight illumination. In television applications, the AL3069's efficient boost control optimizes the power delivery to the LED arrays, ensuring consistent brightness and enhancing color vibrancy. This is particularly important for achieving deep black levels and rich colors comparable to OLED displays. The precision control offered by the AL3069 allows for finely tuned backlighting, which is essential in creating immersive viewing experiences with HDR content. The controller's high efficiency also contributes to the overall energy-saving aspects of the television, making it a key component in the evolution of LED-backlit televisions that strive to offer picture quality rivaling that of advanced LED technology.

Tuesday’s Takeaway

The continued decline in movie theater attendance marks a significant shift in how we watch films and other media content. The traditional cinema experience, once a staple of American culture, is now competing with the convenience and enhanced viewing options offered by modern televisions and the vast array of streaming content provided directly to consumers.

Texas Instruments and Diodes Incorporated play pivotal roles in this transformation with their cutting-edge devices, from creating powerful, clear sound for an immersive audio environment that rivals cinema quality to designing high-efficiency LED backlighting systems to ensure uniform, vibrant backlight television illumination. Together, these components are at the forefront of delivering dynamic images and mesmerizing sound in today's advanced television sets.

Sources:

[1] “U.S. & Canada: Number of Movie Tickets Sold 2023,” Statista, accessed November 29, 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/187073/tickets-sold-at-the-north-american-box-office-since-1980/.

[2] Gallup Inc, “Movie Theater Attendance Far Below Historical Norms,” Gallup.com, January 7, 2022, https://news.gallup.com/poll/388538/movie-theater-attendance-far-below-historical-norms.aspx.

[3] “OLED TV Design Resources | TI.Com,” accessed November 29, 2023, https://www.ti.com/solution/oled-tv.