THE
TECHNOLOGY
Since
the introduction of the dot matrix display (DMD) in 1991, pinball
machine manufacturers have used monochromatic gas plasma displays to
render video animation and enrich the player's experience. For
years, pinball enthusiasts have awaited an update to the orange glow of
this aging display technology.
The ColorDMD is still in active development. The video shown here
is a fully functional prototype that incorporates an LCD display,
custom mounting bracket, and display controller board. The
ColorDMD is not a product yet. We are currently soliciting feedback
from the pinball community to determine whether there is sufficient
interest and demand to bring the ColorDMD to market. The ColorDMD
is designed to be easily swapped in for the existing DMD.
A patent is pending on the technology used to create the ColorDMD.
THE DESIGNER
The
ColorDMD was created by Randy Perlow, an electrical engineer, avid
pinball collector, and restorer residing in Southern California.
Randy is a member of the Orange County Pinball League and is an active
contributor on RGP and PinMAME. Randy holds a PhD in electrical
engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and works as an ASIC
designer and engineering manager for a major semiconductor manufacturer.