Overview
ISO/IEC 21118:2020 defines the information and the layout to be included in specification sheets for front-projection data projectors. It standardizes what manufacturers and vendors must report (and how) about performance and interfaces for projectors used with data sources. The document is explicitly not applicable to rear‑screen projection units. The 2020 (third) edition updates coverage for modern light sources (laser, LED), higher resolutions (4K/8K, pixel-shift), diversified I/O (HDMI, DisplayPort, HDBase-T) and colour quality reporting.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and terminology for data projectors (definitions like projection distance, lens shift, light valve).
- Form of specification sheets (Annex A) and measuring methods/conditions (Annex B).
- A required table of specification items (Table 1) with entries marked R (required) or O (optional). Key required items include:
- Product number / model
- Display system and display device details (effective area, pixel count)
- Light output (measured lumen value) - specified as average of production units
- Contrast ratio (full white / full black) and centre-to-corner zone ratio - averages; shipment lower limits must be ≥ 80% of specified values
- Light source type (lamp, laser diode, LED), lamp wattage if applicable, and life expectancy
- Speakers (output power)
- Input/output terminals (image/audio/control)
- Acoustic noise values and acoustic power level (measurement per referenced standards)
- Optional but commonly included items: lens specifications (zoom, focus, lens shift, throw ratio), screen size / projection distance, colour gamut ratio (CIE 1931 coverage), number of colours, scanning frequencies, and network/control capabilities.
- Requirement: specification sheets must state conformity with ISO/IEC 21118 and use the defined terminology.
Practical applications - who uses this standard
- Projector manufacturers and product managers - to create consistent, comparable spec sheets for catalogs, websites, and manuals.
- AV integrators and system designers - to evaluate projector suitability (throw ratio, light output, lens shift, I/O compatibility).
- Procurement teams and specifiers - to write tender documents and compare vendor offers reliably.
- Test labs and quality assurance - to perform measurements according to Annex B and referenced test methods.
- Retailers and technical authors - to present accurate product data to end users.
Benefits: consistent product representation, improved buyer confidence, easier technical comparison, and standardized measurement/reporting of image quality and mechanical features.
Related Standards (normative references)
Keywords: ISO/IEC 21118:2020, data projector specification, projector datasheet, light output, contrast ratio, colour gamut, throw ratio, lens shift, projection distance.