Wide-angle projection lenses

Pangolin introduces two new ways to add wide angle capability and unmatched versatility to a laser projector: The Dazzler and The Discoscan projection lenses. Both products are sold as OEM devices that can be added to an existing projector or built-into a new projector design.

The newest, most versatile way to make a laser projector

Both products allow you to create an "electronic mirror ball", capable of scanning laser beams anywhere in a 360 degree circle.

• Imagine a plane of light starting at the ceiling, coming down all four walls, and finally converging as a cone on the center of your dance floor...

• Imagine a galaxy of beams shooting into every corner of your night club, making every customer feel like they are a part of the show...

• Imagine laser beams swirling around the room, completely filling the air like rain fills the sky...

Conventional laser projectors are limited. At most, they can scan at around 60 degrees at a time. And while some projectors are on a swivel "yoke" base so they can aim anywhere in a room, they are still limited to projecting only in a single direction at a time.

The Dazzler and The Discoscan are completely different. Aside from the standard X-Y scanners, there are no moving parts. Instead, they use Pangolin and AVI's patented omni-directional projection lens technology to scan anywhere in a complete circle, 360 degrees around, all at once.

No other device can produce the kinds of effects possible with The Dazzler or The Discoscan. Not even conventional lighting projectors can do what these do -- fill an entire room with shaped beams of light. These devices give any venue a unique, high-tech look.

The Dazzler

The Dazzler is a lens/reflector assembly which, when combined with standard X-Y scanners, provides the capability of projecting graphics and beam effects over an area of approximately 20 degrees above the horizon to nearly 90 degrees below the horizon, by a complete 360 degrees surrounding the device.

The Discoscan

Unlike The Dazzler which uses both a lens and reflector to cover wide angles, The Discoscan uses only a wide angle lens array. The result is that The Discoscan projects graphics and beam effects over a 180-degree by 360-degree area, in the direction of the X-Y scanners.

Similarities and differences

Both devices can be added onto existing projectors, and both devices create wide angle displays. In fact, in some venues it would be hard to tell the difference between the two since the projected imagery may look very similar. The main difference between the two is how the wide angle display is created.

The Dazzler creates images by using a lens to concentrate and focus the light, and then a convex reflector to amplify the scan angle and direct the light at a "right angle" away from the scanners. Normally the scanners are pointing upward, and the image is projected outward around sides of the scanners. The result is that it is possible to project "above the horizon" onto upright walls and also to project downward onto the floor. However, because of the reflector at the top, and the lens at the bottom, The Dazzler has a blind spot above and below the projector.

The Discoscan creates images simply by using a lens array to amplify the original scan angle of the X-Y scanners. For discotheque installations, normally the scanners are pointing downward, and the projected imagery is also pointing downward, but with the additional capability of projecting up to the horizon, and all around the room.

 Both The Dazzler and The Discoscan will fill an entire room with shaped beams of light giving your night club or discotheque a unique, high tech look. And both The Dazzler and The Discoscan will work with any laser projector that uses X-Y scanners. Whether you use a single color laser or a white light laser that generates a rainbow of colors, simply attach one of these devices and engulf your audience in brilliant laser light.

Patented, Award-winning technology

The Dazzler was developed and patented by Pangolin Laser Systems, Inc. The Dazzler also won the Third Place Fenning Award for Technical Achievement in 2002.

The Discoscan was developed and patented by Audio Visual Imagineering, Inc. (AVI), an internationally recognized leader in laser engineering and custom laser show production. The Discoscan is based on the same technology that won AVI a First Place ILDA Award for New Technology in 1991 and a Third Place ILDA Award for New Technology in 1993.  

Video showing both products in action!

The few words and pictures seen on this web page can not come close to showing the excitement and intensity that your customers will experience when they view lasers projected with these devices. So Pangolin has produced a video that shows these devices in action.
        The video shows both The Dazzler and The Discoscan in action, with both devices doing similar tasks. Even though the video was shot in a relatively small laser studio, you can still see the vast array of effects that are possible and how simple a projector can be that uses this technology.

• Click here to view the 12MB Windows Media Player 9 file (requires Windows Media Player version 9, which is available on the newest PCs and also downloadable if you click on the link to the left).

Note: You can left click on the link above to view the movie, or right click the link and select "Save Target As" to download it.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the The Dazzler and The Discoscan:

Application

This web page and the video show both devices in action, and doing a similar task. Which device should I choose for my application?

That's a good question and the answer generally depends on your venue and a few other factors. If the venue is a night club or discotheque, we would generally recommend The Discoscan. If the venue is outdoors or requires graphic projection onto upright surfaces, we might recommend The Dazzler. The best choice would also depend on the power of the laser being used and the delivery method (i.e. direct fed or through fiber.)
       Please contact us and we will give you a firm recommendation based on your specific needs.

Pricing and Availability

What is the price of The Dazzler and The Discoscan?

 Our  price of The Dazzler is £1499.00 and the suggested list price of The Discoscan is £1095.00 These prices are drastically reduced from our original prices due to newer and more streamlined manufacturing techniques.
 

What is included in the price?

The price includes the cost of the lens system and mounting hardware. The price does NOT include X-Y scanners or any other projection hardware.
 

If I place an order for The Dazzler or The Discoscan, when can I expect delivery?

Normally, Pangolin can ship within one week from the time of order.
 

Can I order through my favorite Pangolin dealer?

Yes! You can order The Dazzler or The Discoscan through www.madeffects.com  

Performance

Since these devices are placed in front of my X-Y scanners, how wide must the scan angle be from my X-Y scanners, to cover the maximum area from these devices?

Both devices require an input scan angle of 30 to 35 degrees to cover the full range of output scan angles.
 

Does the beam diameter or shape change when projected through one of these devices?

Yes, but it depends on the beam quality coming from your laser or fiber. In general, any device that amplifies the scan angle will also effectively amplify the beam divergence. And there may be some elipticity at the outer edges of the scan field from both devices. However, both devices have been specifically designed to keep these distortions to a minimum and also, both of these devices are primarily intended for beam effects where distortions would generally go unnoticed anyway.
        In addition, increasing beam divergence actually makes audience scanning displays safer. For more details about laser safety, see the laser safety section of our Laser Resource Guide.

What about laser graphics applications?

As shown in the pictures and the video, it is certainly possible to project laser graphics with both The Dazzler and The Discoscan. However, as mentioned above, the quality of the projected image is highly dependent on the quality of the beam from your laser or fiber. Therefore under the wrong circumstances, graphics may appear "fuzzy" or "blurry" depending on these factors and also depending on the distance from the projector to the projection surface.
 

Are there any limitations on laser power?

Yes. The Dazzler has some limitations on laser power which are mainly related to the fact that the laser light is focuses onto the reflector. However, these limitations are generally related to projecting "static beams" and not graphics or fan effects. The Discoscan has some limitations related to the coatings used on the lens, but these would generally only be seen when using very high power pulsed lasers. Please contact MADeffects to discuss the details of your specific needs.