Abstract: A system and method for operating an electronic device used in light processing. A method comprises altering a spatial relationship between a spatial light modulator (SLM) and a light incident on the SLM, shifting light modulator states of a first portion of light modulators to a second portion of light modulators, and placing a third portion of light modulators in the SLM into a performance degradation-reducing mode. The amount of shifting performed is proportional to the amount of change in the spatial relationship. The method allows for a change in light modulators used to modulate the light, thereby preventing the overuse of some of the light modulators, which may help to prevent degradation of the light modulators. The performance degradation reducing mode may help to further reduce or even reverse the performance degradation of the light modulators.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for reducing speckle in a projection visual display (PVD) system, a method of reducing visible speckle in a PVD system and a PVD system incorporating the method or apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a diffuser interposable in an optical path of a PVD system and a diffuser actuator having a single drive axis configured to cause the diffuser to travel in a lissajous curve at least partially transverse to the optical path.

Abstract: An illumination source and a method therefor. A light source includes a light circuit configured to process light and direct light, and a lighting element optically coupled to the light circuit to provide multiple colors of light. The light circuit propagates light using light guides. The use of light guides eliminates the use of free space optical elements, enabling the creation of more compact light sources. Furthermore, the use of light guides may enable the creation of light sources with fewer mechanical restrictions, thereby making the light sources potentially more reliable and less expensive.

Abstract: A projection system using a sequential color filter is provided. The sequential color filter utilizes various colors, such as red, blue, and green, divided into segments to produce images. Each color may be divided into two or more segments and arranged such that high sequential color rates may be obtained to help reduce the rainbow effect. The colors may be arranged such that the sequential color filter is symmetrical in the sense that the sequential color filter is divided into approximately equal regions wherein each region has approximately an equal amount of respective colors.

Abstract: A deformable hinge for use in microelectromechanical devices comprises a protection layer that is electrically conductive. The protection layer is on top of another hinge layer; and is more resistive than the hinge layer to the etchant used in during patterning and/or release processes during fabrication of the microelectromechanical device. As a result, the hinge layer can be protected from being damaged during the fabrication process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus of converting a stream of pixel data in space and time into a stream of bitplane data. In particular, the present invention converts the pixel data stream according to a predetermined output format. The apparatus of the present invention receives the pixel data in a “real-time” fashion, and dynamically performs predefined permutations so as to accomplish the predefined transpose operation. Alternatively, the pixel data are stored in a storage medium, and the apparatus of the present invention retrieves the pixel data and performs the predefined permutation to accomplish the predefined transpose operation. The methods and apparatus disclosed herein are especially useful for processing a high-speed stream of digital data in a flow-through manner and suitable for implementation in a hardware video pipeline.

Abstract: Device and method for an antireflective coating to improve image quality in an image display system. A preferred embodiment comprises a first high refractive index layer overlying a reflective surface of an integrated circuit, a first low refractive index layer overlying the first high refractive index layer, a second high refractive index layer overlying the first low refractive index layer, and a second low refractive index layer overlying the second high refractive index layer. The alternating layers of high refractive index material and low refractive index material form an optical trap, allowing light to readily pass through in one direction, but not so easily in a reverse direction. The dual alternating layer topology improves the antireflective properties of the antireflective layer and permits a wide range of adjustments for manipulating reflectivity and color point.

Abstract: Prism elements having TIR surfaces placed in close proximity to the active area of a SLM device to separate unwanted off-state and/or flat-state light from the projection ON-light bundle. The TIR critical angle of these prisms is selected to affect either the off-state light or additionally, any portion of flat-state light reflected from the SLM. These TIR surfaces limit the contamination of light along the projection path, which tends to degrade the system contrast. To further improve the optical performance of the system, these TIR prisms can be attached directly to the SLM package, completely eliminating the package window.

Abstract: Improvement of speckling noise is discussed in which a central light beam received at a double-sided mirror is divided into a plurality of sub-beams. An intensity of these sub-beams decays from a second sub-beam to a last sub-beam of the plurality. Each sub-beam is also separated at the double-sided mirror by at least a first length, such as the coherence length or intrinsic divergence, and reflected toward a display screen. The configuration of the double-sided mirror focuses the sub-beams to converge with a first sub-beam on the display screen at different angles. The decreasing intensity and different angles of impact with the screen decreases the spatial coherence of the display light. The angle diversity and combination of multiple sub-beams having different intensities offers a non-time-averaging means to decrease speckle noise without downgrading the beam quality or display resolution.

Abstract: A system comprises a spatial light modulator comprising a plurality of modulation elements, the spatial light modulator operable to receive an optical signal comprising one or more optical channels, wherein the elements are operable to perform an optical function on at least one of the one or more optical channels. The system further comprises two or more reset groups associated with the spatial light modulator, wherein each reset group comprises one or more elements, and wherein at least one of the one or more optical channels resides on at least two of the two or more reset groups. The system also comprises a controller operable to actuate the elements of at least one of the at least two reset groups associated with the optical channel at a different time than any one or more other reset group of the at least two reset groups.

Abstract: For combining light from different light sources that are spatially apart, an optical system comprises a prism assembly that comprises a totally-internally-surface and a dichroic filter. The totally-internally-surface and the dichroic filter are configured for reflecting light of different colors or polarizations, so as to combine light of different polarization or colors into a single beam.

Abstract: System and method for dynamically altering a color gamut used in projection display systems. An embodiment comprises determining a dim color from colors used in representing an image, adjusting the dim color to increase an available display time for a non-dim color used to represent the image, adjusting the non-dim color using the available display time, and generating a color sequence based on the adjusted dim color and the adjusted non-dim color. The pixel intensities of a dim color are increased, permitting a shortening of the display time of the dim color. The newly freed display time can be reallocated to all colors to increase the amount of light used to display the image, thereby increasing image brightness or altering color point.

Abstract: A method for compensating for a shift in color in a light source and a system of color illumination for a projection visual display (PVD) system.

Abstract: A system and method for uniform light generation in projection display systems. An illumination source comprises a light source to produce colored light, and a scrolling optics unit optically coupled to the light source, the scrolling optics unit configured to create lines of colored light from the colored light, and to scroll the lines of colored light along a direction orthogonal to a light path of the illumination source. The scrolling optics unit comprises a single light shaping diffuser to transform the colored light into the lines of colored light, an optical filter positioned in the light path after the light shaping diffuser, and a scrolling optics element positioned in the light path after the optical filter. The single light shaping diffuser is capable of simultaneously transforming colored light into lines of colored light having substantially uniform intensity to provide uniform illumination.

Abstract: A screen for use in image presentations comprises an array of transmissive elongated prisms. The screen is capable of delivering incident light, having an incident angle within a specific incident angle range, to the viewing area, while preventing ambient light, having an incident angle within another angle range, from being directed to the viewing area. According to one embodiment, in operation, the screen, an image source, and the viewing area are positioned such that the light from the image source is directed to the viewing area.

Abstract: In accordance with particular embodiments, a system for displaying modulated light includes a spatial light modulator comprising a plurality of micromirrors having a pixel pitch less than 17 micrometers. The system also includes an intermediate voltage generator operable to generate a negative voltage and a positive voltage. The system further includes at least two level shifters coupled to the intermediate voltage generator. The system additionally includes a reset driver coupled to the at least two level shifters and to at least a subset of the plurality of micromirrors. The reset driver is operable to drive the subset of the micromirrors. The spatial light modulator, the intermediate voltage generator, the at least two level shifters, and the reset driver are all incorporated on a common substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of reducing speckle in projection of images is provided that includes the elements or features of producing a first image and displacing the first image to produce a second image that will reduce speckle relating to the first image when the first image and the second image are displayed on a display medium.

Abstract: A micro-mirror based projection display system in an enclosure with minimum chin and depth measurements is disclosed. A light source, such as a solid state laser light source, generates light of multiple primary colors that is modulated by a digital micro-mirror device. The projection optics of the system include a telecentric rear group of glass lenses with spherical surfaces, followed by a pair of aspheric lenses formed of plastic. A folding mirror, such as a single-piece or multi-piece angular mirror, is disposed between the aspheric lenses, to reduce the depth of the enclosure, and an aspheric mirror projects the image onto a TIR Fresnel projection screen. The aspheric lenses are magnifying to reduce the magnification required of the aspheric mirror, and the aspheric lenses and mirror are clipped to reduce enclosure volume. A folding mirror may be used after the aspheric mirror to further reduce the depth of the enclosure.

Abstract: A method of reducing ringing artifacts in image data that has been filtered with a high frequency emphasis filter. For each filtered data value, a local variance is calculated from data values at neighboring filter taps. This variance is compared to a threshold, and if the threshold is exceeded, the filtered data value is limited between local minimum and maximum values. A method of reducing noise, also using the local variance, is also described.

Abstract: The addition of DMD illumination modulator(s) 702 in series with projection SLM(s) 706/709 to produce high-performance projection displays with improved optical efficiency, reliability, and lower maintenance requirements. This approach eliminates the vibration, audible noise, and safety problems associated with high speed rotating color filter wheels 203 commonly used in SLM projectors and controls the light applied to individual areas of the projection SLM(s).