Including Solid-state Deflection Elements (e.g., Deformable Mirror Device (dmd)) Patents (Class 348/771)
  • Patent number: 8334935
    Abstract: A high resolution projection system has a light source for generating and emitting light and a plurality of digital micromirror device imagers configured to receive and reflect the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Youngshik Yoon
  • Patent number: 8289613
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) device includes a substrate, a movable element over the substrate, and an actuation electrode above the movable element. The movable element includes a deformable layer and a reflective element. The deformable layer is spaced from the reflective element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Mems Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence Chui, William Cummings, Brian Gally, Lior Kogut, Ming-Hau Tung, Yeh-Jiun Tung, Chih-Wei Chiang, Denis Endisch
  • Patent number: 8272749
    Abstract: A high resolution 3D projection system having a light source (302) for generating and emitting light, a translucent rotatable drum (308) having differently polarized sections for receiving the light therethrough, a plurality of digital micromirror device imagers (324, 326, 328 and 330) configured to receive and reflect the light transmitted through the drum (308), where a light beam is capable of being passed generally orthogonally through a wall of the drum is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Youngshik Yoon
  • Patent number: 8262230
    Abstract: A projection system is provided. The projection system comprises a first light source module, a second light source module, a prism module, a projection lens and a digital micromirror device (DMD). The two light source modules provide a first light beam and a second light beam according to the specific timing sequences respectively. The prism module is defined with a first reflection mechanism and a second reflection mechanism. The DMD comprises a plurality of micro mirrors. After traveling into the prism module and being reflected by the first reflection mechanism, the first light beam is emitted onto the micro mirrors. The first light beam is adapted to be reflected onto the projection lens and images onto the screen while the micro mirrors are tilted at a first angle. After traveling into the prism module and being reflected by the second reflection mechanism, the second light beam is emitted onto the micro mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: June-Jei Huang
  • Patent number: 8251520
    Abstract: Optical display systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Luminus Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexei A. Erchak, Eleftrios Lidorikis, John W. Graff
  • Patent number: 8246171
    Abstract: A cooling device for projector includes a shell, a circuit board, a light machine, a first fins, a fan assembly and a heat dissipation module. The light machine is mounted on the circuit board, and includes a light source having a red LED, a green LED facing the red LED, and a blue LED positioned between both of them. The first fins are mounted on the light source adjacent to the blue LED. The fan assembly includes a fan having a fan shell with an inlet and an outlet, and a second fins connected to the light source to aligned with the red LED. The heat dissipation module includes a third fins mounted on the light source to align to the green LED, a fourth fins mounted on the fan shell to align to the outlet of the fan, and a heat pipe interconnecting the third and fourth fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Fu Chen, Tsung-Je Chiu, Ching-Te Chu
  • Patent number: 8215777
    Abstract: A projection apparatus and a light guide module for use in the projection apparatus are provided. The projector apparatus comprises an illumination mechanism, at least one digital micromirror device (DMD), and a light guide module, wherein the light guide module includes a plurality of interfaces. The illumination mechanism provides a light beam which travels through the plurality of interfaces of the light guide module along a first axis without any rotation. The light beam orderly performs total internal reflections on each of the interfaces of the light guide module. Accordingly, the light beam travels to the at least one DMD, and then the light beam is reflected along a second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: June-Jei Huang
  • Patent number: 8213075
    Abstract: A multi-state light modulator comprises a first reflector. A first electrode is positioned at a distance from the first reflector. A second reflector is positioned between the first reflector and the first electrode. The second reflector is movable between an undriven position, a first driven position, and a second driven position, each having a corresponding distance from the first reflector. In one embodiment, the three positions correspond to reflecting white light, being non-reflective, and reflecting a selected color of light. Another embodiment is a method of making the light modulator. Another embodiment is a display including the light modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence Chui, William J Cummings, Brian J Gally
  • Patent number: 8197072
    Abstract: Provided is a light emitting device of an electronic device, provided with a DLP (Digital Light Processing) projector and a display unit, which is configured in such a manner that the light generated by the operation of the DLP projector can be re-used as a backlight light of the display unit. The disclosed light emitting device includes a first mirror for projecting a light of the DLP projector on a flat area provided ahead of the first mirror in an intermediate operation state of the first mirror; a light concentration mirror for converging the light projected on the flat area, the light concentration mirror being provided at a position adjacent to the flat area; and an optical fiber for transferring the light converged by the light concentration mirror to the display unit and enabling re-use of the transferred light as a light for a backlight of the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jin-Wook Kwon, Yong-Chan Keh, Byeong-Hoon Park, Sung-Sun Kim
  • Patent number: 8194192
    Abstract: A projection display uses a light modulating device to modulate, in accordance with image data, light radiated from a light source, project the modulated light onto a screen, and display an image. The projection display separates a unit of time configuring the image data into an effective light time when the light modulating device can express the light as an image on the screen and an ineffective light time when the light modulating device cannot express the light as an image on the screen. The projection display increases the power supplied to the light source during the effective light time over the power supplied to the light source during the ineffective light time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Harada, Takayoshi Nagai, Ikuro Suga, Akihiko Iwata, Yoshiteru Suzuki, Akira Okumura, Jun Someya, Kuniko Kojima
  • Patent number: 8189122
    Abstract: In a method for automatic color wheel calibration in a projector, the color wheel includes three primary colors and a non-primary color. The method includes: enabling the projector to project the non-primary color, and measuring first optical physical amounts of the projected non-primary color; enabling the projector to project a combination color of the three primary colors having respective color level values, measuring second optical physical amounts of the projected combination color, and adjusting the respective color level values of the three primary colors according to respective values of differences between the first optical physical amounts and the second optical physical amounts; and repeating the above steps until each of the values of differences approximates zero, thereby obtaining color level values for the three primary colors to produce a combination color matching the non-primary color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Chueh-Pin Ko, Chen-Kang Su
  • Patent number: 8184136
    Abstract: An image display device is provided with multiple light sources 101, 102 and 103, and a display element 100. Control is performed on a period in which the display element 100 displays each color and on emission of the light sources 101, 102 and 103 respectively emitting light beams of different colors. A controller 107 is provided to switch a display method to a method more suitable for the type and others of a display image. Thus, the image display device, which performs a color sequential display, can select the display method suitable for the display image when the multiple light sources emitting light of different colors are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kei Tokui
  • Patent number: 8167439
    Abstract: A field-sequential-type image forming device which includes: a light valve element which divides one field of a color image to sectors corresponding to primary colors different from each other and forms images corresponding to the primary colors during periods of the respective sectors; a light emission control unit which controls light emission quantities of the light sources; and an image control signal outputting unit which outputs control signals to the light valve element. In such an image forming device, the image control signal outputting unit outputs signals for forming the image by controlling light quantities of lights emitted from the primary color sources during the primary color light emission period and light quantity correction signals for controlling light quantity of the image corresponding to the positions of the pixels which form the image during the high-brightness light emission period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Yamada
  • Patent number: 8157389
    Abstract: The present invention provides a display apparatus, comprising: an a light source for emitting illumination light for transmitting along illumination light path; a display device includes a plurality of pixels for modulating the illumination light for reflecting the illumination light along a projection light path after said illumination light is modulated by said display device; light path change actuator for changing the projection light paths; and a control circuit for controlling the light source, wherein the control circuit controls the light source in response to changes of the projection light path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Maeda, Hirokazu Nishino, Akira Shirai, Fusao Ishii
  • Patent number: 8157390
    Abstract: The invention discloses a projecting system. The projecting system includes two sets of lens. The first set of lens has a first focal length for focusing an incident ray of light to form a first image. The second set of lens has a second focal length for projecting the first image to form a second image. The two sets of lens are separated by a lens-apex distance relative to the light path between the two sets of lens. The second focal length is smaller than or equal to the lens-apex distance. A difference between the second focal length and the lens-apex distance is smaller than or equal to a half of the first focal length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventor: Ming-Kuen Lin
  • Patent number: 8134772
    Abstract: A micromirror device includes an elastic hinge for supporting a mirror on a substrate, and an address electrode for deflecting the mirror. The device further includes a protective layer and an oriented monolayer laid to cover a stopper also functioning as an address electrode provided below the mirror and between the mirror and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Maeda, Fusao Ishii, Kazuhiro Watanabe, Hirotoshi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8115989
    Abstract: Anti-stiction systems may include one or more anti-stiction electrodes driven to provide an electrical force that counteracts a stiction force acting upon a moveable portion of an interferometric modulator. The anti-stiction electrode(s) may be disposed on a back glass or on another such substrate. The anti-stiction electrode(s) may be configured to apply an electrical force to substantially all of the interferometric modulators in a display device at once and/or may be configured to apply an electrical force only to a selected area. In some embodiments, the sum of an anti-stiction electrical force and a mechanical restoring force of a moveable part of an interferometric modulator is sufficient to counteract a stiction force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Mems Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Manish Kothari
  • Patent number: 8098431
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention relate to methods and systems for generating the color white in displays created from interferometric modulators and more specifically, to the generation of the color white through the use of reflected light at two wavelengths. In one embodiment, a display device displays the color white. The color white is generated by reflecting light from two pluralities of interferometric modulator types. The first modulator type reflects colored light at a specific wavelength. The second modulator type reflects colored light selected to be at a wavelength complementary to the first. The combined light reflected from the two types appears white in the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip D. Floyd
  • Patent number: 8077377
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods to improve SLMs, in particular to reflecting micromechanical SLMs, for applications with simple system architecture, high precision, high power handling capability, high throughput, and/or high optical processing capability. Applications include optical data processing, image projection, lithography, image enhancement, holography, optical metrology, coherence and wavefront control, and adaptive optics. A particular aspect of the invention is the achromatization of diffractive SLMs so they can be used with multiple wavelengths sequentially, simultaneously or as a result of spectral broadening in very short pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Micronic MyData AB
    Inventor: Torbjorn Sandstrom
  • Patent number: 8066388
    Abstract: A light source device includes a first light source, a second light source, a reflective assembly, and a condensing lens defining an optical axis. The first light source includes a first lamp and a first reflector reflecting light beams generated by the first lamp as first parallel light beams. The second light source includes a second lamp and a second reflector reflecting light beams generated by the second lamp. The first light source, the reflective assembly and the condensing lens are arranged in order along the optical axis. The second light source corresponds to the reflective assembly deviated from the optical axis. The reflective assembly reflects light beams reflected by the first reflector back to the first reflector, and reflects light beams from the second reflector to the condensing lens. The condensing lens condenses the first parallel light beams and the light beams reflected by the reflective assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Tsung Yeh, Chun-Hsiang Huang, Wei-Hsiu Chang, Kuang-Wei Lin, Kuan-Ting Chen, Mei-Chun Lin
  • Patent number: 8061854
    Abstract: The present invention provides a projection apparatus, comprising: a light source; at least one spatial light modulator for modulating illumination light from the light source by a plurality of pixel elements by using different modulation states; a light source control unit performing a modulation control of the light source; and a spatial light modulator control unit generating, from an input image signal, a control signal for driving the spatial light modulator, wherein: the light source control unit has a function of receiving data corresponding to the control signal generated by the spatial light modulator control unit, controlling a parameter of an emission pulse of the illumination light emitted from the light source, and thereby adjusting an emission intensity of the illumination light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Shirai, Hirokazu Nishino, Yoshiaki Horikawa, Fusao Ishii
  • Patent number: 8052279
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a light source module including three light source units each comprising a light source and respectively emitting light of different color. At least one light source unit of the three light source units is a first light source unit. Each first light source unit further includes a rotatable light converter located on the light path of the light emitted from the light source The rotatable light converter is covered with fluorescent powder. The fluorescent powder is located on the light path of the light emitted from the light source, and configured for converting the emitted light from the light source into light of different color when the fluorescent powder is stimulated by the emitted light. The present disclosure also provides a digital light processing projector with the light source module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pang-Cheng Wang, Jing-Miau Wu
  • Patent number: 8052284
    Abstract: A projector with reduced size and higher contrast includes a prism assembly, a light system, and a Digital Micro-mirror Device (DMD). Only In the “ON” state of DMD, the light from the light system reflects to a projection screen through the prism assembly and the DMD. The prism assembly includes two prisms and a medium layer. The prism assembly is appropriately designed so as to disable the light in the “OFF” state from reflecting to the projection screen by two-time total internal reflection in the prism assembly, and also to reduce the size of the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventor: Ming-Kuen Lin
  • Patent number: 8047660
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a projection display system includes a spatial light modulator and a volume illumination hologram. The spatial light modulator comprises a digital micromirror device, and the projection system includes a laser light source to produce a sequence of collimated, colored, light beams for the illumination hologram. Waste light produced by the spatial light modulator is transmitted to the illumination hologram, and the illumination hologram emits waste light from at least one of its edges. Waste light emitted from an edge of the illumination hologram is absorbed by a light sensor to control the intensity of the light beams. A projection focusing element is mounted proximate a side of the illumination hologram to focus the image beam from the spatial light modulator for viewing. A projection hologram is interposed between the side of the illumination hologram and the projection focusing element to manage waste light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven Monroe Penn, Duane Scott Dewald, Ronald Allen Barry
  • Patent number: 8016429
    Abstract: A smooth picture device includes an optical element, a holder, a flexible member, a base and an actuator. The holder supports the optical element. At least one portion of the holder is coupled to the flexible member. The base supports the flexible member. The actuator is coupled to the holder and actuates the holder to vibrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Chang, Hung-Kuang Yang
  • Patent number: 8002413
    Abstract: There is provided a light source unit which includes a luminescent light source which receives excitation light so as to emit light of a predetermined wavelength band, excitation light sources which shine excitation light on to the luminescent light source, a reflection space having the luminescent light source in an interior thereof and an emission space which emits luminescent light source light emitted from the reflection space from an emission port whose area is made smaller than the area of the luminescent light source and a projector which employs the light source unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuro Narikawa
  • Patent number: 7999995
    Abstract: A full color range analog controlled interferometric modulation device is provided. The device includes a transparent substrate, and a transparent fixed-position electrically conductive electrode with a bottom surface overlying the substrate. A transparent spacer overlies the fixed-position electrode, and an induced absorber overlies the spacer. An optically reflective electrically conductive moveable membrane overlies the induced absorber. A cavity is formed between the induced absorber and the moveable membrane having a maximum air gap dimension less than the spacer thickness. In one aspect, the distance from the top surface of the fixed-position electrode to a cavity lower surface is at least twice as great as the cavity maximum air gap dimension. In another aspect, at least one anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer is interposed between the substrate and the fixed-position electrode, and at least one ARC layer is interposed between the fixed-position electrode and the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Akinori Hashimura, Douglas J. Tweet, Apostolos T. Voutsas
  • Patent number: 7988306
    Abstract: A projection apparatus has a spatial light modulator to modulate illumination from a laser light source. A base projection lens has, from its long conjugate side to its short conjugate side, a first lens group with negative focal length and with a first lens element that has a negative focal length and a second lens element of positive focal length, a second lens group of negative focal length and spaced apart from the first lens group and having one or more cemented lens elements, and a third lens group spaced apart from the second lens group and having a lens with a positive focal length. The base projection lens has a first field of view and is telecentric in its short conjugate. An afocal attachment to the base projection lens alters the first field of view by the same amount in both of two orthogonal directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joseph R. Bietry, Barry D. Silverstein
  • Patent number: 7976172
    Abstract: Light emitted from a lamp enters a color wheel having a region for allowing a predetermined color to pass therethrough, is reflected on a mirror, and enters a DMD. After this, the light is reflected by the DMD and enters a color sensor, which then detects the color of the transmitting light. A projection apparatus automatically synchronizes the control on the rotation of the color wheel and the control on the proceeding direction of the transmitting light by the DMD, based on a color time-division pattern of the transmitting light detected by the color sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuro Narikawa
  • Patent number: 7959305
    Abstract: A digital micromirror projection display system is disclosed in which “off” pixel light is recaptured and recycled. In the disclosed system, a digital micromirror device directs incident light for “on” pixels in the image to be displayed through projection lenses to a projection screen. The digital micromirror device directs incident light for “off” pixels back toward the light source for recapture by a light integrator. Both the incident and projected light can pass through a rear group of projection lenses, with the first projection lens being disposed near the digital micromirror device. A mirror directs the incident light toward the digital micromirror device, and the “off” pixel light from the digital micromirror device toward the light integrator. As a result, “off” pixel light can be recycled without degrading image contrast, in a manner that can place fast projection lenses close to the digital micromirror device to save cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Patrick R. Destain
  • Patent number: 7959306
    Abstract: A displaying method of a digital light processing (DLP) projector includes the steps of: providing a light modulation device including a driver printed circuit board and a digital micromirror device (DMD), wherein the DMD includes a plurality of micromirrors each having a first stable state and a second stable state, and a predetermined light incident direction, the DMD is installed on the driver printed circuit board; providing an illumination light beam being incident on the DMD along an operating direction different from the predetermined light incident direction, modulating the illumination light beam to an imaging light beam by the DMD and directing the imaging light beam to a projection lens for projecting an image. A DLP projector made thereby has a relatively lower manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: Chin-Ku Liu
  • Patent number: 7938548
    Abstract: A projection device includes: a projector unit that has at least a light source and a projection optical system housed in a chassis; a control unit that is assembled with a chassis separate from the chassis of the projector unit; and a rotation support member that rotatably supports the projector unit and the control unit around a rotation axis that extends perpendicular to a surface of the chassis of the projector unit and a surface of the chassis of the control unit, with these surfaces facing to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotake Nozaki, Nobuhiro Fujinawa, Akira Ohmura
  • Patent number: 7934841
    Abstract: Optical display systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Luminus Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexei A. Erchak, Eleftrios Lidorikis, John W. Graff
  • Patent number: 7918563
    Abstract: A method includes generating a plurality of beams that each illuminate a separate portion of a spatial light modulator. The spatial light modulator has a first dimension of a first length and a second dimension of a second length. Each of the beams spans a portion of the first length of the first dimension and a portion of the second length of the second dimension. The method also includes scrolling the plurality of beams along the second dimension of the spatial light modulator while maintaining at least a first gap between each of the plurality of beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Philip Scott King, Gregory James Hewlett, Roger Mitsuo Ikeda, Jeffrey Scott Farris
  • Patent number: 7914151
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting one or more light beams by a first portion of a light modulator formed outwardly from a substrate. The one or more transmitted light beams are spatially integrated. A second portion of the light modulator is formed outwardly from the substrate. The second portion of the light modulator spatially integrates the transmitted light beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew Ian Russell, Steven M. Penn, Jeffrey Scott Farris
  • Patent number: 7914150
    Abstract: To reduce the color break-up and to provide high quality projection images. A method of driving a spatial light modulator, including generating a sub-frame pulse signal for a first colored light R1 through R8, B1 through B8, generating a sub-frame pulse signal for a second colored light G1 through G8, arranging the sub-frame pulse signals for the respective colored light so that at least three of the sub-frame pulse signals for the first colored light R1 through R8, B1 through B8 adjoin either one of the sub-frame pulse signals for the second colored light G1 through G8 during at least one frame of the image, and driving a plurality of movable mirror elements in accordance with the sub-frame pulse signals for the respective colored light arranged in arranging the sub-frame pulse signals, the movable mirror elements being alternatively moved at least to a first reflecting position and a second reflecting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuro Yamazaki, Hidehito Iisaka
  • Patent number: 7907319
    Abstract: An interferometric modulator (Imod) cavity has a reflector and an induced absorber. A direct view reflective flat panel display may include an array of the modulators. Adjacent spacers of different thicknesses are fabricated on a substrate by a lift-off technique used to pattern the spacers which are deposited separately, each deposition providing a different thickness of spacer. Or a patterned photoresist may be used to allow for an etching process to selectively etch back the thickness of a spacer which was deposited in a single deposition. A full-color static graphical image may be formed of combined patterns of interferometric modulator cavities. Each cavity includes a reflector, and an induced absorber, the induced absorber including a spacer having a thickness that defines a color associated with the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Miles
  • Patent number: 7905605
    Abstract: A multi-primary light emitting diode system includes the use of a polarization based dichroic element to combine light from different color channels. At least one of the color channels includes two light emitting diodes that produce light with a different range of wavelengths. The use of the polarization based dichroic element permits overlapping spectra from different color channels to be combined without loss. Accordingly, the brightness of the system is improved relative to conventional systems in which losses occur when combining overlapping spectra from different channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignees: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., Philips Lumileds Lighting Company, LLC
    Inventors: Serge J. Bierhuizen, Gerard Harbers
  • Patent number: 7901086
    Abstract: For displaying a color image by recombination of several single color images, parasitic noise like speckles due to scattering within the system, in particular when laser light is involved, with the invention a significant improvement with a low number of parts can be realized by use of a color wheel that comprises in radially divided zones refractive elements for redirecting light beams incoming at different impinging angles and redistributing elements, e.g. a hologram, that provide for a defined output beam in an optical axis. The sequence of the individual light processing zones on the color wheel are synchronized with respective laser sources. The invention combines the functionality of plural elements, reduces speckles and avoids losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: SONY Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Olivier Ripoll, Markus Kamm
  • Patent number: 7887200
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a method and apparatus to align bit weights in a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: TTE Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent William Hoffman
  • Patent number: 7883219
    Abstract: System and method for thin projection display systems. An embodiment comprises a light source, an array of light modulators optically coupled to the light source, a lensed mirror optically coupled to the array, and a controller electronically coupled to the array and to the light source. The array produces images on a display plane by modulating light from the light source based on image data and the controller provides light commands to the light source and load image data into the array. The lensed mirror reflects modulated light from the array onto the display plane, the lensed mirror comprising a refractive portion and a reflective portion. The refractive portion of the lensed mirror helps to increase the light bending capability to help reduce the overall thickness of a projection display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: John David Jackson, Steven Edward Smith, Duane Scott Dewald
  • Patent number: 7884988
    Abstract: A micromechanical device and system utilizing a supplemental reset pulse to ensure deflectable members deflect to the desired position. After loading data into a micromechanical device, a reset pulse is used to position the deflectable member to a position indicated by the data. A supplemental reset pulse is then applied to ensure the deflectable member is driven to the position indicated by the data. The method and system are also used to ensure the deflectable members are driven to a neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory J. Hewlett, Darren T. McCosky
  • Patent number: 7872792
    Abstract: Improvements in an interferometric modulator that has a cavity defined by two walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Miles
  • Patent number: 7862182
    Abstract: Optical system for a projector, comprising: at least a first polarizing beam splitter for splitting a source illumination beam into a first illumination beam linearly polarized along a first direction and a second illumination beam polarized perpendicular to the first direction; at least one color wheel intersecting the polarized illumination beams in two different regions and producing a first color beam linearly polarized along the first direction and a perpendicularly polarized second color beam; and two imagers illuminated by the first and second polarized color beams respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Julien Thollot, Khaled Sarayeddine, Pascal Benoit
  • Patent number: 7855825
    Abstract: A micro-mechanical structure system according to the present invention includes: a movable structure 5, at least a portion of the movable structure 5 being formed of a single-crystalline material; an elastic supporting member 10 for supporting the movable structure 5; a stationary electrode section 13, 25 at least partially opposing the movable structure 5; and a base 22 which has a circuit section and to which the stationary electrode 13, 25 is affixed. The stationary electrode section 13, 25 includes a first electrode layer (upper stationary electrode layer) 13 positioned relative to the movable structure 5 and a second electrode layer (lower stationary electrode layer) 25 positioned relative to the base 22, the first electrode layer 13 and the second electrode layer 25 being bonded to each other via adhesion layers 15 and 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Kajino, Hironori Tomita, Yoshihiro Mushika
  • Patent number: 7852546
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming a display apparatus. According to one aspect of the invention, the display apparatus includes a first substrate having an aperture layer formed thereon, a light guide for guiding light towards the aperture layer, a plurality of MEMS light modulators for modulating light passing through the aperture layer from the light guide, and a spacer substantially surrounding the light guide for keeping the light guide and the first substrate a predetermined distance apart from one another, thereby forming a gap between the first substrate and the light guide. Alternatively or in addition, the first substrate may have a control matrix formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Fijol, Jignesh Gandhi, Mark J. Shufelt
  • Patent number: 7845802
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes a plate-like separation optical element having a dichroic surface and a PBS surface. The dichroic surface reflects green component light and transmits yellow component light. The PBS surface transmits P polarization component light and reflects S polarization component light. The separation optical element combines red component light entering from a certain direction and transmitted through the dichroic surface, with yellow component light entering from a different direction and reflected by the PBS surface, and leads a combined light towards a red liquid crystal panel. The separation optical element combines green component light entering from the certain direction and reflected by the dichroic surface, with yellow component light entering from the different direction and transmitted through the PBS surface, and leads a combined light towards a green liquid crystal panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Takashi Ikeda, Makoto Maeda, Ken Mashitani, Hideyuki Kanayama
  • Patent number: 7841727
    Abstract: A projection optical system includes a digital micro-mirror device and a light blocker disposed along the light path of the digital micro-mirror device. The digital micro-mirror device includes a base having a plurality of outer pads, a micro-mirror array disposed on the base, and a plurality of bonding wires. The bonding wires are electrically connecting the outer pads with the corresponding micro-mirror array. The light blocker is configured for blocking the light incident to the bonding wires and the light reflected by the bonding wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Te Lin, Wen-Pin Yeh
  • Patent number: 7832870
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a projection system includes a color wheel operable to filter light into a passed component and a reflected component. The projection system also includes a digital micromirror device comprising a plurality of micromirrors each operable to receive the passed component and the reflected component. Each micromirror is selectively positionable to direct, at approximately the same time, the passed component and the reflected component to desired locations. The projection system also includes an optical system operable to direct the passed component and the reflected component from the color wheel to the digital micromirror device at approximately the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory S. Pettitt, Andrew I. Russell, Bradley W. Walker
  • Patent number: RE42617
    Abstract: An image projection system includes a light source for generating a light beam, a reflective housing, and an invisible-light reflector. The reflective housing includes an opening and forms an accommodating space for accommodating the light source so that the light beam can emit from the opening along an optical path. The invisible-light reflector, whose normal is arranged to form an acute angle with the optical path, is installed at a reflecting position intersecting with the optical path outside the opening of the reflective housing. The invisible light of the light beam will be reflected back to the accommodating space by the invisible-light reflector without any destruction caused by the invisible light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: BenQ Corporation
    Inventors: Hung-Jen Wei, Chih-Chang Chou, Ming-Kuen Lin