Abstract: The invention relates to leadframes and semiconductor chip package assemblies using leadframes, and to methods for their assembly. A disclosed embodiment of the invention includes a semiconductor package leadframe with a chip mounting surface for receiving a semiconductor chip and a plurality of leadfingers. The leadfingers have a proximal end for receiving one or more wirebond, and a distal end for providing an electrical path from the proximal end. One or more of the leadfingers also has an offset portion at its proximal end for increasing the clearance between the leadfinger and underlying heat spreader, increasing the stiffness of the leadfinger, and increasing leadfinger deflection-resistance and spring-back. The offset is in the direction opposite the plane of a heat spreader thermally coupled to the mounting surface.

Abstract: A micro-mirror based projection display system in an enclosure with minimum chin and depth measurements is disclosed. 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 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.

Abstract: Provided is a method for using a display system. The method, in one embodiment, includes directing a light beam from a light source to an array of individually addressable pixels of a spatial light modulator. The method further includes modulating the light beam into a first portion of light using a first addressable pixel, and a second portion of light using a second addressable pixel. Thereafter, the method includes directing the first portion of light having a first incident angle and the second portion of light having a second different incident angle toward an angle-selective retro-reflector, the angle-selective retro-reflector configured to transmit the first portion of light onto a display target, and reflect the second portion of light back toward the second addressable pixel. Additionally, the method includes recycling the reflected second portion of light to the pixels of the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: A front-projection screen that includes a prismatic film that comprises an outside surface of the screen. The film includes parallel prismatic grooved lines. Each of the lines have a draft surface, a groove surface, and, each of the lines are located on a first side of a base portion of the film. The screen also includes a diffuser-reflector layer adjacent to a second opposite side of the base portion. The outside surface of the screen is oriented to receive an incoming light exclusively through the draft surfaces of the lines. The incoming light has an angle of incidence of about 60 degrees or greater with respect to the normal of the outside surface. A draft-base angle between the base portion and the draft surface is about 75 degrees or greater.

Abstract: A reflective and deformable micromirror device comprises a reflective micromirror plate attached to a deformable hinge that is formed on and held by a hinge post on a substrate. The substrate has an addressing electrode formed thereon. A selected dielectric material is disposed between the deformable hinge and the addressing electrode.

Abstract: A system for use in displaying modulated light includes a light source operable to generate a light beam. The system also includes a color wheel for receiving the light beam. The color wheel comprises a plurality of translucent segments. The plurality of translucent segments comprises a first number of blue segments, the first number of red segments, and a second number of green segments wherein the first number is greater than the second number and the second number is at least one.

Abstract: A method for detecting a stack buffer overflow attack is provided that includes receiving a memory access request from a processor core of a system, and determining that the memory access request indicates a stack buffer overflow attack. The method may further include preventing completion of the memory access request and/or executing a security violation response. A system is also provided that includes a processor core coupled to a plurality of busses and an execution stack in a random access memory coupled to the plurality of busses. The system further includes a buffer overflow protection (BOP) logic coupled to the plurality of busses to receive memory access requests from the plurality of busses. The BOP logic is operable to detect a buffer overflow attack comprising a memory access request addressing the execution stack initiated by a program executing on the processor core.

Abstract: Method for removing contaminants from a surface during semiconductor fabrication. A preferred embodiment comprises developing a resist layer on a top surface of a semiconductor substrate, curing the developed resist layer, and cleaning the developed resist layer with a developer solution to remove contaminants. The cleaning makes use of the same developer solution used to develop the resist layer, so the cleaning makes use of a process that already exists and requires no additional investment to implement, while the curing stabilizes the developed resist layer so that the cleaning does not damage the developed resist layer.

Abstract: A method and a material for creating an antireflective coating on an integrated circuit. A preferred embodiment comprises applying a dark polymer material on a reflective surface, curing the dark polymer material, and roughening a top surface of the dark polymer material. The roughening can be achieved by ashing the dark polymer material in an ash chamber. The dark polymer material, preferably a black matrix resin or a polyimide black matrix resin, when ashed in an oxygen rich atmosphere for a short period of time, forms a surface that is capable of absorbing light as well as randomly refracting light it does not absorb. A protective cap layer may be formed on top of the ashed dark polymer material to provide protection for the dark polymer material.

Abstract: A display system for creating a full-color projected image. Light from a white light source passes through a color modulator (106). The color modulator (106) is a stack of at least two dielectric layers exposed to an electric field. The applied electric field operates to change the index of refraction of the dielectric material enough to cause the stack of dielectric layers to selectively reflect or transmit various wavelength bands. By changing the electric field, the color modulator (106) provides a series of three primary color light beams that are modulated by a spatial light modulator (112). A controller (128) controls the operation of the spatial light modulator (112) to form an image bearing beam of primary colored light. The image bearing beam of light is focused onto an image plane by a projection optics (124).

Abstract: The display system separates reflected and transmitted light from a color wheel of the display system; and modulates the separated reflected and transmitted light components using separate spatial light modulators so as to achieve high brightness.

Abstract: A method of processing light includes receiving an image to be displayed. The image has a brightness level. The method further includes generating light from a light source and intensity-modulating the generated light to produce light having a first intensity. The first intensity is a function of the brightness level. The method also includes spatially integrating the intensity-modulated light.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use with a micromirror element includes a micromirror a micromirror having a substantially flat outer surface disposed outwardly from a support structure that is operable to at least partially support the micromirror. The support structure includes at least one layer overlying at least two discrete planes that are both substantially parallel to the outer surface of the micromirror. In one particular embodiment, the support structure includes annular-shaped sidewalls that encapsulate a photoresist plug.

Abstract: A system for, and method of resolving reset conflicts in a phased-reset SLM system and a projection visual display system incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes a reset conflict arbiter configured to receive reset instructions containing conflicts from a sequence generator and resolve the conflicts by shifting an execution time of a selected one of the reset instructions according to a conflict resolution method.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for processing a deformable element of a microstructure for reducing the plastic deformation by oxidizing the deformable element. The method of the present invention can be performed at a variety of stages of the fabrication and packaging processes.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for local value adjustment are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying a hue, saturation, and brightness value for each pixel of an image, determining whether the hue and saturation for each pixel fall within a first predetermined set of hue and saturation combinations, determining whether the brightness value for each pixel of the image falls within a predetermined set of brightness values, and selectively applying a gain to the saturation of each pixel based upon the determination of whether the hue and saturation value of the pixel falls within the first predetermined set of hue and saturation combinations and the determination of whether the brightness value of the pixel falls within the predetermined set of brightness values.

Abstract: A projection system is disclosed herein. The projection system employs a spatial light modulator comprising an array of individually addressable pixels for modulating the incident light based on image data. The modulated light is projected on a screen for viewing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of the present invention is particularly for use in display systems having spatial light modulators in which the pixels present asymmetrical switching delays. For a desired illumination intensity of a pixel, a series of pulse-width-modulation bit values for the pixel is determined based at least in part upon a parameter that characterizes the asymmetrical transition behavior of the pixel between states.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a micromirror device having in-plane deformable hinge to which a deflectable and reflective mirror plate is attached. The mirror plate rotates to different angles in response to an electrostatic field established between the mirror plate and an addressing electrode associated with the mirror plate.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for evaluating the product quality and performances of micromirror array devices through measurements of the electromechanical responses of the individual micromirrors to the driving forces of electric fields. The electromechanical responses of the micromirrors according to the present invention are described in terms of the rotational angles associated with the operational states, such as the ON and OFF state angles of the ON and OFF state when the micromirror array device is operated in the binary-state mode, and the response speed (i.e. the time interval required for a micromirror device to transit form one state to another) of the individual micromirrors to the driving fields.