Abstract: A display system comprising a light source and a plurality of switchable elements, wherein each element is switchable at an element switching frequency in accordance with an element control signal between an “on” state in which light is directed from the light source onto a display, and an “off” state in which light is not directed onto a display. The light source being configured to generate a pulsed light source output at a light source pulse frequency.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring heat between an object and a fluid, the apparatus comprising at least one set of elongate members, the elongate members each having a tip for contacting the object. The tips of the elongate members generally make a point contact with the object and allow heat to be transferred between the object and a fluid, often air. A gap is provided between adjacent elongate members to facilitate fluid flow around the object and between the elongate members.

Abstract: A display system comprising a light source and a plurality of switchable elements, wherein each element is switchable at an element switching frequency in accordance with an element control signal between an “on” state in which light is directed from the light source onto a display, and an “off” state in which light is not directed onto a display. The light source being configured to generate a pulsed light source output at a light source pulse frequency.

Abstract: A light source for use in a projection system comprises a pair of lamps each effective to produce a substantially collimated beam. Part of the light emitted by each lamp is directed through the light originating part of the same, or another, lamp. A light combiner is arranged within the path of the light beams from each of the two lamps to provide a composite light beam of a cross section less than the sum of the cross section of the beams produced by each of the lamps.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes means for inputting an interlaced video signal comprising signals representative of successive fields in image data produced by scanning successive image frames. Fields of image data that have been derived from single frames of the scanned image frames are determined, and signals produced representative of each of the image frames. A DMD for each color channel is addressed with signals representative of the frames.

Abstract: A light source is provided that includes a reflector for generating a substantially rectangular beam. The light source may include an arc lamp that includes a magnetic field generation means in the vicinity of the arc for reducing the arc diameter, or a secondary reflection means for avoiding part of the light that is generated from being obscured by the arc lamp electrodes.

Abstract: An illumination system for illuminating a spatial light modulator. An integrator rod is positioned in the light path between an arc lamp and the spatial light modulator. At the input surface of the integrated rod, there is positioned a field lens for defocusing areas of turbulence within the arc lamp. In the output surface of the integrated rod there is positioned a plate effective to prevent dust from being attracted to the output surface of the integrator rod. The integrator rod is effective to combine light from two separate light sources.

Abstract: A projecting display system includes a light source (101) which produces light which is spatially modulated by a number of spatial light modulators (105, 107). A splitting means (103) is provided in the light path between the light source (101) and the spatial light modulators (105 and 107) such that the overall luminous flux produceable by the system is not determined by the maximum luminous flux which each spatial light modultors (105, 107) can accommodate.

Abstract: A projection device which includes a plurality of deflectable mirror arrays arranged to spatially modulate incident light. A totally internal reflecting surface is arranged to direct light to and from the deformable mirror array. The device includes on or more dichroic layers arranged at an angle relative to the incident light dependent on the spread of angles on the incident beam relative to the optical axis. Additionally or alternatively, the totally internally reflecting surface may be arranged to direct non-spatially modulated light towards a beam dump.

Abstract: A deformable mirror device having a two-dimensional array of mirror elements is driven in such a way to reduce the data rate and remove the need for buffer stores. The mirror elements are loaded row-by-row in response to an n bit video signal in 2n loading operations. Only n rows are loaded in each loading operation, the other rows remaining in their previous conditions, and the loading continues sequentially down the array. The timing of the loading is such that the duration from loading a given row with a first data bit to loading the same row with the next data bit is proportional to the significance of the first data bit.

Abstract: A processing system for a spatial light modulator in the form of an array of defomable mirror devices receives a gamma-corrected, video input signal. A de-gamma processor removes all or part of the gamma-correction of the video input signal to match the data to the form of the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: An arc lamp suitable for use as a high intensity light source in a projection system is described. A reflector is arranged to reflect the light produced by the arc into a directional light beam, secondary reflection means being arranged to direct part of the reflected beam so as to compensate for regions which are obscured by the electrodes. Means are provided within the light source to dissipate heat generated by the electrodes.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator in the form of a deformable mirror device (110) receives from a frame store (116) data which has been formatted by a data formatter (114) subsequent to gamma correction in a ROM look-up table (112). The DMD (110) displays different light levels by being ON for selected periods of a series of durations 4, 8, 16 . . . 1024 varying in proportion to a basic period multiplied by powers of two. The shortest duration 4 for which the DMD can be turned on is a multiple of the basic period, and the series includes additional durations 5, 6 and 7 in the series between the shortest displayable duration 4 and the next power of two 8. Durations 1, 2 and 3 of less than the shortest displayable duration can be displayed by adjusting the turn-on time of a proportion of the adjacent mirrors. The longest duration for which the mirror can be turned on can be employed twice.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for driving a display device including a matrix array of deflectable mirror devices is described. The deflectable mirror devices are divided into blocks of N rows. Selected groups of mirror devices within each block are loaded with single bit data in a cycle of loading operations During at least some of the loading operations, two series of reset cycles are used enabling one single bit cycle in one group to terminate and another single bit cycle in another group to commence within a single loading operation. Active bit data may be loaded and displayed in the otherwise unused time intervals between the active bits.

Abstract: A processing system for a spatial light modulator in the form of an array of deformable mirror devices receives a gamma-corrected, color component, video input signal. The input signal is converted to pixel data which is then converted to RGB data. A de-gamma processor removes all or part of the gamma-correction of the pixel data to match the data to the form of the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: A display device includes a deformable mirror device wherein grey scales are displayed using a time division modulation process in which the times or sub-frame periods for which each mirror within the deformable mirror array is switched on. The device includes a selection means for ordering selected sub-frame periods or divided sub-frame periods such that the light directed from each mirror is substantially temporally balanced during each frame period of the display device and/or between consecutive frame periods.

Abstract: An electrode structure for use in a sealed arc lamp is described. The electrode structure includes a tungsten containing rod surrounded by a block of sintered tungsten containing powder. The block may be impregnated with a thermally conductive material such as copper, silver or braze, and may have a high thermal emissivity surface.

Abstract: A light source suitable for use in a projection system is described. The light source is in a form of an arc lamp including an arc gap defined between an anode and a cathode. The arc gap is positioned at the focal point of a parabolic reflector which is truncated at its focal plane. A spherical reflector oppositely directed to the parabolic reflector and concentric with the focal point of the parabolic reflector is arranged so as to direct light from the arc which has not been intercepted by the parabolic reflector back into the arc gap.

Abstract: A projection system includes a light source (16) and a prism assembly (41) including at least one air gap (45) effective both to deflect incident light on to at least one reflective spatial light modulator (10), and to transmit modulated light produced by the spatial light modulator (10).