Abstract: Described herein is a device including mirror control circuitry for controlling a movable mirror. The mirror control circuitry includes drive circuitry for providing a drive signal to the movable mirror, and a processor. The processor cause the drive circuitry to generate the drive signal so as to have pulses with leading edges occurring an offset period of time after a maximum opening angle of the movable mirror and trailing edges occurring an offset period of time before a zero crossing of the movable mirror. The processor may sample a mirror sense signal from the movable mirror at times at which a derivative of capacitance of the movable mirror with respect to time is zero, and then perform an action based upon the samples.

Abstract: The method for controlling an angular position of a MEMS mirror, includes: applying a first driving moment to the MEMS mirror to generate a rotational scanning movement of the mirror; and, at a zooming instant, applying a second driving moment to the MEMS mirror, wherein the second driving moment is equal to the first driving moment plus an extra moment. The extra moment may be a DC offset. After a transient period of time from zooming instant, a third driving moment M2=k{dot over (?)}2t is applied. The first and third driving moment are variable linearly with time. The driving moments are applied to torsional springs of the mirror.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a control system for a laser scanning projector. The control system includes a mirror controller generating a mirror synchronization signal for an oscillating mirror apparatus based upon a mirror clock signal. The control system also includes laser modulation circuitry for generating a laser synchronization signal as a function of a laser clock signal, and generating control signals for a laser that emits a laser beam that impinges on the oscillating mirror apparatus. Synchronization circuitry is for generating the laser clock signal and sending the laser clock signal to the laser modulation circuitry, receiving the mirror synchronization signal from the mirror controller, receiving the laser synchronization signal from the laser modulation circuitry, and modifying frequency and phase of the laser clock signal for the laser as a function of the mirror synchronization signal and the laser synchronization signal.

Abstract: A controller chip includes processing circuitry configured to process received samples by estimating trend functions from the samples, subtracting the trend functions from the samples to produce de-trended samples, performing a mathematical transform on the de-trended samples to produce frequency bins. The frequency bins may correspond to unwanted resonance movement of a movable mirror associated with the received samples. The processing circuit further generates an error function from the frequency bins. The error function can be used to generate correction signals for the movable mirror that serve to minimize the error function.

Abstract: Described herein is a video projection system including an optical module with at least one collimated light source to generate a light beam and at least one movable mirror to reflect the light beam. The video projection system also includes a video source producing a digital video stream in accordance with a clock signal and a movement synchronization signal, as well as a projector system. The projector system includes mirror control circuitry configured to control movement of the at least one movable mirror in accordance with the clock signal and the movement synchronization signal, a light source controller configured to control generation of collimated light by the at least one collimated light source, and processing circuitry configured to receive the digital video stream, and to generate control signals for the light source controller based upon the received digital video stream.

Abstract: A light projection system includes a GPU that receives video data containing video images, defines a two-dimensional grid (each element of which represents a position of a light beam at a different time), designates which elements of the two-dimensional grid correspond to positions of the light beam in a designated area, designates which elements correspond to positions of the light beam outside of the designated area with some positions outside being designated as calibration positions, maps each element corresponding to positions in the designated area to a corresponding pixel of a frame of a video image, and maps elements corresponding to calibration positions to calibration pixels. An ASIC receives the mapped pixels and mapped calibration pixels from the GPU, and generates a beam position control signal therefrom. A controller controls a movable mirror based on the beam position control signal.

Abstract: A projector includes a mirror quasi-statically driven by a drive signal to scan a laser beam in a pattern. A drive circuit generates the drive signal so the mirror moves in a non-linear fashion, yielding unwanted resonances. The non-linearity results in movement of the mirror through a first projection area, into a dead zone, and into a second projection area. The laser beam is emitted as the mirror moves through the first and second projection areas, but not the dead zone. A controller samples a feedback signal of the mirror as it moves through the first and second projection areas, producing first and second projection area sample which are processed to produce first and second ripple measurements. First and second correction signals are generated as a function of the ripple measurements. The drive circuit applies the correction signals to the drive signal so that the unwanted resonances are attenuated.

Abstract: A laser ranging system includes a light source emitting a beam of collimated light. A beam splitter polarizes the beam with a first type of linear polarization. A wave plate receives the beam from the beam splitter and polarizes the beam with a circular polarization. A movable mirror scans the beam across a target, receives a return beam from the target, and reflects the return beam toward the wave plate. The wave plate polarizes the return beam with a second type of linear polarization. The beam splitter receives the return beam from the wave plate. A detector detects arrival of the return beam from the beam splitter. A circuit receives determines a distance to the target as a function of a time interval between emission of the beam and arrival of the return beam.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to power conversion circuits including a bypass circuit for bypassing an inrush current limiting resistor. In one embodiment, a power conversion circuit is provided that includes a bridge rectifier, a current limiting resistor, a controllable current switching device, and a driver. The current limiting resistor has a first terminal coupled to an output terminal of the bridge rectifier and a second terminal coupled to an electrical ground. The controllable current switching device has conduction terminals coupled in parallel with respect to the current limiting resistor. The driver is coupled between the first terminal of the current limiting resistor and a control terminal of the current switching device, and the driver controls an operation of the current switching device based on a current through the current limiting resistor.

Abstract: A light projection system includes a light module emitting a light beam and a movable mirror reflecting the light beam toward a surface. A graphics processing unit processes video data to compensate for a response of the light module. The response is an optical power of the light beam produced by the light module for a given forward current through the light module. A light source driver controls the light module as a function of the processed video data. Colors of the images from the video data produced on the surface by the light beam would otherwise not look as they are intended to look due to changing of the response of the light module, but the processing of the video data alters the video data such that the colors of the images from the video data produced on the surface look as they are intended to look.

Abstract: A projector includes a mirror quasi-statically driven by a drive signal to scan a laser beam in a pattern. A drive circuit generates the drive signal so the mirror moves in a non-linear fashion, yielding unwanted resonances. The non-linearity results in movement of the mirror through a first projection area, into a dead zone, and into a second projection area. The laser beam is emitted as the mirror moves through the first and second projection areas, but not the dead zone. A controller samples a feedback signal of the mirror as it moves through the first and second projection areas, producing first and second projection area sample which are processed to produce first and second ripple measurements. First and second correction signals are generated as a function of the ripple measurements. The drive circuit applies the correction signals to the drive signal so that the unwanted resonances are attenuated.

Abstract: Described herein is a video projection system including an optical module with at least one collimated light source to generate a light beam and at least one movable mirror to reflect the light beam. The video projection system also includes a video source producing a digital video stream in accordance with a clock signal and a movement synchronization signal, as well as a projector system. The projector system includes mirror control circuitry configured to control movement of the at least one movable mirror in accordance with the clock signal and the movement synchronization signal, a light source controller configured to control generation of collimated light by the at least one collimated light source, and processing circuitry configured to receive the digital video stream, and to generate control signals for the light source controller based upon the received digital video stream.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a control circuit for a movable mirror. The control circuit includes driving circuitry configured to drive the movable mirror with a drive signal to effectuate oscillating of the movable mirror, opening angle determination circuitry configured to determine an opening angle of the movable mirror, and amplitude control circuitry. The amplitude control circuitry is configured to a) first cause the driving circuitry to generate the drive signal as having an upper threshold drive amplitude, and b) then later cause the driving circuitry to generate the drive signal as having a nominal drive amplitude, as a function of the opening angle of the movable mirror being equal to a desired opening angle.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a mirror controller for an oscillating mirror. The mirror controller includes a processor configured to receive a mirror sense signal from the oscillating mirror and to determine a phase error between the mirror sense signal and a mirror drive signal. The processor determines the phase error by sampling the mirror sense signal at a first time, sampling the mirror sense signal at a second time at which the mirror sense signal is expected to be equal to the mirror sense signal as sampled at the first time, and generating the phase error as a function of a difference between the sample of the mirror sense signal at the second time and the sample of the mirror sense signal at the first time.

Abstract: Mirror control circuitry described herein is for controlling a first micro-mirror of a micro-mirror apparatus that scans across a target area in a scan pattern. The mirror control circuitry includes a processor that determines a mechanical angle of the first micro-mirror for a given instant in time during scanning of the first micro-mirror between upper and lower rotational limits, the mechanical angle being such to maintain the scan pattern as being uniform while the micro-mirror apparatus scans across the target area between the upper and lower rotational limits. The processor also generates a driving signal for the first micro-mirror as a function of the determined mechanical angle for the first micro-mirror at the given instant in time.

Abstract: A device described herein includes a movable MEMS mirror, with a driver configured to drive the movable MEMS mirror with a periodic signal such that the MEMS mirror oscillates at its resonance frequency. A feedback measuring circuit is configured to measure a signal flowing through the movable MEMS mirror. A processor is configured to sample the signal at first and second instants, generate an error signal as a function of a difference between the signal at the first instant in time and the signal at the second instant in time, and determine the opening angle of the movable MEMS mirror as a function of the error signal.

Abstract: A light projection system includes a light module emitting a light beam and a movable mirror reflecting the light beam toward a surface. A graphics processing unit processes video data to compensate for a response of the light module. The response is an optical power of the light beam produced by the light module for a given forward current through the light module. A light source driver controls the light module as a function of the processed video data. Colors of the images from the video data produced on the surface by the light beam would otherwise not look as they are intended to look due to changing of the response of the light module, but the processing of the video data alters the video data such that the colors of the images from the video data produced on the surface look as they are intended to look.

Abstract: A device disclosed herein includes a feedback measuring circuit to measure a signal flowing through a movable MEMS mirror. Processing circuitry determines a time at which the signal indicates that a capacitance of the movable MEMS mirror is substantially at a maximum capacitance. The processing circuitry also determines, over a window of time extending from the time at which the signal indicates that the capacitance of the movable MEMS mirror is substantially at the maximum to a given time, a total change in capacitance of the movable MEMS mirror compared to the maximum capacitance. The processor further determines the capacitance at the given time as a function of the total change in capacitance, and determines an opening angle of the movable MEMS mirror as a function of the capacitance at the given time.

Abstract: A projector includes a first laser source projecting a first laser beam, a second laser source projecting a second laser beam at an angle with respect to the first laser beam, and a mirror reflecting the first and second laser beams. Circuitry controls the mirror to simultaneously reflect the first and second laser beams in a first scan pattern to form a first image having a number of scan lines greater than two times a horizontal resonance frequency of the mirror divided by a desired frame rate of the first image. The first laser beam forms a first angle of incidence with the mirror and the second laser beam forms a second angle of incidence with the mirror, the second angle of incidence being equal to the first angle of incidence summed with the angle of the second laser beam with respect to the first laser beam.

Abstract: A method for controlling operation of a MEMS mirror includes steps for: generating activation pulses for operating the MEMS mirror and generating a window activation signal for current detection, with the window activation signal overlapping with an end of an activation pulse. The method also includes detecting current through a stator or a rotor of the MEMS mirror during the window activation signal and terminating a current activation pulse and the window activation signal in response to detecting a change in the direction of the current through the stator or the rotor of the MEMS mirror during the window activation signal.