Abstract: A laser projection device (LPD) suitable for displaying color images is disclosed. The LPD is used to excite various photoluminescent materials located on a display screen so as to produce multi-color displays. Additionally, the screen may be movably mounted so as to reduce laser speckling.

Abstract: A lightweight, compact image projection module, especially for mounting in a housing having a light-transmissive window, is operative for causing selected pixels in a raster pattern to be illuminated to produce an image of high resolution of VGA quality in color.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling the operation of a Laser Projection Display (LPD). Generally, the LPD is comprised of a laser, an optical system and a controller. The laser is adapted to emit a beam of laser light. The optical system is adapted to scan the beam of laser light on a display surface in a two-dimensional raster pattern. The controller is adapted to control the rate at which the laser beam is scanned to produce regions of varying resolution on the display surface. The controller is also adapted to present laser light onto the display surface within only selected portions of the two-dimensional raster scan pattern so that spaced apart image regions may be created.

Abstract: A laser projection device suitable for displaying full color images is disclosed. The LPD includes a variety of techniques for modulating laser beams produced by one or more lasers with image data to controllably produce the image using a modified raster scan.

Abstract: A lightweight, compact image projection system, especially for mounting in a housing having a light-transmissive window, is operative for causing selected pixels in a raster pattern to be illuminated to produce an image of high resolution of VGA quality or higher in color. A shock-resistant arrangement protects at least one of the system components, for example, a green laser module with its associated thermo-electric cooler from shock damage during a drop event without sacrificing the capability of aggressively removing waste heat generated by such system components.

Abstract: A laser projection device suitable for displaying full color images is disclosed. The LPD includes a variety of techniques for modulating laser beams produced by one or more lasers with image data to controllably produce the image using a modified raster scan.

Abstract: Red, blue and green lasers respectively emit a plurality of red, blue and green laser beams having respective output powers. The beams are optically focused and collinearly arranged to form a composite beam which is swept by a pair of scan mirrors in a pattern of scan lines on a projection surface, each scan line having a number of pixels. A controller causes selected pixels to be illuminated, and rendered visible, by the composite beam to produce an image. A safety circuit detects a malfunction of at least one of the lasers and the scan mirrors, and deenergizes the at least one of the lasers and the scan mirrors upon detection of the malfunction.

Abstract: Electrical interference between resonant, drive and line frequencies in a drive is reduced by selecting the resonant frequency to be non-harmonically related to the drive and line frequencies. The drive is of beneficial use in a lightweight, compact image projection module operative for causing selected pixels in a raster pattern to be illuminated to produce a non-distorted image of high resolution of VGA quality in color.

Abstract: An acousto-optical modulator modulates a green laser beam, and generates a modulated non-diffracted beam and a modulated diffracted beam. A scanner sweeps the modulated diffracted green beam, as well as modulated red and blue beams, as a pattern of scan lines, each scan line having a number of pixels. A controller causes selected pixels along the scan lines to be illuminated, and rendered visible, by the diffracted green beam, the red beam and the blue beam to produce the image. The non-diffracted green beam is employed in a laser shut-down safety circuit.

Abstract: A lightweight, compact image projection module, especially for mounting in a housing having a light-transmissive window, is operative for causing selected pixels in a raster pattern to be illuminated to produce an image of high resolution of VGA quality or higher in color. A laser beam focusing arrangement aligns a mechanical axis of a focusing lens with an optical axis along which a laser beam is directed to reduce pointing errors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to controllably compensate for distortions in an image produced by an LPD, where the distortion arises from the shape and/or angle of the viewing surface relative to the LPD. For example, the LPD can determine the angle of the viewing surface relative to the LPD and then adjust the horizontal and vertical scan mechanisms to return the image to its original configuration, such as rectangular.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to capture images using a laser projection display (LPD). In a full color LPD camera, three lasers (red, blue, and green) are deployed to scan an image and receive reflected laser light therefrom. The reflected laser light may be analyzed and assembled into a picture. The LPD may also be used to display the picture, to operate as a viewfinder, to print the picture, to operate as a range finder, and the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to modulate a beam of laser light. An acousto-optic modulator (AOM) is positioned to receive continuous-wave (CW) laser light at an angle approximating the Bragg angle. Fine tuning of the modulation is then used to compensate for any variations in the actual angle from the Bragg angle. A photodiode provides a feedback signal that may be used to tune or adjust the operation of the AOM. The photodiode is positioned to receive laser light at the first order diffraction and provide a signal indicative of the magnitude of the first order diffraction laser light produced by the AOM. The photodiode signal is coupled to an RF frequency generator so that the RF frequency may be adjusted to vary the acoustic wave in the AOM to compensate for any variations in the Bragg angle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to compensate for variations in the alignment of a plurality of lasers 102, 104, 106. A controller 142 varies the time at which the lasers 102, 104, 106 are energized so that the laser light emitted therefrom is reflected from a scanning mirror 118 at varying times so that each of the beams of light is reflected along a substantially common path and delivered to a substantially common point.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to provide a laser projection display (LPD).

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling a laser projection device (LPD). The apparatus is comprised of a liquid crystal display controller, a laser projection display controller, and a laser projection display engine. The liquid crystal display controller is adapted to receive video signals indicative of a visual display and convert the video signals to control signals suitable for controlling a liquid crystal display panel. The laser projection device controller is adapted to receive the control signals from the liquid crystal display controller and use the control signals to control a laser projection display. The laser projection device engine is adapted to display an image under the control of the laser projection device controller.

Abstract: Electrical interference between resonant, drive and line frequencies in a drive is reduced by selecting the resonant frequency to be non-harmonically related to the drive and line frequencies. The drive is of beneficial use in a lightweight, compact image projection module operative for causing selected pixels in a raster pattern to be illuminated to produce a non-distorted image of high resolution of VGA quality in color.

Abstract: A taut, torsional flexure is used in a compact drive for scanning light and is of beneficial use in a lightweight, compact image projection module, especially for mounting in a housing having a light-transmissive window, the module being operative for causing selected pixels in a raster pattern to be illuminated to produce an image of high resolution of VGA quality in color.

Abstract: A lightweight, compact image projection module, especially for mounting in a housing having a light-transmissive window, is operative for sweeping a composite laser beam as a pattern of scan lines on a planar projection surface and for causing selected pixels arranged along each scan line to be illuminated to produce an image, especially in color. The raster pattern extends along mutually orthogonal directions that are generally parallel to mutually orthogonal dimensions of a support of the module. The image is level with the horizontal.

Abstract: A lightweight, compact image projection module, especially for mounting in a housing having a light-transmissive window, is operative for causing selected pixels in a raster pattern to be illuminated to produce an image of high resolution of VGA quality in color. The pixels are rendered symmetrical in cross-section by aligning a narrow dimension of a beam spot of a laser beam along scan lines of the raster pattern.