Patents by Inventor Donald B. Doherty

Donald B. Doherty has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8614723
    Abstract: An apparatus for, and method of, increasing compensation sequence storage density in a projection visual display system and a projection visual display system incorporating the apparatus or the method. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: (1) a memory containing a first compensation sequence portion that is common to a plurality of effective transmission factors and a plurality of second compensation sequence portions that are unique to a corresponding plurality of effective transmission factors and (2) a compensation sequence generator coupled to the memory and configured to construct a compensation sequence for use in the projection visual display system using the first compensation sequence portion and one of the plurality of second compensation sequence portions selected as a function of a particular effective transmission factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Roman J. Pacheco, Donald B. Doherty, Larry D. Dickinson
  • Patent number: 8139871
    Abstract: An image compression and decompression method compresses data based upon the data states, and decompresses the compressed data based upon the codes generated during the compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Donald B. Doherty, Alan S. Hearn
  • Patent number: 8040305
    Abstract: A display system 100 includes a light source 110 and a color wheel 114. An optical section 112 is arranged to receive light from the light source 110 and to direct the light toward a color wheel 114. A digital micromirror device 122 is arranged to receive the light from the color wheel 114 and to direct image data toward a display. The image data includes an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns. The array of pixels is arranged as curved color bands during a first time period and rectangular color bands during a second time period. The second time period being concurrent with but of a shorter duration than the first time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel J. Morgan, Donald B. Doherty, William J. Sexton
  • Patent number: 7916104
    Abstract: A method for increasing intensity resolution (bit-depth) using LED illumination. A preferred embodiment comprises determining a display time for a bit to be displayed on a display system, with the display time being based upon a weighting of the bit. If the display time is less than a minimum display time of the display system, then a light modulator and light source modulation are to be used to display the bit. If the display time is equal to or greater than the minimum display time, then a light modulator is to be used to display the bit. The use of a light source that can switch at a faster rate than the light modulator can change states and/or a light source that can produce light at multiple intensities can permit the display of less light and thereby increase the bit-depth of the display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory James Hewlett, Donald B. Doherty
  • Patent number: 7876298
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator clocking method, called fast-clear, which employs embedded clear hardware in the SLM to enable the fast-clear bit to generate least-significant short-bit periods and without any bit ordering restrictions. In this method, fast data clears 34 are inserted between block data loads 32,36 within a frame refresh period. This method virtually eliminates the artifacts associated with the earlier reset-release timing method without the bit-ordering restriction of the jog-clear method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory J. Hewlett, Donald B. Doherty
  • Publication number: 20090154819
    Abstract: An image compression and decompression method compresses data based upon the data states, and decompresses the compressed data based upon the codes generated during the compression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Donald B. Doherty, Alan S. Hearn
  • Patent number: 7477778
    Abstract: An improved color processing method for use in imaging systems transforms the input color image components into an output set of color image components, at least one of which is transformed using a non-linear transformation function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Rajeev Ramanath, Donald B. Doherty, Gregory S. Pettitt
  • Patent number: 7405856
    Abstract: A display system includes a light source 110 and a spatial light modulator 122 located to receive light from the light source. The spatial light modulator (e.g., a DMD) includes a number of independently controllable elements that are activated for a period of time to display light of a desired brightness. A light sensor 136 is located to determine a characteristic of light from the light source 110. A control circuit 126 is coupled to the spatial light modulator 122 and controls the period of time that the independently controllable elements are activated. This period of time is based at least in part by an input received from the light sensor 136.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Donald B. Doherty, Daniel J. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20080152219
    Abstract: An improved color processing method for use in imaging systems transforms the input color image components into an output set of color image components, at least one of which is transformed using a non-linear transformation function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Rajeev Ramanath, Donald B. Doherty, Gregory S. Pettitt
  • Publication number: 20080151195
    Abstract: An apparatus for, and method of, increasing compensation sequence storage density in a projection visual display system and a projection visual display system incorporating the apparatus or the method. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: (1) a memory containing a first compensation sequence portion that is common to a plurality of effective transmission factors and a plurality of second compensation sequence portions that are unique to a corresponding plurality of effective transmission factors and (2) a compensation sequence generator coupled to the memory and configured to construct a compensation sequence for use in the projection visual display system using the first compensation sequence portion and one of the plurality of second compensation sequence portions selected as a function of a particular effective transmission factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Roman J. Pacheco, Donald B. Doherty, Larry D. Dickinson
  • Patent number: 7233427
    Abstract: A display system includes a light source 110 and a spatial light modulator 122 located to receive light from the light source. The spatial light modulator (e.g., a DMD) includes a number of independently controllable elements that are activated for a period of time to display light of a desired brightness. A light sensor 136 is located to determine a characteristic of light from the light source 110. A control circuit 126 is coupled to the spatial light modulator 122 and controls the period of time that the independently controllable elements are activated. This period of time is based at least in part by an input received from the light sensor 136.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Donald B. Doherty, Daniel J. Morgan
  • Patent number: 7164397
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use with a discrete bit display system such as a DLP® display system for increasing brightness by using secondary light bits (such as spoke bits that are otherwise wasted). The light available from the secondary bits is distributed over the entire input/output dynamic range by determining the maximum possible output and then defining the dynamic output range from zero to that maximum range in response to the full range of the input signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory S. Pettitt, Donald B. Doherty
  • Patent number: 7061512
    Abstract: A display system 100 includes a light source 110 and a color wheel 114. An optical section 112 is arranged to receive light from the light source 110 and to direct the light toward a color wheel 114. A digital micromirror device 122 is arranged to receive the light from the color wheel 114 and to direct image data toward a display. The image data includes an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns. The array of pixels is arranged as curved color bands during a first time period and rectangular color bands during a second time period. The second time period being concurrent with but of a shorter duration than the first time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel J. Morgan, Donald B. Doherty, William J. Sexton
  • Patent number: 7019881
    Abstract: A display system includes a light source 110 and a spatial light modulator 122 located to receive light from the light source. The spatial light modulator (e.g., a DMD) includes a number of independently controllable elements that are activated for a period of time to display light of a desired brightness. A light sensor 136 is located to determine a characteristic of light from the light source 110. A control circuit 126 is coupled to the spatial light modulator 122 and controls the period of time that the independently controllable elements are activated. This period of time is based at least in part by an input received from the light sensor 136.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Donald B. Doherty, Daniel J. Morgan
  • Patent number: 6987597
    Abstract: A system and method for addressing and synchronizing a spatial light modulator (SLM) device and a scrolling color recovery (SCR) illumination system. This method applies all the colors to a single SLM simultaneously and recaptures light rejected by the color filters. The recaptured light is reapplied to the color filters and, if passed by the color filter, directed to the SLM The SCR concept requires multiple colors to be imaged on to an SLM array simultaneously. As the color bands scroll across the SLM, the data applied to elements of the SLM changes to remain appropriate for the color being received by that element. The data a lied to the SLM elements ma be loaded into the SLM by reset group with each reset group load delayed by a skew time relative to the previous group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory J. Hewlett, Donald B. Doherty
  • Patent number: 6970150
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator clocking method, called fast-clear, which employs embedded clear hardware in the SLM to enable the fast-clear bit to generate least-significant short-bit periods and without any bit ordering restrictions. In this method, fast data clears 34 are inserted between block data loads 32,36 within a frame refresh period. This method virtually eliminates the artifacts associated with the earlier reset-release timing method without the bit-ordering restriction of the jog-clear method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory J. Hewlett, Donald B. Doherty
  • Patent number: 6967759
    Abstract: A system and method for addressing and synchronizing a spatial light modulator (SLM) device and a scrolling color recovery (SCR) illumination system. This method applies all the colors to a single SLM simultaneously and recaptures light rejected by the color filters. The recaptured light is reapplied to the color filters and, if passed by the color filter, directed to the SLM. The SCR concept requires multiple colors to be imaged on to an SLM array simultaneously. As the color bands scroll across the SLM, the data applied to elements of the SLM changes to remain appropriate for the color being received by that element. The data applied to the SLM elements may be loaded into the SLM by reset ground with each reset group load delayed by a skew time relative to the previous group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory J. Hewlett, Donald B. Doherty
  • Patent number: 6898019
    Abstract: An electronic method for addressing and synchronizing a spatial light modulator (SLM) device when used with color scrolling recovery (SCR) illumination. This method applies all the colors to a single SLM simultaneously and recaptures secondary light, redirecting it along the primary color paths to significantly improve the brightness in single-chip display applications. The SCR concept requires multiple colors to be imaged on to an SLM array simultaneously. This requires that the SLM be divided into reset groups so that separate groups of pixels can project bits from the different colors at the same time. As these color bands 602, 604, 606 scroll across the array, the various reset groups tracks these regions and change content to match. The method requires that the device be divided and controlled at an independent reset group level, with each group being delayed by a group_skew time 608 from the previous group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory J. Hewlett, Donald B. Doherty
  • Patent number: 6795085
    Abstract: Methods of reducing contouring in images display by a linear display device, such as a spatial light modulator. The methods operate on a high resolution signal, which represents a stream of pixel values. The per pixel resolution of this signal is greater than the per pixel display resolution, and its less significant bits are treated as an error component. Random values are added to the error component either in conjunction with error diffusion values (FIG. 1) or to provide a dither that is directly proportional to the error (FIG. 4), or to provide a dither that has both spatial and temporal contributions (FIG. 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Donald B. Doherty, Gregory S. Pettitt, Vishal Markandey, Daniel J. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20040160656
    Abstract: An electronic method for addressing and synchronizing a spatial light modulator (SLM) device when used with color scrolling recovery (SCR) illumination. This method applies all the colors to a single SLM simultaneously and recaptures secondary light, redirecting it along the primary color paths to significantly improve the brightness in single-chip display applications. The SCR concept requires multiple colors to be imaged on to an SLM array simultaneously. This requires that the SLM be divided into reset groups so that separate groups of pixels can project bits from the different colors at the same time. As these color bands 602, 604, 606 scroll across the array, the various reset groups tracks these regions and change content to match. The method requires that the device be divided and controlled at an independent reset group level, with each group being delayed by a group_skew time 608 from the previous group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Gregory J. Hewlett, Donald B. Doherty