Abstract: A stereoscopic projection system is provided having two channels, each having two LCOS imagers that modulate light on a pixel-by pixel basis. A first polarizing beam splitter is configured to direct light of a first polarization onto a first channel first stage LCOS imager and direct light of a second polarization, opposite the first polarization, onto a second channel first stage LCOS imager. A relay lens system directs the output of the first stage imagers into a second polarizing beam splitter. The second polarizing beam splitter is configured to direct light of the second polarization onto the first channel second stage LCOS imager and direct light of the first polarization onto the second channel second stage LCOS imager.

Abstract: A two-stage light projection system is provided for projecting an image comprising a matrix of light pixels having modulated luminance. A first imager is configured to modulate a light band on a pixel-by-pixel basis proportional to gray scale values provided for each pixel of the image to provide a first output matrix. A second imager is positioned and configured to receive the first output matrix and modulate the individual modulated pixels of light from the first imager on a pixel-by-pixel basis proportional to a second gray scale value provided for each pixel. A relay lens system having a single-gauss lens set and a mirror positioned at the system stop focuses the modulated light output from the first imager on a pixel-by-pixel basis onto the corresponding pixels of the second imager.

Abstract: An analog display driver comprises a matrix array of flatness correction values used to compensate for variations in liquid crystal gap dimensions and at least a first digital-to-analog converter (DAC), wherein a variable voltage transfer function is applied to the first DAC preferably using a second DAC.

Abstract: A device for controlling common mode electrode voltage in a liquid crystal display includes at least a first sensor for measuring flicker resulting from applying a video signal with a predetermined color and drive level to an imager. A detector for determining a difference between a positive field detector voltage and a negative field detector voltage is used to provide a feed-back loop for feeding back the difference to a controller to adjust the common mode electrode voltage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing an apparent increase in display brightness in an RPTV engine without an actual increase in total light output. Light is generated with an illumination source and optically processed to produce a light beam of rectangular format. The light beam is formed intentionally to have an intensity that is non-uniform, varying from a peak intensity at a center of the beam to a minimum intensity at a periphery of the beam. The optical processing step can include varying the intensity to selectively produce an illumination profile that decreases by at least about 30% to 70% from the peak intensity to the minimum intensity. The optical processing step can further include projecting the light beam through an integrator that is configured to produce an illumination profile that is at least partially controlled by a length of the integrator. The integrator can be configured so that a decrease in length will result in reduced uniformity.

Abstract: A light valve projection system (30) includes a plurality of resonant microcavity anodes (RMAs) (32, 42, and 52), each for emitting a respective wavelength of light and an imager device (38, 48, and 58) for each of the plurality of resonant microcavity anodes, where each of the imager devices emits an image. The light valve projection system further includes a plurality of polarizing beam splitters (34, 44, and 54) for reflecting and redirecting the light and images from the RMAs and the imager devices. The light valve projection system may further include a combiner (40) for combining the image from each of the imager devices and a projection lens (50) for receiving a combined image from the combiner.

Abstract: A method for producing a plurality of successive output data values defining an output curve that approximates an input curve defined by a plurality of input sample values, the output data values having a higher sampling frequency than the input sample values, the method comprising the steps of: pre-emphasizing the plurality of input sample values; defining successive and overlapping intervals including at least three of the pre-emphasized input sample values; interpolating a plurality of the output data values in an interpolation interval by calculating a moving average of a linear interpolation curve based on the at least three pre-emphasized input sample values, each of the output data values being influenced by the at least three pre-emphasized input sample values; and, emphasizing differently the influence of the at least three pre-emphasized input sample values for determining different ones of the output data values in the interpolation interval, whereby the pre-emphasizing step brings the output curve

Abstract: A television receiver comprising a tuner, a microprocessor, a communications bus and a rewritable memory, e.g., an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM). The memory is programmed to contain the tuner parameters for a tuner. The memory can be programmed to be matched with a tuner such that, on the manufacturing floor, the tuner from each manufacture is supplied with a matched memory for the television chassis that the tuner and memory are going to be placed within. The tuner parameters are recalled by the microprocessor and used to facilitate tuning of the tuner in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A method for generating a convergence correction curve from a plurality of successive output data values determined from a plurality of input sample values smaller in number than the plurality of output data values, the method comprising the steps of: defining successive and overlapping intervals including exactly three of the input sample values; interpolating a plurality of the output data values in an interpolation interval by calculating a moving average of a linear interpolation curve based on the three input sample values, each of the output data values being influenced by the three input sample values; emphasizing differently the influence of the three input sample values for determining different ones of the output data values in the interpolation interval; and, adjusting the input sample values to control convergence correction, whereby each incremental slope of the correction curve between adjacent output data values varies smoothly.

Abstract: In a display unit having an array of liquid crystal cells and a corresponding array of display driver circuits (10) for each of the liquid crystal cells (20), each display driver circuit in the corresponding array includes an analog memory element (14) and a differential amplifier (16) coupled between the analog memory element and the liquid crystal cell. The differential amplifier provides isolation between the analog memory element and the liquid crystal cell.

Abstract: A cell driver (70) for a display unit (50) having a memory element and a liquid crystal cell among a plurality of liquid crystal cells includes a first storage capacitor (14) and a first differential amplifier (16) selectively coupled between the first storage capacitor and the liquid crystal cell forming a first drive circuit. The cell driver also includes a second storage capacitor (14′) and a second differential amplifier (16′) coupled between the second storage capacitor and the liquid crystal cell forming a second drive circuit A switching mechanism (72 and 74) is used for switching the liquid crystal cell between the first and second drive circuits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing an apparent increase in display brightness in an RPTV engine without an actual increase in total light output. Light is generated with an illumination source and optically processed to produce a light beam of rectangular format. The light beam is formed intentionally to have an intensity that is non-uniform, varying from a peak intensity at a center of the beam to a minimum intensity at a periphery of the beam. The optical processing step can include varying the intensity to selectively produce an illumination profile that decreases by at least about 30% to 70% from the peak intensity to the minimum intensity. The optical processing step can further include projecting the light beam through an integrator that is configured to produce an illumination profile that is at least partially controlled by a length of the integrator. The integrator can be configured so that a decrease in length will result in reduced uniformity.

Abstract: A projection television receiver having red, green and blue image projectors for respective images of different colors and a high gain projection screen formed by at least one hologram disposed on a substrate superimposed on at least one light transmissive panel. The high gain holographic screen provides increased horizontal viewing performance over lenticular (e.g., fresnel) screens without reliance on screens having wide horizontal half viewing angles.

Abstract: The invention concerns an illumination source for a LCOS projection system. The illumination source is a cathode ray tube (CRT) that excites an array of phosphor based resonant microcavities. By selecting a uniform phosphor type for use in the array of resonant microcavities, the CRT can be designed to exclusively generate light of a selected color. The resonant microcavities can be arranged so that the light is projected through an LCOS device to produce an image. A projector lens can also be provided for magnifying and focusing the image for projection on a screen.

Abstract: A light valve projection system (30) includes a plurality of resonant microcavity anodes (RMAs) (32, 42, and 52), each for emitting a respective wavelength of light and an imager device (38, 48, and 58) for each of the plurality of resonant microcavity anodes, where each of the imager devices emits an image. The light valve projection system further includes a plurality of polarizing beam splitters (34, 44, and 54) for reflecting and redirecting the light and images from the RMAs and the imager devices. The light valve projection system may further include a combiner (40) for combining the image from each of the imager devices and a projection lens (50) for receiving a combined image from the combiner.

Abstract: An illumination source for a LCOS projection system, is comprised of a vacuum cavity, an array of field emission display points on a first side of the vacuum cavity, and an array of resonant microcavity anodes on a second side of the vacuum cavity. The field emission display points are electron emitters used to excite array of resonant microcavity anodes to exclusively generate light of a selected color. The light is projected through an LCOS device to produce an image. A projector lens is provided for magnifying and focusing the image for projection on a screen.

Abstract: A device (10) for controlling common mode electrode voltage in a liquid crystal display includes at least a first sensor (12) for measuring flicker resulting from applying a video signal with a predetermined color and drive level to an imager. A detector (18) for determining a difference between a positive field detector voltage and a negative field detector voltage is used to provide a feedback loop for feeding back the difference to a controller to adjust the common mode electrode voltage.

Abstract: An analog display driver (20) comprises a matrix array (10) of flatness correction values used to compensate for variations in liquid crystal gap dimensions and at least a first digital-to-analog converter (DAC) (22), wherein a variable voltage transfer function is applied to the first DAC preferably using a second DAC (24).

Abstract: A display driver for a display unit having a memory element and a liquid crystal cell includes a first display driver circuit having a first storage capacitor and a first differential amplifier coupled between the first storage capacitor and the liquid crystal cell and a second display driver circuit having a second storage capacitor (14′) an a second differential amplifier (16′) coupled between the second storage capacitor and the liquid crystal cell. The display driver also includes a first switching mechanism enabling the switching of the display driver between the first display driver circuit during a positive frame and a second display driver circuit during a negative frame and a second switching mechanism coupled to a supply voltage. The second switching mechanism is controlled by at least one global address line.