Abstract: A MEMS scanning device includes more than one type of actuation. In one approach capacitive and magnetic drives combine to move a portion of the device along a common path. In one such structure, the capacitive drive comes from interleaved combs. In another approach, a comb drive combines with a pair of planar electrodes to produce rotation of a central body relative to a substrate. In an optical scanning application, the central body is a mirror. In a biaxial structure, a gimbal ring carries the central body. The gimbal ring may be driven by more than one type of actuation to produce motion about an axis orthogonal to that of the central body. In another aspect, a MEMS scanning device is constructed with a reduced footprint.

Abstract: A MEMS scanning device includes more than one type of actuation. In one approach capacitive and magnetic drives combine to move a portion of the device along a common path. In one such structure, the capacitive drive comes from interleaved combs. In another approach, a comb drive combines with a pair of planar electrodes to produce rotation of a central body relative to a substrate. In an optical scanning application, the central body is a mirror. In a biaxial structure, a gimbal ring carries the central body. The gimbal ring may be driven by more than one type of actuation to produce motion about an axis orthogonal to that of the central body. In another aspect, a MEMS scanning device is constructed with a reduced footprint.

Abstract: A scanning control circuit generates a clock signal corresponding to an expected scan timing of a resonant scanner. In one approach, the control circuit uses a pair of direct digital synthesis (DDS) integrated circuits. A first DDS chip provides a system clock that is synchronized to the monitored period of the scanner. A second DDS chip generates a frequency chirped signal that has a frequency profile corresponding to a desired pixel clock timing. To control phase precisely, four complementary clock signals are weighted and mixed at light source drivers to produce relative phase shifts for different light sources.

Abstract: A scanned light display system includes a light source operable to emit light and a curved mirror positioned to receive at least a portion of the light. The curved mirror is configured to substantially collimate the received light. The substantially collimated light is scanned to form an image by moving at least one of the light source and the curved mirror relative to each other. Alternatively, the scanned light display system includes a light source operable to emit light, a curved mirror positioned to receive some of the light, and an optical element positioned to receive light reflected from the curved mirror. The optical element is configured to substantially collimate the reflected light. The substantially collimated light is scanned to form an image by moving at least one of the light source, the curved mirror, and the optical element. Scanning mirror assemblies and methods of making are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical element includes a microlens array and a reflective surface. The microlens array has a focal curve and a focal length, and the reflective surface is spaced from the focal curve. When used as an exit-pupil expander, such an optical element can often generate output beamlets that have a more uniform brightness than the output beamlets generated by a diffractive optical element. Furthermore, such an optical element can define an output-beamlet envelope having an aperture that is less wavelength-dependent than the aperture of an output-beamlet envelope defined by an exit-pupil expander that incorporates a diffractive optical element. In addition, such an optical element can often produce an image having less speckle than an exit-pupil expander that incorporates a diffractive optical element when used with one or more coherent light sources.

Abstract: A beam multiplier includes a beam-multiplying layer and an adjacent optical layer. The beam-multiplying layer is operable to generate output beamlets of light from an input beam of light, and the optical layer has an adjustable index of refraction. By switching the index of refraction of the optical layer between first and second values, one can switch the beam multiplier to a first state (e.g., “on”) where it generates the output beamlets of light, and can switch the beam multiplier to a second state (e.g., “off”) where it passes the input beam of light but does not generate the output beamlets. And by using the beam multiplier as an exit-pupil expander, one can switch the exit-pupil expander to a first state where it generates multiple exit-pupil images, and to a second state where it generates only a single exit-pupil image.

Abstract: A diffraction grating generates even-order, odd-order, and 0th-order exit-pupil images. The even-order exit-pupil images have brightness levels within a first range and the odd-order exit-pupil images have brightness levels within a second range that is different from the first range. In one example, the even-order exit-pupil images are virtually invisible, i.e., missing, the odd-order exit-pupil images have the same or approximately the same intensities, and the 0th-order exit-pupil image has an intensity greater than the respective intensities of the odd-order exit-pupil images.

Abstract: A diffraction grating generates even-order, odd-order, and 0th-order exit-pupil images. The even-order exit-pupil images have brightness levels within a first range and the odd-order exit-pupil images have brightness levels within a second range that is different from the first range. In one example, the even-order exit-pupil images are virtually invisible, i.e., missing, the odd-order exit-pupil images have the same or approximately the same intensities, and the 0th-order exit-pupil image has an intensity greater than the respective intensities of the odd-order exit-pupil images.

Abstract: A display or image capture apparatus includes a scanning assembly that scans about two or more axes, typically in a raster pattern. A plurality of light sources emit light from spaced apart locations toward the scanning assembly and the scanning assembly simultaneously scans more than one of the beams. The light sources are positioned so each beam illuminates a discrete region of the image field that is substantially non-overlapping with the other regions. Each line of the image is formed from segments where two or more of the segments define a line of an image. Because the lines are made from discrete segments, the problem of raster pinch is reduced. The achievable resolution of the display for a given scan angle and mirror size is increased relative to a mirror sweeping a single beam. Segments of different wavelengths can be overlapped to produce a color display.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a scanning assembly that scans about two or more axes, typically in a raster pattern. A plurality of light sources emit light from spaced apart locations toward the scanning assembly such that the scanning assembly simultaneously scans more than one of the beams. The light sources are positioned such that their beams each illuminate discrete regions of the image field that are substantially non-overlapping with respect to the other discrete regions. The image is thus formed from a set of “tiles”. By activating a first light source during a forward sweep of the mirror and activating a second light source during a reverse sweep of the mirror, two halves a common line can be written during a single sweep of the mirror. Shifting the position of the sources such that the two halves are aligned reduces raster pinch. In alternative embodiments, the same approach is used for imaging.

Abstract: A display system includes a diffraction grating that generates exit-pupil images, where one of the exit-pupil images has a first intensity and the remaining exit-pupil images each have or approximately have a second intensity that is less than the first intensity. The system also includes a filter that attenuates the intensity of the one exit-pupil image. In one example, the filter attenuates the 0th-order exit-pupil image so that all of the exit-pupil images have the same or approximately the same intensities.

Abstract: An image projection system includes an image generator and first and second projection screens. The image generator respectively generates the first and second portions of the image on the first and second projection screens. The first projection screen projects the first portion of the image in a first color, and the second projection screen projects the second portion of the image in a second color. Such an image projection system is often less complex and less expensive than a conventional image projection system such as a projection television system. In addition, such a projection system often provides a higher-quality image than a conventional image projection system.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a scanning assembly that scans about two or more axes, typically in a raster pattern. A plurality of light sources emit light from spaced apart locations toward the scanning assembly such that the scanning assembly simultaneously scans more than one of the beams. The light sources are positioned such that their beams each illuminate discrete regions of the image field that are substantially non-overlapping with respect to the other discrete regions. The image is thus formed from a set of “tiles”. By activating a first light source during a forward sweep of the mirror and activating a second light source during a reverse sweep of the mirror, two halves a common line can be written during a single sweep of the mirror. Shifting the position of the sources such that the two halves are aligned reduces raster pinch. In alternative embodiments, the same approach is used for imaging.

Abstract: An image system includes a screen and a beam generator. The screen has first and second regions with adjustable brightness levels. The beam generator directs first and second electromagnetic off beams and first and second electromagnetic on beams onto the first and second regions, respectively. The first and second off beams respectively change the brightness levels of the first and second regions according to a first polarity, and the first and second on beams change the brightness levels of the first and second regions according to a second polarity. For example, the system may simultaneously scan multiple tiles of an image onto respective regions of the display screen with respective image (on) beams, and erase the regions with respective erase (off) beams. Scanning an image as multiple tiles often provides the image with a higher resolution for a given scan rate, and using on and off beams often increases the quality of the image.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a scanning assembly that scans about two or more axes, typically in a raster pattern. A plurality of light sources emit light from spaced apart locations toward the scanning assembly such that the scanning assembly simultaneously scans more than one of the beams. The light sources are positioned such that their beams each illuminate discrete regions of the image field that are substantially nonoverlapping with respect to the other discrete regions. The image is thus formed from a set of “tiles”. By activating a first light source during a forward sweep of the mirror and activating a second light source during a reverse sweep of the mirror, two halves a common line can be written during a single sweep of the mirror. Shifting the position of the sources such that the two halves are aligned reduces raster pinch. In alternative embodiments, the same approach is used for imaging.

Abstract: A diffraction grating generates even-order, odd-order, and 0th-order exit-pupil images. The even-order exit-pupil images have brightness levels within a first range and the odd-order exit-pupil images have brightness levels within a second range that is different from the first range. In one example, the even-order exit-pupil images are virtually invisible, i.e., missing, the odd-order exit-pupil images have the same or approximately the same intensities, and the 0th-order exit-pupil image has an intensity greater than the respective intensities of the odd-order exit-pupil images.

Abstract: A display system includes a diffraction grating that generates exit-pupil images, where one of the exit-pupil images has a first intensity and the remaining exit-pupil images each have or approximately have a second intensity that is less than the first intensity. The system also includes a filter that attenuates the intensity of the one exit-pupil image. In one example, the filter attenuates the 0th-order exit-pupil image so that all of the exit-pupil images have the same or approximately the same intensities.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a scanning assembly that scans about two or more axes, typically in a raster pattern. A plurality of light sources emit light from spaced apart locations toward the scanning assembly such that the scanning assembly simultaneously scans more than one of the beams. The light sources are positioned such that their beams each illuminate discrete regions of the image field that are substantially non-overlapping with respect to the other discrete regions. The image is thus formed from a set of “tiles”. By activating a first light source during a forward sweep of the mirror and activating a second light source during a reverse sweep of the mirror, two halves a common line can be written during a single sweep of the mirror. Shifting the position of the sources such that the two halves are aligned reduces raster pinch. In alternative embodiments, the same approach is used for imaging.

Abstract: An image system includes a screen and a beam generator. The screen has first and second regions with adjustable brightness levels. The beam generator directs first and second electromagnetic off beams and first and second electromagnetic on beams onto the first and second regions, respectively. The first and second off beams respectively change the brightness levels of the first and second regions according to a first polarity, and the first and second on beams change the brightness levels of the first and second regions according to a second polarity. For example, the system may simultaneously scan multiple tiles of an image onto respective regions of the display screen with respective image (on) beams, and erase the regions with respective erase (off) beams. Scanning an image as multiple tiles often provides the image with a higher resolution for a given scan rate, and using on and off beams often increases the quality of the image.

Abstract: An image projection system includes an image generator and first and second projection screens. The image generator respectively generates the first and second portions of the image on the first and second projection screens. The first projection screen projects the first portion of the image in a first color, and the second projection screen projects the second portion of the image in a second color. Such an image projection system is often less complex and less expensive than a conventional image projection system such as a projection television system. In addition, such a projection system often provides a higher-quality image than a conventional image projection system.