Patents by Inventor Howard V. Goetz

Howard V. Goetz 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).

  • Publication number: 20240127735
    Abstract: A display driver device (210) receives a downloadable “sequence” for dynamically reconfiguring displayed image characteristics in an image system. The display driver device comprises one or more storage devices, for example, memory devices, for storing image data (218) and portions of drive sequences (219) that are downloadable and/or updated in real time depending on various inputs (214).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, Glen R. Sands
  • Patent number: 11942052
    Abstract: A system for generating a voltage at a pixel array includes a plurality of display pixels forming the pixel array, each display pixel comprising a pixel circuit for driving the pixel. The system further comprises a row formatter configured to store a plurality of bits representing image data for a row of display pixels of the LCOS array; a row controller configured to write a subset of the plurality of bits representing image data for a pixel of the row into a plurality of data latches of said pixel circuit; and a waveform generator for generating reference pulses represented by a set of reference bits. The pixel circuit is configured to compare each reference bit to corresponding bits stored in the latches of each pixel circuit, and generate voltage at an electrode of each pixel based on this comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventor: Howard V. Goetz
  • Patent number: 11908381
    Abstract: A display driver device (210) receives a downloadable “sequence” for dynamically reconfiguring displayed image characteristics in an image system. The display driver device comprises one or more storage devices, for example, memory devices, for storing image data (218) and portions of drive sequences (219) that are downloaded and/or updated in real time depending on various inputs (214).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, Glen Sands
  • Patent number: 11893957
    Abstract: An image system dynamically updates drive sequences in an image system. Drive sequences are image display settings or display driving characteristics with which a display is operated. The image system may determine the drive sequence at least partially based on input from one or more sensors. For example, the image system may include sensors such as an inertial measurement unit, a light sensor, a camera, a temperature sensor, or other sensors from which sensor data may be collected. The image system may analyze the sensor data to calculate drive sequence settings or to select a drive sequence from a number of predetermined drive sequences. Displaying image content on a display includes providing the display with image data and includes operating the display with various drive sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Iverson, Howard V. Goetz, Glen R. Sands, Kevin Ferguson
  • Patent number: 11893966
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operating characteristics of displays such as liquid crystal on silicon displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen John Hart, Rock Edward Kent, Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Nicholas W. Melena
  • Publication number: 20230377532
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a digital pixel circuit for liquid crystal displays are provided. The design includes a dual-voltage pixel design, a two-transistor level-shift circuit design, self-adjusting transistor bias circuitry; and an optional on-chip test-array to determine die-specific design-center values for critical transistor leakage and threshold parameters. Level shift design simplicity, small pixel pitch, and applicability for small display applications such as microdisplays, are among the various benefits and advantages obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: James L. Sanford, Howard V. Goetz, Stewart S. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20230230558
    Abstract: An image system dynamically updates drive sequences in an image system. Drive sequences are image display settings or display driving characteristics with which a display is operated. The image system may determine the drive sequence at least partially based on input from one or more sensors. For example, the image system may include sensors such as an inertial measurement unit, a light sensor, a camera, a temperature sensor, or other sensors from which sensor data may be collected. The image system may analyze the sensor data to calculate drive sequence settings or to select a drive sequence from a number of predetermined drive sequences. Displaying image content on a display includes providing the display with image data and includes operating the display with various drive sequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew Iverson, Howard V. Goetz, Glen R. Sands, Kevin Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20230186874
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operating characteristics of displays such as liquid crystal on silicon displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Stephen John Hart, Rock Edward Kent, Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Nicholas W. Melena
  • Publication number: 20230178000
    Abstract: A display driver device (210) receives a downloadable “sequence” for dynamically reconfiguring displayed image characteristics in an image system. The display driver device comprises one or more storage devices, for example, memory devices, for storing image data (218) and portions of drive sequences (219) that are downloaded and/or updated in real time depending on various inputs (214).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, Glen Sands
  • Publication number: 20230176407
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses and devices provide an integrated display module or apparatus including a Liquid crystal assembly with highly integrated components including display driver circuitry and backplane circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Mark E. Haisch, Fernando Y. Chen, Rock Edward Kent, Howard V. Goetz, Patrick R. Thornton, Tyson Heskett, Ian Kyles
  • Publication number: 20230016573
    Abstract: A system for generating a voltage at a pixel array includes a plurality of display pixels forming the pixel array, each display pixel comprising a pixel circuit for driving the pixel. The system further comprises a row formatter configured to store a plurality of bits representing image data for a row of display pixels of the LCOS array; a row controller configured to write a subset of the plurality of bits representing image data for a pixel of the row into a plurality of data latches of said pixel circuit; and a waveform generator for generating reference pulses represented by a set of reference bits. The pixel circuit is configured to compare each reference bit to corresponding bits stored in the latches of each pixel circuit, and generate voltage at an electrode of each pixel based on this comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventor: Howard V. Goetz
  • Patent number: 11455975
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operating characteristics of displays such as liquid crystal on silicon displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen John Hart, Edward Rock Kent, Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Nicholas W. Melena
  • Publication number: 20210201856
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operating characteristics of displays such as liquid crystal on silicon displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen John Hart, Edward Rock Kent, Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Nicholas K. Melena
  • Publication number: 20200195895
    Abstract: An imaging system can include a segmented modulator, for example, a spatial light modulator, that is segmented into two or more equally or differently sized regions, and utilized to create a 3D, pseudo 3D, hologram, pseudo hologram, holographic, or pseudo holographic image. A voltage control unit is coupled to the spatial light modulator and controls voltages across each of the regions, wherein the voltage across one of the regions differs from the voltage across another one of the regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Joshua T. WIERSMA, Howard V. GOETZ, Edmund PASSON
  • Patent number: 9368074
    Abstract: A technique for modulating light by an optically addressed, electric charge accumulating spatial light modulator achieves substantially monotonic gray scale response. Embodiments digitally modulate the voltage across a photoreceptive material included in the spatial light modulator. The digital modulation scheme entails illuminating the photoreceptor with a series of light pulses propagating from an LCoS, in which the durations of the light pulses and their positions in time combine to produce binary-weighted equivalent rms voltages on the photoreceptor. The light pulses originate from a light-emitting diode or other switchable light source, and the timing of the light pulses is controlled such that they are emitted only when the associated LCoS is in a stable state. Emitting light pulses while the LCoS is in a stable state avoids non-monotonic behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Compound Photonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Jonathan A. Sachs
  • Publication number: 20130222443
    Abstract: A technique for modulating light by an optically addressed, electric charge accumulating spatial light modulator achieves substantially monotonic gray scale response. Embodiments digitally modulate the voltage across a photoreceptive material included in the spatial light modulator. The digital modulation scheme entails illuminating the photoreceptor with a series of light pulses propagating from an LCoS, in which the durations of the light pulses and their positions in time combine to produce binary-weighted equivalent rms voltages on the photoreceptor. The light pulses originate from a light-emitting diode or other switchable light source, and the timing of the light pulses is controlled such that they are emitted only when the associated LCoS is in a stable state. Emitting light pulses while the LCoS is in a stable state avoids non-monotonic behavior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Jonathan A. Sachs
  • Patent number: 8405690
    Abstract: A technique for modulating light by an optically addressed, electric charge accumulating spatial light modulator achieves substantially monotonic gray scale response. Embodiments digitally modulate the voltage across a photoreceptive material included in the spatial light modulator. The digital modulation scheme entails illuminating the photoreceptor with a series of light pulses propagating from an LCoS, in which the durations of the light pulses and their positions in time combine to produce binary-weighted equivalent rms voltages on the photoreceptor. The light pulses originate from a light-emitting diode or other switchable light source, and the timing of the light pulses is controlled such that they are emitted only when the associated LCoS is in a stable state. Emitting light pulses while the LCoS is in a stable state avoids non-monotonic behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Compound Photonics Limited
    Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Jonathan A. Sachs
  • Patent number: 8072670
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator has an array of elements organized into element rows and element columns and an array of electrodes organized into electrode rows and electrode columns to activate the array of elements. The modulator has pixel circuitry organized into circuit rows and circuit columns with the pixel circuitry being electrically coupled to the array of electrodes, such that there is at least one translation of either circuits in a column to electrodes in a row or circuits in a row to electrodes in a column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Compound Photonics Limited
    Inventors: James L. Sanford, Howard V. Goetz, Steven H. Linn
  • Patent number: 8013820
    Abstract: A method, device and computer program are detailed for modulating write light. For a plurality of pixel locations of an electro-optic layer of an optical write valve and across each of a plurality of consecutive frames, a set of pixel data bits is modulated across a first and a second pulse width period of the frame. The first and second pulse width periods, and adjacent pulse periods of sequential frames, are separated from one another by a pulse-off period that is at least equal to a response time of the electro-optic layer during which no bits are modulated. Separately in each frame, write light is output from each of the plurality of pixel locations according to the modulated pixel data bits in the frame. In an embodiment, the set of pixel data bits are modulated by applying a voltage at a pixel location of the electro-optic layer in synchronism with illuminating a light source that illuminates that pixel location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Compound Photonics Limited
    Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Jonathan A. Sachs
  • Patent number: 7990600
    Abstract: An optically addressed, photoconductive spatial light modulator (SLM) operates in a transmissive mode and is capable of modulating a wide spectrum of visible light. There is no pixel structure or native pixel resolution in the SLM. The SLM has no photodiodes and does not rectify. A light projection system (100) in which one or more SLMs (128, 130, 132) are placed includes a write (image definition) UV light path (102) and a read (illumination) visible light path (104) to form a color image projection display. The write UV light propagates from an image display pattern source (120) and either sequentially or continuously writes image patterns on the photoconductive SLMs. The read visible light propagates through the SLM and is modulated by an electro-optical material, the optical properties of which change in response to the image structure carried by the write light. The result is a high efficiency display system that delivers high resolution color images through a projection lens (190) onto a display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Compound Photonics Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Sachs, Howard V. Goetz, David Keith, Lin Li, Steven H. Linn, Alexander Parfenov, Stephen E. Brice, Terry J. Scheffer, James A. Van Vechten, Jiuzhi Xue