Patents by Inventor James A. Strain

James A. Strain 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: 8446349
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling deformable micromirror devices are provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a display system includes multiple deformable micromirror devices, a buffer, and a controller. Each deformable micromirror device includes a plurality of micromirrors. The buffer is communicatively coupled, at a first interface speed, to each deformable micromirror device. The buffer is operable to communicate in parallel with the deformable micromirror devices. The controller is communicatively coupled, at a second interface speed, to the buffer. The controller is operable to receive a display input and, in response, generate a plurality signals each corresponding to an optical characteristic of the display input. The controller is further operable to sequentially communicate each of the plurality of signals through the buffer to a corresponding one of the deformable micromirror devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Sue Hui, Larry D. Dickinson, Gregory R. Basile, James A. Strain, Patrick C. Neil
  • Publication number: 20090135314
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling deformable micromirror devices are provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a display system includes multiple deformable micromirror devices, a buffer, and a controller. Each deformable micromirror device includes a plurality of micromirrors. The buffer is communicatively coupled, at a first interface speed, to each deformable micromirror device. The buffer is operable to communicate in parallel with the deformable micromirror devices. The controller is communicatively coupled, at a second interface speed, to the buffer. The controller is operable to receive a display input and, in response, generate a plurality signals each corresponding to an optical characteristic of the display input. The controller is further operable to sequentially communicate each of the plurality of signals through the buffer to a corresponding one of the deformable micromirror devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Sue Hui, Larry D. Dickinson, Gregory R. Basile, James A. Strain, Patrick C. Neil