Patents by Inventor Mark F. Reed

Mark F. Reed 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: 9709802
    Abstract: In described examples, a DMD includes an array of micromirror pixels. Each pixel includes a right electrode on a first side of the pixel, a left electrode on a second side of the pixel adjacent the first side, and a cantilevered beam supporting a mirror. The cantilever beam tilts on two axes of translation: pitch and roll. The mirror has: a first landed position (on a first and second spring tip) over the right electrode; and a second landed position (on the first and a third spring tip) over the left electrode, such that the first landed position and the second landed positions are 90° apart. In transitioning from the first landed position to the second landed position, the mirror maintains contact with the first spring tip while rolling from the second spring tip to the third spring tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: William C. McDonald, James N. Hall, Mark F. Reed, Lance W. Barron, Terry A. Bartlett, Divyanshu Agrawal
  • Publication number: 20160266377
    Abstract: In described examples, a DMD includes an array of micromirror pixels. Each pixel includes a right electrode on a first side of the pixel, a left electrode on a second side of the pixel adjacent the first side, and a cantilevered beam supporting a mirror. The cantilever beam tilts on two axes of translation: pitch and roll. The mirror has: a first landed position (on a first and second spring tip) over the right electrode; and a second landed position (on the first and a third spring tip) over the left electrode, such that the first landed position and the second landed positions are 90° apart. In transitioning from the first landed position to the second landed position, the mirror maintains contact with the first spring tip while rolling from the second spring tip to the third spring tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: William C. McDonald, James N. Hall, Mark F. Reed, Lance W. Barron, Terry A. Bartlett, Divyanshu Agrawal
  • Patent number: 9348136
    Abstract: A DMD having an array of micromirror pixels wherein each pixel comprises a right electrode on a first side of the pixel, a left electrode on a second side of the pixel adjacent the first side and a cantilevered beam supporting a mirror. The cantilever beam tilts on two axes of translation: pitch and roll. The mirror has a first landed position (on a first and second spring tip) over the right electrode and a second landed position (on the first and a third spring tip) over the left electrode such that the first landed position and the second landed positions are 90° apart. In transitioning from the first landed position to the second landed position, the mirror maintains contact with the first spring tip while rolling from the second spring tip to the third spring tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: William C. McDonald, James N. Hall, Mark F. Reed, Lance W. Barron, Terry A. Bartlett, Divyanshu Agrawal
  • Publication number: 20150070749
    Abstract: A DMD having an array of micromirror pixels wherein each pixel comprises a right electrode on a first side of the pixel, a left electrode on a second side of the pixel adjacent the first side and a cantilevered beam supporting a mirror. The cantilever beam tilts on two axes of translation: pitch and roll. The mirror has a first landed position (on a first and second spring tip) over the right electrode and a second landed position (on the first and a third spring tip) over the left electrode such that the first landed position and the second landed positions are 90° apart. In transitioning from the first landed position to the second landed position, the mirror maintains contact with the first spring tip while rolling from the second spring tip to the third spring tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: William C. McDonald, James N. Hall, Mark F. Reed, Lance W. Barron, Terry A. Bartlett, Divyanshu Agrawal
  • Patent number: 7106491
    Abstract: A system and method of providing a micromirror pixel 400 that is highly resistant to bright failure states. The micromirror 400 uses an asymmetric yoke 402 to ensure the mirror is only attracted to the address electrode in one rotation direction. The landing mechanism on the other side of the torsion binge axis also is altered to allow the pixel to over rotate in the “off” direction. The over rotation ensures that light reflected by the mirror when in the off direction will miss the projection lens pupil, allowing the corresponding pixel to remain dark in both an operational and failed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas J. Meyer, Brett A. Mangrum, Mark F. Reed, James D. Huffman, Michael A. Mignardi, Wei-Yan Shih
  • Patent number: 6724518
    Abstract: A system and method of providing a micromirror pixel 400 that is highly resistant to bright failure states. The micromirror 400 uses an asymmetric yoke 402 to ensure the mirror is only attracted to the address electrode in one rotation direction. The landing mechanism on the other side of the torsion binge axis also is altered to allow the pixel to over rotate in the “off” direction. The over rotation ensures that light reflected by the mirror when in the off direction will miss the projection lens pupil, allowing the corresponding pixel to remain dark in both an operational and failed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas J. Meyer, Brett A. Mangrum, Mark F. Reed, James D. Huffman, Michael A. Mignardi, Wei-Yan Shih
  • Publication number: 20030123126
    Abstract: A system and method of providing a micromirror pixel 400 that is highly resistant to bright failure states. The micromirror 400 uses an asymmetric yoke 402 to ensure the mirror is only attracted to the address electrode in one rotation direction. The landing mechanism on the other side of the torsion binge axis also is altered to allow the pixel to over rotate in the “off” direction. The over rotation ensures that light reflected by the mirror when in the off direction will miss the projection lens pupil, allowing the corresponding pixel to remain dark in both an operational and failed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas J. Meyer, Brett A. Mangrum, Mark F. Reed, James D. Huffman, Michael A. Mignardi, Wei-Yan Shih