Abstract: The invention relates to a light pen input system with a light pen which is adapted to generate at least one scanning light line sweep for scanning a surface such as for example a display screen. The time from starting a scan until a light sensing element placed at a known position detects a scanning light line is measured and processed for determining the coordinates of the pointing position of the light pen. Thus, an “inverse” light pen is provided which may be implemented at low costs and which may be used with non-CRT displays. Furthermore, the system is independent of the display screen size.

Abstract: The invention relates to a projection display device (10, 40, 60, 70) for casting an image onto a projection screen (26, 56, 86). The device comprises a spatial light modulator (16, 46, 62, 76) including an array of light modulating elements (18, 48, 78), and a light source (12, 42, 72) arranged to illuminate the modulator. The device is characterized in that each light modulating element of the modulator is illuminated by light diverging in a least one dimension, which light is spatially modulated by the modulator and cast onto the projection screen. An advantage with the projection display device according to the invention is that it can be realized in a very compact fashion. The invention further relates to a hand held device comprising such projection display device.

Abstract: A projection system is described for displaying image information, comprising an illumination system for generating a light beam, a scanning device comprising a mirror for scanning the generated light beam to form an image on a screen, and a scan angle enlarger cooperating with the scanning device for enlarging a scan angle of the generated light beam. The scan angle enlarger comprises a reflective polarizer, a quarter-wave plate and a mirror arranged to reflect the light beam at least once between the reflective polarizer and the mirror via the quarter-wave plate. This arrangement allows a compact assembly of the projection system for use in small portable devices such as mobile phones and PDAs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light valve (40) for reflecting and diffracting incident light, comprising an electrostatically operable foil (42) provided with a reflective surface (60), a reflective grating structure (52) provided on one side of the foil (42), and means (48, 56, 60) for inducing electrostatic forces on the foil (42) for switching it between a first position, in which the foil is separated from said grating structure (52), whereby incident light (64) received by said light valve (40) will be diffracted by said reflective grating structure (52), and a second position, in which the foil is brought into contact with said grating structure (52), whereby incident light (64) received by said light valve (40) will be essentially specularly reflected by said foil electrode (60). A grating structure having no movable parts may thus be used, which makes the light valve easy to manufacture. The invention also relates to an imaging system comprising at least one such light valve.

Abstract: An optical system includes a light source that outputs light that is incident on an oscillating reflector. The optical system includes at least one lens element, which outputs the light in a collimated beam on the oscillating reflector regardless of an orientation of the oscillating reflector. The optical system may be used in laser displays in general, and in small feature laser displays.

Abstract: A two dimensional scanning device, for use in a projecting display, comprising a surface (53) suspended by at least two torsion elements (55) defining a torsion axis (B), and a first actuator (60, 61) for pivoting said surface (53) around said torsion axis (B). The scanner further comprises a cantilever beam (51) having one end fixed in relation to said surface and an opposite end arranged to bend around a bending axis (A) non-parallel to said torsion axis (B). The cantilever beam (51) is provided with a reflective surface and a second actuator (58) is arranged to bring said cantilever beam to oscillate at its resonance frequency. The combination of a slow torsion scanner and a faster cantilever scanner 10 provides a two dimensional scanner capable of scanning a laser beam in a raster pattern to project an image.

Abstract: A projection device, comprising means (4a, 4b, 5, 6) for directing a plurality of light beams (3a, 3b, 3c) onto a scanning device (13), adapted to scan said beams in order to project an image on a surface. The device has an adjustable lens arranged in the optical path of said beams after said scanner so that the scanner is located between the lens and its focal length. Through this arrangement, the adjustable lens will enable a reduction of the angular spread of the projection, without reducing the resolution of the displayed image. This, in turn, enables a projection of an image at a desired distance, while such a size is maintained that the available light intensity is sufficient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical imaging system. The system comprises at least one light source for producing at least one light beam (10). Beam shaping optics (11) arranged to expand the at least one light beam (10) in one direction. At le',ast one one-dimensional array of beam switches (1) is arranged to receive the expanded at least one light beam (10) and modulate it to form a line image. A projection lens (12) is provided for projecting said line image. A slow mirror scanner (13) is arranged to scan consecutive line images to form a two-dimensional image.

Abstract: A display device comprising a plurality of pixels (26), a light source (23), and addressing means (24, 25) for coupling a selected pixel to said light source to thereby emit light, wherein the addressing means (24, 25) are arranged to address each pixel using pulse-width modulation (PWM). Further, the display comprises means (20) for amplitude modulating the intensity of said light source (23). The combination of the two modulations generates an exponentially distributed emitted light intensity, enabling proper gray scale rendering for a limited resolution in the time domain.