Spatial light modulator and memory for digitized video display

• US 5,206,629 A
• Filed: 07/03/1991
• Issued: 04/27/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Thompson, E. Earle, DeMond, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US07/725,907
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 340/783, 340/784, 340/798, 340/799, 340/795, 340/702, 340/705, 340/718, 340/719, 368/239, 368/241, 368/242
• US Class Current: 345/206
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/48 Laser speckle optics
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0809 Several active elements per pixel in active matrix panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0814 used for selection purposes, e.g. logical AND for partial update
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0842 forming a memory circuit, e.g. a dynamic memory with one capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/346 based on modulation of the reflection angle, e.g. micromirrors micromirrors devices per se G02B26/0833
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3161 using laser light sources using laser beams scanning the display screen H04N9/3129

Abstract

A digitized video system utilizes a spatial light modulator which has an array of deformable mirror cells with two or more memory cells associated with each mirror cell. A first decoder address one memory cell associated with most of the mirror cells of the array to display an image. A second decoder address one memory cell of each memory cell in the array to allow information to be stored therein. The array could be subdivided into several arrays with its own decoders as desired.

Claims

1. A spatial modulator comprising:

(a) an array of display cells;

(b) a plurality of memory cells;

(c) each said display selectively and alternatively directly connected to at least two different ones of said memory cells; and

(d) addressing circuitry for selecting which of said memory cells is directly connected.

2. Modulator as in claim 1 wherein each memory cell includes at least two components.

3. Modulator as in claim 2 wherein one component is a transistor.

4. Modulator as in claim 2 wherein one component stores capacitively.

5. Modulator as in claim 2 wherein both components are transistors.

6. Modulator as in claim 1 wherein said memory cell is implemented in CMOS.

7. Modulator as in claim 1 wherein said memory cell is implemented in NMOS.

8. Modulator as in claim 1 wherein said memory cell is implemented in PMOS.

9. A method of operating an array of display cells comprising the steps of:

(a) addressing a plurality of memory cells for storing information therein, at least two different memory cells of said plurality associated with each said display cell;

(b) receiving data associated with each of said display cells with one of said at least two different memory cells;

(c) selecting others of said at least two memory cells for direct connection to said associated display cells; and

(d) controlling said display cells in response to said selecting.

10. A spatial light modulator comprising:

(a) an array of display cells;

(b) a plurality of memory cells;

(c) each said display cell selectively controlled by at least two different ones of said memory cells; and

(d) all of said display cells and said memory cells formed on a common substrate.