Apparatus and method for image projection

• US 5,506,597 A
• Filed: 12/22/1992
• Issued: 04/09/1996
• 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:
  US07/995,570
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 340/702, 340/705, 340/763, 340/764, 340/783, 340/794, 340/795, 358/60, 358/61, 358/62, 358/63, 358/230, 358/231, 358/233, 358/234, 358/236, 350/269, 345/32, 345/89, 345/108, 345/109, 345/85, 348/771
• US Class Current: 345/85
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/48 Laser speckle optics
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/16 involving the use of mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/18 involving the use of optical projection means, e.g. projection of images on clouds projection apparatus per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/372 the positions of the elements being controlled by the application of an electric field
• 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 2300/0847 being a dynamic memory without any storage capacitor, i.e. with use of parasitic capacitances as storage elements
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0235 Field-sequential colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0262 The addressing of the pixel, in a display other than an active matrix LCD, involving the control of two or more scan electrodes or two or more data electrodes, e.g. pixel voltage dependent on signals of two data electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/066 Waveforms comprising a gently increasing or decreasing portion, e.g. ramp
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0633 by amplitude modulation of the brightness of the illumination source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2007 Display of intermediate tones
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2018 by time modulation using two or more time intervals
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2025 the sub-frames having all the same time duration
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3413 Details of control of colour illumination sources
• 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 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/395 : with depth sampling, i.e. the volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D image planes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 : Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7458 : the modulator being an array of deformable mirrors, e.g. digital micromirror device [DMD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3111 : for displaying the colours sequentially, e.g. by using sequentially activated light sources sequential projection in colour photography G03B33/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3161 : using laser light sources using laser beams scanning the display screen H04N9/3129
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3179 : Video signal processing therefor

Abstract

A digitized video display for displaying and image utilizing a light source, a spatial light modulator that receives substantially all of a cross-section of beam from the light source and directing it along a different direction, and a surface positioned in the different direction for receiving the image from the modulator.

Claims

1. A digitized video display for displaying an image comprising:

(a) a light source producing a beam of light directed along an optical path, said beam having a first cross-section area;

(b) a spatial light modulator for receiving substantially all of said first cross-sectional area of said beam and including an array of mirror cells movable between first and second positions for directing individual portions of said beam associated with said cells in said second position along said optical path to produce said image; and

(c) a surface coincident with said optical path to display said entire image simultaneously.

2. System as in claim 1 wherein each mirror cell has at least one memory cell associated therewith.

3. System as in claim 1 wherein each mirror cell has a plurality of memory cells associated therewith.

4. System as in claim 3 wherein said mirror cell is in electrical communication with one of its memory cells to display said image while one or more of its other memory cells is being loaded with information to display another image.

5. System as in claim 1 wherein said surface is substantially flat.

6. System as in claim 1 wherein said optical path is directed at one side of said surface and viewed from the other side of said surface.

7. System as in claim 1 wherein said spatial modulator includes:

(a) each said mirror cell having at least two memory cells for storing video data associated therewith, each said mirror cell selectively directly connected with one of said memory cells for control of said mirror cell;

(b) a first decoder for addressing said memory cells for storing information therein; and

(c) a second decoder for addressing said memory cells for selecting which of said memory cells is directly connected for control.

8. System as in claim 7 wherein each memory cell includes at least two components.

9. System as in claim 8 wherein one component is a transistor.

10. System as in claim 8 where one component stores capacitively.

11. System as in claim 8 wherein both components are transistors.

12. System as in claim 7 wherein said memory cell is implemented in CMOS.

13. System as in claim 7 wherein said memory cell is implemented in NMOS.

14. System as in claim 7 wherein said memory cell is implemented in PMOS.

15. System as in claim 7 wherein said second decoder simultaneously addresses one memory cell associated with substantially all of said cells to display an image.

16. System as in claim 7 wherein said second decoder simultaneously addresses one memory cell associated with all of said cells to display an image.

17. System as in claim 7 wherein said first decoder addresses a row of said array at a time.

19. The system as in claim 1 wherein said first cross-sectional area encompasses substantially all of said beam.

20. The system as in claim 1 wherein said first cross-sectional area of said beam is substantially uniform in intensity.

18. A method of displaying an image comprising the steps of:

(a) producing a beam of light including a first cross-sectional area;

(b) impinging substantially all of said first cross-sectional area of said beam upon an array of mirror cells;

(c) forming said image by controlling said array of mirror cells between a first and second position to direct individual portions of said beam associated with said cells in said second position; and

(d) impinging said individual portions upon a surface to display the entire image simultaneously.

21. The method as in claim 18 when said first cross-sectional area encompasses substantially all of said beam.

22. The method as in claim 18 wherein said first cross-sectional area of said beam is substantially uniform in intensity.

23. A method of displaying a two-dimensional image comprising the steps of:

(a) producing a beam of light including a first cross-sectional area;

(b) impinging substantially all of said first cross-sectional area of said beam upon an array of mirror cells;

(c) forming said two-dimensional image by controlling said array of mirror cells between a first and second position to direct individual portions of said beam associated with said cells in said second position; and

(d) magnifying the entire two-dimensional image.

24. Method of claim 23 wherein said magnifying step comprises the use of at least one lens.

25. Method of claim 23 wherein said magnifying step comprises the use of at least one mirror.

26. A digitized video display for displaying a two-dimensional image comprising:

(a) a light source producing a beam of light directed along an optical path, said beam having a first cross-sectional area;

(b) a spatial light modulator for receiving substantially all of said first cross-sectional area of said beam including an array of mirror cells movable between first and second positions for directing individual portions of said beam associated with said cells in said second position along said optical path to produce said two-dimensional image; and

(c) a magnifying element coincident with said optical path to enlarge said two-dimensional image.

27. System as in claim 26 wherein said magnifying element comprises at least one lens.

28. System as in claim 26 wherein said magnifying element comprises at least one mirror.

29. System as in claim 26 wherein said magnifying element enlarges said image upon a surface to display said image.