Digital video and audio systems using nano-mechanical structures

• US 5,699,130 A
• Filed: 06/10/1996
• Issued: 12/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Taylor Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Taylor Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Taylor, Stephen Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US08/660,832
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 348/771, 348/761, 348/770, 348/756, 348/755, 348/744, 348/759, 348/750, 348/758
• US Class Current: 348/758
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7458 the modulator being an array of deformable mirrors, e.g. digital micromirror device [DMD]

Abstract

Applications of digitally-controlled nano-mechanical structures are described, including both digital video and audio systems. For video systems, the nano-mechanical structures comprise resonant membrane spatial light modulators (SLMs), which are used in either transmissive mode or reflective mode operations to generate images. For audio systems, the nano-mechanical structures comprise resonant membrane spatial acoustic modulators (SAMs), which are used in reflective mode operations to generate sounds. For both SLMs and SAMs, a flexible support layer is deformed upon application of an electrical potential to the device, thus altering either the optical or acoustical characteristics of the device, respectively.

Claims

1. A digital video system, comprising:

(a) a projection screen;

(b) a projector including a light source for projecting light onto the projection screen; and

(c) a lens, coupled to the projector, for transmitting light from the light source therethrough onto the projection screen, wherein the lens is comprised of an array of spatial light modulators to control the projection of an image onto the screen, wherein one or more of the spatial light modulators form the lens and each of the spatial light modulators passes light wavelengths without attenuation, when off and attenuates a particular light wavelength when on.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 above, further comprising electronic means for controlling the spatial light modulators to pass only a particular light wavelength.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein the spatial light modulators are arranged in stacks, and one or more of the stacks form a pixel of the lens.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 above, wherein each of the spatial light modulators in a stack passes light wavelengths transparently when off and attenuates a different light wavelength λ

when on.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 above, further comprising electronic means for controlling the spatial light modulators in a stack, so that the stack transmits only a particular light wavelength.

6. A digital video system, comprising:

(a) a projection screen;

(b) a projector including a light source for projecting light onto the projection screen; and

(c) wherein the projection screen is comprised of an array of spatial light modulators controlled so as to reflect an image from the projection screen, wherein one or more of the spatial light modulators form a pixel of the projection screen, and each of the spatial light modulators passes light wavelengths when off and reflects a particular light wavelength λ

when on.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 6 above, further comprising electronic means for controlling the spatial light modulators to reflect only a specific light wavelength.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 6 above, wherein the spatial light modulators are arranged in stacks, and one or more of the stacks form a pixel of the projection screen.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 8 above, wherein each of the spatial light modulators in a stack passes light wavelengths transparently when off and reflects a different light wavelength λ

when on.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 9 above, further comprising electronic means for controlling the spatial light modulators in a stack, so that the stack reflects only a particular light wavelength.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 6 above, wherein the projection screen is deformable.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 6 above, further comprising a computer coupled to the projection screen, a data storage device coupled to the computer, and an operator control unit coupled to the computer, wherein the computer comprises means for controlling the operation of the spatial light modulators located within the projection screen.