Active matrix liquid crystal image generator
First Claim
1. A system for producing modulated light having gray scale, the system comprising:
- a) a spatial light modulator having an array of pixels switchable between different light modulating states and having a switching arrangement that switches each of the pixels in response to an applied voltage to modulate light individually by switching the pixels between the different light modulating states, the switching arrangement including an array of subcircuits, each subcircuit of which is dedicated to a specific one of the pixels;
b) a light source for directing light into the spatial light modulator; and
c) a data writing arrangement that writes the switching arrangement with preselected data in accordance with a particular data ordering scheme such that the switching arrangement, in response to the data, causes the pixels to individually switch between their different light modulating states and therefore modulate light from the light source in a way which, depending upon the data, produces a specific overall pattern of gray scale light, the particular data ordering scheme being such that the data writing arrangement writes each of the subcircuits, and therefore each of the pixels, with preselected data in a predetermined successive order, timewise;
wherein the voltage applied to the pixel is configured to be at either one of only two different voltage levels; and
further wherein the gray scale produced is related to the timing of the writing operations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for producing spatially modulated monochrome or color light having gray scale includes an active matrix liquid crystal spatial light modulator having light modulating means including (i) a layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal material which is designed to switch between ON and OFF states and (ii) active matrix means including VLSI circuitry for dividing the layer of liquid crystal material into an array of individual liquid crystal pixels and for causing each of the pixels of liquid crystal material to modulate light individually by switching between the ON and OFF states in a way that depends upon the data which the VLSI circuitry is written. The system also includes illumination means having a light source for directing light from the source into the pixel-divided layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal material in a specific way. And finally, the system includes means for writing the VLSI circuitry with preselected data in accordance with a particular data ordering scheme such that the circuitry, in response to the written data, causes the pixels of liquid crystal material to individually switch between their ON and OFF states and therefore modulate light from the source in a way which, depending upon the data, produces a specific overall pattern of gray scale light.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A system for producing modulated light having gray scale, the system comprising:
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a) a spatial light modulator having an array of pixels switchable between different light modulating states and having a switching arrangement that switches each of the pixels in response to an applied voltage to modulate light individually by switching the pixels between the different light modulating states, the switching arrangement including an array of subcircuits, each subcircuit of which is dedicated to a specific one of the pixels;
b) a light source for directing light into the spatial light modulator; and
c) a data writing arrangement that writes the switching arrangement with preselected data in accordance with a particular data ordering scheme such that the switching arrangement, in response to the data, causes the pixels to individually switch between their different light modulating states and therefore modulate light from the light source in a way which, depending upon the data, produces a specific overall pattern of gray scale light, the particular data ordering scheme being such that the data writing arrangement writes each of the subcircuits, and therefore each of the pixels, with preselected data in a predetermined successive order, timewise;
wherein the voltage applied to the pixel is configured to be at either one of only two different voltage levels; and
further wherein the gray scale produced is related to the timing of the writing operations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of displaying gray scale or color images, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an array of light modulating pixels organized in certain groups of pixels, each pixel being switchable between only a first pixel state and a second blackout pixel state in response to input data;
(b) switching all of the pixels to the second blackout pixel state;
(c) after all of the pixels have been switched to the second blackout pixel state, illuminating the array of pixels with light of a first desired brightness and color;
(d) while the array of pixels is being illuminated with the desired brightness and color of light, switching the states of the pixels in each of the groups such that the array of pixels forms a desired pattern of modulated light, at least some of the groups of pixels being switched at different times from other ones of the groups;
(e) switching all of the pixels to the second blackout pixel state a second time in such a manner that the time interval between the time at which the states of the pixels in each group are switched to form the desired pattern of modulated light and the time at which that group is switched to the second blackout pixel state the second time is the same for each group of pixels; and
(f) after all of the pixels have been switched to the second blackout pixel state the second time, illuminating the array of pixels with light of a second desired brightness and color. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A system for producing modulated light having gray scale, said system comprising:
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(a) an active matrix liquid crystal light modulator having (i) light modulating means including a layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal material, which liquid crystal material is designed to switch between ON and OFF states, and (ii) active matrix means including VLSI circuitry for dividing said layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal material into an array of immediately adjacent pixels and for causing each of said pixels of ferroelectric liquid crystal material to modulate light individually by switching between said ON and OFF states in a way that depends upon data written to the VLSI circuitry, said VLSI circuitry of said active matrix means including an array of subcircuits, each subcircuit of which array of subcircuits is dedicated to and defines a specific one of said pixels;
(b) illumination means including a source of light for directing light from said source into said pixel-divided layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal material; and
(c) means for writing said VLSI circuitry with preselected data in accordance with a particular data ordering scheme such that said circuitry, in response to the data, causes said pixels of ferroelectric liquid crystal material to individually switch between their ON and OFF states and therefore modulate light from said source in a way which, depending upon said data, produces a specific overall pattern of gray scale light, said particular data ordering scheme being such that said data writing means writes each of said subcircuits, and therefore each of said pixels, with preselected data in a predetermined successive order, timewise;
wherein the preselected data written to the switching arrangement is configured to be at either one of only two different voltage levels; and
further wherein the gray scale produced is related to the timing of the writing operations. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for producing modulated light having gray scale, said system comprising:
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(a) an active matrix liquid crystal light modulator having (i) light modulating means including a layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal material, which liquid crystal material is designed to switch between ON and OFF states, and (ii) active matrix means including VLSI circuitry for dividing said layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal material into an array of immediately adjacent pixels and for causing each of said pixels of ferroelectric liquid crystal material to modulate light individually by switching between said ON and OFF states in a way that depends upon data written to the VLSI circuitry, said VLSI circuitry of said active matrix means including an array of subcircuits, each subcircuit of which array of subcircuits is dedicated to and defines a specific one of said pixels;
(b) illumination means including a source of light for directing light from said source into said pixel-divided layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal material; and
(c) means for writing said VLSI circuitry with preselected data in accordance with a particular data ordering scheme such that said circuitry, in response to the data, causes said pixels of ferroelectric liquid crystal material to individually switch between their ON and OFF states and therefore modulate light from said source in a way which, depending upon said data, produces a specific overall pattern of gray scale light, said particular data ordering scheme being such that said data writing means writes each of said subcircuits, and therefore each of said pixels, with preselected data in a predetermined successive order, timewise;
wherein the preselected data written to the switching arrangement is configured to be at either one of only two different voltage levels; and
further wherein each pixel of said array of immediately adjacent pixels has a maximum light modulating area of at most 100 square microns.
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23. A system for producing modulated light having gray scale, said system comprising:
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(a) an active matrix liquid crystal light modulator having (i) light modulating means including a layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal material, which liquid crystal material is designed to switch between ON and OFF states, and (ii) active matrix means including VLSI circuitry for dividing said layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal material into an array of immediately adjacent pixels and for causing each of said pixels of ferroelectric liquid crystal material to modulate light individually by switching between said ON and OFF states in a way that depends upon data written to the VLSI circuitry, said VLSI circuitry of said active matrix means including an array of subcircuits, each subcircuit of which array of subcircuits is dedicated to and defines a specific one of said pixels;
(b) illumination means including a source of light for directing light from said source into said pixel-divided layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal material; and
(c) means for writing said VLSI circuitry with preselected data in accordance with a particular data ordering scheme such that said circuitry, in response to the data, causes said pixels of ferroelectric liquid crystal material to individually switch between their ON and OFF states and therefore modulate light from said source in a way which, depending upon said data, produces a specific overall pattern of gray scale light, said particular data ordering scheme being such that said data writing means writes each of said subcircuits, and therefore each of said pixels, with preselected data in a predetermined successive order, timewise;
wherein the preselected data written to the switching arrangement is configured to be at either one of only two different voltage levels; and
further wherein each of said pixels is square shaped, at most 10 microns on a side.
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24. A system for producing modulated light having gray scale, comprising:
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a spatial light modulator having an array of pixels switchable between different light modulating states, each pixel having a pixel electrode associated therewith;
a light source; and
a data writing arrangement that writes data to the pixels of the spatial light modulator, to cause the pixel electrodes to switch to one of only two different voltage levels that differ by about 5 volts, to cause the pixels to individually change states so as to modulate light from the light source in a way to produce an overall pattern of gray scale light.
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25. A system for producing modulated light having gray scale, comprising:
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a spatial light modulator having an array of pixels switchable between only two different optical states, wherein the light modulation between the two optical states is achieved without substantial mechanical motion;
a light source; and
a data writing arrangement that writes data to the pixels of the spatial light modulator, to cause the pixels to individually switch to one of the two different optical states, so as to modulate light from the light source in a way to produce an overall pattern of gray scale light;
wherein the gray scale produced is related to the timing of the writing operations.
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26. A system for producing modulated light having gray scale, comprising:
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a reflective spatial light modulator having an array of rows of pixels switchable between different light modulating states;
a light source; and
a data writing arrangement that writes data to the pixels of the spatial light modulator, to cause the pixels to individually change states so as to modulate light from the light source in a way to produce an overall pattern of gray scale light;
wherein the pitch of each row of pixels is less than 10 μ
m.
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27. A system for producing modulated light having gray scale for each of a plurality of different colors, the system comprising:
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a spatial light modulator having an array of pixels switchable between different light modulating states, wherein the light modulation between the light modulating states is achieved without substantial mechanical motion;
a light source arrangement that can selectively illuminate the spatial light modulator with the plurality of different colors; and
a data writing arrangement that writes image data to the pixels of the spatial light modulator for each of a series of frames of video data, each frame including a plurality of color subframes to cause the pixels to individually change states so as to modulate light from the light source in a way to produce an overall pattern of gray scale light;
wherein the image data written to each particular pixel is changed multiple times within each color subframe in a manner that changes the gray scale during that color subframe.
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28. A system for producing modulated light having gray scale, comprising:
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a reflective spatial light modulator arranged on a silicon substrate, the SLM having an array of pixels switchable between different light modulating states, each pixel having a pixel electrode;
a light source; and
a data writing arrangement that writes data to the pixels, to cause the pixel electrodes to switch to one of only two different voltage levels that differ by about 5 volts, to cause the pixels to individually change states so as to modulate light from the light source in a way to produce an overall pattern of gray scale light.
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29. A liquid crystal spatial light modulator having gray scale, for use in cooperation with a light source, comprising:
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an array of pixels, each pixel having a plurality of discrete electrical states;
a portion of liquid crystal material associated with each pixel, the liquid crystal material having a plurality of optical states, each portion of liquid crystal material responding optically in a substantially uniform manner to each particular electrical state of its associated pixel; and
a data writing arrangement that writes gray scale image data to the array of pixels;
wherein the image data is arranged into frames of image data, each frame representing an image, and wherein the data writing arrangement can cause any pixel to be in different electrical states during a particular frame, the combination of the electrical states of each pixel representing a gray scale intensity such that the array of pixels, in cooperation with the light source and the liquid crystal material, produces a gray scale image during a frame; and
further wherein the gray scale produced is related to the timing of the writing operations.
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30. A system for producing modulated light having gray scale, the system comprising:
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a) a spatial light modulator having an array of pixels switchable between different light modulating states and having a switching arrangement that switches each of the pixels to modulate light individually by switching the pixels between the different light modulating states, the switching arrangement including an array of subcircuits, each subcircuit of which is dedicated to a specific one of the pixels;
b) a light source for directing light into the spatial light modulator; and
c) a data writing arrangement that writes the switching arrangement with preselected data in accordance with a particular data ordering scheme such that the switching arrangement, in response to the data, causes the pixels to individually switch between their different light modulating states and therefore modulate light from the light source in a way which, depending upon the data, produces a specific overall pattern of gray scale light, the particular data ordering scheme being such that the data writing arrangement writes each of the subcircuits, and therefore each of the pixels, with preselected data in a predetermined successive order, timewise;
wherein the preselected data written to the switching arrangement is configured to be at either one of only two different voltage levels; and
further wherein none of the subcircuits require auxiliary data storage buffer circuitry.
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Specification