Apparatus for adjusting applied voltage in display system using diffractive optical modulator

• US 7,388,181 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Han, Kyu Bum, Yeo, In Jae, Ryu, Seung Won
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps; Georgia Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Legasse, Jr.; Francis M
• Application Number:
  US11/588,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20070101384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 250/205, 250/208.1, 250/214.VT, 250/237.G, 250/237.R, 250/216, 250/235, 250/214.1, 250/214.R, 359/237, 359/233, 359/245, 359/247, 359/260, 359/263, 359/558, 359/566, 359/640, 349200-202, 345/84, 345/207, 345/906, 313/532, 313/103.R, 313/103.CM, 313/508
• US Class Current: 250/205
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0808 by means of one or more diffracting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/12 spatial light modulator
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/22 diffractive
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/006 using LCD's

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for adjusting applied voltage in a display system using a diffractive optical modulator. The apparatus for adjusting applied voltage can measure the intensity of diffracted light emitted from the diffractive optical modulator, and adjust voltage to be applied to the diffractive optical modulator based on measurement results.

Claims

1. An apparatus for adjusting applied voltage in a display system, the apparatus including an optical source system, an illumination optical unit, a diffractive optical modulator, a projection and scanning optical unit and a screen, the diffractive optical modulator having a first reflective part and a second reflective part spaced apart from the first reflective part by a specific distance, generating diffracted light using light reflected from the first and second reflective parts, and varying the specific distance between the first and second reflective parts using a piezoelectric layer made of piezoelectric material, the apparatus comprising:

a light intensity detection unit for measuring an intensity of diffracted light output when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, and outputting the measured intensity of the diffracted light; and

an applied voltage adjustment unit for applying the applied voltage to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, receiving the intensity of the diffracted light, which is output from the diffractive optical modulator, from the light intensity detection unit, comparing the received intensity of diffracted light with an expected intensity of light, which is expected to be measured when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, and adjusting the applied voltage that must be used in order to obtain a specific light intensity from the diffractive optical modulator.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light intensity detection unit is a photosensor.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a semi-transmissive reflective unit that is disposed behind the diffractive optical modulator and is configured to pass most of the diffracted light therethrough to the projection and scanning optical unit and to pass a remaining part of the diffracted light therethrough to the light intensity detection unit;

wherein the light intensity detection unit measures the intensity of the diffracted light that is incident from the semi-transmissive reflective unit.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the light intensity detection unit is a photosensor.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light intensity detection unit is disposed on one side of the screen.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator comprises a first electrode layer, a piezoelectric material layer placed on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer placed on the piezoelectric material layer; and

the applied voltage adjustment unit adjusts a second electrode value applied to the second electrode layer.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the applied voltage adjustment unit comprises:

a reference voltage storage unit for storing a second electrode reference voltage to be applied to the second electrode layer of the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, and a first electrode reference voltage to be applied to the first electrode layer;

an applied voltage output unit for adding a correction value to the second electrode reference voltage stored in the reference voltage storage unit and outputting a corrected second electrode reference voltage, and outputting the second electrode reference voltage;

a video control unit for applying the applied voltage to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator; and

a reference voltage reset unit for receiving the intensity of diffracted light, which is output from the diffractive optical modulator when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, from the light intensity detection unit, comparing the received intensity of light with the expected intensity of light, which is expected to be measured when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, and adjusting the correction value of the applied voltage output unit, which is used to adjust the second electrode reference voltage that is stored in the reference voltage storage unit and is applied to the diffractive optical modulator.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the applied voltage output unit comprises:

a first electrode voltage correction unit for adding the correction value to the second electrode reference voltage stored in the reference voltage storage unit, and outputting a corrected second electrode reference voltage; and

a first electrode voltage output unit for outputting the first electrode reference voltage stored in the reference voltage storage unit.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the reference voltage reset unit comprises:

a light intensity storage unit for storing the expected intensity of light, which is expected to be measured when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator;

a light intensity variation calculation unit for receiving the intensity of light of diffracted light, which is output from the diffractive optical modulator when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, from the light intensity detection unit, comparing the received intensity of light with the expected intensity of light, which is expected to be measured when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, and outputting a correction value for controlling the second electrode reference voltage, which is stored in the reference voltage storage unit and must be applied to the diffractive optical modulator; and

a reset unit for adjusting the correction value to be added to the second electrode reference voltage, which is stored in the applied voltage output unit and is applied to the diffractive optical modulator, based on the correction value of the light intensity variation calculation unit.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the applied voltage adjustment unit comprises:

a reference voltage storage unit for storing a second electrode reference voltage to be applied to the second electrode layer of the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, and a first electrode reference voltage to be applied to the first electrode layer;

an applied voltage output unit for outputting the second electrode reference voltage and the first electrode reference voltage stored in the reference voltage storage unit;

a video control unit for applying the applied voltage to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator; and

a reference voltage reset unit for receiving the intensity of diffracted light, which is output from the diffractive optical modulator when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, from the light intensity detection unit, comparing the received intensity of light with the expected intensity of light, which is expected to be measured when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, and adjusting the second electrode reference voltage, which is stored in the reference voltage storage unit and must be applied so as to obtain a specific intensity of light from the diffractive optical modulator.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the applied voltage output unit comprises:

a second electrode voltage correction unit for outputting the second electrode reference voltage stored in the reference voltage storage unit; and

a first electrode voltage output unit for outputting the first electrode reference voltage stored in the reference voltage storage unit.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the reference voltage reset unit comprises:

a light intensity storage unit for storing the expected intensity of light, which is expected to be measured when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator;

a light intensity variation calculation unit for receiving the intensity of diffracted light, which is output from the diffractive optical modulator when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, from the light intensity detection unit, comparing the received intensity of diffracted light with the expected intensity of light of the light intensity storage unit, which is expected to be measured when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, and outputting a correction value for controlling the second electrode reference voltage, which is stored in the reference voltage storage unit and must be applied in order to obtain the specific intensity of light from the diffractive optical modulator; and

a reset unit for adjusting the second electrode reference voltage, which is stored in the reference voltage storage unit and is applied to the diffractive optical modulator, based on the correction value of the light intensity variation calculation unit.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator comprises a first electrode layer, a piezoelectric material layer placed on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer placed on the piezoelectric material layer; and

the applied voltage adjustment unit adjusts a first electrode value applied to the first electrode layer.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein the applied voltage adjustment unit comprises:

a reference voltage storage unit for storing a second electrode reference voltage to be applied to the second electrode layer of the diffractive optical modulator and a first electrode reference voltage to be applied to the first electrode layer;

an applied voltage output unit for outputting the second electrode reference voltage stored in the reference voltage storage unit, and adding a correction value to the first electrode reference voltage and outputting a corrected first electrode reference voltage;

a video control unit for applying the applied voltage to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator; and

a reference voltage reset unit for receiving the intensity of diffracted light, which is output from the diffractive optical modulator when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, from the light intensity detection unit, comparing the received intensity of light with the expected intensity of light, which is expected to be measured when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, and adjusting the correction value of the applied voltage output unit in order to obtain the first electrode reference voltage, which is stored in the reference voltage storage unit and must be applied in order to obtain a specific intensity of light from the diffractive optical modulator.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein the applied voltage output unit comprises:

a second electrode voltage output unit for outputting the second electrode reference voltage stored in the reference voltage storage unit; and

a first electrode voltage correction unit for adding the correction value to the first electrode reference voltage stored in the reference voltage storage unit and outputting a corrected first electrode reference voltage.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein the reference voltage reset unit comprises:

a light intensity storage unit for storing the expected intensity of light, which is expected to be measured when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator;

a light intensity variation calculation unit for receiving the intensity of diffracted light, which is output from the diffractive optical modulator when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, from the light intensity detection unit, comparing the received intensity of light with the expected intensity of light of the light intensity storage unit, which is expected to be measured when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, and outputting a correction value for controlling the first electrode reference voltage, which is stored in the reference voltage storage unit and must be applied in order to obtain a specific intensity of light from the diffractive optical modulator; and

a reset unit for adjusting the correction value, which is stored in the applied voltage output unit and is added to the first electrode reference voltage in order to obtain a specific intensity of light from the diffractive optical modulator, according to the correction value of the light intensity variation calculation unit.

17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein the applied voltage adjustment unit comprises:

a reference voltage storage unit for storing a second electrode reference voltage that must be applied to the second electrode layer of the diffractive optical modulator and a first electrode reference voltage that must be applied to the first electrode layer;

an applied voltage output unit for outputting the second electrode reference voltage and the first electrode reference voltage stored in the reference voltage storage unit;

a video control unit for applying an applied voltage to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator; and

a reference voltage reset unit for receiving the intensity of diffracted light, which is output from the diffractive optical modulator when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, from the light intensity detection unit, comparing the received intensity of light with the expected intensity of light, which is expected to be measured when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, and adjusting the first electrode reference voltage, which is stored in the reference voltage storage unit and must be applied in order to obtain a specific intensity of light from the diffractive optical modulator.

18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein the applied voltage output unit comprises:

a second electrode voltage output unit for outputting the second electrode reference voltage stored in the reference voltage storage unit; and

a first electrode voltage correction unit for outputting the first electrode reference voltage stored in the reference voltage storage unit.

19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein the reference voltage reset unit comprises:

a light intensity storage unit for storing the expected intensity of light, which is expected to be measured when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator;

a light intensity variation calculation unit for receiving the intensity of light of diffracted light, which is output from the diffractive optical modulator when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, from the light intensity detection unit, comparing the received intensity of light with the expected intensity of the light intensity storage unit, which is expected to be measured when the applied voltage is applied to the piezoelectric layer of the diffractive optical modulator, and outputting a correction value for controlling the first electrode reference voltage, which is stored in the reference voltage storage unit and must be applied in order to obtain a specific intensity of light from the diffractive optical modulator; and

a reset unit for adjusting the first electrode reference voltage, which is stored in the reference voltage storage unit and must be applied in order to obtain a specific intensity of light from the diffractive optical modulator, based on the correction value of the light intensity variation calculation unit.