System configurations and methods for controlling image projection apparatuses

• US 7,782,524 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ignite USA (Ignite)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation, Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha
• Inventors: Nishino, Hirokazu, Maeda, Yoshihiro, Shirai, Akira, Ishii, Fusao
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson; Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US12/286,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20090103155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 359/291, 359/290, 359/223, 359/224, 359/295, 359/237
• US Class Current: 359/291
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/005 Projectors using an electronic spatial light modulator but not peculiar thereto

Abstract

The mirror device comprising a plurality of deflectable mirrors for reflecting light, wherein the mirror is controllable to deflect to a first direction during an incident period with the light incident to the deflectable mirror and at an end of the incident period the mirror is controllable to deflect to a second direction opposite to the first direction during a non-incidence period in which the light is not incident to the present mirror.

Claims

1. A mirror device comprising a plurality of deflectable mirrors for reflecting a light, wherein

the mirror is controllable to deflect to a first direction during an incident period with the light incident to the deflectable mirror and at an end of the incident period the mirror is controllable to deflect to a second direction opposite to the first direction during a non-incidence period when the light is not incident to the mirror.

2. The mirror device according to claim 1, wherein:

the mirror is deflected in the second direction during the non-incidence period for a period of time proportional to a length of time when the mirror is deflected and maintained in the first direction at the entire period of the incidence period.

3. A projection apparatus, comprising:

a light source for projecting a light; and

a mirror device comprising a plurality of deflectable mirrors for reflecting the light projected from the light source, wherein the mirror is controllable to deflect to a first direction during a turn-on period of the light source and at an end of the incident period the mirror is controllable to deflect to a second direction opposite to the first direction during a turn-off period of the light source.

4. The projection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the mirror is deflected in the second direction during the turn-off period for a period of time proportional to a length of time when the mirror is deflected and maintained in the first direction at the entire period of the turn-on period.

5. The projection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the light source is a semiconductor light source.

6. A projection apparatus comprising;

a light source for projecting a light; and

a spatial light modulator for modulating the light using a first control data generated from an externally inputted image data, wherein the spatial light modulator is controlled by applying a second control data different from the first control data after an end of a control period by applying the first control data;

the spatial light modulator is controlled by applying the second control data synchronously with a turn-off of the light source.

7. The projection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

the second control data is data obtained by inverting the first control data.

8. The projection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

the spatial light modulator comprises a mirror, wherein the second control data is applied for retaining the mirror in a second direction opposite to a first direction in which the mirror is deflected at an end of the turn-on period of the light source.

9. A method for controlling a projection apparatus comprises a mirror for modulating a light emitted from a light source by applying a first control data generated from an externally inputted image data, comprising:

maintaining said mirror in the first direction until a time immediately before turning off the light source after the mirror is deflected to a first direction;

turning off the light source; and

deflecting the mirror to a second direction opposite to the first direction.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein:

the step of maintaining the mirror in the first direction further includes a step of applying the first control data to maintain the mirror in the first direction until a time immediately before turning off the light source.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of:

deflecting the mirror to the second direction by applying a second data obtained by inverting the polarity of the first control data.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of:

storing a final total deflection time when the mirror is deflected and maintained in the first direction immediately before turning off the light source.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising a step of:

deflecting the mirror in the second direction for a period with a length of period proportional to the final total deflection time.