Texas Instruments Corporation

Daniel Jay Morgan

Donald B Doherty

Aravind Lakshminarayanan

Jeffrey Matthew Kempf

Gregory James Hewlett

William J Sexton

Roger S Carver

Peter F vanKessel

Gregory Scott Pettitt

Michael Terry Davis

Alexander Lyubarsky

Vivek Kumar Thakur

Kristofer Scott Oberascher

Amit K Saha

Vishal Markandey

Scott Patrick Overmann

Thomas E Smith

Andrea C Harriman

Aravind Lakshiminarayanan

Amit Saha

Described examples include a process that includes illuminating a spatial light modulator at a first illumination level during a first bit-plane and stopping illumination at a beginning of a second bit-plane subsequent to the first bit-plane. The process also includes resuming illumination after a settling period of the spatial light modulator at a second illumination level for a time period such that a total illumination energy during the second bit-plane is equivalent to an intended illumination energy for the second bit-plane at the first illumination level and stopping illumination at the second illumination level before a subsequent third bit-plane.

Circuit and controller for increased bit depth in high frame rate applications

Example apparatus described herein include a first circuit configured to slice an input image frame into input image slices, the first circuit including first outputs configured to output the input image slices. Described example apparatus also include digital light processing controllers (DLPCs) including first inputs coupled to the first outputs, the digital light processing controllers configured to process the input image slices to produce output image slices, the digital light processing controllers including second outputs configured to output the output image slices. Described example apparatus further include a second circuit including second inputs coupled to the second outputs, the second circuit configured to combine the output image slices to generate image frame data to provide to an input of a digital micromirror device (DMD).

Image slicing to generate in put frames for a digital micromirror device

Increased bit depth in high frame rate applications

Image slicing to generate input frames for a digital micromirror device

A control circuit includes a sequencing circuit. The sequencing circuit is configured to, in a color cycle: transfer a first bit plane to a spatial light modulator (SLM) and transmit a first global reset signal to the SLM instructing the SLM to load data of the first bit plane to pixel sub arrays of the SLM. The sequencing circuit is also configured to, in the color cycle: transfer a second bit plane to the SLM, and transmit a second global reset signal instructing the SLM to load data of the second bit plane to a first pixel sub-array of the pixel sub-arrays and to load data of the first bit plane to a second pixel sub-array of the pixel sub-arrays.

Spatial light modulator control

An apparatus includes an image sensor, a linear actuator, a projector coupled to the linear actuator, and a controller coupled to the image sensor and to the linear actuator. The controller is configured to determine a location of an eye of a user based on image data from the image sensor. The controller is further configured to activate the linear actuator to drive the projector to a position associated with projecting to the eye at the location. The controller is further configured to initiate projection, via the projector, of an image depicting a view of a three-dimensional scene, the image selected based on the location.

Linearly actuated display

A method includes determining a first location, within a first viewing window, of a first eye of a user based on image data from an image sensor. The first viewing window corresponds to a first projector of a plurality of projectors. The method further includes determining a second location, within a second viewing window, of a second eye of the user based on the image data. The second viewing window corresponds to a second projector of the plurality of projectors. The method further includes initiating projection, via the first projector, of a first image depicting a first view of a three-dimensional scene. The first image is selected based on the first location. The method further includes initiating projection, via the second projector, of a second image depicting a second view of the three-dimensional scene. The second image is selected based on the second location.

System and method for enhanced motion parallax in a 3D display

A video display system is configured to receive a sequence of image frames. Each frame is divided into a set of blocks. A center of mass is calculated for each block in a first frame and is saved for all blocks in the first frame. A center of mass is calculated for each block in a second frame. Motion between the first frame and the second frame is detected by comparing the center of mass of each block in the second frame to the center of mass of the corresponding block in the first frame, in which a still block is detected when a corresponding block in the first frame and the second frame have a same center of mass, and in which motion in a block is detected when a corresponding block in the first frame and the second frame have a different center of mass.

Still block detection in a video sequence

Described are handheld devices with combined image capture and image projection functions. One embodiment includes modulating and capturing a light beam along the same optic path. In another embodiment, the optical components are operable to switch between projection and capture modes. In yet another embodiment, the optical components may be formed on the same semiconductor substrate thereby increasing functionality.

Methods for combining camera and projector functions in a single device

An improved spatial light modulation display system includes light sources for providing red, green, and blue light. A system controller includes functionality for controlling a color balance of the red, green, and blue light. A sensor is provided for sensing light from each of the light sources. The controller can detect a shift in color balance based on the intensity of light sensed by the sensor. If the sensor output indicates that the sensor is operating out of a desirable range, the spatial light modulator can modulate the light in order change the brightness of light sensed by the sensor. The modulation pattern can be varied until the sensor output is a specified value or within a specified range of values. In a preferred embodiment, the sensor is located to receive off-state light from the spatial light modulator so as to avoid obstruction of light used for displaying images.

Spatial light modulation display system

A method and system providing boundary dispersion to pixel values displayed on a binary spatial light modulator to reduce temporal contouring artifacts. Pixel code values are offset from a nominal value when displayed on the SLM to disperse a large bit transition for a pulse width modulation (PWM) system. The offset value varies as a function of the pixel digital code, the pixel spatial location on the screen, and pixel temporal location in time. The set of offsets applied to pixels is varied over a repeating sequence of 2 displayed frames.

Boundary dispersion for mitigating PWM temporal contouring artifacts in digital displays

A system and method for reducing pulse width modulation contouring artifacts. Each input intensity value is translated to at least one non-binary bit pattern for display. Many of the input intensity values are translated to at least two alternate non-binary bit patterns. The alternate codes are used to smooth the transition between intensity codes as major bits are turned on. The smoothing occurs by the gradual transition from codes that do not use the major bit to codes that do use the major bit. Typically the alternate codes are selected based on the location of the pixel in a spatial pattern () and the alternate codes are spatially alternated from one pixel () to the next (). Other embodiments temporally alternate the codes from one period&#x2014;typically a frame period&#x2014;to the next. Still other embodiments alternate the codes both spatially and temporally.

Mitigation of artifacts in PWM illumination imaging

Scanning mirror based display system and method. A method comprises sampling a scanned light provided by a scanning mirror, converting the sampled scanned light into an electrical signal, analyzing the electrical signal to determine a position of the scanned light, and controlling the light source or the scanning mirror based on the analyzed electrical signal. The electrical signal based on the sampled scanned light may be used to ensure proper operation of the scanning mirror display system, such as determining failure of the scanning mirror, proper rendering of colors, determining whether the scanned light is following a desired scan path at a desired scan rate, and so forth.

Scanning mirror based display system and method

A bit plane generating system, a method of generating a bit plane and an integrated circuit incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the bit plane generating system includes: (1) a memory configured to store pixel data pertaining to an image to be displayed and (2) bit plane decoding circuitry coupled to the memory and configured to transform the pixel data into at least a portion of a bit plane in accordance with a signal received from a sequence controller.

Bit plane encoding/decoding system and method for reducing spatial light modulator image memory size

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for increasing the bit-depth of a video display system using a pulse lamp are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes illuminating a digital micro-mirror device with a light source having a variable power supply, receiving a signal indicating the light output provided to the digital micro-mirror device by the light source should be reduced to a target level during a predetermined time period, reducing a power supplied to the light source by the variable power supply in response to the signal such that the light output of the light source is reduced to about a target level during the predetermined time period, displaying a least significant bit on the digital micro-mirror device during the predetermined time period, and decreasing a speed of a master clock controlling the digital micro-mirror device in response to the light output of the light source deviating below the target level during the predetermined time period.

Growing community of inventors

Denton, TX, United States of America

Daniel Jay Morgan