Texas Instruments Corporation

Gregory James Hewlett

Donald B Doherty

Gregory Scott Pettitt

Harold E Bellis, Ii

Vishal Markandey

Daniel Jay Morgan

Philip Scott King

Peter F vanKessel

Robert J Gove

Steven Monroe Penn

Jeffrey Scott Farris

Roger Mitsuo Ikeda

William B Werner

Paul S Breedlove

Keith Harold Elliott

Dana Franklin Segler, Jr

Roy I Edenson

Peter F Van Kessel

Andrew Ian Russell

William Craig McDonald

Paul M Urbanus

Shaun Carl Kerigan

William J Sexton

Stephen G Kalthoff

Greg S Pettitt

Kevin M Chin

Darren T McCosky

Douglas M Fix

In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, a method and system for the timing color of an image display are provided. In one embodiment, a method for displaying image includes sequentially illuminating a spatial light modulator with a plurality of colors by shining light through a color wheel having a plurality of adjacent color segments. The method further includes determining, a time period in which the output of the color wheel is deemed not to correspond solely to either of the two adjacent color segments for at least a portion of the spatial light modulator. The time period is based at least in part on the luminance difference between two adjacent color segments in the color wheel.

System and method for timing color presentation of an image 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

Disclosed is a video display system comprising a spatial light modulator, such as a DMD modulator. The system uses a light source and color-wheel filter that is interposed between the light source and the spatial light modulator, the color-wheel filter being divided into primary color segments and at least one neutral density ('ND') segment that is complementary to at least one of the primary color segments and having a transmissivity that is lower than that of its corresponding primary color segment. At the border between the ND segment and its complementary primary color segment is an area that can be referred to as an ND spoke. The video display system modulates light from this ND spoke area along with light from the other segments.

Spoke light recapture for the spoke between a color of a wheel and its neutral density complement

A spoke synchronization technique allowing for lamp-pulsing synchronizes a spoke based on sub-arrays of a spatial light modulator. The lamp pulsing occurs during the spoke synchronization; and the lamp pulse for pulsing the lamp spans substantially across the entire spoke synchronization time period.

Spoke synchronization system with variable intensity illuminator

Disclosed embodiments utilize MIP techniques to determine optimum bit sequences that minimize PWM artifacts. The problem would first be restructured and redefined into a form suitable for MIP. An objective function designed to minimize PWM artifacts would allow for evaluation of resulting bit sequences in order to determine optimality. Constraints (that relate the inputs and variables) are developed. These constraints would determine whether a particular bit sequence can be used on a given system, and whether a particular bit sequence would satisfy any user defined rules. Once these are determined, an MIP solver would generate an optimized bit sequence(s). Only bit sequences that satisfy the constraints would be evaluated using the objective function, allowing for a quicker determination of a solution. This MIP solution may be generated quickly, allowing for a shorter production period while still optimizing the bit sequences to minimize PWM artifacts.

Automated bit sequencing for digital light modulation

A method includes generating a plurality of beams that each illuminate a separate portion of a spatial light modulator. The spatial light modulator has a first dimension of a first length and a second dimension of a second length. Each of the beams spans a portion of the first length of the first dimension and a portion of the second length of the second dimension. The method also includes scrolling the plurality of beams along the second dimension of the spatial light modulator while maintaining at least a first gap between each of the plurality of beams.

System and method for utilizing a scanning beam to display an image

A method for compensating for a shift in color in a light source and a system of color illumination for a projection visual display (PVD) system. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) field sequentially operating an array of emitters to generate a sequence of light beams, each light beam comprising an uncompensated saturated color, (2) determining a compensated target color from the uncompensated standard color, the compensated target color determined based upon a variation in the uncompensated standard color and variations in at least two other uncompensated standard colors, (3) combining a first light beam of a first color with a second light beam of a second color to produce said compensated target color, the first and second light beams combined in an optical path to travel concurrently, the combination of the first and second light beams resulting in a composite color coordinate and without exceeding the etendue limit and (4) directing the combination of the first and second light beams at the spatial light modulator, said modulator operable to receive the combination and produce a desired color on a display.

Projection illumination device and method for projection visual display system using multiple controlled light emitters having individual wavelengths

A method for increasing intensity resolution (bit-depth) using LED illumination. A preferred embodiment comprises determining a display time for a bit to be displayed on a display system, with the display time being based upon a weighting of the bit. If the display time is less than a minimum display time of the display system, then a light modulator and light source modulation are to be used to display the bit. If the display time is equal to or greater than the minimum display time, then a light modulator is to be used to display the bit. The use of a light source that can switch at a faster rate than the light modulator can change states and/or a light source that can produce light at multiple intensities can permit the display of less light and thereby increase the bit-depth of the display system.

Increased intensity resolution for pulse-width modulation-based displays with light emitting diode illumination

A micromechanical device and system utilizing a supplemental reset pulse to ensure deflectable members deflect to the desired position. After loading data into a micromechanical device, a reset pulse is used to position the deflectable member to a position indicated by the data. A supplemental reset pulse is then applied to ensure the deflectable member is driven to the position indicated by the data. The method and system are also used to ensure the deflectable members are driven to a neutral position.

Supplemental reset pulse

A spatial light modulator clocking method, called fast-clear, which employs embedded clear hardware in the SLM to enable the fast-clear bit to generate least-significant short-bit periods and without any bit ordering restrictions. In this method, fast data clearsare inserted between block data loadswithin a frame refresh period. This method virtually eliminates the artifacts associated with the earlier reset-release timing method without the bit-ordering restriction of the jog-clear method.

Control timing for spatial light modulator

A secure digital data distribution system () for preventing unauthorized access to digital data. The system utilizes an identification system module () embedded in a digital storage media () to grant authorization to media players (). Prior to reading the digital data recorded on the media (), an identification system interrogator () reads authorization data from the identification system module () to determine whether the media player () is authorized to read the media (). If the authorization data matches the media player's unique identifier, authorization is granted and the media player () commences to read the media ().

Secure distribution of digital data

Disclosed are reset techniques for a spatial light modulator, and related system for displaying an image. The systems and methods have pixels that are loaded with data and reset commands to take on binary states, where the methods employ adaptable algorithms to provide flexibility in placement of the reset commands. Specifically, valid regions for such reset commands are determined, and times for consecutive bit segments are calculated; and DMD load times are adjusted for a proper sequence. An advantage of the disclosed methods is that two consecutive bit segments are no longer restricted to following a pattern of normal/short bit segments. In contrast, with the disclosed technique short segments may be consecutive, allowing the implementation of additional enhancements, including neutral density filtering (NDF) techniques that typically include adjacent short bits in the bit sequence.

Bit segment timing organization providing flexible bit segment lengths

A method of and system for displaying a high bit depth pulse width modulated image at a low frame rate without image flicker. The frame period () is divided into a series of refresh periods (). The more significant image bits () are displayed in every refresh period, while the bits of lesser significance () are displayed only during a subset of the refresh periods. The bits of lesser significance ideally are arranged out of phase with one another such that an equal, or comparable, duration of the lesser significant bit periods is included in each of the refresh periods. Because the minimum temporal frequency necessary to avoid flicker is greater for longer bit durations, this method provides a higher frequency for the more significant bits compared to the bits of lesser significance that are less likely to flicker. This provides the advantage of enabling greatly increase bit depth without requiring unnecessarily short bit planes.

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Richardson, TX, United States of America

Gregory James Hewlett