Texas Instruments Corporation

Jeffrey Scott Farris

Vikrant R Bhakta

Jeffrey Matthew Kempf

Gregory James Hewlett

Philip Scott King

Roger Mitsuo Ikeda

John Peter Fenske

Michael David McCormick

Jason Ryan Thompson

Muhammad Roshanali Rajabali

Steven Monroe Penn

Andrew Ian Russell

Alan Scott Hearn

Jonathan Andrew Lucas

Stephen G Kalthoff

Kevin Ross Tomei

In some examples, a method includes serializing, via a processor, image data for a first image to form serialized data mapped to RBG pixels of a second image, the image data in a format other than a RGB pixel format. The method also includes transmitting, by the processor, the serialized data via RGB signaling lines.

Compressed chip to chip transmission

A method includes converting a frame of pixel data to a first frame division unit. The method further includes, responsive to an X,Y coordinate, cropping and shifting the frame division unit to produce a second frame division unit. The method also includes outputting the second frame division unit.

Apparatus and method for frame cropping and shifting

An automotive headlamp is provided that includes a digital micromirror device (DMD) headlight module, the DMD headlight module including a DMD, a white light module to provide a white light beam to illuminate the DMD, illumination optics optically coupled between the DMD and the white light module to prepare the white light beam for illuminating the DMD, and projection optics optically coupled to the DMD to receive pixelated light reflected by the DMD and project a pixelated light beam on road, in which at least one of the DMD, the white light module, and the illumination optics shape a beam profile of the white light beam such that the light reflected by the DMD has a pixelated non-uniform beam profile suitable for projecting a white light beam that forms a portion of a white light beam of the headlamp.

Pixelated projection for automotive headlamp

In described examples, a LIDAR system includes a laser transmitter, a receiver, and first and second light directing elements. The laser transmitter is configured to scan a field of view with a laser beam. The receiver is configured to receive light from the field of view, and to focus a first portion of the received light, corresponding to a region of interest, on a first light directing element. The receiver is also configured to focus a second portion of the received light, corresponding to the field of view except for the region of interest, on multiple second light directing elements. The first light directing element is configured to direct the first portion of the received light towards a first photon detector, and the second light directing elements are configured to direct the second portion of the received light towards a second photon detector.

Interference signal rejection in LIDAR systems

A depth imaging system includes an optical image sensor, an optical beam steering system, an object identification system, and a depth measurement system. The object identification system is coupled to the optical image sensor. The object identification system is configured to identify an object in an image captured by the optical image sensor. The depth measurement system is coupled to the optical beam steering device. The depth measurement system is configured to, responsive to identification of the object by the object identification system: direct an optical signal, via the optical beam steering device, to the object, and to determine a distance to the object based on a time-of-flight of the optical signal.

Depth imaging system

To generate a projected light beam, a headlamp includes: a light source to provide light; and a digital micromirror device (DMD). Illumination optics are optically coupled between the light source and the DMD to illuminate the DMD with the light from the light source. The DMD is arranged to reflect the light as pixelated light. Projection optics are optically coupled to the DMD to project the pixelated light as a mid-beam portion of the projected light beam. The mid-beam portion has a non-uniform mid-range beam profile shaped by at least the DMD and the illumination optics. A field of view and an intensity of the projected light beam are controllable by the light source and the DMD. Also, the headlamp includes a high beam module to provide a high beam portion of the projected light beam.

In described examples, a circuit for controlling a light emitting diode (LED) includes a first flip flop including first and second control inputs. In response to assertion of a first control signal, the first flip flop generates a second control signal to control a first switch coupled in parallel with the LED. An edge detect circuit is coupled to an output of the first flip flop. In response to generation of the second control signal, the edge detect circuit generates a third control signal. A second flip flop includes third and fourth control inputs. The third control input is coupled to an output of the edge detect circuit. The second flip flop generates a fourth control signal to control a second switch coupled, via an inductor, to the first switch and the LED.

LED driver

In described examples, a circuit for controlling a light emitting diode (LED) includes a switch control circuit to generate a first control signal for a first switch coupled in parallel with the LED. The switch control circuit generates the first control signal responsive to a magnitude of loop current through the first switch relative to a first reference signal. A switch driver generates a second control signal for a second switch coupled to the first switch via an inductor. The first switch driver generates the second control signal responsive to the magnitude of the loop current through the first switch relative to the first reference signal.

For controlling a level of luminance produced by a color light-emitting diode (LED) array, a method includes: for a predetermined flux bit-slice period, activating a color enable signal to select a primary color LED and to select a predetermined light flux magnitude set-point; selectively charging an energy storage device and discharging the energy storage device through the selected primary color LED to generate a light flux output during the flux bit-slice period; adjusting a rate of selectively charging the energy storage device to maintain a magnitude of the light flux output at the predetermined light flux magnitude set-point during the flux bit-slice period; and adjusting the predetermined light flux magnitude set-point over the life of the selected LED as the selected LED ages as a function of an anode-to-cathode voltage drop across the selected LED for a given magnitude of current flowing through the selected LED.

LED drive apparatus, systems and methods

Light flux levels sensed from a color LED array control both current availability to the array and disable/re-enable a current bypass switch to shunt stored-energy current to or away from a selected LED. In continuous mode, a single flux pulse is created for the duration of a pre-established period. Feedback from the flux sensor pulses current to an energy storage device to maintain the light flux at a predetermined set-point. A particular dimming level is achieved by establishing both the pulse period and the flux magnitude. In discontinuous mode, one or more short flux pulses are created. Both the turn-on and the turn-off time of each flux pulse is controlled by alternately removing and then re-establishing a current shunt from the energy storage device to ground. Flux pulse magnitude is controlled by recognizing when the flux pulse has reached a predetermined set-point and re-establishing the current shunt to abruptly turn off current to the selected LED.

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

In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting one or more light beams by a first portion of a light modulator formed outwardly from a substrate. The one or more transmitted light beams are spatially integrated. A second portion of the light modulator is formed outwardly from the substrate. The second portion of the light modulator spatially integrates the transmitted light beams.

Multi-function light modulators for optical systems

A method of addressing double buffered memory for an SLM, the memory address having only two bank bits. It is assumed that the pixel data is formatted into bit-planes, such that pixel positions in each bit plane can be identified. A bit plane bit is mapped to a first bank bit, and a pixel position bit is mapped to a second bank bit. The read/write bit is mapped to a column address bit. The remaining bit plane and pixel position bits are mapped to row address and column address bits.

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Flower Mound, TX, United States of America

Jeffrey Scott Farris