Texas Instruments Corporation

Zhongyan Sheng

Stephen Aldridge Shaw

Terry Alan Bartlett

Michael Terry Davis

Alexander Lyubarsky

Steven Edward Smith

Ganapathy Sivakumar

Xi Zhou

Shashank Dabral

Gregory Scott Pettitt

Dimitar Trifonov

Tony Ray Larson

John Marshall Ferri

James Becker

Gavin Camillo Perrella

Srikanth Gurrapu

Yangxi Wang

Don Holamon

An apparatus includes a light source configured to produce light and a prism. The apparatus also includes freeform optics optically coupled between the light source and the prism, the freeform optics configured to direct the light towards the prism and eyepiece optics optically coupled to the prism. Additionally, the apparatus includes a spatial light modulator (SLM) optically coupled to the prism, the prism configured to direct the light towards the SLM, the SLM configured to modulate the light to produce modulated light, and the prism configured to direct the modulated light towards the eyepiece optics.

Compact near eye display engine

An apparatus for a near eye display includes an optical waveguide coupler adapted to be optically coupled to one or more light sources, a first prism optically coupled to the optical waveguide coupler, a second prism coupled to the first prism where the first prism faces a first side of the second prism, a spatial light modulator (SLM) optically coupled to the second prism where the SLM faces a second side of the second prism, and focusing optics optically coupled to the second prism where the focusing optics face a third side of the second prism.

Described examples include a structured light projector including a light source. The structured light projector also includes a spatial light modulator arranged to modulate light from the light source. The structured light projector also includes a diffractive optical element arranged to modulate the light from the light source. The structured light projector further includes projection optics arranged to project the light modulated by the spatial light modulator and the diffractive optical element to a target.

Structured light projector

Described examples a three-dimensional printer includes a vat having a transparent bottom, the vat configured to contain a photo-polymerizing resin and a lift plate movably positioned within the vat. The three-dimensional printer also includes an optical device configured to project a pattern of light through the transparent bottom. The optical device includes a light source configured to provide light at a light source output and a light integrator configured to provide divergent light at a light integrator output responsive to the light at the light source output. The optical device also includes projection optics configured to project projection output light at an optics output through the transparent bottom responsive to a modulated light at the optics input and a spatial light modulator configured to provide the modulated light responsive to the divergent light.

Low cost optical engine

An example includes a system, having: an illumination source configured to produce illumination light; and a spatial light modulator (SLM) optically coupled to the illumination source, the SLM comprising an array of picture elements. The SLM is configured to: receive the illumination light; direct, by a first portion of the picture elements, on state light in a first direction; and direct, by a second portion of the picture elements, off state light in a second direction. The example system includes imaging optics optically coupled to the SLM, the imaging optics configured to receive the on state light from the SLM and to project an image as an image portion of a beam; and non-imaging optics optically coupled to the SLM, the non-imaging optics configured to receive the off state light from the SLM and to project the off state light as part of the beam.

Adaptive light source with spatial light modulator

A near eye display apparatus includes: a lens having a viewing area, the lens comprising a waveguide having a waveguide input and a waveguide output optically coupled to the viewing area; an optical projector having a projector output, the optical projector comprising an illumination source optically coupled to the optical prism element and configured to provide illumination light into the optical prism element at a particular direction, a spatial light modulator optically coupled to the optical prism element and configured to receive the illumination light from the optical prism element and to reflect patterned light, the optical prism element configured to provide the patterned light to the projector output at the particular direction; and an optical folding element optically coupled between the projector output and the waveguide input, the optical folding element configured to fold an optical path of the patterned light in at least two different directions.

Near eye display projector

Described examples include an optical device, having a light source with a light source output and a light integrator having a light integrator input and a light integrator output, the light integrator input optically coupled to the light source output, and the light integrator configured to provide divergent light at the light integrator output responsive to the light at the light source output. The optical device also has projection optics with an optics input and an optics output, the projection optics configured to project output light at the optics output responsive to modulated light at the optics input, in which a focal point of the optics input matches a divergence of the modulated light and a spatial light modulator optically coupled between the light integrator output and the optics input, the spatial light modulator configured to provide the modulated light responsive to the divergent light.

In some examples, an apparatus includes a light source. The light source is configured to operate in a first mode by emitting light during a first period of time during which a display screen reflecting the light is substantially opaque. The light source is also configured to operate in a second mode by not emitting light during a second period of time during which the display screen is substantially transparent. The light source is also configured to repeatedly alternate between the first mode and the second mode to create a perception of an image resulting from the display screen reflecting the light being displayed on a transparent screen.

Transparent display projection

Described examples include a light tunnel of a material, the light tunnel including: a first section having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a second section having a third surface and an opposing fourth surface, a third section having a fifth surface and an opposing sixth surface, and a fourth section having a seventh surface and an opposing eighth surface; a first crease between the first section and the second section, a second crease between the second section and the third section, a third crease between the third section and the fourth section, and an intersection between an end of the first section and the fourth section; and a reflective coating forming a reflective surface on the first, third, fifth and seventh surfaces, the reflective surface being continuous across at least one of the creases, and the reflective coating being discontinuous at the intersection.

Light tunnel

In described examples, a body includes an opening in a central portion of a surface, a cavity having sides extending from the opening into the body, and a bottom surface within the body supporting a phosphor configured to emit light when energized by incoming light. In a further arrangement, the sides are tapered from the opening to the bottom surface, such that a cross sectional area of the opening is greater than a cross sectional area of the bottom surface.

Apparatus for high efficiency laser static phosphor module

A spatial light modulator outputs modulated light including: modulated first light when the spatial light modulator receives first light; and modulated second light when the spatial light modulator receives second light. Projection optics project the modulated light onto: a first pixel region when a component or the spatial light modulator has a first position; and a second pixel region when the component or the spatial light modulator has a second position. The first and second pixel regions partially overlap. A pixel shifter moves the component or the spatial light modulator between: the first position when the spatial light modulator outputs the modulated first light; and the second position when the spatial light modulator outputs the modulated second light.

Optical engine for three-dimensional printing

Described examples include an optical device having a first light source configured to provide a first light having a first characteristic. The optical device also has a second light source configured to provide a second light having a second characteristic. The optical device also has a combiner configured to combine the first light and the second light to provide a combined light. The optical device also has a spatial light modulator configured to modulate the combined light to provide modulated combined light. The optical device also has a divider configured to receive the modulated combined light and to direct a first portion of the modulated combined light having the first characteristic to a first target and to direct a second portion of the modulated combined light having the second characteristic to a second target.

Projection on multiple planes using a single projection unit

In described examples, a digital light processing color projector includes light emitters configured to collectively emit light at multiple wavelengths, multiple light directing elements forming an illumination path having at least one aperture stop, a micromirror array coupled to a substrate, an aperture located at the aperture stop, and a filter with a selected color transmittance profile located at or near the aperture stop. The light directing elements are configured to direct light towards the micromirror array as illumination light. An aperture width determines a diameter of the illumination light. A micromirror on-state reflects the illumination light as on-state light. The substrate reflects the illumination light as flat-state light. The light directing elements direct on-state light through the aperture to a projector output. The filter filters flat-state light in an overlap region of the on-state light and flat-state light, or an illumination light portion corresponding to overlap region.

DLP color projector

Described examples include a projector including a first prism having a dichroic layer. A second prism has a first spatial light modulator on a first surface, and a first light source directed through a second surface of the second prism to the first spatial light modulator. The first spatial light modulator is operable to modulate the first light to provide modulated first light that is reflected off the second surface of the second prism and the dichroic layer to projection optics. A third prism has a second spatial light modulator on a first surface and a second light source directed through a second surface to the second spatial light modulator. The second spatial light modulator is operable to modulate the second light to provide modulated second light that is reflected off the second surface of the third prism and passes through the dichroic layer to the projection optics.

Projector with multiple spatial light modulators prisms and light sources

A projector includes a semiconductor die including a digital micromirror device; and a first integral optical layer attached to the semiconductor die. The first integral optical layer includes a first optical lens and a first diffractive optical element. A second integral optical layer is attached to the first integral optical layer. The second integral optical layer includes an aperture stop and a second diffractive optical element. A third integral optical layer is attached to the second integral optical layer. The third integral optical layer includes a second optical lens and a light source mount. The semiconductor die, the first integral optical layer, the second integral optical layer and the third integral optical layer are stacked to form an optical path through the first and second diffractive optical elements, reflect off the digital micromirror device, and pass through the first optical lens, the aperture stop and the second lens.

Growing community of inventors

Allen, TX, United States of America

Zhongyan Sheng