The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 22, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 03, 1997
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A spatial light modulator (10) with a programmable format pixel array (14). The pixel array (14) has a programmable row address circuit (30), and a partitionable programmable column data loading circuit (32) which permits the array (14) to be operated in multiple formats compatible with NTSC, PAL, SECAM and other broadcasting standards. The pixel array (14) is of the DMD type. The array can be configured as 864.times.576 pixel array, a 768.times.576 pixel array, an 864.times.480 pixel array, or a 640.times.480 pixel array. This format is controlled by hardware (30,32) designed into the DMD chip. A partitionable shift register (32) has a MUXED input to provide testability, permitting some or all of the data input lines (D0-D53) to be utilized, and also allowing pixel data to be loaded back into the shift register (32) for functional verification. A programmable row address circuit (30) automatically addresses a subset of pixel rows as a function of a single input.