EP0635986A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Apparatus and method for digitized video system
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1990-02-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A visual display system having a spatial light modulator with individually and simultaneously controllable elements. Each element capable of producing an individual light beam directed toward a display surface. A source of random polarity light is utilized to direct light onto the modulator. Each element is operated at a rate higher than a critical flicker frequency of the human eye.
Inventors
- 👤 E. Earle Thompson
- 👤 Thomas W. Demond
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:09
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/34; G09G3/3433; G09G3/346; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/0816; G02B26/0833; G02B26/0841; G02B27/00; G02B27/48; G09F; G09F19/00; G09F19/12; G09F19/16; G09F19/18; G09F9/00; G09F9/30; G09F9/37; G09F9/372; G09G3/3406; H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/74; H04N5/7416; H04N5/7458; H04N9/00; H04N9/12; H04N9/31; H04N9/3129; H04N9/3141; H04N9/315; H04N9/3161; G09G2300/00; G09G2300/08; G09G2300/0809; G09G2300/0814; G09G2300/0842; G09G2310/00; G09G2310/02; G09G2310/0235; G09G2310/06; G09G2310/066; G09G2320/00; G09G2320/06; G09G2320/0626; G09G2320/0633; G09G3/2007; G09G3/2018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A variable luminosity visual display system comprising: a light source for generating visible or non-visible light along an optical path; a spatial light modulator located in said optical path, said spatial light modulator having a plurality of individually controllable elements; and a remote surface on which a visible display on which a visible display is produced, each of the elements of said spatial light modulator having a first state for allowing an associated portion of the light to impinge on said remote surface and a second state for preventing said associated portion of the light from impinging on said remote surface with each element selectably controllable between the first and second states in a time period less than the critical flicker frequency of the human eye.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to Claim 1, wherein the elements are controllable between said first and second states a plurality of times in said time period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said critical frequency varies partly dependent upon luminosity.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
18 words
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein said spatial light modulator includes a deformable mirror device (DMD).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
20 words
A system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said spatial light modulator includes a light valve.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
63 words
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein said spatial light modulator includes: said controllable elements as an array of individual display cells; at least two memory cells associated with each display cell; a first decoder for addressing a plurality of memory cells for storing information therein; and a second decoder for addressing substantially all of said display cells to display an image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to Claim 6, wherein each memory cell includes at least two components.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
A system according to Claim 7, wherein one component is a transistor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein one component is a capacitor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
A system according to Claim 7, wherein both components are transistors.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
14 words
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the light source comprises a laser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to Claim 11, wherein the laser produces a light beam in the non-visible spectrum.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
33 words
A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of beams of different frequencies being ordered in a sequence in the time period for providing colour luminosity variance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to Claim 13, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of lasers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system according to Claim 13, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light generators, each light generator being operative to generate one of said light beams, each light generator being associated with a light shutter, and each said light shutter being operative synchronously for generating said light beams in said sequence.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system according to Claim 13, wherein said light source comprises a light generator for generating white light and a colour wheel; said colour wheel including a plurality of filters; and said colour wheel being rotatable wherein said white light is caused to be filtered into said light beams due to rotation of said colour wheel.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of displaying an image comprising the steps of: generating light along an optical path; providing optical elements on said path to cause the production of the image to be displayed; and controlling said elements individually between a first transferring state and second non-transferring state, and between said second state and said first state for an associated portion of said light within a time period less than the critical flicker frequency of the human eye.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of Claim 17, further comprising the step of varying said critical frequency partly dependent upon luminosity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to Claim 17 or Claim 18, wherein said step of controlling includes actuating a deformable mirror device.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
18 words
A method according to Claims 17 or 18, wherein said step of controlling includes actuating a light valve.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
46 words
A method according to any one of Claims 17 to 20, wherein the generating light step comprises generating a plurality of light beams each centered about different frequencies, and ordering the light beams in a sequence during said time period, thereby controlling the colour luminosity variance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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