Query: Display system architectures for digital micromirror device (DMD)-based projectors

Candidate papers:

abstract: The Digital Micromirror Device (DMDTM) developed by Texas Instruments is a highly useful Micro Opto Electro Mechanical Structures (MOEMS) device that enables high quality projection display. Acting as a semiconductor light switch, the DMD can modulate incident light to produce truly digital projection display systems. Illumination and projection optics are described for three fundamental display system architectures based on the DMD light modulator. These systems include one, two, and three DMD configurations all producing full color image projection. The single device configuration implemented with a rotating color filter system represents the least system hardware while providing the capability of full color and a high brightness monochromatic mode. A two device configuration using a rotating color filter combined with a secondary color splitting filter is of particular interest when using a light source that is spectrally imbalanced. The two device configuration is also capable of a high brightness monochromatic mode of operation. The three device configuration is the most efficient with respect to light throughput considerations providing the highest brightness full color projection with the DMD light modulators. Comparisons of system performance characteristics are described indicating the features of each configuration.
author_names: James M Florence

Lars A Yoder
title: Display system architectures for digital micromirror device (DMD) based projectors
venue: Electronic Imaging
year: 1996

abstract: A single Digital Micromirror Device with a single illumination source projects multiple, independent patterns into corresponding directions across a nearly doubled angular extent by time multiplexing and by nanosecond illumination pulse synchronization for a binary patterned programmable blazed grating. The resulting "Angular Spatial Light Modulator" (ASLM) system nearly doubles the etendue of a DMD type SLM and creates a multiplication factor for the output pixel count and effective pixel density. We demonstrate an extended FOV display, a light field projector, and a multi view display which can be implemented into AR/VR systems. We present an implementation update using the DLP7000 DMD, increasing output pixel count by and effective pixel density orders of magnitude beyond traditional SLM systems while achieving an extended field of view and/or eye box size due to the increased etendue.
author_names: Brandon Hellman

Ted L Lee

Yuzuru Takashima
title: Angular and spatial light modulation by single digital micromirror device for display applications
venue: AR, VR, MR
year: 2020

abstract: The "Angular Spatial Light Modulator" (ASLM) utilizes digital micromirror device (DMD) as a binary patterned programmable blazed grating to increase number of output pixels of a DMD by merging geometric and diffractive optical capabilities of the DMD. We demonstrate series of capabilities of the ASLM for beam and pattern steering. In particular, a single chip beam steering lidar, an extended FOV display, a light field projector, and a multi view display which can be implemented into AR/VR systems. We also present our metrology results of wavefront distortion of DMD while micro mirrors are transitioning over between on and off states.
author_names: Brandon Hellman

Joshua Rodriguez

Chuan Luo

Heejoo Choi

Yuzuru Takashima
title: Angular and spatial light modulation by single digital micromirror device for beam and pattern steering
venue: OPTO
year: 2020

abstract: In order to solve the problem of larger projection thickness in optic system,an ultra short distance and ultra wide angle projection display system was designed by using the method of combining the free form surface mirror with the aspheric surface.The projection distance was less than 20cm.The color gamut transformation and expansion model of laser and phosphor tricolor was built theoretically,and the real time processing development hardware system for color transformation was set up using the digital micromirror device(DMD) chip as the spatial light modulator.This system can debug algorithms for varied color system transformations,verify the transformed model and provide a platform for developing specific color transform module.
author_names: Wang Yu-long
title: Ultra thin front projector for laser display system
year: 2012

abstract: While many advantages and the market potential of digital micromirror device (DMD) technology have been described [1 3] we intend to focus on the impact of a fully digital video display system. Redefining the architecture of an entire video system can dramatically decrease costs and increase performance from current display technologies (CRT and LCD) With recent disclosure of promising results relating to Texas Instruments DMD technology, the impact of that technology on the entire video system is presented.
author_names: Dr Robert J Gove
title: DMD Display Systems The Impact of an All Digital Display
year: 2002

abstract: In traditional DLP(Digital Light Processing) projection display system,the color separation and recombination system has the disadvantage of complexity,weight,long back focus path,etc.This paper introduces a new design of color separation and recombination system which achieves the optical function by an X cube prism,two dichroic filters and two reflectors.The light processing device of DLP projector is DMD(Digital Micromirror Device).The DMD can reflect the direction of incidence light by turning the micromirror.Based on this characteristic,each optical component's position is elaborated to achieve the function of color separation and recombination.The total weight is only 36 g of optical components in this system.Simulation by software,this system has great color recoverability and the light efficiency is 60 .It has the other advantage such as simple configuration,high contrast.
author_names: Ling Zhi-hua
title: New Color Separation System of DLP Projection Display with Three Panels
year: 2007

abstract: Abstract This paper presents the multi user autostereoscopic 3D display system constructed and operated by the authors using the time multiplexing approach. This prototype has three main advantages over the previous versions developed by the authors: its hardware was simplified as only one optical array is used to create viewing regions in space, a lenticular multiplexing screen is not necessary as images can be produced sequentially on a fast 120Hz LCD with full resolution, and the holographic projector was replaced with a high frame rate digital micromirror device (DMD) projector. The whole system in this prototype consists of four major parts: a 120Hz high frame rate DMD projector, a 49 element optical array, a 120Hz screen assembly, and a multi user head tracker. The display images for the left/right eyes are produced alternatively on a 120Hz direct view LCD and are synchronized with the output of the projector, which acts as a backlight of the LCD. The novel steering optics controlled by the multi user head tracker system directs the projector output to regions referred to as exit pupils, which are located in the viewers' eyes. The display can be developed in the "hang on the wall" form.
author_names: Rajwinder Singh Brar

Phil Surman

Ian Sexton

Klaus Hopf
title: A time multiplexed 3d display using steered exit pupils
year: 2010

abstract: We present a maskless microscope projection lithography system (MPLS) in which photomasks have been replaced by a Digital Micromirror Device type spatial light modulator (DMD(tm) Texas Instruments) Employing video projector technology high resolution patterns, designed as bitmap images on the computer, are displayed using a micromirror array consisting of about 786 000 tiny individually addressable tilting mirrors. The DMD, which is located in the image plane of an infinity corrected microscope, is projected onto a substrate placed in the focal plane of the microscope objective. With a 5x [0.25 NA (numerical aperture) Fluar microscope objective, a fivefold reduction of the image to a total size of 9mm2 and a minimum feature size of 3.5mm is achieved. The ultrahigh pressure lamp of a video projector is a cheap, durable, and powerful alternative to the mercury arc lamps commonly used in lithography applications. The MPLS may be employed in standard photolithography. We have successfully produced patterns i.
author_names: Thomas Naiser

Timo Mai

Wolfgang Michel

Albrecht Ott
title: Versatile maskless microscope projection photolithography system and its application in light directed fabrication of DNA microarrays
year: 2006

abstract: The polyplanar optical display (POD) is a unique display screen which can be used with any projection source. The prototype ten inch display is two inches thick and has a matte black face which allows for high contrast images. The prototype being developed is a form, fit and functional replacement display for the B 52 aircraft which uses a monochrome ten inch display. In order to achieve a long lifetime, the new display uses a 100 milliwatt green solid state laser at 532 nm as its light source. To produce real time video, the laser light is being modulated by a digital light processing (DLP) chip manufactured by Texas Instruments. In order to use the solid state laser as the light source and also fit within the constraints of the B 52 display, the digital micromirror device (DMD) circuit board is removed from the Texas Instruments DLP light engine assembly. Due to the compact architecture of the projection system within the display chassis, the DMD chip is operated remotely from the Texas Instruments circuit board. We discuss the operation of the DMD divorced from the light engine and the interfacing of the DMD board with various video formats including the format specific to the B 52 aircraft. A brief discussion of the electronics required to drive the laser is also presented.
author_names: Leonard Desanto

Cyrus Biscardi
title: Polyplanar optical display electronics
venue: Defense, Security, and Sensing
year: 1997

abstract: The Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) is a binary spatial light modulator. The DMD forms the basis of Digital Light Processing (DLP) all digital display systems. DLP systems are being developed in various forms, suitable for applications such as conference room projectors, institutional projectors, home theater, standard television, high definition displays, and motion pictures. This paper will describe the development of DLP systems, with emphasis on consumer applications, including standard and high definition displays. DMD Operation The DMD I consists of an array of movable micromirrors functionally mounted over a CMOS SRAM (Figure 1) Each mirror is independently controllable and is used to modulate reflected light, mapping a pixel of video data to a pixel on display. A DMD mirror is controlled by loading data into the memory cell located below the mirror. The data electrostatically controls the mirror's tilt angle in a binary fashion, where the mirror states are either +10 degrees (ON) or 10 degrees (OFF) Eight reflected by the ON mirrors is then passed through a projection lens and onto a screen. Gray scales are created by controlling the proportion of ON and OFF times of the mirror during a frame period, black being 0% ON time and white being 100% ON time. Various intensities required to display natural video are created by controlling the amount of ON versus OFF time using a pulse width modulation technique. The frame time is divided into individual bit times, where the time allocated to each bit is proportional to the binary weight of that Figure 1. DMD Scanning Electron Microscope Image bit. Thus, the most significant bit (MSB) is allocated half of the frame time, MSB 1 is allocated half the time of MSB, MSB 2 is allocated half the time of MSB1 and so on. A given gray scale is displayed at a pixel by moving the corresponding DMD mirror to the ON position for the bits that are '1' for that gray scale's binary representation, and turning the mirror to OFF position for the bits that are '0' for that gray scale's binary representation. The observer's visual system integrates the binary data to perceive various intensities. Motion video display is created by changing the data at video frame rates. Color display is made possible through the use of a rotating color wheel or color splitting prisms. Sequential color systems, which use a rotating color wheel, have been developed using one and two DMDs, while color frame concurrent systems, which use RGB color splitting prisms, have been The following are trademarks of Texas Instruments Inc. DLP, Digital Light Processing, DMD, Digital Micromirror Device
author_names: Vishal Markandey

Gary S Wolverton

W Werner

Jack M Younse
title: Digital Spatial Light Modulator Systems for Standard and High Definition Displays
venue: 1996. Digest of Technical Papers. International Conference on Consumer Electronics
year: 1996