Spatial Light Modulator Off-State Light Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current display systems employing spatial light modulators discard off-state light, leading to reduced optical efficiency and image distortion due to varying off-state light intensity over bitplanes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an off-state light recycling mechanism that captures and reroutes off-state light back to the spatial light modulator, converting it into ON-state light to enhance image brightness and using dynamically adjusted clock speeds for bitplane display to compensate for intensity variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If off-state light is dumped or discarded to obtain high contrast ratio, then contrast ratio is improved, but optical efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers off-state light that would otherwise be discarded by the spatial light modulator. A light recycling mechanism captures the off-state light and redirects it back through the spatial light modulator, where it can be converted to ON-state light and contribute to the displayed image, thereby improving optical efficiency while maintaining contrast ratio.
2Loss of energy
If off-state light is recycled to improve optical efficiency, then optical efficiency is improved, but image distortion occurs due to varying off-state light intensity over bitplanes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic clock speed adjustment for displaying bitplanes based on the number of OFF-state pixels in each bitplane. Bitplanes with more OFF-state pixels (which generate more recycled light) are displayed at slower clock speeds, while bitplanes with fewer OFF-state pixels are displayed at faster clock speeds. This dynamic adjustment compensates for the varying intensity of recycled light across different bitplanes, preventing image distortion and maintaining image quality.
3Stability of the object's composition
If clock speed is dynamically adjusted to compensate for intensity variations, then image quality is maintained, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a feedback mechanism where the system monitors the number of OFF-state pixels in each bitplane and adjusts the clock speed accordingly. This feedback loop allows the system to automatically compensate for varying recycled light intensity without requiring complex manual intervention or additional hardware, thereby maintaining image quality with manageable system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In display systems employing spatial light modulators, the OFF-state light from OFF-state pixels of the spatial light modulator can be captured and directed back to the pixels of the spatial light modulator so as to recycle the OFF-state light in the display system. Bitplanes derived from the desired image to be produced are calibrated to include the recycled off-state light to properly produce the desired image using the display system.