James Thomas Strain

US Patent:

8031391, Oct 4, 2011

Filed:

Apr 16, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/104279

Inventors:

Terry Alan Bartlett - Dallas TX, US
James Anthony Strain - Allen TX, US
Paul L. Rancuret - Plano TX, US

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G02B 26/00
G02B 26/08

US Classification:

359291, 3592231, 359237

Abstract:

A system and method for operating an electronic device used in light processing. A method comprises altering a spatial relationship between a spatial light modulator (SLM) and a light incident on the SLM, shifting light modulator states of a first portion of light modulators to a second portion of light modulators, and placing a third portion of light modulators in the SLM into a performance degradation-reducing mode. The amount of shifting performed is proportional to the amount of change in the spatial relationship. The method allows for a change in light modulators used to modulate the light, thereby preventing the overuse of some of the light modulators, which may help to prevent degradation of the light modulators. The performance degradation reducing mode may help to further reduce or even reverse the performance degradation of the light modulators.

US Patent:

8305677, Nov 6, 2012

Filed:

Sep 15, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/233210

Inventors:

Terry Alan Bartlett - Dallas TX, US
James Anthony Strain - Allen TX, US
Paul L. Rancuret - Plano TX, US

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G02B 26/00
G02B 26/08

US Classification:

359291, 3592231, 359237

Abstract:

A system and method for operating an electronic device used in light processing. A method comprises altering a spatial relationship between a spatial light modulator (SLM) and a light incident on the SLM, shifting light modulator states of a first portion of light modulators to a second portion of light modulators, and placing a third portion of light modulators in the SLM into a performance degradation-reducing mode. The amount of shifting performed is proportional to the amount of change in the spatial relationship. The method allows for a change in light modulators used to modulate the light, thereby preventing the overuse of some of the light modulators, which may help to prevent degradation of the light modulators. The performance degradation reducing mode may help to further reduce or even reverse the performance degradation of the light modulators.

US Patent:

8446349, May 21, 2013

Filed:

Nov 27, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/945592

Inventors:

Sue Hui - Plano TX, US
Larry D. Dickinson - Richardson TX, US
Gregory R. Basile - Van Alstyne TX, US
James A. Strain - Allen TX, US
Patrick C. Neil - Richardson TX, US

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G09G 3/34

US Classification:

345 84

Abstract:

A method and system for controlling deformable micromirror devices are provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a display system includes multiple deformable micromirror devices, a buffer, and a controller. Each deformable micromirror device includes a plurality of micromirrors. The buffer is communicatively coupled, at a first interface speed, to each deformable micromirror device. The buffer is operable to communicate in parallel with the deformable micromirror devices. The controller is communicatively coupled, at a second interface speed, to the buffer. The controller is operable to receive a display input and, in response, generate a plurality signals each corresponding to an optical characteristic of the display input. The controller is further operable to sequentially communicate each of the plurality of signals through the buffer to a corresponding one of the deformable micromirror devices. Each deformable micromirror device receives at least a subset of the plurality of signals.