Digital micromirror device with simplified drive electronics for use as temporal light modulator
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorDavid J. Mehrl
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A digital micromirror device (DMD) modified for use as a temporal light modulator. The DMD is modified so that the mirrors of the DMD have a preferential tilt direction. The inputs and outputs of the DMD are connected to common ground, except for the bias input lines. The latter are connected to a common excitation input, which is used to cyclically reposition the mirrors between tilted and flat states.
Claims17
A digital micromirror device for use as a temporal light modulator, comprising:
- a two dimensional array of tiltable mirrors;
- addressing circuitry underlying the array of mirrors and having a system of input and output connections, some of which are mirror bias lines;
- wherein the mirrors have a preferential tilt direction;
- and
- wherein the bias lines of the addressing circuitry have at least one excitation voltage input connection and all other inputs and outputs are connected to ground.
A method of modifying a digital micromirror device for use as a temporal light modulator, comprising the steps of:
- modifying the micromirror device such that its mirror elements have a preferential tilt direction;
- connecting all bias lines of the micromirror device to at least one excitation voltage input line;
- and
- connecting all other inputs and outputs to ground.
A method of using a digital micromirror device as a temporal light modulator, comprising the steps of:
- modifying the micromirror device such that its mirror elements have a preferential tilt direction;
- connecting all bias lines of the micromirror device to at least one excitation voltage input line;
- and
- connecting all other inputs and outputs to ground;
- and
- applying a time varying excitation voltage to the input line.
A light modulating unit for a laser, comprising:
- digital micromirror device having a two dimensional array of tiltable mirrors, addressing circuitry underlying the array of mirrors and having a system of input and output connections, some of which are mirror bias lines, wherein the mirrors have a preferential tilt direction, and wherein the bias lines of the addressing circuitry have at least one excitation voltage input connection and all other inputs and outputs are connected to ground;
- a detector for detecting light reflected from the micromirror device;
- and
- a feedback circuit for receiving input from the detector and for controlling the excitation voltage to the micromirror device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.