# US 2019/0171095 A1 · Single and Multi-Modulator Projector Systems with Global Dimming

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2019/0171095 A1
- Document ID: US20190171095A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/267,548
- Filed: 2019-02-05
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-11-04
- Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
- Applicants: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
- Inventors: Douglas J. GORNY; Douglas J. DARROW; Craig TODD; Martin J. RICHARDS
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190171095A1

## CPC

- G03B 21/2053: {Intensity control of illuminating light (controlled by video signal processing H04N5/74 or H04N9/31)}
- G02B 5/005: {Diaphragms (for cameras G03B9/02)}
- G02B 27/1006: {for splitting or combining different wavelengths (G02B27/1086, G02B27/141 take precedence)}
- G02B 27/283: {used for beam splitting or combining}
- G03B 21/2013: {Plural light sources}
- G03B 21/2033: {LED or laser light sources}
- H04N 9/3105: {for displaying all colours simultaneously, e.g. by using two or more electronic spatial light modulators (simultaneous projection in colour photography G03B33/10; beam splitting or combining systems per se G02B27/10)}
- H04N 9/312: {Driving therefor (driving of electronic spatial light modulators in displays other than projection devices G09G3/34, G09G3/36; control of liquid crystal elements G02F1/133; control of micromechanical modulators G02B26/08)}
- H04N 9/3126: {for spatial light modulators in series}
- H04N 9/3138: {using arrays of modulated light sources (electroluminescent display devices G09G3/30)}
- H04N 9/3155: {for controlling the light source (light source control per se H05B35/00 – H05B47/00; control of an illumination source for displays in general G09G3/3406)}
- H04N 9/3161: {using laser light sources (using laser beams scanning the display screen H04N9/3129)}
- H04N 9/3164: {using multiple light sources}
- H04N 9/3167: {for polarizing the light beam (polarizing optical systems per se G02B27/28)}
- H04N 9/317: {Convergence or focusing systems (electronic adjustment of convergence H04N9/3185; convergence or focusing arrangements for cathode ray tubes H04N9/28; means for automatic focusing of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/53)}
- H04N 9/3179: {Video signal processing therefor}
- G02B 27/146: {with a tree or branched structure}
- H04N 9/3197: {using light modulating optical valves}
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

Projector display systems comprising a light dimmer and first modulator are disclosed. The light dimmer may comprise an adjustable iris, adjustable light sources and/or LCD stack that is capable of lowering the luminance of the light source illuminated the first modulator. The first modulator may comprise a plurality of analog mirrors (e.g. MEMS array) and the second modulator may comprise a plurality of mirrors (e.g., DMD array). The display system may further comprise a controller that sends control signals to the light dimmer and first modulator. The display system may render a desired dynamic range for rendering a projected image by a combination of such control signals.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A display method, comprising:
receiving High Dynamic Range (HDR) input image data, the input image data comprising an HDR luminance level distribution associated with an image scene;
mapping the HDR input image data to a Low Dynamic Range (LDR) window of a display system that covers the HDR luminance level distribution to a desired amount;
hiding out-of-range HDR input image data into LDR luminance levels in a portion of the LDR window that is reserved for display management; and
sending signals to a light dimmer of the display system to effect mapping of the HDR input image data to the LDR window.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The display method of claim 1, wherein the step of mapping the HDR input image is maintained by LDR luminance levels in one or more portions of the LDR window reserved for perceptual preservation.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The display method of claim 1, wherein the step of mapping the HDR input image is continuously updated while receiving HDR input image data.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The display method of claim 1, wherein the step of mapping the HDR input image data to an LDR window further comprises temporal dampening a transition between two different dynamic range windows to avoid visual artifacts.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The display method of claim 4, wherein the temporal dampening occurs in a range from 0.5 seconds to 3 seconds.

### Claim 6

A display method, comprising:
processing image data to determine global light modulation settings and an optimal dynamic range window;
mapping the image data into the optimal dynamic range window, the mapping comprising mapping code values of the image data in a perceptual preservation dynamic range window contained within the optimal dynamic range window without clipping or compression and mapping code values of the image data that are outside of the perceptual preservation dynamic range window with one or both of clipping and compression;
sending control signals to a light dimmer for allocating a desired proportion of the light from a light source onto a modulator, the desired portion based on the optimal dynamic range window; and
sending control signals to the modulator for modulating the desired proportion of the light from the light source to form a desired screen image.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The display method of claim 6, wherein the light source comprises a xenon lamp, an arc lamp, a laser, an array of lasers, or an array of solid-state light emitters.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The display method of claim 7, wherein the light source comprises an array of lasers wherein the lasers are modulated globally and locally.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The display method of claim 6, wherein the light dimmer comprises an adjustable iris or an adjustable light source.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The display method of claim 9, wherein the modulator comprises MEMS array, DMD array, a set of controllable analog mirrors, or a set of controllable digital mirrors.

### Claim 11

A projector display system, comprising:
a light source, the light source further comprising a set of colored laser light sources;
for each color, a light conduit providing a light path for the corresponding colored light from the set of colored laser light source;
for each light conduit, a light dimmer configured to adjust the luminance of its associated colored laser light and allocate a desired proportion of the light from the light source;
a light combiner configured to combine each the colored laser light passing through each associated light dimmer;
a modulator illuminated by light from the desired proportion of the light from the light dimmer and configured to modulate the desired proportion of the light to form a desired screen image.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The display system of claim 11, wherein the light source comprises a xenon lamp, an arc lamp, a laser, an array of lasers, or an array of solid-state light emitters.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The display system of claim 12, wherein the light source comprises an array of lasers wherein the lasers are modulated globally and locally.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The display system of claim 11, wherein the light source comprises an adjustable light source.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The display system of claim 14, wherein the modulator comprises: MEMS array, DMD array, a set of controllable analog mirrors, or a set of controllable digital mirrors.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The display system of claim 11, wherein the system further comprises an integrating rod, the integrating rod accepting light combined from the set of colored light sources and transmitting light to the modulator.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The display system of claim 16, wherein the system further comprises an LCD stack placed in front of the integrating rod, the LCD configured to modulate light entering into the integrating rod.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The display system of claim 17, wherein the integrating rod is segmented and each segment of the integrating rod further comprises an associated LCD stack.