A system comprises a digital micromirror device (DMD), an image sensor comprising an array of sensors operable to capture an image of a scene, a readout integrated circuit (ROIC) operable to generate signals from the sensors corresponding to the captured image of the scene, and an image reconstruction module. The image sensor is operable to capture an image of a scene and comprises an array of photodetector sensors operable to capture an image of a scene at a first frame rate, and a read a readout integrated circuit (ROIC) operable to generate signals from the photodetector sensors corresponding to the captured image of the scene at a second frame rate. A digital micromirror device (DMD) comprising a plurality of micromirrors, each micromirror having at least two physical states, and control circuitry operable to separately control the state of each micromirror, the digital micromirror device operable to receive the image of a scene and reflect the image to the image sensor, whereby the image sensor captures the reflected image of the scene. A processing component is operable to control the operation of the DMD and reconstruct the image from the ROIC.

Projection systems and/or methods comprising a blurring element are disclosed. In one embodiment, a blurring element may comprise a first plate having a pattern on a first surface and second plate. The first plate and the second plate may comprise material having a slight difference in their respective index of refraction. In another embodiment, a blurring element may comprise a first plate having a pattern thereon and a second immersing material. The blurring element may be placed in between two modulators in a dual or multi-modulator projector system. The blurring element may be configured to give a desired shape to the light transmitted from a first modulator to a second modulator.

A projection device and a light engine module thereof are provided. The light engine module includes a first dichroic element, a first light valve, a second light valve, a light combining element, a first light converging element, a second light converging element, a first light guiding element, and a second light guiding element. The first dichroic element divides an illumination beam into a first color beam and a second color beam. The first light valve converts the first color beam into a first image beam. The second light valve converts the second color beam into a second image beam. The light combining element is disposed on transmission paths of the first image beam and the second image beam. The first light guiding element guides the first color beam to the first light valve.

Dual or multi-modulation display systems comprising a first modulator and a second modulator are disclosed. 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 first and second modulator. The display system may render highlight features within a projected image by affecting a time multiplexing scheme. In one embodiment, the first modulator may be switched on a sub-frame basis such that a desired proportion of the available light may be focused or directed onto the second modulator to form the highlight feature on a sub-frame rendering basis.

A communication configuration capable of acquiring communication data within an image without need of a high precision synchronization process is realized. A transmission apparatus has a projector outputting an image, and an output image generation section generating the image output from the projector. The output image generation section generates a communication data image that records communication data, and the projector outputs a viewing image and the communication data image by setting an output time period of the communication data image to be longer than an output time period of each of sub-frame images that configure the viewing image. A receiving apparatus detects an event which is a luminance change equal to or greater than a prescribed threshold, receives input event information including a pixel position and occurrence time of an event occurrence pixel, detects a communication data image contained in the projected image on the basis of an event occurrence interval, and acquires communication data from the communication data image.

Systems and methods for wide field of view (FOV) image projection using a spatial light modulator (SLM) and a fast steering mirror (FSM) cooperatively managed by a projection sequence controller. The computer-implemented process determines projection regions within the FOV, creates sub-images of an input target image for each of the regions, and operates the SLM and FSM to time-division multiplex sequential projections of each of the sub-images and to direct each projection to a respective region in the FOV within an observer frame rate. The projection sequence controller determines the number projection regions within the FOV based on a projection frame time of the SLM (including a frame read-in time and a modulation time), a mirror steering time of the FSM, and the observer frame rate.

A projector includes a semiconductor die including a digital micromirror device; and a first integral optical layer attached to the semiconductor die. The first integral optical layer includes a first optical lens and a first diffractive optical element. A second integral optical layer is attached to the first integral optical layer. The second integral optical layer includes an aperture stop and a second diffractive optical element. A third integral optical layer is attached to the second integral optical layer. The third integral optical layer includes a second optical lens and a light source mount. The semiconductor die, the first integral optical layer, the second integral optical layer and the third integral optical layer are stacked to form an optical path through the first and second diffractive optical elements, reflect off the digital micromirror device, and pass through the first optical lens, the aperture stop and the second lens.

The present disclosure discloses a micro-mirror array, and a backlight module and a display device using the same. Each reflection mirror in the micro-mirror array comprises a first axis of deflection and a second axis of deflection perpendicular to the first axis of deflection, and a deflection angle of the reflection mirror is controlled individually and continuously. The backlight module comprises a light source, a micro-mirror array and a control unit. The control unit adjusts a deflection angle of each reflection mirror in the micro-mirror array in response to a backlight control signal, so that depending on the backlight control signal, the micro-mirror array reflects light emitted from the light source evenly to an entire surface of the display screen or converges the light to one or more areas of the display screen.

A method of projecting imagery. In one embodiment, the method comprises projecting on a surface, from a projector device, a projected image of a matte displayed on a display device; adjusting the size, shape, position, orientation, or any combination thereof, of the projected image of the matte by adjusting the matte displayed on the display device; associating imagery content with the matte; and projecting the associated imagery in the projected image of the matte.

One embodiment can provide a machine-vision system. The machine-vision system can include a structured-light projector, a first camera positioned on a first side of the structured-light projector, and a second camera positioned on a second side of the structured-light projector. The first and second cameras are configured to capture images under illumination of the structured-light projector. The structured-light projector can include a laser-based light source.