KR102011876B1 - Spatio-optical and temporal spatio-optical directional light modulators - Google Patents

Abstract

A space-optical directional light modulator and a temporal space-optical directional light modulator are introduced. These directional light modulators can be used to produce 3D displays, ultra high resolution 2D displays or 2D / 3D switchable displays with extended viewing angles. The temporal-optical aspect of this embodiment of the new light modulator allows to modulate the intensity, color and direction of light emitted within a wide viewing angle. The high speed modulation and wide angle coverage capabilities of these directional light modulators increase the viewing angle and directional resolution achievable to make the 3D image produced by the display more realistic, or alternatively the 2D image generated by the display. Have ultra high resolution. Alternative embodiments are disclosed.

Description

SPATIO-OPTICAL AND TEMPORAL SPATIO-OPTICAL DIRECTIONAL LIGHT MODULATORS

This application claims the priority of US Provisional Application No. 61 / 567,520, filed December 6, 2011 and US Provisional Application No. 61 / 616,249, filed March 27, 2012.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of directional light modulation, 3D displays, emissive micro displays, 2D / 3D switchable displays and 2D / 3D autostereo switchable displays.

In 3D displays, directional modulation of emitted light is necessary to generate 3D viewing perception. In a typical 3D display, there is a need for back light that illuminates uniformly in multiple illumination directions to display images of the same scene from different directions using some combination of spatial multiplexing and temporal multiplexing in a spatial light modulator. In these 3D displays, light typically coming from the directional back light typically arrives at a directional select filter (e.g., diffraction plate) before reaching the spatial light modulator pixel that modulates the light color and intensity while maintaining its directivity. (diffractive plate or holographic optical plate).

In some switchable 2D / 3D displays, directional back light is required to operate the display in different display modes. In the 2D display mode, a uniformly illuminated back light with large angular coverage is required for displaying a single image with a spatial light modulator (e.g. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)). In the 3D display mode, there is a need for back light that illuminates uniformly in multiple illumination directions to display images of the same scene from different directions using some combination of spatial multiplexing and temporal multiplexing in the spatial light modulator.

In 2D and 3D modes, the light coming from the directional back light typically arrives at a directional select filter (e.g., diffraction plate) before reaching the spatial light modulator pixel, in order to uniformly expand the light beam while maintaining its directivity. (diffractive plate or holographic optical plate).

Presently, the directional light modulators available are a combination of an illumination unit having a plurality of light sources and a directional modulation unit for directing the light emitted from the light source in a specified direction (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 showing several variations of the prior art, the illumination unit is typically an electro-mechanical mobile device such as a scanning mirror or a rotating barrier (US Pat. Nos. 6,151,167, 6,433,907, No. 6,795,221, 6,803,561, 6,924,476, 6,937,221, 7,061,450, 7,071,594, 7,190,329, 7,7,193,758, 7,209,271,7,232,071, 7,7,482,7,482,730,7,482,730,7 7,724,210 and 7,791,810, and US Patent Application Publication Nos. 2010/0026960 and 2010/0245957, or electro-optical devices such as liquid crystal lenses or polarization switching (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, US Pat. Nos. 5,986,811, 6,999,238, 7,106,519, 7,215,475, 7,369,321, 7,619,807, and 7,952,809.

Electromechanical and electro-optic modulation type directional light modulators have three major drawbacks.

1. Response time: Mechanical movement or optical surface change is typically not achieved at the same time and affects the modulator response time. In addition, the speed of these operations takes part of the picture frame time to reduce the attainable display brightness.

2. Volume Aspects: These methods require a distance between the light source and the directional modulation device for operation, thereby increasing the total volume of the display.

3. Light Loss: Coupling of light onto a moving mirror creates light loss, which must be eliminated by incorporating high volume cooling schemes that degrade display system power efficiency and add more volume. It generates heat and increased power consumption.

In addition to slowing down, high capacity, and optical loss, prior art directional backlight units require narrow spectral bandwidth, high collimation and individual control to be combined with a directional select filter for 3D display purposes. do. Achieving narrow spectral bandwidth and high collimation requires device level innovation and optical light control, thereby increasing the cost and volume aspects of the entire display system. Achieving individual control requires additional circuitry and multiple light sources, thereby increasing system complexity, capacity and cost.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to introduce a space-time light modulator that can overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and produce a 3D display that provides a substantial volume and viewing experience. In addition, extended angular coverage temporal, which overcomes the limitations of the prior art, can produce 3D and high resolution 2D displays that provide volumetric benefits and viewing experience over a wide viewing angle. It is an object of the present invention to introduce a spatio-optical light modulator.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention has been described by way of example and not by way of limitation, and in the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements.
1 shows a prior art directional light modulator using a fluid lens;
2 shows a prior art directional light modulator using a scanning mirror, FIG.
3 is a view showing a directionally modulated 3D light modulator of the prior art,
4 shows a space-optical directional light modulation aspect of a time-space-optical directional light modulator,
5 is an isometric view of the directional light modulation principle of a spatial-optical directional light modulator,
6 shows an exemplary collimating wafer level optics design of a spatial-optical directional light modulator;
7 illustrates an exemplary design of a spatial-optical directional light modulator using the wafer level optics design shown in FIG. 6;
8 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of directional addressability within one of the spatially modulated pixel groups of a temporal space-optical directional light modulator;
9 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of directional modulation within one of the spatially modulated pixel groups of a temporal space-optical directional light modulator;
10 is a block diagram illustrating a data processing block diagram of a spatial-optical directional light modulator;
11 is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a 3D / 2D switchable display implemented by tiling a plurality of spatially-optical directional light modulators;
12 is an isometric view of the principle aspects of a time-space-optical directional light modulator,
13A shows an angular emission extension that may be achieved by the temporal articulation aspects of a time-space-optical directional light modulator;
13b illustrates an angular temporal deflection of a time-space-optical directional light modulator;
14 shows an extended angular coverage cross section of a time-space-optical directional light modulator;
15 is an isometric, side and top view of one embodiment of a time-space-optical directional light modulator;
16 is an isometric, side and top view of another embodiment of a time-space-optical directional light modulator.

In the following detailed description, reference to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not always referring to the same embodiment.

A new class of emission micro-scale pixel array device has recently been introduced. These devices feature high brightness, ultra-fast optical multi-color intensity, and spatial modulation in a tiny single device size that includes all drive circuitry. One such device, solid state light emitting pixels, is a light emitting diode (LED) or LD whose on-off state is controlled by a driving circuit included in a CMOS chip (or device) to which an emitting micro-scale pixel array is bonded thereon. (Laser Diode). The size of the pixels having an emission array of such devices is typically in the range 5-20 microns, and the typical emission surface area of the device is in the range of approximately 15-150 square millimeters. The pixels in the emissive micro-scale pixel array device are typically addressable spatially, chromatically and temporally, respectively, via the driving circuitry of their CMOS chip. One example of such devices is the QPI device (US Pat. Nos. 7,623,560, 7,767,479, 7,829,902, 8,049,231 and 8,098,265, and US Patent Application, mentioned in the exemplary embodiments described below. Publications 2010/0066921 and 2012/0033113). Another example of such a device is an OLED based micro-display. However, it should be understood that the QPI device is merely an example of a device type that may be used in an embodiment of the present invention. Thus, in the following description, reference should be made to QPI devices for the specific purpose of the disclosed embodiments and not for any limitation of the invention.

The present invention is directed to the use of passive wafer level optics (WLO) alone or in combination with the articulated movement of the QPI device in combination with the articulated movement of the entire assembly, while simultaneously providing directional light sources and diffraction plates of the prior art. Create an optical modulator that can execute the functions. By wafer level or wafer as used herein is meant a device or matrix of devices having a diameter of at least 2 inches, more preferably 4 inches or more. WLO is monolithically produced on a wafer from polymer using Ultra Violet (UV) imprint lithography. Among the key benefits of WLO are the ability to manufacture small feature samll feature micro lens arrays (MLAs), precisely align multiple WLO micro lens array layers with each other, and precisely align with optoelectronic devices such as CMOS sensors or QPI devices. There is a function. Alignment precision that can be achieved by typical WLO fabrication techniques can be less than 1 micron. The combination of the emitting micro emitter pixel array of the QPI device and the individual pixel addressing of the WLO micro lens array (MLA), which can be precisely aligned with the micro emitter array of the QPI device, is a requirement for narrow spectral bandwidth in the light source. The system volume, complexity and cost are simultaneously reduced by eliminating the need experienced in the prior art for having a directional select filter in the system while mitigating. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the directional modulation of the emitted light is achieved by light divergence achieved by the WLO, in other embodiments a combination of the refraction movement of the entire assembly and the light divergence achieved by the WLO. Is achieved.

4 and 5, the individually addressable QPI device pixels p ₁ , p ₂ ,... Associated with each of the micro lens elements 400 having a two-dimensional micro lens array MLA 220. , p _n ), whereby the light emitted from each pixel within this pixel group is inherent in the numerical aperture (angle size) of their associated micro lens element (d ₁ , d ₂ , ..., d _n ). The entire micro-pixel array of QPI device 210 includes a number of QPI device pixel groups G ₁ , G ₂ , ..., G _N , referred to herein as pixel modulation groups, whereby The modulation group G _i is associated with one of the two-dimensional array MLA 220 lens elements, and the pixel modulation groups G ₁ , G ₂ , ..., G _N as a whole are the spatial-optical directional light of the present invention. Represents a spatial modulation array of modulators. The time shown in the individual pixel Intimate Association and 12 of the _{(p 1, p 2, ...} , p n) and the light-emitting direction _{(d 1, d 2, ...} , d n) which in each pixel group, By refraction, the temporal space-optical directional light modulator of the present invention conceptually shown in FIG. 12 has a plurality of time multiplexed directions d _1i , d _2i , ..., each of its pixel group G _i . d _ni ) (i = 1,2, ...), where each of the time multiplexed directions is within each pixel group G ₁ , G ₂ , ..., G _N. It is individually addressable by the temporal addressing of the individual pixels p ₁ , p ₂ ,..., P _n . The plurality of QPI device pixel groups G ₁ , G ₂ , ..., G _N associated with the two-dimensional array MLA 220 of FIG. 12 represents a spatial modulation array of the time-space-optical directional light modulator of the present invention. , The time multiplexed directions d _1i , d _2i ,..., D _ni (i = 1,2, ...) are pixels p ₁ of the QPI device 210 each having a pixel modulation group. , p ₂ ,..., p _n ) represent multiple light modulation directions that can be individually addressed through temporal addressing. In other words, the temporal space-optical directional light modulator can spatially modulate light through addressing of the QPI device pixel groups G ₁ , G ₂ , ..., G _N , with each group having a pixel The time (d _1i , d _2i , ..., d _ni ) (i = 1,2, ...) through the time addressing of the fields (p ₁ , p ₂ , ..., p _n ) The light emitted from the pixel group can be directional modulated. Therefore, the time-space-optical directional light modulator shown in FIG. 12 can produce light that can be spatially and directionally modulated, whereby light emitted from each spatial location equal to the emission area of the QPI device pixel group is The temporal addressing of the individual pixels in the pixel group can be addressed directionally and individually addressed through the addressing of the pixel group.

5 shows the spatial and directional modulation principle of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows a two dimensional array having a plurality of QPI device pixel groups G ₁ , G ₂ ,..., G _N , each of which is one of a wafer level micro lens array MLA. Is associated with the micro lens. As shown in FIG. 5 by the one-to-one association of individual pixels p ₁ , p ₂ , ..., p _{n in} each pixel group with the emitted light direction d ₁ , d ₂ , ..., d _n The light emitting device can be made to produce light that can be modulated spatially and directionally. Thus, the light can be emitted from each spatial location within the emission area of the QPI device pixel groups G ₁ , G ₂ , ..., G _N , and individually addressed via addressing of the pixel group. And directional addressable through addressing of individual pixels in each pixel group. Individual pixels of the QPI device may be modulated such that each lens in the MLA emits light simultaneously in multiple directions. Because of individual pixel control, the light amplitude, the time period of light emission, the specific light direction and the total number of light directions emitted from each micro lens can be individually adjusted through individual addressing of the QPI device pixel.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the directional modulation by the lens can be performed on a single axis or on two axes depending on the choice of lens type (ie, lenticular lens array or biaxial lens array). However, the precise alignment of the light source and lens array consisting of pixels and the achievement of small pixel sizes (approximately several microns or less than 10 microns) has led to the realization of a directional light modulator that can produce the directional light modulation function required to produce high quality 3D displays. It was not allowed. In the present invention, by leveraging the emitting micro-pixel array of the QPI device, it is possible to achieve high precision alignment of the lens array and sub-micron pixel pitch, which can be less than 1 micron, which can be achieved by wafer level optics. High pixel resolution is achieved. Thus, the spatial-optical light modulator can achieve sufficient spatial and directional modulation resolution to realize high quality 3D displays.

6 and 7 illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention. With reference to this exemplary embodiment of Figure 6, the pixel group (G _i), an outlet (exit aperture) of the microlens having the three optical elements (610 620 630) the light emitted from each of the individual pixels from emitting QPI device surface in the Proceed. Light emitted from each individual pixel in the pixel group G _i is collimated and amplified to fill the outlet of the WLO micro lens array 220 and traverse in a specific direction within the Θ = ± 15 ° angle divergence. Essentially, the WLO micro lens array 220 defines the light emitted from the individual pixels of the two-dimensional pixel group G _i with the QPI device by the Θ = ± 15 ° angle divergence of the WLO micro lens array 220. To individual directions within the three-dimensional volume.

6 and 7 illustrating an exemplary embodiment, precisely aligned with each other and precisely aligned with respect to the relevant arrays of QPI device pixel groups G ₁ , G ₂ ,..., G _N. A number of optical elements 610, 620, and 630 are manufactured to form the micro lens array layers 710, 720, and 730. The example embodiment shown in FIG. 7 includes a QPI device 210 and a QPI device cover glass 760 associated therewith. The design of the optical elements 610, 620 and 630 takes into account the thickness and optical properties of the QPI device cover glass 760 to photograph the emitting surface of the QPI device cover glass 760. The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 7 shows the entire assembly of a spatial-optical directional light modulator. The typical overall thickness of this exemplary embodiment of the spatial-optical directional light modulator of the present invention shown in FIG. 7 is less than 5 millimeters. Such miniaturization of a directional light modulator would probably not be achievable by prior art directional light modulation techniques.

8 and 9 illustrate the principle of operation of a spatial-optical directional light modulator. 8 shows one of the modulation groups G _i consisting of a two-dimensional array (n × n) of emission pixels of a QPI device, for the sake of convenience that the size of the pixel group G _i along one axis is n = 2 ^m An example embodiment is shown, which is selected to be. Referring to FIG. 8, the directional modulation addressing that can be achieved by the pixel group G _i is a pixel having a modulation group G _i along each of the two axes x and y, using m bit words. Is achieved by addressing them. FIG. 9 includes a QPI device pixel group G _i in a separate direction within a three-dimensional volume defined by the angular divergence ± Θ of the associated WLO microlens, as in the exemplary embodiment 600 (n Xn) The mapping of the light emitted from the pixels is shown. As an example, the dimensions of the individual pixels of a QPI device are (5 × 5) microns, and the QPI device pixel group consists of (n × n) = (2 ⁸ × 2 ⁸ ) = (256 × 256) pixel arrays, If the angular divergence of the WLO microlenses is Θ = ± 15 °, then from each of the (1.28 × 1.28) millimeter-sized QPI device two-dimensional modulation pixel group (G _i ) at the QPI device emission surface, Θ = ± 15 ° A discrete addressable directional light beam of (256) ² = 65,536 can be produced over the angular divergence, such that light generated in each direction of the 65,536 directions is typically relatively high frequency pulse width modulation of each pixel color component. Can be modulated in color and intensity, even if using other control techniques such as proportional control as needed.

Any desired spatial and directional modulation functionality for a QPI device based spatial-optical directional light modulator can be achieved using an (N × M) array of directional modulation groups (G _i ) as described in the previous design examples. For example, if it is necessary to create a spatial-optical directional light modulator with a spatial modulation resolution of N = 320 × M = 240, which provides (256) ² = 65,536 directional modulation resolution, the spatial-optical directional light modulator is ( 320 × 320) directional modulation groups, and if a QPI device with a (5 × 5) micron pixel size was used, the overall size of the spatial-optical directional light modulator would be approximately 41 × 32 cm. The light emitted from such a spatial-optical directional light modulator can be spatially modulated at a resolution of (320 × 240), directionally modulated at a resolution of 65,536 within an angular divergence ± Θ associated with its WLO micro lens array (eg For example, Θ = ± 15 ° for the exemplary embodiment 600, color and intensity may be modulated in each direction.

The resolution of the directional modulation of the optical modulator in terms of the number of individual addressable directions within the angle divergence ± Θ of the wafer level micro lens array can be selected by selecting the pixel pitch of the emitting micro emitter array QPI device or by using the wafer level micro lens. It can be determined by selecting the lens pitch of the array or a combination of both. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a lens system as shown in FIG. 6 may be designed to allow for wider or narrower angle divergence ± Θ. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a small number or a significant number of pixels in each modulation group G _i may be used to generate any desired directional modulation resolution.

Based on the full pixel resolution of the QPI device used, such a spatial-optical directional light modulator can be implemented by using a tiled array with multiple QPI devices. For example, if a QPI device with a (1024 × 1024) pixel resolution is used, each such QPI device can be used to implement an array of (2 × 2) modulation groups G _i , and (6 × 6) A spatial-optical directional light modulator with spatial light modulation resolution and 65,536 directional light modulation resolution can be implemented using a tiled array (3 × 3) of such a QPI device as shown in FIG. 11.

Tiling of an array of QPI devices to implement a spatial-optical directional light modulator is made possible due to the miniaturization that can be achieved by emitting QPI devices and associated WLOs. For example, in order to realize the (2 × 2) modulation group space-optical directional light modulator of the previous example, by an implementation such as that shown in FIG. 7, each 5.12 × 5.12 × 5 millimeters as shown in FIG. QPI device / WLO assemblies with width, height and thickness can be manufactured. It would be possible to implement a QPI device / WLO assembly with a micro ball grid array (MBGA) with an electrical interface disposed on the opposite side of the emitting surface, so that the entire top surface of the QPI device / WLO assembly is directed to the emitting surface of the device. It will be possible to tile a number of such QPI device / WLO assemblies with integrity to implement a spatial-optical directional light modulator of any desired size. 11 shows tiling of multiple QPI device / WLO assemblies to implement any size of a spatial-optical directional light modulator.

는 아래와 같이 주어진다. The operating principle of the spatial-optical directional light modulator will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. 8 shows the two-dimensional addressing of each modulation group G _i using m-bit resolution for directional modulation. As described above, a modulation group (G _i) of the n × n 2 ^2m in the (2 ^m × 2 ^m) emitted from the individual pixel light diverging angle related WLO microlens by its associated WLO element ± Θ in the array Mapped to light directions. Using the (x, y) dimensional coordinates of the individual pixels in each modulation group G _i , the angular coordinates of the emitted light beam

Is given by

(수학식 1)

(Equation 1)

(수학식 2)

(Equation 2)

는 θ=0에서의 원선(polar axis)이 변조 그룹(G_i)의 방출 표면의 z축에 평행한 구면 좌표이고, m=log₂n은 변조 그룹(G_i)의 x 및 y 화소 해상도를 나타내는데 이용된 비트의 수이다. Here, angle

Is the spherical coordinate where the polar axis at θ = 0 is parallel to the z axis of the emission surface of the modulation group G _i , and m = log ₂ n is the x and y pixel resolution of the modulation group G _i . The number of bits used to represent.

The spatial resolution of the spatial-optical directional light modulator is simply defined by the coordinates of each of the individual modulation groups G _{i in} the two-dimensional array of modulation groups with the full spatial-optical directional light modulator. Of course, there is some cross talk between a group of pixels and a micro lens for an adjacent group. However, the crosstalk is considerably reduced by the following design aspects. First, because of the essentially collimated light emission of the QPI device, the light emitted from the QPI device pixel is typically confined to a ± 17 ° cone if the QPI device pixel is a light emitting diode and the QPI device is a laser diode. If confined to ± 5 ° cone. Thus, placing the wafer level optics (WLO) collimating lens element in close proximity to the cover glass 660 of the QPI device as shown in FIG. 6, most of the light emitted from each modulation group edge pixel is associated with its associated WLO lens element. Will be detained at 600 Second, as an additional measure, a few (slightly) edge pixels of each pixel group are turned off, so that leakage of light (crosstalk) between adjacent lenses of the WLO micro lens array is further avoided. For example, given the proximity arrangement of the first microlens element and the ± 17 ° restrained emission of the QPI device with its pixel light emitting diode as shown in FIG. 6, the simulation is a modulation group having only 5 pixels. The dark ring surrounding the outer edge of the cross-section reduces crosstalk to less than 1%. If the QPI device pixel is a laser diode, the number of turn-off pixels required will be much less and even not necessary at all, because in this case the QPI device pixel light emission is confined to a much narrower ± 5 ° cone. Because. Finally, a few (few) inactive, blank or dead pixels may be located between the active pixels in the QPI device in the array. Of course, baffles and / or band-limited light diffusers can be used as needed even if they complicate the design of the optical modulator and cause excessive light loss.

10 is an exemplary embodiment of a data processing block diagram of a spatial-optical directional light modulator of the present invention. Input data to the spatial-optical directional light modulator will be formatted into a number of bit words, whereby each input word includes three data fields, one of which has a spatial-optical directional light modulator. The address of the modulation group G _i in one modulation group array, and the other two data fields provide a data representation of the light to be emitted from that modulation group in terms of color, intensity and direction. Referring to FIG. 10, data processing block 120 decodes a modulation group address field of input data and routes the optical modulation data field to a QPI device associated with the designated modulation group. Data processing block 130 decodes the routed modulation group address field and maps it to the address of the designated modulation group. Data processing block 140 decodes the directional modulated data field and maps it to the address of the specified pixel in the modulation group. Data processing block 150 associates the resulting pixel address with the associated light intensity and color data fields of the input data. The data processing block 160 decodes the designated pixel address and routes the light modulated data to the designated pixel in the designated QPI device having a spatial-optical directional light modulator.

In using 16 bits for representing directional modulation and a typical 24 bits for representing modulated light intensity and color in each direction, the total number of bits representing a modulation data word for each modulation group is 40 bits. Without loss of generality, assuming such a 40-bit word is input to a spatial-optical directional light modulator that continuously addresses its constitutive modulation group, i.e., if continuous addressing is used to input modulation group data 40-bit word, Block 120 of FIG. 10 serves to route consecutively input data words to a designated QPI device. Block 130 of FIG. 10 serves to route the modulated data to a designated modulation group. Block 140 of FIG. 10 serves to map a 16-bit directional modulated data field to a designated address of a pixel having a designated modulation group. Block 150 in FIG. 10 serves to associate 24-bit light intensity and color data with the mapped pixel group address. Block 160 of FIG. 10 serves to route 24-bit light intensity and color modulated data to a designated pixel within a designated QPI device having a spatial-optical directional light modulator. By this exemplary data processing flow of 40 bit word continuous data input, the spatial-optical directional light modulator modulates the light emitted from its aperture based on the encoded information in its input data. Light intensity and color modulation are, for example, pulse width modulation of the on / off time of a multi-color pixel, which can control the average intensity of the light and control the intensity of each color component of the resulting color, but if necessary Control techniques may be used. Either way, direction and intensity are controlled, and color, direction and intensity are controlled in a multi color system.

Possible applications

The spatial-optical directional light modulator of the present invention can be used as a back light for a liquid crystal display (LCD) to implement a 3D display. For example, only the spatial-optical directional light modulator itself may be used to implement a 3D display of any size realized as a tiled array of multiple QPI device / WLO assemblies as shown in FIG. 11. The light modulator can be operated as a 2D high resolution display. In this case, individual pixels of the QPI device are used to modulate color and intensity, but its integrated WLO can be used to fill the viewing angle of the display. The optical modulator can switch from 2D to 3D display mode by adjusting the format of the input data to suit the desired mode of operation. If a light modulator is used as the 2D display, its light angle divergence may be associated with its WLO micro lens array ± Θ, and the pixel resolution of the individual modulation group G _i will be leveraged to achieve higher spatial resolution.

및

범위내의 각도만큼 그의 x축 및 y축을 중심으로 전체 어셈블리가 시간적으로 굴절된다. 도 12에 도시된 바와 같은 QPI/MLA 어셈블리(230)의 굴절은 2-축 짐발(gimbal)상에 전체 어셈블리를 배치함에 의해 달성되며, 그에 의해 그 짐발의 x-축은

의 범위내의 각도만큼 시간적으로 굴절되고, 그 짐발의 y축은

범위내의 각도만큼 시간적으로 굴절된다. 2-축 짐발에 의해 제공된 x축 및 y축 시간적 굴절은, QPI/MLA 어셈블리(230)로부터 방출된 광의 지향성 변조 각도가 MLA(220)의 마이크로 렌즈 소자에 의해 제공된 각도 크기를 벗어나 x 방향을 중심으로 2

만큼 시간적으로 연장되게 하고, y 방향을 중심으로 2

만큼 시간적으로 연장되게 한다(도 4 참조). 본 명세서에서 이용된 용어, 짐발 및 2축-짐발은 일반적으로 이용되는 용어로서, 항상 임의의 두개의 직교하는 축 중 어느 하나 또는 둘 모두에 대해 적어도 제한된 각도를 통해 회전을 허용하는 임의 구조를 의미한다. 따라서, 그러한 기능을 제공할 동심원 링, 볼 조인트(ball joint) 및 임의 다른 구조가 그 정의내에 포함된다.12 conceptually illustrates another embodiment of a time-space-optical directional light modulator. As shown in FIG. 12, the directional light modulator consists of an emission micro array QPI device 210, mounted on top of its emission surface, with a WLO micro lens array (MLA) 220 mounted on at least one axis. Mainly, preferably

And

The entire assembly is deflected in time about its x- and y-axes by an angle within the range. Refraction of the QPI / MLA assembly 230 as shown in FIG. 12 is achieved by placing the entire assembly on a two-axis gimbal, whereby the x-axis of the gimbal is

Is deflected temporally by an angle within the range of, and the y-axis of the gimbal is

Refract in time by an angle within the range. The x- and y-axis temporal refractions provided by the two-axis gimbals are such that the directional modulation angle of the light emitted from the QPI / MLA assembly 230 is centered in the x direction beyond the angular magnitude provided by the micro lens element of the MLA 220. By 2

Extends in time, 2 in the y direction

By extension in time (see FIG. 4). As used herein, the term gimbal and biaxial-gimbal are generally used terms and always mean any structure that allows rotation through at least a limited angle with respect to either or both of any two orthogonal axes. do. Thus, concentric rings, ball joints, and any other structure that would provide such functionality are included within the definition.

만큼 더 연장되고 y 방향으로 2

만큼 더 연장되는, 다수의 광 방향(d_1i, d_2i, ..., d_ni)(i = 1,2,...)으로 시간적으로 다중화되게 한다. 이것은 도 13a에 도시되는데, 거기에서는 하나의 굴절축을 따르는 QPI/MLA 어셈블리(230) 각도 방출 크기의 시간적 확장이 예시적으로 도시된다. 도 13a를 참조하면, 각도 Θ는 MLA(220)의 하나의 렌즈 소자의 각도 크기를 나타내고, 각도 α는 각각 x축 및 y축을 중심으로 한 각도

및

만큼의 짐발 굴절의 결과로서 렌즈 소자의 복합 순시 굴절 각도를 나타낸다. 도 12에 도시되고 도 13a에 설명된 QPI/MLA 어셈블리(230)의 굴절은 QPI 디바이스 회로를 통해 개별적으로 어드레스할 수 있는 QPI 디바이스(210)의 방출 마이크로 스케일 어레이내의 화소들이 공간적으로, 채색적으로 및 지향성으로 변조되는 광을 방출할 수 있게 하고, 그에 의해, 지향성 변조된 광의 각도 크기는 MLA(220)의 렌즈 소자의 각도 크기(Θ)(또는 개구수)를 벗어나, x 방향으로 각도 2

만큼 및 y 방향으로 각도 2

만큼 시간적으로 연장된다. 또한, 시간 공간-광학 지향성 광 변조기(220)의 시간적 굴절은

으로 표현된 각 굴절 방향으로의 각도 크기 확장의 비율만큼 변조된 개수의 광 방향(d₁, d₂, ..., d_n)을 시간적으로 증가시킨다. The x- and y-axis refractions of the QPI / MLA assembly 230 shown in FIG. 12 indicate that the light emitted in the directions d ₁ , d ₂ ,..., D _n is the lens element of the MLA 200. In the x direction in addition to the angle size provided by 2

Extends further by 2 in the y direction

Multiplexed in multiple light directions d _1i , d _2i ,..., D _ni (i = 1, 1,2, ...), extending further by. This is shown in FIG. 13A, where the temporal expansion of the QPI / MLA assembly 230 angular emission magnitude along one axis of refraction is illustratively shown. Referring to FIG. 13A, the angle Θ represents the angular magnitude of one lens element of the MLA 220, and the angle α is the angle around the x and y axes, respectively.

And

The resulting instantaneous refraction represents the composite instantaneous refraction angle of the lens element. The refraction of the QPI / MLA assembly 230 shown in FIG. 12 and described in FIG. 13A allows the pixels in the emitting micro-scale array of the QPI device 210 to be individually addressable through the QPI device circuit to be spatially and colored. And directionally modulated light, whereby the angular magnitude of the directionally modulated light is out of the angular magnitude (Θ) (or numerical aperture) of the lens element of the MLA 220, and at angle 2 in the x direction.

As and the angle 2 in the y direction

As time is extended. In addition, the temporal refraction of the time-space-optical directional light modulator 220

The modulated number of light directions d ₁ , d ₂ ,..., D _n is increased in time by the ratio of the angular magnitude expansion in each refraction direction expressed by.

가 예시적으로 도시된다. 시간 공간-광학 지향성 광 변조기(200)의 시간적 굴절이 이산적이거나 순차적이면(1320), 전형적인 각도 스텝 크기는 바람직하게 QPI/MLA 어셈블리(230)의 공간 해상도에 대한 MLA(220)의 각도 크기(Θ)의 비율에 비례한다. 도 13a 및 도 13b에 도시된 바와 같이, 시간 공간-광학 지향성 광 변조기의 QPI/MLA 어셈블리(230)의 시간적 굴절은 전형적으로 2-축 각각을 중심으로 반복적(또는 주기적)이고 독립적이다. 시간 공간-광학 광 변조기의 굴절의 반복 주기는 전형적으로 디스플레이 입력 데이터 프레임 기간에 비례하고 그에 동기화된다(참조를 위해, 전형적인 디스플레이에 대한 화상 입력 데이터는 초당 60 프레임이며, 60Hz 프레임 레이트 입력이라고 지칭하기도 한다). 도 13a 및 도 13b에 도시된 시간적 굴절의 최대값

은 값

에 의해 결정되는 시간 공간-광학 광 변조기에 의해 제공된 확장된 각도 크기를 결정하며, 여기에서 각도 Θ는 MLA(220)의 렌즈 소자의 각도 크기를 나타낸다. 전체적으로 x-축 및 y-축의 주기성은 전형적으로 요구된 디스플레이 입력 프레임 레이트내에서 시간 공간-광학 지향성 광 변조기(200)의 원하는 확장된 각도 크기의 시간적 커버리지를 인에이블하도록 선택된다. The two-axis refraction of the QPI / MLA assembly 230 of the time space-optical directional light modulator 200 may be continuous in time or discrete (sequential). 13B shows the composite temporal refraction angle of the QPI / MLA assembly 230 in one axis when the refractions are continuous in time 1310 and the refractions are discrete in time 1320.

Is shown by way of example. If the temporal refraction of the temporal space-optical directional light modulator 200 is discrete or sequential (1320), the typical angular step size is preferably the angular magnitude of the MLA 220 with respect to the spatial resolution of the QPI / MLA assembly 230. Proportional to Θ). As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the temporal refraction of the QPI / MLA assembly 230 of the time-space-optical directional light modulator is typically iterative (or periodic) and independent about each of the two axes. The repetition period of the refraction of the time-space optical optical modulator is typically proportional to and synchronized with the display input data frame period (for reference, the image input data for a typical display is 60 frames per second, also referred to as 60 Hz frame rate input). do). Maximum value of temporal refraction shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B

Silver value

Determines the extended angular magnitude provided by the time-space optical optical modulator, where angle Θ represents the angular magnitude of the lens element of MLA 220. Overall, the periodicity of the x-axis and y-axis is typically selected to enable temporal coverage of the desired extended angular magnitude of the space-optical directional light modulator 200 within the required display input frame rate.

및

은, 각각, MLA(220) 렌즈 소자의 다수개의 시간적으로 다중화된 각도 커버리지로 이루어지는 각도 커버리지를 생성할 것이다. x축 및 y축을 중심으로 한 QPI/MLA 어셈블리(230)의 각도 굴절

및

의 크기에 의거하여, 각도 커버리지 단면의 형상의 종횡비가 맞춤화될 수 있다. x 방향 및 y 방향을 중심으로 한 굴절 레이트는 그 각도 커버리지내의 시간적으로 생성된 광 방향들이 입력 화상 데이터의 변조 프레임내에서 적절한 듀티 사이클(duty cycle)(변조 기간)을 갖도록 보장하기에 충분하다. 예를 들어, 입력 화상 데이터의 변조 프레임이 전형적으로 60Hz 화상 프레임 레이트라고 지칭되는 초당 60 화상 프레임이면, 도 14에 도시된 각 시간적 각도 커버리지내의 각각의 광 방향들은 프레임당 1회씩 변조될 필요가 있을 것이며, 그에 따라 도 14에 도시된 각도 커버리지를 생성하는데 요구되는 굴절 레이트는 x축 또는 y축을 중심으로 적어도 180Hz로 된다. 다시 말해, 시간적 각도 커버리지의 크기가 각 축에 있어서의 각도 커버리지의 3배인 도 14에 도시된 각도 커버리지 예시의 경우, 도 14에 도시된 x축 또는 y축을 중심으로 한 굴절 레이트는 입력 화상 데이터 프레임 레이트의 적어도 3배로 될 필요가 있다. MLA 렌즈 소자의 각도 커버리지는 오버랩(overlap)중이거나 오버랩(non-overlap)중이 아닐 수 있다. 일반적으로, x축 또는 y축을 중심을 한 QPI/MLA 어셈블리(230)의 굴절 레이트는, 각각의 축을 따르는 각도 커버리지의 크기(각도) 및 동일 축을 따르는 각도 커버리지의 크기(도)간의 비율과 동일한 계수를, 입력 화상 데이터의 변조 프레임 레이트와 승산한 값과 적어도 동일해야 한다.12, 13 and 14 show the angular coverage cross section 510 of the QPI / MLA assembly 230 of the time-space-optical directional light modulator 200 composed of multiple temporal angular coverage cross sections 520 of the MLA lens element. do. Properly selected temporal deflection of the QPI / MLA assembly 230 about the x- and y-axes

And

Will generate angular coverage, each consisting of a plurality of temporally multiplexed angular coverages of the MLA 220 lens element. Angular deflection of the QPI / MLA assembly 230 about the x and y axes

And

Based on the size of, the aspect ratio of the shape of the angular coverage cross section can be customized. Refractive rates around the x and y directions are sufficient to ensure that the temporally generated light directions within that angular coverage have an appropriate duty cycle (modulation period) within the modulation frame of the input image data. For example, if the modulation frame of the input image data is 60 image frames per second, typically referred to as a 60 Hz image frame rate, then the respective light directions within each temporal angle coverage shown in FIG. 14 may need to be modulated once per frame. Thus, the refractive index required to produce the angular coverage shown in FIG. 14 is at least 180 Hz about the x or y axis. In other words, in the case of the angular coverage example shown in FIG. 14 where the magnitude of the temporal angular coverage is three times the angular coverage in each axis, the refractive rate around the x or y axis shown in FIG. 14 is the input image data frame. It needs to be at least three times the rate. The angular coverage of the MLA lens element may or may not be overlapping. In general, the index of refraction of the QPI / MLA assembly 230 about the x or y axis is a factor equal to the ratio between the magnitude (angle) of angular coverage along each axis and the magnitude (degree) of angular coverage along the same axis. Must be at least equal to the value multiplied by the modulation frame rate of the input image data.

Referring to FIG. 14, a QPI / MLA of a time-space-optical directional light modulator 200 having a plurality of directional modulated light emitted correspondingly to a plurality of pixels with a QPI device 210 and having an angular coverage thereof. Due to the temporal refraction of the assembly 230, a new set of directional modulated light beams is pipelined in a pipelined manner until the extended angular magnitude of the time-space-optical directional light modulator 200 is fully covered. It can be added continuously as if it is some drop off temporally. At a given point in time, the intensity of the desired light beam in that given direction is accumulated (modulated) (typically by pulse width modulation, but if necessary proportional control is used while any given direction remains within the coverage of the temporally refracted opening). Full emissive aperture of QPI / MLA assembly 230 may be used. As a result of this time-space-optical pipelining of multiple directional modulated light beams, the response time of the time-space-optic light modulator can be proportional to the image data input rate with minimal latency. The period of time for which a given direction remains within angular coverage determines the modulation time available to modulate the light intensity in that direction, so that the directions within the peripheral region of extended angular coverage, if not compensated for, It may have a lower intensity than the inner region. This intensity edge tapering effect is somewhat similar to the Fresnel losses typically encountered at the edge of the optical system, but in the case of time-space optical modulators, the effect is time-space. The difference is that it can be compensated by appropriate selection of the rate of temporal refraction of the QPI / MLA assembly 230 of the optically directional light modulator 200.

가 x축을 중심으로 하는 하나의 렌즈 소자의 각도 크기(반각)를 나타내고,

가 y축을 중심으로 하는 하나의 렌즈 크기의 각도 크기를 나타내며,

가 2

이고,

가 2

이면, 굴절을 포함하는 전체 각도 크기는 하나의 마이크로 렌즈 소자의 각도 크기의 3배로 될 것이다(3×2

또는 3×2

). 예를 들어, x축의 경우, 이들 3개의 인접하는 각도 크기들은

내지

,

내지

, 및

내지

일 것이고, 각각의 각도 크기는 굴절에 있어서의 각도 증분이다. Alternatively, using the 3 × 3 example again,

Represents the angular magnitude (half angle) of one lens element about the x-axis,

Represents the angular magnitude of one lens size about the y axis,

2

ego,

2

In this case, the total angular size including the deflection will be three times the angular size of one micro lens element (3 × 2).

Or 3 × 2

). For example, for the x-axis, these three adjacent angle magnitudes

To

,

To

, And

To

Each angular magnitude is an angular increment in refraction.

These three consecutive individual angular magnitudes in each direction can be considered as a two-dimensional angular magnitude matrix as follows.

This alternative displays angular magnitude 1 during the allotted time, then advances about the first axis by one angular increment and displays angular magnitude 2 during the same allotted time, and then once more during the allotted time. Advance one angular increment on the other axis to advance the angular increment and display angular magnitude 3, then display the magnitude 6 during the allotted time, reverse one angular increment on that axis for the allotted time, and It is a discontinuous technique such as displaying size 5. After angular size 9 is displayed for the allotted time, it is possible to repeat angular size 9 (continue display for twice the allotted time and then back to avoid more than one angular increment at a time for one axis, This is expected to generate flicker if a high rate was not used). A better way is to jump two angle increments about two axes from angle size 9 to angle size 1 at the same time. However, the x- and y-axes are independent of each other, and any change has an angular acceleration followed by an angular deceleration, so that the average velocity is in the case of a change in two angular increments rather than in a change in one angular increment. As it becomes higher, the jump of two angular increments about two axes should not be twice the length of the angle change of one angular increment about one axis. Another alternative involves a combination of discontinuous and continuous techniques. The point is that there are many alternatives to choose from, all of which are within the scope of the present invention.

An embodiment of the present invention, shown herein as 1500, is shown in FIG. 15, which includes an isometric, top and side view of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 15, a two-axis gimbal is fabricated using a time-space-optical directional light modulator using a plurality of silicon substrate layers, namely hinge layer 1521, spacer layer 1528, and base layer 1530. It is realized by adhering the QPI / MLA assembly 230 (shown in FIG. 12) on the top side of the assembly 1520. As shown in FIG. 15, the hinge layer 1521 of the two-axis gimbal assembly 1520 consists of an outer frame 1522, an inner ring 1523, and an inner segment 1525, on top of which a QPI / MLA assembly. 230 is adhered (1525 will be referred to synonymously with device adhesive pad 1525 hereinafter). The gap between the outer frame 1522, the inner ring 1523, and the inner segment 1525 can be etched using standard semiconductor lithography techniques. The inner segment 1525 is physically connected to the inner ring 1523 along the x axis by two silicon hinges 1524, each of which is typically in the range of approximately 0.3 mm-0.5 mm wide, x It acts as an axial hinge, defines the neutral x-axis position of the gimbal, and acts as a mechanical resistance spring to x-axis deflection. The inner ring 1523 is connected to the outer frame 1522 along the y axis by two silicon hinges 1526, each of which is typically in the range of approximately 0.3-0.5 mm wide and acts as a y axis hinge. It also defines the neutral y-axis position of the gimbal and acts as a mechanical resistance spring for y-axis deflection. The two pairs of silicon hinges 1524 and 1526 constitute a pivot point of a two-axis gimbal, and x and y refractions can be performed about them. The inner segment 1525 of the hinge layer 1521 of the two-axis gimbal assembly 1520 includes a plurality of contact pads, which may be contacted using standard solder such as flip chip solder balls. The QPI / MLA assembly 230 will be glued so that the inner segment 1525 becomes an adhesive pad when the QPI / MLA assembly 230 is glued. A plurality of contact pad sets on the top side of the inner segment 1525 through a set of x and y axis silicon hinges 1524 and 1526 to a set of device contact pads 1527 disposed along the periphery of the outer frame 1522. A metal rail is embedded in the inner segment 1525 of the hinge layer 1521 of the two-axis gimbal assembly 1520. The set of contact pads on top of the inner segment 1525 is a contact pad that provides electrical and physical contact to the backside of the QPI / MLA assembly 230.

Referring to the side view of FIG. 15, a QPI / MLA assembly 230 adhered to the top of the inner segment 1525 is shown. As discussed above, this may be accomplished by soldering or eutectic ball grid array type bonding of the contact pads on top of the inner segment 1525 and the contact pads on the back side of the QPI / MLA assembly 230. It is contact adhesive. A side view of FIG. 15 shows a spacer layer 1528 where the base layer 1530 and the hinge layer on the back side are bonded at the wafer level on top using BenzoCycloButene (BCB) polymer adhesive adhesion. The height (or thickness) of the spacer layer 1528 is selected to accommodate the vertical displacement of the corners of the bonded QPI / MLA assembly 230 and the inner segment 1525 at the maximum angle of refraction. For example, if the diagonal of the inner segment 1525 is 5 mm and the maximum refraction angle at that corner is 15 °, the spacer layer 1528 to accommodate the vertical displacement of the corner of the inner segment 1525 at the maximum refraction angle. ) Should be approximately 0.65 mm thick.

의 최대값

은 전형적으로 ±15°내지 ±17° 범위내에 존재한다.Referring to the side view of FIG. 15, the refraction of the inner segment 1525 and the bonded QPI / MLA assembly 230 is characterized by a set of electromagnets 1535 disposed at the four corners on the back side of the inner segment 1525 and the base layer ( A set of permanent magnets 1536 arranged in alignment with the four corners on the back side of the inner segment 1525 on the top side of 1530. The electromagnet 1535 may be a coil having a metal core formed at wafer level using multilayer imprint lithography on the back side of the inner segment 1525. The permanent magnet 1536 may be a thin magnetic strip, typically made of neodymium magnet (Nd ₂ Fe ₁₄ B) or the like. As described above, the deflection of the inner segment 1525 and the bonded QPI / MLA assembly 230 causes the electromagnets to cause the QPI / MLA assembly 230 bonded to the inner segment 1525 to be deflected in time (as described above). 1535) is accomplished by driving the set of electromagnets 1535 with an electrical signal having an appropriate temporal amplitude change to affect the appropriate temporal change in the magnetic force between the set and the permanent magnet 1536 set. The drive electrical signal to the set of electromagnets 1535 is supplied to the set of electromagnets 1535 via metal rails and contacts generated by the QPI device 210 and incorporated into the above-described inner segment 1525, thereby providing a QPI device 210. Is synchronized with the pixel modulation performed by the QPI device 210 to the extent that the desired directional modulation of the intensity and color modulated light emitted from the pixel array is enabled. The temporal variation of the drive electrical signal for the set of electromagnets 1535 allows temporal angular deflection of the inner segment 1525 and the bonded QPI / MLA assembly 230 about the x and y axes as shown in FIG. 15. To be selected. Based on the thickness of the silicon substrate of the hinge layer 1521 and the selected width of the silicon hinges 1524 and 1526, the temporal angular deflection shown in FIG. 13B that can be achieved by the embodiment 1500 of the present invention.

Value of

Is typically in the range ± 15 ° to ± 17 °.

The drive electrical signal for the set of electromagnets 1535 is generated by the QPI device 210 and supplied to the set of electromagnets 1535 via metal rails and contacts incorporated in the above-described inner segment 1525 and with base components and corrections. Consists of ingredients. The base component of the drive electrical signal to the set of electromagnets 1535 represents a nominal value and the correction component is produced by a set of four sensors disposed on the back side of the inner segment 1525 that is aligned with the silicon hinges 1524 and 1526. Derived from the angular refraction error value. These sensors are an array of infrared (IR) detectors located on the back side of the inner segment 1525 that aligns with four IR emitters located on the top side of the base layer 1530. The outputs of the four IR detector arrays are routed back to the QPI device via metal rails and contacts incorporated into the internal segment 1525 described above and included by the QPI device as a correction for the drive signal provided to the set of electromagnets 1535. This is used to calculate an estimate of the error between the derived angle and the actual angle of refraction. The sensors disposed on the back side of the inner segment 1525 may be micro-scale gyros that are properly aligned to detect the angle of refraction along each of the two axes of the gimbal.

FIG. 16 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention with reference numeral 1600. 16 is an isometric and side view of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, embodiment 1600 of the present invention consists of a two-axis gimbal assembly 1620 with a QPI / MLA assembly 230 glued thereon. 16 is an exploded isometric view of an embodiment 1600 showing the constituent layers of the two-axis gimbal assembly of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, a time-space-optical directional light modulator is a two-axis gimbal assembly fabricated using a plurality of silicon substrate layers, namely a pad layer 1621, a spring layer 1625, and a base layer 1630. 1620 is realized by adhering the QPI / MLA assembly 230 (shown in FIG. 12) on top. The top of the pats layer 1621 includes a number of contact pads, to which the QPI / MLA assembly 230 is bonded using standard soldering techniques such as flip chip solder balls. The top of the pad layer 1621 is the adhesive layer / pad contact 1623 to which the QPI / MLA assembly 230 is bonded. The back side of the pad layer 1621 includes a spherical pivot 1635 formed by embossing a polycarbonate polymer on the back side of the pad layer 1621 at the wafer level using UV imprint lithography or the like. do. The spherical pivot embossed on the pad layer 1621 and its back side will be referred to as hinged pads 1621/1635. The elevation of the center of spherical pivot 1635 determines the elevation of the x and y axes of the angular diffraction. The top of the base layer 1630 includes a spherical socket 1636 formed by embossing a polycarbonate polymer on top of the base layer 1630 at the wafer level. Base layer 1630 will be referred to as pedestal 1630/1636, with spherical socket 1636 embossed on top thereof. The surface curvature of the spherical pivot 1635 included on the back side of the pad layer 1621 and the spherical socket 1636 included on the top of the base layer 1630 are hinged pads 1621/1635. When placed on top of the pedestal 1630/1636 will match ± to be a two-axis refracting pad. Although the embossed surfaces of the spherical pivot 1635 and the spherical socket 1636 will have an optical quality of approximately several nm RMS in terms of surface roughness, the surfaces of the spherical pivot 1635 and the spherical socket 1636 may be thinned. Coating at (50-100 nm) will reduce the possible friction between the two surfaces due to refractive movement.

Hinged pads 1641/1635 are held in place within the surface curvature of pedestals 1630/1636 by spring layers 1625, which spring layers 1625 are etched into spring layers 1625 at each of its four corners. Single spiral spring 1626. As shown in the exploded isometric view of FIG. 16, the inner edge of each of the four helical springs includes an inner adhesive pad 1627 corresponding to the same contact pad 1622 located on the back side of the pad layer 1621. Embedded in helical spring 1626 are a number of metal rails used to route electrical interface signals from an inner adhesive pad to a set of edge contacts / pads 1628 located at the peripheral edge of the backing layer of spring layer 1625. Edge contact / pad 1628 on the back side of the outer end of spring layer 1625 corresponds to a matching set of adhesive pads 1629 located at the peripheral edge of base layer 1630. Edge contacts on the top side of the base layer 1630 are connected to a set of device contact pads 1631 disposed on the back side of the base layer 1630 through a metal rail embedded in the base layer. In the final assembly of an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in the side view of FIG. 16, the back side of the edge contact / pad 1628 of the spring layer 1625 is attached to the top adhesive pad 1629 of the base layer 1630. Once bonded and the inner adhesive pad 1627 of the helical spring 1626 is bonded to the corresponding contact pad 1622 on the back side of the pad layer 1621, the four helical springs 1626 will expand. As described above, when the spring layer 1625 is adhered to the back side of the pad layer 1621 and the top side of the base layer 1630, the four spiral springs extend to the maximum, and in their maximum extended configuration they (1) create the spring load resistance needed to hold the spherical pivot 1635 in the spherical socket 1636, (2) create the mechanical balance needed to support the neutral position of the hinged pads 1621/1635, 3) provides versatile routing of electrical interface signals from device contact pads 1631 to adhesive / contact layer 1623 of QPI / MLA assembly 230. Referring to the side view of FIG. 16, QPI / MLA assembly 230 adhered to top adhesive layer / contact pad 1623 of pad layer 1621 is shown. This may be an electrical and physical contact adhesion between the contact pads on the back side of the QPI / MLA assembly 230 and the adhesive layer / contact pads 1623, using solder or eutectic ball grid array type adhesion. In an operational configuration, the entire device assembly 1600 may be bonded to a substrate using contact pads 1623 disposed on the backing layer of the base layer or to a printed circuit board using solder ball or eutectic ball grid array type adhesion. Can be.

In the side view of FIG. 6, the expanded height of the spherical socket 1636, which may be selected to accommodate the vertical displacement of the corners of the hinged pads 1621/1635 with the bonded QPI / MLA assembly 230 at the maximum angle of refraction, Shown. For example, if the diagonal of the hinged pads 1621/1635 and the bonded QPI / MLA assembly 230 is 5 mm and the maximum angle of refraction at its corners is ± 30 °, then the extended height of the spherical socket 1636 The thickness of is 1.25 mm to accommodate the vertical displacement of the corners of the hinged pads 1621/1635 with the QPI / MLA assembly 230 bonded at the maximum refraction angle.

Refraction of the pad layer 1621 together with the bonded QPI / MLA assembly 230 may be achieved using an electromagnet set embedded in the spherical pivot 1635 and a permanent magnet set embedded in the spherical socket 1636. The actuation electrical drive signal is routed to an electromagnet embedded within the spherical pivot 1635, which affects the refraction movement described in the above paragraph. The base component of the actuation electric drive signal for the electromagnet embedded in the spherical pivot 1635 represents a nominal value, and from the angular deflection error value produced by the set of four sensors disposed on the back side of the pad layer 1621. The correction component is derived. These sensors are an array of InfraRed (IR) detectors located on the back side of the pad layer 1621 that align with four IR emitters located on the top layer of the base layer 1630. The outputs of these four IR detector arrays will be routed back to the QPI device via the metal rails and contacts included in the pad layer 1621 described above, and provided by the QPI device as a set of electromagnets embedded within the spherical pivot 1635. It is used to calculate an estimate of the error between the actual refraction angle and the derived refraction angle, which will be included as a correction for the drive signal to be derived. The sensors disposed on the back side of the pad layer 1621 may be a micro-scale gyro properly aligned to detect the angle of refraction along each of the two axes of the gimbal.

의 최대값

은 전형적으로 ±30°내지 ±35° 범위내에 존재한다.The permanent magnet embedded in the spherical socket 1636 may be a thin magnetic rod or wire, typically made of neodymium magnet (Nd ₂ Fe ₁₄ B) or the like, and may produce a uniform magnetic field across the curved cavity of the spherical socket 1636. It can be shaped to provide. The refraction of the pad layer and bonded QPI / MLA assembly 230 as described above causes the pad layer 1621 to be deflected in time with the bonded QPI / MLA assembly 230 as described above. Electromagnet embedded in spherical pivot 1635 as an electrical signal with an appropriate temporal amplitude change to affect an appropriate temporal change in magnetic force between a permanent magnet embedded within 1636 and a set of electromagnets embedded within spherical pivot 1635. ) By driving a set. The drive electrical signal to the set of electromagnets 1535 embedded in the spherical pivot 1635 is routed through the metal rails and contacts generated by the QPI device and included on the pad layer 1621 described above, and the QPI device ( Synchronization with the pixel modulation performed by the QPI device to the extent that the desired directional modulation of the intensity and color modulated light emitted from the pixel array of 210 is possible. The temporal change of the drive electrical signal for the electromagnet set embedded within the spherical pivot 1635 is determined by the temporal angle of the pad layer 1621 and the bonded QPI / MLA assembly 230 along the x and y axes as shown in FIG. 15. It is selected to allow refraction. Based on the expanded height of the spherical socket 1636, which adjusts the maximum vertical displacement of the corner of the pad layer 1621 with the bonded QPI / MLA assembly 130, can be achieved by an embodiment 1600 of the present invention. Temporal angular deflection shown in FIG. 15

Value of

Is typically in the range of ± 30 ° to ± 35 °.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the gimbal actuators of embodiments 1500 and 1600 of the present invention described in the previous paragraph can be implemented to substantially achieve the same purpose by exchanging positions of electromagnets and permanent magnets.

의 최대값

과, QPI/MLA 어셈블리(230)의 경계 이외의, 각각의 실시 예가 필요로 하는 외부 영역에 있어서 주로 차이가 있다. 먼저, 도 16에 도시된 바와 같이, 본 발명의 실시 예(1600)에서는, 2-축 짐발이 QPI/MLA 어셈블리(230)의 풋프린트(footprint)내에 완전히 수용되지만(이하에서는 제로-에지 특징이라 할 것임), 도 15에 도시된 본 발명의 실시 예(1500)에서는 2-축 짐발이 QPI/MLA 어셈블리(230) 외부 경계의 외부 주변에 수용된다. 두 번째, 실시 예(1600)가 달성할 수 있는 시간 각도 굴절

의 최대값

은 실시 예(1500)가 제공할 수 있는 것 보다 2배 더 클 수 있다. 물론, 실시 예(1600)에 의해 달성될 수 있는 시간 각도 굴절

의 최대값

은 실시 예(1500)보다 더 큰 수직 높이를 요구한다는 대가를 치룬다. 실시 예(1600)의 제로-에지 특징은 대면적 디스플레이를 생성하도록 틸팅되기에 보다 적합하게 되도록 하며, 실시 예(1500)의 낮은 프로파일(낮은 높이) 특징은 이동 애플리케이션을 위한 소형 디스플레이를 생성하는데 보다 적합하게 되도록 한다.Two exemplary embodiments 1500 and 1600 of the present invention provide a time angle refraction that each can achieve.

Value of

And outside areas required by each embodiment other than the boundary of the QPI / MLA assembly 230 are mainly different. First, as shown in FIG. 16, in an embodiment 1600 of the present invention, a two-axis gimbal is fully contained within the footprint of the QPI / MLA assembly 230 (hereinafter referred to as a zero-edge feature). In the embodiment 1500 of the present invention shown in FIG. 15, a two-axis gimbal is received at the outer periphery of the outer boundary of the QPI / MLA assembly 230. Second, the time angle refraction the embodiment 1600 can achieve

Value of

May be twice as large as the embodiment 1500 can provide. Of course, the time angle refraction that can be achieved by the embodiment 1600

Value of

Is at the cost of requiring a greater vertical height than the embodiment 1500. The zero-edge feature of the embodiment 1600 is more suited to be tilted to produce a large area display, and the low profile (low height) feature of the embodiment 1500 is more suitable for producing small displays for mobile applications. Make sure that it is appropriate.

의 최대값

은 공간 해상도 증가를 위해 상실된 각도 크기를 복구하기 위한 고안 트레이드오프의 일부로 될 것이다. 이전 예시에 있어서, 굴절 각도의 최대값

이

= ±7.5°로 선택되면, 그의 시간 공간-광학 지향성 변조기는 (64×64) 화소들의 화소 그룹(G_i)을 이용하여 (

+ Θ) = ±15°의 확장된 각도 크기를 달성할 수 있을 것이다. 본질적으로, 주어진 각도 해상도 값 δΘ의 경우, 굴절 각도의 최대값

은 시간 공간-광학 지향성 변조기에 의해 달성될 수 있는 공간 해상도 또는 지향성 변조의 각도 크기를 증가시키는데 이용될 수 있는 파라메타로서 트레이드오프될 수 있다.The angular magnitude Θ of the MLA 220 microlens systems 610, 620 and 630 may be determined through appropriate design selection of the refractive surface of the micro lens systems 610, 620 and 630 or by increasing or decreasing the number of optical elements thereof. It may be greater or less than ± 15 ° in the exemplary embodiment of six. However, for a given resolution in terms of the number of pixels in the pixel modulation group G _i , varying the angular magnitude Θ of the MLA 220 microlens system would result in the time-space-optical light modulator of the present invention. The angular resolution (separation) between the directional modulated light beams emitted by the QPI / MLA assembly 230 is changed. For example, in the case of Θ = ± 15 ° angle size of the previous exemplary embodiment, if the pixel group G _i includes (128 × 128) pixels, the QPI / of the time-space-optical light modulator of the present invention. The angular resolution between the directional modulated light beams emitted by the MLA assembly 230 will be approximately δΘ = 0.23 °. This same angular resolution value δΘ = 0.23 ° reduces the angular magnitude of the MLA 220 micro lens system to Θ = 7.5 ° and reduces the number of pixels with pixel group G _i to (64 × 64) pixels. By reducing. In general, using a higher F / # (ie, a smaller value of angular size Θ) for the MLA 220 micro lens system, a smaller angular resolution value may be obtained using a smaller pixel modulation group (G _i ) size. Can be achieved, thus making more pixels available within a given pixel resolution of the QPI device 210, thereby creating more pixel groups G _i , and consequently the time-space-optical directivity of the present invention. It is possible to produce higher spatial resolutions than can be achieved by the QPI / MLA assembly 230 of the optical modulator. This design tradeoff allows one to select the appropriate balance between the spatial resolution achievable by the QPI / MLA assembly 230 and the F / # of the MLA 220 micro lens system design parameter. On the other hand, if the F / # of the MLA 220 micro lens system is increased to increase the spatial resolution, the angle size that can be achieved by the QPI / MLA 230 of the time-space-optical directional light modulator of the present invention is reduced. do. At this point, the time angle deflection

Value of

Will be part of a design tradeoff to recover lost angular size for increased spatial resolution. In the previous example, the maximum value of the refraction angle

this

= ± 7.5 °, its temporal space-optical directional modulator uses the pixel group G _i of (64 × 64) pixels (

+ Θ) = can be achieved extended angular magnitude of ± 15 °. In essence, for a given angular resolution value δΘ, the maximum value of the angle of refraction

Can be traded off as a parameter that can be used to increase the spatial resolution or angular magnitude of the directional modulation that can be achieved by the time-space-optical directional modulator.

Unlike the prior art, which uses a scanning mirror to tempo-directionally modulate the light beam, the temporal space-optical light modulator of the present invention generates a plurality of directionally modulated light beams at any given point in time. In one very important aspect. For the time-space-optical light modulator of the present invention, a plurality of directional modulated light beams are temporally multiplexed by the refraction of the gimbal QPI / MLA assembly 230 to extend the directional modulation resolution and angular magnitude. As discussed above (see FIG. 14), as the gimbal QPI / MLA assembly 230 is deflected, the directionally modulated light until the extended angular magnitude provided by the time-space-optic light modulator of the present invention is fully covered. A new set of beams is added as if some drop off temporally in a pipelined manner. Thus, at any given point in time, any given direction is retained in time within the coverage of the refracted opening of the QPI / MLA assembly 230 so as to accumulate the desired intensity in the given direction in order to accumulate the desired strength of the gimbal QPI / MLA assembly 230. Full emissive aperture). As a result of this temporal pipelining of multiple directional modulated light beams, the response time of the time-space-optical light modulator of the present invention can be proportional to the image data input rate with minimal latency. Further, the refraction of the gimbal QPI / MLA assembly 230 of the time-space-optical light modulator of the present invention is gimbalized as it is refracted across the extended angular magnitude of the time-space-optical light modulator of the present invention. The blanking of the exit opening of the QPI / MLA assembly 230 may be made in a non-stop pattern with minimal or no blanking. Thus, all of the disadvantages of slow response time, low efficiency and large capacity of prior art directional light modulators are significantly overcome by the time-space-optic light modulators of the present invention.

만큼 시간적으로 연장될 것이다. 따라서, 본 발명의 시간 공간-광학 지향성 광 변조기에 의해 제공되는 지향성 변조 각도 크기는 총 ±(Θ +

)의 각도 커버리지에 걸쳐 시간적으로 연장된다. 예를 들어, MLA(220) 렌즈 소자의 각도 크기가 Θ = ±15°이고, 최대 굴절 각도가

= ±30°이면, 시간 공간-광학 지향성 광 변조기에 의해 제공되는 확장된 각도 크기는 (Θ +

) = ±45°일 것이며, 시간적으로 생성할 수 있는 광 변조 방향은 [n(Θ +

)/Θ]² = 9×QPI/MLA 어셈블리(230)에 의해 생성될 수 있는 광 변조 방향의 개수, 즉, 9(128)² = 147,456개의 광 변조 방향일 것이다(도 14 참조). 이것은 본 발명의 시간 공간-광학 지향성 광 변조기에 의해 생성될 수 있는 광 변조 방향의 개수가 (3n×3n)이라는 의미이며, 여기에서 (n×n)은, QPI 디바이스 화소들의 개수의 측면에서 볼 때, MLA(220) 렌즈 소자들 중 하나와 관련된 화소 그룹(G_i)의 크기이다. 따라서, 본 예시의 경우, 시간 공간-광학 지향성 광 변조기는, QPI/MLA 어셈브리(230)에 의해 제공된 지향성 변조기 해상도의 9배까지 확장된 지향성 변조 해상도를 제공한다. 일반적으로, 시간 공간-광학 지향성 광 변조기에 의해 제공된 지향성 변조 해상도는 ±(Θ +

)의 각도에 걸쳐 연장된 각도 크기내에서 [n(Θ +

)/Θ]² 일 것이다. 8 and 9 show the principle of operation of the time-space-optical directional light modulator. In FIG. 8, one of the pixel groups G _i is composed of a two-dimensional (n × n) array of emission pixels of the QPI device 210, so for convenience, the size of the pixel group G _i is n = 2 ^m . An exemplary embodiment selected is shown. Referring to FIG. 8, the directional modulation addressing that can be achieved by the pixel group G _i comprises a modulation group G _i along each of the two axes x and y using m-bit words (n Xn) can be achieved through addressing of the pixels. FIG. 9 includes a QPI device pixel modulation group G _i in an individual direction within a three-dimensional volume defined by the angular magnitude Θ of an associated MLA 220 microlens element as the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 6. The mapping of the light emitted from the (n × n) pixels is shown. As shown, the dimensions of the individual pixels of the QPI device are (5 × 5) microns, and the QPI device pixel group G _i is (n × n) = (2 ⁷ × 2 ⁷ ) = (128 × 128) Pixel array, and if the angular size of the associated MLA 220 microlens element is Θ = ± 15 °, then the (0.64 x 0.64) millimeter sized QPI device two-dimensional modulation pixel groups (G _i ) From each, (128) 2 = 16,384 individual addressable directional light beams can be generated over an Θ = ± 15 ° angle size, so that the light generated in each direction in the 16,384 directions is produced in color and intensity. It can be modulated individually. As described above, when the QPI / MLA assembly 230 is refracted using the two-axis gimbals of the embodiments 1500 and 1600 (see FIGS. 12 and 13A), by the lens elements of the QPI / MLA assembly 230 The directional modulation angle magnitude provided is ± the maximum deflection angle provided by the gimbal

Will be extended in time. Therefore, the directional modulation angle magnitude provided by the time-space-optical directional light modulator of the present invention is a total ± (Θ +

Extends in time over an angular coverage of For example, the angular magnitude of the MLA 220 lens element is Θ = ± 15 ° and the maximum refraction angle is

= ± 30 °, the extended angular magnitude provided by the time-space-optical directional light modulator is (Θ +

) = ± 45 °, and the optical modulation direction that can be generated in time is [n (Θ +

/ Θ] ² = 9 x number of light modulation directions that can be generated by the QPI / MLA assembly 230, i.e. 9 (128) ² = 147,456 light modulation directions (see FIG. 14). This means that the number of optical modulation directions that can be produced by the time-space-optical directional light modulator of the present invention is (3n × 3n), where (n × n) is viewed in terms of the number of QPI device pixels. Is the size of the pixel group G _i associated with one of the MLA 220 lens elements. Thus, for the present example, the time-space-optical directional light modulator provides a directional modulation resolution that is extended to nine times the resolution of the directional modulator provided by the QPI / MLA assembly 230. In general, the directional modulation resolution provided by a time-space-optical directional light modulator is ± (Θ +

Within a angular magnitude that extends over an angle of

) / Θ] ² .

In addition to the directional modulation function for the time-space-optical directional light modulator of the present invention, spatial modulation with a (N × M) array of QPI device pixel modulation groups (G _i ) as described in the previous design examples is also possible. Do. For example, if there is a need to create a directional light modulator of the present invention having a spatial modulation resolution of N = 16 × M = 16 providing (9 × 128) ² = 147,456 directional modulation resolution of the previous example, The time space-optical directional light modulator will have a (16 × 16) array of directional modulation groups (G _i ), and when a QPI device with a (5 × 5) micron pixel size is used, the time space-optical directional light The overall size of the modulator will be approximately 10.24 x 10.24 mm. Using the angular magnitude value of the previous example, the light emitted from the spatial-optical directional light modulator of the present invention can be directionally modulated at a resolution of 147,456 within an angular magnitude of ± 45 °, and spatially modulated at (16 × 16) resolution. The color and intensity can be modulated in each direction.

As explained in the previous example, the spatial and directional modulation resolution of the temporal space-optical optical modulator in terms of the number of individually addressable directions within a given angular size is the resolution and pixel of the emitting micro emitter array QPI device 210. The pitch, the pitch of the MLA 220 lens element, the angular size of the MLA 220 lens element, and the maximum refractive angle of the modulator gimbal can be determined. Those skilled in the art are contemplated that the angular size of the MLA lens system be wider or narrower in order to produce a time-space-optical directional light modulator that can achieve any desired spatial and directional modulation functionality, following the teachings provided in the foregoing description. It will be appreciated that the angle of refraction of the gimbal design can be chosen to be wider or narrower, and that the number of pixels in each modulation group can be chosen to be fewer or more.

Any desired spatial and directional modulation function can be realized using the spatial-optical directional light modulator of the present invention. In the previous example, it has been described that a spatial-optical directional light modulator with (16) ² spatial resolution and (3 × 128) ² directional resolution can be implemented using a single 10.24 × 10.24 mm QPI device 210. In order to realize higher spatial resolution, the temporal space-optical directional light modulator of the present invention can be implemented using a tiled array with multiple temporal space-optical directional light modulators of the present invention. . For example, if the (3 × 3) array of the previous example time-space-optical directional light modulator is tiled as shown in FIG. 11, the resulting time-space-optical directional light modulator is (3 × 16) ² spatial resolution. and (3 × 128) provides a ^{two-directional} resolution. Tiling of many of the time-space-optical modulators of the present invention to realize higher spatial resolution versions is also possible because of their small volume dimensions. For example, the previous example time-space-optical directional light modulator using a single QPI device 210 with an exemplary width, height, and thickness of 10.24 × 10.24 × 5 mm, respectively, has a width, height of 3.07 × 3.07 × 0.5 cm, respectively. And the larger resolution version shown in FIG. 11 with thickness dimensions. For example, if tiling is extended to include a (30 × 30) array of smaller resolution time-space-optical directional light modulators, the resulting temporal space-optical directional light modulator has a (30 × 16) ² spatial resolution and ( 3 × 128) ² having a directional resolution, may have a respective 30.07 × width, height and thickness of 30.07 × 0.5cm. The time space of the present invention shown in FIG. 11 by adhering a plurality of time space-optical directional light modulators of the previous example to the backplane using electrical contacts of a micro ball grid array (MBGA) disposed on the back side. A high spatial resolution version of the optically directional light modulator can be implemented, and, given the zero-edge feature of the embodiment 1600, accordingly, a number of such to implement any desired size of the time-space-optical directional light modulator. Integrity tiling of directional light modulator devices can be realized. Of course, the size of the array of time-space-optical directional light modulators shown in FIG. 11 can be increased to the extent necessary to achieve any desired spatial resolution. It is also possible to trade off the directional resolution of a time-space optical directional light modulator with increased spatial resolution. For example, if the pixel modulation group size is reduced to (64 × 64), the (3 × 3) array shown in FIG. 11 provides (3 × 32) ^two spatial resolution and (3 × 64) ^two directional resolution. . An array of time space-optical directional light modulators providing the expanded spatial aperture shown in FIG. 11 can be fabricated by the above-described zero-edge characteristics of time-space-optical directional light modulator embodiments 1600 of the present invention. It should be noted that

는 아래와 같이 주어진다.The operating principle of the time-space-optical directional light modulator will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. 8 shows the two-dimensional addressing of each modulation group G _i using m-bit resolution for directional modulation. As described above, the light emitted from the (2 ^m x 2 ^m ) individual pixels of the modulation group G _i is 2 2 ^m light within the angular magnitude ± Θ of the associated MLA micro lens element by its associated MLA 220 element. Mapped to directions. Using the (x, y) dimensional coordinates of the individual pixels in each modulation group G _i , the angular coordinates of the emitted light beam

Is given by

(수학식 3)

(Equation 3)

(수학식 4)

(Equation 4)

및

는 시간 기점(time epoch) t에서 x축 및 y축을 중심으로 한 굴절 각도의 값들이고, 각도

및

는 θ=0에서의 원선(polar axis)이 변조 그룹(G_i)의 방출 표면의 z축에 평행한, 시간 기점 t에서의 지향성 변조 구면 좌표의 값이며, m=log₂n은 변조 그룹(G_i)의 x 및 y 화소 해상도를 나타내는데 이용된 비트의 수이다. 시간 공간-광학 지향성 광 변조기의 공간 해상도는 전체 시간 공간-광학 지향성 광 변조기를 구비하는 변조 그룹의 2차원 어레이내의 개별적 변조 그룹(G_i) 각각의 좌표(X,Y)에 의해 정의된다. 본질적으로, 시간 공간-광학 광 변조기는, 상술한 수학식 3 및 4에 의해 정의된 바와 같이, 시간 공간-광학 지향성 광 변조기의 굴절 각도의 시간적 값과 변조 그룹(G_i)내의 방출 화소들의 좌표 (x,y)의 값에 의해 정의된 지향성 좌표(

)와 변조 그룹 어레이에 의해 정의된 공간 좌표(X,Y)에 의해 설명된 광 필드(light field)를 시간적으로 생성(변조)할 수 있다. From here,

And

Is the value of the angle of refraction around the x and y axes at time epoch t

And

Is the value of the directional modulation spherical coordinate at time point t, where the polar axis at θ = 0 is parallel to the z axis of the emission surface of modulation group G _i , and m = log ₂ n is the modulation group ( Is the number of bits used to represent the x and y pixel resolution of G _i ). The spatial resolution of a temporal space-optical directional light modulator is defined by the coordinates (X, Y) of each of the individual modulation groups G _{i in} a two-dimensional array of modulation groups having a full temporal space-optical directional light modulator. In essence, the time-space-optic light modulator has the temporal value of the angle of refraction of the time-space-optical directional light modulator and the coordinates of the emission pixels in modulation group G _i , as defined by Equations 3 and 4 above. the directional coordinates defined by the value of (x, y) (

) And a light field described by the spatial coordinates (X, Y) defined by the modulation group array in time.

10 shows an exemplary embodiment of a data processing block diagram of a spatial-optical directional light modulator, which is applicable to the time-space-optic embodiment of the present invention. Description of the prior art using typical 24-bits representing light intensity and color modulated in each direction and 16 bits representing directional modulation is applicable to the time-space optical embodiment of the present invention.

Possible applications

The temporal space-optical directional light modulator of the present invention is used to implement a 3D display with any size realized, for example, as a tiled array of a number of time space-optical directional light modulator devices as shown in FIG. Can be. The extended angular size that can be realized by the time-space-optical directional light modulator enables the realization of a 3D display that provides a small viewing volume and a large viewing angle without the use of a large capacity and expensive optical assembly. The volume miniaturization level that can be achieved by the time-space-optical directional light modulator enables the realization of desktop top and mobile 3D displays. In addition, the extended directional modulation function of the time-space-optical directional light modulator has multiple views with angular resolution values of δΘ that are suitable for human visual system eye angular separation within its extended angular magnitude. This allows for 3D display without the need to use glasses to view the 3D content to be displayed. In fact, given the large number of independently modulated light beams that can be generated by the time-space-optical directional light modulator of the present invention, it is possible to modulate a 3D image with sufficient angular resolution values between the generated multiple views. It will typically eliminate the Vergence-Accommodation Conflict (VAC), which would typically degrade the performance of the 3D display and cause visual fatigue. In other words, the angular resolution function of the time-space-optical directional light modulator of the present invention makes it possible to produce a 3D image of VAC that will not cause visual fatigue of the viewer. In addition, the optical field modulation function of a time-space-optical directional light modulator is the fundamental foundation of 3D light field displays that can be used to implement synthetic holography 3D displays.

)일 것이며, 개별 변조 그룹(G_i)의 화소 해상도는 보다 높은 공간 해상도를 달성하도록 레버리징될 것이다.The time-space-optical directional light modulator may be used as back light for a liquid crystal display (LCD) to implement a 3D display. In addition, the time-space-optical directional light modulator can be operated as a 2D high resolution display. In this case, individual pixels of QPI device 210 are used to modulate color and intensity, while MLA 220 is used to fill the viewing angle of the display. The temporal space-optical light modulator can be switched from 2D to 3D display by adjusting its input data format to suit the desired mode of operation. If the time-space-optical directional light modulator is used as a 2D display, its light angular magnitude is the sum of the refractive angles of its gimbal and that associated with its MLA 220 micro lens element ± (Θ +

), And the pixel resolution of the individual modulation group G _i will be leveraged to achieve higher spatial resolution.

Accordingly, the present invention has a number of aspects that may be realized alone or in various combinations or in various sub-combinations as desired. While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described herein for purposes of illustration and not limitation, those skilled in the art can variously change forms and details without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the entire claims. You will know.

Claims (48)

As an optical modulator,
An emission micro emitter array device having a micro array of pixels;
Equipped with wafer level optics (WLO) micro lens arrays,
The micro array of pixels comprises a plurality of groups of pixels, the groups of pixels representing a spatial modulation array,
Each micro lens in the micro lens array spans a group of pixels of the emitting micro emitter array, whereby the micro lens in the micro lens array provides illumination from each pixel in each pixel group. Oriented in different directions
Light modulator. The method of claim 1,
Each pixel group is a two-dimensional pixel group
Light modulator.
The method of claim 2,
Each pixel of the emitting micro emitter array device is an individually addressable solid state light emitter, wherein the solid state light emitter is selected from the group comprising a light emitting diode and a laser diode.
Light modulator.
The method of claim 3, wherein
Each pixel of the emitting micro emitter array device emits a plurality of colors of light, each pixel being individually addressable to emit light of a selected color and intensity.
Light modulator.
The method of claim 3, wherein
The pixels of the emitting micro emitter array device have a linear dimension of less than 10 microns.
Light modulator.
The method of claim 3, wherein
The micro lens array is composed of a plurality of stacked micro lens arrays.
Light modulator.
The method of claim 4, wherein
The direction, color and intensity addressing of the light modulator is achieved using multiple field data input to the light modulator, whereby for each specified pixel group address in the spatial array of pixel groups, emission At least one input data field is used to specify the direction of the emitted light, and at least one field is used to specify the color and intensity of the light emitted in the specified direction.
Light modulator.
The method of claim 4, wherein
The light modulator comprises a plurality of light modulators, the light modulators having a tiled array.
Light modulator.
The method of claim 4, wherein
The light modulator comprises a plurality of light modulators and includes a collective set of the light modulators in a tiled array,
In each light modulator, the pixels of the emitting micro emitter array device are multicolor pixels, individually addressable to emit light having a selected color and intensity, the micro lens array consisting of a plurality of stacked micro lens arrays. And each of the lenses of the micro lens array is associated with and aligned with a plurality of pixels in each pixel group of each emitting micro emitter array device, each lens receiving light emitted from the plurality of pixels from the aperture of the lens. Optically mapped to a corresponding discrete set of directions in the water, such that the intensity and color of the light is emitted in each individual direction of the discrete direction set, whereby the light modulator opens through the population set of light modulators. Can generate color, intensity, and direction modulated light across the Being
Light modulator.
The method of claim 4, wherein
Using multiple field data inputs to a separate light modulator, the direction, color and intensity addressing of each pixel of the light modulators is achieved, whereby for each specified pixel group address in the spatial array of pixel groups, the space of emitted light At least one input data field is used to specify the direction, and at least one field is used to specify the color and intensity of the light emitted in the specified direction.
Light modulator.
The method of claim 4, wherein
The optical modulator can be switched to operate as a 3D display or a high resolution 2D display by adjusting the format of the multiple field data input to suit the desired mode of operation.
Light modulator.
The method of claim 4, wherein
The light modulator is a backlight for a liquid crystal display to produce a 3D display or a 2D display, the light modulator being present in the liquid crystal display.
Light modulator.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
The other direction of illumination from the emitting micro emitter defines an angular magnitude, wherein the emitting micro emitter array device and the micro lens array are assembled together and angularly refracted as a single assembly about at least one axis to emit the micro microe Emitting light in the plane of the emitting surface of the emitter array and within the range of ± maximum angular deflection.
Light modulator.
The method of claim 13,
The emitting micro emitter array device and the micro lens array are configured to be angularly deflected as a single assembly about two orthogonal axes within a range of ± maximum angular deflection about each axis.
Light modulator.
The method of claim 14,
The angular deflection increases the angular resolution between the different directions or increases the angular magnitude of the different directions of illumination from the emitting micro emitter.
Light modulator.
The method of claim 13,
Adjacent light modulators in a tiled array have some inactive edge pixels between active pixels in adjacent pixel groups.
Light modulator.
The method of claim 3, wherein
The pixels of the emitting micro emitter array device are multi color pixels, individually addressable to emit light having a selected color and intensity,
The micro lens array has a plurality of stacked micro lens arrays, each of the lenses of the micro lens array associated with and aligned with a plurality of pixels in a pixel group of the emitting micro emitter array device, each lens being a plurality of each Optically maps the light emitted from the pixels of to a corresponding discrete set of directions in the numerical aperture of each lens, such that the intensity and color of the light is emitted in each individual direction of the discrete direction set, thereby Enable the optical modulator to produce color, intensity, and direction modulated light.
Light modulator.
The method of claim 1,
The optical modulator is composed of a plurality of optical modulators having a tiled array
Light modulator.
The method of claim 1,
The optical modulator can be switched to operate as a 3D display or a high resolution 2D display by adjusting the format of the multiple field data input to suit the desired mode of operation.
Light modulator.
As a directional light modulator,
A two-dimensional emission micro emitter array device;
A micro lens array of micro lens elements,
The two-dimensional emission micro emitter array device and the micro lens array are assembled together, angularly refracted as a single assembly, with a maximum of about two axes and about each axis in the plane of the emission surface of the emission micro emitter array. Emit light within the range of angular refraction,
The two dimensional emission micro emitter array device comprises an array of pixels, each pixel being an individually addressable solid state light emitter,
The periodicity of angular refraction about each of the two axes is selected to enable temporal coverage of the maximum angular refraction within the frame rate of the input image data,
Directional light modulator.
delete The method of claim 20,
Each pixel of the two-dimensional emission micro-emitter array has dimensions not exceeding 20 × 20 microns.
Directional light modulator.
The method of claim 20,
Each pixel is individually addressable to modulate the color and intensity of the light emitted
Directional light modulator.
The method of claim 20,
The angular deflection is provided by a gimbal support for the assembly of the two-dimensional emission micro emitter array device and the micro lens array, the assembly being angular magnitude in each of the two axes by the angular deflection of the gimbal support. Expanding in time, thereby expanding in time the set of light directions along each of the two axes.
Directional light modulator.
The method of claim 24,
The temporally extended angular magnitude is continuous or discrete in time and has a repetition rate proportional to and synchronous with the image input data frame rate, thereby maximal angular refraction about each of the two axes. Is used to determine the extended angular magnitude, angular coverage, shape and aspect ratio of the directional light modulator.
Directional light modulator.
The method of claim 25,
Angular refraction about each of the two axes is at least equal to a value multiplied by a frame rate of the input image data with a coefficient equal to the ratio of the extended angle magnitude to the angle magnitude along each axis
Directional light modulator.
The method of claim 24,
Addressing of each pixel is accomplished using multiple field data input to the directional light modulator, whereby for each specified pixel group address in the spatial array of pixel groups, the direction of the emitted light is specified. At least one input data field is used to specify and at least one field is used to specify the color and intensity of the light emitted in the specified direction.
Directional light modulator.
As a directional light modulator,
A two-dimensional emission micro emitter array device;
A micro lens array of micro lens elements,
The two-dimensional emission micro emitter array device and the micro lens array are assembled together, angularly refracted as a single assembly, with a maximum of about two axes and about each axis in the plane of the emission surface of the emission micro emitter array. Emit light within the range of angular refraction,
The directional light modulator is used as a display that can be switched to operate in a 3D display mode or a high resolution 2D display mode by adjusting the format of the input data to suit the desired mode.
Directional light modulator.
As a directional light modulator,
A two-dimensional emission micro emitter array device;
A micro lens array of micro lens elements,
The two-dimensional emission micro emitter array device and the micro lens array are assembled together, angularly refracted as a single assembly, with a maximum of about two axes and about each axis in the plane of the emission surface of the emission micro emitter array. Emit light within the range of angular refraction,
The directional light modulator is used as a back light for a liquid crystal display (LCD) that can be switched to operate as a 3D display or a high resolution 2D display.
Directional light modulator.
As a directional light modulator,
A two-dimensional emission micro emitter array device;
A micro lens array of micro lens elements,
The two-dimensional emission micro emitter array device and the micro lens array are assembled together, angularly refracted as a single assembly, with a maximum of about two axes and about each axis in the plane of the emission surface of the emission micro emitter array. Emit light within the range of angular refraction,
The directional light modulator can modulate a number of views with an angular resolution value suitable for human visual system eye angular separation within its extended angular magnitude, thereby being displayed. 3D display without the need to use glasses to watch 3D content
Directional light modulator.
As a directional light modulator,
An emission micro emitter array device having a plurality of pixels;
A micro lens array aligned with and physically bonded to said emitting micro emitter array device;
Includes a biaxial gimbal with two sets of electromagnetic actuators,
The two sets of electromagnetic actuators are aligned with the two axes of the gimbal, affecting the temporal angular deflection of the adhesive pad within the range of ± maximum angular deflection in each axis and about the two axes of the gimbal,
Each pixel of the emitting micro emitter array device is an individually addressable solid state light emitter,
The periodicity of the angular deflection about each of the two axes of the gimbal is chosen to enable temporal coverage of the maximum angular deflection within the frame rate of the input image data,
Directional light modulator.
The method of claim 31, wherein
The biaxial gimbal is implemented to realize a biaxial pivot of the gimbal with a mechanical resistance spring defining a neutral position of the gimbal relative to the gimbal base using multiple layers of silicon substrate.
Directional light modulator.
The method of claim 32,
The drive electrical signal for the electromagnetic actuator provides a temporal continuous or discrete temporal angular deflection, and has a repetition rate proportional to and in synchronization with the image input data frame rate provided through the device interface contact, The drive electrical signal includes a correction provided by a set of sensors adhered to the top side of the gimbal's base layer and the back side of the contact pad.
Directional light modulator.
The method of claim 31, wherein
The biaxial gimbal includes a spherical pivot on the back side of the adhesive pad and a matched spherical socket on the top side of the gimbal base.
Directional light modulator.
The method of claim 31, wherein
In the microlens array, each of its constituent lenses is associated with and precisely aligned with each of the plurality of pixels in the two-dimensional array of pixel groups, each constituent lens having light emitted from each of the plurality of pixels. To optically map the corresponding discrete sets of directions within an angular magnitude defined by the numerical aperture of each component lens.
Directional light modulator.
The method of claim 31, wherein
The directional light modulator is used in plural to form a tiled array of directional light modulators with an extended spatial aperture.
Directional light modulator.
The method of claim 36,
In the microlens array, each of its constituent lenses is associated with and precisely aligned with each of the plurality of pixels in the two-dimensional array of pixel groups, each constituent lens having light emitted from each of the plurality of pixels. Is optically mapped to a corresponding discrete set of directions within an angular magnitude defined by the numerical aperture of each constituent lens, the directional light modulator further comprising a collective set of spatial arrays of pixel groups Whereby each pixel in each pixel group is individually addressable to produce modulated light in color, intensity, and direction, whereby the expanded spatial aperture directional light modulator device is modulated in color, intensity, and direction. To generate spatially modulated light across a spatial aperture that spans a population set It is
Directional light modulator.
The method of claim 37,
The directional light modulator is used as a back light for a liquid crystal display (LCD) to produce a 3D display or 2D display that can be switched to operate as a 3D display or a high resolution 2D display.
Directional light modulator.
The method of claim 37,
The directional light modulator can modulate a number of views with an angular resolution value suitable for human visual system eye angular separation within its extended angular magnitude, thereby displaying the display. 3D display without the need to use glasses to watch 3D content
Directional light modulator.
The method of claim 31, wherein
The directional light modulator is used as a back light for a liquid crystal display (LCD) to produce a 3D display or 2D display that can be switched to operate as a 3D display or a high resolution 2D display.
Directional light modulator.
The method of claim 31, wherein
The optical field modulation function of the directional light modulator is a fundamental foundation of 3D light field displays that can be used to implement synthetic holography 3D displays.
Directional light modulator.
A method of forming a directional light modulator,
Providing an emitting micro emitter array device, wherein the emitting micro emitter array device comprises a two dimensional array of micro emitters, the two dimensional array of emitters comprises a plurality of groups of micro emitters Groups of terminals represent a spatial modulation array;
Providing a wafer level optics (WLO) micro lens array of micro lens elements;
Aligning the microlens array with the emitting micro emitter array device into the directional light modulator subassembly, whereby each microlens element of the microlens array has a corresponding multiple in the two-dimensional array of micro emitters of the emitting microemitter array device. By being associated with and aligned with the micro-emitters, they emit light about two axes in the plane of the emitting surface of the emitting micro-emitter array within a ± maximum angular size range, whereby each micro-lens element has a corresponding multiple Optically mapping the light emitted from the micro emitters of to a corresponding discrete set of directions within an angular magnitude defined by the numerical aperture of each micro lens element;
Temporally angularly deflecting the directional light modulator subassembly about at least a first axis in the plane of the subassembly so that an angular magnitude that includes the discrete set of directions is expanded in response to the temporal angular deflection;
The periodicity of the temporal angular refraction about the first axis is selected to enable temporal coverage of the extended angular magnitude within the frame rate of the input image data,
Method for forming a directional light modulator.
The method of claim 42,
The directional light modulator subassembly is angularly refracted about a second axis in the plane of the subassembly such that the angular magnitude comprising a discrete set of directions is further extended in response to the temporal angular deflection. Perpendicular to the first axis
Method for forming a directional light modulator.
The method of claim 43,
Providing an emitting micro emitter array device comprises providing a matrix of micro emitter array devices on a single substrate,
Providing a micro lens array includes providing a matrix of micro lens arrays,
The method of forming a directional light modulator includes mounting a matrix of microlens arrays on a matrix of microemitter array devices to form a matrix of directional light modulators, and to provide a plurality of individual directional light modulators. Dicing a matrix of matrices
Method for forming a directional light modulator.
The method of claim 44,
The matrix of the micro lens array is aligned with respect to the matrix of the micro emitter array device to form a matrix of the directional light modulator using semiconductor wafer level alignment techniques.
Method for forming a directional light modulator.
The method of claim 44,
Providing a matrix of microlens arrays includes providing a plurality of microlens array layers, the microlens array layers being mounted in a stack with each other to form a matrix of microlens arrays. Aligned
Method for forming a directional light modulator.
The method of claim 44,
Each micro emitter is individually addressable to control its color and brightness
Method for forming a directional light modulator.
The method of claim 47,
Light emitted from a corresponding plurality of micro emitters in a corresponding discrete set of directions within an angular size defined by the numerical aperture of each micro lens element forms a corresponding group of pixels and separates the pixels in each group of pixels into individual pixels. Associating with a temporally extended set of directions together with addressing enables individual addressing of a temporally extended set of directions, whereby the directional light modulator is directed in arbitrary directions including a temporally extended set of light directions. To generate modulated light
Method for forming a directional light modulator.

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