There are so many important patents from Microvision. However, I just want to point out some of the very interesting ones that could catch your eyes, so we can watch their related product developments for the future.
Here is the list of patents deemed intriguing:(1) Patent No. 7834867 : Integrated photonics module and devices using integrated photonics modules
Excerpt from abstract : "An integrated photonics module includes at least one light source and a MEMS scanner coupled to and held in alignment by an optical frame configured for mounting to a host system. According to some embodiments, the integrated photonics module may include a plurality of light sources and a beam combiner coupled to the optical frame."
Excerpt from the very fisrt claim : "An integrated photonics module suitable for integration in an electronic apparatus comprising: a first alignment frame; a modulatable red laser diode mounted to the first alignment frame and operable to emit a modulated beam of red light along a first axis; a modulatable green laser mounted to the first alignment frame and operable to emit a beam of modulated green light along a second axis parallel to the first axis; a modulatable blue laser diode mounted to the first alignment frame and operable to emit a modulated beam of blue light along a third axis parallel to the first and second axes"
This will introduce the lowest possible cost/size with integrated Green/Blue/Red laser light sources for all laser-based projectors. With DGL (Direct-emitting Green Laser) production in sight, and Microvision's 10% owner Walsin Lihwa Corp in Taiwan, teamed up with Soraa Inc. to co-develop integrated laser light sources, the solution provided by Microvision should be the most cost effective in the industry.
(Ref : http://www.microvision.com/displayground/?p=884)(Ref : http://www.cens.com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_31723.html)
(2) Patent No. 7791807 : Avoiding interference artifacts in a head-up display or a reflected see-through type display
This is used in HUD (Head Up Display) with birefringent layer on the windshield or sunglasses to reduce or minimize interference between beams from the display and reflecting off of two or more surfaces that are combined at the viewer's eye, and/or to reduce or minimize the effect of polarizing sunglasses on the viewability of the image projected by the display.
(3) Patent No. 7783133 : Rotation compensation and image stabilization system
This is used in medical devices such as endoscopy and laparoscopy for Rotation compensation and image stabilization system. The patent is co-owned with Ethicon Endo-Surgery (J&J).
The patents was filed in 2006, it indicates Microvision has been working with some major medical companies like Johnson and Johnson through its subsidiary Ethicon Endo-Surgery for a long time.
(4) Patent No. 7839575 : Optical device for use with scanned beam light sources
Excerpt from the abstract : "Substrate-guided relays that employ light guiding substrates to relay images from sources to viewers in optical display systems."
This is about how to mount the pico projector in the side frame of the glasses frame and then reflect the light around into the front of the eye and back onto the retina. It covers the fundamental design of the eyewear display.
(5) Patent No. 7612737 : Scanned light beam display with brightness compensation
Excerpt from abstract : " A scanned beam display is operable to compensate for variations in apparent pixel brightness arising from variations in beam scanning velocity and/or pixel dwell times. A compensation circuit modifies pixel values according to their scanning velocity and/or dwell time.
Projection brightness is often used as an criteria to compare different projectors. However, the power consumption also play an important role in the pico projector design. How to balance these two factors becomes more and more critical especially for embedded pico projector in a smart phone design. This can provide a way to make the even brightness projection.
(6) Patent No. 7838817 : System for determining an operational state of a MEMS based display
This is for safety - it senses if anything is wrong with the mirror and then will turn the mirror and/or lasers off. As Class 2 lasers are used in Microvision's PicoP design, this can eliminate or reduce the risk of exposing the eyes to the laser even though the risk is already very low.
Next : Microvision patent portfolio (Part 3 : interesting patents in application)
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