Optical modulators including incorporated into mobile terminal projector

Abstract

A mobile terminal includes an optical modulation projector. The mobile terminal also includes a control system, a projection control unit, and an optical modulation system. The control system outputs a projection control signal and image data. The projection control unit receives the image data from the control system, and generates and outputs a drive control signal depending on the image data received. The optical modulation system generates and modulates light and generates an image in response to the drive control signal and then scans the image for projecting onto a screen.

1 . An optical modulation projector for a mobile terminal, having a control system for outputting a projection control signal and image data, a projection control system for receiving the image data and generating a drive control signal based thereon, comprising:
 a. a light source for emitting light beams;   b. a diffractive-type optical modulator configured to be driven in response to the drive control signal to modulate incident light from the light source and generating an image based on the drive control signal; and   c. a projection optical system for generating a two-dimensional image from the image received from the diffractive optical modulator.   
     
     
         2 . The optical modulation projector according to  claim 1 , further comprising a drive integrated circuit for generating a drive signal for the diffractive-type optical modulator from the drive control signal emanating from the projection control system. 
     
     
         3 . The optical modulation projector according to  claim 1 , further comprising an illumination optical unit for directing light beams emitted from the light source system to the diffractive type optical modulator. 
     
     
         4 . The optical modulation projector according to  claim 1 , wherein the projection optical system comprising a projection optical unit for projecting the image emitted from the optical modulator and scanning such image to generate a two-dimensional display. 
     
     
         5 . The optical modulation projector according to  claim 4 , wherein the projection optical system further comprising a filter unit disposed at a location subsequent to the diffractive type optical modulator and configured to pass zero order diffraction light for use in generating the display. 
     
     
         6 . The optical modulation projector according to  claim 5 , wherein the projector optical unit comprising a scanning unit for generating the two-dimensional display from the image received from the diffractive light modulator, and the filter unit is incorporated into the structure of the scanning unit. 
     
     
         7 . The optical modulation projector according to  claim 1 , wherein the image generated by the projection optical system is composed of zero order modulated diffractive light. 
     
     
         8 . The optical modulation projector according to  claim 1 , wherein the diffractive type optical modulator comprises:
 a base member;   a plurality of first reflection units supported by the base member in an array in spaced-apart relationship to the base member, said first reflection units having a reflective surface to reflect incident light and one or more open holes formed to pass incident light through the first reflection units;   a second reflection unit spaced from the first reflection units and having a reflective surface for reflecting incident light that passes through the open holes of the first reflection units; and   an actuation system for moving the first reflection units towards and away from the second reflection unit based on the drive control signal, thereby changing the amount of diffractive light produced by the reflective light from the first and second reflection units.   
     
     
         9 . The optical modulation projector according to  claim 8 , wherein the first reflection units comprise at least one open hole disposed in a direction transverse to the length of the base member. 
     
     
         10 . The optical modulation projector according to  claim 8 , wherein the first reflection units define at least one reflective surface having a width similar to the width of the gap separating adjacent first reflection units.