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SonyGranted patentCameras & imagingInterest 5/10

Sony patents light projector that updates its image in tiny slices

Sony describes an illumination device that uses a light source and a surface that changes how light bends to create images. The system divides the surface into sections and updates them one by one at precise moments, starting the update just before light hits each part.

Why it mattersThis method could help projectors or display devices create clearer images by managing light more efficiently across different parts of the screen.

In the filing’s own words

An illumination device according to the present technology includes a light source unit including a light emitting unit that emits light, a phase modulation unit that performs spatial light phase modulation on incident light from the light source unit, and a control unit that causes light from the light source unit to be incident on a plurality of areas into which a phase modulation surface of the phase modulation unit is divided at different timings for each of the areas, and starts modulation driving at a timing before a light incident period for each of the areas.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An illumination device, comprising: a light source unit including a light emitting unit that emits light; a phase modulation unit that performs spatial light phase modulation on incident light from the light source unit; and a control unit that causes light from the light source unit to be incident on a plurality of areas into which a phase modulation surface of the phase modulation unit is divided at different timings for each of the areas, and starts modulation driving at a timing before a light incident period for each of the areas, wherein the light source unit includes a plurality of light emitting units, wherein light from a first one of the light emitting units is incident on a first area of the phase modulation surface during a first light incident period, wherein light from a second one of the light emitting units is incident on a second area of the phase modulation surface during a second light incident period.

Facts

Company
Sony (SONY GROUP CORPORATION)
Official title
Illumination device
Patent number
US12732598B2
Application number
18576521
Filed
Mar 10, 2022
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Inventors
2
Claims
15

Classified under

H04N 9/3155 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.