The MicroDisplay Corporation's liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) display devices are based on the union of several technologies with the extreme integration capability of conventionally fabricated CMOS substrates. The fast liquid crystal operation modes and new scalable high-performance pixel addressing architectures presented in this paper enable substantially improved color, contrast, and brightness while still satisfying the optical, packaging, and power requirements of portable applications. The entire suite of MicroDisplay's technologies was devised to create a line of mixed-signal application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) in single-chip display systems. Mixed-signal circuits can integrate computing, memory, and communication circuitry on the same substrate as the display drivers and pixel array for a multifunctional complete system-on-a-chip. System-on-a-chip benefits also include reduced head supported weight requirements through the elimination of off-chip drive electronics.
MicroDisplay liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) display devices are based on a combination of technologies combined with the extreme integration capability of conventionally fabricated CMOS substrates. Two recent SVGA (800 X 600) pixel resolution designs were demonstrated based on 10 micron and 12.5-micron pixel pitch architectures. The resulting microdisplays measure approximately 10 mm and 12 mm in diagonal respectively. Further, an XGA (1024 X 768) resolution display fabricated with a 12.5-micron pixel pitch with a 16-mm diagonal was also demonstrated. Both the larger SVGA and the XGA design were based on the same 12.5-micron pixel-pitch design, demonstrating a quickly scalable design architecture for rapid prototyping life-cycles. All three microdisplay designs described above function in grayscale and high-performance Field-Sequential-Color (FSC) operating modes. The fast liquid crystal operating modes and new scalable high- performance pixel addressing architectures presented in this paper enable substantially improved color, contrast, and brightness while still satisfying the optical, packaging, and power requirements of portable commercial and defense applications including ultra-portable helmet, eyeglass, and heat-mounted systems. The entire suite of The MicroDisplay Corporation's technologies was devised to create a line of mixed-signal application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) in single-chip display systems. Mixed-signal circuits can integrate computing, memory, and communication circuitry on the same substrate as the display drivers and pixel array for a multifunctional complete system-on-a-chip. For helmet and head-mounted displays this can include capabilities such as the incorporation of customized symbology and information storage directly on the display substrate. System-on-a-chip benefits also include reduced head supported weight requirements through the elimination of off-chip drive electronics.
MicroDisplay devices are based on a combination of technologies rooted in the extreme integration capability of conventionally fabricated CMOS active-matrix liquid crystal display substrates. Customized diffraction grating and optical distortion correction technology for lens-system compensation allow the elimination of many lenses and systems-level components. The MicroDisplay Corporation's miniature integrated information display technology is rapidly leading to many new defense and commercial applications. There are no moving parts in MicroDisplay substrates, and the fabrication of the color generating gratings, already part of the CMOS circuit fabrication process, is effectively cost and manufacturing process-free. The entire suite of the MicroDisplay Corporation's technologies was devised to create a line of application- specific integrated circuit single-chip display systems with integrated computing, memory, and communication circuitry. Next-generation portable communication, computer, and consumer electronic devices such as truly portable monitor and TV projectors, eyeglass and head mounted displays, pagers and Personal Communication Services hand-sets, and wristwatch-mounted video phones are among the may target commercial markets for MicroDisplay technology. Defense applications range from Maintenance and Repair support, to night-vision systems, to portable projectors for mobile command and control centers.
KEYWORDS: LCDs, Telecommunications, Manufacturing, Computing systems, Standards development, Consumer electronics, Very large scale integration, Data processing, Personal digital assistants, Packaging
Positioned to replace current liquid crystal display technology in many applications, miniature information displays have evolved to provide several truly portable platforms for the world's growing personal computing and communication needs. The technology and functionality of handheld computer and communicator systems has finally surpassed many of the standards that were originally established for desktop systems. In these new consumer electronics, performance, display size, packaging, power consumption, and cost have always been limiting factors for fabricating genuinely portable devices. The rapidly growing miniature information display manufacturing industry is making it possible to bring a wide range of highly anticipated new products to new markets.
MicroDisplay devices are based on a combination of technologies ranging from the extreme integration capability of conventionally fabricated CMOS active-matrix liquid crystal display substrates to proprietary tunable color- filter technology, to optical distortion correction technology for lens-system compensation. All of these technologies were devised to create a line of application- specific integrated circuit single-chip display devices with integrated computing, memory, and communication circuitry. Next-generation portable communication, computer, and consumer electronic devices such as truly portable monitor and TV projectors, eyeglass-clip-on virtual displays, pagers and personal communication services hand-sets, and wristwatch-mounted video phones are all target markets for MicroDisplay technology.
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