IP Library Granted Patent US 12665991
Granted Patent B2
US 12665991 · App. 18/263,117 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Projection system and method with dynamic target geometry

Inventors: Juan Pablo Pertierra (Fishers, IN); Angelo Miguel Pires Arrifano (Alpes-Maritimes, FR); Clement Luc Carol Le Barbenchon (Los Angeles, CA); Martin J. Richards (Gig Harbor, WA); Barret Lippey (Foster City, CA)
Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation; Dolby International AB
H04N9/3155H04N9/317H04N9/3194G02B26/0833G02F1/1326
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12665991
App. No.
18/263,117
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A projection system and method includes a light source configured to emit a light in response to an image data; a phase light modulator configured to receive the light from the light source and to apply a spatially-varying phase modulation on the light, thereby to steer the light and generate a projection light; and a controller configured to dynamically determine, based on at least one of a user input or a sensor signal, a target geometry of a projection surface on which the projection light is projected, determine, based on the target geometry, a phase configuration for a frame of the image data, and provide a phase control signal to the phase light modulator, the phase control signal configured to cause the phase light modulator to generate the projection light in accordance with the phase configuration for the frame.

Claims (51)

1 . A projection system, comprising:

a light source configured to emit a light in response to an image data;

a phase light modulator configured to receive the light from the light source and to apply a spatially-varying phase modulation on the light, thereby to steer the light and generate a projection light; and

a controller configured to:

dynamically determine, based on at least one of a user input or a sensor signal, a target geometry and a relief of a projection surface on which the projection light is projected,

determine, based on the target geometry and the relief, a phase configuration for a frame of the image data by calculating a beam-steering drive solution for the phase light modulator based on the target geometry and relief that, when reconstructed, approximates the image data, and

provide a phase control signal to the phase light modulator, the phase control signal configured to cause the phase light modulator to generate the projection light in accordance with the phase configuration for the frame.

2 . The projection system according to claim 1 , wherein the phase light modulator includes a plurality of modulation elements arranged in an array, and circuitry configured to modify respective states of the plurality of elements in response to the phase control signal.

3 . The projection system according to claim 2 , wherein the phase light modulator is a digital micromirror device or a liquid-crystal-on-semiconductor device.

4 . The projection system according to claim 1 , further comprising an infrared sensor configured to detect a calibration code projected onto the projection surface, and to generate the sensor signal based on the calibration code.

5 . The projection system according to claim 1 , further comprising a user-controlled input device configured to project a calibration code onto a user-selected projection surface.

6 . The projection system according to claim 5 , wherein the user-controlled input device is configured to emit light in the infrared spectrum.

7 . The projection system according to claim 1 , further comprising a depth sensor configured to detect a surface feature of the projection surface, and to generate the sensor signal based on the surface feature.

8 . The projection system according to claim 7 , wherein the surface feature includes non-flat surface features.

9 . The projection system according to claim 1 , wherein the light source is a coherent light source.

10 . A method of driving a projection system, comprising:

emitting a light by a light source, in response to an image data;

receiving the light by a phase light modulator;

applying a spatially-varying phase modulation on the light by the phase light modulator, thereby to steer the light and generate a projection light;

dynamically determining, based on at least one of a user input or a sensor signal, a target geometry and a relief of a projection surface on which the projection light is projected;

determining, based on the target geometry and the relief, a phase configuration for a frame of the image data by calculating a beam-steering drive solution for the phase light modulator based on the target geometry and relief that, when reconstructed, approximates the image data; and

providing a phase control signal to the phase light modulator, the phase control signal configured to cause the phase light modulator to generate the projection light in accordance with the phase configuration for the frame.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the phase light modulator includes a plurality of modulation elements arranged in an array, the method comprising:

modifying respective states of the plurality of modulation elements in response to the phase control signal.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the phase light modulator is a digital micromirror device or a liquid-crystal-on-semiconductor device.

13 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

detecting a calibration code projected onto the projection surface by an infrared sensor; and

generating the sensor signal based on the calibration code.

14 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising projecting, by a user-controlled input device, a calibration code onto a user-selected projection surface.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising emitting, by the user-controlled input device, light in the infrared spectrum.

16 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

detecting a surface feature of the projection surface by a depth sensor; and

generating the sensor signal based on the surface feature.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the surface feature includes non-flat surface features.

18 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a projection device, cause the projection device to perform operations comprising the method according to claim 10 .

19 . A projection system, comprising:

a light source configured to emit a light in response to an image data;

a user-controlled input device configured to project a calibration code onto a user-selected projection surface;

a phase light modulator configured to receive the light from the light source and to apply a spatially-varying phase modulation on the light, thereby to steer the light and generate a projection light; and

a controller configured to:

dynamically determine, based on at least one of a user input or a sensor signal, a target geometry and a relief of a projection surface on which the projection light is projected,

determine, based on the target geometry and the relief, a phase configuration for a frame of the image data, and

provide a phase control signal to the phase light modulator, the phase control signal configured to cause the phase light modulator to generate the projection light in accordance with the phase configuration for the frame.

20 . A method of driving a projection system, comprising:

projecting, by a user-controlled input device, a calibration code onto a user-selected projection surface;

emitting a light by a light source, in response to an image data;

receiving the light by a phase light modulator;

applying a spatially-varying phase modulation on the light by the phase light modulator, thereby to steer the light and generate a projection light;

dynamically determining, based on at least one of a user input or a sensor signal, a target geometry and a relief of a projection surface on which the projection light is projected;

determining, based on the target geometry and the relief, a phase configuration for a frame of the image data; and

providing a phase control signal to the phase light modulator, the phase control signal configured to cause the phase light modulator to generate the projection light in accordance with the phase configuration for the frame.