8.1 Overview

The DLPC410 DMD Digital Controller enables customers to stream binary pattern data to the DLP650LNIR, DLP7000(UV), or DLP9500(UV) DMD for very high speed binary pattern imaging applications. The DLPC410 receives customer input binary pattern data on a row by row basis and passes the pattern data to the connected DMD. Concurrent with the receipt of data, the DLPC410 captures the customer requested ROW mode and ROW address which determines if row loading starts at the top (or bottom) of the DMD and increments (or decrements) to the next row for the next Row Cycle, or if a specific row address is specified for loading the next pattern data. Each DMD micromirror is individually configurable through this data loading process which enables precise, predictable control of each and every micromirror in the DMD Micromirror array.

The DLPC410 also receives customer input control information instructing the DLPC410 to command the DLPA200 device(s) to generate the Mirror Clocking Pulses (MCPs) to the DMD – these MCPs are necessary for the DMD micromirrors to transition from their current state to their new state, the new state being determined by the new data just loaded into the DMD. A feedback signal from the DLPC410 frames the MCP such that the customer knows the MCP request has been received by the DLPC410 and when the MCP is completed.

The DLPC410 supports multiple MCP modes of operation. The DMD Micromirror arrays are arranged into horizontal Reset Blocks – there are typically 16 horizontal Reset Blocks per DMD where each Reset Block receives a single MCP to initiate the Micromirror state change. DMD blocks can be Reset one at a time or all at once. In certain modes, adjacent blocks of 2 or of 4 Reset Blocks can be Reset at the same time. This flexibility provides great advantages to optimizing the time certain DMD blocks are in certain states, which in turn can provide speed advantages or extend DMD illumination windows (the duration for which a solid state illuminator should be illuminating).

Behind the scenes, the DLPC410 also communicates directly with the control logic of the DMD to read part type and status information and to configure the DMD for proper operation. The DLPC410 is always paired with the DLPR410 PROM as the DLPR410 provides the configuration bit stream which configures the DLPC410 to be a DMD Digital Controller. The DLPC410 also drives one DMD at a time, and that DMD could require either one or two DLPA200 devices depending on the DMD type. For further information, refer to Table 11 or the individual DMD datasheets (links can be found in Table 26).