SBIR-STTR Award

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project aims to use novel carbon fiber-integrated microelectromechanical (MEMS) structures to develop an innovative high definition raster-scanned projection display system for mobile devices and other applications. Current technology relies on silicon-based MEMS structures that suffer from poor fracture toughness and fatigue behavior, and cannot provide the simultaneous large angular deflections and scanning speeds necessary for projection display. Research objectives for this project include fabricating the MEMS components, testing the prototype electronics and optics systems, packaging the optics and electronics into a portable prototype unit, and conducting preliminary investigations into screen materials. The anticipated technical results will be a functional, full-color prototype demonstrating proof of concept for a miniaturized MEMS and optics-based projection display system. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project applies to mobile device users, offering the potential of a small, affordable, projection system that could be embedded in almost any mobile device to produce a large, high resolution image onto any near-by surface. Use of mobile devices has been rapidly expanding, however the limitations of a <5" diagonal display prevent mobile devices from achieving their full potential. The proposed technology's carbon fiber MEMS micromirrors are the only demonstrated technology capable of meeting the fast speed and large deflection requirements that enable mobile projection displays capable of providing a laptop-like user experience from a mobile device. This innovation can enhance technological and scientific understanding via an improved method for multi-media information display and access. Societal benefits include improved communication and transfer of multi-media. Commercial impact is significant, as the technology could be integrated into most hand-held mobile devices, enabling portable video-viewing

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is aimed at overcoming the small screen size limitations of mobile devices. The use of projection technology based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) micromirrors capable of scanning laser beams onto surfaces embedded within these devices offers a potential solution to the screen size problem. The end-goal of this project is the development of a tiny, energy efficient, low-cost, embeddable projection system capable of projecting large, high-resolution images at short distances from mobile devices. This effort will build off of work done in the Phase I project, in which a lab-scale functional prototype (a functional prototype has functionality but not scale or form-factor) of the system was built. This proposed effort will consist of two major research thrusts that are critical to the technology?s success 1) Development of an illumination module with integrated intensity modulator, and 2) Development of an advanced, miniaturized, pico-projector prototype. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project includes improving technology in the mobile device field. Business users and consumers are increasingly relying on the convenience of mobile devices as computing power and communication bandwidth improves. This market sector is increasing rapidly, and wireless mobile devices such as smart phones and netbooks are primary devices for computing and Internet access. However, the limitations of a sub-5" diagonal display have prevented mobile devices from achieving their full potential. The demand for ever smaller wireless devices (as witnessed by subsequent generations of the iPod) and the need for more screen real estate are in direct conflict. The capability of pico projectors to overcome screen-size limitations in mobile electronics devices, projecting a large image despite their small size, makes embedded pico projectors a perfect fit for space-constrained mobile devices. Through their ability to enlarge displays, embedded pico projectors can unlock the potential of the mobile device and make them more capable as primary computing and Internet-access platforms. This capability ensures this proposed technology will have high commercial demand for the extended future