Texas Instruments DLP ® Automotive technology is established in high resolution headlights with individually controllable 1.3M pixels in a 0.55” array on digital micromirror devices (DMD). Today, several OEMs in Europe and China have introduced vehicle models using DMDs in headlamps; equipping more than10 vehicle models.
We expect the number of vehicle models equipped to roughly triple in this time frame.
To further facilitate V2X communication and personalization of vehicles, new DMDs were developed to support low cost miniaturized video projection modules. Such modules can be placed in various different locations around the vehicle, like in door panels, rocker panels, bumpers or side mirrors.
The majority of current solutions are typically either low cost static GOBO modules with simple black and white images or more sophisticated solutions, such the famous light carpet. Modules are supplied with only power and ground without a data interface.
The benefit of V2X communication enabled by our DMDs is that the modules open up a wealth of new use cases and unprecedented kind of personalization with full video capability combined with in-system programmability and over-the-air (OTA) updates.
OEMs can install modules and adjust dynamic content on-demand, which is not possible with static projection. The cost of implementing a dynamic ground projection module itself is higher than for a static one, however the in-vehicle programmability opens doors to new “on demand” business models.
To demonstrate the capability a DMD of such fully programmable module, TI just launched an evaluation kit that gives easy access to the technology and allows experiments and demonstrations of ideas
– The DLP products DLP2021LEQ1EVM evaluation module (EVM) is a complete electronic and optical system enabling accelerated evaluation of the DLP2021-Q1 chipset.
– The DLP2021-Q1 digital DMD interfaces with an FPGA-based DMD controller to enable a graphics processing unit free system architecture and instant-on video.
There are two versions available, one with RGB and one with white LED sources.
DMD samples will be available in next month for customers who like to start creating their own modules.
