MEMS Array Chip Can Project Video the Size of a Grain of Sand (spectrum.ieee.org)

by bookofjoe 41 comments 90 points
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41 comments

[−] antimatter15 32d ago
This reminds me of the original patents that Magic Leap had, which involved pumping light through a single optical fiber that was wiggled by piezoelectrics into a spiral to project light (https://kguttag.com/2018/01/06/magic-leap-fiber-scanning-dis...).
[−] cubefox 32d ago

> The chip projected a roughly 125-micrometer image of the Mona Lisa.

This may seem small (barely visible as a dot to the naked eye), but that's also the geometric mean of the Planck length and the diameter of the observable universe. So average size actually.

[−] jmward01 32d ago
I wonder if this has implications for custom home chips/prototyping. I'm sure a big issue is vibrations but something like this could remove the need for masks at least. (again, not my area so I am clobbering terminology I am sure). It may open up home fab capabilities.
[−] dmitrygr 32d ago
What is this, a movie theater for ants?
[−] CoolThings 32d ago
This might be relevant for Augmented Reality headgear.
[−] jcims 31d ago
Seems like you could put a few of these on a contact lens and minimally get a small private HUD. Seems like with a few of them (or fast enough scanning speed) you could build effectively a light field to give it depth)
[−] cyberax 32d ago
This is actually getting close enough to manipulate the _phase_ of light! And doing that would allow creating true holograms.

Or alternative true augmented reality glasses that are not limited to one focal plane.

[−] kylehotchkiss 32d ago
Sounds like this will have interesting fiber-optic implications?
[−] foruhar 31d ago
Happy days at the ant colony.
[−] cordwainersmith 32d ago
How do you even fit a video projector onto something that small, the physics feel like they shouldn't cooperate.
[−] darfo 32d ago
Oh wait. It does have the correct title. My fruit flies are cheering.
[−] SilentM68 32d ago
[dead]
[−] darfo 32d ago
Cool. Now I can show videos to my fruit flies! /s

Srsly title should be "MEMS Array Chip the Size of a Grain of Sand Can Project Video"

not

"MEMS Array Chip Can Project Video the Size of a Grain of Sand"

[−] gurumeditations 32d ago
This is revolutionary. No other way to put it.