I'm looking at developing a new concept of energy harvesting. I was wondering if a DLP Discovery 4100 Kit would be sufficient for my experiment. For my experiment I require the use of DMD mirrors to track the solar arrays from the sun and aim them at concentrated doses at a material. My question is. If I purchase this DLP4X00KIT will I be able to program the DMD mirrors for this specific application? and does it come with the program and tools I will require to set up this sort of experiment? or is there any other starter kit that would be able to conduct this experiment?
Hello Jeremy,
First, welcome to the DLP section of the TI-E2E community.
I think there is some misconception about DMDs. A DMD is a two operational position device. The mirrors can be landed at +12° and -12° degrees. All other positions are not a usable state. When the mirrors are switched from one state to the other (+12° to -12° or -12° to +12°) they do pass through other positions, but cannot be held there.
This is true of all DMDs. It sounds like you need a pointing mirror of some kind.
Fizix
Hi Jeremy,
Thank you for submitting this inquiry. To add to what Fizix said, the D4100 Kit, your energy harvesting application is a good example of how the development kits are used. The kits are widely used for Research and Development (scientifc and commercial), in addition to production. One of the big advantages of the D4100 is that you can manipulate, control, etc. the mirrors withing the DMD. If you buy a standard starter kit, it includes TI's Discovery Explorer API/GUI (Application Programming Interface) that you can use to build your application around and send funciton calls/commands to the kit. You can move the mirrors either -12 degrees (negative state) or -12 degrees (Postive State).
Another great thing about Explorer API is that it interfaces with your PC via an onboard USB port, so you can send/load images through that interface. Your required frame rates really determines the level of API you need. For example, you can get up to 20 HZ binary with the standard D4100 starter kit (w/ Explorer). With the DLi D2D/DVI expansion board add on to the D4100, you can get up to 60 Hz binary. Then there is another API you can use to get up to ~27,000 Hz. What are your required frame rates?
I look forward to hearing back from you.
Justin LemonTechnical Sales ConsultantDigital Light Innovationsjlemon@DLinnovations.com512-615-4630 office512-615-4635 faxwww.DLinnovations.com
hello again,
Firstly thank you both for replying to my post. Really appreciated.
Just a little verification cause I'm a little confused as to what you both said. Fizix is saying that I should use a point mirror say the (TALP1000). But Justin is saying that the DMD's in the D4100 starter kit will be able to be manipulated so that my energy harvesting application is a perfect use for the kit.
Can DMD's be programmed to act like a pointing mirror so that it will be able to concentrate solar arrays to heat up a material and change the materials temperature?
Regards
Jeremy
Jeremy,
I'm going to reinforce what Fizix said. The DMD is an array of binary mirrors. Each mirror in the array can only be in one of two positions +12 degrees and -12 degrees, with respect to the plane of the array. Also, all mirrors tilt along an axis oriented parallel to each other (that is, pointed in the same direction). This means that a DMD can not act as a tracking mirror, unless the whole array is physically moved in orientation to accomplish the tracking.
One other very important point, which I haven't seen addressed yet: power handling ability. The DMDs come in various sizes, but even the largest ones have a total surface area on the order of 1 square inch (some are much smaller). Your intention to deal with concentrated solar light is almost certainly beyond the thermal capability of the DMDs. That is, I am assuming that what you are describing involves the concentration of the solar flux before it is incident on the DMD. The DMD reflects light, but is not 100% reflective - therefore it absorbs energy from the radiation incident upon it. In the case of a concentrated solar beam, this could be way beyond the thermal handling ability of the DMD. The DMD *MUST* be operated within its thermal specifications (see data sheet). Otherwise, its operational lifetime will be shortened severely.
We welcome continuing the discussion.
Best regards,
Pascal
Hi Pascal,
So what you and Fizix are saying is that it would be unwise to purchase the D4100 development kit as the DMD were not designed for this sort of application? and also because of the fact that it can only move from two possible positions. So I was researching what Fizix said about using a pointing mirror and came across the TALP1000B pointing mirror? Would this mirror be more practical in the sense that it will be able to direct solar arrays, and point them at a material? If so, how would I be able to control the TALP1000B, in such sense, as well as program it to suit conditions that I need it to be? Also what else would I need to purchase if I would like to use this sort of mirror?
Could you share some our your thoughts about the TALP1000B? or is there another mirror that would allow me to do this?
I must tell you that TI DLP is no longer emphasizing analog mirror products, and the TALP1000B is not recommended for new designs. So, I'm not going to go any further on analog mirrors.
I don't know if it will be anywhere near what you are looking for, but you may want to look here: http://www.ti.com/ww/en/analog/solarmagic/index.shtml
The SolarMagic products do have devices for solar tracking, but I'm not really familiar with the product line.
I really don't want to be discouraging toward your ideas. It is just that I don't believe that the DMD is suited to your application, and the analog mirror products are not recommended for new designs (I don't know if they would do what you want).
If you would like to discuss your ideas further - perhaps offline - please let me know, and I will open a channel for you to do so.
Hi all.
I would like to use a DMD as a wavelength tunable filter. Can you please tell me which chip is best to use. I have to stay on budget and can not surpass $1000. Thank you.
Hello Michael,
I regret to inform you that I am not aware of any D4100 systems under $1000. However you may want to look at the LightCrafter, which is available for $599 at the TI eStore and may fit your needs. The following is a link to the LightCrafter at the TI-eStore:
https://estore.ti.com/DLPLIGHTCRAFTER-DLP-LIGHTCRAFTER-P2788.aspx
I hope this helps.