Polarization conversion system and method for projecting polarization encoded imagery
First Claim
1. A polarization conversion system for transmitting polarization encoded imagery to a projection screen, comprising:
- a polarization beam splitter operable to receive image light from an image source, operable to transmit image light of a first polarization state toward a first image light path, and operable to reflect image light of a second polarization state toward a second image light path;
a first polarization switch located on at least one of the first image light path and the second image light path, the polarization switch operable to selectively alternate the polarization of image light passing therethrough between a first output state of polarization and a second output state of polarization so that the image light passing therethrough has sequentially alternating polarizations;
a first projection lens located on the first image light path, wherein the first projection lens is operable to project the image light of the first image light path onto the projection screen as a first diverging light beam between the first projection lens and the projection screen;
a second projection lens located on the second image light path, wherein the second projection lens is operable to project the image light of the second path image light onto the projection screen as a second diverging light beam between the second projection lens and the projection screen;
wherein the first and second projection lenses are further operable to direct the first diverging light beam and the second diverging light beam to superimpose and substantially overlap with each other on the projection screen;
wherein the polarization conversion system is positioned between the image source and the projection screen; and
wherein the first polarization switch operates such that the first and second diverging light beams have the same state of polarization as they simultaneously reach the projection screen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A polarization conversion system separates light from an unpolarized image source into a first state of polarization (SOP) and an orthogonal second SOP, and directs the polarized light on first and second light paths. The SOP of light on only one of the light paths is transformed to an orthogonal state such that both light paths have the same SOP. A polarization modulator temporally modulates the light on the first and second light paths to first and second output states of polarization. First and second projection lenses direct light on the first and second light paths toward a projection screen to from substantially overlapping polarization encoded images. The polarization modulator may be located before or after the projection lenses. The polarization-encoded images may be viewed using eyewear with appropriate polarization filters.
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Citations
81 Claims
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1. A polarization conversion system for transmitting polarization encoded imagery to a projection screen, comprising:
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a polarization beam splitter operable to receive image light from an image source, operable to transmit image light of a first polarization state toward a first image light path, and operable to reflect image light of a second polarization state toward a second image light path; a first polarization switch located on at least one of the first image light path and the second image light path, the polarization switch operable to selectively alternate the polarization of image light passing therethrough between a first output state of polarization and a second output state of polarization so that the image light passing therethrough has sequentially alternating polarizations; a first projection lens located on the first image light path, wherein the first projection lens is operable to project the image light of the first image light path onto the projection screen as a first diverging light beam between the first projection lens and the projection screen; a second projection lens located on the second image light path, wherein the second projection lens is operable to project the image light of the second path image light onto the projection screen as a second diverging light beam between the second projection lens and the projection screen; wherein the first and second projection lenses are further operable to direct the first diverging light beam and the second diverging light beam to superimpose and substantially overlap with each other on the projection screen; wherein the polarization conversion system is positioned between the image source and the projection screen; and wherein the first polarization switch operates such that the first and second diverging light beams have the same state of polarization as they simultaneously reach the projection screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A polarization conversion system for transmitting polarization encoded imagery to a projection screen, comprising:
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a polarization beam splitter operable to receive image light from an image source, operable to transmit image light of a first polarization state toward a first image light path, and operable to reflect image light of a second polarization state toward a second image light path; a first polarization switch located on at least one of the first image light path and the second image light path, the polarization switch operable to selectively alternate the polarization of image light passing therethrough between a first output state of polarization and a second output state of polarization so that the image light passing therethrough has sequentially alternating polarizations; a first projection lens located on the first image light path, wherein the first projection lens is operable to project the image light of the first image light path onto the projection screen as a first diverging light beam between the first projection lens and the projection screen; a second projection lens located on the second image light path, wherein the second projection lens is operable to project the image light of the second path image light onto the projection screen as a second diverging light beam between the second projection lens and the projection screen; and a reflector positioned on the second image light path, wherein the reflector is operable with the second projection lens to direct the second image light from the second image light path to be superimposed on and substantially overlap on the projection screen with the first image light from the first image light path; wherein the image light received at polarization beam splitter is randomly polarized light; wherein the first and second projection lenses are further operable to direct the first diverging light beam and the second diverging light beam to superimpose and substantially overlap with each other on the projection screen; wherein the polarization conversion system is positioned between the image source and the projection screen; wherein the first polarization switch operates such that the first and second diverging light beams have the same state of polarization as they simultaneously reach the projection screen; and wherein of the light received at the polarization beam splitter is imaged at the projection screen with a single polarization state. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A polarization conversion system for transmitting polarization encoded imagery to a projection screen, comprising:
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a polarization beam splitter operable to receive image light from an image source, operable to transmit image light of a first polarization state toward a first image light path, and operable to reflect image light of a second polarization state toward a second image light path; a first polarization switch located on at least one of the first image light path and the second image light path, the polarization switch operable to selectively alternate the polarization of image light passing therethrough between a first output state of polarization and a second output state of polarization so that the image light passing therethrough has sequentially alternating polarizations; a first projection lens located on the first image light path, wherein the first projection lens is operable to project the image light of the first image light path onto the projection screen as a first diverging light beam between the first projection lens and the projection screen; a second projection lens located on the second image light path, wherein the second projection lens is operable to project the image light of the second path image light onto the projection screen as a second diverging light beam between the second projection lens and the projection screen; and a polarization rotator located optically before the first polarization switch; wherein the image light received at polarization beam splitter is randomly polarized light, wherein the first and second projection lenses are further operable to direct the first diverging light beam and the second diverging light beam to superimpose and substantially overlap with each other on the projection screen; wherein the polarization conversion system is positioned between the image source and the projection screen; wherein the first polarization switch operates such that the first and second diverging light beams have the same state of polarization as they simultaneously reach the projection screen; and wherein of the light received at the polarization beam splitter is imaged at the projection screen with a single polarization state. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A polarization conversion system for transmitting polarization encoded imagery to a projection screen, comprising:
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a polarization beam splitter operable to receive image light from an image source, operable to transmit image light of a first polarization state toward a first image light path, and operable to reflect image light of a second polarization state toward a second image light path; a first polarization switch located on at least one of the first image light path and the second image light path, the polarization switch operable to selectively alternate the polarization of image light passing therethrough between a first output state of polarization and a second output state of polarization so that the image light passing therethrough has sequentially alternating polarizations; a first projection lens located on the first image light path, wherein the first projection lens is operable to project the image light of the first image light path onto the projection screen as a first diverging light beam between the first projection lens and the projection screen; a second projection lens located on the second image light path, wherein the second projection lens is operable to project the image light of the second path image light onto the projection screen as a second diverging light beam between the second projection lens and the projection screen; a polarization rotator located optically before the first polarization switch; a reflector positioned on the second image light path, wherein the reflector is operable with the second projection lens to direct the second image light from the second image light path to be superimposed on and substantially overlap on the projection screen with the first image light from the first image light path; wherein the image light received at polarization beam splitter is randomly polarized light; wherein the first and second projection lenses are further operable to direct the first diverging light beam and the second diverging light beam to superimpose and substantially overlap with each other on the projection screen; wherein the polarization conversion system is positioned between the image source and the projection screen; wherein the first polarization switch operates such that the first and second diverging light beams have the same state of polarization as they simultaneously reach the projection screen; and wherein of the light received at the polarization beam splitter is imaged at the projection screen with a single polarization state. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. A polarization conversion system for transmitting polarization encoded imagery to a projection screen, comprising:
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a polarization beam splitter operable to receive image light from an image source, operable to transmit image light of a first polarization state toward a first image light path, and operable to reflect image light of a second polarization state toward a second image light path; a first polarization switch located on at least one of the first image light path and the second image light path, the polarization switch operable to selectively alternate the polarization of image light passing therethrough between a first output state of polarization and a second output state of polarization so that the image light passing therethrough has sequentially alternating polarizations; a first projection lens located on the first image light path, wherein the first projection lens is operable to project the image light of the first image light path onto the projection screen as a first diverging light beam between the first projection lens and the projection screen; a second projection lens located on the second image light path, wherein the second projection lens is operable to project the image light of the second path image light onto the projection screen as a second diverging light beam between the second projection lens and the projection screen; a second polarization switch located on the other of the first image light path and the second image light path relative to the first polarization switch; a polarization rotator located optically before the second polarization switch; and wherein the image light received at polarization beam splitter is randomly polarized light; wherein the first and second projection lenses are further operable to direct the first diverging light beam and the second diverging light beam to superimpose and substantially overlap with each other on the projection screen; wherein the polarization conversion system is positioned between the image source and the projection screen; wherein the first polarization switch operates such that the first and second diverging light beams have the same state of polarization as they simultaneously reach the projection screen; and wherein of the light received at the polarization beam splitter is imaged at the projection screen with a single polarization state. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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Specification