NON-COLLINEAR LIGHT ENGINE FOR COLOR IMAGING SYSTEMS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a light engine having an output axis in a first orientation to provide a light source for a color imaging system having at least two or more panels; and
an imaging kernel optically couplable to the light engine to project a display based on an image data, said imaging kernel having an input axis in a second orientation substantially non-collinear to the first orientation.
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Abstract
For use with a color imaging system, a projection light engine may be configured in a way such that an output axis of the projection light engine may be in a non-collinear relationship with an input axis of an imaging kernel that provides image data processing to project a display. Undesired polarizations and colors may be dumped out of a critical optical path, using at least two or more ports. As a result, filters and other optical components may be optimized, significantly improving contrast ratios in a projection display system including a color imaging system with at least two panels.
70 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a light engine having an output axis in a first orientation to provide a light source for a color imaging system having at least two or more panels; and
an imaging kernel optically couplable to the light engine to project a display based on an image data, said imaging kernel having an input axis in a second orientation substantially non-collinear to the first orientation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus comprising:
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a light engine having an output axis in a first orientation, said light engine including a light source for a color imaging system having at least two or more panels;
a first polarization beam splitter coupled in the output axis to receive a light beam from the light source;
a color switch coupled to receive light reflected by the input polarization beam splitter;
a turn-around polarizer coupled to reflect light incident from the color switch back to the color switch; and
an imaging kernel having an input axis in a second orientation in a substantially non-collinear relationship with the first orientation, said imaging kernel including, a second polarization beam splitter having a first, a second, a third, and a fourth side coupled to receive light from the light engine through the first side, and a first spatial light modulator coupled to one of the second and third sides, wherein the imaging kernel to provide a content-modulated output beam through the fourth side. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A color imaging system comprising:
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a light pipe homogenizer located in a first axis to receive light from a light source;
a lens disposed in the first axis after the light pipe homogenizer;
an input polarization beam splitter disposed in the first axis after the lens;
a first dump port oriented in the first axis after the input polarization beam splitter for dumping light of a first polarization;
a color switch coupled to receive light of a second polarization from the input polarization beam splitter in the first axis;
a first quarter-wave retarder coupled to receive light from the color switch in the first axis;
a turn-around polarizer coupled to receive light from and reflect light back through the first quarter-wave retarder and the color switch in the first axis;
a polarization beam splitter having a first side perpendicular to a second axis, wherein the second axis is in a different orientation than the first axis;
a second dump port oriented in the second axis after the turn-around polarizer;
a second quarter-wave retarder and a first spatial light modulator coupled to one of a second side and a third side of the polarization beam splitter; and
an output port located at a fourth side of the polarization beam splitter. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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receiving a light beam from a light engine having an output axis of a first orientation in a panel-based color imaging system to project a display based on an image data; and
providing a color switch in a second orientation for an imaging kernel having an input axis collinear with the second orientation, wherein the first and second orientations are in a substantially non-collinear relationship. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method comprising:
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configuring a light engine in a first orientation for a color imaging system having at least two or more panels; and
optically coupling to the light engine a color switch in a second orientation being in a non-collinear relationship with the first orientation to project a display based on an image data. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification