Light enhancing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a first amount of light having a narrower spectrum, reflecting the narrower spectrum light from a reflective surface on a color wheel of an image projector, and transmitting light having a broader spectrum, the broader spectrum light including a second amount of light having the narrower spectrum, light passing from the color wheel including the first amount and the second amount of the narrower spectrum light.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Broader spectrum light is enhanced with light of a narrower spectrum.
107 Citations
52 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
receiving a first amount of light having a narrower spectrum, reflecting the narrower spectrum light from a reflective surface on a color wheel of an image projector, and transmitting light having a broader spectrum, the broader spectrum light including a second amount of light having the narrower spectrum, light passing from the color wheel including the first amount and the second amount of the narrower spectrum light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
10. A method comprising
receiving a first amount of light having a narrower spectrum, at a color wheel, combining the narrower spectrum light with light having a broader spectrum to generate output light, the broader spectrum light including a second amount of light having the narrower spectrum, the output light including the first amount and the second amount of the narrower spectrum light, and pulsing the first amount of light having the narrower spectrum in synchronism with rotation of the color wheel.
-
12. A method comprising
receiving a first amount of light having a narrower spectrum, at a color wheel, combining the narrower spectrum light with light having a broader spectrum to generate output light, the broader spectrum light including a second amount of light having the narrower spectrum, the output light including the first amount and the second amount of the narrower spectrum light, the narrower spectrum light and the broader spectrum light approach the color wheel from different directions.
-
17. An apparatus comprising
a light processor including a color wheel having a light passing portion and a reflective surface to (a) reflect a first amount of light having a narrower spectrum from the reflective surface of the color wheel, (b) combine the reflected narrower spectrum light and light having a broader spectrum to generate output light, the broader spectrum light including a second amount having the narrower spectrum, and (c) deliver light including the first amount and the second amount of the narrower spectrum light.
-
22. An apparatus comprising
an image projection lamp operable for a limited number of hours before failure, a light source operable for more than the limited number of hours before failure, a device to project digital images onto a viewing surface using selectively either the light source alone or at least the image projection lamp.
-
27. An apparatus comprising
a color wheel to use in an image projector, the wheel comprising a transparent portion to receive light from one side of the color wheel and to pass only light of a first spectral band, and a reflective surface to reflect light received from an opposite side of the color wheel.
-
30. An apparatus comprising
multiple lens segments arranged in a pattern to receive light from an input beam and to pass it to an output optical path, and a mirror segment in the pattern to reflect light from a second input beam to the optical path.
-
32. An apparatus comprising
a polarization conversion system (PCS) to use in an image projector, the PCS comprising a light wave retarder layer, a reflective polarizer layer on one side of the retarder layer, and a pattern of mirrors and gaps between mirrors, the pattern being on a second side of the retarder layer, the gaps to pass light from light sources arranged on the second side of the retarder layer, the reflective polarizer to reflect at least portions of the light passed from the light sources, the mirrors to reflect at least portions of the light reflected from the polarizer.
-
33. An apparatus comprising
a lamp to use in an image projector, the lamp comprising a light source having a (a) broader spectrum and (b) a reflector to produce a beam along an output optical axis using the broader spectrum light, and a source of light having a narrower spectrum, the broader spectrum containing the narrower spectrum, the source of narrower spectrum light aimed through the reflector along the output optical axis.
-
37. A lamp comprising,
a filament to emit red light and infrared light, and a reflective structure that relatively preferentially reflects infrared light emitted by the filament back to the filament and relatively preferentially reflects red light away from the filament.
-
49. An apparatus comprising
a light processor including a color wheel having a light passing portion and a reflective surface to (a) reflect a first amount of light having a narrower spectrum from the reflective surface of the color wheel, (b) combine the reflected narrower spectrum light and light having a broader spectrum to generate output light, the broader spectrum light including a second amount having the narrower spectrum, and (c) deliver light including the first amount and the second amount of the narrower spectrum light, an image projection lamp to produce the light having the broader spectrum and operable for a limited number of hours before failure, a light source to produce the narrower spectrum light and operable for more than the limited number of hours before failure, and a device to project digital images onto a viewing surface using selectively either the narrower spectrum light source alone or the light including the first amount and the second amount of the narrower spectrum light.
-
50. A lamp comprising
a filament to be heated to produce light, and structure to reflect portions of the light back to the filament to increase the energy level of the filament and to permit light of a selected band to exit the lamp.
Specification