Array for the illumination of an object

• US 20050135095A1
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CARL Zeiss JENA GmbH (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: CARL Zeiss JENA GmbH (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Geissler, Enrico
• Application Number:
  US11/016,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20050135095A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2066 Reflectors in illumination beam in projection beam G03B21/28
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 33/12 using beam-splitting or beam-combining systems, e.g. dichroic mirrors

Abstract

An array for the illumination of an object, preferably a microdisplay, by means of a two-dimensional array of individual emitters, the focal wavelengths of which correspond, respectively to the primary colors red, green and blue, and an apparatus for the spatial superimposition of the light components. The invention is characterized in that a first two-dimensional array of individual emitters and a second two-dimensional arrays of individual emitters are provided, the light components of which are spatially combined by means of a beam splitter, and the first two-dimensional array of individual emitters transmits two spectral ranges, each having a focal point wavelength, wherein the output components of the at least three light components are dimensioned in such a way that the spatially superimposed light components produce white illumination light.

Claims

1. An array for illuminating an object comprising:

an array of individual emitters, the individual emitters comprising

a first set of individual emitters whose light output focal point wavelength corresponds to red,

a second set of individual emitters whose light output focal point wavelength corresponds to blue,

a third set of individual emitters whose light output focal point wavelength corresponds to green;

an apparatus for spatial superimposition of the red, blue and green light outputs comprising a beam splitter wherein the individual emitters are grouped into a first two dimensional array and a second two dimensional array, the first two dimensional array including red emitters and blue emitters and the second two dimensional array including green emitters and wherein the red, blue and green light outputs are combined such that the spatially superimposed red, blue and green light output produce white illumination light.

2. The array as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first two dimensional array and the second two dimensional array comprises organic light emitting diodes, luminous diodes, luminescent diodes, laser diodes or a combination of the foregoing.

3. The array as recited in claim 1, wherein the first two dimensional array and the second two dimensional array are configured as a first module and a second module wherein the first module comprises at least one green individual emitter and the second module includes at least one blue individual emitter and at least one red individual emitter.

4. The array as recited in claim 3, wherein the first module comprises four green individual emitters and the second module comprises two blue individual emitters and two red individual emitters.

5. The array as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first two dimensional array and the second two dimensional array comprises a fourth set of individual emitters whose light output focal point wavelength corresponds to the color turquoise.

6. The array as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first two dimensional array and the second two dimensional array comprises a fourth set of individual emitters whose light output focal point wavelength is about four hundred eighty eight nanometers.

7. The array as recited in claim 1, wherein the beam splitter comprises a dichroitic beam splitter.

8. The array as recited in claim 1, wherein the beam splitter comprises a polarizing beam splitter.

9. The array as recited in claim 1, wherein the light output of one of the first, second or third sets of individual emitters limits total light output and the limiting light output is combined through a reflective side of a dichroitic beam splitter.

10. A method of illuminating an object, the method comprising the steps of:

creating an array of individual emitters;

selecting the individual emitters to include

a first set of individual emitters whose light output focal point wavelength corresponds to red,

a second set of individual emitters whose light output focal point wavelength corresponds to blue,

a third set of individual emitters whose light output focal point wavelength corresponds to green;

combining the light outputs of the first second and third set of individual emitters with a beam splitter; and

grouping the individual emitters into a first two dimensional array and a second two dimensional array, the first two dimensional array including red emitters and blue emitters and the second two dimensional array including green emitters and wherein the red, blue and green light outputs are combined such that the spatially superimposed red, blue and green light output produce white illumination light.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the step of selecting at least one of the first two dimensional array or the second two dimensional array to comprise organic light emitting diodes, luminous diodes, luminescent diodes, laser diodes or a combination of the foregoing.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the step of configuring the first two dimensional array and the second two dimensional array to include a first module and a second module wherein the first module comprises at least one green individual emitter and the second module includes at least one blue individual emitter and at least one red individual emitter.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising the step of configuring the first module and a second module such that the first module comprises four green individual emitters and the second module comprises two blue individual emitters and two red individual emitters.

14. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the step of, including a fourth set of individual emitters whose light output focal point wavelength corresponds to turquoise.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of, including a fourth set of individual emitters whose light output focal point wavelength is about four hundred eighty eight nanometers.

16. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the beam splitter comprises a dichroitic beam splitter.

17. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the beam splitter comprises a polarizing beam splitter.

18. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the step of directing the light output of one of the first, second or third sets of individual emitters which limits total light output such that the limiting light output is combined through a reflective side of a dichroitic beam splitter.