Compact projection system including a light guide array

• US 20050286123A1
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nayef M. Abu-Ageel
• Original Assignee: Nayef M. Abu-Ageel
• Inventors: Abu-Ageel, Nayef M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,318,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/443
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0994 Fibers, light pipes optical fibers per se G02B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/06 the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/122 Basic optical elements, e.g. light-guiding paths
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/136 by etching
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/005 Projectors using an electronic spatial light modulator but not peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/208 Homogenising, shaping of the illumination light
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3114 by using a sequential colour filter producing one colour at a time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/315 Modulator illumination systems general applications of lighting devices F21V; general optical systems G02B; lamp houses for projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/20

Abstract

An optical projection system comprises a light source, a substantially planar optical element array for receiving light emitted from the light source, and a display panel for selectively outputting light from the optical element array. The optical element array includes an optically transmissive substrate material and a plurality of optical micro-elements formed on at least one surface of the substrate material. The display panel has a plurality of pixels for selectively outputting light output from the optical element array. The micro-elements can include micro-lenses, micro-prisms, micro-waveguides, or any suitable combination of the foregoing, configured to alter the characteristics of light emitted from the light source to create a desired illumination source.

Claims

1. A projection system, comprising:

a light source;

a substantially planar optical element array for receiving light emitted from the light source, the optical element array including an optically transmissive substrate material and a plurality of optical micro-elements formed on at least one surface of the substrate material; and

a display panel having a plurality of pixels for selectively outputting light output from the optical element array.

2. The projection system of claim 1, wherein the display panel is selected from the group consisting of a transmissive display panel and a reflective display panel.

3. The projection system of claim 1, further comprising a homogenizer that includes the optical element array.

4. The projection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a reflector for reflecting light from the light source toward the optical element array.

5. The projection system of claim 1, further comprising:

relay optics for directing the light output from the optical element array onto the display panel.

6. The projection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a projection lens receiving light output from the display panel.

7. The projection system of claim 6, further comprising:

a field lens located between the display panel and the projection lens, passing light from the display panel to the projection lens.

8. The projection system of claim 6, further comprising:

a screen receiving light output from the projection lens.

9. The projection system of claim 1, wherein the light source includes a plurality of individual light sources.

10. The projection system of claim 1, wherein the optical element array splits the input light from the light source into a plurality of superimposing sub-beams to produce a substantially uniform distribution of output light across the exit aperture of the optical element array.

11. The projection system of claim 1, wherein the optical micro-elements are selected from the group consisting of lenses, prisms, optical waveguides, and any suitable combination of the foregoing.

12. The projection system of claim 1, wherein the optical element array includes a circulation array and an extraction array.

13. The projection system of claim 12, wherein the optical element array includes non-overlapping circulation and extraction arrays.

14. The projection system of claim 12, wherein at least some of the micro-elements included in the circulation array are coated with a reflective layer.

15. A projection system, comprising:

a light source emitting light that is non-uniform in terms of intensity and angle;

a homogenizer receiving the non-uniform light and outputting light that is substantially uniformly distributed across the exit aperture of the homogenizer in terms of intensity and angle; and

a display panel having a plurality of pixels for selectively outputting light output from the homogenizer.

16. The projection system of claim 15, wherein the homogenizer includes:

a substantially planar optical element array for receiving the non-uniform light from the light source, the optical element array including an optically transmissive substrate material and a plurality of optical micro-elements formed on at least one surface of the substrate material; and

a light guide receiving the light output from the optical element array.

17. The projection system of claim 16, wherein the homogenizer further includes:

a second substantially planar a substantially planar optical element array for receiving light output from the light guide, the second optical element array including an optically transmissive substrate material and a plurality of optical micro-elements formed on at least one surface of the substrate material.

18. The projection system of claim 16, wherein the optical micro-elements are selected from the group consisting of lenses, prisms, optical waveguides, and any suitable combination of the foregoing.

19. The projection system of claim 16, further comprising:

a reflector for reflecting light from the light source toward the optical element array.

20. The projection system of claim 16, further comprising:

a projection lens receiving light output from the display panel.