Illumination system using multiple light sources with integrating tunnel and projection systems using same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical system, comprising:
- a plurality of light sources capable of emitting output light;
an integrating tunnel having an input end; and
a light-collecting optical system disposed between the plurality of light sources and the input end of the integrating tunnel, the light-collecting system transforming at least a portion of the output light from the plurality of light sources into a substantially telecentric illumination beam, the substantially telecentric illumination beam being coupled to the integrating tunnel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An illumination system, such as may be used to illuminate an image display device in an image projection system, includes a plurality of light sources capable of emitting output light. In some embodiments, the light sources are light emitting diodes (LEDs). The light-collecting system transforms light from the plurality of light sources into a substantially telecentric illumination beam. The substantially telecentric illumination beam passes into the integrating tunnel, to produce an illumination beam having a substantially uniform brightness cross-sectional profile.
136 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. An optical system, comprising:
-
a plurality of light sources capable of emitting output light;
an integrating tunnel having an input end; and
a light-collecting optical system disposed between the plurality of light sources and the input end of the integrating tunnel, the light-collecting system transforming at least a portion of the output light from the plurality of light sources into a substantially telecentric illumination beam, the substantially telecentric illumination beam being coupled to the integrating tunnel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. An illumination unit for a projection system, comprising:
-
a plurality of light sources capable of producing light;
light telecentrizing means for making at least some of the light from the light sources substantially telecentric; and
light tunnel integrating means for making the substantially telecentric light into an illumination beam of uniform brightness.
-
-
22. A projection system, comprising:
-
an illumination system comprising a first illumination sub-system comprising a plurality of light sources capable of emitting output light, an integrating tunnel having an input end, and a light-collecting optical system disposed between the plurality of light sources and the integrating tunnel, the light-collecting optical system transforming at least some of the output light from the plurality of light sources into a substantially telecentric illumination beam, the substantially telecentric illumination beam being integrated by the integrating tunnel to produce an integrated illumination beam; and
at least a first image forming device illuminated by the integrated illumination beam. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. An optical system, comprising:
-
a first light source;
a first reflective tunnel having an output end;
a second reflective tunnel having an input end optically coupled to the output end of the first reflective tunnel, a cross-sectional dimension of the output end of the first reflective tunnel being smaller than a cross-sectional dimension of the input end of the second integrating tunnel;
wherein light from the first light sources passes through the first reflective tunnel to the second reflective tunnel. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
-
Specification