Polarized light emitting diode (LED) color illumination system and method for providing same

• US 20060164726A1
• Filed: 06/22/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jabil Circuit Incorporated (Jabil Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Jabil Circuit Incorporated (Jabil Inc.)
• Inventors: Morejon, Israel J., Zhai, Jinhui, Li, Haizhang, Pantalone, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,325,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/495
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0994 Fibers, light pipes optical fibers per se G02B6/02
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1033 having a single light modulator for all colour channels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1053 having a single light modulator for all colour channels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/14 operating by reflection only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/145 having sequential partially reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/149 using crossed beamsplitting surfaces, e.g. cross-dichroic cubes or X-cubes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/28 for polarising used in stereoscopes G02B30/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3167 for polarizing the light beam polarizing optical systems per se G02B27/28
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A polarized light illumination system includes a light emitting diode (LED) (601, 602, 603) for providing a source of light that is directed to a non-polarizing dichroic combiner (607) for combining light from the LEDs into a single light source. A power beam splitter (PBS) (608) is then used for splitting the single light source into polarized light components and an output waveguide (611) operates to provide a source of uniformly illuminated light. A condenser lens (612) then projects the uniformly illuminated light to a microdisplay panel (613) for use with a television receiver or other type of display monitor.

Claims

1. A polarized light illumination system comprising:

at least one light emitting diode (LED) for providing a source of light;

a non-polarizing dichroic combiner for combining the at least one LED into a single light source;

a power beam splitter (PBS) for splitting the single light source into polarized light components;

an output waveguide for providing a source of uniformly illuminated light; and

a condenser lens for projecting the uniformly illuminated light to a microdisplay panel.

2. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a prism for propagating at least one of the polarized light components to the output waveguide.

3. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a half wave plate for rotating the polarization state of at least one of the polarized light components.

4. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a polarization rotator for rotating the polarization of at least one of the polarized light components.

5. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 1, further comprising:

an optical waveguide for receiving the source of light from the at least one LED.

6. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 5, further comprising:

a converging lens for directing light from the optical waveguide to the non-polarizing dichroic combiner.

7. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 1, wherein the polarized light components are s-polarized light and p-polarized light.

8. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 1, wherein the microdisplay panel is a digital light processing (DLP) panel.

9. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 1, wherein the non-polarizing dichroic combiner is a cross-type combiner or a V-type combiner.

10. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 1, wherein the polarized light illumination system is used in a television.

11. A polarized light illumination system for projecting a color image comprising:

a light emitting diode (LED) illumination assembly;

a power beam splitter (PBS) for splitting light from the LED illumination assembly into a p-component and s-component;

a polarization rotation apparatus for converting the p-component to an s-component;

an output light integrator for integrating the s-component sources of light into a uniform light source; and

a condenser lens for directing the uniform light source to a microdisplay panel.

12. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 11, wherein the LED illumination assembly is comprised of:

at least one LED light source;

at least one waveguide for directing light from the at least one LED light source; and

a non-polarized dichroic combiner for combining the at least waveguide into a single source of light.

13. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 12, further comprising:

a lens positioned at one end of the at least one waveguide for focusing light from the at least one waveguide to the non-polarized dichroic combiner.

14. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 12, wherein the at least one waveguide is a hollow light pipe.

15. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 12, wherein the at least one waveguide is a solid integrator rod.

16. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 12, wherein the non-polarizing dichroic combiner is a cross-dichroic combiner.

17. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 12, wherein the non-polarizing dichroic combiner is a V-type dichroic combiner.

18. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 11, further comprising:

a prism for directing light from the PBS to the polarization rotation apparatus.

19. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 11, wherein the polarization rotation apparatus is a half wave plate.

20. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 11, wherein the polarization rotation apparatus is a retro-reflective polarization rotator.

21. A polarized light illumination system as in claim 11, wherein the polarized light illumination system is used in a television receiver.

22. A method for providing polarized light illumination comprising the steps of:

providing a source of light using at least one light emitting diode (LED);

combining the at least one LED into a single light source using a non-polarizing dichroic combiner;

splitting the single light source into polarized light components using a power beam splitter (PBS);

providing a source of uniformly illuminated light using an output waveguide; and

projecting the uniformly illuminated light to a microdisplay panel using a condenser lens.

23. A method for providing polarized light illumination as in claim 22, further comprising the step of:

propagating at least one of the polarized light components to the output waveguide using a prism.

24. A method for providing polarized light illumination as in claim 22, further comprising the step of:

rotating the polarization state of at least one of the polarized light components using a half wave plate.

25. A method for providing polarized light illumination as in claim 22, further comprising the step of:

rotating the polarization of at least one of the polarized light components using a polarization rotator.

26. A method for providing polarized light illumination as in claim 22, further comprising the step of:

receiving the source of light from the at least one LED using an optical waveguide.

27. A method for providing polarized light illumination as in claim 26, further comprising the step of:

directing light from the optical waveguide to the non-polarizing dichroic combiner using a converging lens.

28. A method for providing polarized light illumination as in claim 22, wherein the polarized light components are comprised of s-polarized light and p-polarized light.

29. A method for providing polarized light illumination as in claim 22, wherein the microdisplay panel is a digital light processing (DLP) panel.

30. A method for providing polarized light illumination as in claim 22, wherein the non-polarizing dichroic combiner is a cross-type combiner or a V-type combiner.

31. A method for providing polarized light illumination as in claim 22, wherein the polarized light illumination system is used in a television.