Method and apparatus for recycling reflected light in optical systems as e.g. projection display
First Claim
1. An optical system, comprising:
- at least one light source, which emits light substantially of a particular wavelength range in a substantially randomly polarized or unpolarized state;
at least one reflective polarizer coupled to the at least one light source; and
at least one element that redirects a portion of light reflected by the reflective polarizer through the at least one light source and back to the at least one reflective polarizer, wherein there is substantially no optical distance between the at least one light source and the at least one element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical system (100, 200) and method of use includes at least one light source (105, 106, 107, 211, 302), each of which transmit light substantially of a particular wavelength range in a substantially randomly polarized state or an unpolarized state. The optical system (100, 200) includes a reflective polarizer (108, 204, 305) coupled to the light source, and an element (101, 102, 103, 201, 202, 203, 301) that redirects the reflected light through the light source and onto the reflective polarizer. Illustratively there is substantially no optical distance between the light source (105, 106, 107, 211, 302) and the element (101, 102, 103, 201, 202, 203, 301). An optical package, which recycles reflected light is also disclosed.
28 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An optical system, comprising:
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at least one light source, which emits light substantially of a particular wavelength range in a substantially randomly polarized or unpolarized state;
at least one reflective polarizer coupled to the at least one light source; and
at least one element that redirects a portion of light reflected by the reflective polarizer through the at least one light source and back to the at least one reflective polarizer, wherein there is substantially no optical distance between the at least one light source and the at least one element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of recycling light to improve efficiency of an optical system, the method comprising:
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providing at least one reflective polarizer and at least one source of unpolarized or randomly polarized light, where one of the reflective polarizers is coupled to each of the sources of unpolarized or randomly polarized light;
redirecting a portion of light reflected from the reflective polarizer through the light source and back to the reflective polarizer, which transmits light of a particular polarization state and reflects the remaining light to the element, wherein there is substantially no optical distance between the reflective polarizer and the element. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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- 19. An optical package, comprising at least one light emitting element, which is disposed in an optical element, which redirects light reflected from one end of the element back through the light emitting device and out from the one end.
Specification