OPITCAL PROJECTION AND IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS

• US 20070263174A1
• Filed: 02/08/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Young Optics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Young Optics, Inc.
• Inventors: Cheng, Chu-Ming, Shyu, Jyh-Horng
• Application Number:
  US11/672,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20070263174A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/34
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/26 Projecting separately subsidiary matter simultaneously with main image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3102 using two-dimensional electronic spatial light modulators micromechanical modulators as such G02B26/0833; liquid crystal modulators as such G02F1/13
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/317 Convergence or focusing systems electronic adjustment of convergence H04N9/3185; convergence or focusing arrangements for cathode ray tubes H04N9/28; means for automatic focusing of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3179 Video signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3194 including sensor feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3197 using light modulating optical valves

Abstract

An optical projection and image sensing apparatus including a light source, a light valve, a first lens set, a sensing module, and a beam splitter is provided. The light valve is used to convert an illumination light from the light source to an image light beam. The first lens set is used to project the image light to display an image on a screen, and the sensing module is used to sense a sensing light from the image on the screen. The beam splitter is disposed on the optical paths of the image light and the sensing light from the image on the screen. One of the sensing module and the light valve is disposed on the optical path of the sensing light passing through the beam splitter, and the other is disposed on optical path of the sensing light reflected by the beam splitter.

Claims

1. An optical projection and image sensing apparatus for projecting an image light to display an image on a screen and sensing a sensing light from the image on the screen, the optical projection apparatus comprising:

a light source, for providing an illumination light;

a light valve, disposed on the optical path of the illumination light, for converting the illumination light to the image light;

a first lens set, disposed on the optical path of the image light, for projecting the image light to display the image on the screen;

a beam splitter, disposed on the optical path of the image light and the optical path of the sensing light, the beam splitter being used to reflect a part of the sensing light and allowing a part of the sensing light to pass through, wherein one of the sensing module and the light valve is disposed on the optical path of the sensing light passing through the beam splitter, and the other is disposed on the optical path of the sensing light reflected by the beam splitter; and

a sensing module, for sensing the sensing light from the image on the screen.

2. The optical projection and image sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam splitter is disposed between the first lens set and the light valve and disposed in the first lens set, alternatively.

3. The optical projection and image sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensing module comprises at least a photosensitive device.

4. The optical projection and image sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sensing module further comprises a second lens set, disposed between the photosensitive device and the beam splitter.

5. The optical projection and image sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the photosensitive device comprises a charge coupled device (CCD) and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) photosensitive device, alternatively.

6. The optical projection and image sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first lens set comprises:

a plurality of first lenses, the central points of the first lenses being connected to form a first optical axis;

a plurality of second lenses, disposed between the first lenses and the light valve, the central points of the second lenses being connected to form a second optical axis, and the first optical axis intersecting the second optical axis; and

a reflecting device, disposed at the intersection of the first optical axis and the second optical axis.

7. The optical projection and image sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the beam splitter is disposed between the first lens set and the light valve.

8. The optical projection and image sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the beam splitter is disposed between the first lenses.

9. The optical projection and image sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the beam splitter is disposed between the first lenses and the reflecting device.

10. The optical projection and image sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the beam splitter is disposed between the second lenses and the reflecting device or between the second lenses.

11. The optical projection and image sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first lens set comprises:

a plurality of first lenses, the central points of the first lenses being connected to form a first optical axis;

a plurality of second lenses, disposed between the first lenses and the light valve, the central points of the second lenses being connected to form a second optical axis, the first optical axis intersecting the second optical axis, and the beam splitter being disposed at the intersection of the first optical axis and the second optical axis.

12. The optical projection and image sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam splitter is disposed between the first lens set and the screen.

13. The optical projection and image sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensing module comprises:

at least one photosensitive device; and

a second lens set, disposed between the photosensitive device and the beam splitter.

14. The optical projection and image sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the photosensitive device comprises a CCD and a CMOS photosensitive device, alternatively.

15. The optical projection and image sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam splitter is selected from a group consisting of a dichroic mirror, a total internal reflection prism (TIR prism), and a neutral-density filter (ND filter).

16. The optical projection and image sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light valve is selected from a group consisting of a digital micro-mirror device (DMD), a transmissive liquid crystal panel, and a liquid crystal on silicon panel (LCOS panel).

17. An optical projection and image sensing apparatus for projecting an image light to display an image on a screen and sensing a sensing light from the image on the screen, the optical projection apparatus comprising:

a light source, for providing an illumination light;

a DMD, disposed on the optical path of the illumination light, the DMD having a plurality of micro-mirrors respectively in ON state or OFF state, wherein the micro-mirrors in ON state are used to convert the illumination light to the image light;

a first lens set, disposed on the optical path of the image light, for projecting the image light to display the image on the screen; and

a sensing module, for sensing the sensing light from the image on the screen, and the sensing module is disposed on the optical path of the sensing light reflected by the micro-mirrors in OFF state.

18. The optical projection and image sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the sensing module comprises at least a photosensitive device.

19. The optical projection and image sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the sensing module further comprises a second lens set disposed between the photosensitive device and the DMD.

20. The optical projection and image sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the photosensitive device comprises a CCD and a CMOS photosensitive device, alternatively.