STEREO PROJECTION OPTICAL SYSTEM

• US 20090096991A1
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: LIN, YUAN-YU, CHIEN, I-PEN
• Granted Patent: US 8,004,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/8
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/25 using polarisation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/008 using micromirror devices
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/26 using polarised or coloured light separating different viewpoint images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388

Abstract

A stereo projection optical system includes a polarization converter, a 2-way wheel, a retarder, and an image engine. The polarization converter is configured for converting an incident light into a polarized light which have single polarization. The 2-way wheel includes a reflective region and a transmissive region. The reflective region is configured for reflecting the polarized light and the transmissive region is configured for transmitting the polarized light. The retarder is positioned to receive an emergent light from one of the reflective region and the transmissive region. The image engine is positioned to receive light output of the 2-way wheel and the retarder and configured for emitting the light output comprising spatial information. The stereo projection optical systems provide viewers three-dimensional images formed by two alternative polarized light beams whose polarizations are perpendicular to each other utilizing the 2-way wheel.

Claims

1. A stereo projection optical system, comprising:

a polarization converter configured for converting incident light into polarized light which has single polarization;

a 2-way wheel positioned to receive the polarized light from the polarization converter and comprising a reflective region configured for reflecting the polarized light and a transmissive region configured for transmitting the polarized light, the polarized light incident on one of the reflective region and the transmissive region at any given time;

a retarder positioned to receive a light emerging from one of the reflective region and the transmissive region; and

an image engine positioned to receive light output of the 2-way wheel and the retarder and configured for emitting the light output comprising spatial information.

2. The stereo projection optical system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image engine comprises:

a polarizing beam splitter positioned to receive the light output of the 2-way wheel and the retarder;

a digital micro-mirror device positioned to receive emergent light from the polarizing beam splitter; and

a total internal reflective prism positioned to receive the light output from the polarizing beam splitter and configured for coupling the emergent light of the polarizing beam splitter into the digital micro-mirror device and transmitting the light output from the digital micro-mirror device.

3. The stereo projection optical system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the polarizing beam splitter is a wire grid polarizer.

4. The stereo projection optical system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the polarizing beam splitter is a polarizing beam splitter prism.

5. The stereo projection optical system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of analyzers disposed in the light paths between the polarizing beam splitter and the 2-way wheel.

6. The stereo projection optical system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the analyzer is a polarizer.

7. The stereo projection optical system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image engine comprises:

a first digital micro-mirror device positioned to receive a light output from the reflective region of the 2-way wheel;

a second digital micro-mirror device positioned to receive a light output from the transmissive region of the 2-way wheel;

a first total internal reflective prism positioned to receive the light output from the 2-way wheel and configured for reflecting the light output from the reflective region to the first digital micro-mirror device;

a second total internal reflective prism positioned to receive the light output from the retarder and configured for reflecting the light output from the transmissive region into the second digital micro-mirror device; and

a light combiner positioned to receive light output from the first, second total internal reflective prism and configured for combining the light output into a single light output.

8. The stereo projection optical system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the light combiner is an X-prism.

9. The stereo projection optical system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the light combiner is a polarizing beam splitter.

10. The stereo projection optical system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the polarizing beam splitter is a wire grid polarizer.

11. The stereo projection optical system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the polarizing beam splitter is a polarizing beam splitter prism.

12. The stereo projection optical system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the image engine comprises a plurality of analyzers disposed between the light combiner and the first, second digital micro-mirror device.

13. The stereo projection optical system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the analyzer is a polarizer.

14. The stereo projection optical system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of reflective apparatuses disposed between the image engine and the 2-way wheel and configured for coupling the light output of the 2-way wheel into the image engine.

15. The stereo projection optical system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a projecting lens positioned to receive the emergent light of the image engine and configured for projecting an image.