Projected Overlay for Copy Degradation

• US 20090180079A1
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: William S. Oakley
• Original Assignee: William S. Oakley
• Inventors: Oakley, Willliam S.
• Application Number:
  US12/015,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20090180079A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/31
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133385 with cooling means, e.g. fans
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13355 Polarising beam splitters [PBS]
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136277 formed on a semiconductor substrate, e.g. of silicon
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/26 Projecting separately subsidiary matter simultaneously with main image

Abstract

In an embodiment, a system is provided. The system includes a visible light projector including a light source, light modulator, and projection optics. The system also includes an infra-red image generator to receive infra-red light from the light source. The system further includes focusing optics coupled to the infra-red image generator to produce an infa-red output beam.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

A visible light projector including a light source, light modulator, and projection optics;

An infra-red image generator to receive infra-red light from the light source;

And

Focusing optics coupled to the infa-red image generator to produce an infra-red output beam.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

The light modulator is a first LCoS assembly, a second LCoS assembly and a third LCoS assembly, each coupled to optical elements to receive light from the light source and each coupled to the projection optics to produce a visible light output beam.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

The optical elements include an infra-red rejection filter interposed between the light modulator and the light source;

And

The optical elements further include a first dichroic mirror interposed between the infra-red rejection filter and the first LCoS assembly and a second dichroic mirror interposed between the first dichroic mirror and each of the second LCoS assembly and the third LCoS assembly.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein:

The infra-red image generator includes an infra-red LCoS assembly.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

A chopper wheel interposed between the infra-red image generator and the light source.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein:

The infra-red LCoS assembly generates a pattern displaying a location identifier and date code in the infra-red output beam.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein:

Each LCoS assembly includes a polarization beam splitter, a first LCoS chip coupled to the polarization beam splitter to receive light of a first polarization and a second LCoS chip coupled to the polarization beam splitter to receive light of a second polarization.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein:

The infra-red LCoS assembly generates images for use in conjunction with night-vision equipment.

6. The system of claim 6, wherein:

The infra-red image generator includes a patterned slide.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein:

The patterned slide includes a location identifier.

11. A method, comprising:

Projecting a conventional image in a visible light spectrum;

Projecting an infra-red image simultaneously in an infra-red spectrum.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

The infra-red image obscures the conventional images when both images are perceived.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein:

The infra-red image is an identifier of a date and location of projection.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein:

The infra-red image is an identifier of a location of projection.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein:

The infra-red image is an image for perception by night-vision apparatus.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein:

The infra-red image is a jolly roger pirate flag.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

Interrupting a light source for the projecting of the infra-red image.

18. A system comprising:

A housing;

A first LCoS assembly coupled to the housing, the first LCoS assembly includes a polarization beam splitter coupled optically to a first LCoS chip and a second LCoS chip, the first LCoS chip to receive and modulate light of a first polarization and the second LCoS chip to receive and modulate light of a second polarization, and the first LCoS assembly further includes a first heat sink mounted on the first LCoS chip and a second heat sink mounted on the second LCoS chip;

A second LCoS assembly coupled to the housing, the second LCoS assembly includes a polarization beam splitter coupled optically to a first LCoS chip and a second LCoS chip, the first LCoS chip to receive and modulate light of a first polarization and the second LCoS chip to receive and modulate light of a second polarization, and the second LCoS assembly further includes a first heat sink mounted on the first LCoS chip and a second heat sink mounted on the second LCoS chip;

A third LCoS assembly coupled to the housing, the third LCoS assembly includes a polarization beam splitter coupled optically to a first LCoS chip and a second LCoS chip, the first LCoS chip to receive and modulate light of a first polarization and the second LCoS chip to receive and modulate light of a second polarization, and the third LCoS assembly further includes a first heat sink mounted on the first LCoS chip and a second heat sink mounted on the second LCoS chip;

A coolant circulation system coupled to the housing and coupled to the heat sinks of the first, second and third LCoS assemblies;

A first beam splitter and a second beam splitter both coupled to the housing, the first beam splitter arranged to split incoming light between the first LCoS assembly and the second beam splitter, the second beam splitter arranged to split incoming light between the second LCoS assembly and the third LCoS assembly;

An IR/UV rejection optical component disposed between the light source and the first beam splitter;

A first dichroic mirror and a second dichroic mirror both coupled to the housing, the first dichroic mirror arranged to receive light from the first LCoS assembly and the second LCoS assembly, the second dichroic mirror arranged to receive light from the first beam recombiner and from the third LCoS assembly;

A first light source to provide incoming light to the first beam splitter;

An output optics element coupled to the housing and arranged to receive light from the second beam recombiner and to focus an output light source;

An infra-red image generator coupled to the housing to receive infra-red light from the light source;

Focusing optics coupled to the housing and coupled to the infra-red image generator to produce an infra-red output beam;

A processor;

A memory coupled to the processor;

A bus coupled to the memory and the processor;

A communications path between the processor and each of the first and second LCoS chips of the first, second and third LCoS assemblies;

And

An interface coupled to the processor, the interface to receive data from a source external to the system.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

The infra-red image generator includes an infra-red LCoS assembly, the infra-red LCoS assembly includes a polarization beam splitter coupled optically to a first LCoS chip and a second LCoS chip, the first LCoS chip to receive and modulate light of a first polarization and the second LCoS chip to receive and modulate light of a second polarization, and the second LCoS assembly further includes a first heat sink mounted on the first LCoS chip and a second heat sink mounted on the second LCoS chip.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein:

The infra-red image generator includes a chopper wheel and a patterned slide, each coupled to the housing and coupled to receive the infra-red light from the light source and modulate the infra-red light.