Wavelength Combining Apparatus, System and Method

• US 20110249197A1
• Filed: 04/07/2010
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Inventors: Sprowl, Robert A., Miller, Joshua O., Hudman, Joshua M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,419,188 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/744
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0905 Dividing and/or superposing multiple light beams
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0955 Lenses lenses per se G02B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0977 Reflective elements
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2013 Plural light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2033 LED or laser light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2066 Reflectors in illumination beam in projection beam G03B21/28
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 33/12 using beam-splitting or beam-combining systems, e.g. dichroic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3129 scanning a light beam on the display screen scanning a light beam on a screen in displays other than projection devices G09G3/02; scanning systems in general G02B26/10; projectors using laser light sources in general H04N9/3161
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3173 wherein the projection device is specially adapted for enhanced portability

Abstract

A wavelength combining apparatus includes first and second optical devices. The first optical device collects and collimates or focuses light from multiple laser light sources. The second optical device includes multiple nonparallel dichroic surfaces to combine light received from the first optical device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first optical device to collect light from multiple sources and produce different color light beams having angular offsets relative to each other; and

a second optical device with multiple nonparallel dichroic surfaces to receive the different color light beams having angular offsets and to emit different color light beams at a substantially common angle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first optical device comprises a lens.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first optical device comprises a mirror.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising multiple light sources from which the first optical device collects light.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the multiple light sources comprise laser light sources.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein at least one of the laser light sources comprises a laser diode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second optical device comprises a stack of wedge shaped dichroic filters.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of laser light sources;

an optical device positioned to receive light from each of the plurality of laser light sources; and

a stack of wedge shaped dichroic filters positioned to receive light from the optical device and to produce light rays at a substantially common angle.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the plurality of laser light sources are positioned to provide parallel chief rays of light to the optical device.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the plurality of laser light sources are positioned to provide nonparallel chief rays of light to the optical device.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the plurality of laser light sources includes at least one laser light source that emits light in the visible spectrum.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the plurality of laser light sources includes at least one laser light source that emits light in the nonvisible spectrum.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the plurality of laser light sources includes sources of red, green, blue, and infrared light.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the optical device has an optical axis and the plurality of laser light sources are positioned to provide chief rays of light on one side of the optical axis.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the optical device has an optical axis and the plurality of laser light sources are positioned to provide chief rays of light on two sides of the optical axis.

16. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the plurality of laser light sources are positioned at varying distances from the optical device.

17. A projection device comprising:

a plurality of laser light sources;

a collection optic to collect light from the plurality of laser light sources;

an optical device having a plurality of nonparallel dichroic surfaces to receive light from the collection optic and to provide a substantially collimated light beam that includes light originating from each of the plurality of laser light sources; and

a scanning mirror to reflect the substantially collimated light beam in a raster pattern.

18. The projection device of claim 17 further comprising a wireless interface.

19. The projection device of claim 17 further comprising video path components to receive video data and to drive the plurality of laser light sources.

20. The projection device of claim 19 further comprising a wireless interface capable of sourcing video content to the video path components.