WIDE FIELD-OF-VIEW PROJECTOR

• US 20130016324A1
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Published: 01/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Travis, Adrian
• Granted Patent: US 8,672,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/85
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0081 with means for altering, e.g. enlarging, the entrance or exit pupil
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0046 Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/28 Reflectors in projection beam in illumination beam G03B21/2066
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/2294 Addressing the hologram to an active spatial light modulator
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2225/23 Grating based SLM

Abstract

This document describes various techniques for implementing a wide field-of-view projector. A wide field-of-view projector may include a spatial light modulator configured to inject light rays into an input wedge. The input wedge acts to output the light rays with an increased fan-out angle. In an embodiment, the spatial light modulator is controlled to inject light rays into the input wedge effective to project an image from the surface of an output wedge that is positioned proximate, and receives light rays with an increased fan-out angle from, the input wedge.

Claims

1. A projector comprising:

a spatial light modulator configured to output modulated light rays; and

an input wedge positioned proximate the spatial light modulator, the input wedge configured to receive the modulated light rays from the spatial light modulator and to output the light rays at an increased fan-out angle.

2. A projector as described in claim 1, wherein the input wedge is further configured to output the light rays to generate a holographic image.

3. A projector as described in claim 1, wherein the input wedge is further configured to output the light rays at the increased fan-out angle into an output wedge, the output wedge configured to receive the light rays, at the increased fan-out angle, from the input wedge, and to output the light rays over a surface of the output wedge to generate a 2-dimensional image.

4. A projector as described in claim 3, wherein the input wedge is further configured to output the light rays at the increased fan-out angle into a thick corner of the output wedge.

5. A projector as described in claim 1, wherein the spatial light modulator comprises liquid crystal displays.

6. A projector as described in claim 1, wherein the spatial light modulator comprises a phase modulator.

7. A projector as described in claim 1, wherein the spatial light modulator comprises an amplitude modulator.

8. A projector as described in claim 1, further comprising an aerogel positioned between the spatial light modulator and the input wedge.

9. A projector as described in claim 1, further comprising an absorption layer configured to absorb the light rays from the spatial light modulator to modulate an amplitude of the light rays.

10. A method comprising:

receiving data corresponding to an image to display on a surface of an output wedge; and

controlling a spatial light modulator to inject light rays into an input wedge, that is positioned proximate the input wedge, effective to project the image from the surface of the output wedge.

11. A method as described in claim 10, wherein a thick end of the input wedge is positioned proximate a corresponding thick end of the output wedge.

12. A method as described in claim 11, wherein the controlling further comprises injecting the light rays into the thick end of the input wedge effective to project the light rays from the corresponding thick end of the surface of the output wedge.

13. A method as described in claim 11, wherein the controlling further comprises injecting the light rays into a thin end of the input wedge effective to project the light rays from a corresponding thin end of the surface of the output wedge.

14. A method as described in claim 10, wherein the controlling further comprises controlling the spatial light modulator to vary a thickness of the light rays injected into the input wedge so that the light rays converge to a point when projected from the surface of the output wedge.

15. A display device comprising:

a light source configured to emit light rays;

a spatial light modulator configured to modulate the light rays;

an input lens configured to receive the modulated light rays from the spatial light modulator and to output the light rays at an increased fan-out angle;

an output lens configured to receive the light rays, at the increased fan-out angle, from the input lens, and to project the light rays over a surface of the output lens to generate an image; and

a controller configured to control the spatial light modulator to inject the light rays into the input lens to cause the light rays to be projected over the surface of the output lens to generate the image.

16. A display device as described in claim 15, wherein the input lens and the output lens are wedges that taper in at least one direction.

17. A display device as described in claim 16, wherein the input wedge is shorter than the output wedge.

18. A display device as described in claim 15, wherein the spatial light modulator comprises a phase modulator.

19. A display device as described in claim 15, wherein the spatial light modulator comprises liquid crystal displays.

20. A display device as described in claim 15, further comprising an absorption layer configured to absorb the modulated light rays from the spatial light modulator to modulate an amplitude of the light rays.