Prism system and a liquid crystal projection device

• US 5,594,591 A
• Filed: 02/01/1995
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Electronics (USA) Incorporated (Pioneer Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Electronics (USA) Incorporated (Pioneer Corporation)
• Inventors: Atsuchi, Naruhiko, Yamamoto, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TIEP HUU
• Application Number:
  US08/595,238
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 359/40, 359/73, 356/401, 250/548
• US Class Current: 349/5
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/145 having sequential partially reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3105 for displaying all colours simultaneously, e.g. by using two or more electronic spatial light modulators simultaneous projection in colour photography G03B33/10; beam splitting or combining systems per se G02B27/10

Abstract

A dichroic mirror is formed on a surface of a prism except an incident surface for reflecting an entered ray having a predetermined wavelength. An optical thin film is formed on the incident surface as to totally reflect the ray reflected from the dichroic mirror. The optical thin film has a phase control function.

Claims

1. A prism system having a prism comprising:

a dichroic mirror formed on a surface of the prism except an incident surface for reflecting an entered ray having a predetermined wavelength so as to travel in the prism toward the incident surface;

an optical thin film formed on the incident surface so as to totally reflect the ray reflected from the dichroic mirror,

the optical thin film having a phase control function.

2. The prism system according to claim 1 wherein the optical thin film comprises a plurality of layers.

3. The prism system according to claim 2 wherein the layers comprise a low refractive index film of SiO₂ and a high refractive index film of TiO₂.

4. A prism system comprising:

a first prism having a first reflecting surface, and a first incident surface which an incident ray including R, G and B components strikes;

a first dichroic mirror formed on the first reflecting surface for transmitting two components in the R, G and B components, and for reflecting the other component so as to travel in the first prism toward first incident surface;

a first optical thin film formed on the first incident surface so as to totally reflect said other component reflected from the first dichroic mirror;

a second prism having a second reflecting surface and a second incident surface which said two components transmitted through the first dichroic mirror strike;

a second dichroic mirror formed on the second reflecting surface for transmitting one of said two components, and for reflecting the other component so as to emerge the other component from the second prism;

a second optical thin film formed on the second incident surface so as to totally reflect said other component reflected from the second dichroic mirror;

each of the first and second optical thin films having a phase control function.

5. The prism system according to claim 4 wherein at least one of the first and second prisms is formed by glass plates so as to form a space therein, the optical thin film is formed on both surfaces of a glass plate for the incident surface, the space is filled with liquid.

6. A liquid crystal projection device comprising:

a first prism having a first reflecting surface, end a first incident surface which an incident ray including R, G and B components strikes;

a first dichroic mirror formed on the first reflecting surface for transmitting two components in the R, G and B components, and for reflecting the other component so as to travel in the first prism toward the first incident surface;

a first optical thin film formed on the first incident surface so as to totally reflect said other component reflected from the first dichroic mirror;

a second prism having a second reflecting surface and a second incident surface which said two components transmitted through the first dichroic mirror strike;

a second dichroic mirror formed on the second reflecting surface for transmitting one of said two components, and for reflecting the other component so as to emerge the other component from the second prism;

a second optical thin film formed on the second incident surface so as to totally reflect said other component reflected from the second dichroic mirror;

each of the first and second optical thin films having a phase control function;

three liquid crystal panels, each of which modulates a corresponding component in luminous intensity in accordance with a signal for the component;

means for optically synthesizing the components modified by the liquid crystal panels to a synthesized ray; and

a screen to which the synthesized ray is projected.

7. The liquid crystal projection device according to claim 6 wherein at least one of the first and second prisms is formed by glass plates so as to form a space therein, the optical thin film is formed on both surfaces of a glass plate for the incident surface, the space is filled with liquid.