Optics arrangements including light source arrangements for an active matrix liquid crystal image generator
First Claim
1. A display system for producing modulated light which may be viewed by a viewer, the display system comprising:
- (a) a spatial light modulator including a light modulating medium switchable between different states so as to act on light in ways which form overall patterns of modulated light;
(b) means for switching said modulating medium between said different states in a controlled way;
(c) illumination means for producing a source of light; and
(d) optics means for directing light from said source of light into said spatial light modulator and for directing light from said spatial light modulator through a predetermined source imaging area, said optics means cooperating with said illumination means and said spatial light modulator so as to produce a real image of said source of light within said source imaging area such that a virtual image of only said overall patterns of modulated light produced by said spatial light modulation is directly visible by said viewer from said source imaging area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for producing modulated light is disclosed. The system comprises a spatial light modulator including a light modulating medium switchable between different states so as to act on light in ways which form overall patterns of modulated light. The system also includes an arrangement for switching the modulating medium between the different states in a controlled way and an illumination arrangement for producing a source of light. The system further includes an optics arrangement for directing light from the source of light into the spatial light modulator and for directing light from the spatial light modulator through a predetermined source imaging area. The optics arrangement cooperates with the illumination arrangement and the spatial light modulator so as to produce a real image of the source of light within the source imaging area such that an individual is able to view a virtual image of the overall patterns of modulated light from the source imaging area. A variety of novel optics arrangements are disclosed including specific combinations of different light sources, diffusing plates, polarizers, beam splitters, analyzers, lenses, mirrors, and holographic optical elements which allow the overall optical arrangement to be miniaturized to the same degree and in coordination with the spatial light modulator. The different light sources include using a plurality of light sources, such as LEDs, to form an array of light sources, each of the light sources providing light to a corresponding portion of the spatial light modulator.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1. A display system for producing modulated light which may be viewed by a viewer, the display system comprising:
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(a) a spatial light modulator including a light modulating medium switchable between different states so as to act on light in ways which form overall patterns of modulated light; (b) means for switching said modulating medium between said different states in a controlled way; (c) illumination means for producing a source of light; and (d) optics means for directing light from said source of light into said spatial light modulator and for directing light from said spatial light modulator through a predetermined source imaging area, said optics means cooperating with said illumination means and said spatial light modulator so as to produce a real image of said source of light within said source imaging area such that a virtual image of only said overall patterns of modulated light produced by said spatial light modulation is directly visible by said viewer from said source imaging area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A display system for producing modulated light which may be viewed by a viewer, the display system comprising:
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(a) a reflective type spatial light modulator including a light modulating medium switchable between different states so as to act on light in ways which form overall patterns of modulated light; (b) means for switching said modulating medium between said different states in a controlled way; (c) illumination means for producing a source of light; and (d) optics means for directing substantially all of the light from said source of light into said spatial light modulator and for directing substantially all of the light from said spatial light modulator through a predetermined source imaging area except for any light which is specifically absorbed or directed away from said source imaging area by other optical elements positioned within the optical path between said spatial light modulator and said source imaging area, said source imaging area being at least approximately 3 mm in diameter and at most approximately 20 mm in diameter, and said optics means cooperating with said illumination means and said spatial light modulator so as to produce a real image of said source of light within said source imaging area such that (i) a virtual image of only said overall patterns of modulated light produced by said spatial light modulator is directly visible by said viewer from said source imaging area and (ii) any non-illuminated subareas that might be present within said source imaging area has a maximum extent of at most 3 mm, whereby said viewer that is viewing said virtual image of the overall patterns can do so continuously even if the viewer'"'"'s pupil moves anywhere within the source imaging area including any of the non-illuminated subareas.
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66. A method for producing modulated light that is viewable by a viewer, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a spatial light modulator including a light modulating medium switchable between different states so as to act on light in ways which form overall patterns of modulated light; (b) switching said modulating medium between said different states in a controlled way; and (c) directing light from a source into said spatial light modulator and directing light from said spatial light modulator through a predetermined source imaging area so as to produce a real image of said source of light within said source imaging area such that a virtual image of only said overall patterns of modulated light produced by said spatial light modulator is directly visible by said viewer from said source imaging area. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70)
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Specification