Color LCD projector with three color separating polarizing beam splitters
First Claim
1. An LCD projector comprising:
- a white light source for emitting a randomly polarized luminous flux;
a plurality of LCD panels for modulating luminous fluxes that are transmitted therethrough;
first means for reflecting a first portion of said luminous flux having a first polarization characteristic and a wavelength which is within a first predetermined range of wavelengths, to a first LCD panel of said plurality of LCD panels;
second means for reflecting a second portion of said luminous flux that is not reflected to said first LCD panel, to a second LCD panel of said plurality of LCD panels, said second portion of said luminous flux having said first polarization characteristic and a wavelength which is within a second predetermined range of wavelengths;
third means for reflecting a third portion of said luminous flux that is not reflected to said second LCD panel, to a third LCD panel of said plurality of LCD panels, said third portion of said luminous flux having said first polarization characteristic and a wavelength which is within a third predetermined range of wavelengths; and
fourth means for reflecting a fourth portion of said luminous flux that is not reflected to said third LCD panel, to a fourth LCD panel, said fourth portion of the luminous flux having a second polarization characteristic.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An LCD projector which has a white light source for emitting a randomly polarized luminous flux, and a plurality of LCD panels for modulating luminous fluxes that are transmitted through the LCD panels. The LCD projector also includes four reflecting devices. The first reflecting device reflects a first portion of the luminous flux having a first polarization characteristic and a wavelength which is within a first predetermined range of wavelengths, to the first LCD panel. The second reflecting device reflects a second portion of the luminous flux that is not reflected to the first LCD panel, to the second LCD panel. The second portion of the luminous flux has the first polarization characteristic and a wavelength which is within a second predetermined range of wavelengths. The third reflecting device reflects a third portion of the luminous flux that is not reflected to the second LCD panel, to the third LCD panel. The third portion of the luminous flux has the first polarization characteristic and a wavelength which is within a third predetermined range of wavelengths. The fourth reflecting device reflects a fourth portion of the luminous flux that is not reflected to the third LCD panel, to the fourth LCD panel. The fourth portion of the luminous flux has a second polarization characteristic.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An LCD projector comprising:
-
a white light source for emitting a randomly polarized luminous flux; a plurality of LCD panels for modulating luminous fluxes that are transmitted therethrough; first means for reflecting a first portion of said luminous flux having a first polarization characteristic and a wavelength which is within a first predetermined range of wavelengths, to a first LCD panel of said plurality of LCD panels; second means for reflecting a second portion of said luminous flux that is not reflected to said first LCD panel, to a second LCD panel of said plurality of LCD panels, said second portion of said luminous flux having said first polarization characteristic and a wavelength which is within a second predetermined range of wavelengths; third means for reflecting a third portion of said luminous flux that is not reflected to said second LCD panel, to a third LCD panel of said plurality of LCD panels, said third portion of said luminous flux having said first polarization characteristic and a wavelength which is within a third predetermined range of wavelengths; and fourth means for reflecting a fourth portion of said luminous flux that is not reflected to said third LCD panel, to a fourth LCD panel, said fourth portion of the luminous flux having a second polarization characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An LCD projector comprising:
-
a light source for emitting a luminous flux having randomly polarized white light, a first polarization beam splitter having a spectrum reflection characteristic for reflecting one of red light and blue light of the luminous flux having a first polarization characteristic, and for transmitting a remaining portion of the luminous flux; a second polarization beam splitter having a spectrum reflection characteristic for reflecting a portion of the luminous flux transmitted by said first polarization beam splitter having green light having said first polarization characteristic, and for transmitting another remaining portion of the luminous flux; a third polarization beam splitter having a spectrum reflection characteristic for reflecting a portion of the luminous flux transmitted by said second polarization beam splitter having the other of the red light and the blue light having said first polarization characteristic, not reflected by said first polarization beam splitter, and for transmitting a third remaining portion of said luminous flux; three LCD panels, each of said LCD panels modulating one of the reflected light components; and a fourth LCD panel for modulating a light component having a second polarization characteristic which is transmitted through said third polarization beam splitter. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method for separating a randomly polarized luminous flux generated by a white light source in an LCD projector into various light components having different wavelength ranges and polarization states, the method comprising:
-
reflecting a first portion of the luminous flux having a first polarization characteristic and a wavelength which is within a first predetermined range of wavelengths, to a first LCD panel; reflecting a second portion of the luminous flux that is not reflected to the first LCD panel, to a second LCD panel, the second portion of the luminous flux having the first polarization characteristic and a wavelength which is within a second predetermined range of wavelengths; reflecting a third portion of the luminous flux that is not reflected to the second LCD panel, to a third LCD panel, the third portion of the luminous flux having the first polarization characteristic and a wavelength which is within a third predetermined range of wavelengths; and reflecting a fourth portion of the luminous flux that is not reflected to the third LCD panel, to a fourth LCD panel, the fourth portion of the luminous flux having a second polarization characteristic.
-
Specification