Holographic illumination system
First Claim
1. A method of combining light from a first illumination source and a second illumination source, the method comprising:
- illuminating a switchable holographic optical element (HOE) with light from the first illumination source;
the switchable HOE diffracting light from the first illumination source into an output direction;
transmitting light from the second illumination source through the switchable HOE and onto an optical element;
the optical element deflecting the light transmitted through the switchable HOE from the second illumination source into the output direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Holographic optical elements (HOEs) can be used in systems and methods for providing illumination and for projecting images. The HOEs may be switchable HOEs, whose diffractive properties can be controlled. Described herein is a method of combining light from two or more illumination sources. In one embodiment, a reflection-type HOE is illuminated by the first illumination source. The HOE diffracts light from the first illumination source into an output direction. Light from the second illumination source is transmitted through the HOE and onto a reflective optical element, which reflects the light back through the HOE and into the same output direction. Also described is a projection system that uses two or more HOEs to combine two or more colors of light for use by a single image display. The system includes one or more light sources, an image display (such as a reflective or transmissive LCD display or a MEMS display, for example), and a first and a second HOE. The HOEs are each mounted between a light source and the image display, and configured to provide one color of light to the image display and from the image display into an output direction. In one embodiment, the HOEs are switchable HOEs and can be used for color-sequential display and/or for color balancing.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of combining light from a first illumination source and a second illumination source, the method comprising:
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illuminating a switchable holographic optical element (HOE) with light from the first illumination source; the switchable HOE diffracting light from the first illumination source into an output direction; transmitting light from the second illumination source through the switchable HOE and onto an optical element; the optical element deflecting the light transmitted through the switchable HOE from the second illumination source into the output direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An illumination system comprising:
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a switchable holographic optical element (HOE) configured to diffract light from a first light source into an output direction; an optical element disposed so that light transmitted from a second light source through said switchable HOE is incident on said optical element, wherein said optical element is configured to deflect switchable HOE-transmitted light from the second light source into the out put direction. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification