High efficiency electromagnetic beam projector and systems and method for implementation thereof

• US 6,243,198 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Steven R. Sedlmayr
• Original Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Inventors: Sedlmayr, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHUBERG, DARREN E
• Application Number:
  US09/502,889
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 359/483, 359/494, 359/495, 359/502, 349/5, 349/8, 349/9, 348/751, 348/756, 348/757, 353/30, 353/31, 353/34, 353/48, 353/49
• US Class Current: 359/487.02
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/02 for controlling the intensity of light G02B26/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1006 for splitting or combining different wavelengths G02B27/1086, G02B27/141 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1046 for use with transmissive spatial light modulators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1053 having a single light modulator for all colour channels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1073 characterized by manufacturing or alignment methods
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/142 Coating structures, e.g. thin films multilayers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/143 using macroscopically faceted or segmented reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/144 using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity G02B27/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/145 having sequential partially reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/149 using crossed beamsplitting surfaces, e.g. cross-dichroic cubes or X-cubes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 33/06 by additive-colour projection apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/26 using polarised or coloured light separating different viewpoint images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/334 using spectral multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/361 Reproducing mixed stereoscopic images; Reproducing mixed monoscopic and stereoscopic images, e.g. a stereoscopic image overlay window on a monoscopic image background
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7441 the modulator being an array of liquid crystal cells
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3152 : for shaping the light beam beam shaping per se G02B27/09
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3167 : for polarizing the light beam polarizing optical systems per se G02B27/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/317 : Convergence or focusing systems electronic adjustment of convergence H04N9/3185; convergence or focusing arrangements for cathode ray tubes H04N9/28; means for automatic focusing of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/53

Abstract

This invention relates to electromagnetic wave beam paths, formation of the beam, illumination of programmable electromagnetic wave field vector orientation rotating devices (“PEMFVORD”) with an electromagnetic beam, and the technique of projection of the modulated beam. This invention also relates to a unique light path and method of forming the light into a rectangular beam to be used for optical projection systems and, more particularly, in a color and/or black and white liquid crystal device (LCD) projectors that produce high resolution, high brightness and/or three-dimensional images. This invention further relates to a device capable of receiving and displaying two-dimensional and three-dimensional images.

Claims

1. A method of producing a substantially collimated beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially the same selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors and a substantially uniform flux intensity substantially across the beam of electromagnetic energy, comprising:

[a] providing a substantially collimated beam of electromagnetic energy having a predetermined range of wavelengths;

[b] resolving from the substantially collimated beam of electromagnetic energy a substantially collimated first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a first selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors and a substantially collimated second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors, whereby the first and second selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors are different from one another;

[c] intercepting the second resolved beam at a first location along the beam optical path and shifting the field vector orientation by a first non-zero increment to produce a first phase shifted resolved beam;

[d] intercepting the first phase shifted resolved beam at a second location along the beam optical path spaced apart from the first location and shifting the field vector orientation by a second non-zero increment to produce a second phase shifted resolved beam having a field vector matching the field vector of the first resolved beam; and

[e] redirecting and combining the first resolved beam and the second phase shifted resolved beam into a single composite beam to form a substantially collimated single beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially the same selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors substantially across the substantially collimated single beam of electromagnetic energy and a substantially uniform flux intensity substantially across the substantially collimated single beam of electromagnetic energy.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step [e] includes the step of forming the single beam of electromagnetic energy into a beam having a rectangular cross sectional area.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step [b] includes the step of resolving from the substantially collimated beam of electromagnetic energy a substantially collimated first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy and a substantially collimated second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy further having a substantially uniform flux intensity substantially across the beam of electromagnetic energy and wherein step [c] further includes the step of forming the substantially collimated single beam of electromagnetic energy into a beam having substantially the same uniform flux intensity substantially across the beam of electromagnetic energy as that of each of the resolved beams of electromagnetic energy.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein step [c] includes the step of shifting the field vector orientation of the second resolved beam by forty-five degrees and wherein step [d] includes the step of shifting the field vector orientation of the second phase shifted resolved beam by forty-five degrees.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein step [c] includes the step of redirecting the first phase shifted resolved beam relative to the second resolved beam and wherein step [d] includes the step of redirecting the second phase shifted resolved beam relative to the first phase shifted resolved beam.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of redirecting the first phase shifted resolved beam is implemented by a first reflector and wherein the step of redirecting the second phase shifted resolved beam is implemented by a second reflector.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the first reflector includes a thin film coating for shifting the field vector orientation of the second resolved beam and wherein the second reflector includes a thin film coating for shifting the field vector orientation of the first phase shifted resolved beam.

8. The method of claim 1 including the further step of removing from at least one of the first or second resolved beams a predetermined range of wavelengths.

9. The method of claim 8 including the step of directing the removed portion to an absorption means.