Color source selection for improved brightness

• US 6,256,073 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1998
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Pettitt, Gregory S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yenke, Brian P
• Application Number:
  US09/197,923
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 348/742, 348/743, 348/750, 348/751, 348/752, 348/755, 348/756, 348/771, 362/812, 362/293, 362/230, 362/231
• US Class Current: 348/743
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3114 by using a sequential colour filter producing one colour at a time

Abstract

A method of selecting a set of color sources for an image display system, the image display system creating a color image from at least three single-color color sources. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises selecting a first, second, and third color source. The first and second color sources are divided into a high-efficiency group and a low-efficiency group based on the efficiency of the color source. If the first color source is selected from the high-efficiency group (1102), the second color source may be selected from either the high-efficiency group or the low-efficiency group (1104). If the first color source is selected from the low efficiency group (1102), the second color source is selected from the high-efficiency group (1106). According to one embodiment of the present invention, the third color source is selected (1108) without first sorting the third color sources into high and low-efficiency groups.

Claims

1. A method of selecting a set of color sources for an image display system, said image display system creating a color image from at least three single-color color sources, said method comprising:

providing multiple first color sources, said multiple first color sources divided into a high-efficiency group and a low-efficiency group based on said first color source'"'"'s efficiency;

providing multiple second color sources, said second color sources divided into a high-efficiency group and a low-efficiency group based on said second color source'"'"'s efficiency;

providing multiple third color sources; and

selecting a first, second, and third color source from said multiple first, second, and third color sources such that one and only one of said first and said second color sources are selected from said low-efficiency groups.

2. The method of claim 1, said steps of providing multiple first, second, and third color sources comprising the steps of providing multiple first, second, and third color filters.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of attaching said selected first, second, and third color filters to a hub to form a color wheel.

4. The method of claim 1, said steps of providing multiple first, second, and third color sources comprising the steps of providing multiple first, second, and third dichroic filters.

5. The method of claim 1, said steps of providing multiple first, second, and third color sources comprising the steps of providing multiple red, green, and blue color sources.

6. The method of claim 1, said step of selecting a first color source from said multiple first color sources comprising selecting at least two first color sources from said multiple first color sources, wherein said two first color sources and said second color source are not both chosen from said low-efficiency groups.

7. The method of claim 1, said step of selecting a second color source from said multiple second color sources comprising selecting at least two second color sources from said multiple second color sources, wherein said first color source and said two second color sources are not both chosen from said low-efficiency groups.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing multiple fourth color sources; and

selecting a fourth color source from said multiple fourth color sources.

9. The method of claim 8, said fourth color source for providing white light.

10. The method of claim 1, said multiple first and second color source divided into a high-efficiency group and a low-efficiency group based on measurement of a surrogate parameter.

11. The method of claim 10, each of said first and second color sources having at least one cut-off wavelength, said surrogate parameter being said at least one cut-off wavelength.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said multiple color sources is divided into more than two groups.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein color sources for more than two colors are divided into efficiency groups.

14. A method of selecting a set of color sources for an image display system, said image display system creating a color image from at least three single-color color sources, said method comprising:

providing multiple first color sources, each said first color source for transmitting light over a first range of wavelengths;

said first range of wavelengths comprised of a first sub-range and a second sub-range, said first sub-range comprising longer wavelengths than said second sub-range;

providing multiple second color sources, each said second color source for transmitting light over a second range of wavelengths;

said second range of wavelengths comprised of a first sub-range of said second range and a second sub-range of said second range, said first sub-range of said second range comprising longer wavelengths than said second sub-range of said second sub-range;

providing at least one third color source;

testing said first and said second color sources to determine over which sub-range they transmit light;

selecting a first color source from said multiple first color sources;

selecting a second color source from said multiple second color sources, said second color source chosen from a sub-range of said second range ensuing that a first color source from said second sub-range is not combined with a second color source from said first sub-range of said second range; and

selecting a third color source from said multiple third color sources.

15. The method of claim 14, said steps of providing multiple first, second, and third color sources comprising the steps of providing multiple first, second, and third color filters.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of attaching said selected first, second, and third color filters to a hub.

17. The method of claim 14, said steps of providing multiple first, second, and third color sources comprising the steps of providing multiple first, second, and third dichroic filters.

18. The method of claim 14, said steps of providing multiple first, second, and third color sources comprising the steps of providing multiple red, green, and blue color sources.

19. The method of claim 14, said step of selecting a first color source from said multiple first color sources comprising selecting at least two first color sources from said multiple first color sources, wherein said two first color sources and said second color source are not both chosen from said low-efficiency groups.

20. The method of claim 14, said step of selecting a second color source from said multiple second color sources comprising selecting at least two second color sources from said multiple second color sources, wherein said first color source and said two second color sources are not both chosen from said low-efficiency groups.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

providing at least one fourth color source; and

selecting a fourth color source from said at least one fourth color source.

22. The method of claim 21, said fourth color source for providing white light.

23. A display system comprising:

a first color source chosen from a selection of first color sources, said selection of first color sources divided into a high-efficiency group and a low-efficiency group;

a second color source chosen from a selection of second color sources, said selection of second color sources divided into a high-efficiency group and a low-efficiency group, one and only one of said first color source and said second color source chosen from said low-efficiency groups;

a third color source for transmitting light over a third range of wavelengths; and

at least one spatial light modulator for receiving light from said first, second, and third color sources, modulating said received light, and for transmitting said modulated light to an image plane.

24. The display system of claim 23, further comprising a fourth color source.

25. The display system of claim 23, said first, second, and third color sources being first, second, and third color filters.

26. The display system of claim 23, wherein said first, second, and third color sources are first, second, and third color filters attached to a hub forming a color wheel.

27. The display system of claim 23, wherein said first, second, and third color sources are first, second, and third dichroic filters.

28. The display system of claim 23, said first color source comprising at least two first color sources, said two first color sources selected from the same efficiency group, wherein said first and said second color sources are not all chosen from said low-efficiency group.

29. The display system of claim 23, said second color source comprising at least two second color sources, said two second color sources selected from the same efficiency group, wherein said first and said second color sources are not all chosen from said low-efficiency group.

30. The display system of claim 23, wherein said multiple first and second color sources are divided into a high-efficiency group and a low-efficiency group based on measurement of a surrogate parameter.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein each of said first and second color sources have at least one cut-off wavelength, said surrogate parameter being said at least one cut-off wavelength.