Apparatus and method for three-dimensional movement of a projected modulated beam
First Claim
1. A projection system for three-dimensional movement of a projected modulated light beam, comprising a light source, a projection lens, an optical path from the light source to the projection lens and a spatial light modulating element in the optical path, and a drive mechanism for moving the spatial light modulating element and the projection lens as one unit with respect to the light source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention to provides a projection system for three-dimensional movement of projected modulated beam. It comprises a stationary light source, a projection lens, an optical path from the light source to the projection lens and a light beam modulating element in the optical path. The light modulating element moves with the projection lens. The image is generated at a location whereafter the modulated beam is not deflected anymore before arriving at the projection lens. Therefore there is no rotation of the modulated light beam around its own optical axis, independent of the direction of projection.
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Citations
22 Claims
- 1. A projection system for three-dimensional movement of a projected modulated light beam, comprising a light source, a projection lens, an optical path from the light source to the projection lens and a spatial light modulating element in the optical path, and a drive mechanism for moving the spatial light modulating element and the projection lens as one unit with respect to the light source.
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11. A method of projecting a modulated light beam which is non-rotating with respect to its own optical axis as the beam is directed towards different directions within a three-dimensional space, comprising the steps of:
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a) generating an unmodulated light beam at a light source;
b) projecting the light beam towards a spatial light modulating unit along a light path;
c) forming a modulated beam from the unmodulated light beam using the spatial light modulating unit;
d) projecting the modulated beam; and
e) moving the projected beam through space by rotating the spatial light modulating unit with respect to the light source. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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- 15. A projection system for three-dimensional movement of a projected modulated light beam through a three-dimensional space, comprising a light source, a spatial light modulating unit and an optical path from the light source to the spatial light modulating unit, and a drive mechanism for moving the spatial light modulating unit and the projection lens as one combined unit with respect to the light source to move the projected modulated light beam through the space.
Specification