Projection display employing switchable holographic optical elements
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a first electrically switchable holographic optical element (ESHOE) comprising oppositely facing front and back surfaces, wherein the first ESHOE is configured to receive first bandwidth light on the front surface thereof, wherein the first ESHOE operates between active and the inactive states, wherein the first ESHOE transmits first bandwidth light received on the front surface thereof without substantial alteration when operating in the inactive state, wherein the first ESHOE diffracts first bandwidth light received on the front surface thereof when operating in the active state, wherein first bandwidth light received and diffracted by the first ESHOE emerges from the front surface;
a light deflector configured to receive first bandwidth light diffracted by the first ESHOE, wherein the light deflector is configured to deflect first bandwidth light diffracted by the first ESHOE;
wherein first bandwidth light transmitted through the inactive first ESHOE without substantial alteration is configured to illuminate a first surface area, and wherein first bandwidth light diffracted by the active first ESHOE and subsequently deflected by the light deflector is configured to illuminate a second surface area, wherein the first surface area is adjacent to the second surface area.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an optical system for use in a projection display system. The optical system, in one embodiment, includes a first electrically switchable holographic optical element (ESHOE) and a light deflector. The first ESHOE operates between active and inactive states and includes oppositely facing front and back surfaces. In the inactive state, the first ESHOE transmits first bandwidth light received on the front surface without substantial alteration. In the active state, the first ESHOE diffracts first bandwidth light received on the front surface, the diffracted first bandwidth light emerging also from the front surface. The light deflector receives first bandwidth light diffracted by the first ESHOE. In response, the light deflector deflects this diffracted first bandwidth light. The first ESHOE and the light deflector are positioned such that first bandwidth light transmitted through the inactive first ESHOE without substantial alteration can illuminate a first surface area while first bandwidth light diffracted by the active first ESHOE and subsequently deflected by the light deflector can illuminate a second non-overlapping.
167 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising:
-
a first electrically switchable holographic optical element (ESHOE) comprising oppositely facing front and back surfaces, wherein the first ESHOE is configured to receive first bandwidth light on the front surface thereof, wherein the first ESHOE operates between active and the inactive states, wherein the first ESHOE transmits first bandwidth light received on the front surface thereof without substantial alteration when operating in the inactive state, wherein the first ESHOE diffracts first bandwidth light received on the front surface thereof when operating in the active state, wherein first bandwidth light received and diffracted by the first ESHOE emerges from the front surface;
a light deflector configured to receive first bandwidth light diffracted by the first ESHOE, wherein the light deflector is configured to deflect first bandwidth light diffracted by the first ESHOE;
wherein first bandwidth light transmitted through the inactive first ESHOE without substantial alteration is configured to illuminate a first surface area, and wherein first bandwidth light diffracted by the active first ESHOE and subsequently deflected by the light deflector is configured to illuminate a second surface area, wherein the first surface area is adjacent to the second surface area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
a first optical component for magnifying light, wherein the first optical component is in optical communication with the first ESHOE and;
a second optical component for magnifying light, wherein the second optical component is in optical communication with the light deflector.
-
-
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first ESHOE comprises a holographic recording medium that records a hologram, wherein the holographic recording medium comprises:
-
a monomer dipentaerythritol hydroxypentaacrylate;
a liquid crystal;
a cross-linking monomer;
a coinitiator; and
a photoinitiator dye.
-
-
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first ESHOE comprises a hologram made by exposing an interference pattern inside a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material, the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material comprising, before exposure:
-
a polymerizable monomer;
a liquid crystal;
a cross-linking monomer;
a coinitiator; and
a photoinitiator dye.
-
-
11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
-
a second ESHOE in optical communication with the first ESHOE, wherein the second ESHOE comprises oppositely facing front and back surfaces, wherein the second ESHOE is configured to receive second bandwidth light on the front surface thereof, wherein the second ESHOE operates between active and the inactive states, wherein the second ESHOE transmits second bandwidth light received on the front surface thereof without substantial alteration when operating in the inactive state, wherein the first ESHOE diffracts second bandwidth light received on the front surface thereof when operating in the active state, wherein second bandwidth light received and diffracted by the second ESHOE emerges from the front surface thereof;
wherein the light deflector is configured to receive second bandwidth light diffracted by the second ESHOE, wherein the light deflector is configured to deflect second bandwidth light diffracted by the second ESHOE;
wherein second bandwidth light transmitted through the inactive second ESHOE without substantial alteration is configured to illuminate the first surface area, and wherein second bandwidth light diffracted by the active second ESHOE and subsequently deflected by the light deflector is configured to illuminate the second surface area, wherein the first bandwidth light is different from the second bandwidth light.
-
-
12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:
-
a third ESHOE in optical communication with the first and second ESHOEs, wherein the third ESHOE comprises oppositely facing front and back surfaces, wherein the third ESHOE is configured to receive third bandwidth light on the front surface thereof, wherein the third ESHOE operates between active and the inactive states, wherein the third ESHOE transmits third bandwidth light received on the front surface thereof without substantial alteration when operating in the inactive state, wherein the first ESHOE diffracts third bandwidth light received on the front surface thereof when operating in the active state, wherein third bandwidth light received and diffracted by the third ESHOE emerges from the front surface thereof;
wherein the light deflector is configured to receive third bandwidth light diffracted by the third ESHOE, wherein the light deflector is configured to deflect third bandwidth light diffracted by the second ESHOE;
wherein third bandwidth light transmitted through the inactive third ESHOE without substantial alteration is configured to illuminate the first surface area, and wherein third bandwidth light diffracted by the active third ESHOE and subsequently deflected by the light deflector is configured to illuminate the second surface area, wherein first, second, and third bandwidth lights are different from each other.
-
-
13. An apparatus comprising:
-
an image generator that projects image segments of a composite image in a predetermined direction;
a display screen in optical communication with said image generator to receive and visually display said image segments projected from said image generator; and
projection optics positioned between said image generator and said display screen to selectively direct said image segments to different sections of said display screen to form said composite image on said display screen, said projection optics comprising a first reflective-type reconfigurable holographic optical element having an optical characteristic that is controllable by an electrical field applied thereto, said first reflective-type reconfigurable holographic optical element being holographically configured to diffract one of the image segments to one of said different sections of said display screen when in a diffractive state. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An apparatus comprising:
-
an image forming device for projecting an image;
a display screen comprising first and second display panels for visually displaying images projected by the image forming device;
a switchable holographic device configured to receive the projected image, wherein the switchable holographic device is switchable between active and inactive states, wherein the switchable holographic device is configured to deflect the projected image when active, and wherein the switchable holographic device is configured to transmit the projected image onto the first display panel when inactive;
a light deflector configured to receive the projected image deflected by the switchable holographic device, wherein the light deflector is configured to deflect the projected image deflected by the switchable holographic device onto the second display panel. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification