System for the production of a dynamic image for display

• US 6,437,919 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: F Poszat Hu LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Holographic Imaging LLC
• Inventors: Stanley, Maurice, Brown, Carl V
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung Xuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRA, TUYEN Q
• Application Number:
  US09/529,550
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 359/621, 359/95, 359/272, 359/457, 359/456, 359/622, 359/623, 359/624, 359/277, 359/462, 349/61, 349/95, 349/5, 349/7, 353/31, 353/33, 353/34, 353/37
• US Class Current: 359/621
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/32 Holograms used as optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/02 Details of features involved during the holographic process; Replication of holograms without interference recording
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/2249 Holobject properties
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/2294 Addressing the hologram to an active spatial light modulator
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/0224 Active addressable light modulator, i.e. Spatial Light Modulator [SLM] corresponding details, see subgroups of G03H2225/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/221 Element having optical power, e.g. field lens
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2292 Using scanning means
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2297 using frame sequential, e.g. for reducing speckle noise
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/262 not in optical contact G03H1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2655 Time multiplexing, i.e. consecutive records wherein the period between records is pertinent per se
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2210/30 3D object
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2222/22 Spatial coherence
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2223/19 Microoptic array, e.g. lens array
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2225/22 Electrically addressed SLM [EA-SLM]
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2225/25 Optically addressed SLM [OA-SLM]
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2225/55 Having optical element registered to each pixel
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2225/60 Multiple SLMs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7441 the modulator being an array of liquid crystal cells

Abstract

A system for the production of a dynamic image for use in holography includes a light source (16) which travels via a liquid crystal modulator (18) placed in the path of the light source (16). The output of the LC modulator (18) passes modulated light through a lens array (22) which itself guides light to an optically addressed spatial light modulator (24). The resulting real image from the optically addressed spatial light modulator (24) may be used in holography. The addressing frame-rate of the liquid crystal modulator (18) is substantially greater than the frame-rate of the optically addressed spatial light modulator (24).

Claims

1. A system for the production of a dynamic pattern for display comprising:

a light source;

first spatial light modulator having an associated updating frame-rate in the path of the light source;

relay optics in the path of the light from the first spatial light modulator for guiding the modulated light therefrom; and

second spatial light modulator having an associated read-out frame-rate in the path of the guided light from the relay optics and arranged to produce a real image therefrom for display, wherein the second spatial light modulator comprises an optically addressable spatial light modulator and wherein the updating frame-rate of the first spatial light modulator is greater than the read-out frame-rate of the second spatial light modulator.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the first spatial light modulator is arranged to produce a plurality of modulated light sources from the light source to the relay optics.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the first spatial light modulator comprises a plurality of spatial light modulators.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the first spatial light modulator is electrically addressable.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the relay optics guides modulated light from the first spatial light modulator to the second spatial light modulator in a predetermined pattern.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein the relay optics comprises at least one lens.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein the at least one lens comprises an array of individual lenses.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein the number of pixels capable of being displayed on the first spatial light modulator is less than the number of pixels capable of being displayed on the second spatial light modulator.

9. A system according to claim 1 wherein the second spatial light modulator is a ferroelectric liquid crystal light modulator.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein the light source is an incoherent light source or a plurality of light sources.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein the relay optics modulates the phase of light guided thereby.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein the relay optics comprises a beamsplitter or beam steerer.

13. A system according to claim 1 wherein the relay optics includes a shadow-mask.

14. A system according to claim 1 wherein the modulated light from the first spatial light modulator is replicated at the second spatial light modulator by the relay optics.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein the replication of the modulated light comprises a plurality of images.

16. A system according to claim 14 wherein the relay optics guides the replicated modulated light time-sequentially to predetermined portions of the second spatial light modulator.

17. A system for the production of a dynamic pattern for display comprising:

a light source;

first spatial light modulator means having an associated updating frame-rate in the path of the light source;

relay optics means in the path of the light from the first spatial light modulator means for guiding the modulated light therefrom; and

second spatial light modulator means having an associated read-out frame-rate in the path of the guided light from the relay optics means and arranged to produce a real image therefrom for display, wherein the second spatial light modulator comprises an optically addressable spatial light modulator and wherein the updating frame-rate of the first spatial light modulator is greater than the read-out frame-rate of the second spatial light modulator, wherein the relay optics means modulates the phase of light guided thereby.

18. A system for the production of a dynamic pattern for display comprising:

a light source;

first spatial light modulator means having an associated updating frame-rate in the path of the light source;

relay optics means in the path of the light from the first spatial light modulator means for guiding the modulated light therefrom; and

second spatial light modulator means having an associated read-out frame-rate in the path of the guided light from the relay optics means and arranged to produce a real image therefrom for display, wherein the updating frame-rate of the first spatial light modulator is greater that the read-out frame-rate of the second spatial light modulator, wherein the relay optics means comprises a beamsplitter or beam steerer.

19. A system for the production of a dynamic pattern for display comprising:

a light source;

first spatial light modulator means having an associated updating frame-rate in the path of the light source;

relay optics means in the path of the light from the first spatial light modulator means for guiding the modulated light therefrom; and

second spatial light modulator means having an associated read-out frame-rate in the path of the guided light from the relay optics means and arranged to produce a real image therefrom for display, wherein the second spatial light modulator comprises an optically addressable spatial light modulator and wherein the updating frame-rate of the first spatial light modulator is greater than the read-out frame-rate of the second spatial light modulator, wherein the relay optics means includes a shadow-mask.

20. A system for the production of a dynamic pattern for display comprising:

a light source;

first spatial light modulator means having an associated updating frame-rate in the path of the light source;

relay optics means in the path of the light from the first spatial light modulator means for guiding the modulated light therefrom; and

second spatial light modulator means having an associated read-out frame-rate in the path of the guided light from the relay optics means and arranged to produce a real image therefrom for display, wherein the second spatial light modulator comprises an optically addressable spatial light modulator and wherein the updating frame-rate of the first spatial light modulator is greater than the read-out frame-rate of the second spatial light modulator, wherein the modulated light from the first spatial light modulator means is replicated at the second spatial light modulator means by the relay optics means.

21. A system according to claim 20 wherein the replication of the modulated light comprises a plurality of images.

22. A system according to claim 20 wherein the relay optics means guides the replicated modulated light time-sequentially to predetermined portions of the second spatial light modulator means.

23. A method of producing a dynamic image for use in display comprising:

providing a light source and passing light from this light source through or reflecting it from a first spatial light modulator having an associated updating frame-rate;

guiding the modulated light via relay optics, disposed in the path of the modulated light, to a second spatial light modulator, which second spatial light modulator comprises an optically addressed spatial light modulator and has an associated read-out frame-rate less than the associated updating frame-rate of the first spatial light modulator; and

providing a real image or pattern from the second spatial light modulator.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein the first spatial light modulator is arranged to produce a plurality of modulated light sources from the light source to the relay optics.

25. A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein the first spatial light modulator is electrically addressable.

26. A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein the relay optics guides modulated light from the first spatial light modulator to the second spatial light modulator in a predetermined pattern.

27. A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein the relay optics comprises a lens.

28. A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein the number of pixels capable of being displayed on the first spatial light modulator is less than the number of pixels capable of being displayed on the second spatial light modulator.

29. A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein the relay optics guides the modulated light time-sequentially from the first spatial light modulator to predetermined portions of the second spatial light modulator.

30. A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein the relay optics produces multiple replications of the pattern shown on the first spatial light modulator onto the second spatial light modulator and where the second spatial light modulator has electrodes patterned to correspond to the replications, and one or more of the electrode segments on the second spatial light modulator is activated in synchronization with the images shown on the first spatial light modulator.

31. A method of producing a dynamic image for use in display comprising:

providing a light source and passing light from this light source through a first spatial light modulator having an associated updating frame-rate;

guiding the modulated light via relay optics, disposed in the path of the modulated light to a second spatial light modulator, which second spatial light modulator comprises an optically addressed spatial light modulator and has an associated read-out frame-rate less than the associated updating frame rate of the first spatial light modulator; and

providing a real image or pattern from the second spatial light modulator.

32. A method of producing a dynamic image for use in display comprising:

providing a light source and modulating this light source using a first spatial light modulator means having an associated updating frame-rate;

guiding the modulated light via a relay optics means, disposed in the path of the modulated light to a second spatial light modulator means, which second spatial light modulator means comprises an optically addressed spatial light modulator and has an associated read-out frame-rate less than the associated updating frame rate of the first spatial light modulator means; and

providing a real image or pattern from the second spatial light modulator means.

33. A method of producing a dynamic image for use in display comprising:

providing a light source and passing light from this light source through or reflecting it from a first spatial light modulator means having an associated updating frame-rate;

guiding the modulated light via a relay optics means, disposed in the path of the modulated light, to a second spatial light modulator means, which second spatial light modulator means comprises an optically addressed spatial light modulator with an associated read-out frame-rate less than the associated updating frame-rate of the first spatial light modulator; and

providing a real image or pattern from the second spatial light modulator means wherein the relay optics means guides the modulated light time-sequentially from the first spatial light modulator means to predetermined portions of the second spatial light modulator means.

34. A method of producing a dynamic image for use in display comprising:

providing a light source and passing light from this light source through or reflecting it from a first spatial light modulator means having an associated updating frame-rate;

guiding the modulated light via a relay optics means, disposed in the path of the modulated light, to a second spatial light modulator means, which second spatial light modulator means has an associated read-out frame-rate less than the associated updating frame-rate of the first spatial light modulator; and

providing a real image or pattern from the second spatial light modulator means wherein the relay optics means produces multiple replications of the pattern shown on the first spatial light modulator means onto the second spatial light modulator means and where the second spatial light modulator means has electrodes patterned to correspond to the replications, and one or more of the electrode segments on the second spatial light modulator means is activated in synchronization with the images shown on the first spatial light modulator means.