Optical system for producing a modulated color image
First Claim
1. An optical system, comprising:
- an input retarder stack that transforms a first spectrum of input light from a light source into a first polarization state, and transforms a second spectrum of the input light into a second polarization state different than the first polarization state;
a beam splitting unit, optically coupled to the input retarder stack, comprising a first beamsplitter that transmits the first polarization state and reflects the second polarization state;
a first spatial light modulator optically coupled to the beam splitting unit, that modulates and reflects the first spectrum, as a modulated first spectrum, towards the beam splitting unit; and
a second spatial light modulator optically coupled to the beam splitting unit, that modulates and reflects the second spectrum, as a modulated second spectrum, towards the beam splitting unit, wherein the beam splitting unit combines the modulated first spectrum and the modulated second spectrum into a combined spectrum.
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Abstract
An optical system divides a light source into its component color bands red, green and blue by making the light travel different physical paths, at least two of these paths use stack retardation films and a polarization beamsplitter. By creating distinct paths, each code can be independently processed and combined to form a single path using a polarization splitter and retarder stack. The system preferably includes an input retarder that aligns a first spectrum of a light from a light source, along a first polarization state, and aligns a second spectrum of the light from the light source, along a second polarization state different than the first polarization state, and a beam splitting unit, optically coupled to the input retarder, and including a first beamsplitter that transmits the first spectrum, as a transmitted spectrum, and that reflects the second spectrum, as a reflected spectrum. The system also includes a first spatial light modulator optically coupled to the beam splitting unit, that alters and reflects the transmitted spectrum, as a modulated transmitted spectrum, towards the beam splitting unit, and a second spatial light modulator optically coupled to the beam splitting unit, that alters and reflects the reflected spectrum, as a modulated reflected spectrum, towards the beam splitting unit. The beam splitting unit combines the modulated transmitted spectrum and the modulated reflected spectrum into a combined spectrum.
87 Citations
43 Claims
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1. An optical system, comprising:
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an input retarder stack that transforms a first spectrum of input light from a light source into a first polarization state, and transforms a second spectrum of the input light into a second polarization state different than the first polarization state;
a beam splitting unit, optically coupled to the input retarder stack, comprising a first beamsplitter that transmits the first polarization state and reflects the second polarization state;
a first spatial light modulator optically coupled to the beam splitting unit, that modulates and reflects the first spectrum, as a modulated first spectrum, towards the beam splitting unit; and
a second spatial light modulator optically coupled to the beam splitting unit, that modulates and reflects the second spectrum, as a modulated second spectrum, towards the beam splitting unit, wherein the beam splitting unit combines the modulated first spectrum and the modulated second spectrum into a combined spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for producing a modulated color image comprising:
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encoding a first primary color from a white light source along a first polarization state while encoding its complimentary color along a second polarization state;
directing light having the first polarization state to a first spatial light modulator for modulation with image data for the first primary color to yield a modulated first primary color;
directing light having the second polarization state to a color separator for separating the complementary color into a second primary color and a third primary color;
directing the second primary color to a second spatial light modulator for modulation with image data for a second primary color to yield a modulated second primary color;
directing the third primary color to a third spatial light modulator for modulation with image data for a third primary color to yield a modulated third primary color;
recombining the modulated first, second, and third primary colors such that the first, second, and third modulated primary colors have substantially the same polarization state.
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15. An optical system for producing a modulated color image comprising:
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an optical element for encoding a first primary color from a white light source along a first polarization state while encoding its complimentary color along a second polarization state;
a first polarization beamsplitter for directing light having the first polarization state in a first direction to a first spatial light modulator for modulation with image data for the first primary color to yield a modulated first primary color, while directing light having the second polarization state in a second direction different from the first direction;
a color separator for receiving the complementary color and separating the complementary color into a second primary color and a third primary color and directing the second primary color to a second spatial light modulator for modulation with image data for a second primary color to yield a modulated second primary color, and directing the third primary color to a third spatial light modulator for modulation with image data for a third primary color to yield a modulated third primary color;
means for recombining the modulated first, second, and third primary colors such that the first, second, and third modulated primary colors have the substantially the same polarization state.
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16. An optical system, comprising:
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an input retarder stack comprising at least two polymer retarder films that transforms a first spectrum of input light from a light source into a first polarization state, and transforms a second spectrum of the input light into a second polarization state different than the first polarization state; and
a beam splitting unit, optically coupled to the input retarder stack, comprising a first beamsplitter that transmits the first spectrum and reflects the second spectrum.
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17. An optical system, comprising:
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an input retarder stack comprising at least two thin films that transforms a first spectrum of input light from a light source into a first polarization state, and transforms a second spectrum of the input light into a second polarization state different than the first polarization state; and
a beam splitting unit, optically coupled to the input retarder stack, comprising a first beamsplitter that transmits the first spectrum and reflects the second spectrum.
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18. An optical system, comprising:
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an input retarder stack comprising between two and seven retarder films that transforms a first spectrum of input light from a light source into a first polarization state, and transforms a second spectrum of the input light into a second polarization state different than the first polarization state; and
a beam splitting unit, optically coupled to the input retarder stack, comprising a first beamsplitter that transmits the first spectrum and reflects the second spectrum.
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19. An optical system, comprising:
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an input retarder stack comprising between eight and twenty retarder films that transforms a first spectrum of input light from a light source into a first polarization state, and transforms a second spectrum of the input light into a second polarization state different than the first polarization state; and
a beam splitting unit, optically coupled to the input retarder stack, comprising a first beamsplitter that transmits the first spectrum and reflects the second spectrum.
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20. An optical system, comprising:
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an input retarder stack that transforms a first spectrum of input light from a light source into a first polarization state, and transforms a second spectrum of the input light into a second polarization state different than the first polarization state; and
a beam splitting unit, optically coupled to the input retarder stack, comprising a first beamsplitter that transmits the first spectrum and reflects the second spectrum; and
a second beamsplitter that receives the second spectrum, transmits a predetermined portion of the second spectrum as a third spectrum, and reflects a remaining portion of the second spectrum as a fourth spectrum. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
a first spatial light modulator optically coupled to the beam splitting unit, that alters and reflects the fist spectrum, as a modulated first spectrum, towards the beam splitting unit;
a second spatial light modulator optically coupled to the beam splitting unit, that alters and reflects the third spectrum, as a modulated third spectrum, towards the beam splitting unit; and
a third spatial light modulator optically coupled to the beam splitting unit, that alters and reflects the fourth spectrum, as a modulated fourth spectrum, towards the beams splitting unit, wherein the beam splitting unit combines the modulated first, second, third and fourth spectra into a combined spectrum.
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22. The optical system of claim 21, wherein the first, second and third spatial light modulators alter light in accordance with color image information related to the respective spectrum.
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23. The optical system of claim 22, wherein the first, second and third spatial light modulators are liquid crystal modulators.
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24. The optical system of claim 20, wherein the first beamsplitter comprises a polarizing beamsplitter that transmits and reflects light based on polarization.
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25. The optical system of claim 24, wherein the second beamsplitter comprises a dichroic beamsplitter that transmits light within a first predetermined wavelength band and reflects light within a second predetermined wavelength band.
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26. The optical system of claim 25, further comprising:
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a first light doubler positioned between the first beam splitting unit and the second beamsplitter; and
a second light doubler positioned between the first beam splitting unit and the first spatial light modulator.
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27. The optical system of claim 20 further comprising:
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a first intermediate retarder optically coupled between the beam splitting unit and the second beamsplitter, such that the first intermediate retarder aligns the third spectrum along a third polarization state and aligns the fourth spectrum along a fourth polarization state different than the third polarization state; and
wherein the second beamsplitter is a polarizing beamsplitter.
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28. The optical system of claim 27 further comprising:
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a third beamsplitter, optically coupled between a first spatial light modulator and the first beam splitting unit, that reflects a first modulated transmitted spectrum, and a fourth beamsplitter, optically coupled between the third beamsplitter and the second beamsplitter, that combines the first, third, and fourth modulated spectra.
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29. The optical system of claim 28, further comprising:
a second intermediate retarder optically coupled between the second beamsplitter, and the fourth beamsplitter.
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30. The optical system of claim 29 further comprising an output retarder optically coupled to the fourth beamsplitter.
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31. The optical system of claim 20 further comprising:
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a first spatial light modulator optically coupled to the beam splitting unit for modulating the first spectrum;
a second spatial light modulator optically coupled to the second beamsplitter for modulating the third spectrum; and
a third spatial light modulator optically coupled to the second beamsplitter for modulating the fourth spectrum.
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32. The optical system of claim 31 further comprising:
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a first light doublet optically coupled between the first beam splitting unit and the second beamsplitter that increases the intensity of the third spectrum and the fourth spectrum; and
a second light doublet optically coupled between the first beam splitting unit and the first spatial light modulator that increases the intensity of the first spectrum.
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33. An optical system, comprising:
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an input retarder stack that transforms a first spectrum of input light from a light source into a first polarization state, and transforms a second spectrum of the input light into a second polarization state different than the first polarization state; and
a beam splitting unit, optically coupled to the input retarder stack, comprising a first beamsplitter that transmits the first spectrum and reflects the second spectrum, wherein at least one of the first spectrum and second spectrum are complementary color spectra. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. An optical system, comprising:
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an input retarder stack that transforms a first spectrum of input light from a light source into a first polarization state, and transforms a second spectrum of the input light into a second polarization state different than the first polarization state; and
a beam splitting unit, optically coupled to the input retarder stack, comprising a first beamsplitter that transmits the first spectrum and reflects the second spectrum, wherein the first and second spectra arc complementary color spectra, and wherein at least one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum is an approximate square wave. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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Specification