System and method for displaying/projecting a color image

• US 6,755,536 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Inventors: Tegreene, Clarence T., Urey, Hakan, Lewis, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koval, Melissa J
• Application Number:
  US09/858,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20020171810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 353/31, 353/94, 353/10, 353/121, 353/122, 348/744, 348/745, 359/459, 359/443
• US Class Current: 353/94
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/28 Reflectors in projection beam in illumination beam G03B21/2066
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/60 characterised by the nature of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3129 scanning a light beam on the display screen scanning a light beam on a screen in displays other than projection devices G09G3/02; scanning systems in general G02B26/10; projectors using laser light sources in general H04N9/3161

Abstract

An image projection system includes an image generator and first and second projection screens. The image generator respectively generates the first and second portions of the image on the first and second projection screens. The first projection screen projects the first portion of the image in a first color, and the second projection screen projects the second portion of the image in a second color. Such an image projection system is often less complex and less expensive than a conventional image projection system such as a projection television system. In addition, such a projection system often provides a higher-quality image than a conventional image projection system.

Claims

1. An image projection system, comprising:

a first optical projector operable to project a first portion of an image in a first color in response to a first optical beam;

a second optical projector operable to project a second portion of the image in a second color in response to a second optical beam; and

an image generator operable to generate the first and second optical beam, to sweep the first optical beam across the first optical projector, and to sweep the second optical beam across the second optical projector.

2. The image projection system of claim 1 wherein:

the first optical projector includes regions having adjustable luminance levels;

the second optical projector includes regions having adjustable luminance levels;

the first portion of the image includes sections having respective luminance levels;

the second portion of the image includes sections having respective luminance levels;

the first optical beam is operable to set the luminance levels of the regions of the first optical projector in relation to the luminance levels of the corresponding sections of the first portion of the image; and

the second optical beam is operable to set the luminance levels of the regions of the second optical projector in relation to the luminance levels of the corresponding sections of the second portion of the image.

3. The image projection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display screen operable to display the image;

wherein the first optical projector is operable to project the first portion of the image onto the display screen; and

wherein the second optical projector is operable to project the second portion of the image onto the display screen.

4. The image projection system of claim 1 wherein the first and second optical projectors are coplanar.

5. The image projection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third optical projector operable to project a third portion of the image in a third color in response to a third optical beam; and

wherein the image generator is operable to generate the third optical beam and to sweep the third optical beam across the third optical projector.

6. The image projection system of claim 1 wherein:

the first optical projector includes regions having adjustable luminance levels;

the second optical projector includes regions having adjustable luminance levels; and

the first and second optical beams are respectively operable to set the luminance levels of the regions of the first and second optical projectors to a predetermined blanking level.

7. An image projection system, comprising:

a first optical projector operable to project a first portion of an image in a first color in response to a first optical signal;

a second optical projector operable to project a second portion of the image in a second color in response to a second optical signal;

an image generator operable to respectively generate the first and second optical signals wherein;

the first optical projector includes regions having adjustable luminance levels;

wherein the second optical projector includes regions having adjustable luminance levels;

wherein the first portion of the image includes sections having respective luminance levels;

wherein the second portion of the image includes sections having respective luminance levels; and

the image generator is operable to generate third and fourth optical signals and is operable to generate the first and second portions of the image by directing the first and third optical signals and the second and fourth optical signals onto the first and second optical projectors, respectively, the third optical signal operable to set the luminance levels of the regions of the first optical projector to a first predetermined level, the fourth optical signal operable to set the luminance levels of the regions of the second optical projector to a second predetermined level, the first optical signal operable to set the luminance levels of the regions of the first optical projector in relation to the luminance levels of the corresponding sections of the first portion of the image, and the second optical signal operable to set the luminance levels of the regions of the second optical projector in relation to the luminance levels of the corresponding sections of the second portion of the image.

8. An image projection system, comprising:

a first projection screen operable to project a first portion of an image in a first color;

a second projection screen operable to project a second portion of the image in a second color; and

an image generator operable to respectively generate the first and second portions of the image on the first and second projection screens by sweeping first and second electromagnetic image beams onto the first and second projection screens, respectively.

9. The image projection system of claim 8 wherein:

the first projection screen includes regions having adjustable luminance levels;

the second projection screen includes regions having adjustable luminance levels;

the first portion of the image includes sections having respective luminance levels;

the second portion of the image includes sections having respective luminance levels; and

the first electromagnetic image beam is operable to set the luminance levels of the regions of the first projection screen in relation to the luminance levels of the corresponding sections of the first portion of the image; and

the second electromagnetic image beam is operable to set the luminance levels of the regions of the second projection screen in relation to the luminance levels of the corresponding sections of the second portion of the image.

10. The image projection system of claim 8, further comprising an illuminator operable to illuminate the first and second projection screens.

11. The image projection system of claim 8, further comprising:

a first illuminator operable to illuminate the first projection screen; and

a second illuminator operable to illuminate the second projection screen.

12. The projection system of claim 8, further comprising:

a first illuminator operable to illuminate the first projection screen with light having the first color; and

a second illuminator operable to illuminate the second projection screen with light having the second color.

13. The projection system of claim 8 wherein the first and second projection screens are coplanar.

14. The projection system of claim 8 wherein the first and second projection screens each compose an integral portion of a single member.

15. The projection system of claim 8, further comprising:

a third projection screen operable to project a third portion of the image in a third color; and

wherein the image generator is operable to generate the third portion of the image on the third projection screen by sweeping a third electromagnetic image beam onto the third projection screen.

16. The projection system of claim 8, further comprising:

a third projection screen operable to project a third portion of the image in a third color;

wherein the image generator is operable to generate the third portion of the image on the third projection screen by sweeping a third electromagnetic image beam onto the third projection screen; and

wherein, the first, second, and third colors are red, green, and blue, respectively.

17. An image protection system, comprising:

a first projection screen operable to project a first portion of an image in a first color;

a second projection screen operable to project a second portion of the image in a second color;

an image generator operable to respectively generate the first and second portions of the image on the first and second projection screens;

wherein the first projection screen includes regions having adjustable luminance levels;

wherein the second projection screen includes regions having adjustable luminance levels;

wherein the first portion of the image includes sections having respective luminance levels;

wherein the second portion of the image includes sections having respective luminance levels; and

wherein the image generator is operable to generate the first and second portions of the image by directing first and second electromagnetic erase beams and first and second electromagnetic image beams onto the first and second projection screens, respectively, the first erase beam operable to set the luminance levels of the regions of the first projection screen to a first predetermine level, the second erase beam operable to set the luminance levels of the regions of the second projection screen to a second predetermined level, the first image beam operable to set the luminance levels of the regions of the first projection screen in relation to the luminance levels of the corresponding sections of the first portion of the image, and the second image beam operable to set the luminance levels of the regions of the second projection screen in relation to the luminance levels of the corresponding sections of the second portion of the image.

18. An image projection system, comprising:

a first projection screen operable to project a first portion of an image in a first color;

a second projection screen operable to project a second portion of the image in a second color;

an image generator operable to respectively generate the first and second portions of the image on the first and second projection screens;

a display screen operable to display the image;

wherein the first projection screen is operable to project the first portion of the image onto the display screen; and

wherein the second projection screen is operable to project the second portion of the image onto the display screen.

19. The image projection system of claim 18 wherein the first and second projection screens are respectively operable to project the first and second portions of the image such that on the display screen, the first portion of the image is aligned with the second portion of the image.

20. An image projection system, comprising:

a first projection screen operable to project a first portion of an image in a first color;

a second projection screen operable to project a second portion of the image in a second color;

an image generator operable to respectively generate the first and second portions of the image on the first and second projection screens;

a display screen operable to display the image; and

an optical assembly disposed between the display screen and the first and second projection screens and operable to direct the first and second portions of the image from the first and second projection screens onto the display screen.

21. An image projection system, comprising:

a first projection screen operable to project a first portion of an image in a first color;

a second projection screen operable to project a second portion of the image in a second color;

an image generator operable to respectively generate the first and second portions of the image on the first and second projection screens;

a display screen operable to display the image;

a first optical element disposed between the display screen and the first projection screen and operable to direct the first portion of the image from the first projection screen onto the display screen; and

a second optical element disposed between the display screen and the second projection screen and operable to direct the second portion of the image from the second projection screen onto the display screen.

22. A method, comprising:

generating a first portion of an image on a first section of a projection screen by sweeping a first electromagnetic image beam across the first section, the first portion of the image representing a first color;

generating a second portion of the image on a second section of the projection screen by sweeping a second electromagnetic image beam across the second section, the second portion of the image representing a second color; and

projecting from the first and second sections of the projection screen the first and second portions of the image in the first and second colors, respectively.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein:

the first image beam sets the luminance levels of regions of the first section of the projection screen in relation to the luminance levels of corresponding sections of the first portion of the image; and

the second image beam sets the luminance levels of regions of the second section of the projection screen in relation to the luminance levels of corresponding sections of the second portion of the image.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

illuminating the first section of the projection screen with electromagnetic energy having the first color; and

illuminating the second section of the projection screen with electromagnetic energy having the second color.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising illuminating the first and section sections of the projection screen.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein projecting the first and second portions of the image comprises projecting the first and second portions of the image onto a display screen such that the first portion is aligned with the second portion on the display screen.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

generating a third portion of the image on a third section of the projection screen by sweeping a third electromagnetic image beam across the third section, the third portion of the image representing a third color; and

projecting the third portion of the image from the third section of the projection screen in the third color.

28. An image projection system, comprising:

a first image amplifier operable to project a first portion of an image in a first color in response to a first electromagnetic beam;

a second image amplifier operable to project a second portion of the image in a second color in response to a second electromagnetic beam; and

an image generator operable to scan the first and second electromagnetic beams onto the first and second image amplifiers, respectively.

29. The image projection system of claim 28 wherein the first and second electromagnetic beams respectively comprise first and second optical beams.

30. The image projection system of claim 28, further comprising:

a third image amplifier operable to project a third portion of the image in a third color in response to a third electromagnetic beam; and

wherein the image generator is operable to scan the third electromagnetic beam onto the third image amplifier.

31. A method, comprising:

generating a first portion of an image on a first section of a projection screen, the first portion representing a first color;

generating a second portion of the image on a second section of the projection screen, the second portion representing a second color;

projecting the first and second portions of the image from the first and second sections of the projection screen in the first and second colors, respectively;

wherein generating the first portion of the image comprises,

directing a first erase beam onto the first section of the projection screen to set the luminance levels of regions of the first section to a first predetermined luminance level, and

directing a first image beam onto the first section to set the luminance levels of the regions of the first section in relation to the luminance levels of corresponding sections of the first portion of the image; and

generating the second portion of the image comprises,

directing a second erase beam onto the second section of the projection screen to set the luminance levels of regions of the second section to a second predetermined luminance level, and

directing a second image beam onto the second section to set the luminance levels of the regions of the second section in relation to the luminance levels of corresponding sections of the second portion of the image.

32. A method, comprising:

generating a first portion of an image on a first section of a projection screen, the first portion representing a first color;

generating a second portion of the image on a second section of the projection screen, the second portion representing a second color;

projecting the first and second portions of the image from the first and second sections of the projection screen in the first and second colors, respectively;

optically altering the projected first and second portions of the image;

projecting the altered first and second portions of the image onto a display screen.

33. An image projection system, comprising:

a first optical projector operable to project a first portion of an image in a first color in response to a first image beam and a first erase beam;

a second optical projector operable to project a second portion of the image in a second color in response to a second image beam and a second erase beam; and

an image generator operable to generate the first and second image beams and the first and second erase beams, to sweep the first image and erase beams across the first optical projector, and to sweep the second image and erase beams across the second optical projector.

34. The image projection system of claim 33 wherein the image generator is further operable to:

sweep the first image and erase beams across the first optical projector such that the first erase beam leads the first image beam; and

sweep the second image and erase beams across the second optical projector such that the second erase beam leads the second image beam.

35. The image projection system of claim 33 wherein:

the first and second optical projectors respectively comprise first and second light amplifiers; and

the image generator is operable to sweep the first image and erase beams across the first light amplifier and to sweep the second image and erase beams across the second light amplifier.

36. The image projection system of claim 33 wherein the first image and erase beams and the second image and erase beams each comprise a respective beam of electromagnetic energy.