High efficiency electromagnetic beam projector, and systems and methods for implementation thereof

• US 6,791,752 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Inventors: Sedlmayr, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Mark A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FINEMAN, LEE A
• Application Number:
  US10/718,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 298 Days
• Field of Search: 359/483-485, 359/497, 359/487, 359/502, 359/494-495, 353/8, 353/20, 353/31, 349/8, 349/9
• US Class Current: 359/487.04
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/02 for controlling the intensity of light G02B26/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1006 for splitting or combining different wavelengths G02B27/1086, G02B27/141 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1046 for use with transmissive spatial light modulators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1053 having a single light modulator for all colour channels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1073 characterized by manufacturing or alignment methods
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/142 Coating structures, e.g. thin films multilayers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/143 using macroscopically faceted or segmented reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/144 using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity G02B27/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/145 having sequential partially reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/149 using crossed beamsplitting surfaces, e.g. cross-dichroic cubes or X-cubes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 33/06 by additive-colour projection apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/26 using polarised or coloured light separating different viewpoint images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/334 using spectral multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/341 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/361 Reproducing mixed stereoscopic images; Reproducing mixed monoscopic and stereoscopic images, e.g. a stereoscopic image overlay window on a monoscopic image background
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7441 the modulator being an array of liquid crystal cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3105 : for displaying all colours simultaneously, e.g. by using two or more electronic spatial light modulators simultaneous projection in colour photography G03B33/10; beam splitting or combining systems per se G02B27/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3152 : for shaping the light beam beam shaping per se G02B27/09
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3167 : for polarizing the light beam polarizing optical systems per se G02B27/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/317 : Convergence or focusing systems electronic adjustment of convergence H04N9/3185; convergence or focusing arrangements for cathode ray tubes H04N9/28; means for automatic focusing of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/53

Abstract

This invention relates to electromagnetic wave beam paths, formation of the beam, illumination of programmable electromagnetic wave field vector orientation rotating devices (“PEMFVORD”) with an electromagnetic beam, and the technique of projection of the modulated beam. This invention also relates to a unique light path and method of forming the light into a rectangular beam to be used for optical projection systems and, more particularly, in a color and/or black and white liquid crystal device (LCD) projectors that produce high resolution, high brightness and/or three-dimensional images. This invention further relates to a device capable of receiving and displaying two-dimensional and three dimensional images.

Claims

1. A method of producing a modulated beam of light suitable for projection of video images, comprising:

[a] providing a first initial beam of light having randomly changing orientations of the selected component of the electric field vectors;

[b] integrating the first initial beam of light to form a second initial beam of light having a substantially uniform flux intensity across substantially the entire second initial beam of light;

[c] collimating the second initial beam of light into an initial collimated beam of light having randomly changing orientations of the selected component of the electric field vectors and a substantially uniform flux intensity across substantially the entire second initial beam of light

[d] removing from the initial collimated beam of light at least a portion of ultraviolet and infrared to produce an initial collimated beam of white light and directing the removed portions to a beam stop whereby the removed portion is absorbed;

[e] resolving from the initial collimated beam of white light an initial collimated first resolved beam of white light having substantially a first single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors and an initial collimated second resolved beam of white light having substantially a second single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors, whereby the first and second single selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors are different from one another;

[f] forming from the initial collimated first resolved beam of white light and initial collimated second resolved beam of white light a substantially collimated rectangular initial single beam of white light having substantially the same single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors across substantially the entire beam of light and a substantially uniform flux intensity across substantially the entire initial collimated single beam of white light;

[g] separating the collimated rectangular initial single beam of white light into two or more separate collimated rectangular beams of color whereby each of the separate collimated rectangular beam of color has the same single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors as that of the other separate collimated rectangular beams of colors and each separate collimated rectangular bean of color having a different color from the other separate collimated rectangular beams of colors;

[h] adjusting the color by removing at least a predetermined portion of color of at least one of the separate collimated rectangular beam of colors and directing the removed portion to a beam stop whereby the removed portion is absorbed;

[i] altering the single selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors of a plurality of portions of each separate collimated rectangular beam of color by passing a plurality of portions of each separate collimated rectangular beam of color through a respective one of a plurality of altering means whereby the single selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors of the plurality of portions of each separate beam of color is altered in response to a stimulus means by applying a signal means to the stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the plurality of portions of each of the substantially collimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy passes through the respective one of the plurality of altering the single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors;

[j] combining the altered separate collimated rectangular beams of color into a single collimated rectangular collinear color beam without substantially changing the altered selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors of the plurality of portions of each separate collimated rectangular beam of color;

[k] resolving from the single collimated rectangular collinear color beam a first collimated rectangular resolved color beam having substantially a first single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors and second collimated rectangular resolved color beam having substantially a second single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors, whereby the first and second single selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors are different from one another; and

[l] passing one of the first collimated rectangular or second collimated rectangular resolved color beam to a projection means.

2. A system of producing a modulated beam of light suitable for projection of video images, comprising:

[a] means for providing a first initial beam of light having randomly changing orientations of the selected component of the electric field vectors;

[b] means for integrating the first initial beam of light to form a second initial beam of light having a substantially uniform flux intensity across substantially the entire second initial beam of light;

[c] means for collimating the second initial beam of light into an initial collimated beam of light having randomly changing orientations of the selected component of the electric field vectors and a substantially uniform flux intensity across substantially the entire second initial beam of light;

[d] means for removing from the initial collimated beam of light at least a portion of ultraviolet and infrared to produce an initial collimated beam of white light and directing the removed portions to a beam stop whereby the removed portion is absorbed;

[e] means for resolving from the initial collimated beam of white light an initial collimated first resolved beam of white light having substantially a first single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors and an initial collimated second resolved beam of white light having substantially a second single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors, whereby the first and second single selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors are different from one another;

[f] means for forming from the initial collimated first resolved beam of white light and initial collimated second resolved beam of white light a substantially collimated rectangular initial single beam of white light having substantially the same single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors across substantially the entire beam of light and a substantially uniform flux intensity across substantially the entire initial collimated single beam of white light;

[g] means for separating the collimated rectangular initial single beam of white light into two or more separate collimated rectangular beams of color whereby each of the separate collimated rectangular beam of color has the same single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors as that of the other separate collimated rectangular beams of colors and each separate collimated rectangular beam of color having a different color from the other separate collimated rectangular beams of colors;

[h] means for adjusting the color by removing at least a predetermined portion of color of at least one of the separate collimated rectangular beam of colors and directing the removed portion to a beam stop whereby the removed portion is absorbed;

[i] means for altering the single selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors of a plurality of portions of each separate collimated rectangular beam of color by passing a plurality of portions of each separate collimated rectangular beam of color through a respective one of a plurality of altering means whereby the single selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors of the plurality of portions of each separate beam of color is altered in response to a stimulus means by applying a signal means to the stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the plurality of portions of each of the substantially collimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy passes through the respective one of the plurality of altering the single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors;

[j] means for combining the altered separate collimated rectangular beams of color into a single collimated rectangular collinear color beam without substantially changing the altered selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors of the plurality of portions of each separate collimated rectangular beam of color;

[k] means for resolving from the single collimated rectangular collinear color beam a first collimated rectangular resolved color beam having substantially a first single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors and second collimated rectangular resolved color beam having substantially a second single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors, whereby the first and second single selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors are different from one another; and

[l] means for passing one of the first collimated rectangular or second collimated rectangular resolved color beam to a projection means.