Projection display apparatus having both incoherent and laser light sources

• US 6,807,010 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2003
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IMAX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Kowarz, Marek W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harrington, Alicia M.
• Application Number:
  US10/395,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20040090679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 359/291-292, 359/629, 359/634, 359/636, 353/31, 353/39, 353/48
• US Class Current: 359/634
• 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 9/3132 using one-dimensional electronic spatial light modulators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3161 using laser light sources using laser beams scanning the display screen H04N9/3129
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3164 using multiple light sources

Abstract

A color display apparatus for forming, on a display surface, a color image of superimposed color images, the display apparatus having a first color modulation channel for forming a first color two-dimensional image using a laser light source for providing a first color source beam, a linear spatial light modulator for modulating the first color source beam, and a scanning element for scanning the modulated light beam to form a first color two-dimensional image. A second color modulation channel forms a second color two-dimensional image using an incoherent light source for providing a second color source beam to an area spatial light modulator for modulating the second color source beam to form a second color two-dimensional image. A projection lens then projects a superimposed color image of the first color two-dimensional image and the second color two-dimensional image and any third color two-dimensional image.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for forming, on a display surface, a color image including a plurality of superimposed color images, the display apparatus comprising:

(a) a first color modulation channel for forming a first color two-dimensional image, comprising;

(a1) a laser light source for providing a first color source beam;

(a2) a linear spatial light modulator for modulating said first color source beam to provide a modulated light beam having a first color;

(a3) a scanning element for scanning said modulated light beam having said first color to form said first color two-dimensional image;

(b) a second color modulation channel for forming a second color two-dimensional image, comprising;

(b1) an incoherent light source for providing a second color source beam;

(b2) an area spatial light modulator for modulating said second color source beam to form a second color two-dimensional image; and

(c) at least one projection lens for projecting, toward the display surface, the color image comprising said first color two-dimensional image combined with said second color two-dimensional image.

2. The display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a color combiner for combining at least said first and said second color two-dimensional images for projection.

3. The display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said color combiner includes at least one dichroic surface.

4. The display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said color combiner is selected from the group consisting of a dichroic combiner, a polarization beamsplitter, an X-cube, and a Philips prism.

5. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first color source beam is green.

6. The display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said linear spatial light modulator is selected from the group consisting of GEMS and GLV devices.

7. The display apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first color modulation channel further comprises an obstructing element for blocking a zeroeth order light beam reflected from said linear spatial light modulator from reaching the display surface.

8. The display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said obstructing element is also used for directing said first color source beam toward said linear spatial light modulator.

9. The display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a color separator for separating said second color source beam from said incoherent light source.

10. The display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said color separator includes a dichroic surface.

11. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said area spatial light modulator is selected from the group consisting of a transmissive LCD, a reflective LCD, and a digital micromirror device.

12. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said incoherent light source includes an arc lamp.

13. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said incoherent light source includes an LED.

14. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said scanning element includes a mirrored surface.

15. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display surface is selected from the group consisting of front projection screens and rear projection screens.

16. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said scanning element is selected from the group consisting of a mirror and a mirrored polygon.

17. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second color source beam is blue.

18. The display apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said second color two-dimensional image has a lower pixel resolution than said first color two-dimensional image.

19. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said area spatial light modulator has a lower pixel resolution than said linear light modulator.

20. A display apparatus for forming, on a display surface, a color image including a plurality of superimposed images, the display apparatus comprising:

(a) a first color modulation channel for forming a first two-dimensional image, comprising;

(a1) a first laser light source for providing a source laser beam;

(a2) a first linear spatial light modulator for modulating said source laser beam to provide at least one modulated light beam having a first color;

(a3) a scanning element for directing, toward a first color combiner, a scanned line image beam comprising said at least one modulated light beam having said first color;

(b) a second color modulation channel for forming a second two-dimensional image, comprising;

(b1) a first incoherent light source for providing a second color source beam;

(b2) a first area spatial light modulator for modulating said second color source beam to provide a second color image beam to said first color combiner;

(c) said first color combiner combining at least said scanned line image beam and said second color image beam to form a superimposed color image beam; and

(d) a projection lens for projecting said superimposed color image beam toward the display surface.

21. The display apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

(e) a third color modulation channel for forming a third two-dimensional image, comprising;

(e1) a second laser light source for providing a third color source beam;

(e2) a second linear spatial light modulator for modulating said third color source beam to provide at least one modulated light beam having a third color; and

(e3) a second color combiner for combining said at least one modulated light beam having said third color with said at least one modulated light beam having said first color.

22. The display apparatus according to claim 21, wherein a single component includes said first linear spatial light modulator disposed adjacent to said second linear spatial light modulator.

23. The display apparatus according to claim 20 further comprising:

(e) a third color modulation channel for forming a third two-dimensional image, comprising;

(e1) a second incoherent light source for providing a third color source beam; and

(e2) a second area spatial light modulator for modulating said third color source beam to provide a third color image beam to said color combiner;

said color combiner further combining said third color image beam with said scanned line image beam and said second color image beam to form a superimposed multicolor image beam.

24. The display apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said source laser beam is green.

25. The display apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said first linear spatial light modulator is selected from the group consisting of GEMS and GLV devices.

26. The display apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said first color modulation channel further comprises an obstructing element for blocking a zeroth order light beam reflected from said first linear spatial light modulator from reaching the display surface.

27. The display apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said obstructing element is also used for directing said first color source beam toward said first linear spatial light modulator.

28. The display apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a color filter for providing said second color source beam from said first incoherent light source.

29. The display apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a dichroic separator for separating said second color source beam from said first incoherent light source.

30. The display apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said first area spatial light modulator is selected from the group consisting of a transmissive LCD, a reflective LCD, and a digital micromirror device.

31. The display apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said first incoherent light source is an arc lamp.

32. The display apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said scanning element includes a mirrored surface.

33. The display apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said color combiner includes at least one dichroic surface.

34. The display apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the display surface is selected from the group consisting of front projection screens and rear projection screens.

35. The display apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said scanning element is selected from the group consisting of a mirror and a mirrored polygon.

36. The display apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said color combiner is selected from the group consisting of a dichroic combiner, a polarization beamsplitter, an X-cube, and a Philips prism.

37. The display apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said second color source beam is blue.

38. The display apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said first area spatial light modulator has a lower pixel resolution than said first linear light modulator.

39. The display apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said first color modulation channel further comprises:

(a) a second laser light source for providing an alternative color source beam; and

(b) means for modulating said source laser beam with said first linear spatial light modulator and means for combining said alternative color source beam from said second laser light source onto a common optical axis with light from said first laser light source.

40. The display apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said source laser beam is alternately from said first laser light source and said second laser light source.

41. A system for forming, on a display surface, a color image including a plurality of superimposed images, the system comprising:

(a) a first color modulation channel for forming a first two-dimensional image, comprising;

(a1) means for providing a source laser beam;

(a2) means for modulating said source laser beam to provide at least one modulated light beam having a first color;

(a3) means for directing, toward a color combiner, a scanned line image beam including said at least one modulated light beam having said first color;

(b) a second color modulation channel for forming a second two-dimensional image, comprising;

(b1) means for providing a second color incoherent source beam;

(b2) means for modulating said second color incoherent source beam to provide a second color image beam to said color combiner;

(c) said color combiner combining at least said scanned line image beam and said second color image beam to form a superimposed color image beam; and

(d) means for projecting said superimposed color image beam toward the display surface.

42. A display apparatus for forming, on a display surface, a color image as a plurality of superimposed images, the display apparatus comprising:

(a) a linear image modulation channel for forming a polychromatic, scanned linear image beam, comprising;

(a1) a first laser light source for providing a first color source beam;

(a2) a first linear spatial light modulator for modulating said first color source beam to direct, towards a first color combiner, at least one modulated light beam having a first color;

(a3) a second laser light source for providing a second color source beam;

(a4) a second linear spatial light modulator for modulating said second color source beam to direct, towards said first color combiner, at least one modulated light beam having a second color;

(a5) said first color combiner combining said modulated light beam having said first color and said modulated light beam having said second color to form a combined color modulated linear light beam and directing said combined color modulated linear light beam toward a first projection lens;

(a6) said first projection lens directing said combined color modulated linear light beam toward a scanning element for forming said scanned linear image beam, said first projection lens projecting said scanned linear image beam toward the display surface;

(b) an area image modulation channel for forming an area image beam, comprising;

(b1) an incoherent light source for providing an area source beam;

(b2) a first area spatial light modulator for modulating said area source beam to provide said area image beam; and

(b3) a second projection lens for projecting said area image beam toward the display surface.

43. The display apparatus according to claim 42 further comprising a second color combiner for combining said scanned linear image beam and said area image beam when projected toward the display surface.

44. The display apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said second color combiner is selected from the group consisting of an X-cube, a polarization beamsplitter, and a Philips prism.

45. The display apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said area image modulation channel further comprises:

(a) a color separator for obtaining, from said incoherent light source, a fourth color source beam;

(b) a third color combiner for combining said fourth color source beam onto a common axis with said area source beam; and

(c) said area spatial light modulator alternately modulating said fourth color source beam and said area source beam to provide said area image beam.

46. The display apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said first color source beam is green.

47. The display apparatus according to claim 42 wherein said first linear spatial light modulator is selected from the group consisting of GEMS and GLV devices.

48. The display apparatus according to claim 47 further comprising an obstructing element for blocking a zeroth order light reflected from said first linear spatial light modulator from reaching the display surface.

49. The display apparatus according to claim 48, wherein said obstructing element is also used for directing said first color source beam toward said first linear spatial light modulator.

50. The display apparatus according to claim 42 further comprising a color filter for conditioning said area source beam from said incoherent light source.

51. The display apparatus according to claim 42 further comprising a dichroic separator for separating said area source beam from said incoherent light source.

52. The display apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said area spatial light modulator is selected from the group consisting of a transmissive LCD, a reflective LCD, and a digital micromirror device.

53. The display apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said incoherent light source is selected from the group consisting of an arc lamp and an LED.

54. The display apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said scanning element includes a mirrored surface.

55. The display apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said first color combiner includes at least one dichroic surface.

56. The display apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the display surface is selected from the group consisting of front projection screens and rear projection screens.

57. The display apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said scanning element is taken from the group consisting of a mirror, a mirrored polygon.

58. The display apparatus according to claim 42 wherein said first color combiner is selected from the group consisting of a dichroic combiner, an X-cube, a polarization beamsplitter, and a Philips prism.

59. The display apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said area source beam is blue.

60. The display apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said area spatial light modulator has a lower pixel resolution than said first linear spatial light modulator.

61. The display apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said linear image modulation channel in part (a5), further comprises:

(i) a third laser light source for providing a fourth color source beam;

(ii) a third linear spatial light modulator for modulating said fourth color source beam to direct, towards said first color combiner, at least one modulated light beam having a fourth color; and

(iii) said first color combiner further combining said at least one modulated light beam having said fourth color with said at least one modulated light beam having said first color and said at least one modulated light beam having said second color to form said combined color modulated linear light beam and directing said combined color modulated linear light beam toward said first projection lens.

62. The display apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said area image modulation channel further comprises:

(a) a color separator for obtaining, from said incoherent light source, a fourth color source beam;

(b) a second area spatial light modulator for modulating said fourth color source beam to provide a modulated fourth color image beam; and

(c) a second color combiner for directing said modulated fourth color source beam into said area image beam for projection by said second projection lens.

63. A display apparatus for forming, on a display surface, a color image comprising a plurality of superimposed color images, the display apparatus comprising:

(a) a first color modulation channel for forming a first color two-dimensional image, comprising;

(a1) a laser light source for providing a first color source beam;

(a2) a linear spatial light modulator for modulating said first color source beam to provide a modulated light beam having a first color;

(a3) a scanning element for scanning said modulated light beam having said first color to form said first color two-dimensional image;

(b) a second color modulation channel comprising an emissive display for forming a second color two-dimensional image; and

(c) at least one projection lens for projecting, toward the display surface, the color image comprising said first color two-dimensional image superimposed with said second color two-dimensional image.

64. The display apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said emissive display is selected from the group consisting of a CRT display, an OLED display, a PLED display, and a plasma display device.

65. A display apparatus for forming, on a display surface, a color image comprising a plurality of superimposed color images, the display apparatus comprising:

(a) a first color modulation channel for forming a green two-dimensional image, comprising;

(a1) a laser light source for providing a green source beam;

(a2) a first spatial light modulator for modulating said green source beam to form said green two-dimensional image having a first resolution;

(b) a second color modulation channel for forming a second color two-dimensional image, comprising;

(b1) an incoherent light source for providing a second color source beam;

(b2) an area spatial light modulator for modulating said second color source beam to form a second color two-dimensional image having a second resolution, wherein said first resolution is greater than said second resolution; and

(c) at least one projection lens for projecting, toward the display surface, the color image comprising said green two-dimensional image superimposed with said second color two-dimensional image.

66. The display apparatus according to claim 65, wherein said first spatial light modulator is a linear spatial light modulator.

67. The display apparatus according to claim 65, wherein said first spatial light modulator is selected from the group consisting of a GEMS device and a GLV device.

68. The display apparatus according to claim 65, wherein said first spatial light modulator is an area spatial light modulator.

69. The display apparatus according to claim 65, wherein said first spatial light modulator is selected from the group consisting of a reflective LCD, a transmissive LCD, and a DMD.

70. A method for forming, on a display surface, a color image as a plurality of superimposed images, comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a first color linear image beam including the steps of;

(a1) providing a first color laser source beam;

(a2) modulating said first color laser source beam to provide at least one diffracted light beam having a first color;

(b) forming a second color two-dimensional image beam including the steps of;

(b1) providing a second color source beam from an incoherent light source;

(b2) modulating said second color source beam;

(c) combining said first color linear image beam with said second color two-dimensional image beam to form a superimposed image beam; and

(d) projecting said superimposed image beam toward the display surface.

71. The method for forming a color image according to claim 70, wherein the step of modulating said first color laser source comprises the step of modulating a GEMS device.

72. The method for forming a color image according to claim 70, wherein the step of modulating said first color laser source comprises the step of modulating a GLV device.

73. The method for forming a color image according to claim 70, wherein the step of providing a first color laser source beam comprises the step of providing a green laser beam.

74. The method for forming a color image according to claim 70, wherein the step of modulating said second color source beam comprises the step of modulating a spatial light modulator.

75. The method for forming a color image according to claim 70 further comprising the steps of:

(e) forming a third color linear image beam including the steps of;

(e1) providing a third color laser source beam;

(e2) modulating said third color laser source beam to provide at least one diffracted light beam having a third color; and

(f) combining said third color linear image beam into said superimposed image beam for projection.

76. A method for forming a color image as a plurality of superimposed two-dimensional images, comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a first color two-dimensional image including the steps of;

(a1) providing a first color laser source beam;

(a2) modulating said first color laser source beam to provide a modulated light beam having a first color;

(a3) scanning said modulated light beam having said first color to form said first color two-dimensional image;

(b) forming a second color two-dimensional image including the steps of;

(b1) providing a second color source beam from an incoherent light source;

(b2) modulating said second color source beam to form a second color two-dimensional image; and

(c) projecting the color image comprising said first color two-dimensional image superimposed with said second color two-dimensional image.

77. The method for forming a color image according to claim 76 further comprising the step of combining at least said first and said second color two-dimensional images to form, along a projection axis, a superimposed color image for projection.

78. The method for forming a color image according to claim 76, wherein the step of providing a second color source beam comprises the step of using a color separator for isolating said second color source beam from said incoherent light source.

79. The method for forming a color image according to claim 76, wherein the step of modulating said first color laser source beam comprises the step of modulating a GEMS device.

80. The method for forming a color image according to claim 76, wherein the step of modulating said first color laser source beam comprises the step of modulating a GLV device.

81. The method for forming a color image according to claim 76, wherein the step of providing a first color laser source beam comprises the step of providing a green laser beam.

82. The method for forming a color image according to claim 76, wherein the step of modulating said second color source beam comprises the step of modulating a spatial light modulator.

83. The method for forming a color image according to claim 76 further comprising the steps of

(d) forming a third color two-dimensional image including the steps of:

(d1) providing a third color laser source beam;

(d2) modulating said third color laser source beam to provide a modulated light beam having a third color;

(d3) scanning said modulated light beam having said third color to form said third color two-dimensional image; and

(e) projecting said third color two-dimensional image superimposed with the color image comprising said first color two-dimensional image superimposed with said second color two-dimensional image.

84. A method for forming, on a display surface, a color image as a plurality of superimposed two-dimensional images, comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a polychromatic, scanned linear image beam including the steps of;

(a1) providing a first color laser source beam;

(a2) modulating said first color laser source beam to form at least one modulated light beam having a first color;

(a3) providing a second color laser source beam;

(a4) modulating said second color laser source beam to form at least one modulated light beam having a second color;

(a5) combining said modulated light beam having said first color and said modulated light beam having said second color to form a combined color modulated linear light beam;

(a6) directing said combined color modulated linear light beam toward a scanning element for forming said scanned linear image beam;

(a7) projecting said scanned linear image beam toward the display surface;

(b) forming an area image beam including the steps of;

(b1) providing an area source beam from an incoherent light source;

(b2) modulating said area source beam to provide said area image beam; and

(b3) projecting said area image beam toward the display surface.

85. A method for forming, on a display surface, a color image as a plurality of superimposed two-dimensional images, comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a first color two-dimensional image including the steps of;

(a1) providing a first color laser source beam;

(a2) modulating said first color laser source beam to provide a modulated light beam having a first color;

(a3) scanning said modulated light beam having said first color to form said first color two-dimensional image;

(b) activating an emissive imaging array device to form a second color two-dimensional image; and

(c) projecting, toward the display surface, the color image comprising said first color two-dimensional image superimposed with said second color two-dimensional image.