Projection apparatus using spatial light modulator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A projection apparatus for projecting a multicolor image comprising:
- a first light modulation assembly comprising;
a first spatial light modulator for modulating light having a first wavelength and which forms a first image;
a first magnifying relay lens for focusing and relaying said first image;
a second spatial light modulator for modulating light having a second wavelength and which forms a second image;
a second magnifying relay lens for focusing and relaying said second image;
a third spatial light modulator for modulating light having a third wavelength which forms a third image;
a third magnifying relay lens for focusing and relaying said third image;
a dichroic combiner which form a multicolor image by combining said first, second, and third images; and
a projection lens for projecting said multicolor image.
17 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A digital projection apparatus (10) for projection of a multicolor image includes a magnifying relay lens assembly (28) as part of the light modulation assembly (38) for each component color. The relay lens assembly (28) increases the effective f/# of incident light to the dichroic combiner (26) used to combine modulated light of each color from each light modulation assembly (38) in order to form the multicolor image. The magnifying relay lens assembly (28) also provides a reduced working distance for the projection lens (32), allowing a lower-cost design and facilitating substitution of the projection lens (32) best suited for a display surface (40).
-
Citations
69 Claims
-
1. A projection apparatus for projecting a multicolor image comprising:
-
a first light modulation assembly comprising;
a first spatial light modulator for modulating light having a first wavelength and which forms a first image;
a first magnifying relay lens for focusing and relaying said first image;
a second spatial light modulator for modulating light having a second wavelength and which forms a second image;
a second magnifying relay lens for focusing and relaying said second image;
a third spatial light modulator for modulating light having a third wavelength which forms a third image;
a third magnifying relay lens for focusing and relaying said third image;
a dichroic combiner which form a multicolor image by combining said first, second, and third images; and
a projection lens for projecting said multicolor image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A projection apparatus for projecting a multicolor image, the apparatus comprising:
-
a first light modulation assembly for forming a magnified image having a first wavelength, a second light modulation assembly for forming a magnified image having a second wavelength, and a third light modulation assembly for forming a magnified image having a third wavelength, wherein each modulation assembly is similarly constructed and comprises;
(a) a light source for directing incident light towards a polarizing beamsplitter, said polarizing beamsplitter transmitting light having a first polarization and reflecting light having a second polarization;
(b) a liquid crystal device for modulating incident light having said second polarization to form a first image; and
(c) a magnifying relay lens for focusing and relaying said first image towards a dichroic combiner in order to form a magnified real image of said first image;
said dichroic combiner forming a multicolor image by combining said magnified real image having said first wavelength, said magnified real image having said second wavelength, and said magnified real image having said third wavelength; and
a projection lens for projecting said multicolor image toward a display surface. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. A method for projecting a multicolor image toward a display surface, the method comprising:
-
(a) forming, from an incident light of a first wavelength, a magnified real image having said first wavelength using the steps of;
(a1) modulating said incident light of said first wavelength at a first spatial light modulator to form a first image having said first wavelength;
(a2) magnifying and relaying said first image having said first wavelength towards a dichroic combiner to form said magnified real image having said first wavelength;
(b) forming, from an incident light of a second wavelength, a magnified real image having said second wavelength using the steps of;
(b1) modulating said incident light of said second wavelength at a second spatial light modulator to form a first image having said second wavelength;
(b2) magnifying and relaying said first image having said second wavelength towards said dichroic combiner to form said magnified real image having said second wavelength;
(c) forming, from an incident light of a third wavelength, a magnified real image having said third wavelength using the steps of;
(c1) modulating said incident light of said third wavelength at a second spatial light modulator to form a first image having said third wavelength;
(c2) magnifying and relaying said first image having said third wavelength towards said dichroic combiner to form said magnified real image having said third wavelength;
(d) combining, along a common optical axis, said magnified real image having said first wavelength, said magnified real image having said second wavelength, and said magnified real image having said third wavelength to form a multicolor image for projection; and
(e) projecting said multicolor image toward the display surface. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
-
-
47. A projection apparatus comprising:
-
a first light source having a first wavelength;
a first spatial light modulator for modulating incident light from said first light source to form a first image;
a first relay lens for focusing and relaying said first image;
a second light source having a second wavelength;
a second spatial light modulator for modulating incident light from said second light source to form a second image;
a second relay lens for focusing and relaying said second image;
a third light source having a third wavelength;
a third spatial light modulator for modulating incident light from said second light source to form a third image;
a third relay lens for focusing and relaying said third image;
a dichroic combiner which forms multicolor images by combining said first, second, and third images;
a projection lens for projecting said multicolor image; and
wherein each of said relay lens provides magnification. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
-
-
52. The projection apparatus according to 47 wherein said light source comprises a laser.
-
58. A projection apparatus for projecting a multicolor image comprising:
-
a first light source having a first wavelength;
a first means for modulating incident light from said first light source to form a first image;
a first means for focusing and relaying said first image to form a magnified real image of said first image;
a second light source having a second wavelength;
a second means for modulating incident light from said second light source to form a second image;
a second means for focusing and relaying said second image to form a magnified real image of said second image;
a third light source having a third wavelength;
a third means for modulating incident light from said third light source to form a third image;
a third means for focusing and relaying said third image to form a magnified real image of said third image;
a dichroic combiner which form a multicolor image by combining said first, second, and third magnified images; and
a projection lens for projecting said multicolor image. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
-
Specification
-
- Resources
Litigation Campaign Assessment
Thank you for your request. You will receive a custom alert email when the Litigation Campaign Assessment is available.
×
-
Current AssigneeIMAX Corporation
-
Original AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
-
InventorsCobb, Joshua M.
-
Primary Examiner(s)Mathews, Alan A.
-
Assistant Examiner(s)SEVER, ANDREW T
-
Application NumberUS10/050,309Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,014 DaysField of Search353/28, 353/30-34, 353/100, 353/101, 353/122, 353/81, 353/94, 353/84, 349/5, 349/9US Class Current353/31CPC Class CodesG02B 27/141 using dichroic mirrorsH04N 9/3105 for displaying all colours ...
