Display system with low and high resolution modulators

• US 6,817,717 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dolby International AB (Dolby Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Allen, William, Lassar, Noah, Childers, Winthrop D., Van Veen, Mark A., Schmidt, Jack H., Samii, Mohammad M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Rodney
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koval, Melissa J
• Application Number:
  US10/251,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20040057017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 353/31, 353/84, 353/94, 353/99, 348/743, 349/5, 349/7
• US Class Current: 353/31
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/023 Display panel composed of stacked panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3426 the different display panel areas being distributed in two dimensions, e.g. matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3117 by using a sequential colour filter producing two or more colours simultaneously, e.g. by creating scrolling colour bands
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/315 Modulator illumination systems general applications of lighting devices F21V; general optical systems G02B; lamp houses for projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/20

Abstract

A display system is provided, the system including an illumination source configured to produce light and direct light along an optical path, a plurality of color filters disposed in the optical path configured to generate a plurality of colored light beams, and a spatial light modulator disposed in the optical path adapted to receive and adjust the colored light beams to produce an image.

Claims

1. A display system comprising:

an illumination source configured to produce light and direct light along an optical path;

a low-resolution color modulator disposed in the optical path and configured to modulate the right to generate a low-resolution color image; and

a high-resolution light modulator disposed in the optical path and configured to refine the low-resolution image.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the low-resolution color modulator includes a plurality of image-generating units.

3. The display system of claim 2, wherein each image-generating unit includes a plurality of color filters, each color filter being configured to selectively produce a color.

4. The display system of claim 3, wherein each color filter includes a moveable filter medium selectively positional within the optical path.

5. The display system of claim 1, wherein the illumination source and the low-resolution color modulator collectively form a color light generator.

6. The display system of claim 5, wherein the color light generator includes a plurality of color-emitting elements.

7. The display system of claim 6, wherein the color-emitting elements are light emitting diodes.

8. The display system of claim 1, wherein the high-resolution light modulator is a micromirror array.

9. A display system comprising:

an illumination source configured to produce light and direct light along an optical path;

a plurality of color filters disposed in the optical path and configured to generate a low-resolution color image; and

a spatial light modulator disposed in the optical path adapted to receive the low-resolution color image and adjust resolution of the low-resolution color image.

10. The display system of claim 9, wherein each color filter includes a moveable filter medium selectively positional within the optical path.

11. A display device comprising:

a color light source configured to generate a low-resolution color light array;

a high-resolution light modulator configured to receive the low-resolution color light array and to produce a higher-resolution color light array; and

a display surface configured to receive the higher-resolution color light array to produce an image based on such higher-resolution color light array.

12. The display device of claim 11, wherein the low-resolution color light array corresponds to a low-resolution color image.

13. The display device of claim 11, wherein the color light source includes a light source and a low-resolution color modulator.

14. The display device of claim 13, wherein the low-resolution color modulator includes a plurality of image-generating units configured to spatially separate and color separate light from the light source.

15. The display device of claim 14, wherein each image-generating unit includes at least one color filter configured to selectively emit a color light beam.

16. The display device of claim 11, wherein the color light source includes a plurality of color-emitting elements.

17. The display device of claim 11, wherein the color light source includes an array of red, green, and blue light-emitting diodes.

18. A method for displaying an image, the method comprising:

generating a low-resolution color light array;

directing the low-resolution color light array onto a high-resolution spatial modulator;

selectively modulating portions of the low-resolution color light array to generate a high-resolution image; and

directing the high-resolution image onto a display surface to produce an image.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein generating a low-resolution color light array includes emitting light from a plurality of spatially-separated color-emitting elements.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein generating a low-resolution color light array includes emitting light from a low-resolution color modulator.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein generating a low-resolution color light array includes directing light through a plurality of color light filters configured to selectively produce a plurality of color light beams which collectively form the low resolution color light array.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein at least two of the plurality of color light beams are of differing colors.

23. A display system configured to display an image, the system comprising:

illumination means for directing light along an optical path;

color-separating means in the optical path for selectively separating the light to generate a low-resolution color image; and

spatial light modulating means in the optical path for selectively refining the low-resolution color image.

24. The display system of claim 23, wherein the spatial light modulating means produces a high-resolution color image.

25. The display system of claim 23, further comprising a display surface in the optical path for presenting the image.

26. A display system configured to display an image, the system comprising:

an illumination source configured to produce and direct light along an optical path;

a color modulator in the optical path for selectively generating a low-resolution color image; and

a spatial light modulator configured to selectively modulate the low-resolution color image to produce a high-resolution color image.

27. A display system comprising:

an illumination source configured to produce light and direct light along an optical path;

a spatial light modulator disposed in the optical path and configured to spatially modulate the light to generate a low-resolution color image; and

a high-resolution light modulator disposed in the optical path and configured to reline the low-resolution image.

28. The display system of claim 27, wherein the spatial light modulator includes a plurality of color filters, each color filter being configured to selectively produce a color.

29. The display system of claim 28, wherein each color filter includes a moveable filter medium selectively positional within the optical path.

30. The display system of claim 27, wherein the high-resolution light modulator is a micromirror array.