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

• US 6,943,949 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• 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:
  US10/719,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20040075906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 359483-485, 359/487, 359494-497, 359/502, 359/629, 359/464, 359/465, 353/7, 353/8, 353/20, 353/31, 353/34, 349/5, 349/8, 349/9, 349/15
• 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 one or more collinear beams of electromagnetic energy, comprising:

[a] producing four or more separate beams of electromagnetic energy, all of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy having the same selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors substantially across each beam, a predetermined range of wavelengths and a substantially uniform flux intensity substantially across each beam of electromagnetic energy;

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

[c][i] combining at least one of the altered separate beams of electromagnetic energy with at least one of the other altered separate beams of electromagnetic energy into a first single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy without substantially changing the altered selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of the combined separate beams of electromagnetic energy, and

[ii] combining at least one of the altered separate beams of electromagnetic energy with at least one of the other altered separate beams of electromagnetic energy into a second single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy without substantially changing the altered selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of the combined separate beams of electromagnetic energy;

[d] [i] resolving from the first single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy a first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a first selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors and a second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors, and

[ii] resolving from the second single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy a first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a first selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors and a second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors; and

[e] merging one of the resolved beams of electromagnetic energy from the first single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy with one of the other resolved beams of electromagnetic energy from the second single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy into a third single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy.

2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein step [a] includes producing each separate beam of electromagnetic energy further having a rectangular cross sectional area.

3. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising the step of passing the third single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy to a projection means.

4. A method as described in claim 1 further comprising the step of adjusting the electromagnetic spectrum of at least one of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy.

5. A method as described in claim 4 wherein the step of adjusting the electromagnetic spectrum of at least one of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy includes adjusting the predetermined range of wavelengths of at least one of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy.

6. A method as described in claim 4 wherein the step of adjusting the electromagnetic spectrum of at least one of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy includes adjusting the magnitude of at least one of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy.

7. A method of producing one or more collinear beams of light, comprising:

[a] producing four or more separate beams of light, all of the separate beams of light having the same selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electric field vectors substantially across each beam, a predetermined range of wavelengths and a substantially uniform flux intensity substantially across each beam of light;

[b] altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors of a plurality of portions of each of the separate beams of light by passing the plurality of portions of each of the separate beams of light through a respective one of a plurality of altering means whereby the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of the separate beams of light is altered in response to a stimulus means by applying a signal means to the stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the separate beams of light passes through the respective one of the plurality of means for altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors;

[c] [i] combining at least one of the altered separate beams of light with at least one of the other altered separate beams of light into a first single collinear beam of light without substantially changing the altered selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of the combined separate beams of light, and

[ii] combining at least one of the altered separate beams of light with at least one of the other altered separate beams of light into a second single collinear beam of light without substantially changing the altered selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of the combined separate beams of light;

[d] [i] resolving from the first single collinear beam of light a first resolved beam of light having substantially a first selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electric field vectors and a second resolved beam of light having substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electric field vectors, and

[ii] resolving from the second single collinear beam of light a first resolved beam of light having substantially a first selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electric field vectors and a second resolved beam of light having substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electric field vectors; and

[e] merging one of the resolved beams of light from the first single collinear beam of light with one of the other resolved beams of light from the second single collinear beam of light into a third single collinear beam of light.

8. A method as described in claim 7 wherein step [a] includes producing each separate beam of light further having a rectangular cross sectional area.

9. A method as described in claim 7 further comprising the step of passing the third single collinear beam of light to a projection means.

10. A method as described in claim 7 further comprising the step of adjusting the light spectrum of at least one of the separate beams of light.

11. A method as described in claim 10 wherein the step of adjusting the light spectrum of at least one of the separate beams of light includes adjusting the predetermined range of wavelengths of at least one of the separate beams of light.

12. A method as described in claim 10 wherein the step of adjusting the light spectrum of at least one of the separate beams of light includes adjusting the magnitude of at least one of the separate beams of light.

13. A system of producing one or more collinear beams of electromagnetic energy, comprising:

[a] means for producing four or more separate beams of electromagnetic energy, all of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy having the same selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors substantially across each beam, a predetermined range of wavelengths and a substantially uniform flux intensity substantially across each beam of electromagnetic energy;

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

[c] [i] means for combining at least one of the altered separate beams of electromagnetic energy with at least one of the other altered separate beams of electromagnetic energy into a first single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy without substantially changing the altered selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of the combined separate beams of electromagnetic energy, and

[ii] means for combining at least one of the altered separate beams of electromagnetic energy with at least one of the other altered separate beams of electromagnetic energy into a second single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy without substantially changing the altered selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of the combined separate beams of electromagnetic energy;

[d] [i] means for resolving from the first single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy a first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a first selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors and a second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors, and

[ii] means for resolving from the second single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy a first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a first selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors and a second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors; and

[e] means for merging one of the resolved beams of electromagnetic energy from the first single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy with one of the other resolved beams of electromagnetic energy from the second single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy into a third single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy.

14. A system as described in claim 13 in which the means for producing four or more separate beams of electromagnetic energy includes means for producing each separate beam of electromagnetic energy having a rectangular cross sectional area.

15. A system as described in claim 13 further comprising means for passing the third single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy to a projection means.

16. A system as described in claim 13 further comprising means for adjusting the electromagnetic spectrum of at least one of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy.

17. A system as described in claim 16 in which the means for adjusting the electromagnetic spectrum of at least one of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy includes means for adjusting the predetermined range of wavelengths of at least one of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy.

18. A system as described in claim 16 in which the means for adjusting the electromagnetic spectrum of at least one of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy includes means for adjusting the magnitude of at least one of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy.

19. A system of producing one or more collinear beams of light, comprising:

[a] means for producing four or more separate beams of light, all of the separate beams of light having the same selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electric field vectors substantially across each beam, a predetermined range of wavelengths and a substantially uniform flux intensity substantially across the initial beam of light;

[b] means for altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors of a plurality of portions of each of the separate beams of light by passing the plurality of portions of each of the separate beams of light through a respective one of a plurality of means for altering means whereby the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of the separate beams of light is altered in response to a stimulus means by applying a signal means to the stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the separate beams of light passes through the respective one of the plurality of means for altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors;

[c] [i] means for combining at least one of the altered separate beams of light with at least one of the other altered separate beams of light into a first single collinear beam of light without substantially changing the altered selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of the combined separate beams of light, and

[ii] means for combining at least one of the altered separate beams of light with at least one of the other altered separate beams of light into a second single collinear beam of light without substantially changing the altered selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of the combined separate beams of light;

[d] [i] means for resolving from the first single collinear beam of light a first resolved beam of light having substantially a first selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electric field vectors and a second resolved beam of light having substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electric field vectors, and

[ii] means for resolving from the second single collinear beam of light a first resolved beam of light having substantially a first selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electric field vectors and a second resolved beam of light having substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electric field vectors; and

[e] means for merging one of the resolved beams of light from the first single collinear beam of light with one of the other resolved beams of light from the second single collinear beam of light into a third single collinear beam of light.

20. A system as described in claim 19 in which the means for producing four or more separate beams of light includes means for producing each separate beam of light having a rectangular cross sectional area.

21. A system as described in claim 19 further comprising means for passing the third single collinear beam of light to a projection means.

22. A system as described in claim 19 further comprising means for adjusting the light spectrum of at least one of the separate beams of light.

23. A system as described in claim 22 in which the means for adjusting the light spectrum of at least one of the separate beams of light includes means for adjusting the predetermined range of wavelengths of at least one of the separate beams of light.

24. A system as described in claim 22 in which the means for adjusting the light spectrum of at least one of the separate beams of light includes means for adjusting a magnitude of at least one of the separate beams of light.