Image replication system having focusing means to receive reflected light through lightguide from spatial light modulator
First Claim
1. An image replication systems comprising:
- (i) an elongate light guide having a polygonal cross section along its length,(ii) a light source arranged to direct emitted light, in use, into the light guide at its first end,(iii) a reflective first spatial light modulator optically coupled to the second end of light guide, and(v) focussing means arranged to receive light reflected through the light guide from the first spatial light modulator, said reflective light having exited the light guide through its first end, and to form multiple images derived from said first spatial light modulator in an image plane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates, in one aspect to an image replication system comprising a light guide (2), a light source (8) arranged to direct emitted light into the first end (2a) of a light guide (2), a reflective spatial light modulator (6) and focussing means (16). In a preferred embodiment, the light guide (2) is in the form of an elongate glass rod having first and second parallel polygonal end faces (2a, 2b) which are parallel to the long axis of the rod, the rod having a uniform polygonal cross section along its length. The spatial light modulator (6) is optically coupled to the second end face (2b) of the light guide (2) and the focussing means (16) is arranged to receive light reflected back through the rod from the spatial light modulator (6), whereby to form multiple images of said spatial light modulator in an image plane (18).
57 Citations
35 Claims
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1. An image replication systems comprising:
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(i) an elongate light guide having a polygonal cross section along its length, (ii) a light source arranged to direct emitted light, in use, into the light guide at its first end, (iii) a reflective first spatial light modulator optically coupled to the second end of light guide, and (v) focussing means arranged to receive light reflected through the light guide from the first spatial light modulator, said reflective light having exited the light guide through its first end, and to form multiple images derived from said first spatial light modulator in an image plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An image replication method comprising providing a light source and modulating the light emitted therefrom using first spatial light modulator, the method characterised by:
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directing in a first direction light through an elongate light guide having a polygonal cross section along its length, modulating said light with the first spatial light modulator, reflecting said modulated light in a direction opposite to said first direction back through the light guide, and focussing said modulated light in an image plane.
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Specification