Optics arrangements including light source arrangements for an active matrix liquid crystal image generator
First Claim
1. A display system, comprising:
- a support surface;
a source of light located proximate to the support surface;
a microdisplay located proximate to the support surface; and
a reflector located above the support surface and spaced apart from the support surface in position to reflect the light from the source of light to eventually illuminate the microdisplay;
wherein the source of light includes three LEDs, wherein each LED produces light of a different color.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for producing modulated light is disclosed. The system comprises a spatial light modulator including a light modulating medium switchable between different states so as to act on light in ways which form overall patterns of modulated light. The system also includes an arrangement for switching the modulating medium between the different states in a controlled way and an illumination arrangement for producing a source of light. The system further includes an optics arrangement for directing light from the source of light into the spatial light modulator and for directing light from the spatial light modulator through a predetermined source imaging area. The optics arrangement cooperates with the illumination arrangement and the spatial light modulator so as to produce a real image of the source of light within the source imaging area such that an individual is able to view a virtual image of the overall patterns of modulated light from the source imaging area. A variety of novel optics arrangements are disclosed including specific combinations of different light sources, diffusing plates, polarizers, beam splitters, analyzers, lenses, mirrors, and holographic optical elements which allow the overall optical arrangement to be miniaturized to the same degree and in coordination with the spatial light modulator. The different light sources include using a plurality of light sources, such as LEDs, to form an array of light sources, each of the light sources providing light to a corresponding portion of the spatial light modulator.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A display system, comprising:
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a support surface; a source of light located proximate to the support surface; a microdisplay located proximate to the support surface; and a reflector located above the support surface and spaced apart from the support surface in position to reflect the light from the source of light to eventually illuminate the microdisplay; wherein the source of light includes three LEDs, wherein each LED produces light of a different color. - View Dependent Claims (3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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2. A display system, comprising:
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a support surface; a source of light located proximate to the support surface; a microdisplay located proximate to the support surface; and a reflector located above the support surface and spaced apart from the support surface in position to reflect the light from the source of light to eventually illuminate the microdisplay; wherein the source of light includes one or more LEDs; wherein the reflector is substantially planar.
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4. A display system, comprising:
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a support surface; a source of light located proximate to the support surface; a microdisplay located proximate to the support surface; and a reflector located above the support surface and spaced apart from the support surface in position to reflect the light from the source of light to eventually illuminate the microdisplay; wherein the source of light includes one or more LEDs; wherein the reflector is a beam splitter. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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5. A display system, comprising:
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a support surface; a source of light located proximate to the support surface; a microdisplay located proximate to the support surface; and a reflector located above the support surface and spaced apart from the support surface in position to reflect the light from the source of light to eventually illuminate the microdisplay, wherein the beam splitter is a polarizing beam splitter.
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6. A display system, comprising:
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a support surface; a source of light located proximate to the support surface; a microdisplay located proximate to the support surface; and a reflector located above the support surface in position to reflect the light from the source of light to eventually illuminate the microdisplay; wherein the display system generates a color image via the single microdisplay.
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14. A display system, comprising:
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a microdisplay that lies substantially in a plane; a source of light located proximate to the plane, the source being oriented to direct light up and away from the plane; and an optical element located above the plane in position to direct the light from the source of light toward the microdisplay, the optical element being substantially further away from the microdisplay than is the source of light, wherein the optical element includes a reflector, wherein the reflector is a beam splitter; wherein the display system generates a color image via the single microdisplay. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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15. A display system, comprising:
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a microdisplay that lies substantially in a plane; a source of light located proximate to the plane, the source being oriented to direct light up and away from the plane; and an optical element located above the plane in position to direct the light from the source of light toward the microdisplay, the optical element being substantially further away from the microdisplay than is the source of light, wherein the optical element includes a reflector, wherein the reflector is a polarizing beam splitter.
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16. A display system, comprising:
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a microdisplay that lies substantially in a plane; a source of light located proximate to the plane, the source being oriented to direct light up and away from the plane; and an optical element located above the plane in position to direct the light from the source of light toward the microdisplay, the optical element being substantially further away from the microdisplay than is the source of light, wherein the optical element includes a reflector, wherein the reflector is a holographic beam splitter.
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17. A display system, comprising:
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a microdisplay that lies substantially in a plane; a source of light located proximate to the plane, the source being oriented to direct light up and away from the plane; and an optical element located above the plane in position to direct the light from the source of light toward the microdisplay, the optical element being substantially further away from the microdisplay than is the source of light; wherein each of the light source and the microdisplay have a primary optical axis, and further wherein these optical axes intersect with one another; wherein the display system generates a color image via the single microdisplay.
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18. A display system, comprising:
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a microdisplay that lies substantially in a plane; a source of light located proximate to the plane, the source being oriented to direct light up and away from the plane; and an optical element located above the plane in position to direct the light from the source of light toward the microdisplay, the optical element being substantially further away from the microdisplay than is the source of light; wherein the display system generates a color image via the single microdisplay. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28)
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23. A display system, comprising:
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a microdisplay that generates an image thereon having a lateral extent; a source of light located within a distance of the microdisplay, the distance being less than the lateral extent of the generated image on the microdisplay; and a reflector spaced apart from the microdisplay in position to reflect the light from the source of light to eventually illuminate the microdisplay. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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24. A display system, comprising:
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a microdisplay; a source of light located proximate to the microdisplay; and a reflector spaced apart from the microdisplay in position to reflect the light from the source of light to eventually illuminate the microdisplay; wherein the source of light is closer to the microdisplay than to the reflector; wherein the display system generates a color image via the single microdisplay.
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25. A display system, comprising:
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a reflective microdisplay that generates an image thereon having a lateral extent; and a source of light located within a distance of the microdisplay, the distance being less than the lateral extent of the generated image on the microdisplay; wherein light from the source of light is eventually directed toward the microdisplay.
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Specification