Projection display systems utilizing color scrolling and light emitting diodes

• US 7,048,385 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Goldeneye, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Goldeneye, Inc.
• Inventors: Beeson, Karl W., Zimmerman, Scott M.
• Primary Examiner(s): KOVAL, MELISSA J
• Application Number:
  US10/869,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20050280785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 353/20, 353/31, 353/33, 353/84, 353/97, 353/102, 353/98, 348/742, 348/743, 348/744, 349/5, 349/8, 349/9, 313/110, 313/113, 313/498, 362/247, 362/545
• US Class Current: 353/97
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2033 LED or laser light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 33/08 Sequential recording or projection G03B33/02, G03B33/04, G03B33/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 33/10 Simultaneous recording or projection G03B33/02, G03B33/04 G03B33/06 take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3155 for controlling the light source light source control per se H05B35/00 – H05B47/00; control of an illumination source for displays in general G09G3/3406

Abstract

A projection display system has at least one light-recycling illumination system, a color scroller and an imaging light modulator. The light-recycling illumination system includes a light source that is enclosed within a light-recycling envelope. The light source is a light-emitting diode that emits light, and a fraction of that light will exit the light-recycling envelope through an aperture. The light-recycling envelope recycles a portion of the light emitted by the light source back to the light source in order to enhance the luminance of the light exiting the aperture. The fraction of the light that exits the aperture is partially collimated and is directed to a color scrolling means. The color scroller scans the partially collimated light across the face of the imaging light modulator. The imaging light modulator spatially modulates the scrolled beam of light to form an image.

Claims

1. A projection display system, comprising:

a light-recycling illumination system, further comprising;

a light source for generating light, wherein said light source is at least one light-emitting diode having a reflecting layer, wherein the total light-emitting area of said light source is area A_S and wherein said light source has a maximum intrinsic source luminance;

a light-recycling envelope, wherein said light-recycling envelope encloses said light source and wherein said light-recycling envelope reflects and recycles a portion of said light generated by said light source back to said reflecting layer;

a light output aperture, wherein said light output aperture is located in a surface of said light-recycling envelope, wherein the area of said light output aperture is area A_O, wherein said area A_O is less than said area A_S, wherein said light source and said light-recycling envelope direct at least a fraction of said light out of said light-recycling envelope through said light output aperture and wherein said fraction of said light exits said light output aperture as uncollimated light having a maximum exiting luminance;

a light-collimating means, wherein said light-collimating means has an input surface that is adjacent to said light output aperture that accepts said uncollimated light, wherein said light-collimating means partially collimates said uncollimated light and wherein said light-collimating means has an output surface through which the partially collimated light is transmitted;

a color scrolling means to scan said partially collimated light, wherein said color scrolling means is located in the light optical path of said partially collimated light exiting said light-collimating means; and

an imaging light modulator, wherein said imaging light modulator is located in said light optical path in a position following said color scrolling means, and wherein said imaging light modulator spatially modulates the scanned said partially collimated light to form an image that is projected onto a viewing screen.

2. A projection display system as in claim 1, wherein said maximum exiting luminance exiting said light-output aperture is greater than said maximum intrinsic source luminance.

3. A projection display system as in claim 2, wherein said light-collimating means is chosen from the group consisting of a convex lens, a tapered light guide and a compound parabolic reflector.

4. A projection display system as in claim 3, further comprising a reflective polarizer, wherein said reflective polarizer is located in the optical path of said partially collimated light and is located adjacent to said output surface of said light-collimating means, wherein said reflective polarizer transmits a first polarization state of said partially collimated light and wherein said reflective polarizer reflects a second polarization state of said partially collimated light.

5. A projection display system as in claim 3, wherein said color scrolling means is chosen from the group consisting of a color scrolling wheel and a plurality of rotating prisms.

6. A projection display system as in claim 5, wherein said imaging light modulator is chosen from the group consisting of a liquid crystal display device, a liquid-crystal-on-silicon device and a digital light processor device.

7. A projection display system as in claim 6, further comprising a projection lens, wherein said projection lens is located in the optical path in a position after said imaging light modulator, wherein said projection lens magnifies said image formed by said imaging light modulator and wherein said projection lens projects said image onto said viewing screen.

8. A projection display system as in claim 7, wherein said light source is a plurality of light-emitting diodes.

9. A projection display system as in claim 8, wherein said light source emits red light, green light and blue light.

10. A projection display system as in claim 8, wherein said light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode that emits ultraviolet light and wherein said light source further comprises a wavelength conversion layer that converts said ultraviolet light into said red light or said green light or said blue light.

11. A projection display system as in claim 8, wherein said light-recycling illumination system emits red light and wherein said projection display system further comprises a second light-recycling illumination system that emits said green light and a third light-recycling illumination system that emits said blue light.

12. A projection display system as in claim 11, further comprising a color combining means.

13. A projection display system as in claim 12, wherein said color combining means is chosen from the group consisting of an x-cube prism, a series of dichroic mirrors or a Philips prism.

14. A projection display system as in claim 13, further comprising a control unit to individually control the light output of said red light, said green light and said blue light in order to modify the color balance and the color temperature of said projection display system or to increase or dim the brightness of said projection display system.