Reflective optical assembly

• US 7,055,969 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Pate, Michael A., Howard, Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): Dowling, William C.
• Application Number:
  US10/837,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20050243300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 353/98, 353/99, 353/119, 353/74, 353/77, 353/78, 345/5, 345/7, 345/8, 345/9
• US Class Current: 353/99
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0642 off-axis or unobscured systems in which not all of the mirrors share a common axis of rotational symmetry, e.g. at least one of the mirrors is warped, tilted or decentered with respect to the other elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0663 off-axis or unobscured systems in which not all of the mirrors share a common axis of rotational symmetry, e.g. at least one of the mirrors is warped, tilted or decentered with respect to the other elements
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/20 Lamp housings
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/28 Reflectors in projection beam in illumination beam G03B21/2066
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/30 adapted to collapse or fold, e.g. for portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7408 Direct viewing projectors, e.g. an image displayed on a video CRT or LCD display being projected on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

In an implementation, a reflective optical assembly may be configured for translation from a portable position to an operational position. An image forming device may be configured to receive an input of an image and illumination input, provided by a light source, to generate an illuminated image output. The illuminated image output is reflected with the reflective optical assembly to direct the illuminated image output for display.

Claims

1. A projection system, comprising:

a light source configured to provide illumination;

an image forming device configured to receive an input of an image and the illumination to generate an illuminated image output; and

a reflective optical assembly configured for translation from a portable position to an operational position, the reflective optical assembly further configured to reflect the illuminated image output with reflective optics including a digital micro-mirror array to direct the illuminated image output for display.

2. A projection system as recited in claim 1, wherein the reflective optical assembly includes the reflective optics formed with reflective material over a plastic substrate, the reflective material configured to reflect the illuminated image output.

3. A projection system as recited in claim 1, wherein the reflective optical assembly includes the reflective optics formed with reflective material over a polymer substrate, the reflective material configured to reflect the illuminated image output.

4. A projection system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a collapsible support structure configured to positionaly-maintain the reflective optics and translate the reflective optics from the operational position to the portable position.

5. A projection system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a collapsible support structure configured to positionaly-maintain the light source, the image forming device, and the reflective optics, the collapsible support structure further configured to translate the light source, the image forming device, and the reflective optics from the operational position to the portable position.

6. A projection system as recited in claim 1, wherein the reflective optical assembly includes:

a first reflective optic configured to reflect the illuminated image output from the image forming device as a first reflection;

a second reflective optic configured to reflect the first reflection of the illuminated image output as a second reflection; and

a third reflective optic configured to reflect the second reflection of the illuminated image output and direct the illuminated image output for display.

7. A projection system as recited in claim 1, wherein the reflective optical assembly includes:

a first mirror configured to reflect the illuminated image output from the image forming device as a first reflection;

a second mirror configured to reflect the first reflection of the illuminated image output as a second reflection; and

a micro-mirror array configured to reflect the second reflection of the illuminated image output and direct the illuminated image output for display.

8. A projection system as recited in claim 1, wherein the reflective optical assembly includes:

a first powered mirror configured to reflect the illuminated image output from the image forming device as a first reflection;

a second powered mirror configured to reflect the first reflection of the illuminated image output as a second reflection;

a third powered mirror configured to reflect the second reflection of the illuminated image output as a third reflection; and

a plano mirror configured to fold and reflect the third reflection of the illuminated image output to direct the illuminated image output for display.

9. A projection system, comprising:

a light source configured to provide illumination;

an image forming device configured to receive an input of an object and the illumination to generate an illuminated object output; and

a reflective optical assembly configured for translation from a portable position to an operational position, the reflective optical assembly further configured to reflect the illuminated object output with reflective optics including a digital micro-mirror array to direct the illuminated object output for display.

10. A projection system as recited in claim 9, wherein the reflective optical assembly includes the reflective optics formed with reflective material over a plastic substrate, the reflective material configured to reflect the illuminated object output.

11. A projection system as recited in claim 9, wherein the reflective optical assembly includes:

a first reflective optic configured to reflect the illuminated object output from the image forming device as a first reflection;

a second reflective optic configured to reflect the first reflection of the illuminated object output as a second reflection; and

a third reflective optic configured to reflect the second reflection of the illuminated object output and direct the illuminated object output for display.

12. A reflective optical assembly, comprising:

a first reflective optic configured to reflect an illuminated image output of an image forming device as a first reflection;

a second reflective optic configured to reflect the first reflection of the illuminated image output as a second reflection;

a third reflective optic configured to reflect the second reflection of the illuminated image output with a digital micro-mirror array and direct the illuminated image output for display; and

a collapsible support structure configured to positionaly-maintain the reflective optics and translate the reflective optics from an operational position to a portable position.

13. A reflective optical assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the first reflective optic is a mirror, the second reflective optic is a mirror, and the third reflective optic is a micro-mirror array.

14. A reflective optical assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the first reflective optic is a powered mirror, the second reflective optic is a powered mirror, and the third reflective optic is a plano mirror configured to fold and reflect the second reflective optic reflection of the illuminated image output.

15. A reflective optical assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the image forming device includes the only one or more lenses of the projector system.

16. A reflective optical assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the reflective optics are each formed with reflective material over a plastic substrate, the reflective material configured to reflect the illuminated image output.

17. A reflective optical assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the reflective optics are each formed with reflective material over a polymer substrate, the reflective material configured to reflect the illuminated image output.

18. A reflective optical assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the collapsible support structure is further configured to positionaly-maintain the image forming device and translate the image forming device from the operational position to the portable position.

19. A reflective optical assembly, comprising:

a first reflective optic configured to reflect an illuminated object output of an image forming device as a first reflection;

a second reflective optic configured to reflect the first reflection of the illuminated object output as a second reflection;

a third reflective optic configured to reflect the second reflection of the illuminated object output with a digital micro-mirror array and direct the illuminated image output for display; and

a collapsible support structure configured to positionaly-maintain the reflective optics and translate the reflective optics from an operational position to a portable position.

20. A reflective optical assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the reflective optics are each formed with reflective material over a plastic substrate, the reflective material configured to reflect the illuminated object output.

21. A reflective optical assembly as recited in claim 19, wherein the reflective optics are each formed with reflective material over a polymer substrate, the reflective material configured to reflect the illuminated object output.

22. A method, comprising:

translating reflective optics of a reflective optical assembly from a portable position to an operational position;

receiving an input to generate an image;

illuminating the image with a light source to generate an illuminated image output; and

reflecting the illuminated image output with the reflective optics of the reflective optical assembly including a digital micro-mirror array to direct the illuminated image output for display.

23. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein the reflective optics are translated from the portable position to the operational position with a collapsible support structure that positionaly-maintains the reflective optics.

24. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein reflecting the illuminated image output includes:

reflecting the illuminated image output from an image forming device with a first reflective optic as a first reflection;

reflecting the first reflection of the illuminated image output with a second reflective optic as a second reflection; and

reflecting the second reflection of the illuminated image output with a third reflective output to direct the illuminated image output for display.

25. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein reflecting the illuminated image output includes:

reflecting the illuminated image output from an image forming device with a first mirror as a first reflection;

reflecting the first reflection of the illuminated image output with a second mirror as a second reflection; and

reflecting the second reflection of the illuminated image output with a third mirror to direct the illuminated image output for display.

26. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein reflecting the illuminated image output includes:

reflecting the illuminated image output from an image forming device with a first mirror as a first reflection;

reflecting the first reflection of the illuminated image output with a second mirror as a second reflection; and

reflecting the second reflection of the illuminated image output with a micro-mirror array to direct the illuminated image output for display.

27. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein reflecting the illuminated image output includes:

reflecting the illuminated image output from an image forming device with a first powered mirror as a first reflection;

reflecting the first reflection of the illuminated image output with a second powered mirror as a second reflection;

reflecting the second reflection of the illuminated image output with a third powered mirror as a third reflection; and

reflecting the third reflection of the illuminated image output with a plano mirror to fold and reflect the third reflection to direct the illuminated image output for display.

28. A projection device, comprising:

means to receive an input to generate an image;

means to illuminate the image to generate an illuminated image output; and

means to reflect the illuminated image output with reflective optics of a reflective optical assembly having a portable position and including a digital micro-mirror array to direct the illuminated image output for display.

29. A projection device as recited in claim 28, further comprising means to translate the reflective optics of the reflective optical assembly from the portable position to the operational position.