Projection system and method comprising a fluorescence projection screen and a radiation source which can emit in the non-visible spectrum

• US 7,057,811 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2004
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Bruegl, Juergen, Heimrath, Michael, Hauser, Sonja
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W. B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cruz, Magda
• Application Number:
  US11/014,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20050174635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 359/443, 359/362, 349/2, 349/71, 349/27, 430/21, 430/502, 430/508, 428/1.1, 428/1.23, 428/1.32, 353/13, 345/47, 362/503
• US Class Current: 359/443
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/023 Organic silicon compound, e.g. organosilicon
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/033 Silicon compound, e.g. glass or organosilicon
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/31 Projection devices for colour picture display , e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]

Abstract

A projection system and method are provided, the system includes a radiation source for generating electromagnetic radiation outside the visible wavelength range, an imaging unit, which can be irradiated by the radiation source, and a projection screen having a radiation-sensitive surface which, when excited by means of the above-mentioned invisible radiation, can emit fluorescent light in the visible wavelength range. The radiation-sensitive surface is formed of a material which, irrespective of the position, emits fluorescent light of different wavelengths as a function of the wavelength of the excitation radiation, and the radiation source can emit excitation radiation of different wavelengths.

Claims

1. A projection system, comprising:

a radiation source for producing electromagnetic radiation outside a visible wavelength region;

an imaging unit irradiated by the radiation source;

a projection screen having a radiation-sensitive surface capable of emitting fluorescent light in the visible wavelength region upon being excited by the electromagnetic radiation outside the visible wavelength region; and

wherein the radiation-sensitive surface is formed of a material which, irrespective of a position, emits fluorescent light of different wavelengths according to a wavelength of the excitation radiation, and wherein the radiation source emits excitation radiation of different wavelengths.

2. The projection system according to claim 1, wherein the radiation source comprises a laser having a controllable output wavelength.

3. The projection system according to claim 2, wherein the radiation source is capable of emitting the electromagnetic radiation in at least one of an ultraviolet and infrared wavelength region.

4. The projection system according to claim 1, wherein the radiation source comprises several lasers of different output wavelengths.

5. The projection system according to claim 4, wherein the radiation source is capable of emitting the electromagnetic radiation in at least one of an ultraviolet and infrared wavelength region.

6. The projection system according to claim 1, wherein the radiation source is capable of emitting the electromagnetic radiation in at least one of an ultraviolet and infrared wavelength region.

7. The projection system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one additional projection screen, each additional projection screen being irradiated by way of a separate imaging unit and radiation source.

8. The projection system according to claim 1, wherein the radiation-sensitive surface is one of embedded in a flat glass carrier and applied to one of a flat, transparent and reflecting carrier.

9. The projection system according to claim 1, further comprising a vehicle on or in which the projection system is operatively configured.

10. The projection system according to claim 9, wherein the projection screen is arranged in a dashboard area of the motor vehicle.

11. The projection system according to claim 9, wherein the projection screen is arranged in one of a side window area and a windshield area of the motor vehicle.

12. The projection system according to claim 9, wherein the projection screen is arranged in a rearward side area of a front seat of the motor vehicle.

13. The projection system according to claim 12, wherein the front seat is a driver'"'"'s seat.

14. The projection system according to claim 12, wherein the front seat is a front passenger seat.

15. The projection system according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit comprises one of a microelectromechanical system, an LCOS microdisplay and a scanning system utilizing one of two galvanometric mirrors and MRSs.

16. The projection system according to claim 1, wherein, when viewed from a direction of a viewer, the radiation source and the imaging unit are arranged behind the projection screen.

17. The projection system according to claim 1, wherein, when viewed from a direction of a viewer, the radiation source and the imaging unit are arranged in front of the projection screen.

18. The projection system according to claim 1, wherein, on a side facing away from the imaging unit, the projection screen has a coating that is impenetrable by the excitation radiation used or a coating that absorbs the excitation radiation used.

19. A method for projecting information on a projection screen having a radiation-sensitive surface irradiated by a radiation source via an imaging unit, the method comprising the acts of:

utilizing electromagnetic radiation outside of a visible wavelength region to irradiate the projection screen, wherein the radiation-sensitive surface of the projection screen, irrespective of a position, emits fluorescent light of different wavelengths in a visible wavelength region according to a wavelength of the excitation radiation; and

varying the wavelength of the excitation radiation outside the visible wavelength region to emit the fluorescent light of the different wavelengths.