Digital projection equipment and techniques

• US 7,224,411 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2001
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IMAX Corporation
• Original Assignee: IMAX Corporation
• Inventors: Read, Steven, Gibbon, Michael A., Adkins, Sean, Quinn, Dermot J., Eckersley, Brian, Moss, Graham H., Anikitchev, Sergei G., Wilding, Steven, Zhou, Samuel Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, TRANG U
• Application Number:
  US09/980,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20030063226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,190 Days
• Field of Search: 348/757, 348750-752, 348/383, 348/744, 348/756, 348/758, 348778-780, 355/53, 355/67, 355/71, 356399-401, 250/548, 359/291, 359/855
• US Class Current: 348/757
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1066 for enhancing image performance, like resolution, pixel numbers, dual magnifications or dynamic range, by tiling, slicing or overlapping fields of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/143 using macroscopically faceted or segmented reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/008 using micromirror devices
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2013 Plural light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2073 Polarisers in the lamp house peculiar to electronic spatial light modulators H04N9/3197
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/317 Convergence or focusing systems electronic adjustment of convergence H04N9/3185; convergence or focusing arrangements for cathode ray tubes H04N9/28; means for automatic focusing of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/53

Abstract

Apparatus and techniques for enhancing characteristics of electronic projection systems are detailed. Included among the techniques are both superimposition of sub-images and tiling of superimposed images, the combination of which can be advantageous in improving resolution of projected images. Pre-modulators and polarizing beam splitters also may be used as parts of the innovative systems.

Claims

1. An optical projection system comprising:

at least one light source;

at least a first spatial tight modulator producing at least a first image;

a first polarizing beam splitter between the at least one light source and the at least one first spatial light modulator;

at least a second spatial light modulator producing at least a second image;

a second polarizing beam splitter between the at least one light source and the at least one second spatial light modulator;

a combining polarizing beam splitter for combining the first image and the second image by superimposition to create a composite first image, wherein the first image is transmitted by the first polarizing beam splitter and reflected by the combining polarizing beam splitter and the second image is reflected by the second polarizing beam splitter and transmitted by the combining polarizing beam splitter.

2. The optical projection system of claim 1, wherein a second composite image is produced by superimposition and the projection system further comprises a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface for combining the first composite image and the second composite image into a composite tiled image by partially overlapping the first composite image and the second composite image.

3. The optical projection system according to claim 2, wherein the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface are disposed so that the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface meet at an apex.

4. The optical projection system according to claim 3 wherein the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface are formed by a prism.

5. The optical projection system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one pre-modulator.