Color mixing illumination light unit and system using same
First Claim
1. An optical system, comprising:
- an image-forming panel having an illumination side; and
a backlight unit disposed to the illumination side of the image-forming panel, the backlight unit comprising;
at least first and second light sources, the first light source producing light at a first wavelength and the second light source producing light at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, anda reflecting cavity having at least one reflecting surface and a controlled transmission mirror, the light from the first and second light sources being reflected within the reflecting cavity, the controlled transmission mirror comprising an input coupling element, an output coupling element and a first multilayer reflector between the input and output coupling elements, the first multilayer reflector being reflective for normally incident light from the first and second light sources, the input coupling element redirecting at least some of the light propagating from the first and second light sources in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first multilayer reflector into a direction that is transmitted through the first multilayer reflector.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An illumination light unit includes at least two light sources that generate light at different wavelengths. The illumination light unit also includes a reflecting cavity having one or more reflectors and a controlled transmission mirror disposed at an output of the reflecting cavity. The controlled transmission mirror includes an input coupling element, an output coupling element and a first multilayer reflector disposed between the input and output coupling elements. At least some of the light from the light sources is reflected within the reflecting cavity by the one or more reflectors and is mixed. Light passes out of the reflecting cavity through the controlled transmission mirror. The illumination light unit may be used for illumination purposes, or as part of a backlight for illuminating a display.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An optical system, comprising:
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an image-forming panel having an illumination side; and a backlight unit disposed to the illumination side of the image-forming panel, the backlight unit comprising; at least first and second light sources, the first light source producing light at a first wavelength and the second light source producing light at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, and a reflecting cavity having at least one reflecting surface and a controlled transmission mirror, the light from the first and second light sources being reflected within the reflecting cavity, the controlled transmission mirror comprising an input coupling element, an output coupling element and a first multilayer reflector between the input and output coupling elements, the first multilayer reflector being reflective for normally incident light from the first and second light sources, the input coupling element redirecting at least some of the light propagating from the first and second light sources in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first multilayer reflector into a direction that is transmitted through the first multilayer reflector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An illumination light unit, comprising:
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at least a first light source capable of generating illumination light at a first wavelength and a second light source capable of generating illumination light at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength; and a reflecting cavity having one or more reflectors and a controlled transmission mirror disposed at an output of the reflecting cavity, the controlled transmission mirror comprising an input coupling element, an output coupling element and a first multilayer reflector disposed between the input and output coupling elements, at least some of the illumination light from the first and second light sources being reflected within the reflecting cavity by the one or more reflectors and being transmitted out of the reflecting cavity through the controlled transmission mirror. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification