Light enhancing

• US 7,520,624 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation (Dolby Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bose Corporation
• Inventors: Shanley, James F., O'Dea, Stephen R., Lippey, Barret
• Primary Examiner(s): MAHONEY, CHRISTOPHER E
• Application Number:
  US10/893,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20050105176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 353/85, 353/89, 353/94, 353/30, 362227-228, 362253-254
• US Class Current: 353/85
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2006 characterised by the light source
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2013 Plural light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2066 Reflectors in illumination beam in projection beam G03B21/28
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/208 Homogenising, shaping of the illumination light
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 33/00 Colour photography, other than mere exposure or projection of a colour film printing apparatus G03B27/00; stereoscopic colour photography G03B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3114 by using a sequential colour filter producing one colour at a time
• 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

Abstract

Broader spectrum light is enhanced with light of a narrower spectrum.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising

an image projection lamp operable for a limited number of hours before failure, the image projection lamp emitting light having a spectrum;

a light source operable for more than the limited number of hours before failure, the light source emitting light having a spectrum narrower than the spectrum of the light emitted from the image projection lamp; and

a device to project digital images onto a viewing surface using the light source alone.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the light source is usable to display information.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the information relates to an audio only function.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the information comprises a menu.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which after the device is turned on, the light source begins to emit light more quickly than the image projection lamp.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the device uses selectively either the light source alone or the light source in combination with the image projection lamp.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the device first projects the digital image from the light source and then after a period of time projects the digital image from the light source and the image projection lamp in combination.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the image projection lamp comprises a UHP lamp.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the light source comprises an LED.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which the light source comprises a red LED.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the light source comprises a laser.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which the light source comprises a red laser.