Etendue maintaining polarization switching system and related methods

• US 8,016,422 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IMAX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Corey, Richard P., Metzger, Robert, Bietry, Joseph R., Silverstein, Barry D., Nothhard, Gary E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Amari; Alessandro
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kakalec; Kimberly N
• Application Number:
  US12/259,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20100103519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 359462-465, 359485-487, 359495-496, 3591961-2262, 348/42, 348/54, 348/58, 353/8, 353/20
• US Class Current: 353/20
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0028 refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0057 in the form of a laser diode array, e.g. laser diode bar semiconductor laser arrays with beam combining arrangement H01S5/4012
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/102 for generating a colour image from monochromatic image signal sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/143 using macroscopically faceted or segmented reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/145 having sequential partially reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/147 using averaging effects by spatially variable reflectivity on a microscopic level, e.g. polka dots, chequered or discontinuous patterns, or rapidly moving surfaces G02B27/1086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/286 for controlling or changing the state of polarisation, e.g. transforming one polarisation state into another G02B5/3083 takes precedence; light guide coupling means utilising polarising elements G02B6/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3129 scanning a light beam on the display screen scanning a light beam on a screen in displays other than projection devices G09G3/02; scanning systems in general G02B26/10; projectors using laser light sources in general H04N9/3161
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3161 using laser light sources using laser beams scanning the display screen H04N9/3129
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3167 for polarizing the light beam polarizing optical systems per se G02B27/28

Abstract

Etendue maintaining polarization switching occurs, according to various embodiments, with a mirror that quickly transitions between two positions. Light having uniform polarization is transmitted to the mirror. Light reflected off of the mirror in one of the two positions has its polarization changed, whereas light reflected off of the mirror in the other of the two positions has its polarization maintained. Thereafter, the polarization-changed light and the polarization-maintained light easily may be recombined in an entendue-maintaining manner. Because the recombined light includes two different polarization states, stereoscopic images may be generated.

Claims

1. An etendue maintaining polarization switching system comprising:

a laser illumination system configured to provide polarized light along a first light path;

a pivoted reflective element disposed in the first light path, the pivoted reflective element actuable to controllably and alternatively direct the polarized light in the first light path, without changing its polarization, along at least a second light path and a third light path;

a rotation device and a driving device collectively configured to pivot the pivoted reflective element, the driving device being configured to provide the rotation device a driving signal configured to cause the rotation device to pivot the pivoted reflective element, wherein the pivoted reflective element includes an optical surface configured to slightly deform when the rotation device and the driving device pivot the pivoted reflective element;

a retarder disposed in the second light path, the retarder configured to change the polarized light into light having a different polarization along the second light path; and

a polarization combining device configured to combine light from the third light path with the light having the different polarization from the retarder in the second light path into a single light beam exhibiting a same or substantially a same etendue as the first light path.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the driving signal is configured to include noise.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the noise is random.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the noise is ordered.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical surface is configured to slightly deform due to acceleration, deceleration, or both, when the pivoted reflective element is moved by the rotation device and the driving device.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a reflective element disposed in the third light path upstream of the polarization combining device.

7. A projection system comprising:

an etendue maintaining polarization switching system comprising;

a laser illumination system configured to provide polarized light along a first light path;

a pivoted reflective element disposed in the first light path, the pivoted reflective element actuable to controllably and alternatively direct the polarized light in the first light path, without changing its polarization, along at least a second light path and a third light path;

a retarder disposed in the second light path, the retarder configured to change the polarized light into light having a different polarization along the second light path; and

a polarization combining device configured to combine light from the third light path with the light having the different polarization from the retarder in the second light path into a single light beam exhibiting a same or substantially a same etendue as the first light path,

optics supporting the etendue maintaining polarization switching system; and

a projection assembly.

8. An etendue maintaining polarization switching system comprising:

a laser illumination system configured to provide polarized light along a first light path;

a pivoted reflective element disposed in the first light path, the pivoted reflective element actuable to controllably and alternatively direct the polarized light in the first light path, without changing its polarization, along at least a second light path and a third light path;

a rotation device and a driving device collectively configured to pivot the pivoted reflective element, the driving device being configured to provide the rotation device a driving signal, wherein the driving signal includes a switching signal configured to cause the rotation device to pivot the pivoted reflective element between a first angular position that directs the polarized light along the second light path and a second angular position that directs the polarized light along the third light path, and wherein the driving signal also includes a noise signal configured to superimpose small angular shifts on the angular position of the pivoted reflective element, and wherein frequency characteristics of the noise signal are such that the human eye will average out variations in any resulting speckle patterns;

a retarder disposed in the second light path, the retarder configured to change the polarized light into light having a different polarization along the second light path; and

a polarization combining device configured to combine light from the third light path with the light having the different polarization from the retarder in the second light path into a single light beam exhibiting a same or substantially a same etendue as the first light path.