Display system having coherent and incoherent light sources

• US 8,502,926 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bilbrey, Brett
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnael, Paulos M
• Application Number:
  US12/570,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20110075055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 348/744, 348/759, 348/739, 348770-771, 359/263, 359/634, 359/636, 353/31, 353/29
• US Class Current: 348/744
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor

Abstract

Embodiments are disclosed that allow light display systems, such as projectors, to be manufactured having lower power consumption, reduced speckling, and/or that are less expensive than conventional light projectors. In some embodiments, may include an incoherent light source and a coherent light source operating in concert with one another to produce a combined light beam that has similar wavelength contributions from the incoherent and coherent light sources.

Claims

1. A system for displaying images comprising:

an incoherent light source; and

a coherent light source operating in concert with the incoherent light source to produce a combined beam of light, wherein the combined light beam includes similar wavelength contributions from the incoherent and coherent light sources, wherein the coherent light source emanates a narrower band of wavelengths as compared to the incoherent light source, wherein an intensity level of the coherent light source is less than an intensity level of the incoherent light source, and wherein the intensity level of the coherent light source is used to fine tune an overall intensity of the combined beam of light.

2. A system for displaying images comprising:

an incoherent light source; and

a coherent light source operating in concert with the incoherent light source to produce a combined beam of light, wherein the combined light beam includes similar wavelength contributions from the incoherent and coherent light sources, wherein the coherent light source emanates a narrower band of wavelengths as compared to the incoherent light source, wherein an intensity level of the coherent light source is less than an intensity level of the incoherent light source, the system further comprising a light sensor.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the intensity level of the incoherent light source is used to calibrate the intensity level of the coherent light source.

4. A system for displaying images comprising:

an incoherent light source; and

a coherent light source operating in concert with the incoherent light source to produce a combined beam of light, wherein the combined light beam includes similar wavelength contributions from the incoherent and coherent light sources, wherein the coherent light source emanates a narrower band of wavelengths as compared to the incoherent light source, wherein the incoherent light source is driven by a chrominance portion of a video signal.

5. A system for displaying images comprising:

an incoherent light source; and

a coherent light source operating in concert with the incoherent light source to produce a combined beam of light, wherein the combined light beam includes similar wavelength contributions from the incoherent and coherent light sources, wherein the coherent light source emanates a narrower band of wavelengths as compared to the incoherent light source, wherein the coherent light source is driven by a luminance portion of a video signal.

6. A method of displaying images, comprising the operations of:

outputting a first light from an incoherent light source;

outputting a second light from a coherent light source operating in concert with the incoherent light source, thereby producing a combined beam of light including similar wavelength contributions from the incoherent and coherent light sources; and

using the intensity level of the incoherent light source to calibrate the intensity level of the coherent light source.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising setting an intensity level of the coherent light source to be less than an intensity level of the incoherent light source.

8. A method of displaying images, comprising the operations of:

outputting a first light from an incoherent light source;

outputting a second light from a coherent light source operating in concert with the incoherent light source, thereby producing a combined beam of light including similar wavelength contributions from the incoherent and coherent light sources;

determining a chrominance of a projected image;

determining a luminance of the projected image;

setting the output of the incoherent light source based on the chrominance of the projected image; and

setting the output of the coherent light source based on the luminance of the projected image.