3D optical projection device

• US 8,534,841 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2011
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kamm, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOWDHURY, SULTAN U.
• Application Number:
  US13/103,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20110285966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 353/7, 353/8, 353/20, 353/30, 353/33, 353/34, 353/38, 353/84, 353/94, 353/98, 353/99, 353/101, 359/485.01, 359/487.01, 359/494.01, 359/618, 359/629, 359/636, 359638-639, 359/462, 359/466, 359/475, 359/423, 359/434, 348/51, 348 54- 60, 349/5, 349 7- 9, 349/10
• US Class Current: 353/7
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/25 using polarisation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/356 having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388

Abstract

An optical projection device comprises an imaging device adapted to generate a first and a second image in a first and a second light beam, respectively, a first converting device that is adapted to convert a polarization state of one of the first and the second light beams into a converted polarization state, so that the first and the second light beams are in different polarization states, and a relay lens that is adapted to generate an intermediate image, by superimposing the first and the second images. The relay lens comprises a combining device, that is adapted to combine the first and the second light beams. The optical projection device further comprises a projection lens that is adapted to project the intermediate image onto a screen.

Claims

1. An optical projection device, comprising:

an imaging device comprising a first image portion and a second image portion, the first and second image portions being adapted to generate a first and a second image in a first and a second light beam, respectively;

a first converting device that is adapted to convert a polarization state of one of the first and the second light beams into a converted polarization state, so that the first and the second light beams are in different polarization states;

a relay lens comprising a combining device, that is configured to combine the first and the second light beams to form a superimposed image, and imaging optics configured to generate an intermediate image from the superimposed image, and

a projection lens that is adapted to project the intermediate image onto a screen.

2. The optical projection device according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second light beams are in linear polarization states, and the combining device comprises a polarization beam splitter.

3. The optical projection device according to claim 2, wherein the relay lens further comprises a second converting device that is adapted to convert the different linear polarization states into different elliptical polarization states.

4. The optical projection device according to claim 1, wherein the first converting device is disposed behind the imaging device.

5. The optical projection device according to claim 1, further comprising a set of folding mirrors which are adapted to combine the first and second light beams into a common light beam.

6. The optical projection device according to claim 5, wherein the set of folding mirrors is further adapted to rotate the first and second image by 90°

around the optical axis.

7. The optical projection device according to claim 6, wherein the folding mirror has optical power.

8. The optical projection device according to claim 1, further comprising a diffractive optical element that is disposed in front of the imaging device, the diffractive optical element being adapted to form a diffraction pattern of an incident light beam, the diffraction pattern being incident on the imaging device.

9. The optical projection device according to claim 1, wherein

the imaging device comprises imaging sub-devices that are adapted to generate a first, a second and a third image from a first, a second and a third light beam having different colors, respectively,

the optical projection device further comprising a color combining device that is adapted to combine the different colors into a combined light beam, the combined light beam comprising images of the respective colors, the combining device being disposed behind the imaging device.

10. An optical projection device, comprising:

an imaging device adapted to generate in a 3D mode a first and a second image in a first and a second light beam, respectively, the first and the second light beam being in the same polarization state, the imaging device further being adapted to generate in a 2D mode a single image in a single light beam;

a first relay lens operating in the 3D mode, comprising a first converting device that is adapted to convert the polarization state of one of the first and the second light beams into a converted polarization state, the first relay lens being adapted to generate an intermediate image by superimposing the first and the second images being in different polarization states;

a second relay lens operating in the 2D mode that is adapted to generate an intermediate image of the single image,

the first and the second relay lenses being mounted in the optical projection device in such a manner, so that they can be alternatively placed in a light path comprising the first and second light beams in the 3D mode or the single light beam in the 2D mode; and

a projection lens that is adapted to project the intermediate image onto a screen.

11. The optical projection device according to claim 10, wherein the first and the second light beams are in linear polarization states, and the combining device of the first relay lens comprises a polarization beam splitter.

12. The optical projection device according to claim 11, wherein the first relay lens further comprises a second converting device that is adapted to convert the different linear polarization states into different elliptical polarization states.

13. The optical projection device according to claim 10, wherein the first relay lens further comprises a set of folding mirrors which are adapted to flip the first and the second image from vertical into horizontal orientation.

14. The optical projection device according to claim 13, wherein the folding mirrors have optical power.

15. The optical projection device according to claim 10, further comprising a diffractive optical element that is disposed in front of the imaging device, the diffractive optical element being adapted to form a diffraction pattern of an incident light beam, which is illuminating an active area of a left and a right sub-image on the imaging device.

16. The optical projection device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a color separation device that is adapted to separate an incoming light beam into different colors, the color separation device being disposed in front of the imaging device, and

a color combining device that is adapted to combine the different colors into a combined light beam, the combined light beam comprising images of the respective colors, the combining device being disposed behind the imaging device.

17. The optical projection device according to claim 10, further comprising a diffractive optical element that is disposed in front of the imaging device, the diffractive optical element comprising a 2D mode diffractive optical element, the 2D mode diffractive optical element being adapted to form a diffraction pattern of an incident light beam, which is illuminating an active area of the entire imaging device, and

a 3D mode diffractive optical element, the 3D mode diffractive optical element being adapted to form a diffraction pattern of an incident light beam, which is illuminating an active area of a left and a right sub-image on the imaging device.

18. The optical projection device according to claim 17, wherein the 2D mode diffractive optical element and the 3D diffractive optical element are mechanically moveable in order to easily switch between 2D and 3D mode.

19. An optical projection device, comprising:

an imaging device adapted to generate a first and a second image;

a relay lens comprising a combining device that is configured to combine the first and the second light beams to form a superimposed image, and imaging optics configured to generate an intermediate image from the superimposed image in a manner so that the first and the second image are distinguishable; and

a projection lens that is adapted to project the intermediate image onto a screen.

20. The optical projection device according to claim 19, wherein the first and the second images are formed by light beams being in different polarization states.