High resolution high contrast edge projection
First Claim
1. A method for projecting a special purpose image using a lower resolution digital projector array, the method comprising:
- choosing a pattern to be illuminated, the pattern having at least one high contrast edge feature that extends continuously across a plane of the illumination;
applying an illumination pattern on the projector array to define a pixellated, high contrast approximation to the edge feature; and
providing an anisotropically blurring optical element between an illumination source and the projection that blurs each pixel of a connected set of pixels of the illumination pattern more in directions of pixels of equal or greater illumination, and less in directions of pixels of lower illumination.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Generating a high definition projected illumination pattern from a substantially lower resolution digital projector array involves: selectively illuminating a connected set of pixels to produce a pixellated, high contrast edge feature, and positioning an anisotropically blurring optical element (ABOE) between a light source of the projector array and the projection. The ABOE applies an anisotropic blur pattern to pixels of the at least one connected set, to locally preferentially blur the pixel more (and preferably substantially only) in a direction of equally or more strongly illuminated pixels, and not in directions of less illuminated pixels. Preferably a contour of the connected set has no beginning or end within a periphery of the illumination plane, and has bounded curvature, permitting simple ABOEs to be used. Several images each having several or many edges can be produced using a same ABOE. The ABOE may alleviate interpixel gap effects for non-edge pixels too.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for projecting a special purpose image using a lower resolution digital projector array, the method comprising:
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choosing a pattern to be illuminated, the pattern having at least one high contrast edge feature that extends continuously across a plane of the illumination; applying an illumination pattern on the projector array to define a pixellated, high contrast approximation to the edge feature; and providing an anisotropically blurring optical element between an illumination source and the projection that blurs each pixel of a connected set of pixels of the illumination pattern more in directions of pixels of equal or greater illumination, and less in directions of pixels of lower illumination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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5. A system for projecting an image with a lower resolution projector array, the system comprising:
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a digital projector array adapted to selectively illuminate at least one connected set of pixels to produce a pixellated, high contrast edge feature; an anisotropically blurring optical element positioned between a light source of the projector array and the projection, the anisotropically blurring optical element applying an anisotropic blur pattern to the at least one connected set of the pixels, to locally preferentially blur the pixels tangentially, along a contour of the connected set of pixels. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A kit comprising:
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an anisotropically blurring optical element suitable for applying an anisotropic blur pattern to an incident plane wave, the blur pattern preferentially blurring local elements such that blurring follows a substantially continuous, connected polyline; and instructions for;
positioning the optical element between a light source of the projector array and a projection; and
aligning the optical element with respect to the projector array, whereby one or more patterns of illumination from the digital projector array will emit a pixellated, high contrast edge feature that is anisotropically blurred by the optical element to project an image including a high contrast, high resolution edge feature. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification