Three dimensional image projector with dual light modulators

• US 8,944,604 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2012
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: DeCusatis, Casimer M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Thanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chavez, Renee D
• Application Number:
  US13/672,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20130188153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 353/7, 353/8, 348 42- 60, 359462-477, 3/7, 3/8
• US Class Current: 353/8
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/14 for producing polarised light
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1033 having a single light modulator for all colour channels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/25 using polarisation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/14 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 33/12 using beam-splitting or beam-combining systems, e.g. dichroic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/26 using polarised or coloured light separating different viewpoint images

Abstract

A method is provided for projecting a three-dimensional image. The system includes a first light source, the first light source emitting light in a first direction and a second light source emitting light in a second direction. A beam splitter device is disposed adjacent each light source and an imaging device is disposed adjacent the beam splitter device. Light from the first light source and the second light source travel a common optical path to a projector lens assembly.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a first light source and a second light source;

providing a first polarizing beam device (PBS) adjacent the first light source and a second PBS adjacent the second light source;

providing a first fly'"'"'s eye lens between the first light source and the first PBS;

providing a first pre-polarizer lens between the first fly'"'"'s eye lens and the first PBS;

providing a second fly'"'"'s eye lens between the second light source and the second PBS;

providing a second pre-polarizer lens between the second fly'"'"'s eye lens and the second PBS;

providing a first imaging device adjacent the first PBS and a second imaging device adjacent the second PBS;

providing a third PBS disposed between the first PBS and the second PBS;

providing a minor adjacent the third PBS;

emitting a first light from the first light source;

reflecting the first light with the first PBS onto the first imaging device; and

,

reflecting the first light off of the first imaging device to the third PBS.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first imaging device and the second imaging device are LCoS devices.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

emitting a second light from the second light source after the first light is emitted;

reflecting the second light with the second PBS onto the second imaging device;

reflecting the second light off the second imaging device to the third PBS;

reflecting the second light to the mirror; and

,

reflecting the second light off of the mirror and back to the third PBS.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first light emitted by the first light source has a first polarization and the second light emitted by the second light source has a second polarization, and the first polarization and the second polarization are orthogonal to one another.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the first light emitted by the first light source is in a first direction and the second light emitted by the second light source is in a second direction, and the first direction and the second direction are opposite each other.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

providing a projection lens assembly on the opposite side of the third PBS from the mirror;

reflecting the first light from the third PBS to the projection lens assembly; and

,

emitting the second light reflected from the mirror through the third PBS to the projection lens assembly.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the first light and the second light are transmitted along the same optical path between the third PBS and the projection lens assembly.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein:

the first light source includes a plurality of first LEDs, the plurality of first LEDs comprising a first red light emitting diode (LED), a first green LED and a first blue LED;

the first light is comprised of light emitted from the first red LED, the first green LED and the first blue LED;

the second light source includes a plurality of second LEDs, the plurality of second LEDs comprising a second red LED, a second green LED, and a second blue LED; and

,

the second light is comprised of light emitted from the second red LED, the second green LED and the second blue LED.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first light emitted by the first light source comprises a light emitted from a first LED of the plurality of first LEDs, and the second light emitted by the second light source comprises a light emitted from the first LED of the plurality of second LEDs and the first light and the second light are the same first color.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein after the first light and the second light are initially emitted having the same first color, the first light emitted by the first light source then comprises light emitted from a second LED of the plurality of first LEDs, and the second light emitted by the second light source then comprises a light emitted from a second LED of the plurality of second LEDs, and the first light and the second light are the same second color.

11. A system comprising:

a first light source emitting light having a first polarization;

a second light source emitting light having a second polarization;

wherein the first polarization is orthogonal to the second polarization;

a first beam splitter device (PBS) adjacent the first light source;

a second PBS adjacent the second light source;

a first imaging device adjacent the first PBS;

a second imaging device adjacent the second PBS;

a third PBS disposed between the first PBS and the second PBS;

a projection lens assembly located adjacent the third PBS; and

,

a mirror disposed on the side of the third PBS opposite the projection lens assembly.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the first light source emits a first light in a first direction and the second light source emits a second light in a second direction, the second direction being opposite the first direction.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the first imaging device and the second imaging device are LCoS devices.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the light emitted by the first light source and the light emitted by the second light source are transmitted along the same optical path from the third PBS to the projection lens assembly.

15. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a first fly'"'"'s eye lens arranged between the first light source and the first PBS; and

,

a first pre-polarizer lens arranged between the first fly'"'"'s eye lens and the first PBS.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a second fly'"'"'s eye lens arranged between the second light source and the second PBS; and

,

a second pre-polarizer lens arranged between the second fly'"'"'s eye lens and the second PBS.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the second light source comprises:

a plurality of second LED devices;

a plurality of second light collection optics, each of the plurality of second light collection optics associated with one of the plurality of second LED devices; and

,

a second dichroic color combiner disposed between the plurality of second light collection optics, the second dichroic color combiner arranged to direct light from the plurality of second LED devices into the second fly'"'"'s eye lens.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the first light source comprises:

a plurality of first LED devices;

a plurality of first light collection optics, each of the plurality of first light collection optics associated with one of the plurality of first LED devices; and

,

a first dichroic color combiner disposed between the plurality of first light collection optics, the first dichroic color combiner arranged to direct light from the plurality of first LED devices into the first fly'"'"'s eye lens.

19. The system of claim 11 further comprising a feedback circuit coupled to the first light source, the second light source, the first PBS, the second PBS, the first imaging device, and the second imaging device.