Three dimensional image projector

• US 8,960,912 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2013
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• 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:
  US14/051,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20140176911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 353 7- 9, 359462-477, 348/51, 348/53, 348/54, 348/58
• 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 method includes providing a first light source that emits first eye images and a second light source that emits second eye images. A polarization of the first light source is orthogonal to a polarization of the second light source. A first eye image of a first color is projected from the first light source. A second eye image of the same first color is projected from the second light source. A first eye image of a second color is projected from the first light source. A second eye image of the same second color is projected from the second light source. A first eye image of a third color is projected from the first light source. A second eye image of a third color is projected from the second light source.

Claims

1. A method for projecting an image in 3D comprising:

providing a first light source that emits first eye images via a first imaging device, a first beam splitter device (PBS) adjacent the first imaging device, a third PBS, and a projection lens assembly;

providing a second light source that emits second eye images via a second imaging device, a second PBS adjacent the second imaging device, the third PBS, a mirror, and the projection lens assembly,

wherein a polarization of the first light source is orthogonal to a polarization of the second light source, the third PBS is disposed between the first PBS and the second PBS, the projection lens assembly is located adjacent the third PBS, and the mirror is disposed on a side of the third PBS opposite the projection lens assembly;

projecting a first eye image of a first color from the first light source;

projecting a second eye image of the first color from the second light source;

projecting the first eye image of a second color from the first light source;

projecting the second eye image of the second color from the second light source;

projecting the first eye image of a third color from the first light source; and

,

projecting the second eye image of the third color from the second light source.

2. The method of claim 1 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 eye image of a first color comprises light emitted from a first LED of the plurality of the first LEDs;

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

,

the second eye image of the first color comprises light emitted from the first LED of the plurality of second LEDs such that the first LED of the plurality of first LEDs and the first LED from the plurality of second LEDs are the same color.