Laser illumination scanning
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An imaging unit, comprising:
- a linear array of spatial light modulators configured to direct light in a direction perpendicular to an imaging scan direction;
lasers configured to emit the light through a diffractive optic, creating a structured light pattern that uniformly illuminates the spatial light modulators;
a scanning mirror configured to scan the light reflected by the spatial light modulators to generate a two-dimensional image for display; and
a polarizing beam-splitter positioned between the diffractive optic, the linear array of spatial light modulators, and the scanning mirror, the polarizing beam-splitter configured to reflect the structured light pattern from the diffractive optic to the linear array of spatial light modulators and to the scanning mirror.
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Abstract
In embodiments of laser illumination scanning, an imaging unit includes a linear array of spatial light modulators that direct light in a direction perpendicular to an imaging scan direction. The lasers each emit the light through a diffractive optic that uniformly illuminates the spatial light modulators, and a scanning mirror then scans the spatial light modulators to generate a two-dimensional image for display. The lasers can include red, green, and blue lasers for RGB illumination of the spatial light modulators, which can be implemented as reflective liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS), transmissive LCOS, or as micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) mirrors.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An imaging unit, comprising:
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a linear array of spatial light modulators configured to direct light in a direction perpendicular to an imaging scan direction; lasers configured to emit the light through a diffractive optic, creating a structured light pattern that uniformly illuminates the spatial light modulators; a scanning mirror configured to scan the light reflected by the spatial light modulators to generate a two-dimensional image for display; and a polarizing beam-splitter positioned between the diffractive optic, the linear array of spatial light modulators, and the scanning mirror, the polarizing beam-splitter configured to reflect the structured light pattern from the diffractive optic to the linear array of spatial light modulators and to the scanning mirror. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method, comprising:
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emitting light with lasers that illuminate an array of spatial light modulators; dispersing the light that is emitted from a laser with a diffractive optic, creating a structured light pattern that uniformly illuminates the spatial light modulators; reflecting the structured light pattern from the diffractive optic to a scanning mirror and to the array of spatial light modulators; directing the light from the array of spatial light modulators in a direction perpendicular to an imaging scan direction; and scanning the light reflected by the spatial light modulators with the scanning mirror to generate a two dimensional image for display. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A wearable display device, comprising:
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left and right display lens systems configured for augmented reality imaging; an eye-tracking system configured to track user eye position; left and right imaging units of the respective left and right display lens systems configured to generate an augmented reality image, the left and right imaging units each comprising; a linear array of spatial light modulators configured to direct light in a direction perpendicular to an imaging scan direction; lasers configured to emit the light through a diffractive optic, creating a structured light pattern that uniformly illuminates the spatial light modulators and the emitted light configured as an illumination source for the eye-tracking system; a scanning mirror configured to scan the light reflected by the spatial light modulators to generate a two-dimensional image for display; and a polarizing beam-splitter positioned between the diffractive optic, the linear array of spatial light modulators, and the scanning mirror, the polarizing beam-splitter configured to reflect the structured light pattern from the diffractive optic to the linear array of spatial light modulators and to the scanning mirror. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification