Polarization conversion system and method for projecting polarization encoded imagery
First Claim
1. A polarization conversion system for transmitting polarization encoded imagery to a projection screen, comprising:
- a first projection lens;
a second projection lens;
a polarization beam splitter operable to receive image light from an image source, operable to transmit image light of a first polarization state toward the first projection lens on a first image light path, and operable to reflect image light of a second polarization state toward a second image light path;
a reflecting element located on the second image light path operable to reflect the image light of the second image light path toward the second projection lens; and
a polarization switch located on at least one of the first image light path and the second image light path, the polarization switch operable to selectively alternate the polarization of image light passing therethrough between a first output state of polarization and a second output state of polarization so that the image light passing therethrough has sequentially alternating polarizations;
wherein the first projection lens is operable to project the image light of the first image light path onto the projection screen as a first diverging light beam between the first projection lens and the projection screen;
wherein the second projection lens is operable to project the image light of the second path image light onto the projection screen as a second diverging light beam between the second projection lens and the projection screen;
wherein the first and second projection lenses are further operable to direct the first diverging light beam and the second diverging light beam to superimpose and substantially overlap with each other on the projection screen;
wherein the polarization conversion system is positioned between the image source and the projection screen; and
wherein the polarization switch operates such that the first and second diverging light beams have the same state of polarization as they simultaneously reach the projection screen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A polarization conversion system separates light from an unpolarized image source into a first state of polarization (SOP) and an orthogonal second SOP, and directs the polarized light on first and second light paths. The SOP of light on only one of the light paths is transformed to an orthogonal state such that both light paths have the same SOP. A polarization modulator temporally modulates the light on the first and second light paths to first and second output states of polarization. First and second projection lenses direct light on the first and second light paths toward a projection screen to form substantially overlapping polarization encoded images. The polarization modulator may be located before or after the projection lenses. The polarization-encoded images may be viewed using eyewear with appropriate polarization filters.
95 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A polarization conversion system for transmitting polarization encoded imagery to a projection screen, comprising:
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a first projection lens; a second projection lens; a polarization beam splitter operable to receive image light from an image source, operable to transmit image light of a first polarization state toward the first projection lens on a first image light path, and operable to reflect image light of a second polarization state toward a second image light path; a reflecting element located on the second image light path operable to reflect the image light of the second image light path toward the second projection lens; and a polarization switch located on at least one of the first image light path and the second image light path, the polarization switch operable to selectively alternate the polarization of image light passing therethrough between a first output state of polarization and a second output state of polarization so that the image light passing therethrough has sequentially alternating polarizations; wherein the first projection lens is operable to project the image light of the first image light path onto the projection screen as a first diverging light beam between the first projection lens and the projection screen; wherein the second projection lens is operable to project the image light of the second path image light onto the projection screen as a second diverging light beam between the second projection lens and the projection screen; wherein the first and second projection lenses are further operable to direct the first diverging light beam and the second diverging light beam to superimpose and substantially overlap with each other on the projection screen; wherein the polarization conversion system is positioned between the image source and the projection screen; and wherein the polarization switch operates such that the first and second diverging light beams have the same state of polarization as they simultaneously reach the projection screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15)
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9. A method for projecting polarization-encoded images, comprising:
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receiving image source light from a projection panel at a polarization beam splitter; transmitting image source light of a first polarization state at the polarization beam splitter toward a first projection lens located on a first image light path; reflecting image source light of a second polarization state at the polarization beam splitter toward a second image light path; reflecting the image source light of the second polarization state toward a second projection lens; sequentially alternating the state of polarization of light on at least one of the first and second image light paths between a first output state of polarization and a second output state of polarization so that the image light passing therethrough has sequentially alternating polarizations; and projecting, using the first projection lens, the image light of the first image light path as a first diverging light beam between the first projection lens and a projection screen; projecting, using the second projection lens, the image light of the second image light path as a second diverging light beam between the second projection lens and the projection screen; wherein the first and second projection lenses further direct the first and second diverging light beams respectively toward the projection screen such that the first and second diverging light beams are superimposed and substantially overlapping on the projection screen; and wherein the first and second diverging light beams have the same state of polarization as they simultaneously reach the projection screen. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16)
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Specification