Projection-type display devices with reduced weight and size

• US RE42,251 E1
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Transpacific Image LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Transpacific Image LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Plut, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dowling; William C
• Application Number:
  US12/345,032
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 353/31, 353/33, 353/34, 353/37, 353/42, 353/85, 353/94, 353/121, 353/122, 349/5, 349/7, 349/8, 349/9, 362/553, 362/554, 362/555, 362/559, 362/561, 362/259
• US Class Current: 353/31
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/16 Cooling; Preventing overheating
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2033 LED or laser light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2093 Details of lamp houses not provided in groups G03B21/2006 - G03B21/2086
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/002 to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3111 for displaying the colours sequentially, e.g. by using sequentially activated light sources sequential projection in colour photography G03B33/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3144 Cooling systems cooling of liquid crystal cells in general G02F1/133382; cooling of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3155 for controlling the light source light source control per se H05B35/00 – H05B47/00; control of an illumination source for displays in general G09G3/3406
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3161 using laser light sources using laser beams scanning the display screen H04N9/3129
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3164 using multiple light sources

Abstract

Described herein are display devices that provide projection-type video output and use diode lasers to generate light. For example, one set of diode lasers may produce red light, while a second set produces blue light. Optics are employed to expand laser light from its small generated or transmitted flux area to a size suitable for transmission onto the optical modulation device. Another aspect of the invention relates to a redundant laser set to generate light. A redundant laser set includes more lasers than that needed to produce the desired amount of light.

Claims

1. A projection-type display device, comprising:

a first diode laser set, each diode laser in the first diode laser set including a) a lasing medium in a lasing chamber for producing first light including a first wavelength between about 400 nanometers and about 700 nanometers, b) an output lens for emitting the first light, and c)a photosensor that detects the first light and outputs a signal indicative of the first light;

a second diode laser set, each diode laser in the second diode laser set including a) a lasing medium in a lasing chamber for producing second light including a second wavelength between about 400 nanometers and about 700 nanometers, and b) an output lens for emitting the second light;

at least one optical modulation device configured to selectively transmit the first light and the second light according to video data included in a video signal provided to the at least one optical modulation device;

an optics system arranged to receive the first light and the second light before receipt by the at least one optical modulation device and configured to increase flux area for the first light and the second light before receipt by the at least one optical modulation device; and

a projection lens system configured to project light transmitted by the at least one optical modulation device along a projection path.

2. The projection-type display device of claim 1 further comprising current control circuitry configured to regulate current provided to each diode laser in the first diode laser set.

3. The projection-type display device of claim 2 wherein the current control circuitry is configured to maintain current provided to each diode laser in the first diode laser set above a lasing threshold.

4. The projection-type display device of claim 2 wherein the current control circuitry is configured to prevent current greater than a maximum current threshold from reaching each diode laser in the first diode laser set.

5. The display device of claim 1 wherein to output lens for each diode laser in the first diode laser set reduces divergence in at least one direction for the first laser light.

6. The projection-type display device of claim 5 wherein the output lens for each diode laser in the first diode laser set reduces astigmatism in the first laser light.

7. The projection-type display device of claim 1 further comprising at least one fiber optic cable having a first end configured to receive light from the first diode laser set and a second end configured to outlet the first laser light to the optics system.

8. The projection-type display device of claim 1 wherein the first diode laser set comprises from about 1 to about 40 diode lasers.

9. The projection-type display device of claim 1 wherein the first wavelength is between about 615 and about 690 nanometers.

10. The projection-type display device of claim 9 wherein the first wavelength is between about 625 and about 645 nanometers.

11. The projection-type display device of claim 1 wherein the second wavelength is between about 420 and about 500 nanometers.

12. The projection-type display device of claim 11 wherein the second wavelength is between about 430 and about 460 nanometers.

13. The projection-type display device of claim 1 further comprising a third set of lasers, each laser in the third laser set including a) a lasing medium and lasing chamber for producing third light including a third wavelength between about 400 nanometers and about 700 nanometers, and b) an output lens for emitting the third light.

14. The projection-type display device of claim 13 wherein each laser in the third laser set is a diode pumped solid state laser including a multiplication crystal in the lasing chamber for producing third light including a third wavelength between about 510 nanometers and about 570 nanometers.

15. The projection-type display device of claim 14 wherein the third wavelength is between about 530 and about 550 nanometers.

16. The projection-type display device of claim 1 wherein the at least one optical modulation device comprises three optical modulation devices that are each configured to selective transmission of a primary color.

17. The projection-type display device of claim 1 wherein the at least one optical modulation device comprises a single optical modulation device configured to selectively transmits the first light and the second light.

20. The projection-type display device of claim 1, wherein the first diode laser set includes at least one diode laser more than a number of diode lasers needed to produce the first light.

21. The projection-type display device of claim 1, wherein the second diode laser set includes at least one diode laser more than a number of diode lasers needed to produce the second light.

18. A projection-type display device, comprising:

a red diode laser set, each red diode laser in the red diode laser set including a) a lasing medium in a lasing chamber for producing light including a red wavelength between about 615 nanometers and about 690 nanometers, b) an output lens for emitting the red light, and c) a photosensor that detects the red light and outputs a signal indicative of the red light;

a blue diode laser set, each blue diode laser in the blue diode laser set including a) a lasing medium in a lasing chamber for producing light including a blue wavelength between about 420 nanometers and about 500 nanometers, and b) an output lens for emitting the blue light;

at least one optical modulation device configured to selectively transmit light including the red wavelength and the light including the blue wavelength according to video data included in a video signal provided to the at least one optical modulation device;

an optics system, arranged to receive the light including the red wavelength and the light including the blue wavelength before receipt by the at least one optical modulation device, configured to increase flux area for the light including the red wavelength and the light including the blue wavelength before receipt by the at least one optical modulation device; and

a projection lens system configured to project light transmitted by the at least one optical modulation device along a projection path.

19. A projection-type display device, comprising:

a red diode laser set, each red diode laser in the red diode laser set including a) a lasing medium in a lasing chamber for producing light including a red wavelength between about 615 nanometers and about 690 nanometers, b) an output lens for emitting the red light, and c) a photosensor that detects the red light and outputs a signal indicative of the red light;

a blue diode laser set, each blue diode laser in the blue diode laser set including a) a lasing medium in a lasing chamber for producing light including a blue wavelength between about 420 nanometers and about 500 nanometers, and b) an output lens for emitting the blue light;

a third set of lasers, each laser in the third laser set including a) a lasing medium and lasing chamber for producing third light including a third wavelength between about 510 nanometers and about 570 nanometers, and b) an output lens for emitting the third light;

at least one optical modulation device configured to selectively transmit light including the red wavelength and the light including the blue wavelength according to video data included in a video signal provided to the at least one optical modulation device;

an optics system, arranged to receive light before receipt by the at least one optical modulation device, configured to increase flux area for the light before receipt by the at least one optical modulation device; and

a projection lens system configured to project light transmitted by the at least one optical modulation device along a projection path.

22. A projection-type display device, comprising:

at least one diode laser set, each diode laser in the at least one diode laser set including a) a lasing medium in a lasing chamber for producing light, b) an output lens for emitting the light, and c) a photosensor that detects the light and outputs a signal indicative of the light; and

at least one optical modulation device configured to selectively transmit the light according to video data included in a video signal provided to the at least one optical modulation device.

23. The projection-type display device of claim 22, wherein the at least one diode laser set includes at least one diode laser more than a number of diode lasers needed to produce the light.

24. A projection-type display device, comprising:

at least one red diode laser set, each diode laser in the at least one red diode laser set including a) a lasing medium in a lasing chamber for producing red light, b) an output lens for emitting the red light, and c) a photosensor that detects the red light and outputs a signal indicative of the red light; and

at least one optical modulation device configured to selectively transmit the red light according to video data included in a video signal provided to the at least one optical modulation device.

25. The projection-type display device of claim 24, wherein the at least one red diode laser set includes at least one red diode laser more than a number of red diode lasers needed to produce the red light.

26. A projection-type display device, comprising:

at least one blue diode laser set, each diode laser in the at least one blue diode laser set including a) a lasing medium in a lasing chamber for producing blue light, b) an output lens for emitting the blue light, and c) a photosensor that detects the blue light and outputs a signal indicative of the blue light; and

at least one optical modulation device configurable to selectively transmit the blue light according to video data included in a video signal provided to the at least one optical modulation device.

27. The projection-type display device of claim 26, wherein the at least one blue diode laser set includes at least one blue diode laser more than a number of blue diode lasers needed to produce the blue light.