Display including a solid state light device and method using same

• US 20050134527A1
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Meis, Michael A., Ouderkirk, Andrew J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,456,805 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/004 Hand-held apparatus, e.g. guns
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/06 the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7416 involving the use of a spatial light modulator, e.g. a light valve, controlled by a video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3108 by using a single electronic spatial light modulator
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/315 Modulator illumination systems general applications of lighting devices F21V; general optical systems G02B; lamp houses for projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/20

Abstract

A display includes a solid state light device and a spatial light modulator in optical communication with the solid state light device. The solid state light device includes an array of solid state radiation sources to generate radiation, where each solid state radiation source includes a controllable radiation output. The solid state light device further includes an array of optical concentrators, where each optical concentrator receives radiation from a corresponding one of the array of solid state radiation sources. The solid state light device further includes a plurality of optical fibers, where each of the plurality of optical fibers includes an input end that receives concentrated radiation from a corresponding optical concentrator. The spatial light modulator includes a plurality of controllable elements operable to modulate light from the solid state light device. The display can be used in a variety of applications.

Claims

1. A display, comprising:

a light device, comprising;

an array of solid state radiation sources to generate radiation, wherein each solid state radiation source comprises a controllable radiation output;

an array of optical concentrators, wherein each optical concentrator receives radiation from a corresponding one of the array of solid state radiation sources; and

a plurality of optical fibers, wherein each of the plurality of optical fibers includes an input end and an output end, wherein each input end receives concentrated radiation from a corresponding concentrator; and

a spatial light modulator in optical communication with the light device, wherein the spatial light modulator comprises a plurality of controllable elements operable to modulate light from the light device.

2. The display of claim 1, wherein the number of controllable elements of the spatial light modulator is greater than the number of solid state radiation sources of the light device.

3. The display of claim 2, wherein each solid state radiation source of the array of solid state radiation sources of the light device is configured to illuminate a plurality of corresponding controllable elements of the spatial light modulator.

4. The display of claim 1, further comprising a diffuser located between the light device and the spatial light modulator, wherein the diffuser is in optical communication with the light device and the spatial light modulator.

5. The display of claim 1, further comprising a diffuser located between the spatial light modulator and a viewing position, wherein the diffuser is in optical communication with the spatial light modulator.

6. The display of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional light modulation stages between the light device and the spatial light modulator.

7. The display of claim 1, further comprising imaging optics configured to image the light device onto the spatial light modulator.

8. The display of claim 7, further comprising a front-projection-type display comprising a display screen configured to reflect light to a viewer.

9. The display of claim 8, wherein the spatial light modulator is integrated with the display screen.

10. The display of claim 1, wherein a ratio of luminance of a first point, for which a corresponding solid state radiation source is at a maximum light output and a corresponding controllable element of the spatial light modulator is set to provide maximum illumination, and a second point, for which the corresponding solid state radiation source is at minimum light output and the corresponding controllable element of the spatial light modulator is set to provide minimum illumination, is at least 1000:

1.

11. The display of claim 10, wherein a ratio of luminance of a first point, for which a corresponding solid state radiation source is at a maximum light output and a corresponding controllable element of the spatial light modulator is set to provide maximum illumination, and a second point, for which the corresponding solid state radiation device is at minimum light output and the corresponding controllable element of the spatial light modulator is set to provide minimum illumination, is at least 1500:

1.

12. The display of claim 1, wherein the array of solid state radiation sources comprises a plurality of LED dies.

13. The display of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of LED dies comprises ultraviolet emitting LED dies.

14. The display of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of LED dies comprises white light emitting LED dies.

15. The display of claim 12, wherein a color of light emitted by the LED dies is controllable.

16. The display of claim 1, wherein the plurality of controllable elements of the spatial light modulator comprises variable-transmissivity display elements.

17. The display of claim 16, wherein the variable-transmissivity display elements comprise liquid crystal display elements.

18. The display of claim 1, wherein the spatial light modulator comprises a color spatial light modulator.

19. The display of claim 18, wherein each controllable element of the plurality of controllable elements of the spatial light modulator comprises a plurality of color sub pixels.

20. The display of claim 1, further comprising a controller in electrical communication with the light device and the spatial light modulator, wherein the controller is operable to deliver image data to both the light device and the spatial light modulator.

21. The display of claim 20, wherein the controller is configured to periodically refresh the plurality of controllable elements and to dim or turn off the corresponding solid state radiation source while a controllable element is being refreshed.

22. The display of claim 1, wherein the array of solid state radiation sources is arranged in a regular array.

23. The display of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of optical fibers comprises a polymer clad silica fiber comprising a core and a cladding, wherein the polymer clad silica fiber further comprises a core diameter of about 250 μ

m to about 1000 μ

m.

24. The display of claim 1, wherein the output ends of the plurality of optical fibers form a non-planar surface.

25. A display, comprising:

a light device, comprising;

an array of LED dies to generate optical radiation;

an array of optical concentrators, wherein each optical concentrator receives illumination from a corresponding one of the array of LED dies; and

a plurality of optical fibers, wherein each of the plurality of optical fibers includes an input end and an output end, wherein each input end receives concentrated illumination from a corresponding optical concentrator;

a controller in electrical communication with the light device, wherein the controller is operable to selectively activate one or more LED dies of the array of LED dies; and

a spatial light modulator in optical communication with the light device, wherein the spatial light modulator comprises a plurality of controllable elements operable to modulate light from the light device.

26. The display of claim 25, wherein the controller provides a regulated drive current and voltage to a plurality of channels of LED dies of the array of LED dies.

27. The display of claim 26, wherein a first channel of LED dies comprises red emitting LED dies, wherein a second channel of LED dies comprises blue emitting LED dies, and wherein a third channel of LED dies comprises green emitting LED dies.

28. The display of claim 26, wherein the controller selectively activates a first LED die channel in response to a remote signal.

29. The display of claim 26, wherein the controller sends an increased drive current to a first LED die channel to compensate for a reduced emission output from a second LED die channel.

30. The display of claim 25, wherein the output ends of the array of optical fibers form a non-planar surface.

31. A method for displaying an image having a dynamic range, the method comprising:

providing a light device, comprising;

an array of solid state radiation sources to generate radiation, wherein each solid state radiation source comprises a controllable radiation output;

an array of optical concentrators, wherein each optical concentrator receives radiation from a corresponding one of the array of solid state radiation sources; and

a plurality of optical fibers, wherein each of the plurality of optical fibers includes an input end and an output end, wherein each input end receives concentrated radiation from a corresponding concentrator;

controlling the array of solid state radiation sources to have outputs determined by a first set of image data;

illuminating a face of a spatial light modulator with light from the array of solid state radiation sources, wherein the spatial light modulator comprises an array of controllable elements; and

controlling the transmissivity of the array of controllable elements of the spatial light modulator with a second set of image data.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the second set of image data is higher in resolution than the first set of image data.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting the controllable radiation output of each solid state radiation source of at least a portion of the array of solid state radiation sources;

comparing the detected controllable radiation output to a desired radiation output; and

adjusting the controllable radiation output to the desired radiation output.