Projector with spectral filter

• US 6,956,702 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2003
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Pate, Michael A
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung Xuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARTINEZ, JOSEPH P
• Application Number:
  US10/423,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20040212895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 359/618, 359629-630, 359/634, 359/891, 359/498, 359/587, 359/579, 359/589, 359/722, 359/724
• US Class Current: 359/634
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/289 Rugate filters
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/20 Lamp housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3114 by using a sequential colour filter producing one colour at a time
• 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 projector projects pixels to form an image in accordance with image data. The projector includes a modulator which modulates light from a light source and outputs projected pixels in a plurality of color spectral bands. The projector has a light source with a non-uniform spectral power distribution with spectral energy within each of the plurality of color spectral bands. A first notch filter removes spectral energy from a first spectral range within a first color spectral band to improve gamut.

Claims

1. A projector for projecting pixels to form an image onto an image surface in accordance with image data, comprising:

a light source for directing light along an optical path defined between the light source and the image surface;

a notch filter in the optical path of the light source wherein the notch filter is part of a reflector coating within the light source; and

a controller for modifying the spectral output of the projector in response to at least one of hardware data, content data or environmental data.

2. The projector of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory device with hardware data of the notch filter linked to the controller.

3. The projector of claim 2 wherein the memory device is attached to the notch filter thereby creating a smart filter.

4. A projector for projecting pixels to form an image onto an image surface in accordance with image data, comprising:

a light source for directing light along an optical path defined between the light source and the image surface;

a notch filter in the optical path of the light;

a controller for modifying the spectral output of the projector in response to at least one of hardware data, content data or environmental data; and

a projection lens that is interchangeable with the projector and wherein the notch filter is mounted on the lens.

5. The projector of claim 4, further comprising:

a memory device with hardware data of the notch filter linked to the controller wherein the memory device is mounted on the lens.

6. A projector for projecting pixels to form an image in accordance with image data, comprising:

a light source;

a notch filter in the optical path of the light source; and

a controller including a memory device with hardware data of the notch filter linked to the controller for modifying the spectral output of the projector in response to at least one of hardware data, content data or environmental wherein the memory device and notch filter are mounted to the light source and wherein the light source is interchangeable with the projector.

7. The projector of claim 6 wherein the light source includes a bulb reflector coating and the notch filter is part of the bulb reflector coating.

8. A projector for projecting pixels to form an image onto an image surface in accordance with image data, comprising:

a light source for directing light along an optical path defined between the light source and the image surface;

a notch filter in the optical path of the light;

a controller for modifying the spectral output of the projector in response to at least one of hardware data, content data or environmental data; and

a modulator and wherein the notch filter is located in the optical path inside the modulator unit.

9. A projector for projecting pixels to form an image onto an image surface in accordance with image data, comprising:

a light source for directing light along an optical path defined between the light source and the image surface;

a notch filter;

a controller for modifying the spectral output of the projector in response to at least one of hardware data, content data or environmental data; and

a modulator and wherein the notch filter is located in the optical path of light between the modulator and the image surface.

10. A projector for projecting pixels to form an image onto an image surface in accordance with image data, comprising:

a light source for directing light along an optical path defined between the light source and the image surface;

a notch filter in the optical path of the light;

a controller for modifying the spectral output of the projector in response to at least one of hardware data, content data or environmental data; and

a filter wheel having color segments and wherein the notch filter is located on the color segments of the filter wheel.

11. The projector of claim 10 wherein the notch filter is located on the back side of the color segments of the filter wheel.