Projection system with imaging light source module

• US 8,408,721 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2009
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Auerbach, Roy A., Willett, Stephen J., Magarill, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): PYO, KEVIN K
• Application Number:
  US13/057,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20110141442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 353/94, 353/98, 353/102, 353/122, 362/26, 362/27, 362/551, 362/554, 362/615, 362/616
• US Class Current: 353/94
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/14 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/147 Optical correction of image distortions, e.g. keystone
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2013 Plural light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3164 using multiple light sources

Abstract

An imaging light source module that includes a plurality of light guides, a plurality of light emitting sources, and an intermediate image surface is disclosed. Each of the plurality of light guides has an entrance face, an exit face, and at least one side wall, and all of the light guides are capable of delivering light along associated light distribution axes intersecting a common reference point. Each of the plurality of light emitting sources delivers light only to a single light guide of the plurality of light guides. The intermediate image surface comprises a plurality of pixels, where each pixel receives light from the exit face of a single associated light guide of the plurality of light guides.

Claims

1. A projection system, comprising:

an imaging light source module, comprising;

a plurality of light guides, each light guide having an entrance face, an exit face, and at least one side wall; and

a plurality of light emitting sources, each light emitting source delivering light only to a single light guide of the plurality of light guides; and

a projection lens configured to receive light from the plurality of light guides and deliver the light to form a projected image, the projection lens having an optical axis and an entrance pupil, the entrance pupil having a center;

wherein each light guide is disposed to receive light from at least one light emitting source and deliver light though a single associated pixel of a plurality of pixels of an intermediate image surface, to the entrance pupil of the projection lens, and

further wherein at least two of the plurality of light guides deliver light along different associated light distribution axes.

2. The projection system of claim 1, further wherein the different associated light distribution axes are configured to deliver light toward the center of the entrance pupil of the projection lens.

3. The projection system of claim 1, further wherein every light guide delivers light along a different associated light distribution axis.

4. The projection system of claim 1, further wherein at least one light guide has an internal light distribution axis not parallel to the optical axis of the projection lens.

5. The projection system of claim 1, further wherein all of the exit faces of the plurality of light guides are coplanar and normal to the optical axis of the projection lens.

6. The projection system of claim 1, further wherein at least two of the exit faces of the plurality of light guides are not coplanar.

7. The projection system of claim 1, further wherein at least one of the exit faces of the plurality of light guides is not normal to the optical axis of the projection lens.

8. The projection system of claim 1, further wherein at least two of the plurality of light guides deliver light with different far field distributions.

9. The projection system of claim 1, further wherein at least one side wall of at least one light guide has a reflective coating.

10. The projection system of claim 9, wherein the at least one light guide is hollow.

11. The projection system of claim 1, further wherein every side wall of every light guide is substantially planar.

12. The projection system of claim 1, further wherein at least one side wall of at least one light guide is non-planar.

13. The projection system of claim 1, further wherein the projection lens is non-telecentric.

14. The projection system of claim 1, further wherein the projected image is real.

15. The projection system of claim 1, further wherein the projected image is virtual.

16. The projection system of claim 1, further wherein the plurality of pixels of the intermediate image surface are arranged in a non-Cartesian array.

17. The projection system of claim 16, further wherein the non-Cartesian array is arranged to compensate for distortions in the projection system.

18. The projection system of claim 17, further wherein the projected image comprises a plurality of pixels that appear in a regular Cartesian array as viewed from an observer'"'"'s perspective.

19. The projection system of claim 1, further wherein the plurality of pixels of the intermediate image surface correspond one-to-one with a plurality of pixels of the projected image.

20. The projection system of claim 1, further wherein each of a majority of light guides provides light that is substantially uniform in luminance and color over its exit face.

21. The projection system of claim 20, further comprising an imager comprising a plurality of pixels greater in quantity than the plurality of pixels of the intermediate image surface, the imager being capable of receiving light from the imaging light source module and imposing a higher resolution image on the light.

22. The projection system of claim 1, wherein the entrance and exit face of at least one light guide are non-parallel planar surfaces.

23. An imaging light source module, comprising:

a plurality of light guides, each light guide having an entrance face, an exit face, and at least one side wall, all of the light guides being capable of delivering light along associated light distribution axes intersecting a common reference point; and

a plurality of light emitting sources, each light emitting source delivering light only to a single light guide of the plurality of light guides;

wherein each light guide is disposed to receive light from at least one light emitting source and deliver light through a single associated pixel of a plurality of pixels of an intermediate image surface.

24. An imaging light source module, comprising:

a plurality of light guides, each light guide having an entrance face, an exit face, and at least one side wall, all of the light guides being capable of delivering light along associated light distribution axes intersecting a common reference point;

a plurality of light emitting sources, each light emitting source delivering light only to a single light guide of the plurality of light guides; and

an intermediate image surface comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel receiving light from the exit face of a single associated light guide of the plurality of light guides.