U.S. patent application number 10/170327 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-24 for high efficiency electromagnetic beam projector, and systems and methods for implementation thereof.
Invention is credited to Sedlmayr, Steven R..
Application Number | 20020154404 10/170327 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27114149 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020154404 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sedlmayr, Steven R. |
October 24, 2002 |
High efficiency electromagnetic beam projector, and systems and
methods for implementation thereof
Abstract
This invention relates to electromagnetic wave beam paths,
formation of the beam, illumination of programmable electromagnetic
wave field vector orientation rotating devices ("PEMFVORD) with an
electromagnetic beam, and the technique of projection of the
modulated beam. This invention also relates to a unique light path
and method of forming the light into a rectangular beam to be used
for optical projection systems and, more particularly, in a color
and/or black and white liquid crystal device (LCD) projectors that
produce high resolution, high brightness and/or three-dimensional
images. This invention further relates to a device capable of
receiving and displaying two-dimensional and three dimensional
images.
Inventors: |
Sedlmayr, Steven R.;
(Paradise Valley, AR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Roxana H. Yang, Esq.
P.O. Box 3986
Los Altos
CA
94024
US
|
Family ID: |
27114149 |
Appl. No.: |
10/170327 |
Filed: |
June 13, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10170327 |
Jun 13, 2002 |
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09821937 |
Mar 30, 2001 |
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09821937 |
Mar 30, 2001 |
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09502889 |
Feb 11, 2000 |
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6243198 |
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09502889 |
Feb 11, 2000 |
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09309394 |
May 10, 1999 |
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6034818 |
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09309394 |
May 10, 1999 |
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08743390 |
Nov 4, 1996 |
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5903388 |
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08743390 |
Nov 4, 1996 |
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08344899 |
Nov 25, 1994 |
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08344899 |
Nov 25, 1994 |
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07898952 |
Jun 11, 1992 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
359/485.02 ;
348/E13.014; 348/E13.037; 348/E13.038; 348/E13.04; 348/E13.044;
348/E13.058; 348/E5.141; 348/E9.027; 349/5; 349/9; 353/20; 353/31;
359/485.07; 359/487.04; 359/487.05; 359/489.07; 359/489.11;
359/491.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/7441 20130101;
G03B 33/06 20130101; H04N 9/3105 20130101; H04N 13/239 20180501;
G02B 26/02 20130101; G02B 27/283 20130101; H04N 13/334 20180501;
G02B 27/1046 20130101; G02B 27/1053 20130101; H04N 13/361 20180501;
G02B 27/142 20130101; G03B 35/26 20130101; H04N 9/3167 20130101;
H04N 13/337 20180501; G02B 27/145 20130101; G02B 27/1073 20130101;
G02B 27/149 20130101; G02B 27/143 20130101; H04N 9/3152 20130101;
H04N 13/363 20180501; H04N 9/317 20130101; H04N 13/341 20180501;
G02B 27/144 20130101; G02B 27/1006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
359/487 ;
359/494; 359/502; 349/5; 349/9; 353/20; 353/31 |
International
Class: |
G02F 001/1335; G03B
021/14; G03B 021/00; G02B 005/30; G02B 027/28 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for modulating the intensity of an input beam of
electromagnetic energy in response to a modulation signal having a
first intensity component, a second intensity component, and a
third intensity component wherein the input beam includes a
plurality of wavelength elements and wherein the wavelength
elements each include an unspecified E vector polarization, the
system comprising: a. a beam splitter oriented to separate the
input beam into first and second beam segments as a function of E
vector polarization and not as a function of wavelength where the
first beam segment includes a first substantially fixed E vector
polarization and the second beam segment includes a second
substantially fixed E vector polarization; b. a beam segment
polarizer oriented to rotate the E vector of the second beam
segment to substantially align the E vector of the second beam
segment to parallel the E vector of the first beam segment; c. a
beam recombiner oriented to recombine the first and second beam
segments into a substantially collimated, uniformly polarized beam
having a substantially fixed E vector polarization; d. a plurality
of filters oriented to separate the uniformly polarized beam into a
first wavelength beam element, a second wavelength beam element,
and a third wavelength beam element as a function of wavelength; e.
a first variable polarizer oriented to rotate the E vector
polarization of the first wavelength beam element on a pixel by
pixel basis as a function of the location of each discrete pixel
element within the beam area and as a function of the first
intensity component of the modulation signal to produce a first
pixel rotated beam where each discrete pixel element includes an
independently controlled, variable angle E vector polarization
defined by the first intensity component of the modulation signal;
f. a second variable polarizer oriented to rotate the E vector
polarization of the second wavelength beam element on a pixel by
pixel basis as a function of the location of each discrete pixel
element within the beam area and as a function of the second
intensity component of the modulation signal to produce a second
pixel rotated beam where each discrete pixel element includes an
independently controlled, variable angle E vector polarization
defined by the second intensity component of the modulation signal;
g. a third variable polarizer oriented to rotate the E vector
polarization of the third wavelength beam element on a pixel by
pixel basis as a function of the location of each discrete pixel
element within the beam area and as a function of the third
intensity component of the modulation signal to produce a third
pixel rotated beam where each discrete pixel element includes an
independently controlled, variable angle E vector polarization
defined by the third intensity component of the modulation signal;
h. a first beam resolver oriented to resolve the first pixel
rotated beam into a collimated first resolved beam, the first
resolved beam having a substantially fixed first E vector
polarization with discrete pixel elements independently varying in
intensity as a function of the first intensity component of the
modulation signal; i. a second beam resolver oriented to resolve
the second pixel rotated beam into a collimated second resolved
beam, the second resolved beam having a substantially fixed second
E vector polarization with discrete pixel elements independently
varying in intensity as a function of the second intensity
component of the modulation signal; j. a third beam resolver
oriented to resolve the third pixel rotated beam into a collimated
third resolved beam, the third resolved beam having a substantially
fixed third E vector polarization with discrete pixel elements
independently varying in intensity as a function of the third
intensity component of the modulation signal; and k. a beam
combiner oriented to combine the first, second, and third resolved
beams into a composite beam.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said beam splitter of said (a)
includes at least one polarizer for separating said input beam into
said first and second beam segments.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said beam segment polarizer in
(b) includes at least one half wave polarization plate.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein said beam recombiner in (c)
includes at least one mirror for recombining said first and second
beam segments.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein: (1) said first substantially
fixed E vector polarization of said first beam segment in said (a)
is an s-type polarization; and (2) said second substantially fixed
E vector polarization of said second beam segment in said (a) is a
p-type polarization.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein said beam segment polarizer in
(b) is oriented to rotate the E vector of said second beam segment
from said p-type polarization to said s-type polarization.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein: (1) said first substantially
fixed E vector polarization of said first beam segment in said (a)
is an p-type polarization; and (2) said second substantially fixed
E vector polarization of said second beam segment in said (a) is a
s-type polarization.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein said beam segment polarizer in
(b) is oriented to rotate the E vector of said second beam segment
from said s-type polarization to said p-type polarization.
9. A method for modulating the intensity of an input beam of
electromagnetic energy in response to a modulation signal having a
first intensity component, a second intensity component, and a
third intensity component wherein the input beam includes a
plurality of wavelength elements and wherein the wavelength
elements each include an unspecified E vector polarization, the
method comprising: a. separating the input beam into first and
second beam segments as a function of E vector polarization and not
as a function of wavelength where the first beam segment includes a
first substantially fixed E vector polarization and the second beam
segment includes a second substantially fixed E vector
polarization; b. rotating the E vector of the second beam segment
to substantially align the E vector of the second beam segment to
parallel the E vector of the first beam segment; c. recombining the
first and second beam segments into a substantially collimated,
uniformly polarized beam having a substantially fixed E vector
polarization; d. separating the uniformly polarized beam into a
first wavelength beam element, a second wavelength beam element,
and a third wavelength beam element as a function of wavelength; e.
rotating the E vector polarization of the first wavelength beam
element on a pixel by pixel basis as a function of the location of
each discrete pixel element within the beam area and as a function
of the first intensity component of the modulation signal to
produce a first pixel rotated beam where each discrete pixel
element includes an independently controlled, variable angle E
vector polarization defined by the first intensity component of the
modulation signal; f. rotating the E vector polarization of the
second wavelength beam element on a pixel by pixel basis as a
function of the location of each discrete pixel element within the
beam area and as a function of the second intensity component of
the modulation signal to produce a second pixel rotated beam where
each discrete pixel element includes an independently controlled,
variable angle E vector polarization defined by the second
intensity component of the modulation signal; g. rotating the E
vector polarization of the third wavelength beam element on a pixel
by pixel basis as a function of the location of each discrete pixel
element within the beam area and as a function of the third
intensity component of the modulation signal to produce a third
pixel rotated beam where each discrete pixel element includes an
independently controlled, variable angle E vector polarization
defined by the third intensity component of the modulation signal;
h. resolving the first pixel rotated beam into a collimated first
resolved beam, the first resolved beam having a substantially fixed
first E vector polarization with discrete pixel elements
independently varying in intensity as a function of the first
intensity component of the modulation signal; i. resolving the
second pixel rotated beam into a collimated second resolved beam,
the second resolved beam having a substantially fixed second E
vector polarization with discrete pixel elements independently
varying in intensity as a function of the second intensity
component of the modulation signal; j. resolving the third pixel
rotated beam into a collimated third resolved beam, the third
resolved beam having a substantially fixed third E vector
polarization with discrete pixel elements independently varying in
intensity as a function of the third intensity component of the
modulation signal; and k. combining the first, second, and third
resolved beams into a composite beam.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said separating of said (a)
includes separating said input beam into said first and second beam
segments via at least one polarizer.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein said rotating in said (b)
includes rotating the E vector of said second beam segment via at
least one half wave polarization plate.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein said recombining of said (c)
includes reflecting said first beam segment via at least one
mirror.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein: (1) said first substantially
fixed E vector polarization of said first beam segment in said (a)
is an s-type polarization; and (2) said second substantially fixed
E vector polarization of said second beam segment in said (a) is a
p-type polarization.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein said rotating in said (b)
includes rotating the E vector of said second Beam segment from
said p-type polarization to said s-type polarization.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein: (1) said first substantially
fixed E vector polarization of said first beam segment in said (a)
is an p-type polarization; and (2) said second substantially fixed
E vector polarization of said second beam segment in said (a) is a
s-type polarization.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein said rotating in said (b)
includes rotating the E vector of said second beam segment from
said s-type polarization to said p-type polarization.
17. A system for modulating the intensity of an input beam of
electromagnetic energy in response to a modulation signal having a
first intensity component, a second intensity component, and a
third intensity component wherein the input beam includes a
plurality of wavelength elements and wherein the wavelength
elements each include an unspecified E vector polarization, the
system comprising: a. a beam splitting apparatus for separating the
input beam into first and second beam segments as a function of E
vector polarization and not as a function of wavelength where the
first beam segment includes a first substantially fixed E vector
polarization and the second beam segment includes a second
substantially fixed E vector polarization; b. a beam segment
polarizing apparatus for rotating the E vector of the second beam
segment to substantially align the E vector of the second beam
segment to parallel the E vector of the first beam segment; c. a
beam recombining apparatus for recombining the first and second
beam segments into a substantially collimated, uniformly polarized
beam having a substantially fixed E vector polarization; d. a
plurality of filter apparatuses for separating the uniformly
polarized beam into a first wavelength beam element, a second
wavelength beam element, and a third wavelength beam element as a
function of wavelength; e. a first variable polarizing apparatus
for rotating the E vector polarization of the first wavelength beam
element on a pixel by pixel basis as a function of the location of
each discrete pixel element within the beam area and as a function
of the first intensity component of the modulation signal to
produce a first pixel rotated beam where each discrete pixel
element includes an independently controlled, variable angle E
vector polarization defined by the first intensity component of the
modulation signal; f. a second variable polarizing apparatus for
rotating the E vector polarization of the second wavelength beam
element on a pixel by pixel basis as a function of the location of
each discrete pixel element within the beam area and as a function
of the second intensity component of the modulation signal to
produce a second pixel rotated beam where each discrete pixel
element includes an independently controlled, variable angle E
vector polarization defined by the second intensity component of
the modulation signal; g. a third variable polarizing apparatus for
rotating the E vector polarization of the third wavelength beam
element on a pixel by pixel basis as a function of the location of
each discrete pixel element within the beam area and as a function
of the third intensity component of the modulation signal to
produce a third pixel rotated beam where each discrete pixel
element includes an independently controlled, variable angle E
vector polarization defined by the third intensity component of the
modulation signal; h. a first beam resolving apparatus for
resolving the first pixel rotated beam into a collimated first
resolved beam, the first resolved beam having a substantially fixed
first E vector polarization with discrete pixel elements
independently varying in intensity as a function of the first
intensity component of the modulation signal; i. a second beam
resolving apparatus for resolving the second pixel rotated beam
into a collimated second resolved beam, the second resolved beam
having a substantially fixed second E vector polarization with
discrete pixel elements independently varying in intensity as a
function of the second intensity component of the modulation
signal; j. a third beam resolving apparatus for resolving the third
pixel rotated beam into a collimated third resolved beam, the third
resolved beam having a substantially fixed third E vector
polarization with discrete pixel elements independently varying in
intensity as a function of the third intensity component of the
modulation signal; and k. a beam combining apparatus for combining
the first, second, and third resolved beams into a composite
beam.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein said beam splitting apparatus
of said (a) includes at least one polarizing means for separating
said input beam into said first and second beam segments.
19. The system of claim 17, wherein said beam segment polarizing
apparatus in (b) includes at least one half wave polarization plate
for rotating the E vector of said second beam segment.
20. The system of claim 17, wherein said beam recombining apparatus
of said (c) includes at least one said mirror means for reflecting
said first beam segment.
21. The system of claim 17, wherein: (1) said first substantially
fixed E vector polarization of said first beam segment in said (a)
is an s-type polarization; and (2) said second substantially fixed
E vector polarization of said second beam segment in said (a) is a
p-type polarization.
22. The system of claim 21, wherein said beam segment polarizing
apparatus in (b) is oriented to rotate the E vector of said second
beam segment from said p-type polarization to said s-type
polarization.
23. The system of claim 17, wherein: (1) said first substantially
fixed E vector polarization of said first beam segment in said (a)
is an p-type polarization; and (2) said second substantially fixed
E vector polarization of said second beam segment in said (a) is a
s-type polarization.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein said beam segment polarizing
apparatus in (b) is oriented to rotate the E vector of said second
beam segment from said s-type polarization to said p-type
polarization.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a divisional application of U.S. application
09/821,937 filed Mar. 30, 2001, which is a continuation of
application 09/502,889 filed Feb. 11, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No.
6,243,198, which is a continuation of application 09/309,394 filed
May 10, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,034,818, which is a continuation
of application 08/743,390 filed Nov. 4, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No.
5,903,388, which is a continuation of application 08/344,899, filed
Nov. 25, 1994, now abandoned, which is a continuation of
07/898,952, filed Jun. 11, 1992, now abandoned. These prior related
applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a method and system for producing
(i) a modulated beam of electromagnetic energy, (ii) a modulated
beam of light or ultraviolet light, (iii) a visual image for
display, (iv) one or more collinear beams of electromagnetic
energy, (v) one or more collinear beams of ultraviolet light, (vi)
a modulated beam of visible light in which the brightness of the
image increases as the distance from the projector lens to the
screen increases up to a distance of approximately 10 feet, (vii) a
modulated beam of light for projection of video images, (viii) a
collinear beam of electromagnetic energy having two constituent
parts, (ix) a collinear beam of light (or ultraviolet light) having
two constituent parts, (x) one or more collinear beams of
electromagnetic energy, (xi) one or more collinear beams of light
or ultraviolet light, (xii) a substantially collimated beam of
electromagnetic energy having substantially the same selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic
wave field vectors and a substantially uniform flux intensity
substantially across the beam of electromagnetic energy for use in
the above method and systems, (xiii) a substantially collimated
beam of light (or ultraviolet light) having substantially the same
selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of
electric field vectors and a substantially uniform flux intensity
substantially across the beam of light for use in the above method
and systems, and (xiv) displaying an image in either two dimensions
(2D) or three dimensions OD). This invention also relates to
projection type color display devices and projection
apparatuses.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A disturbance (change in position or state of individual
particles) in the fabric of space-time causes a sphere of
influence. Stated in a simplistic manner, the action of one
particle influences the actions of the others near it. This sphere
of influence is referred to as a "field", and this field is
designated as either electric or magnetic (after the way it
influences other particles). The direction of travel of the
particle is called the direction of propagation. The propagation of
the particle, the sphere of influence, and the way it influences
other particles is called an electromagnetic wave, and is shown in
FIG. 1.
[0004] As shown in FIG. 1, the electric and magnetic fields are
orthogonal (at right angles) to each other and the direction of
propagation. These fields can be mathematically expressed as a
vector quantity (indicating the direction of influence along with
strength, i.e., magnitude, of influence) at a specific point or in
a given region in space. Thus, FIG. 1A is the electromagnetic wave
in FIG. 1, but with the view of looking down the axis of
propagation, that is, down the x axis of FIG. 1. FIG. 1A shows some
possible various electric field vectors that could exist, although
it should be understood that any and all possible vectors can exist
around the circle, each having different magnitudes.
[0005] Vectors can be resolved into constituent components along
two axes. This is done for convenience sake and for generating a
frame of reference that we, as humans, can understand. By referring
to FIG. IB, it is shown that the electric field vector E, can be
resolved into two constituent components, E(y) and E(x). These
quantities, then, describe the orientation and the magnitude of the
electric field vector along two axes, the x and y, although other
axes or systems could be chosen. The same applies to magnetic
fields, except that the X and Z axes would be involved
[0006] The way the electric and magnetic fields vary with time in
intensity and direction of propagation have been determined by
several notable mathematicians and physicists, culminating in a
group of basic equations by James Maxwell. These equations, simply
applied, state that a field vector can be of one of several
different states, that is: 1) the field vector varies randomly over
a period of time, or 2) the field vector can change directions in a
circular manner, or 3) the field vector can change directions in a
elliptical manner, or 4) the field vector can remain constant in
magnitude and direction, hence, the field vector lies in one plane,
and is referred to as planar.
[0007] This orientation of a field vector and the way it changes
with time is called the state of polarization.
[0008] Electromagnetic waves can be resolved into separate
electromagnetic waves with predetermined orientations of a field
vector. The electromagnetic waves with a predetermined orientation
of a field vector can then be directed through materials, such as a
liquid crystal device, that is capable of changing (or altering)
their orientation of the field vector upon application of an
outside stimulus, as is demonstrated in FIG. 7. These devices are
noted as programmable electromagnetic wave field orientation
rotating devices (PEMFVORD).
[0009] An electromagnetic wave can be characterized by its
frequency or wavelength. The electromagnetic spectrum (range)
extends from zero, the short wavelength limit, to infinity, the
long wavelength limit. Different wavelength areas have been given
names over the years, such as cosmic rays, alpha rays, beta rays,
gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared,
microwaves, TV and FM radio, short wave, AM, maritime
communications, etc. All of these are just short hand expressions
of stating a certain range of frequencies for electromagnetic
waves.
[0010] Different areas of the spectrum interact with
electromagnetic influences upon them in various proportions, with
the low end being more influenced by magnetic fields, and the high
end being influenced by electric fields. Thus to contain a nuclear
reaction, a magnetic field is used, while controlling light an
electric field is used.
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic cross section of an LCD cell.
The LCD cell 100 includes a liquid crystal material 101 that is
contained between two transparent plates 103, 104. Spacers 105, 106
are used to separate the transparent plates 103, 104. Sealing
elements 107, 108 seal the liquid crystal material 101 between the
transparent plates 103, 104. Conductive coatings 109, 110 on the
transparent plates 103, 104 conduct the appropriate electrical
signals to the liquid crystal material 101.
[0012] A type of liquid crystal material 101 used in most LCD cells
for optical display systems is referred to as "twisted nematic." In
general, with a twisted nematic LCD cell, the molecules of an LCD
cell are rotated in the absence of a field through a 900 angle
between the upper 103 and lower 104 transparent plates. When a
field is applied, the molecules are untwisted and line up in the
direction of the applied field. The change in alignment of the
molecules causes a change in the birefringence of the cell. In the
homogeneous ordering, the birefringence of the cell changes from
large to small whereas the opposite occurs in the homeotropic case.
The change in birefringence causes a change in the orientation of
the electric field vector for the light being passing through the
LCD. The amount of the rotation in the molecules for an individual
LCD cell 100 will determine how much change in polarization
(orientation of the electric field vector) of the light occurs for
that pixel. The light beam is then passed through another component
of the system (i.e., polarizer analyzer) and is resolved into
different beams of light by the orientation of their electric field
vectors, with the light that has a selected predetermined component
of the electric field vector passing through to finally strike the
screen used for the display.
[0013] A twisted nematic LCD cell requires the light incident at
the LCD cell 100 to be polarized. The polarized light for a typical
projector is generally derived from a randomly polarized light
source that is collimated and then filtered by a plastic polarizer
to provide a linear polarized beam. Linear polarized beams are
conventionally referred to as being S-polarized and P-polarized
with the P-polarized beam defined as polarized in a direction
parallel to the plane of incidence and the S-polarized beam defined
as polarized perpendicular to the plane of incidence.
[0014] The development of PEMFVORD technology has resulted in the
development of LCD projectors which utilize one or more LCDs to
alter the orientation of the electric field vector (see FIG. 7) of
the light being projected. The birefringence of the individual LCD
pixels are selectively altered by suitable apparatus such as
cathode ray tubes, lasers, or electronic circuit means. A typical
liquid crystal light valve (LCLV) projector includes a source lamp
which is used to generate a light beam that is directed through a
polarizer. This polarized light is directed through the LCDS to
change the polarization according to the image to be displayed. The
light, after exiting the LCD, passes through a plastic polarizer
analyzer which stops and absorbs the unwanted portion of light. The
formed image is then enlarged with a projection lens system for
forming an enlarged picture on a display screen.
[0015] Color LCLV projectors typically include color separating
apparatus such as a prism, beam splitters or dichroic mirrors to
separate collimated white light beams from the light source into
three primary color beams (i.e., red, green and blue beams) . The
red, green and blue beams are then individually modulated by LCDs
and combined by separate optical apparatus such as combining
prisms, mirrors or lenses.
[0016] In general, the quality and brightness of the projected
image in any LCLV projector is a function of the brightness of the
source for illuminating the LCDs and the polarizing means.
Polarizing optics must be utilized to filter/separate the white
light into light with a single orientation of the electric field
vector. The white light emitted from the source is thus only
partially utilized (i.e., one direction of polarization) in most
LCLV projection systems. This requires oversized light sources to
achieve a desired brightness at the viewing screen.
[0017] Typically, with a twisted nematic transmissive type LCD cell
surrounded by plastic polarizers, only forty percent or less of the
output of the light source is utilized. Practically, only a maximum
transmission of SOW for randomly polarized light passed through
could ever be achieved because of the construction and principles
involved in plastic polarizers, allowing for 100% efficiency for
the device for all wavelengths. Thus, it is impossible to obtain a
full brightness projector. Moreover, the unused polarized component
of the light source is absorbed by the plastic polarizers and
generates wasted energy in the form of heat and transfers this heat
to other components (i.e., LCDs, electronics, etc.) and hence is
detrimental to the system (especially the plastic polarizers, LCDs,
electronics, etc.). This heat must be either shielded and/or
dissipated from the components of the system, or else, the light
source must be reduced in light output so that the amount of light
being absorbed is below the threshold of permanent damage to the
components, including the plastic polarizers. Currently, this
threshold for fabricated plastic polarizers is between the range of
5-10 watts of light per square inch (0.78-1.55 watts per square
centimeter), depending upon the wavelength of the illuminating
light. A method for improving the damage threshold is included in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,234 to Amano, et al., although this patent does
not discuss the particulars of what the damage threshold is.
[0018] Prior art systems have required relatively complicated
optical systems including the use of polarizing prisms and
prepolarizing prisms to ensure a unitary or single polarization at
the LCD and to provide a suitable resolution and contrast of the
projected image. with prior art color LCLV projectors, complicated
optic components and arrangements are required to combine the
separated color bands at a suitable resolution and contrast.
[0019] Representative prior art LCLV projectors are disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,058 to Goldenberg, et al., U.S. Pat. No.
5,048,949 to Sato, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,702 to Aruga, et
al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,154 to, Miyatake, et al., U.S. Pat. No.
4,936,658 to Tanaka, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,656 to Yamashita,
et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,758 to Miyatake, et al., U.S. Pat. No.
4,911,547 to Ledebuhr, U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,601 to Yajima, et al.,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,061 to Aruga, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,390
to McKechnie, U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,142 to Tanaka, et al., U.S. Pat.
No. 4,850,685 to
[0020] Kamakura, U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,374 to Ledebuhr, U.S. Pat. No.
4,836,649 to Ledebuhr, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,311 to Ledebuhr,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,146 to Ledebuhr, U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,098 to
Ogawa, U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,259 to Ledebuhr, U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,396
to Hyatt, U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,526 to Ledebuhr, U.S. Pat. No.
4,687,301 to Ledebuhr, U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,286 to Koda, et al.,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,966 to Phillips, et al., U.S. Pat. No.
4,544,237 to Gagnon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,172 to Gagnon, U.S. Pat.
No. 4,464,019 to Gagnon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,018 to Gagnon, U.S.
Pat. No. 4,461,542 to Gagnon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,028 to Gagnon,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,456 to Hong, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,322 to
Jacobson, et al.,U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,324, to Marie, U.S. Pat. No.
4,943,155 to Cross, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,657 to Tejima, et al.,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,123 to Takafuji, U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,336 to
Morton, U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,064 to Umeda, U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,750
to Morishita, U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,210 to Shimazaki, U.S. Pat. No.
4,770,525 to Umeda, et aL, U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,684 to Gagnon, U.S.
Pat. No. 4,699,498 to Naemura, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,693,557 to
Fergason, U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,634 to Kizaki, et al., U.S. Pat. No.
4,613,207 to Fergason, U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,889 to Buzak, U.S. Pat.
No. 4,295,159 to Carollo, et al. Prior art illumination systems for
overcoming problems with the brightness of LCD display illumination
systems have not been completely successful.
[0021] An example of an illumination system that attempts to
utilize the full output of a light source for increasing the
brightness of an LCD display is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,028,121 to Baur, et al., In the Baur system, the randomly
polarized light source is resolved into two separate polarized
beams, with one of the polarized beams passed to a dichroic color
splitter that then directs the segregated color beams to a set of
reflecting LCDs, while the other beam of different polarization is
sent to a different set of LCDs through a different dichroic
splitter. After having each respective portion of the beams'
electric field vector altered, the beam is then reflected back
through the dichroic mirrors into the polarizing beam
splitter/combiner. The picture to be represented is sent to the
projection lens, while the rejected beam is sent back into the
light source. This causes the light source to heat and have a
shortened life span. Furthermore, each sequential field to be
projected has a different brightness level illuminating each pixel,
depending upon the amount of light that is rejected back into the
light source.
[0022] For example, if a light source has an average output of 1000
lumens and the sequential field to be projected has an average
brightness level of 30% then 700 lumens would be reflected back
into the light source, making the light emitted from the source to
be an effective 1700 lumens. In the next sequential field, if the
average brightness level is 50% then 500 lumens would be reflected
back into the light source, making the light emitted from the
source to be an effective 1500 lumens. This can be alleviated by
computing the average brightness level to be projected, and then
modulating the brightness level of the light source when the field
is changed for projection so that the illumination of a pixel is at
a constant brightness. This system can further be modified by (or
be a stand alone system) that would monitor the light output of the
light source and change the driving circuitry of the light source
to maintain a constant brightness level. This can be monitored by a
light transducer that monitors the light from a beam splitter, or
Alternately, can be mounted directly on a LCD panel outside of the
picture forming active area. However, the addition of any of the
above circuitry further complicates the projector and makes the
light source an active part of the system, increasing the cost and
complexity of the projector.
[0023] Another example of an illumination system that attempts to
utilize the full output of a light source for increasing the
brightness of an LCD display is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,913,529 to Goldenberg, et al. In the Goldenberg system, a beam of
light, from a light source, is split into two orthogonal linear
polarized beams. One of the beams is then passed through a device
that rotates one of the beams to change its direction of
polarization so that there are two beams of the same polarization.
The beams of the same polarization are then directed through
different faces of a prism, combined by the prism and focused on
the LCD devices.
[0024] A problem with such a system is that the beams are not
collinear. The beams illuminate the polarizer at different angles,
causing an area of usable light, and another area of unusable
light. The result is that all of the light available is not used.
Another obstacle is that it is difficult to align the combined
beams with the use of a prism. Yet another complication is that the
prism tends to separate the light into separate colors. This
detracts from the clarity,-brightness and limits the resolution of
the projected image. still another complication is that the
performance of polarizers vary with the angle of light illuminating
them, causing different polarizations and different color
gradations to occur in the beam.
[0025] Other systems, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,824,214 to Ledebuhr, U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,322 to Jacobson, et al.,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,649 to Ledebuhr, et al., and U.S. Pat. No.
3,512,868 to Gorklewiez, et al. also disclose optical layouts for
achieving a high brightness in display systems that utilize LCD
devices. In general, these systems are relatively complicated and
contain numerous components that are large, expensive, and
difficult to adjust.
[0026] Representative prior art flat fluorescent light sources are
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,888 to Anandan, et al.,. and U.S.
Pat. No. 4,920,298 to Hinotani, et al.
[0027] Representative prior art light integrators for light sources
are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,583 to Kudo, et al., U.S. Pat.
No. 4,787,013 to Sugino, et al.,. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,750 to
Matsumoto, et al.
[0028] Various prior art techniques and apparatus have been
heretofore proposed to present 3-D or stereographic images on a
viewing screen, such as on a polarization conserving motion picture
screen. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,718 to Jachimowicz, et al., U.S.
Pat. No. 4,963,959 to Drewio, U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,422 to Ohtomo, et
al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,959,641 to Bess, et al., U.S. Pat. No.
4,957,351 to Shioji, U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,890 to Park, U.S. Pat. No.
4,945,408 to Medina, U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,658 to Tanaka, et al.,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,755 to Dahl, U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,336 to Morton,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,860 to Noble, U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,307 to
Kalmanash, U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,750 to Morishita, U.S. Pat. No.
4,870,486 to Nakagawa, U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,764 to Sutter, U.S. Pat.
No. 4,851,901 to Iwasaki, U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,473 to Keyes, et al.,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,024 to McLaurin, et al., U.S. Pat. No.
4,799,763 to Davis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,943 to Nakagawa, U.S. Pat.
No. 4,736,246 to Nishikawa, U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,425 to Pund, U.S.
Pat. No. 4,641,178 to Street, U.S. Pat. No. 4,541,007 to Nagata,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,226 to Lipton, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,950
to Brown, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,920 to Collendar, U.S. Pat.
No. 4,295,153 to Gibson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,549 to Bautzc, U.S.
Pat. No. 3,697,675 to Beard, et al., In general, these techniques
and apparatus involve the display of polarized or color sequential
two-dimensional images which contain corresponding right eye and
left eye perspective views of three-dimensional objects. These
separate images can also be displayed simultaneously in different
polarizations or colors. Suitable eyewear, such as glasses having
different polarizing or color separating coatings, permit the
separate images to be seen by one or the other eye. This type of
system is relatively expensive and complicated requiring two
separate projectors and is adapted mainly for stereoscopic movies
for theaters. U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,890 to Park discloses a
representative projector employing the technique of alternating
polarization.
[0029] Another technique involves a timed sequence in which images
corresponding to right-eye and left-eye perspectives are presented
in timed sequence with the use of electronic light valves. U.S.
Pat. No. 4,970,486 to Nakagawa, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,307
to Kalmanash disclose representative prior art stereographic
display systems of this type.
[0030] While previous time sequential light valve systems are
adaptable to display arrangements for a television set, because of
problems associated with color, resolution and contrast of the
projected image, they have not received widespread commercial
acceptance. Moreover, the systems proposed to date have also been
relatively expensive and complicated.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0031] One object of this invention is to provide a method and
system for producing a modulated beam of electromagnetic energy
comprising: producing an initial beam of electromagnetic energy
having a predetermined range of wavelengths and having a
substantially uniform flux intensity substantially across the
initial beam of electromagnetic energy; separating the initial beam
of electromagnetic energy into two or more separate beams of
electromagnetic energy, each of the separate beams of
electromagnetic energy having a selected predetermined orientation
of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors (or, in
the case of a beam of light, and a beam of ultraviolet light,
electric field vector); altering the selected predetermined
orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave
field vectors of a plurality of portions of each of the separate
beams of electromagnetic energy by passing the plurality of
portions of each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy
through a respective one of a plurality of altering means whereby
the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of
the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions
of each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy is altered
in response to a stimulus means by applying a signal means to the
stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the plurality of
portions of each of the substantially separate beams of
electromagnetic energy passes through the respective one of the
plurality of means for altering the selected predetermined
orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave
field vectors; combining the altered separate beams of
electromagnetic energy into a single collinear beam of
electromagnetic energy without substantially changing the altered
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of
each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy; and resolving
from the single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy a first
resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a
first selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of
electromagnetic wave field vectors and a second resolved beam of
electromagnetic energy having substantially a second selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic
wave field vectors, whereby the first and second selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors are different from one
another.
[0032] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid for modulating a beam of light and a beam of
ultraviolet light.
[0033] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid in which the step of producing a beam of
electromagnetic--energy includes producing a beam of
electromagnetic energy having a random orientation of
electromagnetic wave field vector (or, in the case of a beam of
light and a beam of ultraviolet light, electric field vector) and
the step of separating the beam of electromagnetic energy into two
or more separate electromagnetic energy beams includes separating
said beam into said separated beams whereby each of said separated
beams has the same orientation of electromagnetic wave field vector
(or, in the case of a beam of light or ultraviolet light, electric
field vector).
[0034] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid in which the step of producing a beam of
electromagnetic energy includes the step of producing a beam of
electromagnetic energy having the same orientation of
electromagnetic wave field vector (or, in the case of a beam of
light and a beam of ultraviolet light, electric field vector).
[0035] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid in which the step of producing a beam of
electromagnetic energy includes producing a collimated beam of
electromagnetic energy.
[0036] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid in which the step of producing a beam of
electromagnetic energy includes producing a rectangular beam of
electromagnetic energy.
[0037] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid including the step of passing one of said
segregated beams of electromagnetic energy to a projection
means.
[0038] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid including the step of adjusting the
electromagnetic energy beams of at least one of separated beams.
The step of adjusting the electromagnetic energy may be
accomplished by adjusting the wavelengths and/or intensity of at
least one of the separated beams-. Another object of this invention
is to provide a method and system as aforesaid in which the step of
separating a beam of electromagnetic energy includes separating the
beam of electromagnetic energy into two or more separate
electromagnetic energy beams, each separated beam having a
different electromagnetic energy spectrum.
[0039] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid in which the step for separating the initial
beam of electromagnetic energy into two or more separate beams of
electromagnetic energy further includes the step of separating the
initial beam of electromagnetic energy into two or more separate
beams of electromagnetic energy with each of the separate beams of
electromagnetic energy having a predetermined range of wavelengths
different from each of the other separate beams of electromagnetic
energy.
[0040] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system of producing a modulated beam of electromagnetic energy,
comprising: providing a substantially collimated primary beam of
electromagnetic energy having a predetermined range of wavelengths;
resolving from the substantially collimated primary beam of
electromagnetic energy a substantially collimated primary first
resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a
first selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of
the electromagnetic and a beam of ultraviolet light, electric field
vector) and a substantially collimated primary second resolved beam
of electromagnetic energy having substantially a second selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors, whereby the first and second
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors are different from one another;
forming from the substantially collimated primary first resolved
beam of electromagnetic energy and the substantially collimated
primary second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy a
substantially collimated initial beam of electromagnetic energy
having substantially the same selected predetermined orientation of
a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors
substantially across the substantially collimated initial beam of
electromagnetic energy and a substantially uniform flux intensity
substantially across the substantially collimated initial beam of
electromagnetic energy; separating the substantially collimated
initial beam of electromagnetic energy into two or more
substantially collimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy,
each of the substantially collimated separate beams of
electromagnetic energy having a selected predetermined orientation
of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors;
altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen
component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of a plurality
of portions of each of the substantially collimated separate beams
of electromagnetic energy by passing the plurality of portions of
each of the substantially collimated separate beams of
electromagnetic energy through a respective one of a plurality of
altering means whereby the selected predetermined orientation of
the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of
the plurality of portions of each of the substantially collimated
separate beams of electromagnetic energy is altered in response to
a stimulus means by applying a signal means to the stimulus means
in a predetermined manner as the plurality of portions of each of
the substantially collimated separate beams of electromagnetic
energy passes through the respective one of the plurality of means
for altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen
component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors; combining the
substantially collimated altered separate beams of electromagnetic
energy into a substantially collimated single collinear beam of
electromagnetic energy without substantially changing the altered
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of
each of the substantially collimated separate beams of
electromagnetic energy; and resolving from the substantially
collimated single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy a
substantially collimated first resolved beam of electromagnetic
energy having substantially a first selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field
vectors and a substantially collimated second resolved beam of
electromagnetic energy having substantially a second selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic
wave field vectors, whereby the first and second selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors are different from one
another.
[0041] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid for producing a modulated beam of light and a
beam of ultraviolet light.
[0042] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid in which the step of separating includes
separating the substantially collimated initial beam of
electromagnetic energy into two or more substantially collimated
separate beams of electromagnetic energy whereby each of the
substantially collimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy
has substantially the same selected predetermined orientation of
the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors
substantially across each of the substantially collimated separate
beams of electromagnetic energy as that of the other substantially
collimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy.
[0043] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid in which the step of forming includes forming
the substantially collimated initial beam of electromagnetic energy
further having a rectangular cross-sectional area.
[0044] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the step of passing one of
the substantially collimated resolved beams of electromagnetic
energy to a projection means.
[0045] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the step of adjusting the
electromagnetic spectrum of at least one of the substantially
collimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy.
[0046] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of adjusting the
electromagnetic spectrum of at least one of the substantially
collimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy includes
adjusting a predetermined range of wavelengths of at least one of
the substantially collimated separate beams of electromagnetic
energy. The step of adjusting the electromagnetic energy may be
accomplished by adjusting the wavelengths and/or intensity of at
least one of the separated beams. Another object of this invention
is to provide a method and system as aforesaid wherein the step of
separating includes separating the substantially collimated initial
beam of electromagnetic energy into two or more substantially
collimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy whereby each of
the substantially collimated separate beams of electromagnetic
energy has a substantially different selected predetermined
orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave
field vectors substantially across each of the substantially
collimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy from that of
the other substantially collimated separate beams of
electromagnetic energy.
[0047] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the step of passing one of
the substantially collimated primary resolved beams of
electromagnetic energy through a means for changing the selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors.
[0048] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of passing one of the
substantially collimated primary resolved beams of electromagnetic
energy through a means for changing the selected predetermined
orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave
field vectors includes passing one of the substantially collimated
primary resolved beams of electromagnetic energy through a liquid
crystal device for changing the selected predetermined orientation
of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field
vectors.
[0049] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the step of passing one of
the substantially collimated primary resolved beams of
electromagnetic energy through a means for changing a selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic
wave field vectors and changing the selected predetermined
orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave
field vectors of one of the substantially collimated primary
resolved beam of electromagnetic energy to match substantially the
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors of the other substantially
collimated primary resolved beam of electromagnetic energy.
[0050] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of forming further comprises
the step of providing one or more reflecting means, each of the
reflecting means having means for changing the selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors, and reflecting one of the
substantially collimated primary resolved beams of electromagnetic
energy from one or more of the reflecting means.
[0051] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of providing one or more
reflecting means', each of the reflecting means including one or
more planar reflecting surface with a dielectric coating, each
planar reflecting surface with a dielectric coating having means
for changing the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen
component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors, and reflecting
one of the substantially collimated primary resolved beams of
electromagnetic energy from one or more of the planar reflecting
surfaces with a dielectric coating. Another object of this
invention is to provide a method and system as aforesaid wherein
the step of providing one or more reflecting means, each of the
reflecting means including a mirror having a thin film dielectric
material, each mirror having a thin film dielectric material having
means for changing the selected predetermined orientation of the
chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors, and
reflecting one of the substantially collimated primary resolved
beams of electromagnetic energy from one or more of the mirrors
having a thin film dielectric material.
[0052] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of providing a substantially
collimated primary beam of electromagnetic energy further having a
substantially uniform flux intensity across substantially the
entire primary beam of electromagnetic energy.
[0053] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the step of removing from at
least one of the beams of electromagnetic energy at least a
predetermined portion of a predetermined range of wavelengths.
[0054] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further including directing the removed
portions to an absorption means.
[0055] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the step of removing from
the substantially collimated primary beam of electromagnetic energy
at least a predetermined portion of a predetermined range of
wavelengths and directing the removed portions to an absorption
means.
[0056] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system of displaying an image comprising: [a] a method of
displaying an image, comprising: providing an illumination
subsystem including producing a primary beam of light having a
predetermined range of wavelengths, randomly changing orientations
of a chosen component of electric field vectors, and a
substantially uniform flux intensity substantially across the
initial beam of light;
[0057] [b] providing a modulation subsystem, including;
[0058] [i] separating the primary beam of light into two or more
primary color beams of light, each of the primary color beams
having the same selected predetermined orientation of a chosen
component of electric field vectors as that of the other primary
color beams;
[0059] [ii] providing two or more altering means for changing the
selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of
electric field vectors;
[0060] (iii] altering the selected predetermined orientation of the
chosen component of the electric field vectors of a plurality of
portions of each of the separate primary color beams of light by
passing the plurality of portions of each of the separate primary
color beam or beams of light through a respective one of a
plurality of altering means whereby the selected predetermined
orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors
of the plurality of portions of each of the separate primary color
beams of light is altered in response to a stimulus means by
applying a signal means to the stimulus means in -a predetermined
manner as the plurality of portions of each of the separate primary
color beams of light passes through the respective one of the
plurality of means for altering the selected predetermined
orientation of the chosen component of the electric field
vectors;
[0061] [iv] combining the altered separate primary color beams of
light into a single collinear beam of light without substantially
changing the altered selected predetermined orientation of the
chosen component of the electric field vectors of the plurality of
portions of each of the separate beams of light;
[0062] [V] resolving from the single collinear beam of light a
first resolved beam of light having substantially a first selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electric field
vectors and a second resolved beam of light having substantially a
second selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of
electric field vectors, whereby the first and second selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric
field vectors are different from one another;
[0063] [c] providing a projection subsystem and passing at least
one of the resolved beams of light thereto; and
[0064] [d]
[0065] [i] forming a first light path from the illumination
subsystem to the altering means in which the first light path is
equal for all altering means; and
[0066] (ii] forming a second light path from each of the altering
means to the projection subsystem in which the second light path is
equal for all altering means.
[0067] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system for displaying an image projected from a liquid crystal
device which includes means for a first liquid crystal light valve,
a second liquid crystal light valve and a third liquid crystal
light valve, comprising: means for producing a primary beam of
light having a predetermined range of wavelengths, randomly
changing orientations of a chosen component of electric field
vectors, and a substantially uniform flux intensity substantially
across the initial beam of light; means for separating the primary
beam of light into two or more primary color beams of light, each
of the primary color beams having the same selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of electric field vectors as that
of the other primary color beams; means for forming the optical
light paths between the light source and the three liquid crystal
light valves which are unequal in length and based on luminous
intensity of the primary colors associated with respective light
valve produced by the light source; means for altering the selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric
field vectors of a plurality of portions of each of the separate
primary color beams of light by passing the plurality of portions
of each of the separate primary color beams of light through a
respective one of the liquid crystal light valves whereby the
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electric field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of the
separate primary color beams of light is altered in response to a
stimulus means by applying a signal means to the stimulus means in
a predetermined manner as the plurality of portions of each of the
separate primary color beams of light passes through the respective
one of the liquid crystal light valves altering the selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric
field vectors; means for combining the altered separate primary
color beams of light into a single collinear beam of light without
substantially changing the altered selected predetermined
orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors
of the plurality of portions of each of the separate beams of
light; means for resolving from the single collinear beam of light
a first resolved beam of light having substantially a first
selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of
electric field vectors and a second resolved beam of light having
substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a
chosen component of electric field vectors, whereby the first and
second selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component
of the electric field vectors are different from one another; and
means for passing at least one of the resolved beams to a
projection means.
[0068] Another object of this invention is to provide a
projection-type color display device, comprising: means for
producing a collimated primary beam of light having a predetermined
range of wavelengths, randomly changing orientations of a chosen
component of electric field vectors, a substantially uniform flux
intensity substantially across the initial beam of light, and a
rectangular cross sectional area; means for separating the
collimated primary beam of light into the primary color beams of
red, blue and green, each of the primary color beams having the
same selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of
electric field vectors as that of the other primary color beams;
means for altering the selected predetermined orientation of the
chosen component of the electric field vectors of a plurality of
portions of each of the separate primary color beams of red, blue
and green by passing the plurality of portions of each of the
separate primary color beams of red, blue and green through a
respective one of a plurality of liquid crystal light valves
whereby the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen
component of the electric field vectors of the plurality of
portions of each of the separate primary color beams of red, blue
and green is altered in response to a stimulus means by applying a
signal means to the stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the
plurality of portions of each of the separate primary color beams
of light passes through the respective one of the liquid crystal
light valves altering the selected predetermined orientation of the
chosen component of the electric field vectors; means for combining
the altered separate primary color beams into a single collinear
beam of light without substantially changing the altered selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric
field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of the separate
beams of red, blue and green by passing the altered separate
primary color beams through a color synthesis cube having a
reflecting surface for synthesizing the red, blue and green beams
into a single collinear beam of light; means for resolving from the
single collinear beam of light a first resolved beam of light
having substantially a first selected predetermined orientation of
a chosen component of electric field vectors and a second resolved
beam of light having substantially a second selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of electric field vectors,
whereby the first and second selected predetermined orientation of
the chosen component of the electric field vectors are different
from one another; and means for passing at least one of the
resolved beams to a projection means.
[0069] Another object of this invention is to provide a projection
apparatus, comprising: means for producing a primary beam of light
having a predetermined range of wavelengths, randomly changing
orientations of a chosen component of electric field vectors, a
substantially uniform flux intensity substantially across the
initial beam of light, and a rectangular cross sectional area;
means for separating the primary beam of light into three primary
color beams of light, each of the primary color beams having the
same selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of
electric field vectors as that of the other primary color beams;
three means for altering the selected predetermined orientation of
the chosen component of the electric field vectors of a plurality
of portions of each of the separate primary color beams of light by
passing the plurality of portions of each of the separate primary
color beams of light through a respective one of the altering means
whereby the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen
component of the electric field vectors of the plurality of
portions of each of the separate primary color beams of light is
altered in response to a stimulus means by applying a signal means
to the stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the plurality of
portions of each of the separate primary color beams of light
passes through the respective one of the means for altering the
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electric field vectors; means for combining the altered separate
primary color beams of light into a single collinear beam of light
without substantially changing the altered selected predetermined
orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors
of the plurality of portions of each of the separate beams of light
by dichroic reflection surfaces intersecting in X-letter form;
means for resolving from the single collinear beam of light a first
resolved beam of light having substantially a first selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electric field
vectors and a second resolved beam of light having substantially a
second selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of
electric field vectors, whereby the first and second selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric
field vectors are different from one another; means for passing at
least one of the resolved beams from the single collinear beam of
light to a projection means; a driving circuit for driving each of
the three altering means according to the signal means; wherein the
color separating means comprises a first flat-plate type dichroic
mirror and a second flat-plate type dichroic mirror intersecting in
X-letter form, light paths from the intersecting part to each of
the altering means having lengths such that the path of the color
light which advances straightly through the color separating means
is the shortest, the second dichroic mirror being constructed by
two dichroic mirrors separated at the intersecting part so that the
dichroic reflecting surfaces of the two dichroic mirrors are placed
on mutually different planes to allow two-edge surfaces of the two
dichroic mirrors forming the intersecting part to be seen as being
at least partially overlapping when the color- separating means is
observed from the output light side in a direction along its input
light.
[0070] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system of producing one or more collinear beams of electromagnetic
energy, comprising: producing two or more separate beams of
electromagnetic energy, each of the separate beams of
electromagnetic energy having the same selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field
vectors substantially across each beam, a predetermined range of
wavelengths and a substantially uniform flux intensity
substantially across the beam of electromagnetic energy; altering
the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of
the electromagnetic wave field vectors of a plurality of portions
of each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy by passing
the plurality of portions of each of the separate beams of
electromagnetic energy through a respective one of a plurality of
altering means whereby the selected predetermined orientation of
the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of
the plurality of portions of each of the separate beams of
electromagnetic energy is altered in response to a stimulus means
by applying a signal means to the stimulus means in a predetermined
manner as the plurality of portions of each of the separate beams
of electromagnetic energy passes through the respective one of the
plurality of means for altering the selected predetermined
orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave
field vectors; combining the altered separate beams of
electromagnetic energy into a single collinear beam of
electromagnetic energy without substantially changing the altered
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of
each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy; and resolving
from the single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy a first
resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a
first selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of
electromagnetic wave field vectors and a second resolved beam of
electromagnetic energy having substantially a second selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic
wave field vectors, whereby the first and second selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors are different from one another.
Another object of this invention is to provide a method and system
as aforesaid for producing one or more collinear beams of light and
a beam of ultraviolet light.
[0071] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid in which the step of producing includes
producing each separate beam of electromagnetic energy further
having a rectangular cross-sectional area.
[0072] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the step of passing one of
the resolved beams of electromagnetic energy to a projection
means.
[0073] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the step of adjusting the
electromagnetic spectrum of at least one of the separate beams of
electromagnetic energy.
[0074] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of adjusting the
electromagnetic spectrum of at least one of the separate beams of
electromagnetic energy includes adjusting a predetermined range of
wavelengths of at least one of the separate beams of
electromagnetic energy. The step of adjusting the electromagnetic
energy may be accomplished by adjusting the wavelengths and/or
intensity of at least one of the separate beams.
[0075] Another object of this invention is to provide a method of
producing a modulated beam of electromagnetic energy in which the
brightness of the image increases as the distance from the
projector lens to a screen increases up to a distance of
approximately 10 feet, comprising: producing a beam of
electromagnetic energy having a substantially uniform flux
intensity substantially across the entire beam; separating the beam
of electromagnetic energy into two or more separate electromagnetic
energy beams, each of the electromagnetic energy beams having a
predetermined orientation of electromagnetic wave field vector;
passing a plurality of portions of each separated electromagnetic
energy beam through a respective one of a plurality of means for
changing the orientation of the electromagnetic wave field vector
whereby the orientation of electromagnetic wave field vector of the
plurality of portions of the electromagnetic energy beams is
altered as same passes through the respective one of the plurality
of means for changing the orientation of electromagnetic wave field
vector; combining the separated electromagnetic energy beams into a
single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy without changing
the altered orientation of the electromagnetic wave field vector of
the plurality of portions of the electromagnetic energy beams;
producing two segregated electromagnetic energy beams from the
collinear beam, each segregated electromagnetic energy beam having
an orientation of electromagnetic wave field vector different from
the other electromagnetic energy beam; locating a projection means
such that the distance of the light path between the projection
means and each of the plurality of means for changing the
orientation of the electromagnetic wave field vector is
substantially equal; passing one of the segregated beams of
electromagnetic beams of electromagnetic energy to the projection
means; locating a surface means up to approximately 10 feet of the
projection means; and passing the one of the segregated beams of
electromagnetic energy from the projection means to the surface
means.
[0076] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system of producing a modulated beam of light suitable for
projection of video images, comprising: producing an initial beam
of light; separating the initial beam of light into two or more
separate beams of colors whereby each separate beam of color has
the same single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen
component of the electric field vectors as that of the other
separate beams of color and each separate beam of color having a
color different from the other separate beams of colors; altering
the single selected predetermined orientation of the chosen
component of the electric field vectors of a plurality of portions
of each separate beam of color by passing a plurality of portions
of each separate beam of color through a respective one of a
plurality of altering means whereby the single selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric
field vectors of the plurality of portions of each separate beam of
color is altered in response to a stimulus means by applying a
signal means to the stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the
plurality of portions of each of the substantially separate beams
of electromagnetic energy passes through the respective one of the
plurality of means for altering the single selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors;
combining altered separate beams of color into a single collinear
color beam without substantially changing the altered selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric
field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of the separate
beam of color; and resolving from the single collinear color beam a
first resolved color beam having substantially a first single
selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the
electric field vectors and second resolved color beam having
substantially a second single selected predetermined orientation of
a chosen component of the electric field vectors, whereby the first
and second single selected predetermined orientation of the chosen
component of the electric field vectors are different from one
another.
[0077] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid which further comprises the step of passing one
of the resolved color beams to a projection means.
[0078] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid in which the step of producing includes
producing an initial collimated beam of light having a
substantially uniform flux intensity across substantially the
entire initial collimated beam of light and substantially the same
single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of
the electric field vectors across substantially the entire initial
collimated beam of light.
[0079] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid which further includes the step of removing
from the initial collimated beam of light at least a portion of
ultraviolet and at least a portion of infrared to produce an
initial collimated beam of white light and directing the removed
portions to a beam stop whereby the removed ultraviolet and
infrared is absorbed.
[0080] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system in which the step of separating further includes the step of
adjusting by removing at least a predetermined portion of color of
at least one of the separate collimated beams of color and
directing the removed portion to a beam stop whereby the removed
portion is absorbed.
[0081] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid in which the step of producing includes
producing an initial collimated rectangular beam of light having a
substantially uniform flux intensity across substantially the
entire initial collimated rectangular beam of light and having
substantially the same single selected predetermined orientation of
a chosen component of the electric field vectors across
substantially the entire initial collimated rectangular beam of
light.
[0082] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system of producing a modulated beam of light suitable for
projection of video images, comprising: providing a first initial
beam of light having randomly changing orientations of the selected
component of the electric field vectors; integrating the first
initial beam of light to form a second initial beam of light having
a substantially uniform flux intensity across substantially the
entire second initial beam of light; collimating the second initial
beam of light into an initial collimated beam of light having
randomly changing orientations of the selected component of the
electric field vectors and a substantially uniform flux intensity
across substantially the entire second initial beam of light
removing from the initial collimated beam of light at least a
portion of ultraviolet and infrared to produce an initial
collimated beam of white light and directing the removed portions
to a beam stop whereby the removed portion is absorbed; resolving
from the initial collimated beam of white light an initial
collimated first resolved beam of white light having substantially
a first single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen
component of the electric field vectors and an initial collimated
second resolved beam of white light having substantially a second
single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of
the electric field vectors, whereby the first and second single
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electric field vectors are different from one another; forming from
the initial collimated first resolved beam of white light and
initial collimated second resolved beam of white light a
substantially collimated rectangular initial single beam of white
light having substantially the same single selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors
across substantially the entire beam of light and a substantially
uniform flux intensity across substantially the entire initial
collimated single beam of white light; separating the collimated
rectangular initial single beam of white light into two or more
separate collimated rectangular beams of color whereby each of the
separate collimated rectangular beam of color has the same single
selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the
electric field vectors as that of the other separate collimated
rectangular beams of colors and each separate collimated
rectangular beam of color having a different color from the other
separate collimated rectangular beams of colors; adjusting the
color by removing at least a predetermined portion of color of at
least one of the separate collimated rectangular beam of colors and
directing the removed portion to a beam stop whereby the removed
portion is absorbed; altering the single selected predetermined
orientation of the chosen component of the electric field vectors
of a plurality of portions of each separate collimated rectangular
beam of color by passing a plurality of portions of each separate
collimated rectangular beam of color through a respective one of a
plurality of altering means whereby the single selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the electric
field vectors of the plurality of portions of each separate beam of
color is altered in response to a stimulus means by applying a
signal means to the stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the
plurality of portions of each of the substantially collimated
separate beams of electromagnetic energy passes through the
respective one of the plurality of altering the single selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the electric
field vectors; combining the altered separate collimated
rectangular beams of color into a single collimated rectangular
collinear color beam without substantially changing the altered
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electric field vectors of the plurality of portions of each
separate collimated rectangular beam of color; resolving from the
single collimated rectangular collinear color beam a first
collimated rectangular resolved color beam having substantially a
first single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen
component of the electric field vectors and second collimated
rectangular resolved color beam having substantially a second
single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of
the electric field vectors, whereby the first and second single
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electric field vectors are different from one another; and passing
one of the first collimated rectangular or second collimated
rectangular resolved color beam to a projection means.
[0083] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system of producing a collinear beam of electromagnetic energy
having two constituent parts, comprising:
[0084] [a] providing a substantially collimated primary beam of
electromagnetic energy having a predetermined range of wavelengths
and randomly changing orientations of a chosen component of
electromagnetic wave field vectors;
[0085] [b] resolving the substantially collimated primary beam of
electromagnetic energy into a substantially collimated primary
first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially
a first selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of
the electromagnetic wave field vectors and a substantially
collimated primary second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy
having substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of
a chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors;
[0086] [c] separating each of the substantially collimated primary
resolved beams of electromagnetic energy into two or more
substantially collimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy,
each of the substantially collimated separate beams of
electromagnetic energy having a selected predetermined orientation
of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors;
[0087] [d] altering the selected predetermined orientation of the
chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of a
plurality of portions of each of the substantially collimated
separate beams of electromagnetic energy by passing the plurality
of portions of each of the substantially collimated separate beams
of electromagnetic energy through a respective one of a plurality
of altering means whereby the selected predetermined orientation of
the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of
the plurality of portions of each of the substantially collimated
separate beams of electromagnetic energy is altered in response to
a stimulus means by applying a signal means to the stimulus means
in a predetermined manner as the plurality of portions of each of
the substantially collimated separate beams of electromagnetic
energy passes through the respective one of the plurality of means
for altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen
component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors; [e]
[0088] [i] combining the substantially collimated altered separate
beams of electromagnetic energy of the primary first resolved beam
of electromagnetic energy into a first substantially collimated
single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy without
substantially changing the altered selected predetermined
orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave
field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of the
substantially collimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy,
and
[0089] [ii] combining the substantially collimated altered separate
beams of electromagnetic energy of the primary second resolved beam
of electromagnetic energy into a second substantially collimated
single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy without
substantially changing the altered selected predetermined
orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave
field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of the
substantially collimated separate beams of electromagnetic
energy;
[0090] [f]
[0091] [i] resolving from the first substantially collimated single
collinear beam of electromagnetic energy a substantially collimated
first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially
the first selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component
of electromagnetic wave field vectors and a substantially
collimated second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having
substantially the second selected predetermined orientation of a
chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors, and
[0092] [ii] resolving from the second substantially collimated
single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy a substantially
collimated first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having
substantially the first selected predetermined orientation of a
chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors and a
substantially collimated second resolved beam of electromagnetic
energy having substantially the second selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field
vectors; and
[0093] [g] merging one of the resolved beams of electromagnetic
energy from the first substantially collimated single collinear
beam of electromagnetic energy with one of the other resolved beams
of electromagnetic energy from the second substantially collimated
single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy into a
substantially collimated third single collinear beam of
electromagnetic energy.
[0094] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid for producing a collinear beam as aforesaid for
producing a collinear beam of light having two constituent parts
and a beam of ultraviolet light having two constituent parts.
[0095] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of resolving further includes
resolving the primary beam into first and second resolved beams in
which the first selected predetermined orientation of the chosen
component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors has the same
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors, as that of the second selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors.
[0096] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of resolving further includes
resolving the primary beam into first and second resolved beams in
which the first selected predetermined orientation of the chosen
component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors has the
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors different from the second
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors.
[0097] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes
the merging of the resolved beams in which the plurality of
portions of one of the merged beams has a different selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic
wave field vectors as that of the plurality of portions of the
other merged beam.
[0098] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes
merging of the resolved beams in which each merged beam has its
plurality of portions parallel and noncoincident to the plurality
of portions as that of the other merged beam.
[0099] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes
merging of the resolved beams in which each merged beam has its
plurality of portions parallel and partially coincident to the
plurality of portions as that of the other merged beam.
[0100] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes
merging of the resolved beams in which each merged beam has its
plurality of portions parallel and simultaneous to the plurality of
portions as that of the other merged beam.
[0101] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes
merging of the resolved beams in which each merged beam has its
plurality of portions parallel, noncoincident and simultaneous to
the plurality of portions as that of the other merged beam.
[0102] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes
merging of the resolved beams in which each merged beam has its
plurality of portions parallel, partially coincident and
simultaneous to the plurality of portions as that of the other
merged beam.
[0103] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes
merging of the resolved beams in which the plurality of portions of
one of the merged beams has the substantially same selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic
wave field vectors as that of the plurality of portions of the
other merged beam,
[0104] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes
merging of the resolved beams in which the plurality of portions of
one of the merged beams has the substantially same selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic
wave field vectors as that of the plurality of portions of the
other merged beam and further includes each merged beam having its
plurality of portions parallel and noncoincident to the plurality
of portions as that of the other merged beam.
[0105] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes
merging of the resolved beams in which the plurality of portions of
one of the merged beams has the substantially same selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic
wave field vectors as that of the plurality of portions of the
other merged beam and further includes each merged beam having its
plurality of portions parallel and partially coincident to the
plurality of portions as that of the other merged beam.
[0106] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of merging further includes
merging of the resolved beams in which the plurality of portions of
one of the merged beams has the substantially same selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic
wave field vectors as that of the plurality of portions of the
other merged beam and further includes each merged beam having its
plurality of portions parallel and simultaneous to the plurality of
portions as that of the other merged beam.
[0107] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system further comprising the step of passing the substantially
collimated third single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy to
a projection means.
[0108] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system of producing a modulated beam of electromagnetic energy,
comprising:
[0109] [a] providing a primary beam of electromagnetic energy
having a predetermined range ofwavelengths and randomly changing
orientations of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field
vectors;
[0110] [b] resolving the primary beam of electromagnetic energy
into a primary first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having
substantially a first selected predetermined orientation of a
chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors and a
primary second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having
substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a
chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors;
[0111] [c] separating each of the primary resolved beams of
electromagnetic energy into two or more separate beams of
electromagnetic energy, each of the separate beams of
electromagnetic energy having a selected predetermined orientation
of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors;
[0112] [d] altering the selected predetermined orientation of the
chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of a
plurality of portions of each of the separate beams of
electromagnetic energy by passing the plurality of portions of each
of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy through a
respective one of a plurality of altering means whereby the
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of
each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy is altered in
response to a stimulus means by applying a signal means to the
stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the plurality of
portions of each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy
passes through the respective one of the plurality of means for
altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen
component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors;
[0113] [e]
[0114] [i] combining the altered separate beams of electromagnetic
energy of the primary first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy
into a first single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy
without substantially changing the altered selected predetermined
orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave
field vectors of the plurality of portions of each of the separate
beams of electromagnetic energy, and
[0115] [ii] combining the altered separate beams of electromagnetic
energy of the primary second resolved beam of electromagnetic
energy into a second single collinear beam of electromagnetic
energy without substantially changing the altered selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of
each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy; and
[0116] [f]
[0117] [i] resolving from the first single collinear beam of
electromagnetic energy a first resolved beam of electromagnetic
energy having substantially a first selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field
vectors and a second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having
substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a
chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors, and
[0118] [ii] resolving from the second single collinear beam of
electromagnetic energy a first resolved beam of electromagnetic
energy having substantially a first selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field
vectors and a second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having
substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a
chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors.
[0119] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid of producing a modulated beam of light and a
beam of ultraviolet light.
[0120] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of providing includes
providing a substantially collimated primary beam of
electromagnetic energy.
[0121] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of providing includes
providing a primary beam of electromagnetic energy having a
rectangular cross sectional area.
[0122] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of providing includes
providing a primary initial beam of electromagnetic energy having
substantially the same selected predetermined orientation for the
chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors
substantially across the beam.
[0123] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of resolving includes
resolving the primary beam into primary first and second resolved
beams in which each of the resolved beams of electromagnetic energy
has the substantially same selected predetermined orientation of
the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors
substantially across each of the resolved beams of electromagnetic
energy as that of the other resolved beams of electromagnetic
energy. Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of resolving includes
resolving the primary beam into primary first and second resolved
beams in which the first selected predetermined orientation of the
chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors has the
same selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of
the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the second selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors.
[0124] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the step of passing at least
one of the beams resolved from the first or second single collinear
beam of electromagnetic energy to a projection means.
[0125] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the step of passing one of
the first or second resolved beams of electromagnetic energy
obtained from resolving from the first single collinear beam of
electromagnetic energy to a projection means and passing one of the
first or second resolved beams of electromagnetic energy obtained
from resolving from the second single collinear beam of
electromagnetic energy to a projection means.
[0126] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the step of adjusting the
electromagnetic spectrum of at least one of the separate beams of
electromagnetic energy. The step of adjusting the electromagnetic
energy may be accomplished by adjusting the wavelengths and/or
intensity of at least one of the separated beams.
[0127] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of separating includes
separating each of the primary resolved beams into two or more
separate beams in which each of the separate beams of
electromagnetic energy has a predetermined range of wavelengths
different from the other separate beams of electromagnetic
energy.
[0128] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the step of adjusting the
magnitude of at least one of the separate beams of electromagnetic
energy obtained from the step of separating each of the primary
resolved beams of electromagnetic energy into two or more separate
beams of electromagnetic energy.
[0129] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system of producing a collinear beam of electromagnetic energy
having two constituent parts, comprising:
[0130] [a] providing a primary beam of electromagnetic energy
having a predetermined range of wavelengths, randomly changing
orientations of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field
vectors, and a substantially uniform flux intensity substantially
across the initial beam of electromagnetic energy;
[0131] [b] resolving the primary beam of electromagnetic energy
into a primary first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having
substantially a first selected predetermined orientation of a
chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors and a
primary second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having
substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a
chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors;
[0132] [c] altering the selected predetermined orientation of the
chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of a
plurality of portions of each of the primary resolved beams of
electromagnetic energy by passing the plurality of portions of each
of the primary resolved beams of electromagnetic energy through a
respective one of a plurality of altering means whereby the
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of
each of the primary resolved beams of electromagnetic energy is
altered in response to a stimulus means by applying a signal means
to the stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the plurality of
portions of each of the primary resolved beams of electromagnetic
energy passes through the respective one of the plurality of means
for altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen
component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors;
[0133] [d]
[0134] [i] resolving from the first altered primary first resolved
beam of electromagnetic energy a first resolved beam of
electromagnetic energy having substantially a first selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic
wave field vectors and a second resolved beam of electromagnetic
energy having substantially a second selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field
vectors, and
[0135] [ii] resolving from the second altered primary first
resolved beam of electromagnetic energy a first resolved beam of
electromagnetic energy having substantially a first selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic
wave field vectors and a second resolved beam of electromagnetic
energy having substantially a second selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field
vectors; and
[0136] [e] merging one of the resolved beams of electromagnetic
energy from the altered primary first resolved beam of
electromagnetic energy with one of the resolved beams of
electromagnetic energy from the second altered primary resolved
beam of electromagnetic energy into a first single collinear beam
of electromagnetic energy.
[0137] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid of producing a collinear beam of light having
two constituent parts and a beam of ultraviolet light having two
constituent parts.
[0138] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of resolving includes
resolving the primary beam into primary first and second resolved
beams in which the first selected predetermined orientation of the
chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors has the
same selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of
the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the second selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors.
[0139] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of resolving includes
resolving the primary beam into primary first and second resolved
beams in which the first selected predetermined orientation of the
chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors has a
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors different from the second
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors.
[0140] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of merging includes merging
said resolved beams in which the plurality of portions of one of
the merged resolved beams has a different selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field
vectors from the plurality of portions of the other merged resolved
beam.
[0141] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of merging includes merging
said resolved beams in which each merged beam has its plurality of
portions parallel and noncoincident to the plurality of portions of
the other merged beam.
[0142] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of merging includes merging
said resolved beams in which each merged beam has its plurality of
portions parallel and partially coincident to the plurality of
portions of the other merged beam.
[0143] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid in which the step of merging includes merging
said resolved beams in which each merged beam has its plurality of
portions parallel and simultaneous to the plurality of portions of
the other merged beam.
[0144] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid in which the step of merging includes merging
said resolved beams in which each merged beam has its plurality of
portions parallel, noncoincident and simultaneous to the plurality
of portions of the other merged beam.
[0145] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid in which the step of merging includes merging
said resolved beams in which each merged beam has its plurality of
portions parallel, partially coincident and simultaneous to the
plurality of portions of the other merged beam. Another object of
this invention is to provide a method and system as aforesaid in
which the step of merging includes merging said resolved beams in
which the plurality of portions of one of the merged beams has the
substantially same selected predetermined orientation of a chosen
component of electromagnetic wave field vectors as the plurality of
portions of the other merged beam.
[0146] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid in which the step of merging includes merging
said resolved beams in which the plurality of portions of one of
the merged beams has the substantially same selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field
vectors as the plurality of portions of the other merged beam and
each merged beam has its plurality of portions parallel and
noncoincident to the plurality of portions of the other merged
beam.
[0147] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid in which the step of merging includes merging
said resolved beams in which the plurality of portions of one of
the merged beams has the substantially same selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field
vectors as the plurality of portions of the other merged beam and
each merged beam has its plurality of portions parallel and
partially coincident to the plurality of portions of the other
merged beam.
[0148] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid in which the step of merging includes merging
said resolved beams in which the plurality of portions of one of
the merged beams has the substantially same selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field
vectors as that of the plurality of portions of the other merged
beam and each merged beam having its plurality of portions parallel
and simultaneous to the plurality of portions of the other merged
beam.
[0149] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the step of passing the
first single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy to a
projection means.
[0150] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system of producing one or more collinear beams of electromagnetic
energy, comprising:
[0151] [a] producing four or more separate beams of electromagnetic
energy, each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy having
the same selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component
of electromagnetic wave field vectors substantially across each
beam, a predetermined range of wavelengths and a substantially
uniform flux intensity substantially across each beam of
electromagnetic energy;
[0152] [b] altering the selected predetermined orientation of the
chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of a
plurality of portions of each of the separate beams of
electromagnetic energy by passing the plurality of portions of each
of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy through a
respective one of a plurality of altering means whereby the
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of
each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy is altered in
response to a stimulus means by applying a signal means to the
stimulus means in a predetermined manner as the plurality of
portions of each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy
passes through the respective one of the plurality of means for
altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen
component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors;
[0153] [c]
[0154] [i] combining at least one of the altered separate beams of
electromagnetic energy with at least one of the other altered
separate beams of electromagnetic energy into a first single
collinear beam of electromagnetic energy without substantially
changing the altered selected predetermined orientation of the
chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the
plurality of portions of each of the combined separate beams of
electromagnetic energy, and
[0155] [ii] combining at least one of the altered separate beams of
electromagnetic energy with at least one of the other altered
separate beams of electromagnetic energy into a second single
collinear beam of electromagnetic energy without substantially
changing the altered selected predetermined orientation of the
chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the
plurality of portions of each of the combined separate beams of
electromagnetic energy;
[0156] [d]
[0157] [i] resolving from the first single collinear beam of
electromagnetic energy a first resolved beam of electromagnetic
energy having substantially a first selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field
vectors and a second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having
substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a
chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors, and
[0158] (ii] resolving from the second single collinear beam of
electromagnetic energy a first resolved beam of electromagnetic
energy having substantially a first selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field
vectors and a second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having
substantially a second selected predetermined orientation of a
chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors; and
[0159] [e] merging one of the resolved beams of electromagnetic
energy from the first single collinear beam of electromagnetic
energy with one of the other resolved beams of electromagnetic
energy from the second single collinear beam of electromagnetic
energy into a third single collinear beam of electromagnetic
energy.
[0160] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid producing one or more collinear beams of light
and beams of ultraviolet light.
[0161] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid in which the step of producing includes
producing each separate beam of electromagnetic energy further
having a rectangular cross sectional area.
[0162] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the step of passing the
third single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy to a
projection means.
[0163] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the step of adjusting the
electromagnetic spectrum of at least one of the separate beams of
electromagnetic energy. The step of adjusting the electromagnetic
energy may be accomplished by adjusting the wavelengths and/or
intensity of at least one of the separated beams.
[0164] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system of producing a modulated beam of electromagnetic energy
comprising: producing an initial beam of electromagnetic energy
having a predetermined range of wavelengths and having a
substantially uniform flux intensity substantially across the
initial beam of electromagnetic energy; separating the initial beam
of electromagnetic energy into two or more separate beams of
electromagnetic energy, each of the separate beams of
electromagnetic energy having a selected predetermined orientation
of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors;
altering the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen
component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of a plurality
of portions of each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy
by passing the plurality of portions of each of the separate beams
of electromagnetic energy through a respective one of a plurality
of altering means whereby the selected predetermined orientation of
the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of
the plurality of portions of each of the separate beams of
electromagnetic energy is altered in response to a stimulus means
by applying a signal means to the stimulus means in a predetermined
manner as the plurality of portions of each of the substantially
separate beams of electromagnetic energy passes through the
respective one of the plurality of means for altering the selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors; combining the altered separate
beams of electromagnetic energy into a single collinear beam of
electromagnetic energy without substantially changing the altered
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of
each of the separate beams of electromagnetic energy; resolving
from the single collinear beam of electromagnetic energy a first
resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a
first selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of
electromagnetic wave field vectors and a second resolved beam of
electromagnetic energy having substantially a second selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic
wave field vectors, whereby the first and second selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors are different from one another;
and altering the selected predetermined orientation of 'the chosen
component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of a plurality
of portions of the resolved beam of electromagnetic energy by
passing the plurality of portions of the resolved beam of
electromagnetic energy through a altering means whereby the
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of
the resolved beam of electromagnetic energy is altered in response
to a stimulus means by applying a signal means to the stimulus
means in a predetermined manner as the plurality of portions of the
resolved beam of electromagnetic energy passes through the
plurality of means for altering the selected predetermined
orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave
field vectors.
[0165] Another object of this invention is to provide a method as
aforesaid of producing a modulated beam of light. Another object of
this invention is to provide a method and system as aforesaid in
which the step of producing a substantially collimated beam of
electromagnetic energy having substantially the same selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic
wave field vectors and a substantially uniform flux intensity
substantially across the beam of electromagnetic energy,
comprising: providing a substantially collimated beam of
electromagnetic energy having a predetermined range of wavelengths;
resolving from the substantially collimated beam of electromagnetic
energy a substantially collimated first resolved beam of
electromagnetic energy having substantially a first selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors and a substantially collimated
second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially
a second selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component
of the electromagnetic wave field vectors, whereby the first and
second selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component
of the electromagnetic wave field vectors are different from one
another; and forming from the substantially collimated first
resolved beam of electromagnetic energy and the substantially
collimated second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy a
substantially collimated single beam of electromagnetic energy
having substantially the same selected predetermined orientation of
a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field vectors
substantially across the substantially collimated single beam of
electromagnetic energy and a substantially uniform flux intensity
substantially across the substantially collimated single beam of
electromagnetic energy.
[0166] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid of producing a substantially collimated beam of
light and a beam of ultraviolet light.
[0167] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of forming includes forming
the single beam of electromagnetic energy further having a
rectangular cross sectional area.
[0168] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the steps of resolving and
forming the step of producing from the substantially collimated
first and second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy a
substantially collimated first and second resolved beam of
electromagnetic energy having substantially the same selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors.
[0169] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of resolving includes
resolving from the substantially collimated beam of electromagnetic
energy -a substantially collimated first resolved beam of
electromagnetic energy and substantially collimated second resolved
beam of electromagnetic energy further having substantially uniform
flux intensity substantially across the beam of electromagnetic
energy, and step [c] further includes forming the substantially
collimated single beam of electromagnetic energy further having
substantially the same uniform flux intensity substantially across
the beam of electromagnetic energy as that of each of the resolved
beams of electromagnetic energy.
[0170] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising between the steps of
resolving and forming the step of producing from the substantially
collimated first and second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy
a substantially collimated first and second resolved beam of
electromagnetic energy having substantially the same selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors, whereby the substantially
collimated first and second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy
are parallel and noncollinear.
[0171] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the step of passing one of
the substantially collimated resolved beams of electromagnetic
energy through a means for changing the selected predetermined
orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave
field vectors.
[0172] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of passing one of the
substantially collimated resolved beams of electromagnetic energy
through a means for changing the selected predetermined orientation
of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors
includes passing one of the substantially collimated resolved beams
of electromagnetic energy through a liquid crystal device for
changing the selected predetermined orientation of the chosen
component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors.
[0173] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the step of passing one of
the substantially collimated resolved beams of electromagnetic
energy through a means for changing the selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of electromagnetic wave field
vectors and changing the selected predetermined orientation of the
chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of one
of the substantially collimated resolved beam of electromagnetic
energy to match substantially the selected predetermined
orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave
field vectors of the other substantially collimated resolved beam
of electromagnetic energy. Another object of this invention is to
provide a method and system as aforesaid wherein the step of
forming further comprises the step of reflecting one of the
substantially collimated resolved beams of electromagnetic energy
from one or more reflecting means, each of the reflecting means
having means for changing the selected predetermined orientation of
the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors.
[0174] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of reflecting one of the
substantially collimated resolved beams of electromagnetic energy
from one or more reflecting means, each of the reflecting means
having means for changing the selected predetermined orientation of
the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors
includes reflecting one of the substantially collimated resolved
beams of electromagnetic energy from one or more planar reflecting
surface having a dielectric coating, each planar reflecting surface
having a dielectric coating including means for changing the
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors.
[0175] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of reflecting one of the
substantially collimated resolved beams of electromagnetic energy
from one or more reflecting means, each of the reflecting means
having means for changing the selected predetermined orientation of
the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors
includes reflecting one of the substantially collimated resolved
beams of electromagnetic energy from one or more mirrors having a
thin film dielectric material, each mirrors having a thin film
dielectric material including means for changing the selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors.
[0176] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid wherein the step of providing includes
providing a substantially collimated beam of electromagnetic energy
further having randomly changing orientations of a chosen component
of electromagnetic wave field vectors.
[0177] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further comprising the step of removing from at
least one of the beams of electromagnetic energy at least a
predetermined portion of a predetermined range of wavelengths.
[0178] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid further including directing the removed
portions to an absorption means.
[0179] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system of producing a modulated beam of electromagnetic energy
comprising: providing an initial collimated beam of electromagnetic
energy having randomly changing orientations of the selected
component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors and having a
substantially uniform flux intensity across substantially the
entire beam; resolving from the initial collimated beam of
electromagnetic energy an initial collimated first resolved beam of
electromagnetic energy having substantially a first single selected
predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors and an initial collimated second
resolved beam of electromagnetic energy having substantially a
second single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen
component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors, whereby the
first and second single selected predetermined orientation of the
chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors are
different from one another; forming from the initial collimated
first resolved beam of electromagnetic energy and the initial
collimated second resolved beam of electromagnetic energy a
substantially collimated rectangular initial single beam of
electromagnetic energy having substantially the same single
selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors across substantially the entire
beam of electromagnetic energy and a substantially uniform flux
intensity across substantially the entire initial collimated single
beam of electromagnetic energy; separating the collimated
rectangular initial single beam of electromagnetic energy into two
or more separate collimated rectangular beams of electromagnetic
energy whereby each of the separate collimated rectangular beams of
electromagnetic energy has the same single selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field
vectors as that of the other separate collimated rectangular beams
of electromagnetic energy and each separate collimated rectangular
beam of electromagnetic energy having a different electromagnetic
energy from the other separate collimated rectangular beams of
electromagnetic energy; adjusting the electromagnetic energy by
removing at least a predetermined portion of electromagnetic energy
of at least one of the separate collimated rectangular beams of
electromagnetic energy and directing the removed portion to a beam
stop whereby the removed portion is removed; altering the single
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors of a plurality of portions of
each separate collimated rectangular beam of electromagnetic energy
by passing a plurality of portions of each separate collimated
rectangular beam of electromagnetic energy through a respective one
of a plurality of altering means whereby the single selected
predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electromagnetic wave field vectors of the plurality of portions of
each separate beam of electromagnetic energy is altered in response
to a stimulus means by applying a signal means to the stimulus
means in a predetermined manner as the plurality of portions of
each of the substantially collimated separate beams of
electromagnetic energy passes through the respective one of the
plurality of altering the single selected predetermined orientation
of a chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors;
combining the altered separate collimated rectangular beams of
electromagnetic energy into a single collimated rectangular
collinear electromagnetic energy beam without substantially
changing the altered selected predetermined orientation of the
chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors of the
plurality of portions of each separate collimated rectangular beam
of electromagnetic energy; resolving from the single collimated
rectangular collinear electromagnetic energy beam a first
collimated rectangular resolved electromagnetic energy beam having
substantially a first single selected predetermined orientation of
a chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field vectors and
second collimated rectangular resolved electromagnetic energy beam
having substantially a second single selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of the electromagnetic wave field
vectors, whereby the first and second single selected predetermined
orientation of the chosen component of the electromagnetic wave
field vectors are different from one another; and passing one of
the first collimated rectangular or second collimated rectangular
resolved electromagnetic energy beams to a projection means.
[0180] Another object of this invention is to provide a method and
system as aforesaid for modulating a beam of light.
[0181] One illustrative embodiment of the invention comprises: a
light source for producing a collimated unpolarized beam of light;
a polarizing beam splitter for splitting the unpolarized source
beam into separate orthogonal linear P-polarized and S-polarized
light beams; a half-wave retarded for converting the S-polarized
light beam back to a second polarized- polarized light beam; and an
arrangement of mirrors that combines the P-polarized light beams
into a rectangular shaped beam of a unitary polarization.
[0182] The light beam, at this point, is separated into a red
component and into a blue-green component using a first dichroic
mirror selected to reflect light having red wavelengths greater
than 600 nanometers. The blue-green component is then separated
into a blue beam and a green beam using a second dichroic mirror
selected to reflect light having green wavelengths between 500
nanometers and 600 nanometers. As an option, the red beam and the
blue beam can be further filtered in order to provide an optimum of
color balance in visual effect and the rejected portions of the
beams that are filtered out from the red and blue can then be
absorbed. At this point, the separate red, green and blue beams are
passed through liquid crystal display devices and have their
electric field vectors altered according to the input signal. The
separate red and green beams are combined into a red-green beam
using a dichroic mirror selected to pass the green beam wavelengths
less than 595 nanometers and reflect the red beam. This red-green
beam is then combined with a separate blue beam utilizing another
dichroic mirror selected to pass the red-green beam wavelengths
greater than 515 nanometers and reflect the blue beam to form a
collinear beam. This collinear beam is then passed through a
polarizer analyzer to segregate the beam according its electric
field vector. One of the segregated beams can be passed to an
absorbing beam block. The selected segregated modulated polarized
beam is passed onto a projection lens that projects it onto a
viewing screen. The system and method of invention can be adapted
for projecting a large image of high brightness, resolution and
contrast onto a screen.
[0183] It should be further understood that, while certain
particular wavelength numbers have been given for red, blue and
green, they are for illustrative purposes only and can be changed
or shifted due to the type of light source used. The changing or
shifting of the particular range of wavelengths of the colors is
due to the final color balance that is desired.
[0184] In use of one system disclosed, collimated light from the
light source is directed through the polarizing beam splitter. The
polarizing beam splitter separates the randomly polarized beam into
a linear P-polarized beam and S-polarized beam and deflects the
orthogonal polarized beams at right angles to one another. The
P-polarized beam passes through the polarizing beam splitter and is
reflected through an angle of 900 by a first mirror and into the
projector beam path. The S-polarized beam exits from the polarizing
beam splitter at an angle of 900 to the P-polarization beam and
passes through the half-wave retarder. The half-wave retarder
changes the polarization of the S-polarized beam back to
P-polarization. A second mirror then reflects this P-polarized beam
through an angle of 900 onto a third and a fourth mirror. The third
and fourth mirrors split the reflected P-polarization beam and
again reflect the P-polarized light beam from the second mirror
through an angle of 900 and onto the LCD. The four mirrors are
mounted along an optic path with respect to one another such that
the separate P-polarized beams are combined in a generally
rectangular shaped beam that corresponds to the rectangular light
aperture of a LCD.
[0185] The system of the invention permits virtually all the light
from the light source to be directed at the LCD. Moreover, the
light beam at the LCD has a shape that corresponds to the generally
rectangular outer peripheral configuration of most LCDs. The
advantages of the rectangular beam allow the utilized light to
strike the useful portions of the LCD, thereby not overheating the
other elements surrounding the LCD causing reflection and/or
heating problems.
[0186] Furthermore, another embodiment of the system of the
invention directs a collimated source beam into a polarizer and
divides the source beam into a right side beam and a left side
beam, each having the same direction of polarization. The left side
beam and the right side beam are then filtered into separate
primary color beams (red, green and blue). Each separate primary
color beam has the pixels of the respective portions of the beam
changed in regards to the electric field vector by separate LCDs
responsive to left and right side input images. The respective
images of the right and left side primary color beams are then
combined into a single right and left side images. The left and
right side images are then combined, resolved into different
polarized light beams according to the electric field vector by an
polarizer analyzer and then one of said polarized beams is
projected onto a display screen. In yet another embodiment, a high
resolution image is obtained by the method and system as described
above. The left side beam is offset on the display screen from the
right side beam (or vice versa) by a small amount in either the
horizontal or the vertical direction (i.e., one pixel). In this
mode, the driving electronics of the liquid LCDs must split an
input image and provide that every other pixel is sent to the right
or to the left side.
[0187] In order to project a three-dimensional image, separate
input images corresponding to the left and right eyes of the viewer
(i.e., different spatial perspectives) are input into the separate
left and right side LCDs. A viewer has the choice of putting on a
set of glasses over his eyes, such that the lens over the right eye
is for viewing images polarized in a first direction and the lens
over the left eye is for viewing images polarized in a different
direction. The viewer will see a three-dimensional image if the
signal provided to the driving electronics for the left/right side
provide for a different signal corresponding to the different
angular spatial mode of the left and right eye, i.e., the left side
is a left side camera and the right side is a right side camera.
These separate left side or right side images may also be viewed in
three dimension by a timed sequence for achieving the 3-D effect
without glasses.
[0188] As an example, the system is configured such that a viewer's
glasses contain a lens for viewing different orthogonally or
different circularly polarized images. A left eye lens is
configured for viewing P-polarized light while the right eye lens
is configured for viewing S-polarized light. Alternately, as an
example, the left eye lens is configured for viewing right
circularly polarized light while the right eye lens is configured
for viewing left circularly polarized light.
[0189] As an alternate example, the system is configured such that,
in place of the viewer's glasses, a polarized screen is used. This
screen is formed of a transparent material that has two or more
different polarization coatings or layers. Each coating or layer
reflects a certain orientation of an electric field vector and
passes all other orientations of electric field vectors. Each
successive layer or coating is different from the other layers.
This allows certain portions of the image to be seen in depth or in
actual 3-D. These types of layers or coatings are available from
OCLI. For a general discussion, see "Optical Thin Films User's
Handbook", by James D. Rancourt, McGraw-Hill Optical and
Electrooptical Engineering Series, 1987.
[0190] In alternate embodiments of the invention, 3-D high
resolution, 3-D black and white or color high resolution projectors
are provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0191] FIG. I is an illustrative drawing of an electromagnetic wave
with the direction of propagation, electric and magnetic fields
shown;
[0192] FIG. 1A is an illustrative drawing of an electromagnetic
wave looking down the. axis of propagation, showing various
directions of possible different orientations of the electric field
vector for illustrative purposes;
[0193] FIG. 1B is an illustrative drawing of the resolution of an
electric field vector into two components, along an x and y
axis;
[0194] FIG. 2 is a cross-section of an LCD cell as is known in the
art; FIG. 2A is an schematic drawing of an LCD component showing
the pixels used in the invention;
[0195] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a system for
illuminating an LCD display or LCDs in a LCLV Projector in
accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention;
[0196] FIG. 3A is a schematic illustration of a system for
illuminating an LCD display or LCLV Projector similar to that shown
in FIG. 3 but in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the
invention;
[0197] FIG. 3B is a schematic illustration of a system for
illuminating an LCD display or LCLV Projector similar to that shown
in FIGS. 3 & 3A but in accordance with a preferred embodiment
of the invention for such a display or projector;
[0198] FIG. 3C is a schematic illustration of a system for
illuminating an LCD display or LCLV Projector similar to that shown
in FIGS. 3, 3A & 3B but in accordance with an alternate
embodiment of the invention for such a display or projector;
[0199] FIG. 4 is a schematic of a collimated light beam from a
light source superimposed upon a mirror used in a system
constructed in accordance with the invention;
[0200] FIG. 4A is a diagrammatic representation used in an analysis
of the geometry of an LCD light aperture and a light beam;
[0201] FIG. 5 is a schematic showing the shape of a light beam of a
unitary polarization formed in accordance with the invention
superimposed upon on an LCD display;
[0202] FIG. 6 is an illustrative drawing showing several layers of
a thin film coating being illuminated by a non-polarized wave
source and the resulting polarized beam;
[0203] FIG. 7 is an illustrative drawing depicting a polarized beam
impinging upon a LCD cell and the resulting retardation (changing,
altering, or twisting) of the electric field vector;
[0204] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of a color LCLV
projector. constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the invention;
[0205] FIG. SA is a functional illustration of FIG. 8 showing in
diagrammatic form the steps involved in the method of producing a
modulated beam of electromagnetic energy for use in a color LCLV
projector;
[0206] FIG. 8B is a schematic illustration of a preferred
embodiment of a system for a LCLV projector in accordance with the
invention using unequal light pathways from the light source to the
LCDs and a dichroic beam combiner.
[0207] FIG. 8C is a schematic illustration of a preferred
embodiment of a system for an LCLV projector in accordance with the
invention using equal light pathways from the light to the LCDs and
equal light pathways from the LCDs to the projection lens.
[0208] FIG. 8D is a schematic illustration of a preferred
embodiment of a system for a LCLV projector in accordance with the
invention using unequal light pathways from the light source to the
LCDs and a dichroic beam splitter and combiner.
[0209] FIG. 8B is a schematic illustration of a preferred
embodiment of a system for an LCLV projector in accordance with the
invention using a dichroic beam combiner and using individual
separated light sources such as rectangular linear arrays of laser
diodes, LEDs, fluorescent flat plates, or neon flat plates.
[0210] FIG. 8F is a schematic illustration of a preferred
embodiment of a system for an LCLV projector in accordance with the
invention using a separated dichroic mirror means for beam
combination and using individual separated light sources such as
rectangular linear arrays, laser diodes, LEDs, fluorescent flat
plates, or neon flat plates.
[0211] FIG. 80 is a schematic illustration of a preferred
embodiment of a system for an LCLV projector in accordance with the
invention using a separated dichroic mirror means for beam
combination and using individual separated light sources such as
single light sources such as argon ion lasers or high intensity
white lights.
[0212] FIG. 9 is a graph showing the spectral characteristics of
commonly used optical sources;
[0213] FIG. 9A is a table showing the performance data of common
optical sources;
[0214] FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating the scotopic and photopic
response characteristics for the human eye of visible light;
[0215] FIG. 10A is an illustration showing the CIE color
diagram;
[0216] FIG. IOB is the same as FIG. 10A but shows the different
colors given to the various regions;
[0217] FIG. 11 is a graph showing a wavelength response of
polarizing cube component used in an illustrative embodiment of the
invention;
[0218] FIG. 12 is a graph of the transmissive and reflective
characteristics of a mirror (33) used in an illustrative embodiment
of the invention for separating an infrared component of a source
beam;
[0219] FIG. 13 is a graph of the transmissive and reflective
characteristics of a mirror (35) used in an illustrative embodiment
of the invention for separating an ultraviolet component of the
source beam;
[0220] FIG. 14 is a graph of the transmissive and reflective
characteristics of mirrors (80 & 82) used in an illustrative
embodiment of the invention for separating and further filtering a
red light component of the source beam;
[0221] FIG. 15 is a graph of the reflective and transmissive
characteristics of mirror (90) used in an illustrative embodiment
of the invention for combining an altered blue beam and an altered
red-green beam;
[0222] FIG. 16 is an analysis of the reflective and transmissive
characteristics of mirror (92) used in an illustrative embodiment
of the invention for combining an altered red beam and an altered
green beam;
[0223] FIG. 17 is an analysis of the reflective and transmissive
characteristics of mirrors (86 & 88) used in an illustrative
embodiment of the invention for further filtering a blue beam;
[0224] FIG. 18 is an analysis of the reflective and transmissive
characteristics of a mirror (84) used in an illustrative embodiment
of the invention for further filtering a blue beam;
[0225] FIG. 19 is a schematic f low diagram of a color LCLV
projector constructed in accordance with an illustrative embodiment
of the invention;
[0226] FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic representation of a 3-D color LCLV
projector constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the invention;
[0227] FIG. 20A is a diagrammatic representation of a 3-D color
LCLV projector constructed in accordance with a preferred alternate
embodiment of the invention using an additional quarter-wave
retarder;
[0228] FIG. 20B is a diagrammatic representation of a 3-D color
LCLV projector constructed in accordance with another alternate
embodiment of the invention for use with circular polarization
viewing lenses;
[0229] FIG. 20C is a schematic illustration of a preferred
embodiment of a system for a dual beam LCLV projector suitable for
3-D, high brightness or high resolution in accordance with the
invention using a dichroic beam combiner and using individual
separated light sources such as rectangular linear arrays of laser
diodes or LEDs.
[0230] FIG. 20D is a schematic illustration of an alternative
embodiment for a dual beam LCLV projector suitable for 3-D, high
brightness or high resolution in accordance with the invention
using beam combiners and using individual separated light sources
such as rectangular linear arrays of laser diodes or LEDs and
further using a LCD device as a variable retarder on the output
beam.
[0231] FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of a two camera projector
method for use with an illustrative embodiment of a 3-D projector
constructed in accordance with the invention;
[0232] FIG. 22 is a preferred embodiment of a diagrammatic
representation of a high resolution or three-dimensional black and
white liquid crystal LCLV projector constructed in accordance with
the invention;
[0233] FIG. 22A is a diagrammatic representation of a preferred
alternate embodiment high resolution or three-dimensional LCLV
projector constructed in accordance with the invention using a
quarter-wave retarder;
[0234] FIG. 23 is a schematic illustration of a preferred
embodiment of a system for using a device as a 3-D screen or 3-D
viewing cube;
[0235] FIG. 24 is a schematic illustration of a preferred
embodiment of a system for producing fluorescent lighting via a
flat plate arrangement;
[0236] FIG. 24A is a perspective view of the device in FIG. 24;
FIG. 25 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of a system
for producing a linear matrix array of laser diodes for use in
FIGS. BE, BF, 20C 20D;
[0237] FIG. 26 is a table of the characteristics of mirrors used in
this invention;
[0238] FIG. 27 is a preferred embodiment of an illustrative drawing
of a system for producing a collimated beam of light known as an
optical integrator;
[0239] FIG. 27A is a preferred embodiment of an illustrative
drawing of a single light pipe of the optical integrator for
producing a collimated beam of light, and also shows the optical
path of light rays through it;
[0240] FIG. 27B is a preferred embodiment of an illustrative
drawing of a fly-eye arrangement of the light pipes in the optical
integrator shaped in a rectangular shape and with the light pipes
made in a square shape;
[0241] FIG. 27C is a preferred embodiment of an illustrative
drawing of a fly-eye arrangement of the light pipes in the optical
integrator shaped in a circular shape and with the light pipes made
in a circular shape; and
[0242] FIG. 28 is a preferred embodiment of an illustrative drawing
of a system for producing a collimated beam of light including a
light source, a first and second reflecting means, a light
integrator means and a collimating means.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0243] For purposes of simplicity, the same number has been used in
the various figures to identify the same part. Light Path and
Rectangular Be Referring now to FIG. 3, a collimated light beam 50
from a light source 32 is converted into a unitary polarized beam
30 having a cross-sectional configuration or shape (see FIG. 5)
that matches an outer peripheral cross-sectional configuration or
shape of the LCD display 34. As an example, the LCD 34 display is a
LCD having a light aperture of a generally rectangular outer
peripheral configuration.
[0244] This aspect of the invention includes in an optically
aligned path: a polarizing beam splitter 36, a half-wave retarder
38, and an arrangement of a first mirror 40, a second mirror 42, a
third mirror 44, and a fourth mirror 46, that combine the separate
beams exiting from the polarizing beam splitter 36 into a combined
beam of single polarization 30 having a cross sectional
configuration or shape that matches the cross sectional shape of
the LCD display 34. Suitable color filters 48 may be placed between
the LCD display 34 and the combined beam.
[0245] The manner in which the collimated beam 50 is formed is now
described. Light source 32 and reflecting optics or means 41
produce an unpolarized beam of light 50 which is then collimated by
collimation optics, such as lens 43 or light integrator means 63,
as shown in FIG. 27.
[0246] The light or optical integrator means is made of a plurality
of light pipes such as those shown in FIG. 27A, each light pipe
being adjacent and in contact with one or more other light pipes.
Each light pipe consists of a first lens surface 45, a body 75, and
a second lens surface 71. A light source 31 emits rays 73 towards
the surface of body 75 which is ground to the predetermined shape
required. This first lens surface 45 functions to bend light rays
73 towards a more collimated alignment one to the other. Body 75
carries the light rays to the second lens surf ace 71 and has the
same index of refraction as the first lens surface 45 and second
lens surface 71. This minimizes the number of interfaces the light
ray 73 must pass through. Continuing on, light ray 73 strikes the
second lens surface 71 which is ground to a predetermined shape,
and is again bent more normal; thus, the light rays exiting surface
71 are substantially collimated. Lens surfaces 45 and 71 may or may
not be of the same shape or form and are dependent upon several
factors, including, but not limited to, the size of the light
source, the shape of the light source, the type of light source,
the distance from the light source to the first lens surface 45,
the length and size of body 75, the distance of the integrator
second lens surface 71 to the target, and other factors known in
the trade.
[0247] Referring again to FIG. 3, alternately, the light source 32
and its reflecting optics or means 41 form an unpolarized
collimated beam of light 50. The unpolarized collimated beam of
light 50 is split by the polarizing beam splitter 36 into separate
orthogonal polarized beams, a P-polarized beam 52, and an
S-polarized beam 54. The P-polarized beam passes through the
polarizing beam splitter 36 and is directed onto the first mirror
40 and reflected through an angle of 900 as a reflected beam 53 and
onto the LCD display 34. The S-polarized beam 54 is deflected by
the polarizing beam splitter 36 through an angle of 900 and is
passed through the half-wave retarder 38. The half-wave retarder 38
changes the orientation of the electric field vector of the
S-polarized beam 54 to form a second P-polarized beam 56. This
second P-polarized beam 56 is reflected through an angle of 900 by
the second mirror 42. The third mirror 44 and fourth mirror 46 are
situated to intercept the, reflected second P-polarized beam 56 and
split the beam into two separate reflected beams 58 and 60
emanating in the same direction as reflected beam 53. The three
separate reflected beams 53, 58, and 60 are then combined (see FIG.
5) into a single beam 30 having a single orientation of the
electric field vector (P-polarized) and is directed through
suitable color filters 48 to the LCD display 34.
[0248] With reference to FIG. 4, each mirror such as first mirror
40, may be configured with a preferred geometrical shape such as a
generally rectangular or square (i.e., a square shape is a subset
of a rectangular shape) outer peripheral configuration to intercept
a generally circular shaped or collimated light beam (i.e. 52) such
that the reflected beam (i.e., 53) from the mirror is also of a
square or rectangular configuration. This arrangement will produce
a reflected beam that is geometrically similar to the sizes and
shapes of the mirrors used, as the geometry of the mirrors will be
duplicated by the reflected beams. As shown in FIG. 5, this allows
a square-shaped reflected beam 53 from a first mirror 40, a
rectangular shaped reflected beam 60 from fourth mirror 46, and a
rectangular shape reflected beam 58 from third mirror 44 to be
aligned to produce a unitary beam at the LCD display 34 having a
generally rectangular outer peripheral configuration. This
rectangular configuration of the unitary beam 30 matches the
rectangular outer peripheral configuration of the LCD display 34
and in particular to the light aperture of the LCD display 34.
[0249] The method and system for the invention with reference to
FIGS. 3 & 4 can be summarized as follows: producing an
unpolarized collimated beam of light 50 with a light source 32;
splitting the unpolarized beam
[0250] of light 50 with a polarizing beam splitter 36 into separate
orthogonal polarized beams 52, 54 (i.e., a first P-polarized beam
52 and an S-polarized beam 54); directing a first orthogonal beam
52 (first P-polarized beam 52) onto a first mirror 40 to produce a
first reflected beam 53; directing the second orthogonal beam 54
(S-polarized beam 54) through a half -wave retarder 38 in order to
convert the direction of polarization of the second orthogonal beam
54 (S-polarized beam) to become a second reflected beam 56 having
the same polarization as the first orthogonal beam 52 (a second
P-polarized beam); directing the second orthogonal beam 56 (second
P-polarized beam) onto a second mirror 42 and reflecting the beam
through an angle of 900; directing the second reflected beam 56
onto third and fourth mirrors 44, 46 that reflect the second
reflected beam 56 through a second 900 angle and split the second
reflected beam 56 into a third reflected beam 58 and a fourth
reflected beam 60; and combining the separate reflected beams,
i.e., first reflected (P-polarized) beam 53, third reflected
(P-polarized) beam 58 and fourth reflected (P-polarized) beam 60,
into a unitary beam 30 of a single polarization and having a
rectangular outer peripheral shape that matches the rectangular
outer peripheral shape of an LCD display 34.
[0251] Mirrors 40, 42, 44, 46 or other reflecting means are to be
aligned to intersect the path of the orthogonal light beams 52, 56
to produce a unitary light beam by the combination of separate
reflected beams 53, 58, 60 at the LCD display 34. FIG. 3
illustrates just one such alignment pattern for the mirrors 40, 42,
44, 46 with their planar surfaces. In the embodiment illustrated by
FIG. 3, third mirror 44 and fourth mirror 46 are located on either
side of first mirror 40. FIG. 3A illustrates another possible
alignment of the mirrors 40, 44 and 46 to intersect the path of the
orthogonal light beams 52, 56. In the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the
third mirror 44 and fourth mirror 46 are both aligned on one side
of the first mirror 40. However the resultant unitary beam at the
LCD display 34 is functionally the same. Arrangements of the
mirrors 40, 44, 46 other than those shown in FIGS. 3, 3A, & 3C
are also possible. The arrangement of mirrors in FIGS. 3A & 3B
are the same., Moreover, the mirrors 40, 44, 46 may be shaped and
arranged to produce a square shaped beam at the LCD display 34.
[0252] Beam 30 allows substantially of the light produced by the
light source 32 to be utilized for illuminating the LCD display 34
taking into consideration the form f actor of the light source as
shown in FIG. 4A and described below. With beam 30, the minimal
number of components (i.e., polarizing beam splitter 36,
half-wave
[0253] retarder 38, mirrors 40, 42, 44, 46) allow these components
to be easily adjusted to achieve a resultant unitary beam at the
LCD display 34 that is of the desired shape and of a single
polarization (i.e., single
[0254] orientation of the electric field vector). The polarization
of the resultant beam in the illustrative embodiments is in a
P-polarized direction. Alternately, the beam 30 can be configured
to produce an S-polarized beam at the LCD display 34, or whatever
else predetermined polarization direction is chosen.
[0255] In addition, the half-wave retarder 38 may be rotated to
tune the polarization of the resultant beam 56 exiting from the
half-wave retarder 38 to exactly match the polarization of the
first P-polarized beam 52 exiting the polarizing beam splitter 36.
Additionally, the positions of the mirrors (40, 42, 44, 46) may be
easily adjusted or rearranged to achieve a predetermined resultant
beam of a desire outer peripheral configuration at the LCD display
34.
[0256] In FIG. 3B, half-wave retardation of the beam is realized by
means other than the half-wave retarder 38 as used in FIG. 3A. This
is accomplished by reflecting the beam 54 (S-polarized) from the
second mirror 42, resulting in a quarter-wave retardation. Each
half of the beam is then reflected from the respective mirrors 44,
46 and further retarded by a quarter-wave. This results in
half-wave retardation of S-polarized beam 54 changing it into
P-polarized beams 58, 60. The system shown in FIG. 3B is preferred
to those systems shown in FIGS. 3 & 3A because less components
are required. Such mirrors are available from OCLI Corporation,
Santa Rosa, Calif. as part numbers 777-QWM001, through
777-QWM002.
[0257] The mirrors 42, 44, 46 as shown in FIG. 3B can be
constructed with a coating formed thereon through thin film coating
techniques. Each mirror 42, 44, 46 can act as a quarter wave
retarder, besides being a broadband reflector.
[0258] Thin film coatings are also referred to as dielectric films,
i.e., they are films made of materials composed of atoms whose
electrons are so tightly bound to the atomic nuclei that electric
currents are negligible even under applied high electric fields.
The individual film thicknesses or layers vary over a very broad
range, but they are referred to as a thin film when the thickness
of the film is on the order of that wavelength. These films are
built up in many layers, one on top of another, and are referred to
as a multilayer thin film, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 6.
Each layer then reflects the appropriate wavelength or orientation
of the electric field vector according to its individually designed
construction. These layers are typically deposited on top of a
receiving substrate by vacuum deposition. This includes vaporizing
a material and causing the vapor atoms to strike the substrate in a
predetermined manner and rate. Some typical materials are MgF2 SiO2
A1203 C (diamond) , ZnS, TiO2, CdS, CdTe, GaAs, Ge, Si, Ag, Au,
PbS, along with many other materials.
[0259] Because dielectric materials are used, the index of
refraction for each layer is different from each adjacent layer,
although in some cases they 'might be the same.
[0260] Light is reflected from, and transmitted through each layer
(see FIG. 6) and interface. These light wave fields that are
transmitted and reflected from each interface interact with one
another. Depending upon the material chosen for the thin film and
the optical thickness of the thin film, different results are
achieved. A device made in this fashion can have from one to
several hundred film layers on a substrate. In one instance, by
proper design, a coating can change the phase of incident linearly
polarized light. In effect, this functions as a relative quarter
wave plate. Several papers on this subject have been published, but
in particular: "Phase Retardance of Periodic Multilayer Mirrors,
"Appl. Opt., 21 (4):733 (1982), Joseph H. Apf el, "Graphical
Met-hod to Design internal Reflection Phase Retarders," Appl. Opt.,
23(8):1178 (1984), "Mulitlayer Coating Design Achieving a Broadband
900 Phase Shift", Appl. Opt., 19(16):2688, (1980), William H.
Southwell.
[0261] In another design, the coating reflects the incident
polarized light wave, and thus reinforces the P-polarized
reflection. This design reflects the entire light spectrum and
functions as a broadband mirror.
[0262] The components of the system producing unitary beam 30 may
be fabricated from commercially available parts. Light source 32
can be any suitable lamp such as a short arc lamp, a quartz-halogen
lamp, a mercury vapor/xenon long arc lamp, etc. In general, such
lamps efficiently produce a high intensity point source of light.
They are available in various sizes and with varying spectral
qualities. Suitable commercial embodiments of high brightness light
sources (greater than 15,000 lumens) are manufactured by many
manufacturers, including but not limited to Optical Radiation
Corporation, Azusa, Calif. Other light sources that produce desired
wavelengths and different output lumens (spectra or spectrum
distribution) may also be utilized as shown in FIG. 9A. Most light
sources contain a spectrum of visible, infrared, and ultraviolet
light that are contained in different proportions respective to
each other. Lasers can also be used as light sources.
[0263] Polarizing beam splitter 36 may be any of the known devices.
It may be, f or example, composed of a dielectric thin film stack
disposed on a suitable substrate (such as glass). The stack may be
fabricated by alternating layers of high and low refractive index
films each with a quarterwave optical thickness, with the center of
the wavelength design for visible light at approximately 550
nanometers. At each film/film interface, light is incident at
Brewsters angle which transmits P-polarized light and reflects
S-polarized light. The number of layers are dependent upon the
final outcome desired, and can be tailored for the cost/performance
tradeoff desired. It may be fashioned in the shape of a cube of
glass with the layers deposited on the diagonal, or alternatively,
the multilayers can be deposited on a piece of glass, and
optionally, another piece of glass can then be cemented to the
front, forming a sandwich of which the multilayers are deposed in
between the two pieces of glass. The purpose of this is to protect
the layer stack from abrasion or contact with the air. The
arrangement of a single piece of glass or two pieces of glass would
yield a polarizing beam splitter that is less costly to produce and
weigh less than a cube polarizer.
[0264] It is desirable that the light striking the surface of the
layers do so at a 450 angle, with a small deviation from the normal
of the rays, thus the incidence angle between the layers and the
beam of light should be well controlled. Such a polarizing beam
splitter is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,403,731 to MacNeille or
2,449,287 to Flood and is termed a MacNeille polarizer. A
commercial embodiment of such a polarizing beam splitter suitable
for use herein can be obtained from the Perkin Elmer Corporation,
Electro-Optical Division, Norwalk, Conn. or OCLI Corporation, Santa
Rosa, Calif. A wavelength response for a polarizing beam splitter
is shown in FIG. 10.
[0265] Typically, such coatings of thin film stacks on the diagonal
of the polarizers and polarizing beam splitters can be coatings
capable of handling high energy beams such as laser beams. They are
capable of handling high wattage of incident energy per centimeter
squared.
[0266] The mirror 40 (OCLI Corporation, Santa Rosa, Calif., part
no. 777BBM001) must be selected to be an efficient reflector of the
P-polarized light at the particular wavelength required. Mirrors
42, 44, 46 are selected to be either quarter wave retarders or
broadband reflective mirrors, depending upon how the system is
configured. If used as a quarter wave mirror, their part numbers
are 777QWM001 and 777-QWM002. if used as a broadband mirror, their
part numbers are
[0267] 777-BBM002 and 777-BBM003. These mirror numbers are
available from OCLI Corporation, Santa Rosa, Calif. As an example,
the mirrors can be formed of a thin film coated onto a substrate.
The thin film is formed with a broadband coating for visible light.
It is known that metal film mirrors reflect P-polarized waves more
efficiently than S-polarized waves because of the nature of metal
reflections. Because of this known efficiency factor, the
conversion of S-polarized waves to P-polarized is utilized by this
invention.
[0268] Such thin film mirrors that are acceptable for use herein
can be obtained from the OCLI Corporation, Santa Rosa, Calif. Thin
film coatings are known as laser coatings and are capable of
handling high energy beams (watts divided by centimeters
squared).
[0269] The half-wave retarder 38 (shown in FIG. 3A) maybe one of a
class of optical elements known as retarders, which serve to change
the polarization of an incident wave. With a retarder, the light
exiting has the orientation of the electric field vector lagged in
phase behind the input light by a predetermined amount. Upon
emerging from the retarder, the relative phase is different than it
was initially and thus the polarization state (orientation of the
electric field vector) is different as well. A retardation plate
that introduces a relative phase difference of 900 is known as a
half-wave retarder.
[0270] A half-wave retarder can be made from a biaxial crystal
material such as mica. Suitable retarders can also be made from
sheets of plastic material that have been stretched to align long
chain organic molecules, thin film dielectrics (such as that made
by OCLI Corporation, Santa Rosa, Calif.), LCDs, reflection from
mirrors coated with a thin film dielectric, a combination of a LCD
and a mirror coated with a thin film dielectric, and quartz
crystal. The half-wave retarder 38 used in the illustrative
embodiment of the invention can preferably be adjusted (i.e., by
rotation of
[0271] the crystal) to exactly match the polarization state of a
P-polarized light beam 56 exiting the retarder 38 (see FIG. 3A)
with the P-polarization state of P-polarized light beam 52 exiting
the polarizer cube 36. Other means of changing or converting the
polarization direction of a light beam other than a half-wave
retarder can be employed in this application.
[0272] By way of example and not limitation, a system and method
constructed in accordance with the invention offers the following
results and advantages over prior art illumination systems: a
rectangular singularity
[0273] polarized beam is created that will efficiently fill the
aperture of an LCD display; and the divergence of the resultant
beam at the LCD display is smaller than with other methods of
combination, i.e., U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,529 to Goldenberg.
[0274] Light Projector
[0275] Referring now to FIG. 8, a projector constructed in
accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention is
shown. FIG. 8 is labeled with locative directions illustrating an
optic path for convenience sake only and does not necessarily
resemble what the actual layout may be. Other arrangements of the
illustrative components connected in different optic paths may also
be suitable.
[0276] A light source 32 (i.e., a xenon short arc lamp, a
quartz-halogen lamp, a mercury vapor/xenon long arm lamp, etc.)
emits light which is collimated into a source beam 50 traveling
toward the left that contains a wavelength spectrum of visible,
infrared and ultraviolet light. (Most light sources contain all of
the above wavelengths of light; however, they are contained in
different proportions respective to each other. See FIGS. 9 &
9A for different types of light sources) . Depending on the
application, the lamp source can be any suitable means for
producing a collimated beam of light. The characteristics of the
light source may be tailored to a particular application.
[0277] The visible region of light that a typical person can see is
between 400 and 700 nanometers in wavelength (this is well
understood and can be found in standard reference books or college
level text books (see also photopic response curve in FIG. 10). The
non-visible wavelengths between 200 nanometers to 400 nanometers
are named the ultraviolet region and the non-visible wavelengths
between 700 nanometers and 1500 nanometers are named the infrared
region. The infrared wavelength region (greater than 700
nanometers) and the ultraviolet wavelength region (less than 400
nanometers) each contribute watts of radiant light energy which are
detrimental to the optics of the system but does not contribute to
normal human eyesight (see photopic response curves in FIG. 10) .
Because of this fact, the collimated source beam 50 from the light
source 32 is directed to the left toward mirror 33 which is a
dichroic/thin film dielectric mirror. Dichroic/thin film dielectric
mirrors are able to function as wavelength filters. In general,
these type of mirrors are constructed to transmit (i.e., pass
through) all light having wavelengths longer (or shorter) than a
reference wavelength and reflect the non-transmitted light. The
reflective and transmissive characteristics of mirror 33 are shown
in FIG. 12.
[0278] The light wavelengths less than 700 nanometers which strike
the coating on the front surface are reflected downward (as viewed
in FIG. 8) by an angle of 900 toward mirror 35.The infrared
portions 141 of the source beam 50 (wavelengths greater than 700
nanometers) are transmitted through mirror 33 and strike a beam
block absorber shown schematically as 161. The beam block absorber
161 can be constructed of a black piece of aluminum (preferably
with fins to radiate the heat, not shown) that absorbs the infrared
wavelengths from the source beam 50 and re-emits the absorbed
energy as heat, which can be carried away from the system and not
introduced into the vital components which it might otherwise
strike. Alternately, in place of a black piece of aluminum, other
suitable means for absorbing infrared wavelengths may be utilized.
Additionally, suitable means of separating or filtering the
infrared component of the source beam 50 other than dichroic/thin
film mirror 33 may be utilized.
[0279] The remaining wavelengths of the source beam 50 resulting in
a new source beam 55 are reflected from mirror 33 downward (as
viewed in FIG. 8) by an angle of 900 and strike the front surface
of mirror 35. As with mirror 33, mirror 35 is formed as a
wavelength filter so that the visible portion (430-700 nanometers
in wavelength, see FIG. 13A) of the source beam 55 resulting in a
new source beam 57 is transmitted toward a polarizer cube 36
located in an optic path with mirror 35. The ultraviolet portion 37
of the source beam 55 (wavelengths less than 439 nanometers) is
reflected by an angle of 900 toward the beam block absorber 161 on
the left. (The characteristics of the mirrors 33 and 35 are.
outlined in FIGS. 12 & 13. Alternately, in place of
dichroic/thin film mirror 35 and beam block absorber 161, other
means for separating and absorbing the ultraviolet components of
the source beam may be provided.
[0280] The source beam 57 is next directed toward a means 36 for
polarizing the source beam 57 into two orthogonally polarized
beams. In the illustrative embodiment in FIG. 8 of the invention, a
polarizer cube 36 is utilized to separate the source beam 57 into a
P-polarized beam 52 and an S-polarized beam 54. it should be
further understood that when a polarizer cube is, mentioned, that a
polarizing plate or a piece of glass with a thin film polarizing
coating deposited upon it, or a sandwich of 'glass, with the thin
film polarizing layers deposed in between the glasses, can also be
used for construction of the system.
[0281] A suitable polarizer cube 36, in an illustrative embodiment
of the invention, is known in the art as a birefringent polarizer.
In particular, one useful for this application is called a
MacNeille Polarizer and is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,403,731
and 2,449,287, with a general discussion having previously been set
forth above.
[0282] The polarizer 36, if constructed as a thin film Macneille
polarizer, is sensitive to ultraviolet and infrared portions of the
light spectrum because of the thin film coatings; thus, the
wavelength filtering by mirrors 33 and 35 that occurs before the
beam enters the polarizer cube 36 is advantageous. This is because
the ultraviolet light causes degradation of the internal coatings
and the infrared light causes excessive heat buildup in the
polarizer 36. The polarizer coatings start to absorb energy below
425 nanometer which will destroy their effectiveness. (see FIG. 11
for wavelength response of a suitable polarizer cube 36). The
polarizer 36 polarizes the source beam 57 into two orthogonally
polarized beams, beam 52 and beam 54, of equal cross-sectional
areas but with different polarizations. The P-polarized beam 52 is
propagated straight through to strike mirror 40 where it is
deflected by a 900 angle toward the left. The other polarization
component of the source beam cube 36, the S portion of the source
beam, i.e., beam 54, is deflected
[0283] left through a 450 angle from the diagonal plane of the
polarizing coating of the polarizer cube 36. This S-polarized beam
54 is converted or changed into a P-polarization direction by a
suitable polarization converter such as a half-wave polarization
retarder 38, or, alternately, by reflections from coated mirrors
42, 44, and 46.
[0284] A general discussion of half-wave retarder 38 requirements
and specifications or reflections from mirrors 42, 44, 46 have been
previously furnished above.
[0285] The half-wave retarder 38 thus produces a second P-polarized
beam 56. Second P-polarized beam 56 strikes mirror 42 and it is
deflected by a 900 angle downward where it is deflected toward the
left by mirrors 44 and 46. Mirrors 40, 42, 44 and 46 are front
surfaced broadband mirrors that will maintain the P-polarization of
the beam. Moreover, the reflective surfaces of these mirrors 40,
42, 44 and 46 can be generally rectangular in shape such that the
beams reflected therefrom are also generally rectangular in shape.
This allows a resultant unitary polarized beam to be formed with a
generally rectangular outer peripheral configuration to match the
light aperture of an LCD. The resultant unitary polarized beam 30
is thus doubled in its original size and has the same rectangular
area of the LCDs that it is going to strike and is of one state of
polarization, that is, a P-polarization.
[0286] Alternately, in place of the polarizer cube 36, any other
suitable means for producing orthogonally polarized beams (52, 54)
can be utilized. Additionally, means for converting (or changing)
the polarization of one of the beams 54 other than the half-wave
retarder 38 can be provided, such as reflection from coated mirrors
42, 44, 46. Moreover, other means than mirrors 40, 42, 44, 46 for
combining the polarized beams 52 and 56 can be utilized. Finally
the mirrors 40, 42, 44 and 46 can be placed in other arrangements
for producing a resultant unitary polarized beam 30 having a shape
that matches the rectangular peripheral shape of an LCD or LCD
light aperture.
[0287] The rectangular polarized light beam 30 now encounters the
coating surface of mirror 80 (which functions as a filtering means)
where it is split into two beams 132, 134; beam 132 is deflected
upward (as viewed in FIG. 8) at an angle of 900 and beam 134
continues on through 80 to the left. Deflected beam 132, traveling
upward, is a beam containing wavelengths between 600 nanometers and
700 nanometers (the red portion of the visible spectrum) or,
alternately, other predetermined portions of the light spectrum,
and of the P-polarization state. At this time, the beam 132 strikes
mirror 82 which functions as a second filtering means. FIG. 14
illustrates the reflectance characteristics of mirrors 80 and 82.
As is apparent, these mirrors are selected to reflect the red
portion of the visible spectrum and to allow wavelengths of less
than 600 nanometers or, alternately, other predetermined portions
of the light spectrum to pass through. Mirror 82 further filters
the deflected beam 132 so that it will match the CIE response
needed for a good color balance (see FIGS. IOA & 10B). As an
example, the mirror curve (FIG. 14) of mirror 82 can be shifted
toward the right so that it will pass wavelengths below 615
nanometers or, alternately, other predetermined portions of the
light spectrum and cause a deflected beam to appear deeper red to
the human eye. Any "unwanted" wavelengths will pass through 82 and
strike a red beam block 136 while the wanted wavelengths are
deflected at an angle of 900 toward the left where they pass
through a first LCD, which is termed as a red LCD 138. Beam block
136 can be fabricated in the same manner as beam block absorber 161
previously described.
[0288] The red LCD 138 (as well as a green LCD 140 and a blue LCD
142 to follow) is of a type that can be caused to change its
birefringence, thereby altering the orientation of the electric
field vector of light passing through it, formed in a checkerboard
arrangement with individual pixels 100 (see FIG. 2A). The red LCD
138 is driven by electronics in which each cell alters the
respective light portion by rotating the vector of the electric
field according to the image that is desired to be displayed
(change by "twisting" or rotating the polarization state, see FIG.
2A, by application of a voltage) . The resolution of the projected
image will depend upon the number of cells in the LCD. A display of
320 horizontal pixels by 240 vertical pixels will yield a display
of 76,800 pixels. A typical television set is 115,000 pixels. Thus,
the deflected red beam 132, having now passed through the red LCD
138, is now an altered red beam 144 comprising a combination of
polarizations for the individual pixels of a display, each pixel
having a predetermined orientation of electric field vector by the
driving electronics. As will hereinafter be more fully explained,
the amount of the rotation in the polarization state for an
individual pixel will eventually decide how much of the light for
that pixel will be passed all the way through to finally strike the
screen used for display. At this point, the altered red beam 144
strikes mirror 92 and is deflected upward at an angle of 900. The
purpose of mirror 92 is to combine the altered red beam 144 and
altered green beam 152 (as viewed in FIG. 8). Mirror 92 thus
functions as a combining means. The response curve for mirror 92 is
shown in FIG. 16. It is best that mirror 92 does not change the
state of polarization of the altered red beam 144 or any other beam
striking it (i.e., altered green beam 152).
[0289] The deflected (from mirror 92) altered red beam 144 then
continues on through mirror 90 which is constructed to pass any
wavelengths greater than 515 nanometers (see FIG. 17) or,
alternately, other predetermined portions of the light spectrum.
The purpose of mirror 90 is to combine the combined altered red 144
and altered green 152 beams with an altered blue beam 160. Mirror
90 thus also functions as a combining means. It is best that mirror
90 does not change the state of polarization (orientation of the
electric field vector) of any beam impingent upon it. The altered
red beam 144 after passing through mirror 90 will continue on to a
final polarizer called the polarizer analyzer 146. Polarizer
analyzer 146 may also be a polarizer cube constructed as a
MacNeille polarizer, or alternatively, as described above, on a
single piece of glass or sandwiched between two pieces of glass.
The vector component of the individual pixel light beams that is a
P orientation of the electric field vector will pass through the
polarizer analyzer 146 into a projection lens 148 and be projected
as a part of beam 178 toward a screen (not shown in FIG. 8)
according to the magnification of the projection lens 148. The
vector component of the altered red beam 144 that is not a P vector
component (S-polarization) will be deflected by the polarizer
analyzer 146 toward the left and be absorbed by beam block 150. See
FIG. 1B for a pictorial illustration showing how a particular
vector component is resolved into two components, each having a
different orientation
[0290] of the electric field vector. Beam block 150 may be
fabricated in the same manner as beam block absorber 161 previously
described. Thus, the intensity of the red light at the viewing
surface is directly proportional to the amount of rotation of the
altered red beam's electric field vector.
[0291] Returning now to the single state of polarization
rectangular light beam 30, it encounters the coating of mirror 80
where it is split into two beams 132, 134. A red beam 132 is
deflected upward and the other beam, blue-green beam 134, passes
through mirror 80 and continues on to the left. The blue-green beam
134 traveling through mirror 80 and toward the left is a beam
containing wavelengths between 415 nanometers and 600 nanometers
(the blue-green portion of the visible spectrum) or, alternately,
other predetermined portions of the light spectrum, and of the
P-polarization state. The response curve for mirror 80 is shown in
FIG. 14. Next, the blue-green beam 134 strikes the surface coating
of mirror 84 and the green portion 154 of the beam (500-600
nanometers or, alternately, other predetermined portions of the
light spectrum) is deflected by a 900 angle upward toward the green
LCD 140, while the blue portion 156 of the beam (425-500 nanometers
or, alternately, other predetermined portions of the light
spectrum) continues on through mirror 84 and toward mirror 86 at
the left. Mirror 84 functions as a filtering means, and its
response curve is shown in FIG. 18.
[0292] The green beam 154 passes through the green LCD 140. Each
cell alters its respective portion of the green beam by rotating
the orientation of the vector of the electric field according to
the image that is desired to be displayed. Thus, the altered green
beam 152, having now passed through the green LCD 140, is an
altered green beam 152 comprising of a combination of polarizations
for the individual pixels of a display, each pixel having a
predetermined orientation of electric field vector by the driving
electronics. The amount of the rotation in the polarization state
for an individual pixel will eventually decide how much of the
light for that pixel will be passed all the way through the
polarizer analyzer 146 to finally strike the screen (not shown in
FIG. 8) used f or display. . At this point, the altered green beam
152 strikes mirror 92. As previously stated, the purpose of mirror
92 is to combine the altered green beam 152 with the altered red
beam 144 (see FIG. 17). The altered green beam 152 passes through
mirror 92 and propagates upwardly. Mirror 92 does not change the
state of polarization of the altered green beam 152 or any other
beam (altered red beam 144) striking it.
[0293] The altered green beam 152 then continues on through mirror
90 because mirror 90 will pass any wavelength greater than 501
nanometers (see FIG. 17) or, alternately, other predetermined
portions of the light spectrum. As previously stated, the purpose
of mirror 90 is to combine the altered blue beam 160 (see FIG. 16
for response curve of mirror 92) with the combined, altered beams
144 and 152. It is also preferable that mirror 90 does not change
the state of polarization of any beam impingent upon or passing
through it.
[0294] After passing through mirror 90, the altered green beam 152
now continues on through the polarizer analyzer 146. Any portion of
the light of the individual pixels of altered green beam 152 that
is of a P-polarized orientation will pass through the polarizer
analyzer 146 into the projection lens 148 and be projected as part
of beam 178 toward the screen (not shown) according to the
[0295] magnification of the projection lens. The vector component
of the altered green beam 152 that is not a P vector component (S
component) will be deflected by the polarizer analyzer 146 toward
the left and be absorbed by the beam block 150. Thus, the intensity
of the green light at the viewing surface is directly proportional
to the amount of rotation of the green beam's electric field
vector.
[0296] Returning now to the blue-green light beam striking the
coating surface of mirror 84 where it is split into two beams 154,
156, a green beam 154 is deflected upwardly at an angle of 900 and
a blue beam 156 continues through mirror 84 to the left. The blue
beam 156 traveling through 84 toward the left is a beam containing
wavelengths between 415 nanometers and 500 nanometers (the blue
portion of the visible spectrum) or, alternately, other
predetermined portions of the light spectrum, of the P-polarization
state. The blue beam 156 continues on toward the left and strikes
the surface coating of mirror 86 (mirror 86 may be a front surface
broadband mirror; however, it must retain the P state of
polarization for the blue beam) and the blue beam (415-500
nanometers or, alternately, other predetermined portions of the
light spectrum) is deflected at an angle of 900 upward toward the
mirror 88. A wave response f or mirror 84 is shown in FIG. 15.
[0297] At this time, the reflected blue beam 156 from mirror 86
strikes mirror 88 for further filtering. Further filtering can be
done by mirror 88 on the blue beam 156 so that it will match the
CIE response needed for a good color balance (see FIGS. IOA, 10B).
For instance, mirror 88 can be constructed with a mirror curve as
shown in FIG. IS which is shifted toward the left so that it will
transmit wavelengths above 495 nanometers or, alternately, other
predetermined portions of the light spectrum, and cause the beam to
appear deeper blue to the human eye. Any "unwanted" wavelengths
will pass through mirror 88 and strike a blue beam block 158 while
the wanted wavelengths are deflected at an angle of 900 toward the
right where they pass through the blue LCD 142. Blue beam block 158
may be constructed in the same manner as beam block absorber 161
previously described. As before, it is important that mirror 88
does not change the state of polarization of the blue beam 156. The
blue portion of the blue beam 156 passes through the blue LCD 142.
Each cell alters the respective light portion by rotating the
vector of the electric field according to the image that is desired
to be displayed. Thus, an altered blue beam 160, having now passed
through the blue LCD 142, is now an altered blue beam comprising a
combination of polarizations for the individual pixels of a
display, each pixel having a predetermined orientation of electric
field vector by the driving electronics. The amount of the rotation
in the polarization state for an individual pixel will eventually
decide how much of the light for that pixel passes all the way
through to finally strike the screen (not shown in FIG. 8) used for
display. At this point, the altered blue beam 160. strikes mirror
90 and is reflected upward at an angle of 900 (as viewed in FIG. 8)
for combining with altered red beam 144 and altered green beam 152.
Mirror 90 will allow any wavelengths less than 500 nanometers, to
be reflected (see FIG. 17) or, alternately, other predetermined
portions of the light spectrum. It is important that mirror 90 does
not change the state of polarization of the altered blue beam 160,
or any other beam striking it. The altered blue beam 160 now
continues on to the polarizer analyzer 146. The vector component of
the individual pixel light beams that is of a P-polarized component
will pass through the polarizer analyzer 146 into the projection
lens 148 and be projected as a part of beam 178 toward the screen
according to the magnification of the projection lens. The vector
component of the altered blue beam 160 that is. not a P vector
component (S vector component) will be deflected by the polarizer
analyzer 146 toward the left and be absorbed by the beam block 150.
Beam block 150 can be fabricated in the same manner as beam block
absorber 161 previously described. Thus, the intensity of the blue
light at the viewing surface is directly proportional to the amount
of rotation of the blue beam's electric field vector.
[0298] At this point, all of the colors of the display (red, green
and blue) have passed through the system and the projection lens
148 to be projected 178 onto the screen (not shown in FIG. 8). They
are combined on top of each other to produce a pixelized image that
has the correct color balance.
[0299] The projection lens 148 is either a single lens or a
combination of lenses that produces a good focused image on the
screen. It has a back focal point of the distance equal to the
distance from the rear of the lens to each one of the LCDs 138,
140, 142 in the system. This distance is made the same f or all of
the three LCDs.
[0300] Thus, to focus and align the system, it is necessary to
first project one of the individual colors without the others. When
this is done and the image is focused, then the second color is
projected along with the first color and the second color LCD is
moved spatially to produce a sharp image or pixel on top of the
first color pixel. The entire image of the second color is then
aligned to the image of the first color to make a perfect match
with regard to size, focus and alignment.
[0301] Next, the second color is then turned of f or blocked and
then the third color is projected along with the first color and
the third color LCD is moved spatially to produce a sharp image or
pixel on top of the first color pixel. The entire image of the
third color is then aligned to the image of the first color to make
a perfect match with regard to size, focus and alignment.
[0302] The image is then projected as beam 178 with all colors
turned on and a final adjustment can then be made at this time.
[0303] The selection of the wavelengths applicable to mirrors 82
and 88 can be judicially applied so that the color balances of
different lamps can be adjusted for color balance of the final
output without the redesign of the entire optical system (see FIGS.
10A & IOB).
[0304] When the image was projected, it was noted unexpectedly that
the brightness of the image was increased as the distance from the
projector lens to the screen increased up to a distance of
approximately 10 feet (about 305 cm.). Within this range of
approximately 10 feet (about 305 cm.), the picture became brighter
as it enlarged rather than dimmer as had occurred in the past. When
this phenomena was discovered, it was noted that the length of the
optical path between the projector lens 148 and each of the LCDs
138, 140 and 142 was approximately 13.5 in (about 34 cm). The
component parts shown in FIG. 8 were arranged in plan view as shown
in FIG. 8 and were encompassed with a rectangle approximately 24
inches by 36 inches (about 61 cm. by 92 cm.)
[0305] While this phenomena is not fully understood, it is believed
that this unique effect was due to the polarized nature of the
light and destructive interference of the projected light waves. It
is thought at this time that, when the picture is smaller, more
wave nodes interfere in a smaller area, thus the light reaching the
screen is reduced. As the picture is enlarged, the wave nodes are
spaced further apart and less interference occurs. At a certain
size, no interference takes place, and, thus, as the distance
increases, the picture brightness (as measured in lumens/sq. f t.
or lumens/sq. meter) then diminishes with greater enlargement.
[0306] It is thought at this time that the reason this phenomena
occurs in this projector and not in previous projectors is the
unitary polarization of the projected beam 178. This projector uses
the same polarization for the entire beam path with the same
polarizers, with the previous projectors using individual
polarizers for each of the LCDs, of which different alignment of
the electric field vectors occur.
[0307] An analysis of the efficiency of the system constructed in
accordance with the invention versus a prior art system that
utilizes an absorbing type of polarizer for illuminating an LCD
display is as follows:
[0308] With reference to FIG. 8.
EXAMPLE ONE
[0309] PRIOR ART ABSORBING TYPE OF POLARIZER
[0310] (KODAK OR SHARP PROJECTOR)
[0311] lumens of light emitted by the light source=L area of circle
of light=Ack=pi-r2 area of aperture of LCD-ALcD=length-width=6d
8d=0.48d2=0.48-(2r)2 =0.48-(4r 2)=1.92r 2 (f or a 3:4:5 LCD)
[0312] % of light impingent upon LCD due to aperture of
LCD=ALcj)/Acj,=1.92elw e=61.1t
[0313] % of light passed by absorption polarizer=total light
%-absorbed %=100% -70%=30%
[0314] amount of light impingent upon LCD=light output of lamp % of
light impingent upon LCD due to aperture of LCD of light passed by
polarizer=L 0.611-0 .30
[0315] For a lamp that emits 1000 lumens and for a one inch
diagonal LCD, the light coming through an LCD is 1000-0.61-0.30=183
lumens.
[0316] This analysis, of course, does not deal with the other
inefficiencies of the system, such as the second plastic polarizer
efficiencies, the collection efficiency of the lamp, or the
transmittance efficiency of the LCDs in the system.
EXAMPLE TWO
[0317] SYSTEM OF THE INVENTION (FIG. 8)
[0318] lumens of light emitted by the light source=L
[0319] area of circle of light=Aci,=pi-r2
[0320] area of aperture of LCD=ALcD=length-width=6d
8d=0.48d2=0.48-(2r)2=0.48-(4r2)=1.92r2 (for a 3:4:5 LCD)
[0321] % of light impingent upon LCD due to aperture of
LCD=ALc,,/kj,-1.92r2/w r2=61.1t % of light passed to LCD=% of light
impingent
[0322] upon LCD to aperture of LCD=ALCD/ACil=1.92r2/w 61.1t
[0323] efficiency of polarizer=(0.611-0.97)-100 59t Therefore, for
a lamp that emits 1000 lumens and a one inch diagonal LCD, the
light coming through an LCD is 1000-0.59 or 590 lumens.
[0324] This gives an improvement over the prior art system by a
factor greater than 3.2.
[0325] Referring to FIG. SA, a functional description of FIG. 8 is
shown with the same parts, but with the part numbers removed for
clarity. The parts are grouped according to functionality, however
other parts can be substituted, removed, or added according to what
is needed to be achieved. FIG. 8A shows the steps involved to
achieve a method of this invention.
[0326] In FIGS. 8 & 8A the light source 32, the reflector 41,
the collimating lens 43, mirror 33, mirror 35 and beam stop 161
work in accordance together, as detailed in the description of FIG.
8 above, for producing a beam of light 57 for the projector
described.
[0327] The initial resolving of the light beam 57 is accomplished
when it is sent through the polarizing means 36, as detailed in the
description of FIG. 8 above, and initially resolved into two
orthogonally polarized light beams 52, 54. The initial resolving
may also include a retarding of the beam by passing it through a
half-wave retarder to produce a light beam 56 which is of the same
polarization as that of light beam 52.
[0328] The forming of the light beam 30 occurs when the two light
beams are respectively reflected from forming means 40, 42, 44, and
46, as detailed in the description for FIGS. 3, 3A, 3B & 3C
above, into a single beam of light 30 as depicted in FIG. 5.
Arrangements of the forming means 40, 44, 46 other than those shown
in FIGS. 3, 3A & 3C are also possible. The arrangement of
forming means in FIGS. 3A & 3B are the same. Moreover, the
forming means 40, 44, 46 may be shaped and arranged to produce a
rectangular or square shaped beam, or any other desired geometrical
shape.
[0329] The separating of the beam, as described above for FIG. 8,
is achieved by passing this beam through the separating means 80,
84, 86. The formed polarized light beam 30 encounters the
separating means 80 where it is separated into two beams 132, 134.
Deflected beam 132 travels upwardly. The beam 134 strikes
separating means 84 where it is separated into two beams 154, 156.
Deflected beam 154 travels upwardly. The beam 156 strikes
separating means 86 where deflected beam 154 travels toward the
top.
[0330] Altering of the separate beams is achieved by passing the
beam through the LCDs 138, 140, 142 or other suitable altering
means, as described above for FIG. B. Each beam passes through its
respective LCD. Each cell alters its respective portion of a beam
by rotating the orientation of the vector of the electric field
according to the image that is desired to be displayed. Thus, an
altered beam, having now passed through the LCD,' is an altered
beam comprising a combination of polarizations for the individual
pixels of a display, each pixel having a predetermined orientation
of electric field vector by the driving electronics. The amount of
the rotation in the polarization state for an individual pixel will
eventually decide how much of the light for that pixel will be
passed all the way through the polarizing means 146 to finally
strike the screen (not shown in FIG. SA) used for display.
[0331] The adjusting of the beams 132, 156 is accomplished by
passing the beam through the adjusting means or mirrors 82, 88 and
the beam stops 136, 158. Any "unwanted" wavelengths will pass
through mirrors or adjusting means 82, 88 and strike beam block
136, 158 while the wanted wavelengths are deflected at an angle of
900 toward the respective LCD. Beam blocks 136, 158 can be
fabricated in the same manner as beam block absorber 161 previously
described above, as detailed in the description of FIG. 8
above.
[0332] The combining of the beams 144, 152, & 160 is
accomplished by passing the beams through the combining means or
mirrors 90, 92. However, these combining means can also be used for
adjusting if so desired by their beam pass/reflection criteria. The
altered beam 134 travels through combining means or mirror 92,
while altered beam 144 is deflected from combining means 92, which
serves to combine the two beams 144, 152 into a single beam. It is
preferable that combining means 92 does not change the state of
polarization of any beam impingent upon or passing through it. This
combined beam travels through reflecting means 90. It is preferable
that combining means 90 does not change the state of polarization
of any beam impingent upon or passing through it. The purpose of
combining means or mirror 90 is to combine the combined altered 144
and altered 152 beams with an altered beam 160 into a single
combined altered beam, as detailed in the description of FIG. 8
above.
[0333] After the beams have been combined into a single beam they
are directed toward the resolving means where they are separated
into two beams by passing the beam through the polarizing beam
splitter means 146, with the desired separated beam being passed to
the projecting means 148, as detailed in the description of FIG. 8
above.
[0334] The projecting means 148 can be either a single lens or a
combination of lenses that produces a good focused image on the
screen. It has a back focal point of the distance equal to the
distance from the rear of the lens to each one of the altering
means 138, 140, 142 in the system. This distance is made the same
for all of the three altering means.
[0335] While the description above has been particularly shown and
described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in
form and details can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of this invention.
[0336] Referring to FIG. 8B, another alternative embodiment of the
color LCLV projector as taught in FIG. 8 is shown. FIG. 8B is an
improvement over U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,601 to Yajima et al., assigned
to Seiko Epson Corp., utilizing the new and novel method and system
of a single polarized light beam as disclosed herein. The alternate
embodiment in FIG. 8B utilizes a different layout of the optical
path of the invention. As previously stated in connection with FIG.
8, a polarized white light beam 30 is formed for use in the optical
system. At this point, the white light beam 30 strikes mirror 80
and is divided into two beams, a red beam 132, and a blue-green
beam 134. Continuing on with beam 132, it strikes mirror 82 and is
deflected toward the left (as viewed in FIG. 8B) and passes through
LCD 138. At this time, the orientation of the vector of the
electric field is rotated responsive to a control signal input
means (see FIG. 19) forming beam 144. Beam 144 is then deflected
from the dichroic beam combiner 93 and, in particular, the dichroic
surface 94 and is reflected upward (as viewed in FIG. 8B) through
the polarizer analyzer 146. At this point, the red beam 144 is
segregated according to the P and S vector components, with the P
vector passing on through the analyzer 146 and the S vector
component deflecting to the left to strike beam stop 150. Returning
to beam 134, the blue-green beam 134 strikes dichroic mirror 84 and
is separated into a green beam 154 and a blue beam 156. Green beam
154 is deflected upward (as viewed in FIG. 8B) through the green
LCD 140 where it is altered with respect to, the orientation of the
electric field vector responsive to a signal input means (see FIG.
14). The altered green beam 152 enters the dichroic beam combiner
93 and passes through surfaces 94 and 96. The beam continues on
through into polarizer analyzer 146. The P vector component passes
on through to projection lens 148 with the S vector component of
the beam being diverted to the left and striking beam stop 150.
Returning now to blue beam 156, it is deflected from mirror 86
upward (as viewed in FIG. 8B) where it strikes dichroic mirror 88
and is deflected to the right and passes through LCD 142. At this
point, it has the orientation of the electric field vector altered
by response to a control signal input means (see FIG. 19) and forms
blue beam 160. Blue Beam 160 then enters the dichroic beam combiner
93 and is deflected upwardly (as viewed in FIG. 8B) via surface 96
to enter the polarizer analyzer 146. At this point, the blue beam
160 is segregated according to the P and S vector components that
have been formed with the P vector component of beam 160 passing
through the analyzer 146 to projection lens 148 and the S vector
component of beam 160 being deflected to the left (as viewed in
FIG. 8B) to strike beam stop 150.
[0337] Referring now to FIG. SC, an alternative embodiment of FIG.
8 of the color LCLV projector is shown. FIG. SC is an improvement
over U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,390 to McKechnie et al., assigned to North
American Philips Corp., utilizing the new and novel method and
system of a single polarized light beam as disclosed herein. The
alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 8C is functionally the same as
that in FIG. 8 with the addition that the optical path lengths from
the LCDs to the light source are exactly the same and the optical
paths of the LCDs to the beam combiner and output lens are the
same. Operation and function of this system is the same as that of
FIG. 8. It should be further understood that this FIG. 8C can have
the optical layout of the LCD path duplicated and used as the
second modulation subsystem to create a beam to input into
polarizer combiner 146 to form a 3-D projector the same as that
disclosed in FIGS. 20, 20A 20B.
[0338] Referring now to FIG. 8D, an alternative embodiment of the
color LCLV projector as taught by FIG. 8 is shown. FIG. 8D is an
improvement over U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,685 to Kamakura et al.,
assigned to Seiko Epson Corp., and U.S. Pat No. 4,943,154 to
Kiyatake et al., assigned to Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.
utilizing the new and novel method and system of a single polarized
light beam as disclosed herein. The alternative embodiment of FIG.
8D operates and functions exactly the same as that of FIG. 8 with
the exception that the separate dichroic beam splitters and
combiners 80, 82 & 84 have been replaced with combined beam
splitters and combiners 93. In light of the herein disclosed
embodiments, it will now be understood that the splitting and
combining system with respect to the others can be duplicated to
create another beam that would be input into polarizer analyzer 146
to create a 3-D projector that functions and operates as those
shown in FIGS. 20 through 20B inclusive.
[0339] In reference to FIG. 8D, as further explanation, the white
light source beam 30 strikes the first dichroic color separator 93
and is separated into red beam 132, green beam 154 and blue beam
156. Green beam 154 is passed through green LCD 140 and has its
individual portions altered with respect to the orientation of the
electric field vector responsive to a control means input forming
altered green beam 152. This altered green beam 152 then passes
through the beam combiner 93 without having its orientation of
electric field vector changed and is segregated at polarizer
analyzer 146 according to the P component and S component with the
P vector component passing through to the projection lens 148, and
S component being rejected upward to beam block 150 where it is
absorbed. Returning now to red beam 132, it is deflected from
mirror 83 to the left (as viewed in FIG. 8D) to mirror 82 and then
from mirror 82 where it is deflected downward (as viewed in FIG.
8D) through LCD 138. Passing through LCD 138, the beam 132 has its
individual portions altered with respect to the orientation of the
electric field vector and forms altered red beam 144. Altered red
beam 144 is then deflected from surface 94 to the left (as viewed
in FIG. 8D) to polarizer analyzer 146. At this point, altered red
beam 144 is segregated according to the P and S components with the
P component passing on to projection lens 148 and the S component
being deflected upward (as viewed in FIG. 8D) to beam block 150.
Returning now to beam 132 being deflected from surface 82, it can
be further filtered at this point with the desired wavelengths
passing to the left (as viewed in FIG. 8D) to be absorbed by beam
block 136. Returning now to blue beam 156 coming out of the first
dichroic beam splitter 93, it is deflected downward (as viewed in
FIG. 8D) from surface 96 and is deflected to the left (as viewed in
FIG. 8D) from surface 86. Blue beam 156 is then deflected from
mirror 88 upward (as viewed in FIG. 8D) through the blue LCD
[0340] I 142. LCD 142 then functions to alter the individual
portions of blue beam 142 by changing the orientation of the
electric field vector responsive to a control signal input means
(see FIG. 19) and forms altered blue beam 160. Blue beam 160 is
then reflected to the left (as viewed in FIG. 8D) from surface 96
and is passed through polarizer analyzer 146. At this point, blue
beam 160 is resolved into the P and S components with the P
component passing through to the lens 148 and the S component being
deflected upward (as viewed in FIG. 8D) to be absorbed by beam
block 150.
[0341] Returning now to blue beam 156, when it strikes mirror 88,
the desired filtering can take place with the unwanted wavelengths
of blue beam 156 passing to the left (as viewed in FIG. 8D) to be
absorbed by beam block 158 with the desired wavelengths being
deflected upwardly.
[0342] Yet another alternative embodiment of a color LCLV projector
is shown in FIGS. 8E through 8G. The alternative embodiment in FIG.
8E utilizes independent light sources 170, 172 & 174 for
forming a beam that is used to alter the orientation of the
electric field vector by LCDs 138, 140 & 142. These light
sources 170, 172 & 174 in FIGS. BE, 8F may be of several
different forms and functions. Such light sources can include a
matrix of linear array diodes formed in a rectangular shape, a
planar matrix of solid state lasers, LEDs light emitting diodes,
etc., whereas in FIG. 8G, the light sources 170a, 172a & 174a
can be a single beam output laser beam with an output beam
converted into a rectangular shape for use by LCDs 138, 140 and
142. The light sources form respectively, beams 194, 196 and 198.
In FIG. 8E, after each beam has the respective portions of their
beams altered by the LCDs 138, 140 and 142 changing the orientation
of the electric field vector of the respective portions, the
altered beams 144, 152 and 160 are then combined in dichroic beam
combiner means 93 to form a single collinear beam with a plurality
of portions. This collinear beam is then passed to the polarizer
analyzer 146 where it resolves the respective portions into P and S
components with the S component being deflected to the left to beam
block 150 and the P component passing through to the projection
lens 148 where it is then displayed on a screen (not shown in FIG.
BE).
[0343] Yet another alternative embodiment of the color LCLV
projector is shown in FIG. 8F. However, the dichroic beam combiner
93 has been replaced by two separate dielectric mirrors 90, 92 that
function to combine the three individual beams into a single
collinear beam.
[0344] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 8G, the light sources
170a, 172a, 174a are single beam output lasers such as are found in
a gas type of laser. The output is converted to a rectangular
output. The rest of FIG. BG functions and operates exactly as in
FIG. BE.
[0345] By way of example and not limitation, a system and method
constructed in accordance with the invention offers the following
results and advantages over prior art illumination systems for a
LCLV projector.
[0346] A rectangular singular polarized beam is created that will
efficiently fill the aperture of an LCD display thus maximizing the
output of light from an LCD projector.
[0347] The divergence of the resultant beam at the LCD display is
smaller than with other methods of combination, i.e., U.S. Pat. No.
4,913,529.
[0348] The system of the invention enables projectors to utilize
brighter light sources for projection, thus enabling the person
viewing the projection to see the projection source in higher
ambient light levels.
[0349] With the system of the invention, projectors will be
brighter and lighter.
[0350] With the system of the invention, projectors will consume
less energy due to the more efficient light source.
[0351] With the system of the invention, television projected on
the larger screen video will be easier to watch.
[0352] Method for Producing a High Resolution or 3-D Projected
Color Image
[0353] With reference to FIG. 19, a schematic flow diagram of a
method for producing a high resolution- or 3-D projected color
image is shown. The method and system for the invention can be
summarized as follows: producing a collimated source beam of white
light; separating and absorbing infrared and ultraviolet components
from the source beam; polarizing and separating the source beam
into two separate orthogonally polarized beams; changing a
polarization direction of one of the orthogonally polarized beams
to produce two polarized beams of the same orientation of the
electric field vector and directing each of the separate polarized
beams, respectively, to a left or a right side of the projector;
separating the polarized left side beam and the polarized right
side beam into separate polarized primary color beams (red, green,
blue); further filtering the separate polarized primary color beams
to provide a color balance; alter the orientation of the electric
field vector of the separate polarized primary color beams with
separate LCD's each of which is responsive to separate signal input
means; (for 3-D viewing, the signal input means for the left side
corresponds to a left eye image and the signal input means f or the
right side corresponds to a right eye image; in either case (3-D or
high-resolution), the separate right side and left side signal
input means are controlled by suitable electronic control means 66.
It is to be understood that control electronics 66 can separate the
video signal of HDTV into right and left video signals. As a
result, this allows 3D TV by use of the broadcast standard for
HDTV.]; combining the altered separate polarized primary color
beams; combining altered left and right side color beams into a
unitary altered beam; resolving the combined beams according to the
P & S vector components of the altered beams; projecting the
unitary altered beam onto a viewing screen; (for 3-D viewing, a
viewer may wear eye glasses having lens for viewing a left eye or a
right eye image polarized in different directions].
[0354] Referring now to FIG. 20, a projector constructed in
accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention is
shown. FIG. 20 is labeled with locative directions illustrating an
optic path for convenience sake only and does not necessarily
resemble what the actual layout may be. As long as all of the
components are aligned in suitable optic paths with one another,
other arrangements of the illustrative components arranged other
than illustrated in FIG. 20 can be utilized.
[0355] Referring to the previous section, a source beam 57 is
generated for input to the polarizer cube 36. The polarizer cube 36
separates and polarizes the source beam 57 into two orthogonally
polarized beams, beam 52 and beam 54, of equal area and with
different polarizations. A P-polarized beam 52L is propagated
straight through the polarizer cube 36 to enter the left side of
the projector. The other polarization component of the source beam
57, the S-polarized portion of the source beam 57, beam 54, is
passed through a half-wave retarder 38 where it is converted or
changed into a beam 52R of P-polarization. Beam 52R is then passed
into the right side of the projector. Both the left side and right
side of the projector thus function with beams 52L and 52R of the
same polarization. Alternately, the projector is constructed to
operate with beams of a different polarization direction, i.e.,
S-polarized.
[0356] Half-wave retarder 38 may be one of a class of optical
elements known as retarders, which serve to change the polarization
of an incident wave. With a retarder, one component of the
P-polarized light is somehow caused to lag in phase behind the
other component by a predetermined amount. Upon emerging from the
retarder 38, the relative phase of the two components is different
than it was initially and thus the polarization state is different
as well. A retardation plate that introduces a relative phase
difference of 900 is known as half-wave retarder. Alternately,
mirrors may be Used to produce a light beam that has been retarded
appropriately.
[0357] A general discussion of half-wave retarder 38 requirements
and specifications has been previously discussed above.
Additionally, in place of the polarizer cube 36, any other suitable
means for separating the source beam 57 and for producing
orthogonally polarized beams (52, 54) may be utilized.
[0358] The left and right sides of the projector, which are
enclosed in a broken line in FIG. 20 and labeled as such, will now
be described. The left side and the right side of the projector
include identical components arranged in identical optical paths.
However, the parts have an additional L or R added to distinguish
one from the other. Simply stated, both the left and right side
include: means (mirrors 80 and 84) for separating a polarized beam
of white light (52R or 52L) into separate primary color beams, red,
green, blue; means in the form of LCDs 138, 140, 142, for altering
the orientation of the electric field vector of individual portions
of the separate polarized primary color beams responsive to
separate signal input means controlled by a separate electronic
control means 66 (FIG. 19); and means (mirrors 92, 90) for
combining the altered separate polarized primary color beams.
[0359] Two separate beams, beams 62L and 62R, formed by the left
side and right side of the projector, respectively, are combined
and segregated a final time by a polarization analyzer 146
(combining and segregating means) and projected by a projector
lens-14 8 as a beam 178 onto a viewing screen (not shown in FIG.
20).
[0360] Suitable electronic control means 66 (FIG. 19) control and
coordinate the input signals to the separate left side and right
side LCDs (138, 140, 142). For 3-D viewing, the electronic control
means may be constructed to provide a visual image to the left side
corresponding to a left eye image, and to the right side
corresponding to a right eye image. Additionally, the left eye
image and the right eye image can be superimposed with one another
or timed sequentially. For example, as shown in FIG. 20,
locatively, the right side can be moved up or down by mechanical or
electrical means (not shown) . For a high resolution projected
image, the control means 66 can be constructed to provide a visual
image to the left side which is offset from the visual image
provided to the right side (i.e., offset by one pixel vertically or
horizontally).
[0361] For convenience sake, the identical components of the left
side and the right side of the projector are labeled with the same
reference numerals. Left side polarized light beam 52L enters the
left side of the projector and right side polarized light beam 52R
enters the right side of the projector. The operation of the left
side is as previously described in the section on the color
projector above and shown in FIG. 20. The operation of the right
side is the same with the distinction of different locative
directions of the various light beams.
[0362] At this point, the beam 62L formed by the left side is
transmitted into the bottom (locative direction only) of the
polarizer analyzer 146 and the beam is segregated according to the
P and S components of the electric field vector. The beam 62R
formed by the right side of the projector is passed into the right
side of the polarizer analyzer 146 (locative direction only) and is
accordingly segregated to the P and S components of the electric
field vector. The color beams to be displayed (red, green and blue)
have passed through the system and the projection lens 148 to be
projected onto the screen (not shown in FIG. 20); they are combined
or superimposed on each other to produce a pixelized image that has
the correct color balance. The right side of the projector
functions in exactly the same manner with the same components.
Before entering the polarizer analyzer 146, however, the
polarization of right side beam 62R must be changed by the
half-wave retarder 39 so that the right side beam 62R will be
deflected by a 900 angle for combination with the left side beam
62L.
[0363] The projection lens 148 considerations and its proximity to
a screen have been previously discussed above.
[0364] FIG. 21 illustrates such a 3-D application of a projector
constructed in accordance with the invention. As shown in FIG. 21,
a scene 70 is photographed with a left side camera 72 and a right
side camera 74. The left side camera 72 provides an input signal 76
to the left side of the projector 81, while the right side camera
74 provides an input signal 78 to the right side of the projector
81. The electronic control means 66 (FIG. 19) may be operated as
previously described to provide these separate inputs into the
projector 81 from the left side input 76 and the right side input
78. The left side image may be polarized in a first direction and
the right side image polarized in a different direction. By using
viewing glasses 220, an image projected onto a viewing surface or
screen 87 appears displayed as 3-D to viewers 224. Alternately, the
control means 66 is configured to display left side and right side
images in a timed sequence. This will also produce a 3-D effect
with or without the use of glasses 220.
[0365] The alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 20A is the same as
the preferred embodiment of FIG. 20 with the addition of a
quarter-wave retarder 188 situated in an optic path between the
projection lens 148 and the polarizer analyzer 146. The alternate
embodiment projector of FIG. 20A can be used to provide a projected
image which is circularly polarized. This can be used, f or
example, for providing circularly polarized left and right side
images for use with circularly polarized viewer glass lens for 3-D
projection.
[0366] Yet another alternate embodiment is shown in FIG. 20B. The
alternate embodiment of FIG. 20B is almost the same as the
alternate embodiment of FIG. 20A which added the quarter-wave
retarder 188. The embodiment of FIG. 20B, however, also includes a
second polarizer analyzer 190 (on which is mounted the half-wave
retarder 39 and quarter-wave retarder 188) and rejection beam block
192 situated in an optic path between right side mirror 90R and
polarizer analyzer 146. The second polarizer analyzer 190 is used
to further analyze, segregate and combine the altered color beams
62R and 62L.
[0367] In FIG. 20C (another alternative embodiment of the color
LCLV 3-D projector) , there are now two constituent parts. Each
constituent part generates a collinear beam as in FIG. BF. They are
then combined together in polarizer analyzer 146 as explained for
the diagram and with reference to FIG. 8F. This combination can be
of the form where the beams are combined exactly one on the other
with different polarizations or one beam can be shifted with
respect to the other so that the plurality of portions are offset
from one another, or the portions overlap one another. Also, as
explained before, the timing of the beams can produce beams that
are temporally in sync with one another or can alternate between
the different fields of the desired information to be
displayed.
[0368] FIG. 20D is the same as FIG. 20C, but with the addition of a
quarter wave retarder 188 interposed between lens 148 and analyzer
polarizer 146. This variable retarder functions to alter the
plurality of portions of the segregated output beam from polarizer
analyzer 146 such that each altered portion has a different
electric field vector orientation. Thus each altered portion may be
displayed on a different plane, such as that contained in screen or
cube 175 shown in FIG. 23.
[0369] Method for Producing a High Resolution or 3-D Projected
Black & White Image
[0370] INA
[0371] Referring now to FIG. 22, an alternate embodiment high
resolution or 3-D, black and white projector is disclosed. The
black and white projector of FIG. 22
[0372] includes: a light source means 32 for producing a collimated
source beam 50 containing white light; separation and absorption
means in the form of mirrors 33 and 35 and beam block absorber 161
for removing and absorbing infrared and ultraviolet rays from the
source beam 50; polarizing means in the form of a polarizer cube 36
for polarizing the source beam into two orthogonal beams, a
P-polarized beam 52 and an S-polarized beam 54 with the S-polarized
beam deflected at an angle of 900; polarization changing means in
the form of a half-wave retarder 38 for changing the direction of
polarization of the S-polarized beam 54 to a second P-polarized
beam 56; a first means in the form of a first LCD 116 for changing
the orientation of the electric field vector of the first
P-polarized beam-52 responsive to an input image to produce an
altered first beam 120; second means in the form of a second LCD
118 for changing the orientation of the electric field vector of
the second P-polarized beam 56 responsive to an input image to
produce a second altered beam 122; a combining means in the form of
a second polarizer cube 146 for combining the first 120 and second
122 altered beams; a second orientation of the electric field
vector changing means in the form of a second half-wave retarder
126 located in an optic path between the second LCD 118 and the
second polarizer cube 146 for converting the direction of
polarization of the second altered beam 122; projection lens means
in the form of a projection lens 148 for projecting a beam. 128
from the second polarizer cube 146 as beam 178 onto a display
screen (not shown in FIG. 22); and control means (not shown in FIG.
22; but see means 66 in FIG. 19) f or providing and controlling
input signals to the LCDs 116, 118. The black and white projector
shown in FIG. 22 functions in the same manner as the color
projector shown in FIG. 20 without the color separation and
combining as previously described. Moreover
[0373] illumination of the LCDs 116, 118 is similar to the method
described in previous sections.
[0374] As is apparent from the previous description, first LCD 116
and second LCD 118 may be controlled by control means with an input
image to produce a 3-D effect or a high resolution image as
previously described. That is, left eye and right eye corresponding
images can be presented or encoded in different polarization states
or timed sequentially or both.
[0375] Referring now to FIG. 22A, an alternate embodiment of the
black and white projector shown in FIG. 22 is shown. The alternate
embodiment of FIG. 22A is exactly the same as that of FIG. 22 but
with the addition of a quarter-wave retarder 188 for providing a
projected image in the form of a circular polarization beam 129. As
previously described, this can be used with circularly polarized
viewer glasses for viewing a 3-D image.
[0376] Thus, the projector and method of the invention can also be
adapted to provide a high-resolution or 3-D black and white
image.
[0377] Method for Producing a 3-D VIEwing screen
[0378] FIG. 23 is the diagrammatic representation of the buildup of
layers or a projection screen or the formation of a 3-D
visualization cube. Referring now to FIG. 23, a new and novel
display device is disclosed. The device acts in accordance with a
beam generated by a 3-D projector such as disclosed in this
document. The orientation of the electric field vector can be
varied by such a device as a variable retarder 188 that is placed
between the beam polarizer analyzer 146 and the output lens 148,
such as shown in FIGS. 20A, 20B & 20D. This device acts by
rotating the orientation of the electric field vector according to
the drive electronics. This output beam is then fed into the device
of FIG. 23. The device in FIG. 23 comprises a multiplicity of
layers, each layer having a coating that is different from the
successive layer whereby each layer is reflective to a particular
(or range) orientation of the electric field vector. For example,
layer 200 is reflective to the electric field vector that
corresponds to a vector that has rotation between 00 and 50. Layer
202 is reflective to an electric field vector that has an
orientation between 50 and 100. Layer 204 is reflective to an
electric field vector that has a rotation between 100 and 150. This
would continue on for the multiplicity of layers that are contained
within the device in FIG. 23. Thus, when a beam is incident upon
the device in FIG. 23, the first image plane is on layer 200, the
next image plane is on layer 202, the next image plane on layer
204, etc. The final image on the nth plane 216 is then reflected.
By having a multiplicity of layers, images are displayed.
[0379] An alternate to the above device would replace the
reflection on the planes with ones that would absorb, with the
final plane 216 transmitting the remaining light.
[0380] As an alternative to the step indexes of reflection, a
device is used that has a graded index of reflection with respect
to the electric field vector of rotation for each individual plane
layer.
[0381] Method for Producing a Flat Fluorescent Plate
[0382] FIGS. 24 and 24A illustrates an embodiment of a flat
fluorescent or neon illumination plate that is used in conjunction
with FIGS. BE, 8F, 20C & 20D. A gas, 180, is surrounded by
transparent plates 182 and metallic side pieces 176 and end caps
186. A voltage difference, applicable for the proper gas, is
applied between electrodes 201, causing the atoms in the gas to go
into an excited state. By coating the surfaces of the transparent
plates 182 with a material that fluoresces, light will be emitted.
Furthermore, a reflecting surface 184 can be applied to further
reflect all of the light out of one surface. In addition, the upper
surface 182 that light is emitted from can be made or formed like
FIG. 27, such that the light emitted will be collimated. Also, by
choosing different gases, different coatings on the transparent
plates 182, and different excitation voltages and currents, the
light emitted may be of different light spectrums (colors and
intensities).
[0383] Method for Producing a Wer Diode Matrix Array
[0384] FIG. 25 demonstrates the linear matrix array of individual
LEDs or laser diodes 164 on substrate 166 that could be used for
generating a collimated light source for use in FIGS. 8E, 8F, 20C
& 20D. Light is emitted from laser diode 164 (or LED) in a
collimated beam from its surface in a single beam. The system is
made of a plurality of laser diodes 164 arranged in an appropriate
matrix to line up with the cells in the LCDs.
[0385] Method for Producing a Columated Bram of Ligh
[0386] FIG. 28 is a preferred embodiment of a optical
integrator/light source/reflector arrangement that provides a new
and novel method of providing a collimated light beam with a
substantially uniform flux intensity substantially across the
entire beam. The operation of the basic elements are well known,
however the combination of the elements is novel. The way the
device operates is as follows:
[0387] (1) light is emitted by the light source 32 in a spherical
fashion;
[0388] (2) portions of the light emitted from the light source will
either travel in the forward direction or rearward direction (as
viewed in FIG. 28) and behave in the manner of one of the following
four cases:
[0389] (a) strike the first lenses 45 formed on the first ends of
the plurality of light pipes included in the light integrator means
63 as shown by light path 69 in FIG. 28; or
[0390] (b) strike the second concave reflecting means 65 where the
light is reflected from and directed back toward the first concave
reflecting means 41 where it is then reflected from and directed
toward the light integrator means 63 and strike the first lenses 45
formed on the first ends of the plurality of light pipes included
in the light integrator means 63 as shown by light path 77 in FIG.
28; or
[0391] (c) strike the first concave reflecting means 41 and be
reflected toward the light integrator 63 where it strikes the first
lenses 45 formed on the first ends of the plurality of light pipes
included in the light integrator means 63 as shown by light path 67
in FIG. 28; or
[0392] (d) strike the first concave reflecting 41 where it is
reflected from and directed towards the second concave reflecting
means 65 where the light is then reflected and directed back toward
the first concave reflecting means 41 where it is reflected and
directed toward the light integrator 63 to strike the first lenses
45 formed on the first ends of the plurality of light pipes
included in the light integrator means 63 as shown by light path 68
in FIG. 28;
[0393] (3) the light striking the first lenses 45 of the plurality
of light pipes will be bent according to the angle of entry and
lens formula and travel through the body 75 of the light pipe and
exit the light pipe through the second lens 71 formed on the second
end of the light pipe 75; and
[0394] (4) the light at this time has substantially uniform flux
intensity and collimation, and travels to lens 43 for further
collimation.
[0395] The light integrator means is made of a plurality of
parallel light pipes such as those shown in FIG. 27A, each light
pipe being [adjacent and] in contact with one or more adjacent
light pipes. Each light pipe consists of a first lens surface 45
formed on a first end thereof, a body 75, and a second lens surface
71 formed on a second end thereof. The first lens surface 45
functions to bend light more towards the normal. Body 75 carries
the light to the second lens surface 71 and has the same index of
retraction as the first lens surface 45 and second lens surface 71.
This minimizes the number of interfaces the light must pass
through. Continuing on, light strikes the second lens surface 71
which is ground to a predetermined shape, and is again bent more
normal, thus the light rays exiting surface 71 are substantially
collimated. Lens surfaces 45 and 71 may or may not be of the same
shape or form and are dependent upon several factors, including,
but not exclusive to, the size of the light source, the shape of
the light source, the type of light source, the distance from the
light source to the first lens surface 45, the length and size of
body 75, the distance of the integrator second lens surf ace 71 to
the target, and other factors known in the trade.
[0396] AS shown in FIG. 28, the second concave reflecting means 65
has an opening formed there through in which is mounted a light
integrator means 63. The light integrator means 63 substantially
occupies the opening in said second concave reflecting means 65.
The light integrator means 63 has an optical axis that is
coincident with the optical axis of the second concave reflecting
means 65. The cross section of the light integrator means 63 may be
either rectangular, circular, elliptical, octagonal, or any desired
shape. The shape of the light integrator means is dependent upon
the final desired shape of the beam formed exiting from the
integrator.
[0397] The first concave reflecting surface means 41 has an optical
axis. The light means 32 is mounted along said optical axis. The
optical axes of the first and second concave reflecting means 41
and 65 are coincident.
[0398] The system of this invention preferably includes a lens 43
positioned to receive the light from the second end of the light
integrator means 63. The lens 43 further collimates the light beam
from the light integrator means 63.
[0399] The first and second concave reflecting means 41 and 65 are
preferably parabolic or elliptical in shape.
[0400] The optical light pipes are formed in a fly-eye arrangement
in juxtaposition to each other as shown in FIGS. 27, 27B & 27C.
The optical light pipes can be of circular, rectangular, octagonal,
or any convenient geometrical shape as required by the application
intended as shown in FIGS. 27B & 27C.
[0401] The light integrator means 63 is well known in prior art, as
shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,918,583 to Kudo et al., 4,769,750 to
Matsumoto et al., 4,497,015 to Konno et al., 4,668,077 to Tanaka.
These patents are mainly for forming a uniform intensity across a
beam of light or ultraviolet for use in integrated circuit
manufacturing. However the interaction of the light source, the two
reflecting surfaces and the light integrator is novel. In order to
make the system work properly, the design must take into
consideration the light source and its radiation pattern, the first
and second reflecting means 41 and 65 and the lenses 45, 71 formed
respectively on the first and second surfaces of each light pipe
included in the light integrator means 63 and the position of the
particular individual light pipe in the matrix of the light
integrator means 63. For such analysis, a commercially available
computer ray tracing program such as Optics Analyst or Genii-Plus
available from Genesse Optics Software, Inc., 3136 Winton Road
South, Rochester, N.Y., 14623 or Beam Two, Beam Three, or Beam Four
from Stellar Software, P.O. Box 10183, Berkley, Calif., 94709 can
be used in the design of the lens and reflecting means formula for
the shapes needed in regard with the particular light source that
is chosen.
[0402] Thus, the invention provides a color liquid crystal light
valve LCD projector that produces an image of high brightness,
contrast and resolution. Additionally, harmful infrared and
ultraviolet rays have been removed from the projected image.
Moreover, in light of the herein described invention, components of
the system can be modified or easily adjusted to produce a color
enhanced image.
[0403] At the present time, the overall preferred single embodiment
of a projector constructed in accordance with the invention
disclosed herein is a projector for producing a modulated beam of
light suitable for projection of video images, comprising: means
for providing a first initial beam of light having randomly
changing orientations of the selected component of the electric
field vectors; means for integrating the first initial beam of
light to form a second initial beam of light having a substantially
uniform flux intensity across substantially the entire second
initial beam of light; means for collimating the second initial
beam of light into an initial collimated beam of light having
randomly changing orientations of the selected component of the
electric field vectors and a substantially uniform flux intensity
across substantially the entire second initial beam of light; means
for removing from the initial collimated beam of light at least a
portion of ultraviolet and infrared to produce an initial
collimated beam of white light and directing the removed portions
to a beam stop whereby the removed portion is absorbed; means for
resolving from the initial collimated beam of white light an
initial collimated first resolved beam of white light having
substantially a first single selected predetermined orientation of
a chosen component of the electric field vectors and an initial
collimated second resolved beam of white light having substantially
a second single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen
component of the electric field vectors, whereby the first and
second single selected predetermined orientation of the chosen
component of the electric field vectors are different from one
another; means for forming from the initial collimated first
resolved beam of white light and initial collimated second resolved
beam of white light a substantially collimated rectangular initial
single beam of white light having substantially the same single
selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the
electric field vectors across substantially the
[0404] entire beam of light and a substantially uniform flux
intensity across substantially the entire initial collimated single
beam of white light; means for separating the collimate d
rectangular initial single beam of white light into two or more
separate collimated rectangular beams of color whereby each of the
separate collimated rectangular beam of color has the same single
selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of the
electric field vectors as that of the other separate collimated
rectangular beams of colors and each separate collimated
rectangular beam of color having a different color from the other
separate collimated rectangular beams of colors; means for
adjusting the color by removing at least a predetermined portion of
color of at least one of the separate collimated rectangular beam
of colors and directing the removed portion to a beam stop whereby
the removed portion is absorbed; means for altering the single
selected predetermined orientation of the chosen component of the
electric field vectors of a plurality of portions of each separate
collimated rectangular beam of color by passing a plurality of
portions of each separate collimated rectangular beam of color
through a respective one of a plurality of altering means whereby
the single selected predetermined orientation of the chosen
component of the electric field vectors of the plurality of
portions of each separate beam of color is altered in response to a
stimulus means by applying a signal means to the stimulus means in
a predetermined manner as the plurality of portions of each of the
substantially collimated separate beams of electromagnetic energy
passes through the respective one of the plurality of altering the
single selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of
the electric field vectors; means for combining the altered
separate collimated rectangular beams of color into a single
collimated rectangular collinear color beam without substantially
changing the altered selected predetermined orientation of the
chosen component of the electric field vectors of the plurality of
portions of each separate collimated rectangular beam of color,
means for resolving from the single collimated rectangular
collinear color beam a first collimated rectangular resolved color
beam having substantially a first single selected predetermined
orientation of a chosen component of the electric field vectors and
second collimated rectangular resolved color beam having
substantially a second single selected predetermined orientation of
a chosen component of the electric field vectors, whereby the first
and second single selected predetermined orientation of the chosen
component of the electric field vectors are different from one
another; and means for passing one of the first collimated
rectangular or second collimated rectangular resolved color beam to
a projection means.
[0405] In light of the previous discussions and further in the
description and claims, it will become apparent that the following
partial list of the advantages of the invention are:
[0406] high brightness is easily achieved: brightness is limited
only by the LCD characteristics, and brightness is not changed by
the reflection of any of the light paths back into the light
source, brightness can be easily modified by changing light
sources;
[0407] improved efficiency means lower heat: a high efficiency
optical path is utilized and the only significant heating in the
optics is due to LCD absorption; modifications are simple: optics
can accommodate any intensity and variety of LCDs; a unique light
path provides a rectangular beam: less (ghosting), no light is
returned to the light source, better polarization control, high
contrast ratios, more compact projector, more easily manufactured,
refuses or eliminates light diffraction, no deterioration of the
polarizers; longevity: longer life polarizers, the components are
exposed to less heat; increased resolution/brightness: not
resolution limited, improved resolution with increased brightness;
materials: uses transmissive (non-reflective) LCDs, polarizers do
not absorb light, reduces the number of imaging objects, reduced
amount of critical imaging objects; registration of pixels:
provides a collinear output beam with no angular difference between
pixels; color resolution and registration is easily adjusted;
three-dimensional capability can be obtained with the same type of
components at little additional cost; other objects, advantages and
capabilities of the present invention will become more apparent as
the description proceeds.
[0408] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in
form and details can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of this invention.
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