Homogenizing lens array for display imaging
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorTerry Alan Bartlett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In described examples, a system (e.g., a projection system) can include a diffractive optical element adapted to be illuminated by at least one coherent light beam. A lens array is coupled to receive a diffracted beam of light from the diffractive optical element. The lens array includes a first and a second array lens. The first array lens is coupled to receive a first sector of a pattern of illumination of the diffracted beam of light, and the second array lens is coupled to receive a second sector of the pattern of illumination of the diffracted beam of light. A spatial light modulator is coupled to receive overlapping diffracted beams of light from the first and second array lenses to form an image beam.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a phase light modulator (PLM) comprising a two-dimensional array of pixels, the PLM adapted to be optically coupled to a coherent light beam illuminator, the PLM configured to generate a diffracted pattern comprising a first diffracted beam of light and a second diffractive beam of light responsive to an incident coherent light beam received from the coherent light beam illuminator;
- a lens array optically coupled to the PLM, the lens array comprising:
- a first array lens configured to receive the first diffracted beam of light and to produce a first overlapping diffracted beam of light responsive to the first diffracted beam of light;
- a second array lens configured to receive the second diffracted beam of light and to produce a second overlapping diffracted beam of light responsive to the second diffracted beam of light;
- and
- a spatial light modulator optically coupled to the lens array, the spatial light modulator configured to form an image beam responsive to the first overlapping diffracted beam of light and the second overlapping diffracted beam of light.
A method, comprising:
- generating, by a phase light modulator (PLM) comprising a two-dimensional array of pixels, a first diffracted beam of light and a second diffracted beam of light responsive to at least one coherent light beam incident on the PLM;
- focusing, by a first array lens optically coupled to the PLM, the first diffracted beam of light to generate a first overlapping diffracted beam of light;
- focusing, by a second array lens optically coupled to the PLM, the second diffracted beam of light to generate a second overlapping diffracted beam of light;
- and
- modulating, by a spatial light modulator optically coupled to the PLM, the first overlapping diffracted beam of light and the second overlapping diffracted beam of light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.