High dynamic range (HDR) using a phase light modulator (PLM) and laser phosphor illumination

A device, comprising:

• a processor capable of processing an image to produce a processed image;
• one or more light sources capable of producing illumination light having a first color;
• a phase light modulator (PLM) optically coupled to the one or more light sources, wherein the PLM is capable of modulating the illumination light to produce first modulated light having the first color;
• a phosphor optically coupled to the PLM, wherein the phosphor is capable of receiving at least a first portion of the first modulated light from the PLM to and emitting phosphor light having a second color and a third color;
• at least one spatial light modulator (SLM) optically coupled to the phosphor, wherein the at least one SLM is capable of modulating the phosphor light and at least a second portion of the first modulated light to produce second modulated light;
• and
• one or more controllers coupled to the processor, the one or more light sources, the PLM, and the at least one SLM, wherein the one or more controllers are capable of controlling the one or more light sources, the PLM, and the at least one SLM responsive to the processed image.

A method comprising:

• producing, by one or more light sources, incident light having a first color;
• modulating, by a phase light modulator (PLM), the incident light to provide first modulated light having the first color;
• reflecting a first portion of the first modulated light, and transmitting a second portion of the first modulated light toward a phosphor;
• producing, by the phosphor, responsive to at least the first portion of the first modulated light, phosphor light having a second color different than the first color;
• directing, by illumination optics, the phosphor light and at least the second portion of the first modulated light towards a spatial light modulator (SLM);
• and
• modulating, by the SLM, the phosphor light having the second color and the at least the second portion of the first modulated light having the first color to provide second modulated light.