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US 12,726,599 B2Granted
Parallel spatial light modulator modulators
AssigneeChristie Digital Systems USA, Inc.
InventorEric Vieth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A 3D projector having two light modulators for modulating light from a single broadband light source, without loss of light being dumped into heat. In embodiments, light splitters (e.g. dichroic) are used to split one wavelength combination to one light modulator, and the other wavelength combination to the other light modulator, such that discarded spectrum from one modulator is used to illuminate the other modulator.
Claims16
A projector comprising:
- at least one broadband light source;
- a first light splitter configured to receive broadband light from the at least one broadband light source, reflect a first wavelength combination of the broadband light, and transmit a remaining wavelength combination different from the first wavelength combination;
- a second light splitter configured to receive the remaining wavelength combination of broadband light from the first light splitter, reflect a second wavelength combination of the remaining wavelength combination, and transmit a further remaining wavelength combination different from the first wavelength combination and second wavelength combination;
- a first light modulator for modulating the first wavelength combination of broadband light;
- a second light modulator for modulating the second wavelength combination of broadband light;
- first projection optics;
- and
- second projection optics,
- the first projection optics and the second projection optics configured to respectively project the first modulated light and the second modulated light,
- wherein the second light splitter comprises a second dichroic configured to:
- receive the remaining wavelength combination;
- reflect the second wavelength combination towards the second light modulator;
- and transmit the further remaining wavelength combination, different from the second wavelength combination.
10 more elements
A method of 3D projection, comprising:
- generating broadband light;
- splitting the broadband light so as to reflect a first wavelength combination of the broadband light towards a first light modulator, and transmitting a remaining wavelength combination different from the first wavelength combination;
- splitting the remaining wavelength combination of broadband light so as to reflect a second wavelength combination of the remaining wavelength combination, and transmitting a further remaining wavelength combination different from the first wavelength combination and second wavelength combination;
- modulating the first wavelength combination of broadband light using the first light modulator;
- modulating the second wavelength combination of broadband light using a second light modulator;
- optically projecting the first modulated light;
- and
- optically projecting the second modulated light, wherein the first modulated light and the second modulated light are projected in parallel to form a three-dimensional image,
- wherein splitting the remaining wavelength combination comprises:
- receiving the remaining wavelength combination;
- reflecting the second wavelength combination towards the second light modulator;
- and transmitting the further remaining wavelength combination, different from the second wavelength combination.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.