US 2002/0176054 A1Published application

Reflective liquid-crystal-on-silicon projection engine architecture

OwnerGeorge M. Mihalakisinventor

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Abstract

A projection engine architecture for use with liquid-crystal-on-silicon semiconductor imager devices is described. This projector architecture relates to rear projection television and computer monitor applications, wherein image resolution is higher and image size is larger than is practical with cathode ray tube based technologies. The optical architecture disclosed includes a high speed light collection stage wherein luminance from an arc lamp is collected and condensed, an illumination stage wherein the luminance is ideally transformed for presentation to an imaging stage comprised of a triad of three perpendicular polarization beamsplitter cubes and attendant color processing components that form a solid prism assembly. Central to the architecture are means for eliminating the deleterious effects of waste light created by polarization and color separation components within the imaging stage.

Claims37

Dependent claims

An apparatus for creating an image in a projected image device comprising:

means for providing a first polarization telecentric white light beam;
means for splitting said first polarization telecentric white light beam into a first polarization telecentric green light beam and a first polarization telecentric magenta light beam, said first polarization telecentric magenta light beam having a first polarization red component and a first polarization blue component;
means for directing said first polarization telecentric green light beam onto a first liquid-crystal-on-silicon semiconductor light valve imaging device such that said first liquid-crystal-on-silicon semiconductor light valve imaging device reflects a second polarization green light beam containing pixel data;
means for switching said second polarization green light beam containing pixel data into a first polarization green light beam containing pixel data;
means for directing said first polarization green light beam containing pixel data along an output axis while directing substantially all green waste polarization light along an axis separate from said output axis;
means for switching said first polarization red component of said first polarization telecentric magenta light beam into a second polarization red light beam;
means for directing said second polarization red light beam onto a second liquid-crystal-on-silicon semiconductor light valve imaging device such that said second liquid-crystal-on-silicon semiconductor light valve imaging device reflects a first polarization red light beam containing pixel data;
means for directing said first polarization red light beam containing pixel data along an output axis while directing substantially all red waste polarization light along an axis separate from said output axis;
means for switching said first polarization red light beam containing pixel data into a second polarization red light beam containing pixel data;
means for directing said first polarization blue component onto a third liquid-crystal-on-silicon semiconductor light valve imaging device such that said third liquid-crystal-on-silicon semiconductor light valve imaging device reflects a second polarization blue light beam containing pixel data;
and
means for directing said second polarization blue light beam containing pixel data along an output axis while directing substantially all blue waste polarization light along an axis separate from said output axis.

9 more elements

An image projection apparatus comprising:

a light collection stage, an illumination stage and an imaging stage, said imaging stage comprised of imaging devices having a specified aspect ratio and a specified diagonal dimension;
said light collection stage comprising a source of white light, said light collection stage directing a first focus of light to said illumination stage;
and
said illumination stage comprising a compander structure, a condenser structure and a primary polarization component, said compander comprising an elongate structure having an entrance face and an exit face oppositely opposed from said entrance face, said entrance face comprising a quadrilateral having substantially said specified aspect ratio and a first diagonal dimension, said exit face comprising a quadrilateral having substantially said specified aspect ratio and a second diagonal dimension, said second diagonal dimension being longer than said first diagonal dimension and substantially equal to said specified diagonal dimension, said compander outputting a second focus of light through said primary polarization component and said condenser such that said illumination stage directs a light beam having a first polarization to said imaging stage.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/107,606Filed 26 Mar 2002
Priority: 30 Dec 1999
Published: 28 Nov 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H04N 9/3105
Using two-dimensional electronic spatial light modulators: for displaying all colours simultaneously, e.g. by using two or more electronic spatial…
H04N 9/3167
Modulator illumination systems: for polarizing the light beam
H04N 5/7441
Involving the use of a spatial light modulator, e.g. a light valve, controlled by a video signal: the modulator being an array of liquid crystal cells
H04N 9/3141
Projection devices for colour picture display , e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]: constructional details thereof