Multiple channel illumination system
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorSimon Magarill
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An illumination system, used for illuminating a target area, includes a plurality of light generating elements and a plurality of light collection units disposed to collect light from respective light generating elements. Imaging lens units are disposed to relay images of respective light collection units to the target area, light from different light generating elements overlapping at the target area. In some embodiments, the illumination system also includes color combining elements to combine light from differently colored light generating elements. The illumination system may be used in a projection system, with the light from the illumination system incident on an image-forming device placed at the target area.
Claims51
An illumination unit for illuminating a target area, comprising:
- a plurality of light generating elements;
- a plurality of light collection units disposed to collect light from respective light generating elements;
- and
- a plurality of imaging lens units disposed to relay images of respective light collection units to proximate the target area, light from different light generating elements overlapping at the target area.
A light illumination unit for illuminating a target area, comprising:
- a first color sub-assembly, the first color sub-assembly comprising
- a first plurality of light generating elements,
- a plurality of first light collection units disposed to collect light from respective light generating elements of the first plurality of light generating elements, and
- a first plurality of imaging units disposed to relay images of respective first light collection units to proximate the target area;
- a second color sub-assembly, the second color sub-assembly comprising
- a second plurality of light generating elements,
- a plurality of second light collection units disposed to collect light from respective light generating elements of the second plurality of light generating elements, and
- a second plurality of imaging units disposed to relay images of respective second light collection units to proximate the target area;
- and
- combining optics disposed to combine light from the first and second color sub-assemblies before the light from the first and second color sub-assemblies is incident at the target area.
An illumination unit for a projection system, comprising:
- an image-forming device;
- a first light generating element;
- a first lens unit disposed to collect light emitted by the first light generating element;
- a first imaging unit disposed to image the light from the first lens unit to proximate the image-forming device;
- a second light generating element;
- a second lens unit disposed to collect light emitted by the second light generating element;
- and
- a second imaging unit disposed to image the light from the second lens unit to proximate the image-forming device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.