Illumination system using multiple light sources with integrating tunnel and projection systems using same
OwnerArlie Connerinventor
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Abstract
An illumination system, such as may be used to illuminate an image display device in an image projection system, includes a plurality of light sources capable of emitting output light. In some embodiments, the light sources are light emitting diodes (LEDs). The light-collecting system transforms light from the plurality of light sources into a substantially telecentric illumination beam. The substantially telecentric illumination beam passes into the integrating tunnel, to produce an illumination beam having a substantially uniform brightness cross-sectional profile.
Claims31
An optical system, comprising:
- a plurality of light sources capable of emitting output light;
- an integrating tunnel having an input end;
- and
- a light-collecting optical system disposed between the plurality of light sources and the input end of the integrating tunnel, the light-collecting system transforming at least a portion of the output light from the plurality of light sources into a substantially telecentric illumination beam, the substantially telecentric illumination beam being coupled to the integrating tunnel.
An illumination unit for a projection system, comprising:
- a plurality of light sources capable of producing light;
- light telecentrizing means for making at least some of the light from the light sources substantially telecentric;
- and
- light tunnel integrating means for making the substantially telecentric light into an illumination beam of uniform brightness.
A projection system, comprising:
- an illumination system comprising a first illumination sub-system comprising
- a plurality of light sources capable of emitting output light,
- an integrating tunnel having an input end, and
- a light-collecting optical system disposed between the plurality of light sources and the integrating tunnel, the light-collecting optical system transforming at least some of the output light from the plurality of light sources into a substantially telecentric illumination beam, the substantially telecentric illumination beam being integrated by the integrating tunnel to produce an integrated illumination beam;
- and
- at least a first image forming device illuminated by the integrated illumination beam.
An optical system, comprising:
- a first light source;
- a first reflective tunnel having an output end;
- a second reflective tunnel having an input end optically coupled to the output end of the first reflective tunnel, a cross-sectional dimension of the output end of the first reflective tunnel being smaller than a cross-sectional dimension of the input end of the second integrating tunnel;
- wherein light from the first light sources passes through the first reflective tunnel to the second reflective tunnel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.