Imaging light source with polarization and color recovery

A color recovery illumination system comprising:

• a color reflector having a plurality of individually addressable segments, each segment being addressable to switch from a color reflection state to a color transmission state;
• and
• a display panel having a plurality of individually addressable pixels, each pixel being addressable to switch from a reflection state to a transmission state to form a scene, the pixels being aligned with the segments so that light transmitted through the color reflector impinges upon pixels of the display panel.

A color recovery method comprising:

• alternately reflecting transmitting a selected band of color at one of a plurality of individually addressable segments of a color filter;
• and
• switching from a reflection state to a transmission state at each of a plurality of individually addressable pixels of a display panel to form a scene, the pixels being aligned with the segments so that light transmitted through the color reflector impinges upon pixels of the display panel.

A light source comprising:

• an array of colored light sources, at least some of the light sources producing colors different from others of the colored light sources;
• a light tunnel having an entrance aperture optically coupled to the array of colored light sources and an exit aperture opposite the entrance aperture;
• a color reflector proximate the entrance aperture, the reflector being configured so that light emitted by each of the colored light sources of the array is transmitted through the entrance aperture but light of other colors is reflected.