Mutiple image projection apparatus

A multiple image projection apparatus comprising:

• at least a first light source for providing light;
• an integrated cubic multi-prism beam splitter, having four sides and first and second diagonal interfaces including a beam splitter element positioned on at least a portion of the first diagonal interface;
• at least first and second spatial light modulators;
• at least first and second projection optics systems;
• the first and second spatial light modulators and the first light source being configured such that the first spatial light modulator and the first light source are positioned adjacent one side of the cubic multi-prism beam splitter and the second spatial light modulator and the second projection optics system are positioned adjacent an opposite-facing side of the cubic multi-prism beam splitter such that light from the first light source is divided into first and second polarized beams and directed in different directions by the polarization beam splitter such that the first polarized beam is directed into the first spatial light modulator and the second polarized beam is directed into the second spatial light modulator;
• a first image source for modulating the first spatial light modulator;
• a second image source, for producing images which may be the same or different from images produced using the first image source, for modulating the second spatial light modulator;
• the first and second spatial light modulators and the first and second projection optics systems configured such that a first modulated reflected output image from the first spatial light modulator is output from the first projection optics system and a second modulated reflected output image from the second spatial light modulator is output from the second projection optics system.

A multiple image projection apparatus comprising:

• first and second light sources for emitting first and second incident light beams;
• an integrated cubic multi-prism beam splitter, having four sides and first and second diagonal interfaces including a beam splitter element positioned on at least a portion of the first diagonal interface and on at least a portion of the second diagonal interface;
• first, second, third, and fourth spatial light modulators;
• first and second projection optics systems;
• the first and second spatial light modulators, the first light source, and the first projection optics system being configured such that the first spatial light modulator and the first light source are positioned adjacent one side of the cubic multi-prism beam splitter and the second spatial light modulator and the first projection optics system are positioned adjacent an opposite-facing side of the cubic multi-prism beam splitter such that light from the first light source forms first and second images from the first and second spatial light modulators that are projected together through the first projection optics system;
• the third and fourth spatial light modulators, the second light source, and the second projection optics system being configured such that the third spatial light modulator and the second light source are positioned adjacent one side of the cubic multi-prism beam splitter and the fourth spatial light modulator and the second projection optics system are positioned adjacent an opposite-facing side of the cubic multi-prism beam splitter such that light from the second light source forms third and fourth images from the third and fourth spatial light modulators that are projected together through the second projection optics system.

A multiple image projection apparatus comprising:

• first and second light sources and first and second polarizers for creating first and second polarized light beams;
• an integrated cubic multi-prism beam splitter, having four sides and two diagonal interfaces including beam splitter element positioned on a least a portion of a first diagonal interface and on at least a portion of a second diagonal interface;
• first and second spatial light modulators;
• first and second projection optics systems;
• first and second image sensors;
• the first spatial light modulator and the first light source being configured such that the first panel and the first light source are positioned adjacent one side of the cubic multi-prism beam splitter and the second spatial light modulator and the second light source are positioned adjacent another side of the cubic multi-prism beam splitter such that light from the first light source is reflected by the diagonal interfaces of the cubic multi-prism beam splitter into the first spatial light modulator and modulated image light reflected by the first spatial light modulator is projected out through the first projection optics system;
• the second spatial light modulator and the second light source being configured such that light from the second light source is reflected by the diagonal interfaces of the cubic multi-prism beam splitter into the second spatial light modulator and modulated image light reflected by the second spatial light modulator is projected out through the second projection optics system;
• the first image sensor being positioned such that user interaction with a first projected image is captured by the first image sensor through the first projection optics system;
• the second image sensor being positioned such that user interaction with a second projected image is captured by the second image sensor through the second projection optical system.

A multiple image projection apparatus comprising:

• first and second light sources coupled to polarizing elements for emitting first and second polarized light beams;
• an integrated cubic multi-prism beam splitter, having four sides and first and second diagonal interfaces including abeam splitter element positioned on at least a portion of the first diagonal interface and on at least a portion of the second diagonal interface;
• first, second, and third spatial light modulators;
• first and second projection optics systems;
• the first spatial light modulator and the first light source being positioned adjacent one face of the cubic multi-prism beam splitter and the second spatial light modulator and the second light source being positioned adjacent another face of the cubic multi-prism beam splitter such that light from the first light source forms first and second images from the first and second spatial light modulators that are projected together through the first projection optical system;
• the second light source and the third spatial light modulator being positioned such that light from the second light source forms a third image from the third spatial light modulator that is reflected by the cubic multi-prism beam splitter out through the second projection optical system;
• an image sensor positioned such that user interaction with the third projected image is captured by the image sensor through the second projection optical system.