Dmd projector with tir prism

A method of projection comprising:

• providing a prism assembly including an input sub-prism possessing a first interface surface and an output sub-prism adjacent to the input sub-prism possessing a second interface surface spaced apart from the first interface surface in immediate proximity thereto so as to extend thereover to receive display light transmitted through the first interface surface;
• providing a panel comprising a plurality of selectively adjustable reflecting elements;
• receiving at the panel an illumination light from the input sub-prism by total internal reflection from the first interface surface and selectively reflecting the received illumination light back through the input sub-prism and through the first interface surface to the second interface surface;
• and
• outputting the reflected illumination received light from the second sub-prism as display light;
• wherein the input sub-prism possesses a base surface that is substantially congruent to a matching base surface of the output sub-prism.

A projection apparatus comprising:

• a prism assembly including an input sub-prism possessing a first interface surface and an output sub-prism adjacent to the input sub-prism possessing a second interface surface spaced apart from the first interface surface in immediate proximity thereto so as to extend thereover to receive display light transmitted through the first interface surface;
• and
• a panel comprising a plurality of selectively adjustable reflecting elements arranged to receive from the input sub-prism an illumination light totally internally reflected from the first interface surface and selectively to reflect received illumination light back through the input sub-prism for transmission through the first interface surface for receipt as display light by the output sub-prism at said second interface surface;
• wherein the input sub-prism possesses a base surface that is substantially congruent to a matching base surface of the output sub-prism, and the first interface surface is the largest non-base surface of the input sub-prism, and the output surface is the largest non-base surface of the output sub-prism;
• wherein the substantially congruent base surfaces of at least one of the input sub-prism and the output sub-prism are substantially parallel, and the plane of each non-base surface of each of the input sub-prism and the output sub-prism is substantially perpendicular to the plane of each substantially congruent surface thereof;
• and
• wherein each of the input sub-prism and the output sub-prism is a triangular prism having two triangular substantially congruent base surfaces separated by three contiguous sides defining the non-base surfaces of the respective sub-prism.