# US 2023/0273451 A1 · Stereoscopic image apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0273451 A1 - Document ID: US20230273451A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/982,929 - Filed: 2022-11-08 - Published: 2023-08-31 - Earliest claimed: 2014-03-26 - Assignees: RealD Inc. - Applicants: RealD Inc. - Inventors: Chul Woo Lee; Sung Ho Cho; Byung Gul Lim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230273451A1 ## CPC - G02B 30/25: using polarisation techniques - G02B 5/3083: {Birefringent or phase retarding elements (G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence; systems for polarisation control G02B27/286; manufacturing phase modulating patterns by lithographic processes G03F7/001)} - G02B 27/285: {comprising arrays of elements, e.g. microprisms} - G02B 30/24: involving temporal multiplexing, e.g. using sequentially activated left and right shutters - G03B 35/26: using polarised or coloured light separating different viewpoint images - G02B 27/283: {used for beam splitting or combining} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract A stereoscopic image apparatus that is capable of minimizing loss of optical energy and improving quality of a stereoscopic image is disclosed. The stereoscopic image apparatus includes a polarizing beam splitter to reflect or transmit incident light based on polarization components of the light to split the light in at least three different directions, a reflective member to reflect the light reflected by the polarizing beam splitter to a screen, at least one modulator to modulate the light reflected by the reflective member and the light transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter, and a refractive member disposed in an advancing direction of light to be incident upon the polarizing beam splitter to refract the light to be incident upon the polarizing beam splitter. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-14. (canceled) ### Claim 15 A stereoscopic image projection apparatus, comprising: a polarization beam splitter assembly configured to split a projecting image light beam of a projector into a transmitted light beam, a first reflective light beam and a second reflective light beam, the polarization direction of the transmitted light beam being orthogonal to the polarization direction of the first reflective light beam and the second reflective light beam; a polarization state transforming assembly configured to adjust the polarization state of the transmitted light beam or the polarization state of the first reflective light beam and the second reflective beam, such that the adjusted transmitted light beam, first reflective light beam and second reflective light beam have the same polarization state; a light path direction adjustment assembly configured to adjust a travel direction of the transmitted light beam or a travel direction of the first reflective light beam and the second reflective light beam, such that the adjusted transmitted light beam, first reflective light beam and second reflective light beam have a travel direction toward a projection screen; a light beam size adjustment assembly configured to adjust a coverage range of the transmitted light beam or a coverage range of the first reflective light beam and the second reflective light beam, such that projecting images of the adjusted transmitted light beam, first reflective light beam and second reflective light beam have a similar size; and one of a light modulator and a quarter wave retarder, the light modulator configured to modulate the adjusted transmitted light beam, first reflective light beam and second reflective light beam to left-circularly polarized light and right-circularly polarized light in accordance with a frame sequence, the quarter wave retarder configured to transform the transmitted light beam, first reflective light beam and second reflective light beam into one of a left-circularly polarized light and a right-circularly polarized light. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The stereoscopic image projection apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the polarization beam splitter assembly comprises a polarization beam splitter prism set. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The stereoscopic image projection apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the polarization beam splitter prism set comprises three prisms that are attached to each other. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The stereoscopic image projection apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the polarization beam splitter prism set comprises one incident plane and three emitting planes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The stereoscopic image projection apparatus according to claim 18, wherein there are two polarization splitting planes inside the polarization beam splitter prism set. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The stereoscopic image projection apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the two polarization splitting planes are arranged at an angle to each other and at an angle to the incident plane, and the two polarization splitting planes intersect at a center line of the incident plane. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The stereoscopic image projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the polarization state transforming assembly comprises a half wave retarder, wherein the half wave retarder is disposed across the light paths of the first reflective light beam and second reflective light beam and in front of or after the light path adjustment assembly, or disposed at any location between the light beam size adjustment assembly and the light modulator, or disposed at any location between the light beam size adjustment assembly and the quarter wave retarder. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The stereoscopic image projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light path direction adjustment assembly comprises two reflective mirrors respectively disposed on light paths of the first reflective light beam and the second reflective light beam. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The stereoscopic image projection apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the light beam size adjustment assembly comprises at least one lens or lens group, wherein the lens or lens group is disposed at any location on light paths of the transmitted light beam, first reflective light beam and second reflective light beam. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The stereoscopic image projection apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the light modulator is configured to change a polarization state according to an electric signal. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) The stereoscopic image projection apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the light modulator is a quarter wave retarder. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) The stereoscopic image projection apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the stereoscopic image projection apparatus further comprises a linear polarizer disposed in front of the light modulator or the quarter wave retarder. ### Claim 27 A stereoscopic image projection system, comprising a projector, a screen, and a stereoscopic image projection apparatus; the stereoscopic image projection apparatus, comprising: a polarization beam splitter assembly configured to split a projecting light beam of a projector into a transmitted light beam, a first reflective light beam and a second reflective light beam, the polarization direction of the transmitted light beam being orthogonal to the polarization direction of the first reflective light beam and the second reflective light beam; a polarization state transforming assembly configured to adjust the polarization state of the transmitted light beam or the polarization state of the first reflective light beam and the second reflective beam, such that the adjusted transmitted light beam, first reflective light beam and second reflective light beam have the same polarization state; a light path direction adjustment assembly configured to adjust a travel direction of the transmitted light beam or a travel direction of the first reflective light beam and the second reflective light beam, such that the adjusted transmitted light beam, first reflective light beam and second reflective light beam have the same travel direction; a light beam size adjustment assembly configured to adjust a coverage range of the transmitted light beam or a coverage range of the first reflective light beam and the second reflective light beam, such that projecting images of the adjusted transmitted light beam, first reflective light beam and second reflective light beam have the same size; and one of a light modulator and a quarter wave retardation film, the light modulator configured to modulate the adjusted transmitted light beam, first reflective light beam and second reflective light beam to left-circularly polarized light and right-circularly polarized light in accordance with a frame sequence, the quarter wave retardation film configured to transform the transmitted light beam, first reflective light beam and second reflective light beam into a left-circularly polarized light and a right-circularly polarized light; the projector configured to project left-eye images and right-eye images in accordance with a frame sequence; the screen configured to form images of the reflective light beams and the transmitted light beam, and paired lights of the left-eye images and right-eye images which are projected onto the screen being reflected with an opposite circular polarization state. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The stereoscopic image projection system according to claim 27, wherein the polarization beam splitter assembly comprises a polarization beam splitter prism set, the polarization beam splitter prism set comprises three prisms that are respectively attached at first and second polarization beam splitting surfaces, the polarization beam splitter prism set comprises one incident plane and three emitting planes, there are two polarization splitting planes inside the polarization beam splitter prism set, the two polarization splitting planes are both at an angle to the incident plane, and the two polarization splitting planes intersect at a center line of the incident plane. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The stereoscopic image projection system according to claim 27, wherein the polarization state transforming assembly comprises a half wave retarder, wherein the half wave retarder is disposed across the light paths of the first reflective light beam and second reflective light beam and in front of or after the light path adjustment assembly, or disposed at any location between the light beam size adjustment assembly and the light modulator, or disposed at any location between the light beam size adjustment assembly and the quarter wave retarder. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The stereoscopic image projection system according to claim 27, wherein the light path direction adjustment assembly comprises two reflective mirrors respectively disposed on light paths of the first reflective light beam and the second reflective light beam. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) The stereoscopic image projection system according to claim 27, wherein the light beam size adjustment assembly comprises at least one lens or lens group, the lens or lens group is disposed at any location on light paths of the transmitted light beam, first reflective light beam and second reflective light beam. ### Claim 32 (depends on 27) The stereoscopic image projection apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the light modulator is configured to change a polarization state according to an electric signal. ### Claim 33 (depends on 27) The stereoscopic image projection apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the light modulator is a quarter wave retarder. ### Claim 34 (depends on 27) The stereoscopic image projection system according to claim 27, wherein the stereoscopic image projection apparatus further comprises a linear polarizer disposed in front of the light modulator or the quarter wave retarder.