Display system with equal path lengths

A projection TV system comprising an illumination subsystem providing a single illuminating beam, a modulation subsystem, and a projection subsystem, wherein said modulation subsystem includes at least two transmission light valves, each of said transmission light valves directly passing at least a portion of said single illuminating beam to said projection subsystem, each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a first path length from the illumination substage, said first path length being equal for all transmission light valves, and each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a second path length from the projection subsystem, said second path length being equal for all transmission light valves, wherein said light valves in said modulation subsystem include three transmission liquid crystal displays, a first of said liquid crystal displays modulating red light, a second of said liquid crystal displays modulating green light, and a third of said liquid crystal displays modulating blue light, wherein said illumination subsystem includes a light source, at least one reflector means for collecting light not passing to said modulation subsystem, and a condenser lens system for passing light to said modulation subsystem, said at least one reflector means redirecting said light not originally passing to said modulation subsystem to said condenser lens system, wherein said light source includes an inner and an outer envelope with plane mirrors within said outer envelope to direct reflected light to at least one image position adjacent said light source, and wherein said reflector means includes reflectors to collect and redirect light to at least one of said light source or said image position for passage through said condenser lens system.

A projection TV system comprising an illumination subsystem providing a single illuminating beam, a modulation subsystem, and a projection subsystem, wherein said modulation subsystem includes at least two transmission light valves, each of said transmission light valves directly passing at least a portion of said single illuminating beam to said projection subsystem, each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a first path length from the illumination substage, said first path length being equal for all transmission light valves, and each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a second path length from the projection subsystem, said second path length being equal for all transmission light valves, wherein said light valves in said modulation subsystem include three transmission liquid crystal displays, a first of said liquid crystal displays modulating red light, a second of said liquid crystal displays modulating green light, and a third of said liquid crystal displays modulating blue light, wherein said illumination subsystem includes a light source, at least one reflector means for collecting light not passing to said modulation subsystem, and a condenser lens system for passing light to said modulation subsystem, said at least one reflector means redirecting said light not originally passing to said modulation subsystem to said condenser lens system, wherein said light source directs light radially in all directions including through said condenser lens system, and wherein said reflector means are provided to redirect light not previously passing through said condenser lens system in a direction for passing through said condenser lens system.

A projection TV system comprising an illumination subsystem providing a single illuminating beam, a modulation subsystem, and a projection subsystem, wherein said modulation subsystem includes at least two transmission light valves, each of said transmission light valves directly passing at least a portion of said single illuminating beam to said projection subsystem, each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a first path length from the illumination substage, said first path length being equal for all transmission light valves, and each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a second path length from the projection subsystem, said second path length being equal for all transmission light valves, wherein said light valves in said modulation subsystem include three transmission liquid crystal displays, a first of said liquid crystal displays modulating red light, a second of said liquid crystal displays modulating green light, and a third of said liquid crystal displays modulating blue light, wherein said illumination subsystem includes a light source, at least one reflector means for collecting light not passing to said modulation subsystem, and a condenser lens system for passing light to said modulation subsystem, said at least one reflector means redirecting said light not originally passing to said modulation subsystem to said condenser lens system, wherein said light source provides randomly polarized light, and wherein a polarizing beamsplitter and at least one quarterwave plate are provided for directing a desired polarization of said polarized light to said modulation subsystem.

A display system comprising an illumination subsystem providing a single illuminating beam, a modulation subsystem, and a projection subsystem, wherein said modulation subsystem includes at least two transmission light valves, each of said transmission light valves directly passing at least a portion of said single illuminating beam to said projection subsystem, each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a first path length path from the illumination substage, said first path length being equal for all transmission light valves, and each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a second path length from the projection subsystem, said second path length being equal for all transmission light valves, wherein said light valves in said modulation subsystem include three transmission liquid crystal displays, a first of said liquid crystal displays modulating red light, a second of said liquid crystal displays modulating green light, and a third of said liquid crystal displays modulating blue light, wherein said illumination subsystem includes a light source, at least one reflector means for collecting light not passing to said modulation subsytem, and a condenser lens system for passing light to said modulation subsystem, said at least one reflector means redirecting said light not originally passing to said modulation subsystem to said condenser lens system, wherein said light source has only one envelope with plane mirrors being inside or outside said envelope to direct reflected light to at least one image position adjacent said light source, and wherein said reflector means includes reflectors to collect and redirect light to at least one of said light source or said image position for passage through said condenser lens system.

A display system comprising an illumination subsystem providing a single illuminating beam, a modulation subsystem, and a projection subsystem, wherein said modulation subsystem includes at least two transmission light valves, each of said transmission light valves directly passing at least a portion of said single illuminating beam to said projection subsystem, each of said transmission light valves being disposed a first path length from said illumination subsystem, said first path length being equal for all transmission light valves, and each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a second path length from said projection subsystem, said second path length being equal for all transmission light valves, wherein said light valves in said modulation subsystem include three transmission liquid crystal displays, a first of said liquid crystal displays modulating red light, a second of said liquid crystal displays modulating green light, and a third of said liquid crystal displays modulating blue light, wherein said modulation subsystem further includes a series of dichroic filters and mirrors for passing light through a respective one of said three liquid crystal displays and for recombining each of said red light, said green light, and said blue light before said projection subsystem, and wherein entrance and exit locations of said illumination subsystem and said projection subsystem are changed relative to said modulation subsystem.

A display system comprising an illumination subsystem providing a single illuminating beam, a modulation subsystem, and a projection subsystem, wherein said modulation subsystem includes at least two transmission light valves, each of said transmission light valves directly passing at least a portion of said single illuminating beam to said projection subsystem, each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a first path length from said illumination subsystem, said first path length being equal for all transmission light valves, and each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a second path length from said projection subsystem, said second path length being equal for all transmission light valves, wherein said light valves in said modulation subsystem include three transmission liquid crystal displays, a first of said liquid crystal displays modulating red light, a second of said liquid crystal displays modulating green light, and a third of said liquid crystals displays modulating blue light, wherein said modulation subsystem further includes a series of dichroic filters and mirrors for passing light through a respective one of said three liquid crystal displays and for recombining each of said red light, said green light, and said blue light before said projection subsystem, and wherein lens portions of said projection subsystem are disposed in said modulation subsystem, said lens portions being color corrected for said liquid crystal displays.

A display system comprising an illumination subsystem providing a single illuminating beam, a modulation subsystem, and a projection subsystem, wherein said modulation subsystem includes at least two transmission light valves, each of said transmission light valves directly passing at least a portion of said single illuminating beam to said projection subsystem, each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a first path length from said illumination subsystem, said first path length being equal for all transmission light valves, and each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a second path length from said projection subsystem, said second path length being equal for all transmission light valves, wherein said light valves in said modulation subsystem include three transmission liquid crystal displays, a first of said liquid crystal displays modulating red light, a second of said liquid crystal displays modulating green light, and a third of said liquid crystal displays modulating blue light, wherein said modulation subsystem further includes a series of dichroic filters and mirrors for passing light through a respective one of said three liquid crystal displays and for recombining each of said red light, said green light, and said blue light before said projection subsystem, and wherein at least one further dichroic filter is disposed in said modulation subsystem, said further filter being rotatable to vary wavelengths of said light passed by said liquid crystal displays.

A display system comprising an illumination subsystem providing a single illuminating beam, a modulation subsystem, and a projection subsystem, wherein said modulation subsystem includes at least two transmission light valves, each of said transmission light valves directly passing at least a portion of said single illuminating beam to said projection subsystem, each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a first path length from said illumination subsystem, said first path length being equal for all transmission light valves, and each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a second path length from said projection subsystem, said second path length being equal for all transmission light valves, wherein said light valves in said modulation subsystem include three transmission liquid crystal displays, a first of said liquid crystal displays modulating red light, a second of said liquid crystal displays modulating green light, and a third of said liquid crystal displays modulating blue light, wherein said illumination subsystem includes a light source, at least one reflector means for collecting light not passing to said modulation subsystem, and a condenser lens system for passing light to said modulation subsystem, said at least one reflector means redirecting said light not previously passing to said modulation subsystem to said condenser lens system, wherein said light source includes an inner and an outer envelope with plane mirrors within said outer envelope to direct reflected light to at least one image position adjacent said light source, and wherein said reflector means includes reflectors to collect and redirect light to at least one of said light source or said image position for passage through said condenser lens system.

A display system comprising an illumination subsystem providing a single illumination beam, a modulation subsystem, and a projection subsystem, wherein said modulation subsystem includes at least two transmission light valves, each of said transmission light valves directly passing at least a portion of said single illuminating beam to said projection subsystem, each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a first path length from said illumination subsystem, said first path length being equal for all transmission light valves, and each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a second path length from said projection subsystem, said second path length being equal for all transmission light valves, wherein said light valves in said modulation subsystem include three transmission liquid crystal displays, a first of said liquid crystal displays modulating red light, a second of said liquid crystal displays modulating green light, and a third of said liquid crystal displays modulating blue light, wherein said illumination subsystem includes a light source, at least one reflector means for collecting light not passing to said modulation subsystem, and a condenser lens system for passing light to said modulation subsystem, said at least one reflector means redirecting said light not previously passing to said modulation subsystem to said condenser lens system, wherein said light source directs light radially in all directions including through said condenser lens system, and wherein said reflector means are provided to redirect light not originally passing through said condenser lens system in a direction for passing through said condenser lens system.

A display system comprising an illumination subsystem providing a single illuminating beam, a modulation subsystem, and a projection subsystem, wherein said modulation subsystem includes at least two transmission light valves, each of said transmission light valves directly passing at least a portion of said single illuminating beam to said projection subsystem, each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a first path length from said illumination subsystem, said first path length being equal for all transmission light valves, and each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a second path length from said projection subsystem, said second path length being equal for all transmission light valves, wherein said light valves in said modulation subsystem include three transmission liquid crystal displays, a first of said liquid crystal displays modulating red light, a second of said liquid crystal displays modulating green light, and a third of said liquid crystal displays modulating blue light, wherein said illumination subsystem includes a light source, at least one reflector means for collecting light not passing to said modulation subsystem, and a condenser lens system for passing light to said modulation subsystem, said at least one reflector means redirecting said light not previously passing to said modulation subsystem to said condenser lens system, wherein said light source provides randomly polarized light, and wherein a polarizing beamsplitter and at least one quarterwave plate are provided for directing a desired polarization of said polarized light to said modulation subsystem.

A projection TV system comprising an illumination subsystem providing a single illuminating beam, a modulation subsystem, and a projection subsystem, wherein said modulation subsystem includes at least two transmission light valves, each of said transmission light valves directly passing at least a portion of said single illuminating beam, each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a first path length from the illumination substage, said first path length being equal for all transmission light valves, and each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a second path length from the projection subsystem, said second path length being equal for all transmission light valves, wherein said light valves in said modulation subsystem include three transmission liquid crystal displays, a first of said liquid crystal displays modulating red light, a second of said liquid crystal displays modulating green light, and a third of said liquid crystal displays modulating blue light, wherein said modulation subsystem further includes a series of dichroic filters and mirrors for passing light through a respective one of each of said three liquid crystal displays and for recombining each of said red light, said green light, and said blue light before said projection subsystem, and wherein lens portions of said projection subsystem are disposed in said modulation subsystem, said lens portions being color corrected for said liquid crystal displays.

A projection TV system comprising an illumination subsystem providing a single illuminating beam, a modulation subsystem, and a projection subsystem, wherein said modulation subsystem includes at least two transmission light valves, each of said transmission light valves directly passing at least a portion of said single illuminating beam to said projection subsystem, each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a first path length from the illumination substage, said first path length being equal for all transmission light valves, and each of said transmission light valves being disposed at a second path length from the projection subsystem, said second path length being equal for all transmission light valves, wherein said light valves in said modulation subsystem include three transmission liquid crystal displays, a first of said liquid crystal displays modulating red light, a second of said liquid crystal displays modulating green light, and a third of said liquid crystal displays modulating blue light, wherein said modulation subsystem further includes a series of dichroic filters and mirrors for passing light through a respective one of each of said three liquid crystal displays and for recombining each of said red light, said green light, and said blue light before said projection subsystem, and wherein at least one further dichroic filter is disposed in said modulation subsystem, said further filter being rotatable to vary wavelengths of said light passed by said liquid crystal displays.