Compact projector and method of using same

A method of projecting an image onto a remote viewing surface, comprising:

• positioning a projection lens system in an optical path extending from a source of high intensity projection light to the remote viewing surface;
• positioning an image forming device generally horizontally in a low profile housing and substantially in said optical path to enable light from said source of high intensity light to be modulated;
• positioning an optical system in said low profile housing substantially below said image forming device for directing light from said source of light through said device;
• positioning a lamp assembly at a rear portion of said housing to provide said source of high intensity projection light;
• and
• coupling a display control system electrically to said device for modulating the high intensity projection light as it passes through said device to form the image for projection purposes;
• generating a generally collimated light for image projection purposes;
• wherein the generating of the generally collimated light includes positioning an optical device relative to said source of light for causing the generally collimated light to be directed therefrom where the light spreads at an angle of spreading equal to the arc tangent of the size of the light source divided by the effective focal length of the device to cause the generally collimated light to overlap within a predetermined distance.

A projection illumination arrangement for projecting an image onto a remote viewing surface, comprising:

• a projection lens arrangement;
• means for positioning said projection lens arrangement in an optical path extending from a source of high intensity projection light to the remote viewing surface;
• an image forming device;
• means for positioning said image forming device generally horizontally in a low profile housing and substantially in said optical path to enable light from said source of high intensity light to be modulated;
• an optical system;
• means for positioning said optical system in said low profile housing substantially below said device for directing light from said source of light through said device;
• a lamp assembly;
• means for positioning said lamp assembly at a rear portion of said housing to provide said source of high intensity projection light;
• a display control system;
• and
• means for coupling said display control system electrically to said image forming device to facilitate modulating the high intensity projection light as it passes through said device to form the image;
• wherein said means for positioning a lamp assembly includes means for collimating the light from said source of light for image projection purposes;
• and
• wherein said means for positioning an optical system includes:
• a first faceted mirror;
• means for positioning said first faceted mirror at a predetermined angle relative to the collimated light to produce beam segments reflecting therefrom for spreading them by a predetermined amount in a desired dimension;
• a second faceted mirror;
• means for positioning said second faceted mirror at a predetermined angle relative to the first mirror to reflect said beam segments therefrom and to in turn produce beam segments reflecting therefrom for spreading them by a predetermined amount in another desired dimension;
• said mirrors being positioned at a predetermined distance of a sufficient length to permit the beam segments reflecting from the first mirror to diverge and intersect to fill in dark areas therebetween before impinging on the second mirror.

A projection illumination arrangement for projecting an image onto a remote viewing surface, comprising:

• a low profile housing;
• light collimating means disposed at a rear portion of said housing for producing high intensity collimated light;
• first dimension faceted mirror means mounted within said housing at a predetermined angle relative to said light collimating means for spreading reflectively the collimated light by a predetermined amount in a desired dimension to form a plurality of high intensity light beams;
• second dimension faceted mirror means mounted within said housing at a predetermined angle relative to the first mirror means for spreading reflectively said plurality of high intensity light beams by another predetermined amount in another desired dimension to cause a substantial portion of said plurality of high intensity light beams to be directed in a desired direction along an optical path;
• image forming means mounted substantially horizontally within said housing in said optical path to enable the light directed in said desired direction to be modulated;
• and
• means for coupling a display control system electrically to said image forming means for enabling it to modulate said plurality of high intensity light beams to form the image.