Full-color projection display system using two light modulators
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsFrank Poradish, James M. Florence
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A full color projection system is disclosed herein. The projection system includes a means for generating a first light beam and also a means for generating a second light beam. These means may include either separate light sources 10a and 10b or a single light source 10 and a means for dividing the light source into the first and second light beams. In two examples, the means for dividing may include either a dichroic color wheel 40 or a color splitting prism 52. The first light beam will be modulated by a first spatial light modulator 30a and the second light beam will be modulated by a second spatial light modulator 30b. These spatial light modulators 30a and 30b are preferably, but not in necessarily digital micromirror devices.
Claims32
A full-color projection system comprising:
- a first light source for generating a first light beam;
- a second light source for generating a second light beam;
- a first spatial light modulator for receiving said first light beam and redirecting a modulated version of said first light beam to a screen;
- a color wheel disposed between said first light source and said first spatial light modulator;
- and
- a second spatial light modulator for receiving said second light beam and redirecting a modulated version of said second light beam to said screen.
A full-color projection system comprising:
- a first light source for generating a first beam of light;
- a first color wheel for receiving said first beam of light and transmitting a filtered version of said first beam of light;
- a first spatial light modulator for receiving said filtered version of said first beam of light and directing a modulated version of said first beam of light to a screen;
- a second light source for generating a second beam of light;
- a second color wheel for receiving said second beam of light and transmitting a filtered version of said second beam of light;
- and
- a second spatial light modulator for receiving said filtered version of said second beam of light and directing a modulated version of said second beam of light to said screen.
A full-color projection display system comprising:
- a light source for generating a light beam;
- a color wheel for receiving said light beam, said color wheel transmitting a first light beam and reflecting a second light beam;
- a first spatial light modulator for receiving said first light beam and directing a modulated version of said first beam of light to a screen;
- a reflector for receiving and redirecting said second light beam;
- and
- a second spatial light modulator for receiving said second light beam and directing a modulated version of said second beam of light to said screen.
A full color projection system comprising:
- a light source for generating a beam of light;
- a color wheel for receiving said beam of light and passing a filtered light beam;
- a color splitting prism for directing a first portion of said filtered light beam to a first spatial light modulator and a second portion of said filtered light beam to a second spatial light modulator;
- and
- a screen for receiving modulated light from both said first and second spatial light modulators.
A method of illuminating a region, said method comprising the steps of:
- generating a first light beam;
- modulating said first light beam;
- generating a second light beam;
- filtering said second light beam such that said second light beam is a first color during a first time period and a second color during a second time period;
- modulating said filtered second light beam;
- directing said first light beam to said region;
- and
- directing light from said filtered second light beam to said region.
A full color projection system comprising:
- a first light beam generating apparatus;
- a first spatial light modulator for receiving a first light beam from said first light beam generating apparatus and directing a modulated version of said first light beam to a region to be illuminated;
- a second light beam generating apparatus;
- a light color filter disposed to receive a second beam of light from said second light beam generator, said light color filter filtering said second light beam such that the second light beam is a first color during a first time period and a second color during a second time period;
- and
- a second spatial light modulator for receiving said filtered second light beam from said second light beam generating apparatus and redirecting a modulated version of said filtered second light beam to a region to be illuminated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.