High efficiency lamp apparatus for producing a beam of polarized light
AssigneeCompaq Computer Corporation
InventorsRichard M. Knox, Dale S. Walker, William Burton Mercer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrodeless lamp apparatus of high efficiency employs a reflection system that allows the lamp to reabsorb light energy. The energy is redirected back to the light to provide increased system efficiency. The redirected light is of the wrong polarization and/or wrong parts of the color spectrum. The lamp efficiency is increased because of the optical pumping as well as the reuse (after some downshifting) of the returned light. In one embodiment, a projection system provides an image source or projection engine that includes the improved high efficiency lamp of the present invention.
Claims55
A method of increasing the efficiency of a light source, comprising:
- producing a light beam with a light source having a fill, the light beam comprising usable and unusable portions;
- redirecting some of the unusable portions back to the light source to be reabsorbed by the fill;
- directing the usable portions to leave the light source;
- and
- powering the light source by electrodes external to the light source.
A method of increasing the efficiency of a light source, comprising:
- producing a light beam with a light source having a fill, wherein the light source includes a sealed bulb having a fill, the light beam comprising usable and unusable portions, and wherein the producing comprises exciting the fill to form a plasma;
- redirecting some of the unusable portions back to the light source to be reabsorbed by the plasma and directing the usable portions to leave the light source;
- and
- powering the light source by electrodes external to the light source.
A method of increasing the efficiency of a light source, comprising:
- producing a light beam with a light source having a fill, the light beam comprising usable and unusable portions;
- redirecting some of the unusable portions back to the light source to be reabsorbed;
- directing the usable portions to leave the light source;
- powering the light source by electrodes external to the light source;
- and
- filtering the emitted light to form a light beam of polarized light.
A method of increasing the efficiency of a light source, comprising:
- producing a light beam with a light source having a fill, the light beam comprising usable and unusable portions;
- redirecting some of the unusable portions back to the light source to be reabsorbed, wherein the redirecting comprises positioning a polarizing reflector to receive a beam of light from the light source, and wherein the polarizing reflector passes light of one polarity and reflects other light back to the light source;
- directing the usable portions to leave the light source;
- and
- powering the light source by electrodes external to the light source.
A method of increasing the efficiency of a light source, comprising:
- producing a light beam with a light source having a fill, the light beam comprising usable and unusable portions;
- redirecting some of the unusable portions back to the light source to be reabsorbed, wherein the redirecting comprises positioning a polarizing reflector to receive a beam of light from the light source, and wherein the polarizing reflector passes light of one polarity and reflects other light back to the light source;
- directing the usable portions to leave the light source;
- powering the light source by electrodes external to the light source;
- and
- filtering the beam of light with a reflecting filter.
A high efficiency lamp apparatus for producing a light beam, comprising:
- a lamp that defines a chamber, wherein the lamp emits a light beam having both usable and unusable portions;
- a fill disposed inside the lamp;
- electrodes external to the lamp and adapted to generate a plasma from the fill;
- and
- a reflector positioned to redirect some of the unusable light back to the lamp to reabsorb light energy by the plasma and to pass a portion of the usable light.
A high efficiency lamp apparatus for producing a light beam, comprising:
- a lamp that defines a chamber, wherein the lamp emits a light beam having both usable and unusable portions;
- a reflector positioned to redirect a portion of the unusable light back to the lamp to reabsorb light energy and to pass a portion of the usable light, wherein the reflector includes a polarizing filter that is positioned to receive and polarize the light beam;
- a fill disposed inside the lamp;
- and
- electrodes external to the lamp and adapted to generate a plasma from the fill.
A high efficiency lamp apparatus for producing a light beam, comprising:
- a lamp that defines a chamber, wherein the lamp emits a light beam having both usable and unusable portions;
- a reflector positioned to redirect a portion of the unusable light back to the lamp to reabsorb light energy and to pass a portion of the usable light;
- an interference filter that reflects light other than red, green, and blue light, the interference filter being located in the beam;
- a fill disposed inside the lamp;
- and
- electrodes external to the lamp and adapted to generate a plasma from the fill.
A high efficiency lamp apparatus for producing a light beam, comprising:
- a lamp that defines a chamber, wherein the lamp emits a light beam having both usable and unusable portions;
- a reflector positioned to redirect a portion of the unusable light back to the lamp to reabsorb light energy and to pass a portion of the usable light, wherein the reflector is a shaped reflector that extends about the majority of the outer surface of the lamp body, and wherein the reflector has a wall that is positioned about the lamp body and including an opening at one end of the reflector wall through which a light beam can travel;
- a fill disposed inside the lamp;
- and
- electrodes external to the lamp and adapted to generate a plasma from the fill.
A method of displaying an optical image comprising:
- generating a light beam by powering a lamp through electrodes external to the lamp, the light beam comprising usable and unusable portions;
- redirecting some of the unusable portions of the light beam back to the lamp to reabsorb light energy and passing the usable portions of the light beam;
- using the redirected light to increase the efficiency of the lamp;
- and
- using the usable portions of the light beam to form an image projected at a display surface.
A projection apparatus for producing an image display comprising:
- an image source that includes a lamp that is comprised of a lamp body with a chamber, wherein the lamp is for emitting a beam having both usable and unusable portions of light;
- a reflector positioned for redirecting some of the unusable light back to the lamp so that the lamp reabsorbs light energy to increase efficiency;
- a display surface;
- and
- the image source generating an image from the usable portions of the light in the beam that travels an image path which reaches the display surface,
- wherein the reflector is positioned for redirecting some of the unusable light in the beam back to the lamp before the beam is used by the image source for generating an image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.