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US 5,903,388 AGranted
High efficiency electromagnetic beam projector and systems and method for implementation thereof
OwnerSteven R. Sedlmayrinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to electromagnetic wave beam paths, formation of the beam, illumination of programmable electromagnetic wave field vector orientation rotating devices ("PEMFVORD") with an electromagnetic beam, and the technique of projection of the modulated beam. This invention also relates to a unique light path and method of forming the light into a rectangular beam to be used for optical projection systems and, more particularly, in a color and/or black and white liquid crystal device (LCD) projectors that produce high resolution, high brightness and/or three-dimensional images. This invention further relates to a device capable of receiving and displaying two-dimensional and three-dimensional images.
Claims51
A system for modulating the intensity of an input beam of electromagnetic energy in response to a modulation signal having a first intensity component and a second intensity component wherein the input beam includes a first wavelength component and a different second wavelength component and wherein the first and second wavelength components each include an unspecified E vector polarization, the system comprising:
- a. beam splitting apparatus for separating the input beam into first and second beam segments as a function of E vector polarization and not as a function of wavelength where the first beam segment includes a first substantially fixed E vector polarization and the second beam segment includes a second substantially fixed E vector polarization;
- b. beam segment polarizing apparatus for rotating the E vector of the second beam segment to substantially align the E vector of the second beam segment to parallel the E vector of the first beam segment;
- c. beam recombining apparatus for recombining the first and second beam segments into a substantially collimated, uniformly polarized beam having a defined cross sectional area and a single, substantially fixed E vector polarization;
- d. filter apparatus for separating the uniformly polarized beam into a first wavelength beam element and a second wavelength beam element as a function of wavelength;
- e. first variable polarizing apparatus for rotating the E vector polarization of the first wavelength beam element on a pixel by pixel basis as a function of the location of each discrete pixel element within the beam area and as a function of the first intensity component of the modulation signal to produce a first pixel rotated beam where each discrete pixel element includes an independently controlled, variable angle E vector polarization defined by the first intensity component of the modulation signal;
- f. second variable polarizing apparatus for rotating the E vector polarization of the second wavelength beam element on a pixel by pixel basis as a function of the location of each discrete pixel element within the beam area and as a function of the second intensity component of the modulation signal to produce a second pixel rotated beam where each discrete pixel element includes an independently controlled, variable angle E vector polarization defined by the second intensity component of the modulation signal;
- g. beam recombining apparatus for combining the first and second pixel rotated beams into a composite beam;
- and
- h. beam resolving apparatus for resolving the composite beam into collimated first and second output beams and for directing the first output beam in a first direction and the second output beam in a second direction angularly offset from the first direction, the first output beam having a substantially fixed first E vector polarization with discrete pixel elements independently varying in intensity as a direct function of both the first and second intensity components of the modulation signal and the second output beam having a substantially fixed second E vector polarization with discrete pixel elements independently varying in intensity as an inverse function of the first output beam.
6 more elements
A method for modulating the intensity of an input beam of electromagnetic energy in response to a modulation signal having a first intensity component and a second intensity component wherein the input beam includes a first wavelength component and a different second wavelength component and wherein the first and second wavelength components each include an unspecified E vector polarization, comprising the steps of:
- a. separating the input beam into first and second beam segments as a function of E vector polarization and not as a function of wavelength where the first beam segment includes a first substantially fixed E vector polarization and the second beam segment includes a second substantially fixed E vector polarization;
- b. rotating the E vector of the second beam segment to substantially align the E vector of the second beam segment to parallel the E vector of the first beam segment;
- c. recombining the first and second beam segments into a substantially collimated, uniformly polarized beam having a defined cross sectional area and a single, substantially fixed E vector polarization;
- d. separating the uniformly polarized beam into a first wavelength beam element and a second wavelength beam element as a function of wavelength;
- e. rotating the E vector polarization of the first wavelength beam element on a pixel by pixel basis as a function of the location of each discrete pixel element within the beam area and as a function of the first intensity component of the modulation signal to produce a first pixel rotated beam where each discrete pixel element includes an independently controlled, variable angle E vector polarization defined by the first intensity component of the modulation signal;
- f. rotating the E vector polarization of the second wavelength beam element on a pixel by pixel basis as a function of the location of each discrete pixel element within the beam area and as a function of the second intensity component of the modulation signal to produce a second pixel rotated beam where each discrete pixel element includes an independently controlled, variable angle E vector polarization defined by the second intensity component of the modulation signal;
- g. combining the first and second pixel rotated beams into a composite beam;
- h. resolving the composite beam into a collimated first output beam having a substantially fixed first E vector polarization with discrete pixel elements independently varying in intensity as a direct function of both the first and second intensity components of the modulation signal and into a collimated second output beam having a substantially fixed second E vector polarization with discrete pixel elements independently varying in intensity as an inverse function of the first output beam;
- and
- i. directing the first output beam in a first direction and directing the second output beam in a second direction angularly offset from the first direction.
7 more elements
A system for modulating a light beam in response to a modulation signal having a first intensity component and a second intensity component comprising:
- (a) light beam generating apparatus for producing a substantially collimated, uniformly polarized initial light beam having a predetermined range of wavelengths and a defined cross sectional area;
- (b) beam splitting apparatus for separating substantially all of the initial light beam into first and second separate light beams, each beam having a fixed E vector polarization;
- (c) polarization altering apparatus for separately altering the E vector polarization of the first and second separate light beams a single time as a function of the modulation signal to produce first and second altered light beams, the first altered light beam having an E vector polarization rotated as a function of the first intensity component of the modulation signal and the second altered light beam having an E vector polarization rotated as a function of the second intensity component of the modulation signal;
- (d) light beam combining apparatus for combining the first and second altered light beams into a single collinear light beam without substantially changing the E vector polarization of the altered light beams;
- and
- (e) light beam resolving apparatus for resolving the single collinear light beam into a first resolved light beam having a substantially uniform first E vector polarization and a second resolved light beam having a substantially uniform second E vector polarization where the first E vector polarization differs from the second E vector polarization, where the intensity of the first resolved light beam varies as a direct function of the first and second intensity components of the modulation signal and where the intensity of the second resolved light beam varies as an inverse function of the first and second intensity components of the modulation signal.
3 more elements
A method for modulating a light beam along an optical path in response to a modulation signal having a first intensity component and a second intensity component comprising the steps of:
- (a) producing a substantially collimated, uniformly polarized initial light beam having a predetermined range of wavelengths and a defined cross sectional area;
- (b) separating substantially all of the initial light beam at a first point in the optical path into first and second separate light beams, each beam having a fixed E vector polarization;
- (c) separately altering the E vector polarization of the first and second separate light beams a single time as a function of the modulation signal to produce first and second altered light beams, the first altered light beam having an E vector polarization rotated as a function of the first intensity component of the modulation signal and the second altered light beam having an E vector polarization rotated as a function of the second intensity component of the modulation signal;
- (d) combining the first and second altered light beams into a single collinear light beam at a second point in the optical path without substantially changing the E vector polarization of the altered light beams;
- and
- (e) resolving from the single collinear light beam into a first resolved light beam having a substantially uniform first E vector polarization and a second resolved light beam having a substantially uniform second E vector polarization where the first E vector polarization differs from the second E vector polarization, where the intensity of the first resolved light beam varies as a direct function of the first and second intensity components of the modulation signal and where the intensity of the second resolved light beam varies as an inverse function of the first and second intensity components of the modulation signal.
3 more elements
A method for modulating the intensity of a light beam in response to a modulation signal having first, second and third intensity components wherein the light input beam includes first, second and third different wavelength components, comprising the steps of:
- a. separating the input beam into first and second beam segments as a function of E vector polarization and not as a function of wavelength where the first beam segment includes a first substantially fixed E vector polarization and the second beam segment includes a second substantially fixed E vector polarization;
- b. rotating the E vector of the second beam segment to substantially align the E vector of the second beam segment to parallel the E vector of the first beam segment;
- c. recombining the first and second beam segments into a substantially collimated, uniformly polarized beam having a defined cross sectional area and a single, substantially fixed E vector polarization;
- d. separating the uniformly polarized beam into a first, second and third wavelength beam elements as a function of wavelength;
- e. rotating the E vector polarization of the first wavelength beam element on a pixel by pixel basis as a function of the location of each discrete pixel element within the beam area and as a function of the first intensity component of the modulation signal to produce a first pixel rotated beam where each discrete pixel element includes an independently controlled, variable angle E vector polarization defined by the first intensity component of the modulation signal;
- f. rotating the E vector polarization of the second wavelength beam element on a pixel by pixel basis as a function of the location of each discrete pixel element within the beam area and as a function of the second intensity component of the modulation signal to produce a second pixel rotated beam where each discrete pixel element includes an independently controlled, variable angle E vector polarization defined by the second intensity component of the modulation signal;
- g. rotating the E vector polarization of the third wavelength beam element on a pixel by pixel basis as a function of the location of each discrete pixel element within the beam area and as a function of the third intensity component of the modulation signal to produce a third pixel rotated beam where each discrete pixel element includes an independently controlled, variable angle E vector polarization defined by the third intensity component of the modulation signal;
- h. combining the first, second and third pixel rotated beams into a composite beam;
- i. resolving the composite beam into a collimated first output beam having a substantially fixed first E vector polarization with discrete pixel elements independently varying in intensity as a direct function of the first, second and third intensity components of the modulation signal and into a collimated second output beam having a substantially fixed second E vector polarization with discrete pixel elements independently varying in intensity as an inverse function of the first output beam;
- and
- j. directing the first output beam in a first direction and directing t-e second output beam in a second direction angularly offset from the first direction.
8 more elements
A method for modulating a light beam along an optical path in, response to a modulation signal having first, second and third intensity components comprising the steps of:
- (a) producing a substantially collimated, uniformly polarized initial light beam having a predetermined range of wavelengths and a defined cross sectional area;
- (b) separating substantially all of the input light beam at a first point in the optical path into first, second and third separate light beams, each beam having a fixed E vector polarization;
- (c) separately altering the E vector polarization of the first, second and third separate light beams a single time as a function of the modulation signal to produce first, second and third altered light beams, the first altered light beam having an E vector polarization rotated as a function of the first intensity component of the modulation signal, the second altered light beam having an E vector polarization rotated as a function of the second intensity component of the modulation signal and the third altered light beam having an E vector polarization rotated as a function of the third intensity component of the modulation signal;
- (d) combining each of the first, second and third altered light beams into a single collimated light beam at a second point in the optical path without substantially changing the E vector polarization of the altered light beams;
- and
- (e) resolving the single collinear light beam into a first resolved light beam having a substantially uniform first E vector polarization and a second resolved light beam having a substantially uniform second E vector polarization, where the first E vector polarization differs from the second E vector polarization, where the intensity of the first resolved light beam varies as a direct function of the first, second and third intensity components of the modulation signal and where the intensity of the second resolved light beam varies as an inverse function of the first, second and third intensity components of the modulation signal.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.