Color imaging systems and methods

A color projection system, comprising:

• first, second, third and fourth polarizing beamsplitters, arranged in a square pattern, wherein each polarizing beamsplitter is configured to allow light having a first polarization orientation to pass therethrough, wherein each polarizing beamsplitter is configured to reflect light having a second polarization orientation, and wherein each polarizing beamsplitter has two interior sides adjacent two other polarizing beamsplitters, and two exterior sides that are not adjacent other polarizing beamsplitters;
• a first retarder stack located on an exterior side of the first polarizing beamsplitter;
• a second retarder stack located adjacent an interior side of the first polarizing beamsplitter;
• a third retarder stack located between interior sides of two of the polarizing beamsplitters;
• a light source located adjacent the first retarder stack;
• and
• projection optics located adjacent the fourth polarizing beamsplitter.

A system for separating and combining three spectrums of light, comprising:

• a polarizing beamsplitter;
• an input retarder stack located adjacent a first side of the polarizing beamsplitter;
• a spacer located adjacent a second side of the polarizing beamsplitter;
• and
• a dichroic beamsplitter located adjacent a third side of the polarizing beamsplitter.

A color projection system, comprising:

• a polarizing beamsplitter;
• an input retarder stack located adjacent a first side of the polarizing beamsplitter;
• a light source located adjacent the first retarder stack;
• a spacer located adjacent a second side of the polarizing beamsplitter;
• a dichroic beamsplitter located adjacent a third side of the polarizing beamsplitter;
• and
• projection optics located adjacent a fourth side of the polarizing beamsplitter.

A method of separating, modulating and re-combining spectrums of light, comprising the steps of:

• conditioning input light with a first retarder stack so that input light in a first spectrum has a first polarization orientation, and input light in a second spectrum has a second polarization orientation;
• separating the light in the first spectrum from the light in the second spectrum using a polarizing beamsplitter;
• conditioning the separated light in the second spectrum using a second retarder stack so that light in a third spectrum has the first polarization orientation, and light in a fourth spectrum has the second polarization orientation;
• separating the light in the third spectrum from the light in the fourth spectrum using a polarizing beamsplitter;
• modulating light in the first, third and fourth spectrums separately, using first, second and third modulators;
• and
• recombining the first, third and fourth modulated spectrums of light.

A method of separating, modulating, and re-combining spectrums of light, comprising the steps of:

• conditioning input light with a first retarder stack so that input light in a first spectrum has a first polarization orientation, and input light in a second spectrum has a second polarization orientation;
• separating the light in the first spectrum from the light in the second spectrum using a polarizing beamsplitter;
• separating light in the separated second spectrum into third and fourth spectrums of light with a dichroic beamsplitter;
• modulating the light in the first, third and fourth spectrums separately, using first, second and third modulators;
• and
• recombining the first, third and fourth modulated spectrums of light.

A system for separating and combining multiple spectra of light, comprising:

• a polarizing beamsplitter;
• an input retarder stack located adjacent a first side of the polarizing beamsplitter;
• and
• a dichroic beamsplitter located adjacent a second side of the polarizing beamsplitter.