US 6,224,216 B1 · System and method employing LED light sources for a projection display

Abstract

In a single path embodiment of a multimedia projector (30) of the present invention, the light emitted from blue, green, and red generally monochromatic LEDs (72) or LED arrays (70) is propagated through optical fibers (76) and then integrated through an optical integrator (40). A display controller (56) receives image data from a personal computer (58) and converts the data to color frame sequential data delivered to a common display device (44). The display controller (56) synchronizes the data with ON/OFF signals conveyed to an LED power supply (34). Because the synchronization is entirely electronic, the frame sequential information can be cycled much faster and more accurately than can be accomplished with a color wheel system (10). In a multiple path embodiment of a multimedia projector (120) of the present invention, the light emitted from blue, green, and red generally monochromatic LEDs (72) or LED arrays (70) is propagated along separate respective optical paths (36b, 36g, 36r) through optical fibers (76) and then integrated through an optical integrator (40). A display controller (56) receives image data from a personal computer (58) and converts the data to color frame sequential data delivered to respective separate display devices (44b, 44g, 44r) whose output is coupled into a combiner (122). The display controller (56) synchronizes the data between the separate display devices (44b, 44g, 44r) to form a composite image. In this embodiment, all three sets of LEDs (72) can be left ON continuously. Other LED array color combinations can be employed with or without an additional white light path.

Claims24

Dependent claims

An image projection system for a display device, comprising:

a first set of first LEDs for generating first light having a first wavelength during a first emission time frame;
a second set of second LEDs for generating second light having a second wavelength during a second emission time frame, the second wavelength being different from the first wavelength;
a first set of first optical fibers, each first optical fiber including at opposite ends thereof a first input terminal for receiving first light from at least one of the first LEDs and a first output terminal to propagate the first light from directly or indirectly to an imaging device;
a second set of second optical fibers, each second optical fiber including at opposite ends thereof a second input terminal for receiving second light from at least one of the second LEDs and a second output terminal to propagate the second light directly or indirectly to the imaging device;
and
a display controller adapted to receive color image data from a data source and convert the color image data to at least first and second color frame sequential data for driving the imaging device, the display controller also being adapted to control the first and second emission time frames of the respective first and second sets of LEDs such that the imaging device implements the first color frame sequential data during the first emission time frame and the imaging device implements the second color frame sequential data during the second emission time frame.

3 more elements

A method for projecting color display information, comprising:

receiving color image data from a data source;
converting the color image data to at least first and second color frame sequential data for driving an imaging device;
generating first light at a first wavelength from a first set of first LEDs during a first emission time frame;
propagating the first light through a first set of first optical fibers, each first optical fiber including at opposite ends thereof a first input terminal for receiving first light from at least one of the first LEDs and a first output terminal to propagate the first light directly or indirectly to the imaging device;
implementing the first color frame sequential data during the first emission time frame at the imaging device to form a first color frame image;
generating second light at a second wavelength from a second set of second LEDs during a second emission time frame, the second wavelength being different from the first wavelength;
propagating the second light through a second set of second optical fibers, each second optical fiber including at opposite ends thereof a second input terminal for receiving second light from at least one of the second LEDs and a second output terminal to propagate the second light directly or indirectly to the imaging device;
and
implementing the second color frame sequential data during the second emission time frame at the imaging device to form a second color frame image.

6 more elements

An image projection system for a color display device, comprising:

a first set of first LEDs for generating first light having a first wavelength;
a second set of second LEDs for generating second light having a second wavelength, the second wavelength being different from the first wavelength;
a first set of first optical fibers, each first optical fiber including at opposite ends thereof a first input terminal for receiving first light from at least one of the first LEDs and a first output terminal to propagate the first light directly or indirectly to a first imaging device;
a second set of second optical fibers, each second optical fiber including at opposite ends thereof a second input terminal for receiving second light from at least one of the second LEDs and a second output terminal to propagate the second light directly or indirectly to a second imaging device;
a display controller adapted to receive color image data from a data source and convert the color image data to at least first and second color data for driving the respective first and second imaging devices to project respective first and second images;
and
a combiner adapted for receiving simultaneously the first and second images from the respective first and second imaging devices and combining the first and second images to form a composite image.

4 more elements

A method for projecting color display information, comprising:

receiving color image data from a data source;
converting the color image data to at least first and second color data for driving respective first and second imaging devices;
generating first and second light of respective first and second different wavelengths from respective first and second sets of respective first and second LEDs;
propagating the first and second light through respective first and second sets of respective first and second optical fibers, each first optical fiber including at opposite ends thereof a first input terminal for receiving first light from at least one of the first LEDs and a first output terminal to propagate the first light directly or indirectly to a first imaging device and each second optical fiber including at opposite ends thereof a second input terminal for receiving second light from at least one of the second LEDs and a second output terminal to propagate the second light directly or indirectly to a second imaging device;
implementing the first and second color data at the respective first and second imaging devices to form respective first and second color images;
propagating the first and second color images to a combiner;
and
projecting a composite color image from the combiner.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method employing LED light sources for a projection display

Life of this patent

System and method employing LED light sources for a projection display

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24