2D/3D data projector
AssigneeUpstream Engineering Oy
InventorsMikko Petteri Alasaarela, Ilkka Antero Alasaarela
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Abstract
The present solution relates to a 2D/3D data projector, which comprises: A data projector, the data projector comprising: at least one micro display having an image to be projected, at least one source unit comprising at least one light source chip and at least one beam forming component, each beam forming component comprising at least one diffractive element, and each source unit being designed to preserve etendue as far as possible, to minimize photon loss, to provide a desired projection shape and a uniform illumination onto the micro display, and a focusing optical unit for projecting the image of the micro display on a target.
Claims67
A data projector comprising:
- at least one micro display;
- at least one light source chip;
- and
- an optically transmissive beam forming component arranged to enclose substantially a hemisphere about the light source chip, where the beam forming component is disposed to direct substantially all light, from the light source chip into the hemisphere, toward the microdisplay with substantially uniform illumination, where said beam forming component comprises at least one of a diffractive or a refractive surface pattern.
A data projector comprising:
- at least one micro display;
- and
- at least one source unit comprising at least one light source chip,
- said source unit further comprising at least one beam forming component disposed in a three dimensional configuration to substantially enclose a hemisphere about the light source chip,
- wherein an optically transmissive surface and an optically reflective surface of the beam forming component each comprise at least one of a diffractive and a refractive surface pattern.
A method of data projection comprising:
- operating at least one light source chip of at least one source unit for illuminating at least one micro display, while preserving etendue, and minimizing photon loss;
- where operating the at least one light source chip comprises beam forming the illumination to provide a desired projection shape and a substantially uniform illumination using a plurality of surfaces disposed in a three dimensional configuration that substantially encloses a hemisphere about the light source chip, where said at least one optically reflective surface of the plurality of surfaces comprises at least one of a diffractive and a refractive surface pattern,
- focusing a desired image resulting from illumination of the micro display;
- and
- projecting the focused image onto a target.
A beam forming component disposed in a three dimensional configuration to substantially enclose a hemisphere about a light source having a light source chip, where at least one optically reflective surface of the beam forming component, within the hemisphere, comprises micro-optical structures, the beam forming component further comprising a transparent material adjacent to the light source chip that has an index of refraction matched to that of the light source chip.
A data projector comprising:
- a light source having a light source chip;
- a micro display;
- and
- a beam forming component comprising a transparent material adjacent to the light source that has an index of refraction matched to that of the light source chip, said beam forming component defining micro optical structures at least along a surface that is not perpendicular to a line between the light source and the micro-display.
A data projector comprising:
- a light source;
- a micro display;
- and
- a beam forming component comprising a plurality of planar optically transmissive surfaces having micro optical structures on at least three of said planar surfaces that are not perpendicular to a line between the light source and the micro display.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.