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US 8,998,447 B2Granted
Illumination devices using array of reflectors
AssigneeProjectdesign AS
InventorsOyvind Svensen, Kjell Einar Olsen, Sverre Lefsaker, Tobby Simonsen, Ronny Bjomsen
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and systems for providing illumination for projectors. Two or more sets of reflectors are used to combine light beams emitted by two or more two-dimensional arrays of light sources to provide a combined light beam with high brightness toward a pupil of a projection system. Solid state light sources, such as diode lasers and LEDs, may be used as light sources at relatively low cost and low powers, and with long lifetime.
Claims20
An optical system for providing illumination to a pupil of an imaging device, the optical system comprising:
- a first two-dimensional array of first light sources comprising:
- a plurality of first rows formed of the first light sources disposed in a first direction;
- and
- a plurality of first columns formed of the first light sources disposed in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction,
- wherein each first light source is operable to provide a first light beam propagating in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction;
- a second two-dimensional array of second light sources comprising:
- a plurality of second rows formed of the second light sources disposed in the first direction;
- and
- a plurality of second columns formed of the second light sources disposed in the second direction,
- wherein each second light source is operable to provide a second light beam propagating in the third direction,
- wherein the second rows of second light sources are interleaved with the first rows of first light sources in the second direction, and the second columns of second light sources are interleaved with the first columns of first light sources in the first direction, and
- wherein the third direction is a specific direction along an axis;
- a first set of first reflectors disposed as an array in the third direction and staggered in the second direction, such that each first reflector is operable to reflect first light beams provided by a respective first row of first light sources into the second direction toward the pupil;
- and
- a second set of second reflectors disposed as an array in the third direction and staggered in the second direction, such that each second reflector is operable to reflect second light beams provided by a respective second row of second light sources into the second direction toward the pupil,
- wherein each second reflector is stacked in front of a corresponding first reflector in the second direction toward the pupil, and each second reflector comprises transparent regions operable to transmit the first light beams reflected by a corresponding first reflector, and
- wherein the first two-dimensional array of first light sources and the second two-dimension array of light sources are both disposed on a same side of the first set of first reflectors and the second set of second reflectors.
14 more elements
An optical system for providing illumination to a pupil of an imaging device, the optical system comprising:
- a first set of first reflectors disposed as an array in a first direction and staggered in a second direction toward the pupil, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction, wherein each first reflector is operable to reflect one or more first light beams incident in the first direction into the second direction toward the pupil;
- and
- a second set of second reflectors disposed as an array in the first direction and staggered in the second direction toward the pupil, each second reflector comprising one or more transparent regions, wherein each second reflector is operable to reflect one or more second light beams incident in the first direction into the second direction toward the pupil,
- wherein the first direction is a specific direction along an axis,
- wherein the first light beams and the second light beams are incident from a same side for both the first set of first reflectors and the second set of second reflectors;
- wherein each second reflector is stacked in front of a corresponding first reflector in the second direction toward the pupil, and each second reflector is operable to transmit the one or more first light beams reflected by the corresponding first reflector through the one or more transparent regions on the second reflector.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.