High dynamic range projection with multiple numerical aperture illumination

A polarization conversion system, comprising:

• a first illumination source having a first numerical aperture value;
• a second illumination source having a second numerical aperture value lower than the first numerical aperture value;
• a homogenizer component on an initial light path, the homogenizer component configured to receive light from both the first and second illumination sources;
• a first lens system on the initial light path, the first lens system configured to receive light from the homogenizer component;
• a light splitting element configured to receive light from the first lens system as randomly polarized image light, the light splitting element further configured to direct light with a first polarization state along a first light path, and further configured to direct light with a second polarization state along a second light path;
• a reflecting element located on the second light path and configured to receive light from the light splitting element;
• a polarization rotator element located on the second light path and configured to receive reflected light from the reflecting element;
• a second lens system configured to receive an image data stream on the first light path from the light splitting element, the image data stream comprising a sequence of image frames having an image frame period;
• and
• a third lens system configured to receive the image data stream on the second light path from the polarization rotator element, wherein the first and second illumination sources are configured for modulation at a rate equivalent to the image frame period.

A projection system having an illumination path and an imaging path, the projection system comprising:

• a first illumination source having a first numerical aperture value;
• a second illumination source having a second numerical aperture value lower than the first numerical aperture value;
• a homogenizer component in the illumination path, the homogenizer component configured to receive light from both the first and second illumination sources;
• a projection lens in the imaging path, the projection lens configured to receive an image data stream, the image data stream comprising a sequence of image frames having an image frame period, wherein the first and second illumination sources are configured for modulation at a rate equivalent to the image frame period;
• and
• an active iris configured to perform, at least in part, the modulation, wherein the active iris is deployed at a pupil position in an imaging path relay.

A projection system having an illumination path and an imaging path, the projection system comprising:

• a first illumination source having a first numerical aperture value;
• a second illumination source having a second numerical aperture value lower than the first numerical aperture value;
• a homogenizer component in the illumination path, the homogenizer component configured to receive light from both the first and second illumination sources;
• a projection lens in the imaging path, the projection lens configured to receive an image data stream, the image data stream comprising a sequence of image frames having an image frame period, wherein the first and second illumination sources are configured for modulation at a rate equivalent to the image frame period;
• and
• an active iris configured to perform, at least in part, the modulation, wherein the active iris is deployed in the projection lens.