Patent Application
20070047059
Display systems display an image or series of images on a display surface. In particular, each image is frequently made up of several sub-images. For example, some systems produce a red, a green, and a blue sub-image that are then combined to form a single, full-color image.
Recent designs have made use of lasers to provide the red, green, and blue light. Lasers frequently allow for the formation of relatively bright images. Such lasers frequently produce light with relatively high spatial coherence. Light produced by the lasers is frequently scattered by directing the light to a scattering member. Scattering members are often shaped so as to disperse the light over a larger area. The scattering members often have several “scatter centers” from which the incident light is scattered.
These scatter center produce randomly scattered beams across the screen. The randomly scattered beams distributed across the screen may interfere with each other where the image is perceived, such as by the human eye. This interference forms distinct patterns, which is commonly referred to as speckle.
Some designs rapidly scan individual points of laser light across the screen to form an image, in a similar fashion as that used by cathode ray tube systems, in an attempt to use laser light while minimizing speckle due to scattering. Such designs may be costly and complicated.
A projection assembly includes an illumination system and at least one light modulator panel in optical communication with the illumination system. An illumination path is defined between the illumination system and the light modulator panel. Further, the illumination system is configured to spatially shift at least a portion of the illumination path.
The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of the present apparatus and method and are a part of the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of the present apparatus and method and do not limit the scope of the disclosure.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements.
An illumination system is provided herein for use in display systems. According to one exemplary embodiment, the display system includes an illumination system, a light modulator assembly, and display optics. The illumination system includes a light source, such as one or more lasers and an illumination optics assembly. Light generated by the light source travels through the illumination optics assembly to the light modulator assembly along an illumination path.
At least one of the components of the illumination system is moved, such as by vibration and/or rotation to thereby selectively spatially shift a portion of the illumination path before the light reaches the light modulator assembly. The light modulator panel then modulates the light to form a full-image or sub-image. By spatially shifting the illumination path at a frequency greater than the integration time of the human eye, the speckle can be reduced. An exemplary display system will first be discussed, followed by a discussion of an exemplary method of modulating light and an exemplary projection assembly.
In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present method and apparatus. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present method and apparatus may be practiced without these specific details. Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
Display System
While one image is illustrated and described as being processed by the image processing unit (110), it will be understood by one skilled in the art that a plurality or series of images may be processed by the image processing unit (110). The image processing unit (110) performs various functions including controlling the illumination of a light source module (120) and controlling a light modulator assembly (130).
The light source module (120) includes at least one light source. According to one exemplary embodiment, the light source module includes one or more coherent light source, such as one or more laser light source. While a coherent light source will be described, those of skill in the art will appreciate that any type of light source may be used. According to one exemplary embodiment, the light source module (120) includes red, green, and blue coherent light sources. The light from each of the light sources may be used to form individual sub-images at a sufficiently high rate that when viewed sequentially are perceived as a single, full-color image.
In particular, according to one exemplary embodiment, light is directed from the light source module (120) along an illumination path through illumination optics (125) to the modulator assembly (130). As the laser light travels through the illumination optics (125), the path of the light is shifted by a spatial shifter (132). The scattered laser light, which has at least a portion of its illumination path shifted, is incident on the light modulator assembly.
The spatial shifter (132) is configured to move one or more components of the illumination optics (125), such as by vibration or rotation, thereby shifting at least a portion of the illumination path across the light modulator assembly (130). Shifting the illumination path may increase the uniformity of light from the light source module (120) across the light modulator assembly (130) and may also reduce the speckle of the scattered laser light.
The light incident on the light modulator assembly may be modulated in its phase, intensity, polarization, or direction by the light modulator assembly (130) to form substantially full images or sub-images. The light modulated by the light modulator assembly (130) is then directed to display optics (140).
The display optics (140) may include any device configured to display or project an image. For example, the display optics (140) may be, but are not limited to, a lens configured to project and focus an image onto a viewing surface. The viewing surface may be, but is not limited to, a screen, a television such as a rear projection-type television, wall, liquid crystal display (LCD), or computer monitor. An exemplary method of modulating light in a light modulator assembly will now be discussed.
Method of Modulating Light
The component beams are then directed along an illumination path (step 210). The illumination path extends from the light source to at least one light modulator panel. As the component beams travel along the illumination path, they pass through an illumination optics assembly. The illumination optics assembly and the light source(s) used to generate the light form an illumination system.
At least one part or component of the illumination system is moved to spatially shift the illumination path as the light is directed to a light modulator panel (step 220). Several exemplary components and their corresponding movement will be discussed in more detail below with reference to
The light directed to the modulator panel covers a substantial portion of the light modulator panel. This light is then modulated (step 230) to form a full image or sub-image. The modulated light is then directed along a projection path (step 240) to display an image or sub-image on a display surface.
Projection Assembly
The projection assembly (300) receives light (302), from a light source module. As introduced, the light source module may generate any type of light, such as coherent light, which may include laser light. The light is first directed to the illumination optics (305). According to one exemplary embodiment, the illumination optics (305) includes a scattering assembly (320), an integrating tunnel (325), and a condenser lens (330).
Light (302) produced by the light source module (130;
In particular, the reflector (335) focuses the now scattered light onto a front face of the integrating tunnel (325). Thus, a substantial portion of the laser light is transmitted to the integrating tunnel (325). The integrating tunnel (325) according to the present exemplary embodiment includes reflecting surfaces formed along the sides thereof. As light is transmitted through the integrating tunnel (325), it is reflected off of the reflecting side surfaces. This reflection spatially homogenizes the light. As a result, light exiting the integrating tunnel (325) is more spatially homogenous than it would otherwise be. To further increase the uniformity of light directed to the modulator panel (302) and/or to reduce the speckle, the integrating tunnel (325) may be vibrated at an amplitude that is greater than the spatial frequency of the speckle and with a frequency that is higher than the integration rate of the eye. For example, the integrating tunnel (325) may be vibrated at an amplitude greater than about 2 microns with a frequency greater than about 60 Hz.
The condenser lens (330) images the exit face of the integrating tunnel (325). The condenser lens (330) concentrates this light and focuses the light onto the light modulator panel (310). In particular, according to one exemplary embodiment the light from the condenser lens (330) slightly over fills the optical modulator to reduce light fluctuation across the displayed image due to vibration or movement of the components of the illumination optics (305) or the light source.
The light modulator panel (310) according to the present exemplary embodiment is a reflective-type modulator panel (310). The light modulator panel (330) includes an array of individual pixels. Each individual pixel includes a reflective plate that is selectively tilted. For example, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the reflective plate of an un-activated pixel may remain un-tilted or flat. Similarly, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the reflective plate of an activated pixel may be tilted to direct light incident thereon toward the display optics (315).
By controlling the frequency with which each pixel of the light modulator panel (310) is activated, the light modulator panel (310) is able to produce an output that varies between light and dark. Thus, the output may form an image having portions that vary from light to dark. Further, the light may be sequentially color-varying light. Accordingly, by controlling the output of the light modulator panel (310) when a color of light is directed thereon, the light modulator panel (310) may form sequential sub-images. When the sub-images are formed with sufficient frequency, the sub-images will be perceived as a single full-color image.
As introduced, the path of light directed to the light modulator panel (310) may be selectively shifted to reduce speckle effect. Several exemplary shifting components will now be discussed in more detail. The light source module (130;
For example, according to one exemplary embodiment, the nose cone (340) may be moved by a vibrating force (345) at its position with a small amplitude, such as a displacement of about 2 microns or greater at a frequency that is greater than the integration rate of the human eye, or at a frequency greater than about 60 Hz. For example, the displacement of the nose cone (340) may be greater than about 2 microns and less than about 10 microns. The integration rate of the human eye refers to the frequency below which a series of images will not be perceived individually, but rather will be perceived as a continuously moving scene. By vibrating the nose cone at a rate that is faster than the integration rate, individual light patterns of speckle are smeared, or appear as an area covered by light rather than individual patterns.
Further, the nose cone (340) may be rotated by a rotational force (350). By rotating and/or vibrating the nose cone (340), the path of the light incident thereon is spatially shifted at a relatively high frequency. Spatially shifting the light may improve the uniformity of the light directed to the light modulator panel (310). The spatial shifting of the light due to rotation also smears out or reduces the speckle effect caused due to the coherence of the light.
Additionally, the integrating tunnel (325) may also shift the path of the light along the illumination path. For example, the integrating tunnel (325) may lie along an optical axis (355) of the illumination optics. According to such an exemplary embodiment, a vibrating force (360) and/or rotating force (365) may be applied to the integrating tunnel (325) to move the integrating tunnel (325) perpendicular to the optical axis (355) at a rate greater than the integration rate of the human eye to thus increase the uniformity of light across the light modulator panel (310) and to reduce speckle as previously discussed. Further, a vibrating force (370) and/or rotational force (375) may be applied to the condenser lens (330).
In addition to moving components of the illumination optics, the projection assembly may also increase uniformity of light from the illumination source by moving the light source. For example, one or more light source, such as one or more laser light source may be vibrated and/or rotated to spatially shift the illumination path. In short, any component of the optical path may be moved, such as by vibration and/or rotation, to increase uniformity of the light across the light modulator panel (310) and/or to reduce speckle. In fact multiple components can be shifted at high frequency and appropriate amplitude to amplify the effect of speckle reduction.
In conclusion, an illumination system has been herein for use in display systems. According to one exemplary embodiment, the display system includes an illumination system, a light modulator assembly, and display optics. The illumination system includes a light source, such as one or more coherent light sources and an illumination optics assembly. Light generated by the light source travels through the illumination optics assembly to the light modulator assembly along an illumination path.
At least one of the components of the illumination system is moved, such as by vibration and/or rotation to thereby selectively spatially shift a portion of the illumination path before the light reaches the light modulator assembly. The light modulator panel then modulates the light to form a full-image or sub-image. By spatially shifting the illumination path, the illumination system provides for the increase in the uniformity of light across one or more light modulator panels and/or the reduction of speckle.
The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate and describe the present method and apparatus. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the disclosure be defined by the following claims.
