Claims
- 1. A system for providing a uniform source of light comprising:
a light pipe having an input surface for receiving light from a light source and an output surface for transmitting the light; and an optical element having an entrance surface positioned adjacent to the output surface of the light pipe for receiving the light and an exit surface for transmitting the light.
- 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the light pipe has a first index of refraction and the optical element has a second index of refraction that is substantially the same as the first index of refraction.
- 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the output surface of the light pipe is in contact with the entrance surface of the optical element.
- 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the exit surface defines a plane that is substantially perpendicular to an optical axis defined by the light traveling through the light pipe.
- 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the optical element is selected from a group consisting of a plate, a prism, a lens, a wedge and a wedged lens.
- 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the exit surface has a dichroic filter coating.
- 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the exit surface has a polarization material.
- 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the exit surface of the optical element has an anti-reflective coating.
- 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the output surface has a first surface area and the exit surface has a second surface area that is greater than the first surface area.
- 10. The system of claim 1 wherein the output surface has a first perimeter and the exit surface has a second perimeter that is greater than the first perimeter.
- 11. An illumination system comprising:
a light pipe having an input surface defining a first plane and configured to receive light and an output surface configured to propagate the light; and an optical element having an entrance surface connected to the output surface of the light pipe and an exit surface defining a second plane that is substantially parallel to the first plane.
- 12. The illumination system of claim 11 wherein the optical element is selected from a group consisting of a plate, a prism, a lens, a wedge and a wedged lens.
- 13. The illumination system of claim 11 wherein the output surface of the light pipe defines a plane that is at a first angle relative to an axis defined by the light pipe.
- 14. The illumination system of claim 13 wherein the entrance surface defines a plane that is at a second angle that is substantially the same as the first angle.
- 15. The illumination system of claim 11 wherein the output surface of the light pipe defines a plane that is at a first angle relative to an axis defined by the light traveling through the light pipe.
- 16. The illumination system of claim 15 wherein the entrance surface defines a plane that is at a second angle that is substantially the same as the first angle.
- 17. The illumination system of claim 11 wherein the entrance surface of the optical element is connected to the output surface of the light pipe using an optically transmissive adhesive.
- 18. The illumination system of claim 11 wherein the optical element has an optical power.
- 19. An optical system comprising:
a light source for producing a light beam; a light pipe having an input surface defining an input plane for receiving the light beam from the light source and an output surface defining an output plane; and an optical device having an entrance surface in contact with the output surface of the light pipe and an exit surface defining an exit plane where the output plane is tilted with respect to the exit plane.
- 20. The optical system of claim 19 further comprising a microdisplay device defining a display plane that is conjugate to the output plane.
- 21. The optical system of claim 20 further comprising an optical relay positioned optically between the optical device and the microdisplay device.
- 22. The optical system of claim 20 wherein the output surface is in the shape of a polygon so that an image of the output surface appearing on the microdisplay device has a substantially rectangular shape.
- 23. The optical system of claim 19 wherein the optical device is selected from a group consisting of a plate, a prism, a lens, a wedge and a wedged lens.
- 24. The optical system of claim 19 further comprising a prism positioned adjacent to the microdisplay device.
- 25. The optical system of claim 23 wherein the prism is a total internal reflection prism.
- 26. The optical system of claim 19 wherein the input plane is substantially parallel to the exit plane.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/472,499, filed May 21, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60472499 |
May 2003 |
US |