Projection imaging device, method for using projection imaging device, and liquid crystal light valve system

Abstract

The present invention discloses a projection imaging device, a method for using the projection imaging device, and a liquid crystal light valve system, wherein the projection imaging device includes a receiving module, a generating module, and a projecting module; the receiving module is used to receive the user's instruction information; the generating module is used to generate a corresponding specific image according to the instruction information; the projecting module is used to project the specific image. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a projection imaging device, a method for using the projection imaging device, and a liquid crystal light valve system. Compared with Gaussian laser, the projection beam of the projection device has the advantages of uniform beam, wide beam spectrum, adjustable intensity of each part, and no scattered light spots.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of light-addressed liquid crystal light valves, and in particular to a projection imaging device, a method for using the projection imaging device, and a liquid crystal light valve system. Background Art

[0002] The light-addressable liquid crystal light valve is a light-addressable spatial light modulator made by associating liquid crystal material with a photoconductive thin plate. The photoconductive thin plate and the glass thin plate form a liquid crystal cell, and ITO electrodes are deposited on the outside of the photoconductive thin plate and the inside of the glass thin plate for applying voltage. Liquid crystal material is poured between the photoconductive thin plate and the glass thin plate to form a complete liquid crystal light valve device.

[0003] Before the addressing light enters, the applied voltage cannot fall on the liquid crystal due to the large dark resistance of the photoconductive plate, so the voltage regulation of the liquid crystal cannot be achieved. After the addressing light enters, the photoconductivity of the part irradiated by the addressing light increases, and the voltage of these parts can be applied to the liquid crystal material through the photoconductive plate to achieve the regulation of the liquid crystal material.

[0004] In fact, in the current liquid crystal light valve system, most of the light-addressed light valves use laser as the addressing light. Since the light beam output by the laser is a single-point Gaussian beam, there are problems such as uneven beam edges and scattered light spots in the addressing process. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a projection imaging device, a method for using the projection imaging device and a liquid crystal light valve system. Compared with a Gaussian laser, the projection light beam of the projection device has the advantages of uniform light beam, wide light beam spectrum, adjustable intensity of each part and no scattered light spot.

[0006] The present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0007] In one aspect of the present application, a projection imaging device is provided, the projection imaging device comprising a receiving module, a generating module and a projecting module;

[0008] The receiving module is used to receive instruction information from the user;

[0009] The generating module is used to generate a corresponding specific image according to the instruction information;

[0010] The projection module is used to project the specific image.

[0011] Preferably, the generation module includes an image generation unit and a specific image generation unit;

[0012] The image generating unit is used to generate a corresponding image according to the image instruction information in the instruction information;

[0013] The specific image generating unit is used to fill the image with color according to the color proportion instruction information in the instruction information to obtain the specific image.

[0014] Preferably, the generating module further comprises a background generating unit, and the background generating unit is used to fill the background of the specific image with black.

[0015] In another aspect of the present application, a projection method of a projection imaging device is provided, the projection method comprising the following steps:

[0016] S1: receiving user's instruction information;

[0017] S2: Generate corresponding specific image information according to the instruction information;

[0018] S3: Projecting the specific image information.

[0019] Preferably, S2 comprises the following sub-steps:

[0020] S21: Generate a corresponding image according to the image instruction information in the instruction information;

[0021] S22: Fill the image with color according to the color ratio instruction information in the instruction information to obtain the specific image.

[0022] Preferably, S2 further includes the following sub-steps:

[0023] Fill the background of the specific image with black.

[0024] In yet another aspect of the present application, a liquid crystal light valve system is provided, the liquid crystal light valve system comprising a light-addressable liquid crystal light valve and the above-mentioned projection imaging device;

[0025] The projection imaging device is used to project the image information onto the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve.

[0026] Preferably, the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve comprises a photoconductive thin plate, a liquid crystal and a glass substrate;

[0027] The photoconductive thin plate, the liquid crystal and the glass substrate are arranged in sequence from top to bottom, and a conductive film is arranged on the side of the photoconductive thin plate away from the liquid crystal and on the side of the glass substrate close to the liquid crystal.

[0028] Preferably, the photoconductive sheet is configured as a BSO photoconductive sheet.

[0029] Preferably, the photoconductive sheet is provided with a fluid flow channel for allowing a cooling fluid to flow through.

[0030] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages and beneficial effects:

[0031] The projection beam in the projection imaging device is a mixed wave light with adjustable color. When it is used in a liquid crystal light valve system, it can achieve the purpose of controlling the proportion of each band in the mixed wave by fine-tuning the color, thereby controlling the size of the voltage reaching the liquid crystal layer, thereby avoiding device damage caused by adjusting the laser intensity to control the size of the voltage reaching the liquid crystal layer in the prior art; in addition, since the projection has the characteristics of deformity correction and the advantage of being able to achieve oblique incidence, when it is used in a liquid crystal light valve system, it can avoid the trouble of optical path adjustment caused by the addressing light and the main laser being merged into the same optical path; in addition, compared with Gaussian laser, the projection beam has the advantages of uniform beam, wide beam spectrum, adjustable intensity of each part, and no scattered light spot, avoiding the processes of Gaussian beam shaping, laser beam expansion, and patterned laser, and simplifying the optical path structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, constitute a part of this application, and do not constitute a limitation of the embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings:

[0033] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the liquid crystal light valve system of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 2 Another structural schematic diagram of the liquid crystal light valve system of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid flow channel on a photoconductive thin plate of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid flow channel on a photoconductive thin plate of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid flow channel on a photoconductive thin plate of the present invention;

[0039] Marks and corresponding parts names in the attached drawings:

[0040] 1. Main laser generator; 2. Projection imaging device; 3. Light-addressable liquid crystal light valve; 4. Polarizer; 5. Imaging system; 6. Spectrum splitter; 7. Target surface; 8. Detection system; 9. Photoconductive plate; 10. Fluid inlet channel; 11. Fluid return channel; 12. Fluid cooling channel; 13. Main fluid flow channel; 14. Secondary fluid flow channel; 15. Conductive film; 16. Fluid flow channel; 17. Liquid crystal; 18. Glass substrate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with embodiments and drawings. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their description are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0042] Example 1

[0043] A projection imaging device 2, comprising a receiving module, a generating module and a projecting module;

[0044] A receiving module, used for receiving instruction information from a user;

[0045] The instruction information in this embodiment includes image instruction information and color ratio instruction information; wherein the image instruction information is used to generate an image of a specific shape, and the color ratio instruction information is used to fill the generated image with color.

[0046] The generation module is used to generate a corresponding specific image according to the instruction information; specifically:

[0047] The generation module in this embodiment includes an image generation unit and a specific image generation unit;

[0048] An image generating unit, used for generating a specified image according to the image instruction information;

[0049] The specific image generating unit is used to fill the image with color according to the color proportion instruction information to obtain a specific image.

[0050] Specifically, since the photoconductive sheet 9 in the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3 has different absorption rates for light of different wavelength bands, when light of different wavelength bands acts on different positions of the photoconductive sheet 9 at the same time, the phase of the liquid crystal 17 at the corresponding position below it changes, thereby changing the polarization direction of the incident main laser. The polarization direction of the incident main laser and the polarizer behind it jointly affect the transmittance, thereby making the transmittance corresponding to different positions different. Therefore, the phase of the liquid crystal 17 can be adjusted by adjusting the filling color of the image, thereby adjusting the transmittance of the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3.

[0051] The projection module is used to project the generated specific image.

[0052] In the current liquid crystal light valve system, the addressing light used by most optical addressing light valves is laser. Since the light beam output by the laser is a single-point Gaussian beam, there are problems such as uneven beam edges and scattered light spots in the addressing process. Based on this, the present application provides a projection imaging device, in which the projection beam in the projection imaging device 2 is a color-adjustable mixed wave light. When it is used in the liquid crystal light valve system, it can achieve the proportion of each band in the mixed wave by fine-tuning the color, and then control the size of the voltage reaching the liquid crystal 17, avoiding the device damage caused by controlling the size of the voltage reaching the liquid crystal 17 by adjusting the laser intensity in the prior art; in addition, since the projection has the characteristics of deformity correction and can achieve the advantages of oblique incidence, when it is used in the liquid crystal light valve system, it can avoid the trouble of optical path adjustment caused by the addressing light and the main laser being merged into the same optical path; in addition, compared with Gaussian laser, the projection beam has the advantages of uniform beam, wide beam spectrum, adjustable intensity of each part, and no scattered light spots, avoiding Gaussian beam shaping, laser beam expansion, and patterned laser processes, and simplifying the optical path structure.

[0053] Furthermore, in order to avoid projecting excess light during the projection process, the generation module further includes a background generation unit, which is used to fill the background of the specific image with black. The black background will not be projected onto the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3 through the projection module, so that the photoconductive material will not absorb light and change its conductivity. The background in this embodiment refers to: when the projection light is irradiated, the part other than the specific image is removed.

[0054] Example 2

[0055] This embodiment provides a projection method of a projection imaging device 2 based on Embodiment 1, comprising the following steps:

[0056] S1: receiving user's instruction information;

[0057] The instruction information in this embodiment includes image instruction information and color ratio instruction information; wherein the image instruction information is used to generate an image of a specific shape, and the color ratio instruction information is used to fill the generated image with color.

[0058] S2: Generate corresponding specific image information according to the instruction information, specifically including:

[0059] S21: Generate a corresponding image according to the image instruction information in the instruction information;

[0060] S22: Fill the image with color according to the color ratio instruction information in the instruction information to obtain a specific image.

[0061] S3: Projecting specific image information.

[0062] Furthermore, in order to avoid projecting excess light during the projection process, the background of the specific image is also filled with black when color filling is performed. The black background will not be projected on the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3, so it will not cause the photoconductive material to absorb light and change its conductivity. The background in this embodiment refers to: when the projection light is irradiated, the part other than the specific image is removed.

[0063] Example 3

[0064] This embodiment provides a liquid crystal light valve system based on the embodiment 1, including a light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3 and a projection imaging device provided in the embodiment 1; the projection imaging device 2 is used to project image information onto the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3 .

[0065] Specifically, the liquid crystal light valve system in this embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes a main laser generator 1, a projection imaging device 2, a light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3, a polarizer 4, an imaging system 5, a beam splitter 6, a target surface 7 and a detection system 8; when the main laser with graphic information is transmitted to the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3, under the condition that the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3 is not addressed, the polarization direction of the main laser does not change after passing through the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3, and is orthogonal to the polarization direction of the polarizer, and the light beam cannot pass through, so the light beam cannot reach the subsequent imaging detection system 8 (the imaging detection system 8 in this embodiment refers to the polarizer 4, the imaging system 5, the beam splitter 6, the target surface 7 and detection system 8); under the addressing condition of the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3, that is: when the specific image projected by the projection imaging device 2 is transmitted to the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3, the specific pattern is projected onto the photoconductive thin plate 9 of the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3, and the conductivity of the irradiated photoconductive thin plate 9 is greatly increased, so that the voltage applied by the driving device can fall on the liquid crystal 17, and then the direction of the liquid crystal 17 is adjusted. The direction of the liquid crystal 17 determines the polarization direction of the light beam, and then determines the transmittance, so that the main laser passes through this system, transmits the graphic information to the imaging system 5, and finally reaches the target surface 7 and the detection system 8.

[0066] In the current liquid crystal light valve system, the addressing light used by most optical addressing light valves is laser. Since the light beam output by the laser is a single-point Gaussian beam, there are problems such as uneven beam edges and scattered light spots in the addressing process. Based on this, the present application provides a liquid crystal light valve system, in which the projection light beam in the projection imaging device 2 in the liquid crystal light valve system is a color-adjustable mixed wave light. When it is used in the liquid crystal light valve system, it can achieve the proportion of each band in the mixed wave by fine-tuning the color, and then control the size of the voltage reaching the liquid crystal 17 layer, avoiding the device damage caused by adjusting the laser intensity to control the size of the voltage reaching the liquid crystal 17 layer in the prior art; in addition, since the projection has the characteristics of deformity correction and can achieve the advantages of oblique incidence, when it is used in the liquid crystal light valve system, it can avoid the trouble of optical path adjustment caused by the addressing light and the main laser being merged into the same optical path; in addition, compared with Gaussian laser, the projection light beam has the advantages of uniform beam, wide beam spectrum, adjustable intensity of each part, and no scattered light spots, avoiding Gaussian beam shaping, laser beam expansion, and patterned laser processes, and simplifying the optical path structure.

[0067] Furthermore, since the structure of the existing light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3 is usually composed of a conductive film 15, a photoconductive thin plate 9, a liquid crystal 17, a conductive film 15 and a glass substrate 18 arranged in sequence from top to bottom, and considering that the main laser generator 1 is usually a high-energy laser, a large amount of heat will be generated when the high-energy laser is irradiated on the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3, and the thermal effect will have a great impact on the performance of the liquid crystal 17 in the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3, thereby affecting the function of the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3. Based on this, in the present application, a fluid flow channel 16 is provided on the photoconductive thin plate 9 in the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3 to allow a cooling fluid to flow through, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, during use, a cooling fluid is introduced into the fluid flow channel 16 so that the cooling fluid can dissipate the heat generated during the main laser irradiation process, thereby greatly reducing the influence of the thermal effect on the performance of the liquid crystal 17, thereby avoiding affecting the function of the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3.

[0068] Specifically, considering that the length direction of the photoconductive thin plate 9 is longer than the width direction, in order to increase the cooling distance and improve the cooling effect, the fluid flow channel 16 is arranged along the length direction of the photoconductive thin plate 9 in this embodiment.

[0069] The fluid flow channel 16 provided in this embodiment is described below:

[0070] The first fluid flow channel 16 provided in this embodiment is as follows Figure 4 As shown, it includes a transversely arranged fluid inlet channel 10 and a fluid return channel 11 and a plurality of vertically arranged fluid cooling channels 12;

[0071] The inlet of the fluid into the channel 10 is arranged on the left end surface of the photoconductive sheet 9 (corresponding to Figure 4 The outlet of the fluid inlet channel 10 is arranged in the photoconductive thin plate 9 and communicated with the inlet of the plurality of fluid cooling channels 12. The outlets of the plurality of fluid cooling channels 12 are connected with the inlet of the fluid return channel 11 arranged in the photoconductive thin plate 9. The outlet of the fluid return channel 11 is arranged on the right end surface of the photoconductive thin plate 9 (corresponding to Figure 4 ).

[0072] When the cooling liquid enters the fluid flow channel 16 through the inlet of the fluid inlet channel 10, the cooling liquid enters each fluid cooling channel 12 through the outlet of the fluid inlet channel 10, thereby dissipating heat and cooling down different positions of the photoconductive thin plate 9, and then flows out of the photoconductive thin plate 9 through the fluid return channel 11. Preferably, in order to allow the cooling liquid to quickly leave the photoconductive thin plate 9 after absorbing heat, the diameter of the fluid cooling channel 12 is smaller than the diameters of the fluid inlet channel 10 and the fluid return channel 11, and it is preferable that the sum of the diameters of all the fluid cooling channels 12 is close to the diameters of the fluid inlet channel 10 and the fluid return channel 11. In addition, when the diameter of the fluid cooling channel 12 is set to be smaller, more fluid cooling channels 12 can be set on the photoconductive thin plate 9 of the same area, thereby enabling better cooling.

[0073] Furthermore, since the optically addressed liquid crystal light valve 3 is mostly used in the middle part during specific use, that is, the main laser and the addressing light are generally irradiated on the center position of the optically addressed liquid crystal light valve 3, the part that generates the most heat is the center position of the optically addressed liquid crystal light valve 3. Based on this, in the process of setting the fluid flow channel 16, a denser fluid cooling channel 12 is set at the center position of the photoconductive thin plate 9, and a fewer fluid cooling channels 12 are set at the edge position of the photoconductive thin plate 9, thereby reducing the production cost while ensuring the cooling effect.

[0074] Furthermore, in order to prevent the introduced cooling liquid from affecting the optical path transmission of the main laser and / or addressing light, during the implementation of this embodiment, the refractive index of the cooling liquid is adjusted by a refractive index matching liquid so that the refractive index of the cooling liquid is the same as the refractive index of the photoconductive thin plate 9.

[0075] The second fluid flow channel 16 provided in this embodiment is as follows Figure 5 As shown, it includes a primary fluid flow channel 13 and a secondary fluid flow channel 14;

[0076] The main fluid flow channel 13 is a linear channel, and the inlet of the main fluid flow channel 13 is arranged on the left end surface of the photoconductive thin plate 9, and the outlet of the main fluid flow channel 13 is arranged on the right end surface of the photoconductive thin plate 9; the secondary fluid flow channel 14 is a circular channel, and the secondary fluid flow channel 14 is arranged in the photoconductive thin plate 9 and is connected to the main fluid flow channel 13.

[0077] When the cooling liquid enters the fluid flow channel 16 through the inlet of the main fluid flow channel 13, the cooling liquid enters the secondary fluid cooling channel 12 through the main fluid flow channel 13, thereby dissipating heat and cooling different positions of the photoconductive thin plate 9 through the main fluid flow channel 13 and the secondary fluid flow channel 14, and then flows out of the photoconductive thin plate 9 through the main fluid flow channel 13.

[0078] Similarly, in order to allow the cooling liquid to quickly leave the photoconductive thin plate 9 after absorbing heat, the diameters of the inlet and outlet of the main fluid flow channel 13 are set slightly larger, preferably the sum of the diameters of the main fluid flow channel 13 and the secondary fluid flow channel 14.

[0079] Furthermore, since the optically addressed liquid crystal light valve 3 is mostly used in the middle part during specific use, that is, the main laser and the addressing light are generally irradiated on the center position of the optically addressed liquid crystal light valve 3, the part that generates the most heat is the center position of the optically addressed liquid crystal light valve 3. Based on this, in the process of setting the fluid flow channel 16, the main fluid flow channel 13 and the secondary fluid flow channel 14 are both set in the middle of the photoconductive thin plate 9.

[0080] The second fluid flow channel 16 further simplifies the production cost compared to the first fluid flow channel 16. Only the heat dissipation part in the middle part is considered, and the heat dissipation part in the edge part is not considered. Therefore, the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3 with the second fluid flow channel 16 has more advantages in the low-power addressing system, and the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve 3 with the first fluid flow channel 16 has more advantages in the high-power addressing system.

[0081] It should be noted that the above implementation of the fluid flow channel 16 is only for schematic illustration and is not the complete implementation of the present solution. In specific implementation, it can also be set as follows: Figure 6 as shown or otherwise.

[0082] Furthermore, in order to further reduce production costs, the photoconductive sheet 9 in this embodiment is configured as a BSO photoconductive sheet commonly used in the market.

[0083] The specific implementation methods described above further illustrate the objectives, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present invention in detail. It should be understood that the above description is only a specific implementation method of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A projection imaging device, characterized in that: It includes a receiving module, a generating module and a projecting module; The receiving module is used to receive the instruction information of the user; the generating module is used to generate the corresponding specific image according to the instruction information; the projecting module is used to project the specific image; The generation module includes an image generation unit and a specific image generation unit; The image generating unit is used to generate a corresponding image according to the image instruction information in the instruction information; The specific image generating unit is used to fill the image with color according to the color proportion instruction information in the instruction information to obtain the specific image; The generation module further includes a background generation unit, which is used to fill the background of the specific image with black.

2. A projection method of a projection imaging device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1: receiving user's instruction information; S2: Generate corresponding specific image information according to the instruction information; S3: Projecting the specific image information.

3. The projection method of a projection imaging device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The S2 comprises the following sub-steps: S21: Generate a corresponding image according to the image instruction information in the instruction information; S22: Fill the image with color according to the color ratio instruction information in the instruction information to obtain the specific image.

4. The projection method of a projection imaging device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The S2 further includes the following sub-step: filling the background of the specific image with black.

5. A liquid crystal light valve system, characterized in that: It comprises a light-addressable liquid crystal light valve (3) and a projection imaging device as claimed in claim 1; the projection imaging device (2) is used to project image information onto the light-addressable liquid crystal light valve (3).

6. A liquid crystal light valve system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The light-addressable liquid crystal light valve (3) comprises a photoconductive thin plate (9), a liquid crystal (17) and a glass substrate (18); the photoconductive thin plate (9), the liquid crystal (17) and the glass substrate (18) are arranged in sequence from top to bottom, and a conductive film (15) is provided on the side of the photoconductive thin plate (9) away from the liquid crystal (17) and on the side of the glass substrate (18) close to the liquid crystal (17).

7. A liquid crystal light valve system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The photoconductive sheet (9) is configured as a BSO photoconductive sheet.

8. A liquid crystal light valve system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: The photoconductive thin plate (9) is provided with a fluid flow channel (16) for allowing a cooling fluid to flow through.

Images