Projection system

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments provide systems and methods for correcting non-uniformity in a light beam generated by a multi-emitter light source. In some embodiments, a phase modulator displays a patch lens to correct the non-uniformity. In some embodiments, each region of the phase modulator is illuminated by a beam generated by one emitter of the multi-emitter light source. Such a region of the phase modulator may display a patch lens to correct non-uniformity in the corresponding beam illuminating that region.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Cross - Reference to Related Applications] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 63 / 150,005, filed on February 16, 2021, entitled Patch Correction of a Light - Induced Projector, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. For purposes of the United States, this application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of U.S. Application No. 63 / 150,005, filed on February 16, 2021, entitled Patch Correction of a Light - Induced Projector.

[0002] The present invention relates to correcting non - uniformity in an optical beam. One exemplary application of the present invention is in the field of light projection. For example, illuminating a projector imager.

Background Art

[0003] A projector system modulates an optical beam to generate a desired image. A non - uniform optical beam of light can cause unwanted artifacts such as blurring, banding, speckles, etc. in the final image produced by the projector system.

[0004] A projector system may require a large amount of light, for example, to provide a properly bright image on a large projection screen. Some projectors include a single very high - brightness light source along with beam - conditioning optics that collect light from the light source and transmit a uniform optical beam to the imager. Such light sources can be prohibitively expensive. Solid - state light sources such as solid - state lasers and high - brightness light - emitting diodes are currently available. However, in many applications, multiple solid - state light sources are required to provide sufficient light. This raises the problem of how to cost - effectively combine light from different light sources to illuminate the imager in a proper manner.

[0005] Various manufacturers produce relatively inexpensive modules that combine several solid-state light sources into a single unit. However, in many cases, the light beams emitted from different light sources are different and / or not precisely aligned. For example, the light sources may not be placed at equal intervals, the light beams from different light sources may be emitted in different directions, the light beams emitted from different light sources may diverge in different ways, the light beams from different light sources may have varying degrees of non-uniformity, etc. This results in the production of such modules that are unsuitable for use in some projector systems.

[0006] There is a general demand for improved projector systems. [Overview of the project]

[0007] The present invention has many embodiments. These include • Methods and apparatus for projecting light; • Cinema projector; Consumer projectors; • A system and method for correcting non-uniformity in a light beam generated by a multi-emitter light source; • A system and method for aligning the optical elements of a projector system; • Systems and methods for combining light of different wavelengths into an image; • Systems and methods for homogenizing light Includes.

[0008] One aspect of the invention provides a projection system. The projection system may comprise one or more light sources operable to emit a plurality of light beams. The projection system may also comprise a phase modulator having a two-dimensional array of pixels. The pixels may be controllable to delay the phase of light incident on the pixels by a variable amount. The phase modulator may have active areas in the optical paths of the plurality of light beams. Each of the plurality of light beams may be incident on the active area of ​​the phase modulator in a corresponding one of a plurality of distinct regions of the active area of ​​the phase modulator. The projection system may also comprise a controller configured to set each pixel in a distinct region of the phase modulator to display the optical shape of a patch lens corresponding to the distinct region, the patch lens configured to compensate for non-uniformity present in one of the corresponding light beams.

[0009] In some embodiments, the separate regions are arranged in an array that includes multiple rows and multiple columns.

[0010] In some embodiments, the light source has a multi-emitter light source including at least 2 rows and 2 columns of light-emitting elements.

[0011] In some embodiments, the controller is configured to set each pixel in separate regions of the phase modulator to display an optically induced phase pattern combined with the optical shape of the corresponding patch lens.

[0012] In some embodiments, the optical shape of the patch lens corresponding to a separate region is at least partially based on the measured deviation of the corresponding light beam from the ideal.

[0013] In some embodiments, the optical shape of the patch lens corresponding to a separate region is at least partially based on the measured deviation from the ideal of the light field generated on the image plane after the corresponding light beam interacts with the phase modulator.

[0014] In some embodiments, the corrected heterogeneity includes at least one of the following: directional parallelism, collimation, and intensity distribution.

[0015] In some embodiments, the displayed optical shape corresponds to the optical shape of a spherical lens.

[0016] In some embodiments, adjacent patch lenses are in contact with each other.

[0017] In some embodiments, the entire active area of ​​the pixels in the two-dimensional array of the phase modulator is covered by multiple patch lenses.

[0018] In some embodiments, the optical shape of each patch lens is generated independently.

[0019] In some embodiments, the optical shape of each patch lens is generated by a controller configured to perform an optimization process.

[0020] In some embodiments, the optimization process comprises iteratively changing the phase displacement of the pixels of the corresponding patch lens until one or more observed characteristics of the corresponding output beam indicate that the patch lens adequately compensates for the deviation of the light beam from the ideal.

[0021] In some embodiments, the optimization process is performed sequentially on different patch lenses.

[0022] In some embodiments, the optimization process is performed in parallel on different patch lenses.

[0023] In some embodiments, the optimization process includes a step of performing a pseudo-annealing method to find the phase displacement of pixels in a region that will form a phase pattern for the corresponding patch lens.

[0024] In some embodiments, the optical shape of each patch lens specifies at least one of the focal length, optical center shift, parameterized aberration, and tilt of the corresponding patch lens.

[0025] In some embodiments, at least one of the separate regions is divided into a plurality of sub-regions, and the controller is configured to set each pixel of the plurality of sub-regions to display an optical shape corresponding to the sub-region.

[0026] In some embodiments, different portions of a single light beam illuminate two or more sub-regions of the corresponding separate regions of the phase modulator.

[0027] In some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of optical shapes corresponds to a plurality of lenses overlapped with each other.

[0028] In some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of light beams extends beyond the plurality of separate regions.

[0029] In some embodiments, one or more of the plurality of optical shapes are each changed in real time to take into account the changing characteristics of the corresponding one of the plurality of light beams.

[0030] In some embodiments, the optical shape applied to each of the plurality of light beams further includes a light guiding component for guiding light.

[0031] In some embodiments, the corresponding patch lens and the corresponding light guiding component are overlapped.

[0032] In some embodiments, the light guiding components applied to different ones of the plurality of light beams are the same.

[0033] In some embodiments, the optical guidance components applied to different light beams are different.

[0034] In some embodiments, the optical guidance component is configured to guide the light beam to focus at multiple different points.

[0035] In some embodiments, the controller individually controls each of the distinct regions of the phase modulator to display a pattern of phase displacement that induces light from the corresponding light beam.

[0036] In some embodiments, the optical shapes of each of the multiple patch lenses and the corresponding light-guiding components are calculated independently of each other.

[0037] In some embodiments, the optical shapes of each of the multiple patch lenses and the corresponding light-guiding components are calculated together.

[0038] In some embodiments, the projector includes a light-receiving optical system upstream of the phase modulator. The light-receiving optical system is configured to shape or modify the light beam in order to better illuminate the phase modulator.

[0039] In some embodiments, the light-receiving optical system shapes the light from the light beam such that the size of the pixels in a two-dimensional array matches the size of the pixels.

[0040] In some embodiments, the controller is configured to set at least some of the pixels of a phase modulator to display a phase pattern selected to produce specular reflection of at least some of the multiple light beams.

[0041] In some embodiments, the controller is configured to dynamically change the number of pixels in a subset of pixels in order to adjust the ratio of uninduced light to induced light.

[0042] In some embodiments, the controller is configured to determine a desired ratio of uninduced light to induced light, at least in part, based on processing image data.

[0043] In some embodiments, the controller is configured to determine a desired ratio of uninduced light to induced light based at least partially on one or more of the following: the black level of the image data, the maximum brightness of the highlights in the image data, and the contrast of the image data.

[0044] In some embodiments, the projector further comprises a coupling rod downstream of the phase modulator. The coupling rod may have inlet and outlet openings and light-reflecting portions on both sides of the longitudinal central axis of the coupling rod. The coupling rod may be configured to couple induced and uninduced light and to homogenize the uninduced light by repeated reflections at the reflecting portions before reaching the outlet opening.

[0045] In some embodiments, the coupling rod is a passive optical device.

[0046] In some embodiments, the connecting rod has a hollow tube.

[0047] In some embodiments, the bonding rod has a solid permeable material.

[0048] In some embodiments, the permeable material is at least one of glass, quartz, and transparent plastic.

[0049] In some embodiments, the solid includes a light-reflecting or light-scattering layer or coating.

[0050] In some embodiments, the coupling rod has a hollow rectangular tube including at least one tapered surface.

[0051] In some embodiments, the coupling rod has two reflective planes that are tapered from an inlet opening to an outlet opening. The inlet opening may be larger than the outlet opening.

[0052] In some embodiments, the coupling rod is tapered in one plane.

[0053] In some embodiments, the coupling rod is tapered along its transverse axis.

[0054] In some embodiments, the coupling rod is tapered along its vertical axis.

[0055] In some embodiments, the coupling rod has a torsion rod.

[0056] In some embodiments, the torsion rod has at least one twist of about 90°.

[0057] In some embodiments, the coupling rod has a body that includes a concave shape.

[0058] In some embodiments, the angle of light emission from the exit aperture is approximately 45° or less.

[0059] In some embodiments, the coupling rod is configured to provide a substantially symmetrical output.

[0060] In some embodiments, the projector further includes a prism optically connected to a coupling rod adjacent to the entrance opening. The prism may be configured to collect uninduced light and transmit the uninduced light into the coupling rod.

[0061] In some embodiments, the projector further includes optical elements that transmit induced and uninduced light from the phase modulator to the coupling rod.

[0062] In some embodiments, the optical element includes a physical lens located between the phase modulator and the coupling rod.

[0063] In some embodiments, the physical lens is positioned to maximize the incidence of both induced and uninduced light onto the physical lens.

[0064] In some embodiments, the projector further includes a diffuser in the optical path of the induced light, upstream of the coupling rod, to diffuse the induced light.

[0065] In some embodiments, the projector further includes a diffuser in the optical path of uninduced light, upstream of the coupling rod.

[0066] In some embodiments, the projector further includes a diffuser downstream of the coupling rod.

[0067] In some embodiments, the projector further includes an optical system configured to generate base illumination in order to increase the intensity of induced or uninduced light.

[0068] In some embodiments, the optical system configured to generate base illumination includes a mirror positioned adjacent to the phase modulator.

[0069] In some embodiments, the mirror is located in the plane of the pixels of the two-dimensional array of the phase modulator.

[0070] In some embodiments, the mirror is parallel to the phase modulator.

[0071] In some embodiments, the mirror is adjacent to one or more edges of the phase modulator.

[0072] In some embodiments, the mirror partially covers the pixels of the two-dimensional array of the phase modulator.

[0073] In some embodiments, an optical system configured to generate base illumination includes a prism configured to draw out some light from several light beams to be used as base illumination.

[0074] In some embodiments, the projector further comprises one or more additional light sources configured to generate base illumination to increase the intensity of induced or uninduced light.

[0075] In some embodiments, the projector includes a camera configured to capture an image of a light-induced image and connected to a controller to provide the captured image.

[0076] In some embodiments, the controller is configured to process captured images of the light-induced image to determine the characteristics of the light used to generate the light-induced image, and to change the optical shape of one or more patch lenses displayed by the phase modulator.

[0077] In some embodiments, one or more light sources have emitters that emit multicolor light.

[0078] In some embodiments, the optical shape of each of the multiple patch lenses is configured at least partially based on the wavelength of the corresponding light beam.

[0079] In some embodiments, one or more light sources have emitters that emit multicolor light. A coupling rod may homogenize uninduced light of different wavelengths in either the direction of light or the color of light.

[0080] In some embodiments, the optical shape of each of the multiple patch lenses is configured at least partially based on the wavelength of the corresponding light beam.

[0081] In some embodiments, the projector further includes one or more additional light sources of different wavelengths positioned to radiate light into the coupling rod in order to increase the intensity of uninduced light.

[0082] Another aspect of the present invention provides a projection system. The projection system may include a light source operable to emit at least one light beam. The projection system may also include a phase modulator having a two-dimensional array of pixels. The pixels may be controllable to delay the phase of light incident on the pixels by a variable amount. The phase modulator may have an active area in the optical path of at least one light beam. The projection system may also include a controller configured to control the pixels of the phase modulator to apply a pattern of phase displacement to the light of at least one light beam. The phase displacement may be selected to guide light to produce a highlight image. The projection system may also include an optical element positioned to direct unguided light into the inlet opening of the coupling rod such that it is transmitted to inlet and outlet openings and a coupling rod having light-reflecting portions on both sides of its longitudinal central axis, and is homogenized by repeated reflection at the light-reflecting portions before the unguided light reaches the outlet opening. The projection system may also include optical elements arranged to transmit the induced light along the path to the coupling rod such that the induced light passes from the inlet opening of the coupling rod to the outlet opening of the coupling rod without becoming homogenized, and mixes with the homogenized uninduced light at the outlet opening.

[0083] In some embodiments, the coupling rod is a passive optical device.

[0084] In some embodiments, the connecting rod has a rectangular cross-section.

[0085] In some embodiments, the coupling rod has a hollow tube, and the induced light passes through a hole in the hollow tubular member.

[0086] In some embodiments, the bonding rod has a solid permeable material.

[0087] In some embodiments, the permeable material is at least one of glass, quartz, and transparent plastic.

[0088] In some embodiments, the solid includes a light-reflecting or light-scattering layer or coating.

[0089] In some embodiments, the coupling rod is tapered such that the inlet opening has a larger area than the outlet opening.

[0090] In some embodiments, the coupling rod has a hollow rectangular tube including at least one tapered surface.

[0091] In some embodiments, the coupling rod has two reflective planes that are tapered from an inlet opening to an outlet opening. The inlet opening may be larger than the outlet opening.

[0092] In some embodiments, the coupling rod is tapered in one plane.

[0093] In some embodiments, the coupling rod is tapered along its transverse axis.

[0094] In some embodiments, the coupling rod is tapered along its vertical axis.

[0095] In some embodiments, the coupling rod has a torsion rod.

[0096] In some embodiments, the torsion rod has at least one twist of about 90°.

[0097] In some embodiments, the coupling rod has a body that includes a concave shape.

[0098] In some embodiments, the angle of light emission from the exit aperture is approximately 45° or less.

[0099] In some embodiments, the coupling rod is configured to provide a substantially symmetrical output.

[0100] In some embodiments, the projector further includes a prism optically connected to a coupling rod adjacent to the entrance opening. The prism may be configured to collect uninduced light and transmit the uninduced light into the coupling rod.

[0101] In some embodiments, the projector further includes optical elements that transmit induced and uninduced light from the phase modulator to the coupling rod.

[0102] In some embodiments, the optical element includes a physical lens located between the phase modulator and the coupling rod.

[0103] In some embodiments, the physical lens is positioned to maximize the incidence of both induced and uninduced light onto the physical lens.

[0104] In some embodiments, the projector further includes a diffuser in the optical path of the induced light, upstream of the coupling rod, to diffuse the induced light.

[0105] In some embodiments, the projector further includes a diffuser in the optical path of the uninduced light, upstream of the coupling rod, to diffuse the uninduced light.

[0106] In some embodiments, the projector further includes a diffuser downstream of the coupling rod to diffuse the coupled induced and uninduced light.

[0107] In some embodiments, the projector further includes an optical system configured to generate base illumination in order to increase the intensity of induced or uninduced light.

[0108] In some embodiments, the optical system configured to generate base illumination includes a mirror positioned adjacent to the phase modulator.

[0109] In some embodiments, the mirror is located in the plane of the pixels of the two-dimensional array of the phase modulator.

[0110] In some embodiments, the mirror is parallel to the phase modulator.

[0111] In some embodiments, the mirror is adjacent to one or more edges of the phase modulator.

[0112] In some embodiments, the mirror partially covers the pixels of the two-dimensional array of the phase modulator.

[0113] In some embodiments, an optical system configured to generate base illumination includes a prism configured to draw out some light from several light beams to be used as base illumination.

[0114] In some embodiments, the projection systems described herein further include one or more additional light sources configured to generate base illumination to increase the intensity of induced or uninduced light.

[0115] Another aspect of the present invention provides a coupling rod for combining uninduced light specularly reflected by a phase modulator with induced light phase-shifted by the phase modulator. The coupling rod may have an inlet and an outlet opening. The coupling rod may also have light-reflecting portions on both sides of its longitudinal central axis. Uninduced light incident on the reflecting portion may be homogenized by repeated reflections at the reflecting portion before reaching the outlet opening.

[0116] In some embodiments, the coupling rod has any of the features described elsewhere in this specification.

[0117] Another embodiment provides a method for aligning multiple elements of a projector system. The method may include a step of capturing an image of the generated light pattern. The method may also include a step of identifying characteristic features of the light pattern in the captured image. The method may also include a step of comparing the identified characteristic features with one or more reference features. The method may also include a step of changing one or more optical shapes of a plurality of displayed patch lenses based on the comparison of the identified characteristic features with one or more reference features.

[0118] In some embodiments, the distinctive features include at least one of the position, shape, intensity, and uniformity of individual parts of the light pattern.

[0119] In some embodiments, the step of changing one or more optical shapes of the displayed patch lenses includes the step of changing at least one of the following: The corresponding focal length of the patch lens; The position of the optical center of the corresponding patch lens; Lens tilt of the corresponding patch lens; The corresponding patch lens size; and, The position of the lens area of ​​the corresponding patch lens within a separate region of the phase modulator.

[0120] In some embodiments, the steps of changing the optical shape of one or more of the displayed patch lenses include: moving the center of the corresponding patch lens to find the best center position; and adjusting one or both of the lens focal length and size of the corresponding patch lens.

[0121] In some embodiments, the step of changing the optical shape of one or more of the displayed patch lenses further includes the step of adjusting the tilt of the corresponding patch lenses.

[0122] In some embodiments, multiple optical shapes are changed sequentially.

[0123] In some embodiments, multiple optical shapes can be changed simultaneously.

[0124] In some embodiments, the method comprises the step of distinguishing between multiple portions of light patterns resulting from different light beams by at least one of the following: Turn on the light beams one at a time; Turn off the light beams one at a time; Vary the intensity of one or more of several light beams in a known manner; To change the beam characteristics of different light beams among multiple light beams; Applying different optical induction components to different of multiple light beams; and, By changing the optical shape of each patch lens, the beam pattern is altered at different speeds and / or in different directions.

[0125] Another embodiment provides a method for powering on a projector system having any of the features described herein. The method may include a step of retrieving from a data store a plurality of optical shapes corresponding to a plurality of patch lenses, which are displayed by a phase modulator. The method may also include a step of controlling the phase modulator to display the retrieved optical shapes and correct for non-uniformity of the light beam incident on the phase modulator.

[0126] In some embodiments, the method for powering on the projection system may also include a step of capturing an image of the light pattern produced by the projector system. The method may also include a step of changing one or more of a plurality of searched optical shapes based on a comparison of identified features and reference features in the captured image.

[0127] Another embodiment provides a method for projecting an image. The method may comprise the step of emitting at least one light beam from a light source. The method may also comprise the step of using at least one light beam to illuminate an active area of ​​a phase modulator having a two-dimensional array of pixels. The pixels may be controllable to delay the phase of the light incident on the pixels by a variable amount. The method may also comprise the step of controlling the pixels of the phase modulator to apply a pattern of phase displacement to the light of at least one light beam. The phase displacement may be selected to guide the light to produce a highlight image. The method may also comprise the steps of transmitting unguided light (which may be light specularly reflected by the phase modulator and / or other unguided light) to a coupling rod having inlet and outlet apertures and light-reflecting portions on both sides of its longitudinal central axis, and directing the unguided light into the inlet aperture of the coupling rod so that it is homogenized by being repeatedly reflected by the light-reflecting portions before it reaches the outlet aperture. The method may also include a step of transmitting induced light along a path to a coupling rod such that the induced light passes from the inlet opening of the coupling rod to the outlet opening of the coupling rod without becoming homogenized, and mixes with homogenized uninduced light at the outlet opening.

[0128] Further aspects and exemplary embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings and / or described in the following description.

[0129] It is emphasized that this invention relates to all combinations of the above features, even if these features are described in different claims. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0130] The attached drawings illustrate non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0131] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of an optical arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0132] [Figure 1A] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example illumination of a phase modulator with the optical arrangement shown.

[0133] [Figure 2A] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the illumination of a phase modulator.

[0134] [Figure 2B] Figure 2A is a schematic diagram of the phase modulator.

[0135] [Figure 2C] This is a schematic diagram of an optical arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0136] [Figure 2D] This is a schematic diagram illustrating how patch lenses can have different lens characteristics in different sub-regions of a phase modulator. [Figure 2E] This is a schematic diagram illustrating how patch lenses can have different lens characteristics in different sub-regions of a phase modulator.

[0137] [Figure 2F] This is a schematic diagram showing how a light beam can interact with two or more patch lenses.

[0138] [Figure 3] This is a schematic block diagram of an optical arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0139] [Figure 4]This is a schematic diagram of an optical arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0140] [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram of an optical arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0141] [Figure 6] This is a schematic block diagram of a homogenization and / or recombination optical system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0142] [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram of an optical arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0143] [Figure 7A] This is a schematic diagram of a coupling rod according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0144] [Figure 7B] This is a schematic diagram of a coupling rod according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0145] [Figure 7C] This is a schematic diagram of a coupling rod according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0146] [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram of an optical arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0147] [Figure 8A] This is a schematic diagram of the mirror in Figure 8, representing an optical arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0148] [Figure 9] This is a schematic block diagram of an optical arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0149] [Figure 10] This is a schematic block diagram of an optical arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0150] [Figure 11] This is a schematic block diagram of an optical element alignment system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0151] [Figure 12] This is a block diagram showing a method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0152] [Figure 13] This is a block diagram showing a method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0153] [Figure 14] This is a schematic diagram of an optical arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0154] [Figure 15] This is an example of a control system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0155] Throughout the following description, specific details are provided to give a more complete understanding of the invention. However, the invention can be practiced without being limited to these specific matters. In other examples, well-known elements are not shown in detail or described in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, this specification and the drawings should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive. [Definition]

[0156] As used herein, “guided light” means a portion of light incident on a spatial phase modulator (or phase modulator), the phase of which is controllably modulated by the phase modulator so that the portion of light is directed to a position on the image plane determined by a phase pattern applied to the phase modulator. By changing the phase pattern, the portion of light may be directed to illuminate different positions on the image plane. The guided light is directed by the interference of phase-shifted light from different controllable elements (pixels) of the phase modulator.

[0157] As used herein, “uninduced light” means a portion of the light incident on the phase modulator that is not induced light. Uninduced light may also include a portion of the light incident on the spatial phase modulator that is specularly reflected by the spatial phase modulator.

[0158] As used herein, “desired field of light” means a field of light having a shape, propagation direction, and / or angle that is desirable for efficient coupling with a typical optical system (e.g., an image-forming optical system).

[0159] As used herein, “output optical system” means an image-forming optical system that may have a spatial amplitude modulator and / or associated projection optical system for forming a final image on a screen, or a relay system for providing an intermediate image.

[0160] As used herein, “optically induced image” means the image produced by the output optical system when induced light is supplied to the output optical system. Examples of optically induced images include the final image on the screen and intermediate images.

[0161] As used herein, "highlight image" means an image formed by induced light, or a portion of light that includes a light-induced image.

[0162] As used herein, “patch lens” means a phase pattern applied by a specific region of a phase modulator that functions as a lens. In some embodiments, a particular patch lens is illuminated by a single light beam. The patch lens may be configured to allow the single light beam to provide a desired field of illumination. A set of multiple patch lenses corresponding to a set of multiple distinct light beams may be configured to compensate for the differences between the multiple distinct light beams.

[0163] The “optical shape” of a patch lens refers to the specific phase displacement applied to pixels in the area of ​​the spatial phase modulator corresponding to the patch lens. The optical shape may be characterized by properties such as the focal length, optical center shift, astigmatism, tilt, and size of the patch lens.

[0164] Figure 1 shows an exemplary optical arrangement 10. The optical arrangement 10 may be designed to generate a desired light beam to illuminate a projector imager or other downstream optical system. The optical arrangement 10 includes a multi-emitter light source 12 that illuminates a spatial phase modulator 14. The multi-emitter light source 12 has a plurality of individual light-emitting elements 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, ..., 12-N-1, 12-N. Each of the individual light-emitting elements generates a corresponding light beam 13-1, 13-2, 13-3, ..., 13-N-1, 13-N (collectively known as beam 13). The multi-emitter light source 12 may be positioned relative to the phase modulator 14 to maximize the incidence of beam 13 onto the phase modulator 14.

[0165] In some embodiments, the multi-emitter light source 12 has at least two rows and two columns of light-emitting elements. In some embodiments, the multi-emitter light source 12 has multiple light-emitting diode (LED) emitters, multiple laser diodes, and the like.

[0166] It may be desirable to combine light from multiple light-emitting elements 12-1, ..., 12-N of one or more multi-emitter light sources 12. This arrangement can provide a large amount of light that may be useful, for example, when producing bright images on a large movie screen and / or when producing images of very high light intensity for industrial processing.

[0167] The multi-emitter light source 12 may output a non-uniform beam 13. For example, each beam 13 may have different directivity, collimation, intensity distribution, etc. In applications where high-quality images are required, these non-uniformities can pose significant problems.

[0168] The phase modulator 14 has a diffraction optical system element. The diffraction optical system element includes a two-dimensional (2D) array of pixels, each of which can be controlled to delay the phase of the light incident on the pixel by a selected amount.

[0169] Deviations from the ideal of individual beams 13 can result in non-ideal illumination of the phase modulator 14 (see, for example, Figure 1A). For example, individual beams 13 that are not oriented correctly, are not properly collimated, and / or have undesirable intensity distributions may not provide the desired light field on the phase modulator 14. Non-ideal illumination of the phase modulator 14 can result in non-ideal illumination of optical systems downstream of the phase modulator 14 (e.g., projector imager).

[0170] In some embodiments, the ideal beam 13 is: Each will illuminate a specific corresponding region of the phase modulator 14; and / or, Each will illuminate the corresponding area using a specific light distribution (e.g., a uniform light distribution); and / or, • Multiple non-overlapping regions on the phase modulator 14 will be illuminated together.

[0171] The phase modulator 14 may be controlled to combine multiple beams 13 to illuminate a downstream optical system, as described herein. In doing so, the phase modulator 14 may be controlled to compensate for some or all of the deviations of the beams 13 from the ideal, as described above.

[0172] One aspect of the technology described herein provides a system and method for correcting beam non-uniformity. In some embodiments, each beam 13 illuminates a corresponding isolation region of a phase modulator 14. Each region of the phase modulator 14 may be controlled to provide a patch lens having an optical shape that corrects a specific non-uniformity present in the corresponding beam 13. The optical shapes applied to correct different beams 13 may be different.

[0173] The optical shape of the patch lens for each beam 13 may be based on the measured deviation of the corresponding beam 13 from the ideal, and / or the deviation of the light field generated on the image plane after the beam 13 interacts with the phase modulator 14 from the ideal.

[0174] Each beam 13 may have variations in directional parallelism and / or in sight uniformity. The deviation of each beam 13 from ideal may be measured for each beam. Based on the measured deviations, an optical shape of a patch lens may be generated that is designed to compensate for the measured non-uniformity. The phase modulator 14 may be controlled to display the generated optical shape.

[0175] As shown in Figure 2A, each individual beam 13 illuminates a corresponding area of ​​the active surface 14A of the phase modulator 14. If one or more multi-emitter light sources 12 comprise N light sources, and therefore N corresponding beams 13 exist, then the active surface 14A may be divided into N corresponding areas (e.g., areas 15-1, 15-2, 15-3, ..., 15-N-1, 15-N (collectively area 15)). Each area 15 may be individually controlled to display a “patch lens” 15A having a corresponding optical shape designed to correct deviations from the ideal present in the corresponding beam 13. The patch lenses 15A displayed by different areas 15 may be the same or different. In the figure, multiple patch lenses 15A are sometimes schematically shown as multiple spaced-apart circular shapes. However, the patch lenses 15A may cover areas of other shapes (e.g., rectangular areas 15), and adjacent patch lenses 15A may touch each other. In some embodiments, the entire active area 14A of the phase modulator 14 may be covered by a plurality of patch lenses 15A.

[0176] Figure 2B schematically shows the region 15 of the active surface 14A of the phase modulator 14 that displays the patch lens 15A.

[0177] The optical shape of each patch lens 15A may be generated independently. By generating the optical shape of each patch lens 15A independently, the optical shape can favorably compensate for deviations from the ideal, such as non-uniformity present in the individual beams 13 from which the optical shape is generated. The optical shape may be designed, for example, to compensate for the changing directional parallelism and / or changing sight uniformity of the beam 13.

[0178] The phase patterns corresponding to individual patch lenses 15A may be generated, for example, by optimization processes described herein. These processes may, for example, observe the characteristics of the output beam or a portion of the output beams corresponding to a particular one of a plurality of beams 13. The process may iteratively change the phase displacement of the corresponding patch lens 15A until the observed characteristics of the output beam indicate that the patch lens 15A adequately compensates for the deviations of the individual beams 13 from the ideal. Such processes may be performed sequentially and / or in parallel for all of the individual beams 13. An exemplary process for generating the phase patterns of the patch lenses 15A is described below with reference to Figure 12.

[0179] The optimization process may vary depending on the form of the phase displacement corresponding to the patch lens 15A, if any. In some embodiments, the patch lens 15A does not have a predefined shape. In such embodiments, optimization may be performed for multiple possible phase displacements to find a pattern of phase displacements that appropriately corrects the deviation of the corresponding individual beams 13 from the ideal for all pixels in region 15. Such a process may apply an optimization approach such as a pseudo-annealing method to find the phase displacement of region 15 that will create the phase pattern of the corresponding patch lens 15.

[0180] In some embodiments, the patch lens 15A is identified by a parameterized lens model. The parameterized model may include parameters that identify factors such as focal length, optical center shift, parameterized astigmatism, and tilt for the corresponding patch lens 15A. For a particular set of these parameters, the model may output a phase pattern for the corresponding patch lens 15A. The phase pattern may identify the phase displacement applied to each pixel in the corresponding region 15 of the phase modulator 14.

[0181] In cases where the patch lens is identified by a parameterized lens model, optimization may be performed on multiple parameters of the lens model to find a set of parameters that identify a patch lens 15A that appropriately corrects the deviations of the corresponding individual beams 13 from the ideal.

[0182] In some embodiments, an individual region 15 may be divided into a plurality of subregions, and the patch lens 15A is identified for each of the plurality of subregions by a parameterized lens model. The patch lens 15A applied to such a region may have different parts corresponding to each subregion (e.g., parts 15A-1 and 15A-2 in Figures 2D and 2E). In some such embodiments, the boundaries of the subregions are also parameterized. In such embodiments, optimization may include one or more of the following: deciding whether or not to identify separate parameterized lens models for different subregions, determining parameters for determining the positions of one or more boundaries of the subregions, and determining parameters for the parameterized lens model corresponding to each of the plurality of regions.

[0183] In such embodiments, different portions of a single beam 13 may illuminate two or more sub-regions of the corresponding region 15. The phase patterns in each of the sub-regions may be set to emulate lenses having different properties. Figures 2D and 2E are non-limiting examples. The parameters of the lens model (e.g., focal length, central position, size, tilt) may be independently specified for two or more sub-regions defined by one or more boundaries 19. The boundary 19 may be defined by parameters such as the positions of multiple endpoints or the shape of the boundary between multiple endpoints. In some embodiments (see Figure 2E), the boundary 19 includes a closed shape. For such a boundary 19, the parameters may include the central position, parameters specifying the shape of the boundary (e.g., degree of eccentricity), parameters specifying the diameter or size of the sub-regions within the boundary 19, and so on.

[0184] Figure 2E shows an example of a case where two subregions may be defined by a single subregion. The parameters of one lens model may fit inside boundary 19, while the parameters of the other lens model may fit a subregion outside boundary 19.

[0185] In some cases, the optical shape (phase displacement pattern) in one sub-region can be considered to correspond to multiple superimposed lenses (e.g., spherical lenses) (for example, the phase pattern of a sub-region may reach or be understood as a relatively small lens superimposed on a relatively large lens). In some cases, multiple displayed optical shapes correspond to multiple separate lenses illuminated by the same beam 13 (e.g., multiple lenses in multiple adjacent sub-regions).

[0186] Figure 2F shows another exemplary case in which a lens model may be adapted to correct deviations from the ideal in different portions of a single beam 13. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2F, several beams 13 are large enough to cover and extend over two regions 15 (see, for example, beam 13-3). For these beams 13, each of two or more patch lenses 15A may be configured to correct deviations from the ideal in the corresponding portion of the beam 13.

[0187] The pixels on the active surface 14A of the phase modulator 14 corresponding to a specific region 15 may be controlled to do the following: • Display the optical shape corresponding to the patch lens 15A (optionally having two or more subregions in which multiple phase patterns are individually optimized); and / or, • For different groups of pixels, display different optical shapes corresponding to different patch lenses 15A (for example, beam 13 illuminates two or more patch lenses 15A).

[0188] Multiple patch lenses 15A may be specified at different times in the lifespan of the device described herein. For example, multiple patch lenses 15A may be specified during initial calibration performed when the device is new or while it is still under manufacture. Multiple patch lenses 15A may also be specified as part of field calibration when the device described herein is first installed in a new location. Field calibration may compensate for deviations that may occur as a result of shipping or installation, and / or problems with beam 13 resulting from the environment in which the device is installed. Patch lenses 15A may be refined as part of the power-up routine of the device described herein, and / or as part of an optional calibration routine.

[0189] In some embodiments, the optical shape of one or more patch lenses 15A is controlled in real time to take into account the changing characteristics of the beam 13 (e.g., the time-varying shift of the light source 12, accompanied by a phase modulator 14). [Combination of correction and photoinduction]

[0190] In addition to correcting and combining the beam 13, the phase modulator 14 may be controllable to guide light to desired positions in the image plane. Light guidance may be performed by applying a selected pattern of phase delays to the light incident on different pixels of the phase modulator 14. A portion of the light from the beam 13, diffracted or "guided" in one or more desired directions, exits the phase modulator 14 as guided light 16.

[0191] If the deviation of beam 13 from the ideal, as described above, is left uncorrected, it can result in multiple portions of induced light 16 from different beams 13 that are not properly aligned. For example, consider a case where it is desirable to generate a very bright highlight by controlling the phase modulator 14 to concentrate the light induced from all of the multiple beams 13 onto the same small area or spot on the image plane.

[0192] As shown in Figure 1, deviations of beam 13 from the ideal can cause the induced light 16 from multiple different beams 13 to be focused at different distances from the image plane and / or directed to different locations on the image plane, instead of focusing all of it at the same location on the image plane in the same way. Changes in focus can result in a large overall point spread function (PSF) of the induced light 16, and the final image may be out of focus or contain undesirable artifacts. The same problem exists when it is intended to guide light to multiple different locations on the image plane and / or to guide light from some beams 13 differently from light from several other beams 13.

[0193] If optical induction is desired, the optical shape applied to each of the multiple beams 13 may additionally include a phase displacement that produces the desired induced light. The optical shape may include, for example, a patch lens component 15A that corrects the corresponding beam 13, and an optical induction component. The patch lens component and the optical induction component may be superimposed (for example, by adding a phase displacement specified by each of the patch lens component and the optical induction component, which may be modulo 2π or a multiple of 2π such that the resulting phase displacement is within the range of the phase modulator 14). Thus, the optical shape provided by the phase modulator 14 may simultaneously correct non-uniformity in the multiple beams 13 and induce the multiple light beams 13.

[0194] Multiple light guiding components applied to multiple different beams 13 may be the same or different. For example, in some embodiments, it is desired to guide light to one or more highlights, and multiple light guiding components for each of the multiple beams 13 are configured to guide light to each of the one or more highlights. As another example, in some embodiments, it is desired to guide light to multiple different highlights, and multiple light guiding components for multiple different beams 13 are configured to guide light to different subsets of the multiple highlights. In some embodiments, the different subsets of the multiple highlights are distinct. In some embodiments, at least some of the different subsets of the multiple highlights include a common highlight. In some embodiments, the multiple light guiding components are configured to guide the multiple beams 13 to concentrate at multiple different points. For example, some of the multiple beams 13 may be guided to concentrate at a first point, some of the multiple beams 13 may be guided to concentrate at a second point, and some of the multiple beams 13 may be guided to concentrate at a third point, where the first point, the second point, and the third point are different points.

[0195] In some embodiments, each region 15 is individually controlled to display a pattern of phase displacement that guides light from the corresponding beam 13 to produce guided light 16. The light from beam 13 may be guided so that the light is concentrated on a specific area of ​​the image plane (it can be said that the light is guided toward such an area). The light from beam 13 may also be guided so that less light is supplied to a specific area of ​​the image plane (it can be said that the light is guided away from such an area). The area to which the light is guided may have a light intensity well above the maximum intensity that would be possible if the light from all of the beams 13 were uniformly distributed to cover the image area of ​​the image plane. The beams 13 may be guided to one or more different areas. For example, the beams 13 may be guided to the same area. For example, some of the beams 13 may be guided to a first area, and the other beams 13 may be guided to a second different area.

[0196] Light guidance may be applied to producing high dynamic range images for movies, displaying technical or medical images, and / or industrial processing. Light guidance may be controlled in response to image data so that light is guided toward areas where the image data specifies higher luminance and / or away from areas where the image data specifies lower luminance levels. Light guidance can also be beneficial in accurately producing images with large variations in luminance specified for multiple different locations in the image. For example, light guidance may help produce natural images of scenes such as sunlight glinting on water, bright stars of varying sizes in a dark night sky, or a sunset with shadows in the foreground.

[0197] Figure 2C shows an optical arrangement 10 in which a phase modulator 14 is controlled to compensate for deviations from the ideal of multiple beams 13 and to guide the light from each beam 13 so that the light from all of the multiple beams 13 is focused at a focal point 18. As shown in Figure 2C, the correction applied by the patch lens facilitates focusing the induced light 16 from all of the multiple beams 13 at the focal point 18 (or, more generally, guiding it to have any other desired distribution on the image plane). The more comprehensively the deviations from the ideal of the beams 13 are compensated, the more accurately the induced light 16 from different beams 13 can be registered together (for example, to be focused at a single focal point 18, or to be precisely guided to different highlights at specific locations on the image plane). Accurate registration of induced light 16 from different beams 13 is advantageous because a well-focused and accurate highlight image can be produced by illuminating a projector imager (or other downstream optical system) with such light.

[0198] The optical shape of the patch lens 15A and the phase displacement for optical induction may be calculated independently of each other. In other embodiments, the optical shape of the patch lens 15A and the phase displacement for optical induction may be calculated together. The phase displacements for the patch lens 15A and the optical induction component may be superimposed. Therefore, the correction of the deviation from the ideal present in the beam 13 and the optical induction of the beam 13 may occur simultaneously.

[0199] Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram showing an exemplary optical arrangement 20. The multi-emitter light source 12 generates a raw illumination field 21 (e.g., beam 13). As described elsewhere in this specification, the raw illumination field 21 may include multiple non-ideal light beams having varying properties such as varying directional parallelism and varying sight uniformity. The raw illumination field 21 is directed into the optical redistributor module 22.

[0200] The light redistributor module 22 includes a phase modulator 14 illuminated by a raw illumination field 21. The phase modulator 14 receives as input a control signal that sets a phase delay applied by each pixel of the phase modulator 14 to provide a specified phase pattern. The controller 25 generates the optical induction component of the phase pattern by the light redistribution scheme 23. The light redistribution scheme 23 may, for example, process image data to generate a pattern of phase displacement that will guide light toward higher luminance regions defined in the image data and / or away from lower luminance regions defined in the image data.

[0201] The light redistributor module 22 may direct the induced light to the input of a downstream optical system (for example, toward the projector imager to illuminate the imaging plane of the projector imager). The light redistribution scheme 23 may incorporate methods described, for example, in International PCT Application Publication WO2015054797A1 entitled "Light Field Projector and Method", International PCT Application Publication WO2016015163A1 entitled "Numerical Approach for Free-Shape Lenses: Area Parameterized Free-Shape Lenses", and International PCT Application Publication WO2015184549A1 entitled "Efficient, Dynamic, High-Contrast Lenses for Imaging, Illumination and Projection Applications", which are thereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[0202] In addition, the controller 25 preferably receives or acquires light source characteristic data 24 that provides characteristics of the light field (e.g., raw illumination field 21) illuminating the phase modulator 14. The characteristics may include directional and / or collimation information of the light field (e.g., characteristics of the beam 13 contributing to the light field). The controller 25 may process the light source characteristic data 24 to generate the optical shape of the patch lens 15A displayed by the phase modulator 14 to compensate for deviations from the ideal of the light field 21 illuminating the phase modulator 14. The light source characteristic data 24 may be acquired during the calibration procedure and / or in real time while the light redistributor module 22 is operating by measuring the characteristics of the light field (e.g., beam 13) radiated from the light source 12.

[0203] The phase displacement of the patch lens 15A and the light induction may be superimposed. Therefore, the correction of the raw illumination field 21 and the induction of the raw illumination field 21 may occur simultaneously.

[0204] A portion of the raw illumination field 21 is output as induced light 16 (for example, to illuminate the imaging plane of a projector imager). As discussed elsewhere in this specification, a portion of the raw illumination field 21 may be induced to one or more different points or areas. Another portion of the raw illumination field 21 exits the light redistributor module 22 as uninduced light 17.

[0205] In some embodiments, the optical redistributor module 22 includes a photodetector optics 26 upstream of the phase modulator 14. The photodetector optics 26 may shape or modify the raw illumination field 21 to better illuminate the phase modulator 14. For example, the raw illumination field 21 may be wider than the active surface 14A of the phase modulator 14. The photodetector optics 26 may shape the raw illumination field 21 so that it matches the size of the active surface 14A of the phase modulator 14. In addition, or alternatively, the photodetector optics 26 may align the raw illumination field 21 with the active surface 14A of the phase modulator 14. In such embodiments, the shaped illumination field 27 illuminates the phase modulator 14. [Use of uninduced light]

[0206] Almost all or all actual phase modulators cannot phase modulate all incident light. It is virtually unavoidable that a phase modulator will output at least some uninducible light. For example, if phase modulator 14 is a reflective phase modulator, some light will generally be specularly reflected from multiple surfaces of the phase modulator. This results in uninducible light 17. The ratio between induced light 16 and uninducible light 17 may depend on the diffraction efficiency of phase modulator 14.

[0207] In some embodiments, the phase pattern selected to produce specular reflection of some or all of the light from beam 13 may be displayed to increase the amount of available uninduced light. This may be done, for example, at times when a highlight image is not needed and / or when the highlight image does not require so much optical power and / or when additional background illumination is needed.

[0208] For example, if a highlight image is not required, all pixels in the active area 14A, or all pixels in a portion of the active area 14A illuminated by the beam 13, may be configured to display a phase displacement pattern that causes specular reflection of light from the beam 13.

[0209] In cases where it is desirable to retain some induced light, individual regions 15, or parts of some or all of regions 15, may be configured to display a phase displacement pattern that causes specular reflection of light incident on them. The retaining regions 15 and / or parts of regions 15 may be configured to display a phase pattern that causes desired light induction of the induced light components. The intensity of the base illumination may be increased by increasing the amount of uninduced light. This may result in increased efficiency, reduced power consumption, etc., of the projection system. In some embodiments, the size (e.g., surface area) of one or more patch lenses 15A is reduced, and pixels in the corresponding regions 15 that no longer display the optical shape associated with the patch lenses 15A are configured to display a phase displacement pattern that causes specular reflection to increase the amount of uninduced light.

[0210] In some embodiments, the proportion of incident light reflected as uninduced light (and thus how much of that light becomes induced light) is determined during the calibration phase. In some cases, this proportion is based at least in part on the power levels of the individual light-emitting elements 12.

[0211] It may be desirable to separate the induced light from the uninduced light. Doing so may facilitate separate control of the induced and uninduced light. For example, it may be desirable to collect the uninduced light into the optical path and to shift the direction of the induced light 16 so that the induced light 16 does not enter the optical path of the uninduced light 17.

[0212] In some embodiments, the separation of induced and uninduced light is increased by generating or shifting the direction of induced light 16 relative to uninduced light 17. Such a shift may be generated by the optical induction component and / or patch lens component of the phase pattern applied by the phase modulator 14.

[0213] As described elsewhere in this specification, the uninducible light 17 may be focused to a spot adjacent to an input diffuser (e.g., input diffuser 47 as described elsewhere in this specification) near the input of the homogenization and / or recombination optical system 42. Since increasing the induction angle of the light by the phase modulator 14 generally reduces efficiency, it is desirable to keep the angular separation between the induced light 16 and the uninducible light 17 relatively small.

[0214] In some embodiments, the lateral separation between multiple points where induced light 16 and uninduced light 17 are focused is less than 100 mm, or less than 60 mm, or less than 10 mm.

[0215] In some embodiments, both induced light 16 and uninduced light 17 are directed to the image plane. For example, the uninduced light 17 may provide base-level illumination to the image area of ​​the image plane, while the induced light 16 may provide a highlight image by increasing the light intensity in a portion of the image area corresponding to a highlight.

[0216] Figure 4 schematically shows an optical configuration 30 that can be applied to direct both induced light 16 and uninduced light 17 to the image plane. Optical configuration 30 is the same as optical configurations 10 and 20, except that optical configuration 30 includes a physical lens 32. The physical lens 32 may be positioned to maximize the incidence of induced light 16 and uninduced light 17 onto the physical lens 32. The physical lens 32 focuses the uninduced light 17 to focal point 33A. The induced light 16 is focused to focal point 33B.

[0217] In optical arrangement 30: • The directionality of uninduced light 17 depends on the properties of the physical lens 32; and, The directionality of the induced light 16 depends on both the characteristics of the physical lens 32 and the phase pattern displayed by the phase modulator 14 (e.g., the patch lens 15A displayed by the phase modulator 14 and the optical induction component displayed by the phase modulator 14).

[0218] Once both the induced light 16 and the uninduced light 17 are focused, they can be combined into a single light field. Combining the induced light 16 and the uninduced light 17 can also advantageously yield the following results: • Improvement of overall brightness in projected images; • Improved efficiency in using light emitted from light source 12; • Reduced performance requirements for dissipating (e.g., absorbing) energy from unused light emitted by light source 12; etc.

[0219] Figure 5 schematically shows an optical configuration 40 configured to combine induced light 16 and uninduced light 17. Optical configuration 40 may be the same as optical configuration 20 described elsewhere herein, except that optical configuration 40 additionally includes a homogenization and / or recombination optical system 42 that generates an output optical system light field 43.

[0220] The homogenization and / or recombination optical system 42 receives induced light 16 and uninduced light 17, and couples the induced light 16 and uninduced light 17 to an output field of light 43 that is output from the homogenization and / or recombination optical system 42.

[0221] The output light field 43 may illuminate, for example, a projector imager (or other downstream optical system for generating an image). In some embodiments, the output light field 43 generated by the homogenization and / or recombination optical system 42 efficiently couples to the projector imager or other downstream optical system. In some embodiments, the homogenization and / or recombination optical system 42 is configured to generate a light field with appropriate shape, propagation direction, incident angle, etc., so that the output optical system light field 43 efficiently couples to the downstream optical system. Preferably, the homogenization and / or recombination optical system 42 is optimized to minimize light loss, maximize beam quality of the output optical system light field 43, minimize the number of optical components in the downstream optical system, etc.

[0222] The homogenization and / or recombination optical system 42 operates to combine the induced light 16 and the uninduced light 17. The homogenization and / or recombination optical system 42 also: • To homogenize uninduced light 17; • To form the light irradiation field 43 of the output optical system; and, • Diffusing one or both of the induced light 16 and the uninduced light 17, You may perform one or more of the following actions.

[0223] An exemplary homogenization and / or recombination optical system 42 is schematically shown in Figure 6. In the embodiment of Figure 6, the coupling rod 44 functions to receive and combine the induced light 16 and the uninduced light 17. The coupling rod 44 may also function to homogenize the uninduced light 17.

[0224] The homogenization and / or recombination optical system 42 optionally includes one or more diffusers capable of diffusing the induced light 16 and / or uninduced light 17. For example, the homogenization and / or recombination optical system 42 may include: • Diffuser 46 in the optical path of the induced light 16 upstream of the coupling rod 44 to diffuse the induced light 46A; • Diffuser 47 in the optical path of the uninduced light 17 upstream of the coupling rod 44 to diffuse the uninduced light 47A; and / or, • In order to diffuse the coupled light irradiation field 43, a diffuser 48 downstream of the coupling rod 44, It may include one or more of these.

[0225] Including one or more of the diffusers 46, 47, and 48 may be advantageous in assisting the removal of laser speckle, the generation of a more uniform light field, the generation of a desired divergence angle (i.e., a desired divergence angle of the light leaving the homogenization and / or recombination optical system 42), and so on.

[0226] Figure 7 schematically shows the optical configuration 50. The optical configuration 50 is similar to the optical configuration 30 described elsewhere in this specification, except that the optical configuration 50 comprises a homogenization and / or recombination optical system 42 including a coupling rod 44. The coupling rod 44 is positioned to homogenize the uninduced light 17 and to pass the induced light 16 into the output light field 43.

[0227] The induced light 16 is directed toward end 44A of the coupling rod 44 (which may be called an "inlet opening" even if end 44A does not physically have a hole or bore), passes through body 44B of the coupling rod 44, and exits through second end 44C of the coupling rod 44 (which may be called an "exit opening" even if end 44C does not physically have a hole or bore). The induced light 16 is directed toward the coupling rod 44 in a direction that ensures the induced light 16 does not incident on the reflective surface of the coupling rod 44. In this example, the induced light 16 is not reflected within the coupling rod 44. For example, the induced light 16 may be directed along the central axis of the coupling rod 44. In such embodiments, the coupling rod 44 does not modulate the induced light 16. The pattern of high-luminosity and low-luminosity areas resulting from the induction of the induced light 16 is maintained in the output light field 43.

[0228] In contrast to the induced light 16, the uninduced light 17 is directed toward the coupling rod 44 by undergoing multiple internal reflections within the coupling rod 44. These reflections tend to homogenize the uninduced light 17.

[0229] In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the coupling rod 44 is tapered, and the lens 32 directs uninduced light 17 in a direction that enters near the edge of the first end 44A and / or in a direction that is at an angle toward the side 44D of the coupling rod 44, so that the uninduced light is internally reflected by the side 44D and subsequently internally reflected several times along the inside of the coupling rod 44 before exiting the second end 44C.

[0230] Uninduced light 17 is optionally diffused by the diffuser 47 before reaching the coupling rod 44.

[0231] The uninduced light 17 is coupled with the induced light 16 at the coupling rod 44. Reflection of the uninduced light 17 from the inner surface of the coupling rod 44 alters the propagation axis of the uninduced light 17, and as a result, the propagation axis of the uninduced light 17 is aligned with the propagation axis of the induced light 16.

[0232] The combined, induced light 16 and uninduced light 17 may optionally be diffused in an output diffuser 48 to generate a desired light field 43 for a downstream output. In some embodiments, a lens 52 focuses the combined, induced light 16 and uninduced light 17 onto a projector imager or other downstream optical system.

[0233] In some embodiments, the coupling rod 44 is a passive optical device. The coupling rod 44 may be configured to direct the uninduced light 17 in substantially the same direction as the induced light 16, while generating a more uniform light pattern for the uninduced light 17 by varying its optical properties, such as the number of reflections and input and output beam angles.

[0234] The coupling rod 44 may be designed to maximize the amount of light it can receive from the phase modulator 14. Maximizing the amount of light it can receive is advantageous because it increases the efficiency of the system's light utilization. The shape and / or profile of the reflective and / or scattering inner surface of the coupling rod 44 may be designed to provide at least a threshold number of reflections to achieve a desired degree of homogenization of the uninduced light 17.

[0235] In some embodiments, the rod 44 has two reflective planes that taper from a larger input plane (allowing separate, induced light 16 and uninduced light 17 to be collected) to an output plane smaller than the input plane, so that the induced light 16 and uninduced light 17 are spatially superimposed.

[0236] The exit aperture of the coupling rod 44 (e.g., end 44C) may be designed to emit light within an appropriate angular range to generate a desired output light field. The exit angle of the output light may be kept small (e.g., less than 45°) to reduce the size of any downstream focusing optical system. For example, the exit aperture of the coupling rod 44 may be designed to emit light incident on the downstream output optical system within a range of incident angles within the receiving angle of the downstream output optical system.

[0237] The design of the connecting rod 44 is: • A cone into which light is incident on the coupling rod 44; and / or, • Angle of incidence of light; and / or, • Length of the connecting rod 44; and / or • The angle of the connecting rod 44 (for example, the angle at which the connecting rod 44 is tapered); and / or, • Angle of light emission, The design may be based on factors including the following. These factors may be optimized to reduce cost and / or size (for example, by making the coupling rod 44 shorter) and / or for the quality of light at the output of the coupling rod 44 (e.g., a symmetrical output with relatively little divergence).

[0238] In some embodiments, the coupling rod 44 is configured to provide a substantially symmetrical output (for example, the axis of the light emission spread out of the coupling rod 44 is aligned with the axis of the coupling rod 44 (e.g., the central longitudinal axis) (e.g., parallel to it).

[0239] If it is desirable to reduce the divergence of light emanating from the coupling rod 44, the coupling rod 44 may be made longer.

[0240] In some embodiments, the coupling rod 44 is configured such that uninduced light 17 entering the coupling rod 44 undergoes multiple reflections before leaving the coupling rod 44, while having a relatively small exit angle of light at the outlet aperture of the coupling rod 44 (e.g., angle θ shown in Figure 7A). Minimizing the exit angle of light at the outlet aperture can advantageously facilitate an increase in the amount of output light captured by the downstream optical system. By further reducing the exit angle of light at the outlet aperture (and thus making it less expensive), the downstream optical system (e.g., optical system 52) may be used to capture the output light.

[0241] In some embodiments, the coupling rod 44 comprises a hollow tube (see, for example, Figure 7A). The inner surface of the wall of the coupling rod 44 may include a reflective material such as a deposited layer of reflective metal or a dielectric coating.

[0242] The induced light 16 may be directed parallel to the longitudinal central axis extending through the hollow tube, and as a result, the coupling rod 44 does not significantly affect the induced light 16. In contrast, the uninduced light 17 may be amplified, reflected, and / or scattered by the reflective material on the inner surface of the wall. Through repeated reflection and / or scattering, the uninduced light 17 may be homogenized and redirected to exit the coupling rod 44 coupled with the induced light 16.

[0243] As shown in Figure 7A, the prism 45 may be optically coupled near the first surface 44A of the coupling rod 44. The prism 45 may collect uninduced light 17 and efficiently transmit the uninduced light 17 to the coupling rod 44.

[0244] In some embodiments, the coupling rod 44 comprises a solid of a transparent material such as glass, quartz, or a suitable transparent plastic. In such embodiments, uninduced light 17 may be internally totally reflected across multiple surfaces of the solid, and / or the solid may include layers or coatings of light reflection and / or light scattering. The uninduced light 17 is directed to enter a first end 44A (e.g., the “entrance opening”) of the coupling rod at some angle such that the uninduced light 17 is incident on the side surface of the coupling rod 44 at an acute angle with respect to a vector perpendicular to the side surface of the coupling rod 44. The induced light 16 may enter the body 44B of the coupling rod 44 and pass through the coupling rod 44 without interacting with multiple surfaces of the coupling rod 44, and as a result the induced light exits the coupling rod 44 directly toward the projector imager and / or other downstream optical systems. In such embodiments, the coupling rod 44 redirects the uninduced light 17 to propagate in substantially the same direction as the induced light 16 and exit the coupling rod 44 (e.g., from the second end 44C or “exit opening”). In some embodiments, the cross-section of such a coupling rod 44 is rectangular and has an aspect ratio that matches the aspect ratio of the image produced from the induced light 16.

[0245] In some embodiments, the coupling rod 44 comprises a hollow rectangular tube having at least one tapered surface (see, for example, Figure 7B). The hollow rectangular tube may be tapered toward the downstream optical system (i.e., the cross-sectional area of ​​the hole in the hollow rectangular tube may be tapered such that it decreases from the inlet opening toward the outlet opening). The hollow rectangular tube may have an inlet opening larger than the outlet opening. Having a larger inlet opening increases the amount of incident light (e.g., uninduced light 17, induced light 16, etc.) that can be received by the coupling rod 44. As a result of having an outlet opening smaller than the inlet opening, the coupling rod 44 will produce a more focused output light field compared to the case where the inlet and outlet openings are the same size.

[0246] In some embodiments, the coupling rod 44 is tapered in a single plane (for example, along either the transverse axis or the vertical axis of the coupling rod 44). Light may enter the coupling rod 44 from one or both optical axes. Uninduced light 17 is directed to enter the reflective sidewalls of the coupling rod 44 and is reflected between the set of sidewalls. In some embodiments, the coupling rod 44 is tapered in both the horizontal and vertical axes. In such embodiments, uninduced light 17 may enter the coupling rod 44 along either axis of the coupling rod 44. The homogeneity of the uninduced light 17 may be increased by reflections from multiple horizontal and vertical inner surfaces.

[0247] In some embodiments, the coupling rod 44 is a twisted rod. In such embodiments, uninduced light 17 may be reflected off multiple different inner surfaces of the twisted coupling rod 44. Reflection off multiple different inner surfaces may increase the homogeneity of the uninduced light 17. In such a twisted rod, the induced light 16 passes through the central axis of the unmodified rod. The cross-section of the twisted portion is larger than the range of the induced light 16. The range of twist may be, for example, about a quarter turn (e.g., 90°) to several turns (e.g., 180°, 270°, 360°, etc.) in order to increase the homogeneity of the uninduced light 17.

[0248] In some embodiments, the inner wall of the coupling rod is a custom freeform concave shape (see, for example, Figure 7C). The custom freeform concave shape may be optimized to generate a suitable reflection angle to provide a desired amount of homogeneity for the uninduced light 17, while maximizing the amount of incident light (both induced and uninduced light 17) present at the outlet opening of the coupling rod within a suitable angular range, which is received by the downstream optical system.

[0249] In some embodiments, additional light (e.g., a “base illumination beam”) may be coupled with the induced light 16 and / or uninduced light 17. Light from the base illumination beam may increase the intensity of light incident on the projector imager (or other downstream optical system). For example, the base illumination beam may be directed towards a coupling rod 44. The base illumination beam may be coupled with the uninduced light 17 at the coupling rod 44. In some embodiments, the base illumination beam is added uniformly to the illumination in the output light field 43.

[0250] In some embodiments, the intensity of the base illumination beam is adjustable. Adjustment may be achieved by one or more of the following: adjusting the output intensity of one or more light sources providing the light for the base illumination beam; passing the base illumination beam through an adjustable aperture; pulsing the base illumination beam with a variable duty cycle; passing the base illumination beam through a rotatable polarizer; and modulating the base illumination beam with an optical modulator. In some embodiments, the base illumination beam is modulated by a reconfigurable separator device (e.g., a variable polarizer or beam splitter). In some embodiments, the base illumination beam is modulated by a reconfigurable optical illumination device.

[0251] In some embodiments, the base illumination beam, induced light 16, and uninduced light 17 are controlled based on the characteristics of the image data according to a scheme such as that described in PCT application publication WO2015172236A1 entitled Optimization of a driving scheme for multiple projector systems, which is thereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[0252] Providing the base illumination beam through an optical path that does not include the phase modulator 14 can help display an image projected with a higher average brightness than could be reliably provided using only the light from the phase modulator 14. This is generally because there are limitations on the optical power that the phase modulator 14 can handle. A typical phase modulator absorbs some incident light, which can result in the phase modulator heating up. Illuminating such a phase modulator with light that is too strong can heat it to a temperature that causes damage. High-intensity light can also degrade certain types of phase modulators through photochemical effects. Generally, it is desirable to limit the light transmitted to the phase modulator 14 to have a maximum light intensity below the actual maximum light intensity. The maximum light intensity may be selected based on the thermal characteristics of the phase modulator 14, the wavelength of the incident light, and / or the desired lifetime of the phase modulator 14.

[0253] In some embodiments, the base illumination beam has greater optical power than the light illuminating the phase modulator 14.

[0254] In some embodiments, some of the light from beam 13 is used to provide a base illumination beam.

[0255] Figure 8 schematically shows an exemplary optical arrangement 60. The optical arrangement 60 comprises a mirror 62 (or other optical deflector) located adjacent to the phase modulator 14 (see, for example, Figure 8A). The mirror 62 may be positioned in the plane of the active surface 14A of the phase modulator 14. By positioning the mirror 62 in the plane of the active surface 14A of the phase modulator 14, the light reflected by the mirror 62 has the same direction as the uninduced light 17 reflected by the phase modulator 14. The mirror 62 may be parallel to the phase modulator 14. The mirror 62 may be adjacent to one or more edges of the phase modulator 14. In some embodiments, the mirror 62 partially covers the active surface 14A of the phase modulator 14.

[0256] The mirror 62 reflects the light beam 13 incident on the mirror 62. The light reflected by the mirror 62 may be used as a base illumination beam 64. The base illumination beam 64 may be directed substantially parallel to the uninduced light 17.

[0257] In some embodiments, the mirror 62 is replaced by another optical element, such as a prism, which draws some light from the beam 13 to be used as a base illumination beam 64. Such an optical element does not necessarily have to be in the plane of the active surface 14A of the phase modulator 14. However, the base illumination beam 64 and the uninducible light 17 preferably have the same direction.

[0258] In some embodiments, the base illumination beam 64 is coupled with uninduced light 17 in a coupling rod 44. The coupling rod 44 may couple the base light 64, the uninduced light 17, and the induced light 16 together. In some embodiments, the surface of the mirror 62 is shaped and / or positioned relative to the phase modulator 14 to introduce the base illumination beam 64 into the coupling rod 44 at a desired angle, or otherwise direct the base illumination beam 64 into an optical path that mixes the light from the base illumination beam 64 into the output light field 43.

[0259] Figure 9 is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary optical configuration 70. Optical configuration 70 is similar to optical configuration 40, except that it includes an optical separator 65. The optical separator 65 receives the raw illumination field 21 (e.g., beam 13) and splits the raw illumination field 21 into a base illumination beam 64 and a processed illumination field 66. The processed illumination field 66 illuminates the optical redistributor 22. The homogenization and recombination optical system 42 combines the base light 64, induced light 16, and uninduced light 17.

[0260] The optical separator 65 may be, for example, a mirror positioned to block a portion of the raw illumination field 21. In some embodiments, the optical separator 65 is a semi-reflective mirror or prism. In some embodiments, the optical separator 65 is a reflective polarizer that redirects light of one polarization state to the base illumination 64 and light of the other polarization state to the treated illumination field 66.

[0261] In some embodiments, the base illumination beam 64 originates from one or more separate light sources 67. In some such embodiments, the light sources 67 are arranged to emit the base illumination beam 64 directly towards the homogenizing and recombination optics 42. This can facilitate, for example, the use of a different type of light source as the light source 67 than the light source 12 (e.g., the light source 67 can be less expensive, can have a broader light spectrum, or otherwise may not be suitable for use as the light source 12, etc.).

[0262] FIG. 10 is a block diagram schematically showing an optical arrangement 72. The optical arrangement 72 is similar to the optical arrangement 70. However, the optical arrangement 72 includes a light source 67 for generating the base illumination beam 64. The light source 67 can be, for example, an LED or a laser source.

[0263] In some embodiments, the patch lens 15A may correct for small misalignments of the optical components of the light guiding system. By taking advantage of this possibility, the need to precisely align the optical components can be alleviated. This can result in a significant reduction in manufacturing and / or maintenance costs. Further, an apparatus adapted to compensate for changes in the alignment of the optical components by adjusting the optical shape of the patch lens 15A may have a structure that is lighter and less expensive to manufacture than a large and highly rigid structure that is otherwise required to maintain the precise alignment of the optical components over the life of the apparatus.

[0264] The patch lens 15A effective to achieve one or more of the following may be determined by analyzing the light irradiation field generated by the system described herein: · Compensate for misalignments of the optical components; · Compensate for deviations from the ideal of the beam 13; and / or, ·Compensate for the differences in the positions of the plurality of patches 15 on the phase modulator 14. For example, an automated imaging system combined with a specific computer algorithm may generate the optical shape of the patch lens 15A that provides the correction described above. Such an image may be taken during the calibration phase during the manufacture of the projector system or during the use of the projector system. Such correction may make it possible to project a generally sharper image by the projector system.

[0265] FIG. 11 is a block diagram schematically showing an alignment system 90. The output light irradiation field 43 illuminates an output optical system 92 (e.g., a projector imager) to generate an image 93. The output light irradiation field 43 may be generated using the optical arrangements described elsewhere in this specification.

[0266] The output optical system 92 may include, for example, an amplitude modulator and a projection optical system associated therewith that form the final image 93 on a screen. In some embodiments, the output optical system 92 includes a relay system that generates an intermediate optically induced image. The intermediate optically induced image may be monitored, for example, using an automated imaging system.

[0267] The characteristics of the optically induced image 93 (e.g., sharpness, intensity distribution, presence of specific artifacts, etc.) depend on the optical shape of the patch lens 15A.

[0268] System 90 includes a sensor 94 (e.g., a camera) positioned to collect images of image 93 (and / or intermediate light-guided images). The images are processed to measure one or more characteristics of image 93. The captured images and / or data corresponding to image 93 are provided as input to a control system (e.g., control system 25) or a computer running a alignment algorithm 95. The alignment algorithm 95 processes the captured data to measure the characteristics of the light used to generate image 93 and determines the optical shape of a patch lens 15A that will improve the quality of image 93. The alignment algorithm 95 outputs an optical shape of the patch lens 15A that corrects one or more of the problems described above. Such an optical shape may be provided to the control system 25 as part of light source characteristic data 24. The optical shape of the patch lens 15A may be superimposed with a phase displacement for light guidance as part of a light redistributor 22 as described elsewhere in this specification.

[0269] In some embodiments, a spatial light induction component is applied to a corresponding region of the phase modulator while displaying the image 93. The spatial “calibration light induction phase pattern” may be selected to generate a light pattern (“test pattern”) in the image 93 to help distinguish light originating from different beams 13 and / or to reveal the degree to which the corresponding patch lens is correcting the deviation of the corresponding beam 13 from ideal. In some embodiments, the calibration light induction phase pattern is stored in a data store accessible by the control system 25. In some embodiments, the calibration light induction phase pattern includes a sequence of different calibration light induction phase patterns applied to different regions of the phase modulator during the course of a calibration routine.

[0270] Figure 12 is a block diagram showing the steps in an exemplary alignment algorithm 95. In block 100, method 95 generates the initial optical shape of each patch lens 15A. The initial optical shape may be based on information characterizing a particular light source 12 (e.g., model number, number of emitters, emitter type, power level, wavelength, etc.) and / or information characterizing the phase modulator 14 (e.g., number and size of pixels, location of region 15, aspect ratio, etc.).

[0271] In block 102, an image of the generated pattern 93 (and / or an intermediate optically guided image as described elsewhere in this specification) is captured (for example, using camera 94). Pattern 93 may be a calibration image containing, for example, a specific optically guided component for beam 13. Since the patch lens 15A corresponds to individual optical beams 13, it is generally desirable to be able to distinguish between portions of pattern 93 resulting from different beams 13. There are various ways in which this can be achieved, including: Turn on Beam 13 one at a time; Turn off Beam 13 one at a time; • Vary the intensity of one or more of the beams 13 in a known manner (for example, at a known frequency); By changing different beam characteristics, etc. • Apply different optical induction components to different regions of the phase modulator 14 corresponding to different light beams 13; and, The patch lens 15A, or another component used to generate a phase pattern applied to a region 15 of the phase modulator 14 corresponding to the beam 13, is altered (for example, to move, distort, or modify multiple portions of the pattern 93 resulting from the light beam 13 in a known manner). The alteration may be periodic. Different patch lenses may be identified by altering the optical shape of each patch lens to alter the beam pattern at different speeds and / or in different directions.

[0272] The features of image 93 are identified in block 104. These distinctive features include the position, shape, intensity, and uniformity of multiple parts of pattern 93.

[0273] Unique features identified in block 104 are compared with reference features in block 106. The patch lens 15A is adjusted in loop 109 until the unique features detected in block 104 match the corresponding reference features with the desired level of accuracy. If the unique features match the reference features, the light source characteristic data (i.e., the optical shape of the patch lens) is stored in block 110 and / or transmitted to the phase modulator 14.

[0274] If the desired level of precision is not achieved, the optical shape and / or position of the patch lens are updated in block 107. The desired level of precision typically depends on the image quality required by a particular market segment. For example, the desired level of precision may be higher for a professional large-screen cinema system than for a small home entertainment projector.

[0275] Patch lenses are: • Focal length in the X direction; • Focal length in the Y direction; • The position of the optical center of the lens; • Lens tilt in the X direction; • Lens tilt in the Y direction; • Lens size; and / or, • Position of the lens area within region 15 of the phase modulator 14, It may be characterized by factors such as the following.

[0276] In block 107, one or more of the above factors corresponding to the patch lens may be modified. Typically, one or more factors are modified stepwise to optimize the patch lens. Each iteration preferably generates a more desirable point spread function (PSF) shape and size. The search for the optimized parameters of the patch lens may be a brute-force search if there are few parameters, or a gradient search, or a pseudo-annealing approach may be used, or multiple parameters may be addressed in some order.

[0277] In some embodiments, the parameters of the patch lens are optimized by: starting with a reference patch lens configuration (e.g., a spherical lens with a selected focal length), moving the center of the patch lens to find the best central position, optionally adjusting the tilt of the patch lens, and then adjusting one or both of the lens focal length and size.

[0278] The updated optical shape is transmitted to the phase modulator 14 in block 108, and method 95 returns to block 102 where a new image of pattern 93 is captured. The new image is generated using the updated optical shape and / or position of the patch lens 15A. Loop 109 will be repeated until the desired level of accuracy is reached.

[0279] In some embodiments, each patch lens is determined sequentially (i.e., one patch lens at a time).

[0280] In some embodiments, different patch lenses are determined simultaneously (i.e., two or more patch lenses are determined simultaneously). This increases efficiency and reduces computation time. Each patch lens affects only the light from the light beam 13 incident on a particular patch lens and thus affects only the light distribution on the screen due to that patch. By identifying which patch lens corresponds to which spot on the screen, it is possible to simultaneously change the parameters of different ones of the plurality of patch lenses. Identifying which patch lens corresponds to which spot on the screen may be done, for example, by updating a plurality of different patch lenses in different directions or at different speeds and correlating the change with the change observed in the pattern 93 on the screen.

[0281] FIG. 13 schematically shows an exemplary method 115 for improving the alignment of a plurality of optical elements within a projector system. Method 115 is similar to method 95, except that method 115 may simultaneously optimize a plurality of patch lenses, thereby increasing time efficiency.

[0282] Method 115 determines which features of pattern 93 correspond to each patch lens 15A, for example by using any of the plurality of approaches described above.

[0283] In block 116, an initial optical shape of a plurality of patch lenses (e.g., patch lenses 15A) is generated. The initial optical shape of the plurality of patch lenses may be determined from known optical parameters of the product design. For example, the optical shape may be determined assuming an initial position of the illumination patch and a designed focal length.

[0284] An image of pattern 93 is captured in block 117 (for example, using camera 94). In block 118, the captured image data is processed to identify features corresponding to individual patch lenses 15A or sets of patch lenses. In block 119, the identified features are matched to the corresponding patch lenses 15A.

[0285] As described elsewhere in this specification, identifying which patch lens corresponds to which spot on the screen may be done, for example, by updating several different patch lenses in different directions or at different speeds, and correlating such changes with changes observed in the image on the screen. In some embodiments, a single patch lens is changed and a corresponding change is observed.

[0286] A single patch lens may potentially direct light to any point on the screen. Therefore, it may be necessary to identify which features on the screen (across the entire screen) correspond to which patch lens.

[0287] The identified features are compared to the corresponding reference features. Block 120 determines whether the identified features match the corresponding reference features with threshold accuracy. If the threshold accuracy target is reached, the optical shape of the patch lens is stored as part of block 124. If the threshold accuracy target is not reached, the position and / or optical shape of the patch lens is refined in block 121. The new optical shape of the patch lens is transmitted in block 122 (e.g., to the phase modulator 14), and method 115 returns to block 117 where the new data of the image 93 generated using the new patch lens is captured by the camera 94. Loop 123 is repeated until the desired threshold accuracy is reached.

[0288] When processing the image of image 93, the position and optical characteristics of camera 94 may be taken into consideration. Camera 94 is, for example: It may be mounted in a known position relative to the projector device; The screen onto which the image 93 is projected may be observed through the projection lens used to project the image 93; It may also be part of another device, such as a mobile phone, that communicates data with the system described herein.

[0289] In some embodiments, the light source 12 may include emitters that emit multicolor light (e.g., red, green, and blue). In such embodiments, each patch lens 15A may be configured based on the wavelength of the corresponding incident beam 13. This allows a single phase modulator 14 to be used to guide light beams having different wavelengths. Typically, the arrangement of light-emitting elements in the light source 12 may be known or characterized, thereby allowing individual patch lenses 15A to be generated at specific wavelengths.

[0290] Figure 14 schematically shows an exemplary optical configuration 130 comprising a multi-emitter light source 12 having light-emitting elements that produce light of different wavelengths (e.g., red, green, and blue). Optical configuration 130 is identical to optical configuration 50, except that the multi-emitter light source 12 comprises light-emitting elements of multiple wavelengths. In such embodiments, the phase modulator 14 displays a patch lens 15A of a specific wavelength, and as a result, the light emitted by the light source 12 can be induced as desired using a single phase modulator 14 (in contrast to having to use, for example, multiple phase modulators 14 of specific wavelengths).

[0291] In some embodiments (see, for example, Figure 14), each of several different wavelengths of uninduced light (e.g., uninduced red light, uninduced green light, and uninduced blue light) is directed to the homogenization input of the coupling rod 44. In such embodiments, the coupling rod 44 homogenizes the uninduced light of different wavelengths in both directions of light, mixes the uninduced light of different wavelengths (or colors) together (e.g., mixes red, green, and blue light into white light), and couples the induced light with the homogenized and color-mixed uninduced light. This can advantageously reduce the number of downstream optical elements required (e.g., eliminate the need for color-coupled optical elements).

[0292] Uninduced light (and induced light of different wavelengths) may be directed to the input of the coupling rod 44 as described elsewhere in this specification. The coupling rod 44 may be any coupling rod as described elsewhere in this specification.

[0293] In some embodiments, one or more alternative light sources of different wavelengths (e.g., a red light source, a green light source, and / or a blue light source) may be positioned to emit light onto the coupling rod 44 in order to increase the intensity of the uninduced light 17.

[0294] The multiple wavelength light-emitting elements of the multi-emitter light source 12 may be arranged in any manner. In some embodiments, the multiple light-emitting elements are arranged randomly. In some embodiments, the light-emitting elements are arranged in rows or columns based on wavelength (for example, a row or column of red emitters, a row or column of green emitters, and a row or column of blue emitters).

[0295] Figure 15 is a block diagram showing an exemplary control system 150 of the type that may be provided for an apparatus as described herein.

[0296] The controller 25 is configured to control the light source 12 and the phase modulator 14. As described elsewhere in this specification, the controller 25 may receive input from the camera 94. In some embodiments, the phase modulator 14 provides feedback to the controller 25.

[0297] The controller 25 may receive user input from the user interface 151. The controller 25 may also provide the user with information about the apparatus described herein via the interface 151.

[0298] Data relating to each patch lens displayed by the phase modulator 14 may be stored in the data store 152. The data store 152 may contain, for example, one data entry for each optical shape corresponding to the patch lens displayed by the phase modulator 14 (e.g., data entries 152A-1, 152A-2, ..., 152A-N).

[0299] In some embodiments, the data store 152 includes initial patch data 153. The initial patch data 153 may include, for example, the initial optical shape of the patch lens as seen by the phase modulator 14 before the patch lens is optimized using any method described elsewhere herein.

[0300] The apparatus described herein and the calibration routines performed by the controller 25 may be stored in the program storage unit 154. For example, the program storage unit 154 may have a complete calibration routine 154A, which is executed by the controller 25 and configured to calibrate a new apparatus at the time of manufacture. In addition, or alternatively, the program storage unit 154 may have a startup calibration routine 154B, which is executed by the controller 25 and configured to calibrate the apparatus described herein when it is powered on (for example, to calibrate any deviations that may have occurred between multiple power-on cycles).

[0301] The systems and methods described herein are not limited to use in a single type of projector system. In some cases, the systems and methods described herein are incorporated into professional commercial cinema systems for use in movie theaters. In some cases, the systems and methods described herein are incorporated into consumer projection systems, for example, for home use. [Interpretation of Terms]

[0302] Unless the context clearly requires a different interpretation, throughout this specification and the claims: • "Prepare," "to prepare," and similar phrases should be interpreted in a comprehensive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is, "including but not limited to"; "Connected," "joined," or any variation thereof means any connection or coupling, direct or indirect, between two or more elements, and such coupling or connection between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof; The terms "in this specification," "above," "below," and similar phrases, when used to describe this specification, refer to the entire specification and not to any specific part thereof; When referring to a list of two or more items, “or” encompasses the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and all combinations of the items in the list; The singular forms "one," "one," and "that" also encompass the meaning of any appropriate plural form.

[0303] The terms indicating direction (if any) used in this specification and any appended claims, such as “vertical,” “transverse,” “horizontal,” “up,” “down,” “forward,” “backward,” “inward,” “outward,” “left,” “right,” “front,” “rear,” “upper,” “lower,” “down,” and “upwards,” depend on the specific orientation of the described and illustrated apparatus. The subject matter described herein may assume a variety of alternative directions. Accordingly, these terms relating to direction are not strictly defined and should not be interpreted narrowly.

[0304] Multiple embodiments of the present invention (e.g., control systems, calibration systems, etc.) may be implemented using a programmable data processor comprising specifically designed hardware, configurable hardware, software executable for the data processor (which may optionally include “firmware”), an application-specific computer or data processor specifically programmed, configured or built to perform one or more steps in the manner described in detail herein, and / or two or more combinations thereof. Examples of specifically designed hardware include logic circuits, application-specific integrated circuits (“ASIC”), large-scale integrated circuits (“LSI”), very large-scale integrated circuits (“VLSI”), etc. Examples of configurable hardware include one or more programmable logic devices such as programmable array logic (“PAL”), programmable logic arrays (“PLA”), and field-programmable gate arrays (“FPGA”). Examples of programmable data processors include microprocessors, digital signal processors ("DSPs"), embedded processors, graphics processors, numerical coprocessors, general-purpose computers, server computers, cloud computers, mainframe computers, and computer workstations. For example, one or more data processors in a control circuit for a device may implement the methods described herein by executing a number of software instructions in program memory accessible to those processors.

[0305] Processing may be centralized or decentralized. When processing is decentralized, information, including software and / or data, may remain centralized or be decentralized. Such information may be exchanged between multiple different functional units via a communication network such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or the internet, wired or wireless data links, electromagnetic signals, or other data communication channels.

[0306] For example, while processes or blocks are presented in a given order, multiple alternatives may execute multiple routines having multiple steps in a different order, or employ multiple systems having multiple blocks. Alternatively, some processes or blocks may be removed, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and / or modified to provide alternatives or partial combinations. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while multiple processes or blocks are sometimes shown as being executed sequentially, these processes or blocks may instead be executed in parallel or at different times.

[0307] In addition, although multiple elements are sometimes shown as being performed sequentially, they may instead be performed simultaneously or in different orders. Therefore, the following claims are intended to be interpreted as all such modifications being within the intended scope.

[0308] Where a component (e.g., a phase modulator, a light source, a coupling rod, etc.) is referred to above, unless otherwise indicated, any reference to that component (including any reference to the “means”) should be interpreted as including any component that performs the function of the described component (i.e., is functionally equivalent), including components that are not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure that performs the function of the described component in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0309] For illustrative purposes, specific examples of systems, methods, and apparatus are described herein. These are merely examples. The technologies provided herein may be applied to multiple systems other than the exemplary systems described above. Many changes, modifications, additions, omissions, and permutations are possible within the implementation of the invention. The invention includes variations of the described embodiments that will be obvious to those skilled in the art. These include variations obtained by replacing features, elements, and / or operations with equivalent features, elements, and / or operations; mixing and matching features, elements, and / or operations from different embodiments; combining features, elements, and / or operations from embodiments such as those described herein with features, elements, and / or operations of other technologies; and / or omitting or combining features, elements, and / or operations from the described embodiments.

[0310] Various features are described herein as being present in “several embodiments.” Such features are not essential and may not be present in all embodiments. Embodiments of the present invention may not include such features, may include any one of such features, or may include any combination of two or more such features. This is limited only to the extent that a particular feature among such features is incompatible with other features of that feature, meaning that it is impossible for a person skilled in the art to construct a practical embodiment combining such incompatible features. Consequently, the statement that “several embodiments” have feature A, or that “several embodiments” have feature B, should be interpreted as an explicit indication that the inventors also intend to include embodiments combining features A and B (unless otherwise stated, or if features A and B are fundamentally incompatible).

[0311] Accordingly, the claims attached below and any claims introduced thereafter are intended to be interpreted as including all such modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, and partial combinations that are reasonably foreseeable. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the multiple preferred embodiments described in the multiple examples, but rather the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole should be given.

Claims

1. One or more light sources capable of emitting multiple light beams; A phase modulator having a two-dimensional array of pixels, wherein the pixels are controllable to delay the phase of light incident on the pixels by a variable amount, the phase modulator has an active area in the optical path of the plurality of light beams, and each of the plurality of light beams is incident on the active area of ​​the phase modulator in a corresponding one of a plurality of distinct regions of the active area of ​​the phase modulator; and, A controller configured to set the pixels of each of the plurality of separate regions of the phase modulator in order to display the optical shape of the patch lens corresponding to the separate regions, the patch lens configured to correct non-uniformity present in one of the plurality of light beams, A projection system equipped with the following features.

2. The aforementioned multiple separate regions are arranged in an array having multiple rows and multiple columns. The projection system according to claim 1.

3. The light source has a multi-emitter light source including at least two rows and two columns of light-emitting elements. The projection system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The controller is configured to set each of the pixels in the plurality of separate regions of the phase modulator in order to display an optically induced phase pattern combined with the optical shape of the corresponding patch lens. A projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The optical shape of the patch lens corresponding to the separate region is at least partially based on the measured deviation of the corresponding light beam from the ideal. A projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The optical shape of the patch lens corresponding to the separate region is at least partially based on the measured deviation from the ideal of the light field generated on the image plane after the corresponding light beam interacts with the phase modulator. A projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The corrected heterogeneity includes at least one of the following: directional parallelism, collimation, and intensity distribution. The projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The displayed optical shape corresponds to the optical shape of a spherical lens. The projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Adjacent patch lenses touch each other. A projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The entire active area of ​​the pixels in the two-dimensional array of the phase modulator is covered by a patch lens. A projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The optical shape of each patch lens is generated independently. A projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The optical shape of each patch lens is generated by the controller configured to perform an optimization process. A projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The optimization process includes repeatedly changing the phase displacement of the pixels of the corresponding patch lens until one or more observed characteristics of the corresponding output beam indicate that the patch lens adequately compensates for the deviation of the light beam from the ideal. The projection system according to claim 12.

14. The optimization process is performed sequentially on different of the multiple patch lenses. The projection system according to claim 12 or 13.

15. The optimization process is performed in parallel on different of the multiple patch lenses. The projection system according to claim 12 or 13.

16. The optimization process includes performing a pseudo-annealing method to find the phase displacement of the pixels in the region that will construct the phase pattern of the corresponding patch lens. The projection system according to any one of claims 12 to 15.

17. The optical shape of each of the multiple patch lenses identifies at least one of the following for the corresponding patch lens: focal length, optical center shift, parameterized astigmatism, and tilt. The projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. At least one of the plurality of separate regions is divided into a plurality of subregions, and the controller is configured to set the pixels of each of the plurality of subregions to display the optical shape corresponding to the subregion. The projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. Different portions of a single light beam illuminate two or more sub-regions of the corresponding distinct region of the phase modulator. A projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

20. At least one of the plurality of optical shapes corresponds to a plurality of lenses superimposed on each other, The projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. At least one of the plurality of light beams extends beyond the plurality of separate regions. A projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

22. Each of the multiple optical shapes can be changed in real time to take into account the changing characteristics of one of the multiple light beams. A projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 21.

23. The optical shape applied to each of the plurality of light beams further comprises a light-guiding component that guides light. A projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

24. The corresponding patch lens and the corresponding light-guiding component are superimposed. The projection system according to claim 23.

25. The optical induction component applied to different of the aforementioned multiple light beams is the same. The projection system according to claim 23 or 24.

26. The optical induction components applied to different light beams are different, The projection system according to claim 23 or 24.

27. The optical guidance component is configured to guide the light beam so that it is focused at a plurality of different points. The projection system according to any one of claims 23 to 26.

28. The controller individually controls each of the plurality of distinct regions of the phase modulator to display a pattern of phase displacement that induces light from the corresponding light beam. The projection system according to any one of claims 23 to 27.

29. A light-receiving optical system is provided upstream of the phase modulator, and the light-receiving optical system is configured to shape or modify the light beam in order to better illuminate the phase modulator. A projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 28.

30. The light-receiving optical system shapes the light from the light beam such that the size of the pixels in the two-dimensional array matches the size of the pixels in the two-dimensional array. The projection system according to claim 29.

31. The controller is configured to set at least some of the pixels of the phase modulator to display a phase pattern selected to cause specular reflection of at least some of the multiple light beams. A projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 30.

32. The controller is configured to dynamically change the number of pixels in a portion of the plurality of pixels in order to adjust the ratio of uninduced light to induced light. The projection system according to claim 31.

33. The controller is configured to determine a desired ratio of uninduced light to induced light, at least in part, based on processing image data. The projection system according to claim 32.

34. The controller is configured to determine a desired ratio of uninduced light to induced light based at least partially on one or more of the following: the black level of the image data, the maximum brightness of the highlights in the image data, and the contrast of the image data. The projection system according to claim 33.

35. A coupling rod is further provided downstream of the phase modulator, the coupling rod having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and light-reflecting portions on both sides of the longitudinal central axis of the coupling rod, the coupling rod is configured to couple induced and uninduced light, and to homogenize the uninduced light by repeated reflection at the light-reflecting portions before reaching the outlet opening. A projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 34.

36. The connecting rod has a hollow tube. The projection system according to claim 35.

37. The connecting rod has a solid made of a permeable material. The projection system according to claim 35.

38. The connecting rod has a hollow rectangular tube including at least one tapered surface. The projection system according to claim 35.

39. The coupling rod has two tapered reflective planes from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, and the inlet opening is larger than the outlet opening. The projection system according to claim 35.

40. The aforementioned connecting rod is tapered in one plane. The projection system according to claim 35.

41. The connecting rod is tapered along its transverse axis. The projection system according to claim 40.

42. The connecting rod is tapered along its vertical axis. The projection system according to claim 40.

43. The angle of light emission from the aforementioned exit opening is approximately 45° or less. A projection system according to any one of claims 35 to 42.

44. The coupling rod is configured to provide a substantially symmetrical output. A projection system according to any one of claims 35 to 43.

45. The device further comprises a prism optically connected to the coupling rod adjacent to the entrance opening, wherein the prism is configured to collect the uninduced light and transmit the uninduced light into the coupling rod. A projection system according to any one of claims 35 to 44.

46. The system further comprises an optical element that transmits the induced and uninduced light from the phase modulator to the coupling rod. A projection system according to any one of claims 35 to 45.

47. The optical element includes a physical lens located between the phase modulator and the coupling rod. The projection system according to claim 46.

48. The physical lens is positioned to maximize the incidence of both induced and uninduced light onto the physical lens. The projection system according to claim 47.

49. A diffuser is further provided in the optical path of the uninduced light upstream of the coupling rod. A projection system according to any one of claims 35 to 48.

50. The coupling rod further comprises a diffuser downstream of the coupling rod. A projection system according to any one of claims 35 to 49.

51. The system further comprises an optical system configured to generate base illumination in order to increase the intensity of the induced or uninduced light. A projection system according to any one of claims 35 to 50.

52. The system further comprises one or more additional light sources configured to generate base illumination in order to increase the intensity of the induced or uninduced light, A projection system according to any one of claims 35 to 50.

53. A camera configured to capture an image of a light-guided image and connected to the controller to provide the captured image to the controller, A projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 52.

54. The controller is configured to process the captured image of the light-induced image to determine the characteristics of the light used to generate the light-induced image, and to change the optical shape of one or more of the multiple patch lenses displayed by the phase modulator. The projection system according to claim 53.

55. The one or more light sources have emitters that emit multicolor light. A projection system according to any one of claims 1 to 54.

56. The optical shape of each of the multiple patch lenses is configured at least partially based on the wavelength of the corresponding light beam. The projection system according to claim 55.

57. The one or more light sources have emitters that emit multicolor light, and the coupling rod homogenizes uninduced light of different wavelengths in one or both of the direction and color of the light. A projection system according to any one of claims 35 to 52.

58. The optical shape of each of the multiple patch lenses is configured at least partially based on the wavelength of the corresponding light beam. The projection system according to claim 57.

59. The system further comprises one or more additional light sources of different wavelengths positioned to radiate light into the coupling rod in order to increase the intensity of the uninduced light. The projection system according to claim 57 or 58.

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