Combined Projection Beams for High-Luminance Highlights
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light projection systems face challenges in efficiently combining light beams with the same wavelength and polarization, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage to spatial light modulators due to high intensity, as well as the need for multiple light sources to manage thermal and cost issues.
Innovation Solution
The system combines plural light beams, each modulated by a separate spatial phase modulator, to steer light to a common image plane with varying intensity, using optical elements to converge at an acute angle and an optical diffuser to increase angular spread, allowing for high-intensity highlights and efficient use of lower-power light sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If high intensity light is focused to a single point using a spatial light modulator, then highlight intensity is improved, but the spatial light modulator may be damaged due to excessive intensity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single high-intensity beam into multiple separate beams, each with lower intensity. Multiple spatial light modulators are used in parallel, with each modulator handling a portion of the total light flux. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high overall intensity at the highlight while keeping the intensity at each individual modulator below damaging thresholds.
2Use of energy by moving object
If multiple light sources are used to increase light budget, then thermal management complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple independent high-power light sources that would each generate heat, the patent segments a single light source into multiple beams. This approach achieves the required light budget distribution across multiple modulators while maintaining a single thermal management system, thereby reducing complexity and cost.
3Temperature
If multiple light sources are used to manage thermal issues, then system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single light source segmented into multiple beams to illuminate multiple modulators. This eliminates the need for multiple light source purchases, installations, and maintenance, thereby reducing system cost while still achieving effective thermal management through distributed illumination.
4Productivity
If light beams are combined at large angles, then light flux is lost outside the acceptance angle of the optical system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the convergence angle parameter of the multiple light beams, ensuring they converge at angles within the acceptance angle of the projection lens. This parameter optimization allows efficient combination of light flux from multiple modulators without significant loss, while maintaining a relatively simple beam combination geometry.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances light budget, increases reliability of spatial phase modulators, and simplifies thermal management while providing high-intensity highlights in projected images, suitable for large cinema screens.
Implementation Method 1
In some embodiments at least one optical diffuser is provided in an optical path between the common target and the imager. The optical diffuser may increase an angular spread of the combined steered light.
Implementation Method 2
A control system may set each of the phase modulators to apply phase shifts so as to steer light to a common target or image plane.
Data Source
AI summary
Optical assemblies comprise plural spatial light modulators arranged to modulate light in plural light beams. The modulated light is combined in angular space by converging light beams onto a target area of an image plane. Light from the image plane may be received at an entrance pupil of an optical system. A diffuser may be provided to increase utilization of an acceptance angle of the optical system. The optical system may comprise an image projection system comprising an imager that is illuminated by the light from the image plane. An example application of the described technology is cinema projection of scenes which include high luminance highlights.