Cross Dichroic Cube Illumination for Four-Color Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Projection-type image display apparatuses using four or more colors require multiple dichroic cubes, increasing manufacturing costs and back focus, as existing designs cannot efficiently combine light beams of four or more colors with a single cross dichroic cube.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a fourth color light valve that modulates yellow component light, which is superimposed on either the red, green, or blue light valve, allowing the combined light to enter a cross dichroic cube as three colors, thereby eliminating the need for multiple dichroic cubes and maintaining the design of the projection mean.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple dichroic cubes are used to combine light beams of four or more colors, then color reproduction capability and luminance are improved, but manufacturing cost and back focus increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fourth color light valve (yellow) with one of the existing RGB light valves by superimposing their light beams. This merging approach allows the fourth color light to be integrated into the existing optical path without requiring additional separate dichroic cubes for combination, thereby improving luminance while avoiding increased device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The cross dichroic cube is designed to handle both the traditional RGB colors and the fourth color (yellow) through a unified structure. By making the cross dichroic cube multi-functional, it can combine up to four color beams without requiring additional dichroic cubes, thus improving color reproduction capability and luminance while maintaining manufacturing cost effectiveness
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple dichroic cubes are used to combine light beams of four or more colors, then color reproduction capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fourth color light path with the existing RGB light paths by superimposing beams at the light valve level. This combining approach enables enhanced color reproduction capability using only one cross dichroic cube, avoiding the need for multiple cubes and thereby preventing manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 2:
The cross dichroic cube is designed with multi-functionality to handle both traditional RGB colors and the fourth color (yellow). This universal design allows a single cube to perform the color combination function for all four colors, improving color reproduction capability while maintaining ease of manufacture and cost-effectiveness
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple dichroic cubes are used to combine light beams of four or more colors, then color reproduction capability is improved, but back focus becomes longer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fourth color light path with the existing RGB light paths by superimposing beams at the light valve level. This combining approach shortens the optical path compared to using multiple sequential dichroic cubes, thereby improving color reproduction capability while keeping back focus length manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The cross dichroic cube is designed with multi-functionality to handle both traditional RGB colors and the fourth color (yellow) in a unified optical path. This universal design eliminates the need for multiple sequential cubes, thereby improving color reproduction capability while maintaining a compact back focus length
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 configuration suppresses the increase in manufacturing costs and improves image luminance without altering the optical design, allowing for efficient use of yellow component light as illumination, reducing the optical path length differences, and maintaining color balance.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the liquid crystal panels 30R, 30G, 30B and 30Ye has a light-incident side polarizing plate 32R, 32G, 32B, 32Ye and a light-emitting side polarizing plate 33R, 33G, 33B, 33Ye
Implementation Method 2
a color combiner (cross dichroic cube 60) configured to combine light emitted from the red light valve, the green light valve and the blue light valve
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination apparatus includes: a red light valve configured to modulate red component light according to a red input signal; a green light valve configured to modulate green component light according to a green input signal; a blue light valve configured to modulate blue component light according to a blue input signal; a fourth color light valve configured to modulate a fourth color component light; and a color combiner configured to combine light emitted from the red light valve, the green light valve and the blue light valve. The fourth color component light emitted from the fourth color light valve enters a certain light valve, which is any one of the red light valve, the green light valve and the blue light valve.