Hybrid Light Steering Projector Architecture for Peak Luminance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cinema projectors lack in-scene contrast and high peak luminance, essential for a realistic viewing experience, due to the linear scaling of lamp power with desired peak luminance and the non-linear perception of luminance by the human visual system, making it costly to increase the range of light levels and colors in projectors.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a light steering projector architecture that steers light into small bright features, combining narrowband and broadband light sources to achieve higher peak luminance while minimizing power and cost, using a hybrid architecture that splits the light between steered and non-steered paths to optimize light efficiency and image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional amplitude modulation projection is used, then the projector can display images with uniform light distribution, but the peak luminance is limited and scales linearly with display power cost
Solution Approach 1:
The projection system is segmented into two independent projection paths: a light steering projector for high peak luminance features and a traditional amplitude modulation projector for base illumination. This segmentation allows each path to be optimized for its specific function, enabling high peak luminance without proportionally increasing total power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The light steering projector provides localized high intensity illumination only where needed (small bright features), while the traditional projector provides uniform base illumination across the entire screen. This local quality approach concentrates power efficiently in critical areas without unnecessarily increasing overall display power.
2Illumination intensity
If light steering architecture is used, then peak luminance can be significantly increased, but the device complexity increases due to additional optical components
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the projection function into two separate projector units with different architectures. The light steering projector handles only the high peak luminance portion, while the traditional projector handles the base illumination. This segmentation prevents the complexity of light steering optics from being applied to the entire projection system, reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges two different projection architectures (light steering and traditional amplitude modulation) into a hybrid system that leverages the strengths of each. This combination allows the system to achieve high peak luminance capability without requiring the entire system to be as complex as a full light steering projector.
3Illumination intensity
If full light steering architecture is used, then high peak luminance can be achieved, but the light efficiency decreases due to multiple optical paths and components
Solution Approach 1:
The projection system segments the light path into two separate systems, each optimized for its specific function. The traditional amplitude modulation projector maintains high light efficiency for base illumination, while the light steering projector concentrates its limited light efficiency resources on generating high peak luminance where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The light steering path provides high intensity illumination only for small bright features, while the traditional projector path provides efficient base illumination for the majority of the image. This local quality approach ensures that light efficiency is optimized for each function rather than requiring the entire system to compromise on either efficiency or peak luminance.
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 allows for the reproduction of HDR images with significantly higher peak luminance using less power than traditional projectors, achieving up to 10 times the current peak luminance with comparable or reduced power consumption, while maintaining image quality and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a light steering projector architecture that steers light into small bright features
Implementation Method 2
combining narrowband and broadband light sources to achieve higher peak luminance
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid projector architecture combines steered light with unsteered light. In some embodiments the steered light is narrowband light and the unsteered light is broadband light. Splitting between the steered and unsteered light may be determined based on luminance level. For example, the unsteered light may contribute a large proportion of the light for luminance levels up to a threshold. The steered light may contribute an increasing proportion of the light as luminance values rise above the threshold.