Optical Engine Light Combining Prism Polarization Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional optical engine systems with three-chip spatial light modulators experience significant light energy loss due to manufacturing tolerances in coated layers, particularly at larger incident angles, leading to reduced light combining and separating efficiencies.
Innovation Solution
An optical engine system is designed with a light combining prism that uses linearly polarized light and a dichroic light separating film to guide modulated light along a single optical path, maintaining high polarization efficiency and reducing light loss by minimizing the deviation in transmittance curves across different incident angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a light combining prism with coated layers is used for color separation and combination in a three-chip spatial light modulator system, then color separation and combination functions are achieved, but manufacturing tolerances in the coated layers cause transmittance curve deviations that increase with incident angle, leading to significant light energy loss at larger angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the polarization state parameter of the light from unpolarized or circularly polarized to linearly polarized. This parameter change makes the light transmittance through the coated layer much less sensitive to incident angle variations, reducing the transmittance curve deviation caused by manufacturing tolerances and thereby minimizing light energy loss at larger incident angles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an equipotential condition for the transmittance by ensuring that the transmittance of the coated layer remains relatively constant across different incident angles when linearly polarized light is used. This is achieved by aligning the polarization direction with the principal stress direction of the liquid crystal molecules, making the optical path length and transmittance independent of small angle variations
2Productivity
If the incident angle of illumination light on the coated layer is increased to improve light combining efficiency, then a sharper transmittance curve is achieved with narrower transition area, but the deviation amount of spectral line with incident angle increases, causing greater light energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the polarization parameter to linear polarization, which fundamentally alters the transmittance characteristics. The transmittance curve becomes much flatter with respect to incident angle changes, allowing the system to operate at larger incident angles for compact design while maintaining stable spectral line positions and high light combining efficiency without significant deviation
3Volume of moving object
If a compact optical engine system design is implemented, then smaller size and lower cost are achieved, but larger incident angles are required, which increase transmittance curve deviation and light energy loss in coated layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes linearly polarized light to change the optical parameter of the system, enabling compact design with larger incident angles. The linear polarization makes the transmittance insensitive to angle variations, allowing the optical engine to be miniaturized while maintaining high light efficiency and avoiding energy loss in the coated layers
4Illumination intensity
If linearly polarized light is used in the optical engine system, then high light combining efficiency and brightness are achieved with reduced transmittance curve deviation, but the system requires maintaining specific polarization states throughout the optical paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical system into distinct polarization-maintaining sections. Each section (illumination source, liquid crystal layer, light combining prism, projection lens) is designed to preserve the linear polarization state, with the overall system achieving high brightness through efficient light combining while managing polarization maintenance through modular design
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 combining efficiency, achieves higher brightness, and supports compact product design while maintaining high 3D display efficiency without altering luminous flux between 2D and 3D modes.
Implementation Method 1
a light combining prism configured to guide the first modulated light and the second modulated light to transmit along a same optical path
Implementation Method 2
uses linearly polarized light and a dichroic light separating film to guide modulated light
Implementation Method 3
configured to modulate first linearly polarized light in a first optical path to obtain first modulated light; a second modulation device configured to modulate second linearly polarized light in a second optical path
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an optical engine system and a display apparatus. The optical engine system includes: a first modulation device configured to modulate first linearly polarized light in a first optical path to obtain first modulated light; a second modulation device configured to modulate second linearly polarized light in a second optical path to obtain second modulated light, the first linearly polarized light and the second linearly polarized light having a same polarization state; and a light combining prism configured to guide the first modulated light and the second modulated light to transmit along a same optical path and obtain projection light. Optical paths of the first modulated light, the second modulated light, and the projection light are located in a same plane.