Projection System Using Spatial Light Modulator for Multi-Screen Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing projection systems struggle to project sufficiently bright and undistorted display information on multiple screens at close distances, often requiring complex optical systems and high-power sources, which can be bulky and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A projection system comprising a phase-modulation-type spatial light modulator, a controller, and a reflecting mirror that directs projected light to multiple display areas, allowing for bright and distortion-free projection using a compact, low-power setup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a general projector is used to project large display information at an extremely close distance, then the display size is sufficient, but the projector becomes bulky and complex due to required complicated optical systems or distortion correction calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a spatial light modulator element that modulates light to create an optical copy of the display information, projecting it without requiring a bulky optical system. The modulator element creates a lightweight, integrated solution that achieves large display projection at close distance without the complexity of traditional projectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the core projection function from a complex projector system by using a spatial light modulator element that directly modulates light from a simple illumination source. This separates the essential light modulation function from the bulky optical components, achieving close-distance large display projection with minimal complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple screens are illuminated simultaneously, then information can be displayed on multiple display areas, but the light source output must be high requiring high-capacity battery or power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single light source that sequentially illuminates different spatial light modulator elements corresponding to different display areas. By cycling through the display areas in periodic fashion, the system achieves multi-screen display capability with a low-power light source, avoiding the need for high-capacity power supply required by simultaneous multi-screen illumination.
3Device complexity
If a phase-modulation-type spatial light modulator element is used, then the optical system can be simplified, but zeroth-order light creates conspicuous image loss that reduces display quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the zeroth-order light component from the projected beam using a beam shaping optical system. This separation allows the main diffraction orders to form the display image while the zeroth-order light is excluded, eliminating the conspicuous image loss and maintaining high display quality with the simplified phase-modulation optical system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a beam shaping optical system as an intermediary between the spatial light modulator element and the display areas. This intermediary component processes the modulated light to remove harmful zeroth-order light while preserving the useful diffracted light, thereby maintaining display quality without requiring complex optical systems.
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
Enables the projection of bright, undistorted display information on multiple screens without the need for complex optical systems or high-power sources, maintaining efficiency and compactness.
Implementation Method 1
a phase-modulation-type spatial light modulator element configured to include a display part displaying a pattern corresponding to display information, and modulate and emit light radiated on the display part from the light source
Implementation Method 2
a reflecting mirror configured to reflect projected light from the projector toward a plurality of display areas
Data Source
AI summary
A projection system includes a projector, a controller, and a reflecting mirror in order to project sufficiently bright display information in on a plurality of display areas without distortion. The projector includes a light source, a phase-modulation-type spatial light modulator element, and an optical system. The spatial light modulator element includes a display part displaying a pattern corresponding to the display information, and modulates and emits light radiated on the display part from the light source. The optical system projects modulated light emitted from the spatial light modulator element. The controller generates control conditions for controlling the light source and the spatial light modulator element, based on display conditions acquired from a host system, and controls the light source and the spatial light modulator element, based on the generated control conditions. The reflecting mirror reflects projected light from the projector toward the plurality of display areas.