Optical processor for laser display system

Claim 2

An optical processor for separately modulating a plurality of coaxial laser beams having different wavelengths comprising: a. a pair of direct-vision prism spectroscopes each comprising identical low dispersion and high dispersion optic elements; said first prism causing a wavelength-dependent angular dispersion of said coaxial laser beams, said second prism causing a wavelength-dependent angular dispersion in the opposite sense from that which occurred in said first prism, said light emerging from said second prism comprising a plurality of parallel spaced-apart beams of light, each beam of light corresponding to one of the coaxial laser beams; b. a compensated-birefringent modulator comprising a pair of electro-optic crystals, a 90* polarization rotator positioned between said crystals, and a set of strip electrodes coupled to the electro-optic crystals parallel to each of the beams emerging from said second prism spectroscope, each of said beams of light being polarization modulated by the application of a separate modulating signal to each of said strip electrodes; and c. a second pair of direct-vision prism spectroscopes positioned in the path of light emerging from said modulator, said second pair of direct-vision spectroscopes being identical with said first pair of direct-vision spectroscopes, said second pair of direct-vision prism spectroscopes causing a wavelengthdependent angular deviation to each of said beams of light, causing said light emerging from said pair of prism spectroscopes to be recombined into a single coaxial laser beam.

Claim 3

An improved laser video display system of the type wherein each wavelength of a multiwavelength coaxial laser beam is resolved into first and second orthogonal components with each component having video information imparted thereto, and wherein said coaxial laser beam is directed to a polarization beam splitter which spatially separates said first and second components into two composite beams, wherein each of said composite beams is directed to a horizontal beam scanner which provides the horizontal deflection for each of said composite beams, and wherein said composite beams are then directed to a vertical beam scanner which provides vertical deflection of said composite beams, the combined deflection caused by said horizontal and said vertical beam scanners causing a raster scan on a display screen, wherein the improved apparatus for imparting video information to said multiwavelength laser beam comprises: a. a pair of direct-vision prism spectroscopes each comprising identical low dispersion and high dispersion optic elements, said first prism spectroscope causing a wavelength-dependent angular dispersion of said coaxial laser beams, said second prism spectroscope causing a wavelength-dependent angular dispersion in the opposite sense to that which occurred in said first prism, said light emerging from said second prism spectroscope comprising a plurality of parallel spaced-apart beams of light, each beam of light corresponding to one of the coaxial laser beams; b. a compensated-birefringent modulator comprising a pair of electro-optic crystals, a stepped 90* polarization rotator positioned between said crystals, and a set of strip electrodes coupled to the electro-optic crystals parallel to each of the beams emerging from said second prism spectroscope, application of a video signal across the appropriate set of strip electrodes causing each of said beams of light to emerge from said modulator having two orthogonally polarized components containing video information; and c. a second pair of direct-vision prism spectroscopes positioned in the path of the beams of light emerging from said modulator, said second pair of prism spectroscopes imparting a wavelength-dependent angular dispersion to each of said beams of light causing said light emerging from said second pair of prism spectroscopes to be recombined into a signal coaxial laser beam, said coaxial laser beam being directed to said beam splitter.

Claim 4

An improved laser video display system of the type wherein each wavelength of a multiwavelength coaxial laser beam is resolved into first and second orthogonal components with each component having video information imparted thereto, and wherein said coaxial laser beam is directed to a polarization beam splitter which spatially separates said first and second components into two composite beams, wherein each of said composite beams is directed to a horizontal beam scanner which provides the horizontal deflection for each of said composite beams, and wherein said composite beams are then directed to a vertical beam scanner which provides vertical deflection of said composite beams, the combined deflection caused by said horizontal and said vertical beam scanners causing a raster scan on a display screen, wherein the improved apparatus for imparting video information to said multiwavelength laser beam comprises: a. a pair of direct-vision prism spectroscopes each comprising identical low dispersion and high dispersion optic elements, said first prism spectroscope causing a wavelength-dependent angular dispersion of said coaxial laser beams, said second prism spectroscope causing a wavelength-dependent angular dispersion in the opposite sense to that which occurred in said first prism, said light emerging from said second prism spectroscope comprising a plurality of parallel spaced-apart beams of light, each beam of light corresponding to one of the coaxial laser beams; b. a compensated-birefringent modulator comprising a pair of electro-optic crystals, a stepped 90* polarization rotator positioned between said crystals, and a set of strip electrodes coupled to the electro-optic crystals parallel to each of the beams emerging from said second prism spectroscope, application of a video signal across the appropriate set of strip electrodes causing each of said beams of light to emerge from said modulator having two orthogonally polarized components containing video information; and c. a second pair of direct-vision prism spectroscopes positioned in the path of the beams of light emerging from said modulator, said second pair of prism spectroscopes imparting a wavelength-dependent angular dispersion to each of said beams of light causing said light emerging from said second pair of prism spectroscopes to be recombined into a signal coaxial laser beam, said coaxial laser beam being directed to said beam splitter.

Claim 5

An optical processor for separately modulating a plurality of coaxial wavelength components of light contained within a multiwavelength laser beam comprising: a. means for separating said wavelength components of light positioned in the path of said laser beam, said separation means separating said laser beam into a plurality of parallel spaced-apart beams of light, each beam of light corresponding to one of the wavelength components of light in the laser beam; said separation means comprising a pair of directvision prism spectroscopes, the first prism spectroscope causing a wavelength-dependent angular dispersion of said coaxial beams without changing the general direction of light transmission, said coaxial beams being separated into a plurality of individual beams of light, said second prism spectroscope causing a wavelength-dependent angular dispersion in the opposite sense from the angular dispersion which occurred in said first section without changing the general direction of light transmission, said light emerging from said second direct-vision prism spectroscope comprising a plurality of parallel spaced-apart beams of light, each beam of light corresponding to one of the wavelength components of light in the laser beam; and b. a light modulator comprising a pair of electro-optic crystals having a set of strip electrodes parallel to each of the individual beams of light, said beams of light being polarization modulated by application of a separate modulating signal to each set of strip electrodes.

Claim 6

An optical processor for separately modulating a plurality of coaxial wavelength components of light contained within a multiwavelength laser beam comprising: a. means for separating said wavelength components of light positioned in the path of said laser beam, said separation means separating said laser beam into a plurality of parallel spaced-apart beams of light, each beam of light corresponding to one of the wavelength components of light in the laser beam; said separation means comprising a pair of directvision prism spectroscopes, the first prism spectroscope causing a wavelength-dependent angular dispersion of said coaxial beams without changing the general direction of light transmission, said coaxial beams being separated into a plurality of individual beams of light, said second prism spectroscope causing a wavelength-dependent angular dispersion in the opposite sense from the angular dispersion which occurred in said first section without changing the general direction of light transmission, said light emerging from said second direct-vision prism spectroscope comprising a plurality of parallel spaced-apart beams of light, each beam of light corresponding to one of the wavelength components of light in the laser beam; and b. a light modulator comprising a pair of electro-optic crystals having a set of strip electrodes parallel to each of the individual beams of light, said beams of light being polarization modulated by application of a separate modulating signal to each set of strip electrodes.

Claim 7

The optic processor of claim 3, wherein each of said prism spectroscopes comprises identical low and high dispersion optic elements, said prism spectroscopes being separated by an air gap.

Claim 8

The optical processor of claim 4 further comprising a second pAir of direct-vision prism spectroscopes positioned in the path of the beams of light emerging from said modulator, said second pair of prism spectroscopes imparting a wavelength-dependent angular deviation to each of said beams of light causing said light emerging from said pair of prism spectroscopes to be recombined into a single coaxial laser beam.

Claim 9

The optical processor of claim 5 wherein said first and second pair of direct-vision prism spectroscopes are identical.

Claim 10

The optical processor of claim 3 wherein each of said prism spectroscopes comprises a plurality of alternating high and low dispersion optic elements.

Claim 11

An optical processor for separately modulating a plurality of coaxial wavelength components of light contained within multiwavelength laser beam comprising: a. means for separating said wavelength components of light positioned in the path of said laser beam, said separation means separating said laser beam into a plurality of parallel spaced-apart beams of light, each beam of light corresponding to one of the wavelength components of light in the laser beam; said separation means comprising a pair of prisms separated by an air gap, the first prism causing a wavelength-dependent angular dispersion of said coaxial beams, the coaxial beams being separated into a plurality of individual beams of light, said second prism causing a wavelength-dependent angular dispersion which occurred in said first prism, said light emerging from said second prism comprising a plurality of parallel spaced-apart beams of light, each beam of light corresponding to one of the wavelength components of light in the laser beam; and b. a light modulator comprising a pair of electro-optic crystals having a set of strip electrodes parallel to each of the individual beams of light, said beams of light being polarization modulated by application of a separate modulating signal to each set of strip electrodes.

Claim 12

An optical processor for separately modulating a plurality of coaxial wavelength components of light contained within multiwavelength laser beam comprising: a. means for separating said wavelength components of light positioned in the path of said laser beam, said separation means separating said laser beam into a plurality of parallel spaced-apart beams of light, each beam of light corresponding to one of the wavelength components of light in the laser beam; said separation means comprising a pair of prisms separated by an air gap, the first prism causing a wavelength-dependent angular dispersion of said coaxial beams, the coaxial beams being separated into a plurality of individual beams of light, said second prism causing a wavelength-dependent angular dispersion which occurred in said first prism, said light emerging from said second prism comprising a plurality of parallel spaced-apart beams of light, each beam of light corresponding to one of the wavelength components of light in the laser beam; and b. a light modulator comprising a pair of electro-optic crystals having a set of strip electrodes parallel to each of the individual beams of light, said beams of light being polarization modulated by application of a separate modulating signal to each set of strip electrodes.