Patent US5555035A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5555035A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Very high resolution light valve writing system based on tilting lower resolution flat panels
Assignee: Raytheon Co
•
Filing: 1994-10-03
•
Granted: 1996-09-10
•
Expires: 2014-10-03
Abstract
Abstract Projection apparatus comprising high resolution projection display systems that generate a relatively large high resolution image on a display screen, wherein seams and tiling artifacts in observation (image) space are eliminated or minimized. The projection apparatus comprises an image source that includes a plurality of small tiled image displays, relay optics, and a photoactivated reflective liquid crystal light valve. The small tiled or mosaic-like displays that provide source images that are displayed. The images projected by the image displays are imaged onto the light valve. A polarizing beamsplitter is disposed adjacent an output surface of the light valve, and an illumination source provides illumination light that is projected by way of the polarizing beamsplitter onto an output surface of the light valve. The illumination light is reflected from the output surface of the light valve back through the polarizing beamsplitter. A projection lens projects the illumination light onto the display screen. When the tiles are aligned so that the seams are a small fraction of a pixel, the light valve spatially low pass filters the tiled image, thereby eliminating the seams, and minimizing any tiling artifacts in the displayed image. A partially reflecting and transmitting beamsplitter may be disposed between the plurality of tiled image displays and the relay optics. This beamsplitter may be a thin glass plate, a thin quartz plate, or a pellicle. The plurality of tiled image displays may comprise flat panel displays or active matrix light valves. The relay optics may comprises a plurality of relay lenses or a single relay lens. The projection light may be continuous or sequentially imaged monochrome or red-green-blue (RGB) light provided by the illumination source.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald C. Mead
- 👤 Ronald S. Gold
- 👤 Victor J. Fritz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:05
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N9/00; H04N9/12; H04N9/31; H04N9/3102; H04N9/3105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
Projection apparatus for projecting a relatively large high resolution image on a display screen, said apparatus comprising: an image source comprising a plurality of tiled image displays, said tiled image displays disposed in an object space of said apparatus; relay optics disposed along optical paths of images projected by the respective tiled image displays; a photoactivated reflective liquid crystal light valve disposed along the optical paths of the respective images relayed by the relay optics for receiving the images projected by the tiled image displays imaged onto an input surface thereof; a polarizing beamsplitter disposed adjacent an output surface of the photoactivated reflective liquid crystal light valve; an illumination source disposed adjacent the polarizing beamsplitter for providing illumination light that is projected by way of the polarizing beamsplitter onto the output surface of the photoactivated reflective liquid crystal light valve and which is reflected from the output surface back through the polarizing beamsplitter; and a projection lens disposed adjacent an output surface of the polarizing beamsplitter for projecting the projection illumination light onto the display screen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
Projection apparatus for projecting a relatively large high resolution image on a display screen, said apparatus comprising: an image source comprising a plurality of tiled image displays, said tiled image displays disposed in an object space of said apparatus; relay optics disposed along optical paths of images projected by the respective tiled image displays; a photoactivated reflective liquid crystal light valve disposed along the optical paths of the respective images relayed by the relay optics for receiving the images projected by the tiled image displays imaged onto an input surface thereof; a polarizing beamsplitter disposed adjacent an output surface of the photoactivated reflective liquid crystal light valve; an illumination source disposed adjacent the polarizing beamsplitter for providing illumination light that is projected by way of the polarizing beamsplitter onto the output surface of the photoactivated reflective liquid crystal light valve and which is reflected from the output surface back through the polarizing beamsplitter; and a projection lens disposed adjacent an output surface of the polarizing beamsplitter for projecting the projection illumination light onto the display screen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of tiled image displays comprise flat panel displays.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of tiled image displays comprise active matrix light valves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the relay optics comprises a plurality of relay lenses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the relay optics comprises a single relay lens.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the illumination source continuously projects monochrome projection light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the illumination source sequentially projects monochrome projection light.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the illumination source continuously projects red-green-blue (RGB) projection light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the illumination source sequentially projects red-green-blue (RGB) projection light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a beamsplitter disposed between the plurality of tiled image displays and the relay optics.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the beamsplitter comprises a partially reflecting and transmitting beamsplitter plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the beamsplitter comprises a thin glass plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the beamsplitter comprises a thin quartz plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the beamsplitter comprises a pellicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the beamsplitter comprises a beamsplitter cube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
190 words
Projection apparatus for projecting a relatively large high resolution image on a display screen, said apparatus comprising: an image source comprising a plurality of tiled image displays, said tiled image displays disposed in an object space of said apparatus; relay optics disposed along optical paths of images projected by the respective tiled image displays; a photoactivated reflective liquid crystal light valve disposed along the optical paths of the respective images relayed by the relay optics for receiving the images projected by the tiled image displays imaged onto an input surface thereof; a polarizing beamsplitter disposed adjacent an output surface of the photoactivated reflective liquid crystal light valve; a beamsplitter disposed between the plurality of tiled image displays and the relay optics: an illumination source disposed adjacent the polarizing beamsplitter for providing illumination light that is projected by way of the polarizing beamsplitter onto the output surface of the photoactivated reflective liquid crystal light valve and which is reflected from the output surface back through the polarizing beamsplitter; and a projection lens disposed adjacent an output surface of the polarizing beamsplitter for projecting the projection illumination light onto the display screen.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
190 words
Projection apparatus for projecting a relatively large high resolution image on a display screen, said apparatus comprising: an image source comprising a plurality of tiled image displays, said tiled image displays disposed in an object space of said apparatus; relay optics disposed along optical paths of images projected by the respective tiled image displays; a photoactivated reflective liquid crystal light valve disposed along the optical paths of the respective images relayed by the relay optics for receiving the images projected by the tiled image displays imaged onto an input surface thereof; a polarizing beamsplitter disposed adjacent an output surface of the photoactivated reflective liquid crystal light valve; a beamsplitter disposed between the plurality of tiled image displays and the relay optics: an illumination source disposed adjacent the polarizing beamsplitter for providing illumination light that is projected by way of the polarizing beamsplitter onto the output surface of the photoactivated reflective liquid crystal light valve and which is reflected from the output surface back through the polarizing beamsplitter; and a projection lens disposed adjacent an output surface of the polarizing beamsplitter for projecting the projection illumination light onto the display screen.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein each of the plurality of tiled image displays comprise flat panel displays.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein each of the plurality of tiled image displays comprise active matrix light valves.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the relay optics comprises a plurality of relay lenses.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the relay optics comprises a single relay lens.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the illumination source continuously projects monochrome projection light.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the illumination source sequentially projects monochrome projection light.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the illumination source continuously projects red-green-blue (RGB) projection light.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the illumination source sequentially projects red-green-blue (RGB) projection light.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the polarizing beamsplitter comprises a partially reflecting and transmitting beamsplitter plate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the beamsplitter comprises a thin glass plate.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the beamsplitter comprises a thin quartz plate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the beamsplitter comprises a pellicle.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the beamsplitter comprises a beamsplitter cube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4734779A
Cited
US4906071A
Cited
US5327270A
Cited
US5260815A
Cited
US5404175A
Cited
US5357289A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-10 | 2000-03-11 | 2000-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-10 | 2004-03-11 | 2004-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-10 | 2008-03-11 | 2008-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |