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US5560697A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical projection system

Assignee: Quarterhill Inc
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Filing: 1995-03-08
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Granted: 1996-10-01
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Expires: 2015-03-08
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Abstract

Abstract An optical projection system comprises a non-point white light source, a source lens, a source stopper, an optical means, a first, a second and a third arrays of M×N actuated mirrors, a beam splitting means including a first and a second dichroic lens, a first, a second and a third field lenses, a projection stopper, a projection lens and a projection screen. Each of the field lenses is located between each of the dichroic mirrors and each of the arrays of actuated mirrors and is used for collimating each of the primary light beams onto the corresponding array of actuated mirrors and refocussing each of the reflected primary light beams from the via the beam splitting means, and the optical means, and eventually onto the projection stopper.

Inventors

  • 👤 Dae-Young Lim
  • 👤 Jin-Se Yang

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 15:30
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N9/00; H04N9/12; H04N9/31; H04N9/3102; H04N9/3105

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 551 words
An optical projection system capable of displaying an M×N number of pixels, wherein M and N are integers, comprising: a non-point white light source for emitting a white light along a first optical path on a first optical plane, wherein the white light consists of a first, second and a third primary light beams, each of the primary light beams being one of the primary colors; a trinity of arrays of M×N actuated mirrors, including a first, a second and a third array of M×N actuated mirrors, each of the actuated mirrors having an actuator and a mirror attached thereto, each of the actuated mirrors in the arrays being capable of changing the optical path of the primary light beams reflected therefrom; a source stopper, provided with a light transmitting portion having a specific configuration and a light stopping portion and being placed on the first optical path on the first optical plane, for shaping the white light from the non-point white light source into a predetermined configuration; a source lens, disposed between the source stopper and the non-point white light source, for focusing the white light emitted by the non-point white light source onto the source stopper; an optical means for reflecting the white light from the source stopper at a predetermined angle; a beam splitting means including a first and a second dichroic mirrors, wherein the first dichroic mirror, disposed between the optical means and the second dichroic mirror facing the first array of M×N actuated mirror, is used for isolating and reflecting the first primary light beam of the white light from the optical means to the first array of M×N actuated mirrors and for transmitting the second and third primary light beams to the second dichroic mirror, and the second dichroic mirror, disposed between the first dichroic mirror and the third array of M×N actuated mirrors facing the second array of M×N actuated mirrors, upon receiving the second and third primary light beams from, the first dichroic mirror, for isolating and reflecting the second primary light beam to the second array of M×N actuated mirrors, and for transmitting the third primary light beam to the third array of M×N actuated mirrors; a trinity of field lenses including a first, a second and third field lenses, each of the first, second and third field lenses being located between the first dichroic mirror and, the first array of M×N actuated mirrors, between the second dichroic mirror and the second array of M×N actuated mirrors, and between the second dichroic mirror and the third array of M×N actuated mirrors, respectively, wherein each of the field lenses is used for collimating each of the primary light beams onto the corresponding array of M×N actuated mirrors and for refocusing each of the primary light beams reflected from each of the actuated mirrors in each of the arrays; a projection screen for displaying an image made of the M×N number of pixels thereon; a projection stopper, provided with a light transmitting portion and a light stopping portion, passing a predetermined amount of the reflected primary light beams from the trinity of the arrays of M×N actuated mirrors; and a projection lens for projecting the primary light beams from the projection stopper onto the projection screen, thereby displaying each of the pixels corresponding thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 551 words
An optical projection system capable of displaying an M×N number of pixels, wherein M and N are integers, comprising: a non-point white light source for emitting a white light along a first optical path on a first optical plane, wherein the white light consists of a first, second and a third primary light beams, each of the primary light beams being one of the primary colors; a trinity of arrays of M×N actuated mirrors, including a first, a second and a third array of M×N actuated mirrors, each of the actuated mirrors having an actuator and a mirror attached thereto, each of the actuated mirrors in the arrays being capable of changing the optical path of the primary light beams reflected therefrom; a source stopper, provided with a light transmitting portion having a specific configuration and a light stopping portion and being placed on the first optical path on the first optical plane, for shaping the white light from the non-point white light source into a predetermined configuration; a source lens, disposed between the source stopper and the non-point white light source, for focusing the white light emitted by the non-point white light source onto the source stopper; an optical means for reflecting the white light from the source stopper at a predetermined angle; a beam splitting means including a first and a second dichroic mirrors, wherein the first dichroic mirror, disposed between the optical means and the second dichroic mirror facing the first array of M×N actuated mirror, is used for isolating and reflecting the first primary light beam of the white light from the optical means to the first array of M×N actuated mirrors and for transmitting the second and third primary light beams to the second dichroic mirror, and the second dichroic mirror, disposed between the first dichroic mirror and the third array of M×N actuated mirrors facing the second array of M×N actuated mirrors, upon receiving the second and third primary light beams from, the first dichroic mirror, for isolating and reflecting the second primary light beam to the second array of M×N actuated mirrors, and for transmitting the third primary light beam to the third array of M×N actuated mirrors; a trinity of field lenses including a first, a second and third field lenses, each of the first, second and third field lenses being located between the first dichroic mirror and, the first array of M×N actuated mirrors, between the second dichroic mirror and the second array of M×N actuated mirrors, and between the second dichroic mirror and the third array of M×N actuated mirrors, respectively, wherein each of the field lenses is used for collimating each of the primary light beams onto the corresponding array of M×N actuated mirrors and for refocusing each of the primary light beams reflected from each of the actuated mirrors in each of the arrays; a projection screen for displaying an image made of the M×N number of pixels thereon; a projection stopper, provided with a light transmitting portion and a light stopping portion, passing a predetermined amount of the reflected primary light beams from the trinity of the arrays of M×N actuated mirrors; and a projection lens for projecting the primary light beams from the projection stopper onto the projection screen, thereby displaying each of the pixels corresponding thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
The optical projection system of claim 1, wherein the optical means comprises a total mirror capable of providing a total reflection of the white light from the source stopper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
The optical projection system of claim 1, wherein the source stopper comprises a light transmitting portion and a light stopping portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
The optical projection system of claim 1, wherein the projection stopper comprises a light transmitting portion and a light stopping portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 32 words
The optical projection system of claim 1, wherein the light transmitting portion of the source stopper is identical to the light transmitting portion of the projection stopper in shape and in size.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
The optical projection system of claim 1, wherein the source and projection stoppers are positioned at the focal point of the field lenses employed therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 627 words
An optical projection system capable of displaying an M ×N number of pixels, wherein M and N are integers, comprising: a non-point white light source for emitting a white light along a first optical path on a first optical plane, wherein the white light consists of a first, a second and a third primary light beams, each of the primary light beams being one of the primary colors; a trinity of arrays of M×N actuated mirrors, including a first, a second and a third arrays of M×N actuated mirrors, each of the actuated mirrors having an actuator and a mirror attached thereto, each of the actuated mirrors in the arrays being capable of changing the optical path of the primary light beams reflected therefrom; a source stopper, provided with a light transmitting portion having a specific configuration and a light stopping portion and being placed on the first optical path on the first optical plane, for shaping the white light from the non-point white light source into a predetermined configuration; a source lens, disposed between the source stopper and the non-point white light source, for focusing the white light emitted by the non-point white light source onto the source stopper; an optical means for reflecting the white light from the source stopper at a predetermined angle, wherein the optical means includes a polarization beam splitter(PBS) and a λ/4 plate, the polarization beam splitter being used for separating the white light into a pair of polarization beams and reflecting one of the polarization beams to the λ/4 plate, and the λ/4 plate, upon receiving the reflected polarization beam from the polarization beam splitter, for changing a phase of the reflected polarization beam; a beam splitting means including a first and a second dichroic mirrors, wherein the first dichroic mirror, disposed between the optical means and the second dichroic mirror facing the first array of M×N actuated mirrors, is used for isolating and reflecting the phase changed reflected polarization beam from the optical means to the first array of M×N actuated mirrors and for transmitting the second and the third primary light beams to the second dichroic mirror, and the second dichroic mirror, disposed between the first dichroic mirror and the third array of M×N actuated mirrors facing the second array of M×N actuated mirrors, upon receiving the second and the third primary light beams from the first dichroic mirror, for isolating and reflecting the second primary light beam to the second array of M×N actuated mirrors, and for transmitting the third light beam to the third array of M×N actuated mirrors; a trinity of field lenses including a first, a second and a third field lenses, each of the first, the second and the third lenses being located between the first dichroic mirror and the first array of M×N actuated mirrors, between the second dichroic mirror and the second array of M×N actuated mirrors, and between the second dichroic mirror and the third array of M×N actuated mirrors, respectively, wherein each of the field lenses is used for colliminating each of the primary light beams onto the corresponding array of M×N actuated mirrors and for refocusing each of the primary light beams reflected from each of the actuated mirrors in each of the arrays; a projection screen for displaying an image made of the M×N number of pixels thereon; a projection stopper, provided with a light transmitting portion and a light stopping portion, passing a predetermined amount of the reflected primary light beams from the trinity of the arrays of M×N actuated mirrors; and a projection lens for projecting the primary light beams from the projection stopper onto the primary light beams from the projection stopper onto the projection screen, thereby displaying each of the pixels corresponding thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 627 words
An optical projection system capable of displaying an M ×N number of pixels, wherein M and N are integers, comprising: a non-point white light source for emitting a white light along a first optical path on a first optical plane, wherein the white light consists of a first, a second and a third primary light beams, each of the primary light beams being one of the primary colors; a trinity of arrays of M×N actuated mirrors, including a first, a second and a third arrays of M×N actuated mirrors, each of the actuated mirrors having an actuator and a mirror attached thereto, each of the actuated mirrors in the arrays being capable of changing the optical path of the primary light beams reflected therefrom; a source stopper, provided with a light transmitting portion having a specific configuration and a light stopping portion and being placed on the first optical path on the first optical plane, for shaping the white light from the non-point white light source into a predetermined configuration; a source lens, disposed between the source stopper and the non-point white light source, for focusing the white light emitted by the non-point white light source onto the source stopper; an optical means for reflecting the white light from the source stopper at a predetermined angle, wherein the optical means includes a polarization beam splitter(PBS) and a λ/4 plate, the polarization beam splitter being used for separating the white light into a pair of polarization beams and reflecting one of the polarization beams to the λ/4 plate, and the λ/4 plate, upon receiving the reflected polarization beam from the polarization beam splitter, for changing a phase of the reflected polarization beam; a beam splitting means including a first and a second dichroic mirrors, wherein the first dichroic mirror, disposed between the optical means and the second dichroic mirror facing the first array of M×N actuated mirrors, is used for isolating and reflecting the phase changed reflected polarization beam from the optical means to the first array of M×N actuated mirrors and for transmitting the second and the third primary light beams to the second dichroic mirror, and the second dichroic mirror, disposed between the first dichroic mirror and the third array of M×N actuated mirrors facing the second array of M×N actuated mirrors, upon receiving the second and the third primary light beams from the first dichroic mirror, for isolating and reflecting the second primary light beam to the second array of M×N actuated mirrors, and for transmitting the third light beam to the third array of M×N actuated mirrors; a trinity of field lenses including a first, a second and a third field lenses, each of the first, the second and the third lenses being located between the first dichroic mirror and the first array of M×N actuated mirrors, between the second dichroic mirror and the second array of M×N actuated mirrors, and between the second dichroic mirror and the third array of M×N actuated mirrors, respectively, wherein each of the field lenses is used for colliminating each of the primary light beams onto the corresponding array of M×N actuated mirrors and for refocusing each of the primary light beams reflected from each of the actuated mirrors in each of the arrays; a projection screen for displaying an image made of the M×N number of pixels thereon; a projection stopper, provided with a light transmitting portion and a light stopping portion, passing a predetermined amount of the reflected primary light beams from the trinity of the arrays of M×N actuated mirrors; and a projection lens for projecting the primary light beams from the projection stopper onto the primary light beams from the projection stopper onto the projection screen, thereby displaying each of the pixels corresponding thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 21 words
The optical projection system of claim 7, wherein the source stopper includes a light transmitting portion and a light stopping portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
The optical projection system of claim 7, wherein the projection stopper includes a light transmitting portion and a light stopping portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 32 words
The optical projection system of claim 7, wherein the light transmitting portion of the source stopper is identical to the light transmitting portion of the projection stopper in shape and in size.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 26 words
The optical projection system of claim 7, wherein the source and the projection stoppers are positioned at the focal point of the field lenses employed therein.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-10-01 2000-04-01 2000-10-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-10-01 2004-04-01 2004-10-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-10-01 2008-04-01 2008-10-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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