Projected image blending for multiple images

Claim 2

In a projection system including first and second light valve projectors which project a composite image onto a screen by overlapping first and second images in an overlap region, each projector including a light source, a light valve for reflecting or transmitting image light, a condensing lens for directing light from said light source to said light valve, and a projection lens, an improved fight valve projector comprising: blending means, associated with said first and second light valve projectors and being located in the path of said light between one of said light valve and said projection lens, said light source and said condensing lens, and said projection lens and said screen, said blending means for smoothing off-state and on-state illumination levels in said overlap region without reducing the contrast ratio of said light valve projector, said blending means comprising a mask having a tapered edge, said mask being located in the path of said light.

Claim 3

The improved light valve projector of claim 1 wherein said light valve is a reflective light valve and said projection system further includes a polarization beam splitter.

Claim 4

The improved light valve projector of claim 1 wherein said blending means is located in a focus position at or adjacent an image plane which said condensing lens focuses onto said light valve.

Claim 5

The improved light valve projector of claim 3 wherein said blending means comprises: a clear substrate; and a coating formed thereon.

Claim 6

The improved light valve projector of claim 4 wherein said coating is a neutral density coating.

Claim 7

The improved light valve projector of claim 5 wherein the thickness of said neutral density coating increases from a point between opposing edges to at least one of the said opposing edges.

Claim 8

The improved light valve projector of claim 6 wherein the thickness of said neutral density coating increases continuously.

Claim 9

The improved light valve projector of claim 6 wherein the thickness of said neutral density coating increases in steps.

Claim 10

The improved light valve projector of claim 1 wherein said light valve is a reflective liquid crystal light valve.

Claim 11

The improved light valve projector of claim 1 wherein said blending means is located in a position at or adjacent an image plane which said projection lens focuses onto said screen.

Claim 12

The improved light valve projector of claim 10 wherein said blending means comprises: a clear substrate; and a coating formed thereon.

Claim 13

The improved light valve projector of claim 11 wherein said coating is a neutral density coating.

Claim 14

The improved light valve projector of claim 10 wherein said blending means is located adjacent said light valve.

Claim 15

The improved light valve projector of claim 1 wherein said blending means is located in a non-focus position between said light valve and said projection lens.

Claim 16

The improved light valve projector of claim 1 wherein said blending means comprises a mask located in a non-focus position between said condensing lens and an image plane which said condensing lens focuses onto said light valve.

Claim 17

The improved light valve projector of claim 15 wherein said mask has a tapered edge located in the path of said light.

Claim 18

The improved light valve projector of claim 14 wherein said mask comprises a glass substrate having a thin film coating formed on a surface thereof.

Claim 19

The improved light valve projector of claim 1 wherein said blending means is located in a non-focus position between said projection lens and said screen.

Claim 20

The improved light valve projector of claim 18 wherein said blending means comprises: a first neutral density filter; and a second neutral density filter located adjacent said first neutral density filter.

Claim 21

The improved light valve projector of claim 19 wherein said blending means further comprises a mask located adjacent said second neutral density filter and having a tapered edge located in the path of said light.

Claim 22

The improved light valve projector of claim 20 wherein said mask includes a tapered edge.

Claim 23

The improved light valve projector of claim 20 wherein said first and second neutral density filters and said mask are situated adjacent to each other.

Claim 24

The improved light valve projector of claim 20 wherein inner edges of said first and second neutral density filters and said mask are positioned in the path of said light.

Claim 25

The improved light valve projector of claim 23 wherein said blending means further comprises a second mask located in a non-focus position between said condensing lens and an image plane which said condensing lens focuses onto said light valve.

Claim 26

The improved light valve projector of claim 24 wherein said second mask has a taped edge located in the path of said light.

Claim 27

A projection system, comprising: an image projector that projects a composite image formed from a plurality of overlapping images; a projection screen positioned in an image plane that displays the projected composite image; a plurality of light blending devices each positioned between the image projector and the screen such that one image of the plurality of projected images is incident thereon, and each having a body with a substantially continuous outer periphery, an input surface that receives the image, and an exit surface that passes the image, the body having at least a portion thereof that varies in thickness between the input and exit surfaces to adjust an illumination level in a region of the image that overlaps with a region of one or more images in the plurality of images such that the composite image displayed on the projection screen is seamless; a first filter including a body with input and exit surfaces, and first and second opposing edges, the exit surface of the filter being positioned adjacent the input surface of one of the light blending devices such that the first edge is offset from the periphery of the light blending device to attenuate light passing therethrough; and a second filter including a body with input and exit surfaces, and first and second opposing edges, the exit surface of the filter being positioned adjacent the input surface of the first filter such that the first opposing edge of the second filter is offset from the first opposing edge of the first filter to attenuate light passing therethrough.

Claim 28

A projection system, comprising: an image projector that projects a composite image formed from a plurality of overlapping images; a projection screen positioned in an image plane that displays the projected composite image; a plurality of light blending devices each positioned between the image projector and the screen such that one image of the plurality of projected images is incident thereon, and each having a body with a substantially continuous outer periphery, an input surface that receives the image, and an exit surface that passes the image, the body having at least a portion thereof that varies in thickness between the input and exit surfaces to adjust an illumination level in a region of the image that overlaps with a region of one or more images in the plurality of images such that the composite image displayed on the projection screen is seamless; a first filter including a body with input and exit surfaces, and first and second opposing edges, the exit surface of the filter being positioned adjacent the input surface of one of the light blending devices such that the first edge is offset from the periphery of the light blending device to attenuate light passing therethrough; and a second filter including a body with input and exit surfaces, and first and second opposing edges, the exit surface of the filter being positioned adjacent the input surface of the first filter such that the first opposing edge of the second filter is offset from the first opposing edge of the first filter to attenuate light passing therethrough.

Claim 29

The projection system according to claim 26 wherein the first and second filters are neutral density filters.

Claim 30

The projection system according to claim 26 wherein the light blending devices are graded density filters, each comprising a transparent substrate and a color-neutral density coating of varying thickness disposed thereon.

Claim 31

The projection system according to claim 26 wherein the light blending devices are solid metal masks.

Claim 32

The projection system according to claim 26 wherein at least one of the light blending devices is formed of a first and a second filter, each including a body, input and exit surfaces, and first and second opposing edges, with the second filter exit surface being positioned adjacent the input surface of the first filter such that the first opposing edge of the second filter is offset from the first opposing edge of the first filter to attenuate light passing therethrough.

Claim 33

The projection system according to claim 30 wherein the first and second filters are neutral density filters.

Claim 34

The projection system according to claim 26, wherein the portion of the body that varies in thickness in each of the plurality of light blending devices smooths off-state and on-state illumination levels in a region of the image that overlaps with one or more of the other images.

Claim 35

The projection system according to claim 26, wherein each of the plurality of light blending devices is tillable relative to the image plane to minimize reflection from the device transmitted to the projection screen.

Claim 36

The projection system according to claim 26, wherein the image projector comprises a plurality of light valve projectors, each of the plurality of light valve projectors comprising: a light source that generates source light; a lens that focuses the source light; a light valve that modulates the source light focused by the lens with image data supplied to the image projector; and a projection lens that projects the source light modulated by the light valve onto the projection screen.

Claim 37

The projection system according to claim 34 wherein each of the light blending devices is positionable in a focus position between the light source and the lens.

Claim 38

The projection system according to claim 34 wherein each of the light blending devices is positionable in a non-focus position between the light source and the lens.

Claim 39

The projection system according to claim 34 wherein each of the light blending devices is positionable in a focus position between the light valve and the projection lens.

Claim 40

The projection system according to claim 34 wherein each of the light blending devices is positionable in a non-focus position between the light valve and the projection lens.

Claim 41

The projection system according to claim 34 wherein each of the light blending devices is positionable in a non-focus position between the projection lens and the projection screen.

Claim 42

The projection system according to claim 26 wherein each of the light blending devices increases in thickness from a central portion of the body to the outer periphery.

Claim 43

The projection system according to claim 26 wherein each of the light blending devices decreases in thickness from a central portion of the body to the outer periphery.

Claim 44

A blending device for a projector in a composite image projection system, comprising: a body including a substantially continuous periphery; an input surface defined on the body that receives light generated by the projection system; an exit surface defined on the body opposite the input surface; the body including at least a portion thereof that varies in thickness between the input and exit surfaces to attenuate the light generated by the projection system such that when the light is combined with light from other system projectors, a seamless composite image is formed; a first filter having a body, input and exit surfaces, and first and second opposing edges, with the first filter exit surface being positioned adjacent the input surface such that the first edge is offset from the substantially continuous periphery to attenuate light passing therethrough; and a second filter having a body, input and exit surfaces, and first and second opposing edges, with the second filter exit surface being positioned adjacent the input surface of the first filter such that the first opposing edge of the second filter is offset from the first opposing edge of the first filter to attenuate light passing therethrough.

Claim 45

A blending device for a projector in a composite image projection system, comprising: a body including a substantially continuous periphery; an input surface defined on the body that receives light generated by the projection system; an exit surface defined on the body opposite the input surface; the body including at least a portion thereof that varies in thickness between the input and exit surfaces to attenuate the light generated by the projection system such that when the light is combined with light from other system projectors, a seamless composite image is formed; a first filter having a body, input and exit surfaces, and first and second opposing edges, with the first filter exit surface being positioned adjacent the input surface such that the first edge is offset from the substantially continuous periphery to attenuate light passing therethrough; and a second filter having a body, input and exit surfaces, and first and second opposing edges, with the second filter exit surface being positioned adjacent the input surface of the first filter such that the first opposing edge of the second filter is offset from the first opposing edge of the first filter to attenuate light passing therethrough.

Claim 46

The blending device according to claim 42, wherein the blending device is a clear substrate with a color-neutral, variable-thickness density coating.

Claim 47

The blending device according to claim 42, wherein the blending device is a solid metal mask.

Claim 48

The blending device according to claim 42, wherein the first and second filters are neutral density filters.

Claim 49

The blending device according to claim 42, wherein the blending device is formed of a first and second filter, each having a body, input and exit surfaces, and first and second opposing edges, with the second filter exit surface being positioned adjacent the input surface of the first filter such that the first opposing edge of the second filter is offset from the first opposing edge of the first filter to attenuate light passing therethrough.

Claim 50

The blending device according to claim 46, wherein the first and second filters are neutral density filters.

Claim 51

The blending device according to claim 42, wherein the thickness between the input and exit surfaces increases from a central portion of the body to the periphery of the blending device.

Claim 52

The blending device according to claim 42 wherein the thickness between the input and exit surfaces decreases from a central portion of the body to the periphery of the blending device.