Projection apparatus using spatial light modulator with relay lens and dichroic combiner

Claim 1

A projection apparatus for projecting a multicolor image, the apparatus comprising: (a) a first light modulation assembly for forming a magnified real image having a first wavelength, a second light modulation assembly for forming a magnified real image having a second wavelength, and a third light modulation assembly for forming a magnified real image having a third wavelength, wherein each modulation assembly is similarly constructed and comprises: (i) a spatial light modulator for modulating incident light from a light source to form a first image; and, (ii) a magnifying relay lens having a relay lens optical axis, said magnifying relay lens focusing said first image towards a dichroic combiner in order to form said magnified real image of said first image along said relay lens optical axis; (b) said dichroic combiner combining each of said relay lens optical axes onto a common projection axis, in order to form said multicolor image from said magnified real image having said first wavelength, said magnified real image having said second wavelength, and said magnified real image having said third wavelength, said dichroic combiner comprising a first dichroic surface disposed along said common projection axis at a first oblique angle and, adjacently, a second dichroic surface disposed along said common projection axis at a perpendicular to said first oblique angle, wherein said first and said second dichroic surfaces are not crossed; and (c) a projection lens for projecting said multicolor image.

Claim 66

A method for projecting a multicolor image toward a display surface comprising: (a) forming a first magnified real image from a first incident light having a first wavelength comprising the steps of: (a1) modulating said first incident light of said first wavelength at a first spatial light modulator to form a first image; (a2) magnifying and relaying said first image along a first optical axis and toward a first dichroic surface to form said magnified real image having said first wavelength; (b) forming a second magnified real image from a second incident light of a second wavelength comprising the steps of: (b1) modulating said second incident light of said second wavelength at a second spatial light modulator to form a second image; (b2) magnifying and relaying said second image along a second optical axis and toward said first dichroic surface to form said second magnified real image; (c) forming a third magnified real image from a third incident light of a third wavelength comprising the steps of: (c1) modulating said third incident light of said third wavelength at a third spatial light modulator to form a third image; (c2) magnifying and relaying said third image along a third optical axis and toward a second dichroic surface to form said third magnified real image, said second dichroic surface perpendicular to but not crossing said first dichroic surface; (d) combining, at said first dichroic surface, said first optical axis and said second optical axis onto a common optical axis, and combining, at said second dichroic surface, said third optical axis onto said common optical axis, in order to combine said magnified real image having said first wavelength, said magnified real image having said second wavelength, and said magnified real image having said third wavelength, thereby forming a multicolor image for projection; and (e) projecting said multicolor image toward said display surface.

Claim 67

A method for projecting a multicolor image toward a display surface comprising: (a) forming a first magnified real image from a first incident light having a first wavelength comprising the steps of: (a1) modulating said first incident light of said first wavelength at a first spatial light modulator to form a first image; (a2) magnifying and relaying said first image along a first optical axis and toward a first dichroic surface to form said magnified real image having said first wavelength; (b) forming a second magnified real image from a second incident light of a second wavelength comprising the steps of: (b1) modulating said second incident light of said second wavelength at a second spatial light modulator to form a second image; (b2) magnifying and relaying said second image along a second optical axis and toward said first dichroic surface to form said second magnified real image; (c) forming a third magnified real image from a third incident light of a third wavelength comprising the steps of: (c1) modulating said third incident light of said third wavelength at a third spatial light modulator to form a third image; (c2) magnifying and relaying said third image along a third optical axis and toward a second dichroic surface to form said third magnified real image, said second dichroic surface perpendicular to but not crossing said first dichroic surface; (d) combining, at said first dichroic surface, said first optical axis and said second optical axis onto a common optical axis, and combining, at said second dichroic surface, said third optical axis onto said common optical axis, in order to combine said magnified real image having said first wavelength, said magnified real image having said second wavelength, and said magnified real image having said third wavelength, thereby forming a multicolor image for projection; and (e) projecting said multicolor image toward said display surface.