Patent US6726333B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6726333B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Projection display with multiply filtered light
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 2002-01-16
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Granted: 2004-04-27
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Expires: 2022-01-16
Abstract
Abstract A projection system is disclosed that has a light source of multiple wavelengths, a spatial light modulator and projection optics for projecting an image to be viewed by a viewer or to be displayed on a target. Also provided are one or more color sequencing devices which filter the light multiple times. Whether a single or plural color sequencing elements are provided, a single light beam passes at least twice through a sequence of light filters. In one embodiment, two color wheels provide the ability to filter the light multiple times. By changing the physical position or phase of one series of filters relative to another, the brightness and color saturation of the image projected through the projection optics can be changed. The changes in brightness and color saturation can be performed manually by mechanically changing the phase (or position) of the color sequencing device(s) relative to the light beam. Such changes can be performed step-wise of gradually through a continuum of brightness vs. color saturation points.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew G. Huibers
- 👤 Peter W. Richards
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:04
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N9/00; H04N9/12; H04N9/31; H04N9/3102; H04N9/3111; H04N9/3114; G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/007; G02B26/008; G02B26/02; G02B26/023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A projection system comprising: a light source for providing a light beam; a spatial light modulator for transmitting or reflecting the light beam to a viewer or target; and two or more rotatable color filters provided within the path of the light beam so as to filter the light two or more times before reaching the spatial light modulator, the phase of the color filters being changable relative to the other or others so as to alter the brightness of the light that is incident on the spatial light modulator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A projection system comprising: a light source for providing a light beam; a spatial light modulator for transmitting or reflecting the light beam to a viewer or target; and two or more rotatable color filters provided within the path of the light beam so as to filter the light two or more times before reaching the spatial light modulator, the phase of the color filters being changable relative to the other or others so as to alter the brightness of the light that is incident on the spatial light modulator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The projection system of claim 1 , wherein the two or more color filters are two or more color wheels that are provided within the path of the light beam prior to the light beam being transmitted or reflected from the spatial light modulator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The projection system of claim 2 , wherein two or more color wheels are provided proximate to each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The projection system of claim 1 , wherein the spatial light modulator is a liquid crystal display or a micromirror array.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The projection system of claim 1 , further comprising a light pipe disposed within the path of the light beam prior to the light being transmitted or reflected by the spatial light modulator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The projection system of claim 5 , wherein the two or more color filters are provided proximate to the light pipe.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The projection system of claim 1 , wherein two color filters are provided which overlap with each other at the location of the light beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The projection system of claim 7 , wherein the color filters are color wheels having aligned axes of rotation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The projection system of claim 8 , wherein the color wheels are coaxial.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The projection system of claim 1 , wherein each color wheel is connected to a corresponding motor via a drive shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The projection system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the color filters is a color wheel having red, green and blue segments alternating with segments for changing a brightness of a color image formed by the projection system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The projection system of claim 1 , wherein the two or more color filters are provided within a single color wheel, the projection system further comprising one or more reflective elements for reflecting the light beam back through the single color wheel so that the light beam is filtered at least two times in the same color wheel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The projection system of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a source of white light selected from a UHP arc lamp, a halogen lamp, a white light laser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The projection system of claim 13 , wherein the two or more color filters are provided proximate to a converging point of light from the light source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The projection system of claim 1 , wherein the two or more color filters are two or more color wheels each connected via a drive shaft to a motor for rotating the corresponding color wheel through the light beam from the light source.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The projection system of claim 1 , further comprising projection optics for projecting the light from the spatial light modulator to a viewer or target.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The projection system of claim 16 , further comprising a target for receiving light from the projection optics.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The projection system of claim 17 , which is a front or rear projection computer monitor or television.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for changing the brightness and/or color saturation of an image from a projection system, comprising: providing a projection system having a light source, a spatial light modulator, sequentially moving light filters provided two or more times within a light beam from the light source so as to alter light due to the sequentially moving filters into a series of filtered light time segments over time for each sequence of movable light filters, and projection optics, the light source disposed for providing light incident on the spatial light modulator, and the projection optics disposed for receiving light from the spatial light modulator; directing light from the light source through the projection optics via the spatial light modulator; changing the brightness and color saturation by changing the movement of at least one sequence of moving light filters relative to at least one other sequence of moving light filters.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for changing the brightness and/or color saturation of an image from a projection system, comprising: providing a projection system having a light source, a spatial light modulator, sequentially moving light filters provided two or more times within a light beam from the light source so as to alter light due to the sequentially moving filters into a series of filtered light time segments over time for each sequence of movable light filters, and projection optics, the light source disposed for providing light incident on the spatial light modulator, and the projection optics disposed for receiving light from the spatial light modulator; directing light from the light source through the projection optics via the spatial light modulator; changing the brightness and color saturation by changing the movement of at least one sequence of moving light filters relative to at least one other sequence of moving light filters.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein each sequence of light filters is an individual color wheel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein brightness of the projected image is changed by changing the phase of one rotating color wheel relative to another.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein each color wheel comprises a plurality of color segments and one or more segments for altering brightness and color saturation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein the brightness and color saturation are changed by changing the phase of one color wheel relative to another color wheel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein the one or more segments for changing brightness and color saturation are at least three white segments.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the plurality of color segments comprise at least one each of red, green and blue.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 25 , wherein the sequence of filter segments around one wheel is the same as the sequence of another wheel.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein brightness is increased by coordinating segments for increasing brightness from each sequence of light filters to pass through the light beam at the same time.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein each sequence of light filters comprises a plurality of color filters, and wherein color saturation is increased by coordinating color filters from one series of light filters to pass through the light beam at the same time that segments for increasing brightness from another series of light filters passes through the light beam.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein each sequence of light filters comprises at least one red, green and blue filter, as well as at least three white segments.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the sequentially moving light filters provided two or more times are provided by a single rotating color wheel.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 30 , further comprising passing the light beam through the rotating color wheel and reflecting the light back through another area of the color wheel.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the brightness and color saturation are changed by changing the location where the light is first transmitted through the wheel and/or the light is reflected back through the wheel.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein a highest brightness sequence of light filters is available and a most color saturated sequence of light filters is available, and wherein a continuum of brightness vs. color saturation can be selected between the highest brightness sequence and the most color saturated sequence.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising manually selecting a brightness vs. color saturation point by changing one series of color filters passing through the light beam relative to at least one other series.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for changing the brightness and/or color saturation of a projection system, comprising: providing a projection system having a light source, a color sequencing device, a spatial light modulator, and projection optics, the light source disposed for providing white light, and the projection optics disposed for receiving light from the spatial light modulator; directing light from the light source through the projection optics via the spatial light modulator and one or more color sequencing devices; wherein the light from the light source is white light and the one or more color sequencing devices causes the white light to be divided into different colors and white light, with the different colors and white light being provided sequentially over time; mechanically altering the position or phase of the one or more color sequencing devices so as to gradually increase or decrease the amount of time during which white light is reflected or transmitted from the one or more color sequencing devices to a target.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for changing the brightness and/or color saturation of a projection system, comprising: providing a projection system having a light source, a color sequencing device, a spatial light modulator, and projection optics, the light source disposed for providing white light, and the projection optics disposed for receiving light from the spatial light modulator; directing light from the light source through the projection optics via the spatial light modulator and one or more color sequencing devices; wherein the light from the light source is white light and the one or more color sequencing devices causes the white light to be divided into different colors and white light, with the different colors and white light being provided sequentially over time; mechanically altering the position or phase of the one or more color sequencing devices so as to gradually increase or decrease the amount of time during which white light is reflected or transmitted from the one or more color sequencing devices to a target.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
125 words
A method, comprising: providing a projection system having a light source, a spatial light modulator, and projection optics, the light source disposed for providing white light or light having multiple wavelengths, and the projection optics disposed for receiving light from the spatial light modulator; directing light from the light source through the projection optics via the spatial light modulator; passing the light within the projection system through a first sequence of colors and white light and passing the sequenced light through a second sequence of colors and white light and so as to provide a) a sequence of red, green and blue, or b) a sequence of red, green and blue with white in between the red, green and blue, onto the spatial light modulator.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
125 words
A method, comprising: providing a projection system having a light source, a spatial light modulator, and projection optics, the light source disposed for providing white light or light having multiple wavelengths, and the projection optics disposed for receiving light from the spatial light modulator; directing light from the light source through the projection optics via the spatial light modulator; passing the light within the projection system through a first sequence of colors and white light and passing the sequenced light through a second sequence of colors and white light and so as to provide a) a sequence of red, green and blue, or b) a sequence of red, green and blue with white in between the red, green and blue, onto the spatial light modulator.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
117 words
A method comprising: providing a projection system having a light source, a spatial light modulator, and projection optics, the light source disposed for providing white or substantially white light, and the projection optics disposed for receiving light from the spatial light modulator; directing the white light before or after being incident on the spatial light modulator through a color sequencer to result in light of different colors and light of higher brightness sequenced over time, the light of higher brightness selected from white, yellow, orange, light red, light green and light blue; and increasing color saturation by allotting less time to the light of higher brightness and more time to one or more of said different colors.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
117 words
A method comprising: providing a projection system having a light source, a spatial light modulator, and projection optics, the light source disposed for providing white or substantially white light, and the projection optics disposed for receiving light from the spatial light modulator; directing the white light before or after being incident on the spatial light modulator through a color sequencer to result in light of different colors and light of higher brightness sequenced over time, the light of higher brightness selected from white, yellow, orange, light red, light green and light blue; and increasing color saturation by allotting less time to the light of higher brightness and more time to one or more of said different colors.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 37 , wherein the color saturation is increased via multiple steps.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 37 , wherein the color saturation is gradually increased from a minimum color saturation point to a maximum color saturation point.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 37 , wherein the color sequencer provides white, red, green and blue light.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the time allotted to white light is decreased while the time allotted to one or more of the colors is increased to provide greater color saturation.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 41 , wherein white light is provided after every color after being passed through the color sequencer.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 41 , wherein the color sequencer is multiple series of light filters, each series passing through a light beam from the light source.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
96 words
A method comprising: directing light of multiple wavelengths from a light source; dividing over time the light from the light source into time segments, the time segments including a plurality of different color segments and a plurality of brightness enhancing segments, the time segments being time sequentially projected onto a spatial light modulator; projecting an image from the spatial light modulator on a target; and changing the time allotted to the brightness enhancing time segments that are projected onto the spatial light modulator so as to increase the brightness of the image projected onto the target.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
96 words
A method comprising: directing light of multiple wavelengths from a light source; dividing over time the light from the light source into time segments, the time segments including a plurality of different color segments and a plurality of brightness enhancing segments, the time segments being time sequentially projected onto a spatial light modulator; projecting an image from the spatial light modulator on a target; and changing the time allotted to the brightness enhancing time segments that are projected onto the spatial light modulator so as to increase the brightness of the image projected onto the target.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-04-27 | 2007-10-27 | 2008-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-04-27 | 2011-10-27 | 2012-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-04-27 | 2015-10-27 | 2016-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |