Abstract: A solar concentrator assembly comprises a stepped wave-guide assembly, a reflective mirror assembly, and an optical target providing unit. The stepped wave-guide assembly includes at least one surface, comprising a set of parallel but offset adjacent surfaces, and an opposing surface. The wave-guide assembly propagates light in a total internal reflection mode between the at least one surface and the opposing surface. The wave-guide assembly also includes transition surfaces between the adjacent parallel surfaces and the transition surfaces include edges perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the wave-guide assembly. The reflective mirror assembly includes a plurality of mirrors each being aligned to reflect the light to one of the transition surfaces between two of the parallel adjacent surfaces. The optical target providing unit converts solar energy from the light propagated in the wave-guide assembly to a different form of energy.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing illumination suitable for imaging devices such as laser projection systems, wherein the illumination pattern is adjustable by modifying one or more characteristics of a controlled angle diffuser. In one embodiment, a highly collimated (e.g., laser light) beam is passed through a holographic diffuser to create a well defined cone angle for the light emanating from each point on the diffuser. This light is focused into an illumination image that is controlled by the prescription of the diffuser. In one embodiment, the diffuser can be positioned to alternately place different regions having different prescriptions in the optical path corresponding to the illumination image. In one embodiment, the diffuser can be continually moved to eliminate speckling and “worminess” in the illumination image.

Abstract: Screen apparatuses are provided which include a first lens or holographic optical element layer and a second mask layer. The first layer substantially collimates image light rays to impinge on the mask layer. The mask layer provides an array or matrix of projecting members. Each of the projecting members receives and focuses the substantially collimated light rays to corresponding focal points. The mask layer includes a mask that blocks light transmission except where openings are located. The openings allow the light focused through the focal joints to substantially pass through the mask to form an image. The screen apparatuses can be advantageously employed in display apparatuses.

Abstract: Screen apparatuses are provided which include a first lens or holographic optical element layer and a second mask layer. The first layer substantially collimates image light rays to impinge on the mask layer. The mask layer provides an array or matrix of projecting members. Each of the projecting members receives and focuses the substantially collimated light rays to corresponding focal points. The mask layer includes a mask that blocks light transmission except where openings are located. The openings allow the light focused through the focal joints to substantially pass through the mask to form an image. The screen apparatuses can be advantageously employed in display apparatuses.

Abstract: In a reflective mode FLC application, a ¼-wave plate compensating FLC is used in series with a ¼-wave imaging FLC to compensate for the effects of DC balancing. Alternatively, the compensating wave plate could be any odd ¼-wave multiple, such as 3&lgr;/4, 5&lgr;/4, etc. The FLCs are driven in synchronization between on and off states with the total effective retardation for each FLC being either none or one-half wavelength in a double pass.

Abstract: A light projection engine uses a wide angle reflecting polarizer material (preferably 3M DBEF brand double brightness enhancement filter) as a polarizing beamsplitter to direct polarized light to beam splitter/combiner (such as an X-cube dichroic reflector). The beam splitter/combiner then splits the directed polarized light into separate reflective LCD panels acting as light valves. The LCD panels alter the polarity of the incident light from 0 degrees up to 90 degrees to control which light is passes from the wide angle reflecting polarizer back towards the light source and which light has the necessary polarization change to allow it to pass from the wide angle reflecting polarizer to the lens system. After reflecting off of the LCD panels, the light goes back through the X-cube dichroic reflector, where it is recombined.

Abstract: An “extra-folded” projection display system includes a selectively reflective material (e.g., a linear reflecting polarizer) placed immediately behind the system's imaging screen. The display system includes an image projector that projects an image beam containing light of a predetermined linear polarization toward the imaging screen. The linear reflecting polarizer reflects the light in the image beam away from the screen. The reflected image beam then encounters a ¼-wavelength achromatic retarder which converts the linear polarization to circular polarization. The image beam next hits a mirror that reflects the light back through the ¼-wavelength achromatic retarder, which converts the circular polarization back to linear polarization, with the polarization director rotated 90° from the original polarization director. The linear reflecting polarizer then allows the light to pass through to the image screen.

Abstract: A full color image projection system is provided using two non-color-specific image sources and color-specific filters. The system is capable of projecting an image using one primary color from one image source and the other two primary colors from another image source. The system uses slower speed image sources than would be required with one source alternating between three colors, and exhibits higher resolution than would be obtained from a color-specific image source.

Abstract: In a color sequential system using LCDs, the LCD must operate faster than the frame rate because red, green, and blue are done sequentially. Ferroelectric LCDs can do this, but they are not analog devices and so cannot provide analog display levels. Instead, a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique is used. In the system of the present invention, each pixel has three storage devices to hold RGB analog levels. A latch is used to load these values in parallel. Then an analog 3:1 multiplexer is used to select the proper storage device for the current sequential color. The multiplexer output goes to a comparator, which has a sawtooth waveform input at much faster than the frame rate. The comparator output changes with the sawtooth level, so that PWM control is provided for each pixel. As an alternative, standard analog LCD pixels can be sequentially switched between three color input storage devices.

Abstract: Screen apparatuses are provided which include a first lens or holographic optical element layer and a second mask layer. The first layer substantially collimates image light rays to impinge on the mask layer. The mask layer provides an array or matrix of projecting members. Each of the projecting members receives and focuses the substantially collimated light rays to corresponding focal points. The mask layer includes a mask that blocks light transmission except where openings are located. The openings allow the light focused through the focal joints to substantially pass through the mask to form an image. The screen apparatuses can be advantageously employed in display apparatuses.

Abstract: A display system for a computer includes an image projector located in the computer and oriented to project a computer-generated image from the computer. Alternatively, the display system includes a screen and an image projector attached to the screen, where the screen is capable of receiving a computer-generated image projected by the image projector. Alternatively, the display system includes an image projector and a screen that is attached to the computer and that is capable of displaying an image projected by the image projector.

Abstract: An electro-optic shutter is provided that includes first and second liquid crystal devices located along an optical path and first and second color-selective layers located between the first and second liquid crystal devices. Each liquid crystal device is adapted to rotate the polarization of incident light to a substantially orthogonal polarization in response to being in a first state, and to not substantially change the polarization of incident light in response to being in a second state. The first color-selective layer is adapted to transmit first and second colors and a first polarization of a third color. The second color-selective layer is adapted to transmit the first and the third colors and a second polarization of the second color that is substantially orthogonal to the first polarization.

Abstract: A light projection engine uses a wide angle reflecting polarizer material (preferably 3M DBEF brand double brightness enhancement filter) as a polarizing beamsplitter to direct polarized light to beam splitter/combiner (such as an X-cube dichroic reflector). The beam splitter/combiner then splits the directed polarized light into separate reflective LCD panels acting as light valves. The LCD panels alter the polarity of the incident light from 0 degrees up to 90 degrees to control which light is passes from the wide angle reflecting polarizer back towards the light source and which light has the necessary polarization change to allow it to pass from the wide angle reflecting polarizer to the lens system. After reflecting off of the LCD panels, the light goes back through the X-cube dichroic reflector, where it is recombined.

Abstract: A full color image projection system is provided using two non-color-specific image sources and color-specific filters. The system is capable of projecting an image using one primary color from one image source and the other two primary colors from another image source. The system uses slower speed image sources than would be required with one source alternating between three colors, and exhibits higher resolution than would be obtained from a color-specific image source.

Abstract: A light projection engine uses a wide angle reflecting polarizer material (preferably 3M DBEF brand double brightness enhancement filter) as a polarizing beamsplitter to direct polarized light to beam splitter/combiner (such as an X-cube dichroic reflector). The beam splitter/combiner then splits the directed polarized light into separate reflective LCD panels acting as light valves. The LCD panels alter the polarity of the incident light from 0 degrees up to 90 degrees to control which light is passes from the wide angle reflecting polarizer back towards the light source and which light has the necessary polarization change to allow it to pass from the wide angle reflecting polarizer to the lens system. After reflecting off of the LCD panels, the light goes back through the X-cube dichroic reflector, where it is recombined.

Abstract: An “extra-folded” projection display system includes a selectively reflective material (e.g., a linear reflecting polarizer) placed immediately behind the system's imaging screen. The display system includes an image projector that projects an image beam containing light of a predetermined linear polarization toward the imaging screen. The linear reflecting polarizer reflects the light in the image beam away from the screen. The reflected image beam then encounters a ¼-wavelength achromatic retarder which converts the linear polarization to circular polarization. The image beam next hits a mirror that reflects the light back through the ¼-wavelength achromatic retarder, which converts the circular polarization back to linear polarization, with the polarization director rotated 90° from the original polarization director. The linear reflecting polarizer then allows the light to pass through to the image screen.

Abstract: A full color image projection system is provided using two non-color-specific image sources and color-specific filters. The system is capable of projecting an image using one primary color from one image source and the other two primary colors from another image source. The system uses slower speed image sources than would be required with one source alternating between three colors, and exhibits higher resolution than would be obtained from a color-specific image source.

Abstract: In a reflective mode FLC application, a ¼-wave plate compensating FLC is used in series with a ¼-wave imaging FLC to compensate for the effects of DC balancing. Alternatively, the compensating wave plate could be any odd ¼-wave multiple, such as 3&lgr;/4, 5&lgr;/4, etc. The FLCs are driven in synchronization between on and off states with the total effective retardation for each FLC being either none or one-half wavelength in a double pass.

Abstract: A full color image projection system is provided using two non-color-specific image sources and color-specific filters. The system is capable of projecting an image using one primary color from one image source and the other two primary colors from another image source. The system uses slower speed image sources than would be required with one source alternating between three colors, and exhibits higher resolution than would be obtained from a color-specific image source.

Abstract: An “extra-folded” projection display system includes a selectively reflective material (e.g., a linear reflecting polarizer) placed immediately behind the system's imaging screen. The display system includes an image projector that projects an image beam containing light of a predetermined linear polarization toward the imaging screen. The linear reflecting polarizer reflects the light in the image beam away from the screen. The reflected image beam then encounters a ¼-wavelength achromatic retarder which converts the linear polarization to circular polarization. The image beam next hits a mirror that reflects the light back through the ¼-wavelength achromatic retarder, which converts the circular polarization back to linear polarization, with the polarization director rotated 90° from the original polarization director. The linear reflecting polarizer then allows the light to pass through to the image screen.