Abstract: In a coherent light projection system including an image forming system, a relay system, a speckle reduction element, and a projection subsystem, the relay system can have a first f-number, and the projection subsystem can have a second f-number less than the first f-number. The relay system can have a first working distance, and the projection subsystem can have a second working distance less than the first working distance. The image forming system can project an initial image having a first size, and an intermediate image can have a second size greater than or equal to the first size. The speckle reduction element can have a curved surface through which the intermediate image is transferred. The speckle reduction element can include a lenslet arrangement formed on a surface thereof. The speckle reduction element can be moved in a direction parallel to an optical axis of the speckle reduction element.

Abstract: In a coherent light projection system including an image forming system, a relay system, a speckle reduction element, and a projection subsystem, the relay system can have a first f-number, and the projection subsystem can have a second f-number less than the first f-number. The relay system can have a first working distance, and the projection subsystem can have a second working distance less than the first working distance. The image forming system can project an initial image having a first size, and an intermediate image can have a second size greater than or equal to the first size. The speckle reduction element can have a curved surface through which the intermediate image is transferred. The speckle reduction element can include a lenslet arrangement formed on a surface thereof. The speckle reduction element can be moved in a direction parallel to an optical axis of the speckle reduction element.

Abstract: An optical integrating bar is square or rectangular in cross-section having first and second axes each perpendicular to opposite sides of the cross-section. Source light beams are transmitted to the optical integrating bar in a direction perpendicular to the cross-section. The source light beams exhibit first, second, or first and second polarization states that are orthogonal to each other. The first, second, or first and second polarization states are aligned or substantially aligned with the first, second, or first and second axes of the optical integrating bar, respectively, when the source light beams are transmitted to the optical integrating bar. In this manner, combined light exiting the optical integrating bar maintains or substantially maintains the polarization of each of the source light beams.

Abstract: Etendue maintaining polarization switching occurs, according to various embodiments, with a mirror that quickly transitions between two positions. Light having uniform polarization is transmitted to the mirror. Light reflected off of the mirror in one of the two positions has its polarization changed, whereas light reflected off of the mirror in the other of the two positions has its polarization maintained. Thereafter, the polarization-changed light and the polarization-maintained light easily may be recombined in an entendue-maintaining manner. Because the recombined light includes two different polarization states, stereoscopic images may be generated.

Abstract: A digital image projector includes a light assembly configured to project light along a light path from at least one laser array light source, the projected light having an overlapping far field illumination in a far field illumination portion of the light path; a temporally varying optical phase shifting device configured to be in the light path; an optical integrator configured to be in the light path; a spatial light modulator located downstream of the temporally varying optical phase shifting device and the optical integrator in the light path, the spatial light modulator configured to be located in the far field illumination portion of the light path; and projection optics located downstream of the spatial light modulator in the light path, the projection optics configured to direct substantially speckle free light from the spatial light modulator toward a display surface.

Abstract: A backlight apparatus comprises (a) a light source; (b) a light guiding plate; and (c) a light redirecting article for redirecting light toward various angles, the light redirecting article comprising a plurality of prismatic structures with a selected apex angle, a selected first base angle, a selected second base angle and comprising a material having a selected refractive index value, the selections being sufficient to provide improved luminance at a 60° polar angle wherein the prismatic structures are essentially parallel to the length direction of the light guiding plate.

Abstract: A display apparatus (10) including a light source (15) for forming a beam of light (130). A pre-polarizer (45) polarizes the beam of light (130) to provide a polarized beam of light. A wire grid polarization beamsplitter (50) receives the polarized beam of light and transmits the polarized beam of light which has a first polarization, and reflects the polarized beam of light which has a second polarization. A reflective spatial light modulator (55) selectively modulates the polarized beam of light that has a first polarization to encode image data thereon in order to form a modulated beam (360) and reflects the modulated beam back to the wire grid polarization beamsplitter (50). A compensator (260) is located between the wire grid polarization beamsplitter (50) and the reflective spatial light modulator (55) for conditioning oblique and skew rays of the modulated beam (360).

Abstract: A display apparatus (10) including a light source (15) for forming a beam of light (130). A pre-polarizer (45) polarizes the beam of light (130) to provide a polarized beam of light. A wire grid polarization beamsplitter (50) receives the polarized beam of light and transmits the polarized beam of light which has a first polarization, and reflects the polarized beam of light which has a second polarization. A reflective spatial light modulator (55) selectively modulates the polarized beam of light that has a first polarization to encode image data thereon in order to form a modulated beam (360) and reflects the modulated beam back to the wire grid polarization beamsplitter (50). A compensator (260) is located between the wire grid polarization beamsplitter (50) and the reflective spatial light modulator (55) for conditioning oblique and skew rays of the modulated beam (360).