Abstract: A new projector design combines one spatial light modulator that affects only the phase of the illumination, and one spatial light modulator that only affects its amplitude (intensity). The phase-only modulator curves the wavefront of light and acts as a pre-modulator for a conventional amplitude modulator. This approach works with both white light and laser illumination, generating a coarse image representation efficiently, thus enabling, within a single image frame, significantly elevated highlights as well as darker black levels while reducing the overall light source power requirements.

Abstract: Projection displays include a highlight projector and a main projector. Highlights projected by the highlight projector boost luminance in highlight areas of a base image projected by the main projector. Various highlight projectors including steerable beams, holographic projectors and spatial light modulators are described.

Abstract: A hybrid projector architecture combines steered light with unsteered light. In some embodiments the steered light is narrowband light and the unsteered light is broadband light. Splitting between the steered and unsteered light may be determined based on luminance level. For example, the unsteered light may contribute a large proportion of the light for luminance levels up to a threshold. The steered light may contribute an increasing proportion of the light as luminance values rise above the threshold.

Abstract: Image display apparatus and methods may use a single imaging element such as a digital mirror device (DMD) to spatially modulate plural color channels. A color channel may include a light steering element such as a phase modulator. Steered light from a light steering element may be combined with or replaced by additional light to better display bright images. These technologies may be provided together or applied individually.

Abstract: A new projector design combines one spatial light modulator that affects only the phase of the illumination, and one spatial light modulator that only affects its amplitude (intensity). The phase-only modulator curves the wavefront of light and acts as a pre-modulator for a conventional amplitude modulator. This approach works with both white light and laser illumination, generating a coarse image representation efficiently, thus enabling, within a single image frame, significantly elevated highlights as well as darker black levels while reducing the overall light source power requirements.

Abstract: Projection displays include a highlight projector and a main projector. Highlights projected by the highlight projector boost luminance in highlight areas of a base image projected by the main projector. Various highlight projectors are based on steerable beams, holographic projectors, and spatial light modulators. A Fourier transform component and a mask positioned on the Fourier plane thereof are used to attenuate or eliminate selected spatial frequencies, e.g., to increase peak luminance without raising the black level of the projected image.

Abstract: A hybrid projector architecture combines steered light with unsteered light. In some embodiments the steered light is narrowband light and the unsteered light is broadband light. Splitting between the steered and unsteered light may be determined based on luminance level. For example, the unsteered light may contribute a large proportion of the light for luminance levels up to a threshold. The steered light may contribute an increasing proportion of the light as luminance values rise above the threshold.

Abstract: Light projection systems and methods may comprise combining light from two or more projectors. Each projector may be controlled so that the combined light output of the projectors matches a target for the projected light. In some embodiments optimization is performed to generate image data and control signals for each of the projectors. Embodiments may be applied in image projecting applications, lighting applications, and 3D stereoscopic imaging.

Abstract: Image display apparatus and methods may use a single imaging element such as a digital mirror device (DMD) to spatially modulate plural color channels. A color channel may include a light steering element such as a phase modulator. Steered light from a light steering element may be combined with or replaced by additional light to better display bright images. These technologies may be provided together or applied individually.

Abstract: A new projector design combines one spatial light modulator that affects only the phase of the illumination, and one spatial light modulator that only affects its amplitude (intensity). The phase-only modulator curves the wavefront of light and acts as a pre-modulator for a conventional amplitude modulator. This approach works with both white light and laser illumination, generating a coarse image representation efficiently, thus enabling, within a single image frame, significantly elevated highlights as well as darker black levels while reducing the overall light source power requirements.

Abstract: A method for driving a projection system and a projection system including a phase modulator and at least one amplitude modulator. The phase modulator is configured to generate a highlight image incident on the amplitude modulator, the projector system further includes at least one image sensor configured to receive at least a portion of an illumination pattern substantially equivalent to the illumination pattern incident on the amplitude modulator, and the image sensor is being used to provide feedback to the controller of the projection system to improve the highlights projected by the projection system.

Abstract: Light projection systems and methods may comprise combining light from two or more projectors, Each projector may be controlled so that the combined light output of the projectors matches a target for the projected light. In some embodiments optimization is performed to generate image data and control signals for each of the projectors. Embodiments may be applied in image projecting applications, lighting applications, and 3D stereoscopic imaging.

Abstract: A method for driving a projection system and a projection system including a phase modulator and at least one amplitude modulator. The phase modulator is configured to generate a highlight image incident on the amplitude modulator, the projector system further includes at least one image sensor configured to receive at least a portion of an illumination pattern substantially equivalent to the illumination pattern incident on the amplitude modulator, and the image sensor is being used to provide feedback to the controller of the projection system to improve the highlights projected by the projection system.

Abstract: A light source includes a plurality of laser diodes or other light emitters. Beams of light from the light emitters are steered to provide n array of parallel beams that illuminate a target area with an array of patches of light. In some embodiments the parallel beams are de-magnified to form the array of patches of light. Such a light source has application in illuminating dynamically-addressable focusing elements such as phase modulators, deformable mirrors and dynamically addressable lenses. Light projectors for a wide variety of applications may combine a light source as described herein with a dynamically-addressable focusing element to project defined patterns of light.

Abstract: Image display apparatus and methods may use a single imaging element such as a digital mirror device (DMD) to spatially modulate plural color channels. A color channel may include a light steering element such as a phase modulator. Steered light from a light steering element may be combined with or replaced by additional light to better display bright images. These technologies may be provided together or applied individually.

Abstract: Image display apparatus and methods may use a single imaging element such as a digital mirror device (DMD) to spatially modulate plural color channels. A color channel may include a light steering element such as a phase modulator. Steered light from a light steering element may be combined with or replaced by additional light to better display bright images. These technologies may be provided together or applied individually.

Abstract: Image display apparatus and methods may use a single imaging element such as a digital mirror device (DMD) to spatially modulate plural color channels. A color channel may include a light steering element such as a phase modulator. Steered light from a light steering element may be combined with or replaced by additional light to better display bright images. These technologies may be provided together or applied individually.

Abstract: A new projector design combines one spatial light modulator that affects only the phase of the illumination, and one spatial light modulator that only affects its amplitude (intensity). The phase-only modulator curves the wavefront of light and acts as a pre-modulator for a conventional amplitude modulator. This approach works with both white light and laser illumination, generating a coarse image representation efficiently, thus enabling, within a single image frame, significantly elevated highlights as well as darker black levels while reducing the overall light source power requirements.

Abstract: A free-form lens (for example a phase modulator, lens or deformable mirror) may be made to reproduce a light pattern specified by image data. Source regions on the free-form lens are mapped to target regions areas on an image. Areas of the source regions are adjusted to vary the amount of light delivered to each of the target regions. Adjustment of the source areas may be achieved using a L-BFGS optimization which preferably incorporates smoothness and curl regularizers. Embodiments apply parallel processing to obtain control values for a free form lens in real time or near real time. Apparatus may process image data and display an image by controlling a dynamically variable free form lens using the processed image data.

Abstract: A new projector design combines one spatial light modulator that affects only the phase of the illumination, and one spatial light modulator that only affects its amplitude (intensity). The phase-only modulator curves the wavefront of light and acts as a pre-modulator for a conventional amplitude modulator. This approach works with both white light and laser illumination, generating a coarse image representation efficiently, thus enabling, within a single image frame, significantly elevated highlights as well as darker black levels while reducing the overall light source power requirements.