Abstract: A compound polarization beam splitter (33) for use with a reflective, polarization-modulating, imaging device (10), e.g., a LCoS device, is provided. The compound PBS has: (a) an input prism (20); (b) an output prism (30), and (c) a polarizer (13), which is located between the two prisms (20,30) and which may be a wire grid polarizer (13a) or a multi-layer reflective polarizer (13b). Polarized illumination light (11) enters the input prism (20) through a first surface (21) and undergoes total internal reflection at a second surface (22) before being reflected from the polarizer (13) and polarization-modulated at the imaging device (10). The polarizer's tilt angle (?) is less than 45°, which reduces astigmatism and the required back working distance of the system's projection lens (74).

Abstract: In one embodiment, a projection screen includes a diffuse reflecting polarizer that diffusively reflects light polarized in a first direction and transmits light polarized in a second direction. The projection screen may also include a second polarizer adjacent a back side of the diffuse reflecting polarizer, wherein the second polarizer is oriented to transmit light polarized in the second direction. The projection screen may appear substantially diffuse when viewed from a front side and substantially transparent when viewed from a back side.

Abstract: A light managing screen may provide a rear projection screen, front projection screen or component thereof. The screen may comprise a polymeric composition including a first polymeric material, and a second polymeric material disposed as a plurality of elongated structures within the first polymeric material. Each elongated structure has a major axis and the major axes are substantially aligned. The first polymeric material has an index of refraction that differs by at least 0.01 from an index of refraction of the second polymeric material. In some instances, a pressure sensitive adhesive material is selected as the first polymeric material. The orientation of the elongated structures and the difference in indices of refraction results in the polymeric composition scattering light asymmetrically.

Abstract: A polarizing beam splitter (PBS) includes a multilayer reflective polarizing film, a pressure sensitive adhesive is disposed on the multilayer reflective polarizing film, a first rigid cover is disposed on the pressure sensitive adhesive. The PBS can be used in a variety of applications.

Abstract: A compound polarization beam splitter (33) for use with a reflective, polarization-modulating, imaging device (10), e.g., a LCoS device, is provided. The compound PBS has: (a) an input prism (20); (b) an output prism (30), and (c) a polarizer (13), which is located between the two prisms (20,30) and which may be a wire grid polarizer (13a) or a multi-layer reflective polarizer (13b). Polarized illumination light (11) enters the input prism (20) through a first surface (21) and undergoes total internal reflection at a second surface (22) before being reflected from the polarizer (13) and polarization-modulated at the imaging device (10). The polarizer's tilt angle (?) is less than 45°, which reduces astigmatism and the required back working distance of the system's projection lens (74).

Abstract: A light managing screen may provide a rear projection screen, front projection screen or component thereof. The screen may comprise a polymeric composition including a first polymeric material, and a second polymeric material disposed as a plurality of elongated structures within the first polymeric material. Each elongated structure has a major axis and the major axes are substantially aligned. The first polymeric material has an index of refraction that differs by at least 0.01 from an index of refraction of the second polymeric material. In some instances, a pressure sensitive adhesive material is selected as the first polymeric material. The orientation of the elongated structures and the difference in indices of refraction results in the polymeric composition scattering light asymmetrically.

Abstract: A compound polarization beam splitter (33) for use with a reflective, polarization-modulating, imaging device (10), e.g., a LCoS device, is provided. The compound PBS has: (a) an input prism (20); (b) an output prism (30), and (c) a polarizer (13), which is located between the two prisms (20,30) and which may be a wire grid polarizer (13a) or a multi-layer reflective polarizer (13b). Polarized illumination light (11) enters the input prism (20) through a first surface (21) and undergoes total internal reflection at a second surface (22) before being reflected from the polarizer (13) and polarization-modulated at the imaging device (10). The polarizer'stilt angle (&bgr;) is less than 45°, which reduces astigmatism and the required back working distance of the system's projection lens (74).

Abstract: Single imager projection systems suffer from low light throughput, compared to three imager systems, because only one color band is illuminated at any one time. As a result, there is a need to increase the operating efficiency of the single imager projection system. The invention is directed to the incorporation of a high extinction ratio pre-polarizer, such as a compensated, multi-layer polarizer, in a single or dual imager projection system. This permits illumination with low f-number illumination light, and thus increases the efficiency of the projection system. The pre-polarizer may be incorporated within a polarization recovery unit to further enhance system efficiency.

Abstract: A polarizing beam splitter (PBS) includes a first multilayer reflective polarizing film and a second multilayer reflective polarizing film disposed between two covers. The two multilayer reflective polarizing films can be the same or different. The PBS can be used in a variety of applications.

Abstract: A light managing screen may provide a rear projection screen, front projection screen or component thereof. The screen may comprise a polymeric composition including a first polymeric material, and a second polymeric material disposed as a plurality of elongated structures within the first polymeric material. Each elongated structure has a major axis and the major axes are substantially aligned. The first polymeric material has an index of refraction that differs by at least 0.01 from an index of refraction of the second polymeric material. In some instances, a pressure sensitive adhesive material is selected as the first polymeric material. The orientation of the elongated structures and the difference in indices of refraction results in the polymeric composition scattering light asymmetrically.

Abstract: LCD projection systems that use reflective LCD imager units commonly use one or more polarization beamsplitters to separate the light incident on the imager from the light reflected by one or more respective imagers. The polarizing beamsplitters introduce astigmatism to the image light from the imagers. According to the present invention, the polarization beamsplitters are adapted to reduce the astigmatism.

Abstract: Generally, the present invention relates to an apparatus for reducing astigmatism in a projection system that is particularly well suited to reducing astigmatism in LCD projection systems. A projection system includes a light source to generate light, conditioning optics to condition the light from the light source and an imaging core to impose on image on conditioned light from the conditioning optics to form image light. The imaging core includes a polarizing beamsplitter and at least one imager, and at least one element in the imaging core is adapted to reduce astigmatism in the image light. The astigmatism may arise in the polarizing beamsplitter. A projection lens system projects the astigmatism-reduced image light from the imaging core.

Abstract: A polymeric composition includes a first polymeric material, for example, an adhesive material, and a second polymeric material disposed as a plurality of elongated structures within the first polymeric material. Each elongated structure has a major axis and the major axes are substantially aligned. The first polymeric material has an index of refraction that differs by at least 0.01 from an index of refraction of the second polymeric material. In some instances, a pressure sensitive adhesive material is selected as the first polymeric material. The orientation of the elongated structures and the difference in indices of refraction results in the polymeric composition scattering light asymmetrically. The polymeric composition is optionally disposed on a substrate and can be used, for example, to extract light from a light guide or to asymmetrically alter the viewing angle of a display.

Abstract: A compound polarization beam splitter (33) for use with a reflective, polarization-modulating, imaging device (10), e.g., a LCoS device, is provided. The compound PBS has: (a) an input prism (20); (b) an output prism (30), and (c) a polarizer (13), which is located between the two prisms (20,30) and which may be a wire grid polarizer (13a) or a multi-layer reflective polarizer (13b). Polarized illumination light (11) enters the input prism (20) through a first surface (21) and undergoes total internal reflection at a second surface (22) before being reflected from the polarizer (13) and polarization-modulated at the imaging device (10). The polarizer's tilt angle (&bgr;) is less than 45°, which reduces astigmatism and the required back working distance of the system's projection lens (74).

Abstract: Generally, the present invention relates to an apparatus for reducing astigmatism in a projection system that is particularly well suited to reducing astigmatism in LCD projection systems. A projection system includes a light source to generate light, conditioning optics to condition the light from the light source and an imaging core to impose on image on conditioned light from the conditioning optics to form image light. The imaging core includes a polarizing beamsplitter and at least one imager, and at least one element in the imaging core is adapted to reduce astigmatism in the image light. The astigmatism may arise in the polarizing beamsplitter. A projection lens system projects the astigmatism-reduced image light from the imaging core.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a projection screen includes a diffuse reflecting polarizer that diffusively reflects light polarized in a first direction and transmits light polarized in a second direction. The projection screen may also include a second polarizer adjacent a back side of the diffuse reflecting polarizer, wherein the second polarizer is oriented to transmit light polarized in the second direction. The projection screen may appear substantially diffuse when viewed from a front side and substantially transparent when viewed from a back side.

Abstract: A compound polarization beam splitter (33) for use with a reflective, polarization-modulating, imaging device (10), e.g., a LCoS device, is provided. The compound PBS has: (a) an input prism (20); (b) an output prism (30), and (c) a polarizer (13), which is located between the two prisms (20,30) and which may be a wire grid polarizer (13a) or a multi-layer reflective polarizer (13b). Polarized illumination light (11) enters the input prism (20) through a first surface (21) and undergoes total internal reflection at a second surface (22) before being reflected from the polarizer (13) and polarization-modulated at the imaging device (10). The polarizer's tilt angle (&bgr;) is less than 45°, which reduces astigmatism and the required back working distance of the system's projection lens (74).

Abstract: LCD projection systems that use reflective LCD imager units commonly use one or more polarization beamsplitters to separate the light incident on the imager from the light reflected by one or more respective imagers. The polarizing beamsplitters introduce astigmatism to the image light from the imagers. According to the present invention, the polarization beamsplitters are adapted to reduce the astigmatism.

Abstract: Generally, the present invention relates to an apparatus for reducing astigmatism in a projection system that is particularly well suited to reducing astigmatism in LCD projection systems. A projection system includes a light source to generate light, conditioning optics to condition the light from the light source and an imaging core to impose on image on conditioned light from the conditioning optics to form image light. The imaging core includes a polarizing beamsplitter and at least one imager, and at least one element in the imaging core is adapted to reduce astigmatism in the image light. The astigmatism may arise in the polarizing beamsplitter. A projection lens system projects the astigmatism-reduced image light from the imaging core.

Abstract: A light managing screen may provide a rear projection screen, front projection screen or component thereof. The screen may comprise a polymeric composition including a first polymeric material, and a second polymeric material disposed as a plurality of elongated structures within the first polymeric material. Each elongated structure has a major axis and the major axes are substantially aligned. The first polymeric material has an index of refraction that differs by at least 0.01 from an index of refraction of the second polymeric material. In some instances, a pressure sensitive adhesive material is selected as the first polymeric material. The orientation of the elongated structures and the difference in indices of refraction results in the polymeric composition scattering light asymmetrically.