Abstract: An LCD monitor comprises an LCD panel and a backlight for providing illumination to the LCD panel. The backlight includes a light box having a reflective bottom and sides and an open top for allowing light to flow outwardly toward the LCD panel. The light box includes a light source preferably comprising a plurality of LED elements for generating light either from said edge or from said bottom, or from both said bottom and said edge. The light box further preferably comprises a plurality of wave plates interspersed with the LED elements for intercepting light and changing the polarity of such intercepted light. Preferably, the backlight includes a polarizer for transmitting light from the light box of a first polarization towards the LCD panel and reflecting light of a second polarization back towards the light box. At least some of the reflected light of the second polarization passes through the wave plates, is converted to the first polarization, and is reflected back towards said polarizer.

Abstract: A projector system has interchangeable light source modules. The projector housing contains an imaging panel and a projection engine and has an inlet for receiving light from an external light source. At least one light source module contains a light source, a light outlet, and an internal focusing system such that substantially all of the light generated by the light system passes out through said outlet. The projector housing and module housing each contain hardware for releasably connecting the two separate housings to one another at a precise relative location so that substantially all of the light generated inside the module housing and exiting the outlet enters through the inlet of said projector housing.

Abstract: An illumination system for increasing the brightness of a light source comprises an optical recycling device coupled to the light source, preferably light emitting diode (LED), for spatially and/or angularly recycling light. The optical recycling device spatially recycles a portion of rays of light emitted by the LED back to the light source using a reflector or mirror and/or angularly recycles high angle rays of light and transmits small angle rays of light, thereby increasing the brightness of the light source's output.

Abstract: A multi-colored illumination system comprising a beam combiner. The beam combiner comprises two triangular prisms and a filter for transmitting a first light and reflecting a second light, each light having a different wavelength. The beam combiner combines the transmitted first light and the reflected light to provide a combined beam. The six surfaces of each of the triangular prism of the beam combiner is polished, thereby combining the lights without increasing etendue of the multi-colored illumination system.

Abstract: A multi-colored illumination system including a beam combiner. The beam combiner includes two triangular prisms and a filter for transmitting a first light and reflecting a second light, each light having a different wavelength. The beam combiner combines the transmitted first light and the reflected light to provide a combined beam. The six surfaces of each of the triangular prism of the beam combiner are polished, thereby combining the lights without increasing etendue of the multi-colored illumination system.

Abstract: A condensing and collecting optical system comprises two asymmetric reflectors. The first and second reflectors comprise a portion of an ellipsoid or paraboloid of revolution having parallel optical axis. A source of electromagnetic radiation is placed at one of the focal points of the first reflector to produce radiation that is received by the second reflector, which focuses the radiation toward a target. To achieve maximum output coupling efficiency, the second reflector has a different focal length than the first reflector such that the radiation inputted to the target has lower angle of incidence.

Abstract: An illumination system using filament lamps including a filament lamp, a reflector having a first and second focal points, the filament lamp disposed proximate to the first focal point of the reflector to emit rays of electromagnetic radiation that reflect from the reflector and converge substantially at the second focal point, wherein a portion of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the filament lamp impinges directly on the reflector and a portion of the electromagnetic radiation does not impinge directly on the reflector and wherein the system further includes an additional reflector constructed and arranged to reflect at least part of the portion of the electromagnetic radiation that does not impinge directly on the reflector toward the reflector through the first focal point of the reflector.

Abstract: An illumination system including a plurality of lamps, a plurality of first light reflectors, a plurality of second light reflectors, and an output light guide. Each of the first light reflectors is arranged to reflect light output from one of the lamps onto an input of one of the second light reflectors, which in turn is arranged to direct light from an output of one the first light reflectors into an input of the output light guide, such that the outputs of each of the lamps is combined into a single output.

Abstract: A compact dual ellipsoidal reflector (DER) system for illuminating a target with rays of electromagnetic radiation comprises first and second molded module. The first molded module has at least a first ellipsoidal reflector section comprising an optical axis, a first focal point and a second focal point. The rays of electromagnetic radiation being directed substantially proximate to the first focal point of the first ellipsoidal reflector section and substantially converge at the second focal point of the first ellipsoidal reflector section. The second molded module has at least a second ellipsoidal reflector section comprising an optical axis, a first focal point and a second focal point.

Abstract: An illumination engine for a projection display using light emitting diodes (LEDs) that includes a reflector having a first and second focal points, a source of electro-luminescence located proximate to the first focal point to emit rays of radiation in a first range of wavelengths that reflect from the reflector and converge substantially at the second focal point, and a light pipe having an first input end and a first output end, the first input end being located proximate to the second focal point to collect substantially all of the radiation and wherein the first output end transmits substantially all of the radiation.

Abstract: A light pipe based projection engine includes a X-prism transmitting substantially light of a useful polarization in an output direction and reflecting substantially light of a non-useful polarization in a first orthogonal direction substantially orthogonal to the output direction. An initial reflector may reflect the non-said low, said medium, and said high bands of wavelengths in a second orthogonal direction substantially orthogonal to the output direction and the first orthogonal direction, and a final reflector may reflect the non-said low, said medium, and said high bands of wavelengths in the output direction. The non-said low, said medium, and said high bands of wavelengths may be rotated substantially to light of the useful polarization by the initial and final reflectors.

Abstract: A LCD display backlight system with improved color mixing and efficiency comprises a reflective surface, a plurality of light sources mounted on the reflective surface, a plurality of fractional wave plates and a reflective polarizer. The plurality of fractional wave plates is mounted on spaces between the plurality of light sources on the reflective surface. The reflective polarizer transmits light having a useable polarization and reflects back unused polarization of light onto the reflective surface. A portion of the unused polarization of light reflected from the reflective polarizer passes through a fractional wave plate. The reflective surface reflects the portion of the unused polarization of light through the fractional wave plate such that the polarization of the unused polarization of light is changed to useable polarization, thereby recycling the unused polarization of light into useful light.

Abstract: An illumination engine for a projection display using light emitting diodes (LEDs) that includes a reflector having a first and second focal points, a source of electro-luminescence located proximate to the first focal point to emit rays of radiation in a first range of wavelengths that reflect from the reflector and converge substantially at the second focal point, and a light pipe having an first input end and a first output end, the first input end being located proximate to the second focal point to collect substantially all of the radiation and wherein the first output end transmits substantially all of the radiation.

Abstract: An illumination system including a plurality of lamps, a plurality of first light reflectors, a plurality of second light reflectors, and an output light guide. Each of the first light reflectors is arranged to reflect light output from one of the lamps onto an input of one of the second light reflectors, which in turn is arranged to direct light from an output of one the first light reflectors into an input of the output light guide, such that the outputs of each of the lamps is combined into a single output.

Abstract: A waveguide polarization recovery system both polarizes the input light energy for use with an LCD imager and converts the polarity of unusable light energy to add to the illumination of the LCD imager. The compact polarization recovery waveguide system generally includes: (1) an input waveguide that provides non-polarized light energy into the system; (2) an output waveguide that receives polarized light energy from the system; (3) a polarized beam splitter that received the light energy from the input waveguide and transmits light energy of a first polarization type and reflects light energy of a second polarization type, and (4) a wave plate that modifies the polarization of either the transmitted or reflected light energy. The polarization recovery system also generally includes one or more mirrors that are positioned as need to direct the transmitted and the reflected light energy to the output waveguide. The input and output waveguides may be shaped as needed by the projection system.

Abstract: A light recovery system for a projection display with a reflector having a first and a second focal points. A source of electro-magnetic radiation is disposed proximate to the first focal point of the reflector to emit rays of radiation that reflect from the reflector and converge substantially at the second focal point. A retro-reflector reflects at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation that does not impinge directly on the reflector toward the reflector through the first focal point of the reflector to increase the flux intensity of the converging rays. A light pipe wit an input surface and an output surface is disposed with the input surface proximate to the second focal point to collect and transmit substantially all of the radiation. A PBS is disposed proximate to the output surface to collect and polarize substantially all of the radiation into a radiation of a first polarization and a second polarization.

Abstract: A multiple output illumination system includes a first and second reflectors each having an optical axis and a first and second focal points substantially on the optical axis. In one embodiment, one of the focal points of each reflector are proximate to one another, while the other focal point of each reflector is distal from each other. In another embodiment, the first and second reflectors are pairs of reflectors, and the second reflector of each points away from the optical axes of the first and second reflectors. An intermediate reflector may redirect radiation from the second reflectors. A source of electromagnetic radiation substantially proximate to the focal points that are proximate to one another produces rays of radiation that are reflected by the each reflector in different directions, converging substantially at each of the distal focal points. Light pipes placed substantially proximate to the distal focal points may collect the radiation.

Abstract: A light pipe based projection engine includes a X-prism transmitting substantially light of a useful polarization in an output direction and reflecting substantially light of a non-useful polarization in a first orthogonal direction substantially orthogonal to the output direction. An initial reflector may reflect the non-said low, said medium, and said high bands of wavelengths in a second orthogonal direction substantially orthogonal to the output direction and the first orthogonal direction, and a final reflector may reflect the non-said low, said medium, and said high bands of wavelengths in the output direction. The non-said low, said medium, and said high bands of wavelengths may be rotated substantially to light of the useful polarization by the initial and final reflectors.

Abstract: An optical coupling element for use in large numerical aperture collecting and condensing systems. The optical coupling element includes a curved surface such as a lens at the output of a tapered light pipe (TLP). The TLP in combination with the curved surface alters the divergence angle and the area of the light exiting the curved surface. Electromagnetic radiation emitted by a source is collected and focused onto a target by positioning the source of electromagnetic radiation substantially at a first focal point of a primary reflector so that the primary reflector produces rays of radiation reflected from the primary reflector that converge at a second focal point of the secondary reflector. The optical coupling element is positioned so that its input end is substantially proximate with the second focal point of the secondary reflector.

Abstract: A waveguide polarization recovery system both polarizes the input light energy for use with an LCD imager and converts the polarity of unusable light energy to add to the illumination of the LCD imager. The compact polarization recovery waveguide system generally includes: (1) an input waveguide that provides non-polarized light energy into the system; (2) an output waveguide that receives polarized light energy from the system; (3) a polarized beam splitter that received the light energy from the input waveguide and transmits lights energy of a first polarization type and reflects light energy of a second polarization type, and (4) a wave plate that modifies the polarization of either the transmitted or reflected light energy. The polarization recovery system also generally includes one or more mirrors that are positioned as need to direct the transmitted and the reflected light energy to the output waveguide. The input and output waveguides may be shaped as needed by the projection system.