Abstract: An illumination system is provided for combining two or more light sources. A plurality of light sources radiate random polarization light. A plurality of collecting light pipes corresponds to the plurality of light sources. Each collecting light pipe has an entrance end disposed towards the respective light source. The collecting light pipes are laterally offset and overlapping opposite their respective entrance ends. A combining light pipe is disposed perpendicular to the collecting light pipes. A polarizing beam splitter and a mirror are sequentially arranged in each collecting light pipe essentially opposite the entrance end directing a first polarization light and a second polarization light, respectively upwards towards the combining light pipe. The combining light pipe has an entrance end overlying the polarizing beam splitter and mirror of each collecting light pipe to collect and combine the light from each polarizing beam splitter and mirror.

Abstract: A lens system for use in a two-stage projection system that relays light output from a first imager on a pixel-by-pixel basis onto a second imager (e.g. an LCOS). The lens system includes a double gauss lens set having a distortion of less than about 0.015% with at least about 90% of the light energy of a specific pixel projected within about a 15.4 micrometer square. Thus a projection system that enhances the contrast ratio for video images, particularly in the dark state, and reduces contouring artifacts, can be achieved.

Abstract: The invention concerns a display apparatus with an imager illuminated by an illumination system and with an imaging system projecting an image on a viewing screen, wherein the brightness of the image on the imager has a variation over a given direction, and wherein the illumination system has light controlling elements for controlling the light distribution over the given direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a projection system comprising: a polychromatic light source and at least one imaging assembly illuminated by an associated polychromatic illumination beam, and comprising: two separate colored wheels respectively called first and second colored wheel; and three separate imagers respectively called first, second and third imagers. At least one part of the polychromatic beam, called first source beam, illuminating the first colored wheel which separates said source beam into a first monochromatic beam and into a two-tone beam, said first monochromatic beam illuminating the first imager and said two-tone beam being transmitted towards the second colored wheel. The second colored wheel being illuminated by said two-tone beam and separating said two-tone beam into second and third monochromatic beams, respectively illuminating said second and third imagers respectively.

Abstract: A polarized light source, is provided, comprising a lamp providing randomly polarized light, an integrator for directing light from the lamp generally along an axis of the integrator, and a wire-grid polarizer disposed at one end of the integrator. This polarized light source recovers a portion of the light produced by the lamp having an undesired polarization. A Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) light engine including a polarized light source with polarization recovery is also provided.

Abstract: Display comprising a substrate 1 carrying: an electroluminescent organic layer partitioned into electroluminescent cells 21 and inserted between two electrode layers of which one is transparent and the other opaque, a layer 3 of light extractors operating by reflection, each extractor 31 being made of transparent material and comprising an entry interface 32, an exit interface 33 and reflecting side walls 34, where the electroluminescent layer region of each cell 21 is optically coupled to a plurality of extractors 31. The light extraction efficiencies are improved while limiting the constraints on manufacturing and keeping the display thickness limited.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display projection system for pictures that can be viewed stereoscopically, comprising: a source of a repetitive three color sequence of light; first and second imagers responsive to respective drive signals representative of the same picture from different angles of view; at least a first polarizing beam splitter for separating said repetitive three-color sequence of light into a P polarized three color sequence of light and an S polarized three color sequence of light, said S polarized three color sequence of light illuminating said first imager and said P polarized three color sequence of light illuminating said second imager; a first filter for removing P polarized light directed to said first imager; and, a second filter for removing P polarized light reflected from said second imager, wherein said light reflected from said first imager and said light filtered by said second filter form a stereoscopic image when viewed through respective P and S polarizing lenses.

Abstract: A stereoscopic projection system is provided having two channels, each having two LCOS imagers that modulate light on a pixel-by pixel basis. A first polarizing beam splitter is configured to direct light of a first polarization onto a first channel first stage LCOS imager and direct light of a second polarization, opposite the first polarization, onto a second channel first stage LCOS imager. A relay lens system directs the output of the first stage imagers into a second polarizing beam splitter. The second polarizing beam splitter is configured to direct light of the second polarization onto the first channel second stage LCOS imager and direct light of the first polarization onto the second channel second stage LCOS imager.

Abstract: The invention concerns a polarized light illumination device comprising in particular: a light source, an optical Fresnel Rhomb polarization device receiving light from the source and reflecting it at least twice on at least two opposite surfaces, a reflective polarizer arranged opposite the output surface of the Fresnel Rhomb polarization device to receive the reflected light so as to allow through linearly polarized light along a first direction and to reflect light having any other type of polarization, a reflecting device arranged between the polarization device and the light source so as to allow through the light but to reflect the light reflected by the reflective polarizer. The invention is applicable to liquid crystal display for illuminating liquid crystal valves.

Abstract: A two-stage light projection system is provided for projecting an image comprising a matrix of light pixels having modulated luminance. A first imager is configured to modulate a light band on a pixel-by-pixel basis proportional to gray scale values provided for each pixel of the image to provide a first output matrix. A second imager is positioned and configured to receive the first output matrix and modulate the individual modulated pixels of light from the first imager on a pixel-by-pixel basis proportional to a second gray scale value provided for each pixel. A relay lens system having a single-gauss lens set and a mirror positioned at the system stop focuses the modulated light output from the first imager on a pixel-by-pixel basis onto the corresponding pixels of the second imager.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging system for projector comprising: an illumination source producing an illumination beam composed of several colours, termed a white beam, at least one coloured wheel for transforming the white beam focussing on the coloured wheel or wheels into a coloured sequential beam, an integrator guide, an imager, According to the invention, the system comprises at least one collimating lens (2030, between the coloured wheel or wheels and the integrator guide. The invention relates also to a projector implementing such a system.

Abstract: A light projection system projects an image comprising a matrix of light pixels having modulated luminance. The projection system includes a first imager configured to modulate a light band on a pixel-by-pixel basis proportional to gray scale values provided for each pixel of the image to provide a first output matrix. A second imager is positioned and configured to receive the first output matrix of modulated pixels of light and modulate the individual modulated pixels of light from said first imager on a pixel-by-pixel basis proportional to a second gray scale value provided for each pixel of the image.

Abstract: A two-stage light projection system is provided for projecting an image comprising a matrix of light pixels having modulated luminance. A first imager is configured to modulate a light band on a pixel-by-pixel basis proportional to gray scale values provided for each pixel of the image to provide a first output matrix. A second imager is positioned and configured to receive the first output matrix and modulate the individual modulated pixels of light from the first imager on a pixel-by-pixel basis proportional to a second gray scale value provided for each pixel. A relay lens system having a single-gauss lens set and a mirror positioned at the system stop focuses the modulated light output from the first imager on a pixel-by-pixel basis onto the corresponding pixels of the second imager.

Abstract: A lens system for use in a two-stage projection system that relays light output from a first imager on a pixel-by-pixel basis onto a second imager (e.g. an LCOS). The lens system includes a double gauss lens set having a distortion of less than about 0.015% with at least about 90% of the light energy of a specific pixel projected within about a 15.4 micrometer square. Thus a projection system that enhances the contrast ratio for video images, particularly in the dark state, and reduces contouring artifacts, can be achieved.

Abstract: A stereoscopic projection system is provided having two channels, each having two LCOS imagers that modulate light on a pixel-by pixel basis. A first polarizing beam splitter is configured to direct light of a first polarization onto a first channel first stage LCOS imager and direct light of a second polarization, opposite the first polarization, onto a second channel first stage LCOS imager. A relay lens system directs the output of the first stage imagers into a second polarizing beam splitter. The second polarizing beam splitter is configured to direct light of the second polarization onto the first channel second stage LCOS imager and direct light of the first polarization onto the second channel second stage LCOS imager.

Abstract: The invention concerns a polarized light illumination device comprising in particular: a light source, an optical Fresnel Rhomb polarization device receiving light from the source and reflecting it at least twice on at least two opposite surfaces, a reflective polarizer arranged opposite the output surface of the Fresnel Rhomb polarization device to receive the reflected light so as to allow through linearly polarized light along a first direction and to reflect light having any other type of polarization, a reflecting device arranged between the polarization device and the light source so as to allow through the light but to reflect the light reflected by the reflective polarizer. The invention is applicable to liquid crystal display for illuminating liquid crystal valves.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display projection system, comprising: a source of a repetitive three color sequence of light; first and second imagers responsive to the same drive signal; at least a first polarizing beam splitter for separating said repetitive three-color sequence of light into a P polarized three color sequence of light and an S polarized three color sequence of light, said S polarized three color sequence of light illuminating said first imager and said P polarized three color sequence of light illuminating said second imager; a first filter for removing P polarized light directed to said first imager; a second filter for removing P polarized light reflected from said second imager, and, said at least first polarizing beam splitter combining said light reflected from said first imager and said light filtered by said second filter as an output.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display projection system for pictures that can be viewed stereoscopically, comprising: a source of a repetitive three color sequence of light; first and second imagers responsive to respective drive signals representative of the same picture from different angles of view; at least a first polarizing beam splitter for separating said repetitive three-color sequence of light into a P polarized three color sequence of light and an S polarized three color sequence of light, said S polarized three color sequence of light illuminating said first imager and said P polarized three color sequence of light illuminating said second imager; a first filter for removing P polarized light directed to said first imager; and, a second filter for removing P polarized light reflected from said second imager, wherein said light reflected from said first imager and said light filtered by said second filter form a stereoscopic image when viewed through respective P and S polarizing lenses.

Abstract: The invention concerns a display apparatus with an imager illuminated by an illumination system and with an imaging system projecting an image on a viewing screen, wherein the brightness of the image on the imager has a variation over a given direction, and wherein the illumination system has means for controlling the light distribution over the given direction.

Abstract: A method for recovering polarization comprises the steps of: guiding light having first and second polarizations in a forward direction along a light path; passing the guided light having the first polarization out of the path; reflecting the light having the second polarization backwardly and forwardly along the light path; transforming the reflected light during the reflecting step to have the first polarization; and, passing the light transformed to the first polarization out of the path, enabling more of the light having the first polarization to be passed out of the path. The method can be implemented with a light integrator, a reflecting polarizer, at least one reflective surface that further reflects the reflected light back toward the reflecting polarizer and a quarter wave plate positioned in the light path. The method and apparatus can be used in an illumination system for a liquid crystal display imager.