Integrator, polarization conversion device, and display apparatus using the same

Abstract

An integrator and a display apparatus using the same simplify the structure of an optical system and minimize optical loss. The integrator homogenizes, polarizes and recaptures incident lights. The optical loss can be reduced by using a color drum and a color wheel engaged with the integrator. In order to minimize the optical loss, a polarization conversion device where a color bar filter or color switch is directly adhered to an integrator is used. The polarization conversion device can be applied to a projector for embodying small images into large ones.

1 - 6 . (canceled)  
     
     
         7 . A display apparatus comprising: 
 a lamp system for generating heterogeneous lights;    an integrator for homogenizing the heterogeneous lights from the lamp system by recycling, and polarizing and outputting the homogenized lights;    a color drum for splitting the polarized lights from the integrator into IS, G and B lights, and selectively transmitting the split color lights; and    an optical modulation system for modulating the color lights selectively transmitted from the color drum according to an image signal in order to form color images.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the lights reflected by the color drum are recaptured by the integrator, and constantly recycled by the integrator until transmitted.  
     
     
         9 - 11 . (canceled)  
     
     
         12 . A polarization conversion device comprising: 
 an integrator for homogenizing externally-inputted heterogeneous lights by recycling, and polarizing and outputting the homogenized lights; and    a color wheel for splitting the polarized lights from the integrator into R, G and B lights by rotation, and selectively transmitting the split lights, spiral R, G and B color filters being sequentially aligned in the color wheel.    
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the lights reflected by the color wheel are recaptured by the integrator, and constantly recycled by the integrator until transmitted.  
     
     
         14 . A display apparatus comprising: 
 a lamp system for generating heterogeneous lights;    a polarization conversion device having an integrator for homogenizing the heterogeneous lights from the lamp system by recycling, and polarizing and recapturing the homogenized lights, and a color wheel for splitting the polarized lights from the integrator into B, G and B lights by spiral K, G and B transmitting filters, and selectively transmitting the split lights; and    an optical modulation system for modulating the color lights selectively transmitted from the polarization conversion device according to an image signal in order to form color images, the lights reflected by the color wheel being recaptured by the integrator, and constantly recycled by the integrator until transmitted.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the optical modulation system comprises one of a transmission type display device and a reflection type display device.  
     
     
         16 . A polarization conversion device comprising: 
 an integrator for homogenizing externally-inputted heterogeneous lights by recycling, and polarizing and outputting the homogenized lights;    a color bar filter incorporated with the integrator, for splitting the polarized lights from the integrator into K, C and B lights, and selectively transmitting the split lights; and    a rotating prism rotated for changing an alignment order of the color lights outputted from the color bar filter.    
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein the integrator comprises an incident unit, a polarizing unit and a recycling unit.  
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein, in the color bar filter, rectangular B, C and B transmitting filters having a different size are sequentially aligned.  
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein paths of the color lights outputted from the color bar filter are controlled by rotation of the rotating prism.  
     
     
         20 . A display apparatus comprising: 
 a lamp system for generating heterogeneous lights;    a polarization conversion device having an integrator for polarizing and recapturing the lights from the lamp system, a color bar filter incorporated with the integrator, for splitting the polarized lights from the integrator and selectively transmitting the split lights, and a rotating prism rotated for changing an alignment order of the color lights outputted from the color bar filter; and    an optical modulation system for modulating the color lights selectively transmitted from the polarization conversion device according to an image signal in order to form color images.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the color bar filter comprises rectangular K, C and B transmitting filters having a different size.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the optical modulation system comprises one of a transmission type display device and a reflection type display device.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the optical modulation system comprises a DLP which does not use polarization.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein, when the DLP is used, the integrator does not have the polarizing plate and the phase modulation device.  
     
     
         25 . A polarization conversion device comprising: 
 an integrator for homogenizing externally-inputted heterogeneous lights by recycling, and polarizing and outputting the homogenized lights; and    a color switch incorporated with the integrator, for splitting the polarized lights from the integrator into K, C and B lights, and scrolling and transmitting the split lights, the color switch being composed of K, C and B cells for modulating a phase of each color light, and aligned to vertically receive the polarized lights from the integrator.    
     
     
         26 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein the integrator comprises an incident unit, a polarizing unit and a recycling unit.  
     
     
         27 . The device according to  claim 26 , wherein the polarizing unit comprises first and second polarizing plates adhered to both sides of the color switch, and the first and second polarizing plates have opposite transmission properties.  
     
     
         28 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein each of the cells comprises: 
 first and second wave plates for modulating the phase of the corresponding color lights by 45°; and    a liquid crystal cell positioned between the first and second wave plates, for oppositely modulating the phase by 90° according to an electric signal.    
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 28 , wherein the liquid crystal cell comprises a plurality of data electrodes receiving electric signals in a temporal order.  
     
     
         30 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein each of the cells selectively transmits the corresponding color lights under the control of the liquid crystal cell.  
     
     
         31 . A display apparatus comprising: 
 a lamp system for generating heterogeneous lights;    a polarization conversion device having an integrator for polarizing and recapturing the lights from the lamp system, and a color switch having its incorporated K, C and B cells adhered to the integrator, for splitting the polarized lights from the integrator and selectively transmitting the corresponding color lights according to an electric signal; and    an optical modulation system for modulating the color lights selectively transmitted from the polarization conversion device according to an image signal in order to form color images.    
     
     
         32 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein each of the cells is aligned to vertically receive the polarized lights from the integrator.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the integrator comprises an incident unit, a polarizing unit and a recycle unit.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus according to  claim 33 , wherein the polarizing unit comprises first and second polarizing plates adhered to both sides of the color switch, and the first and second polarizing plates have opposite transmission properties.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein each of the cells comprises: 
 first and second wave plates for modulating a phase of the corresponding color lights by 45°; and    a liquid crystal cell positioned between the first and second wave plates, for oppositely modulating the phase by 90° according to an electric signal.    
     
     
         36 . The apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein the liquid crystal cell comprises a plurality of data electrodes receiving electric signals in a temporal order.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the optical modulation system comprises one of a transmission type display device and a reflection type display device.