US2007047078A1PendingUtilityA1

Polarization recovery system for projection displays

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Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Aug 24, 2000Filed: Oct 31, 2006Published: Mar 1, 2007
Est. expiryAug 24, 2020(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Kenneth Li
G02B 6/4298G02B 27/149H04N 9/3167G02B 27/285H04N 9/3102G02B 27/283H04N 5/7441H04N 9/3152G02B 27/286G02B 27/1033G02B 27/145G03B 21/14
52
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Claims

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. For example, either one or both of the input and output waveguides may be tapered as needed to produce a desired image. In the waveguide polarization recovery system, the input and output waveguides are configured to have either an either a substantially parallel or a substantially perpendicular orientation. In another embodiment, the waveguide polarization recovery system further includes has one or more “gaps” of optically clear material positioned between the optical components to encourage the occurrence of total internal reflection that minimizes the loss of the optical energy by the system.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 - 20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A method of polarization recovery comprising: 
 transmitting light energy of a first polarization type;    reflecting light energy of a second polarization type;    modifying the polarization of a substantial portion of either the transmitted or the reflected light energy;    integrating a substantial portion of both the transmitted light energy and the reflected light energy.    
     
     
         22 . The method of polarization recovery of  claim 21 , comprising further: 
 integrating a substantial portion of the emitted light energy.    
     
     
         23 . The method of polarization recovery of  claim 21 , comprising further: 
 redirecting a substantial portion of the transmitted light energy.    
     
     
         24 . The method of polarization recovery of  claim 21 , comprising further: 
 redirecting a substantial portion of the reflected light energy.    
     
     
         25 . The method of polarization recovery of  claim 21 , comprising further: 
 imaging a substantial portion of the integrated light energy.    
     
     
         26 . A system of polarization recovery comprising: 
 means for transmitting light energy of a first polarization type;    means for reflecting light energy of a second polarization type;    means for modifying the polarization of a substantial portion of either the transmitted or the reflected light energy; and    means for integrating a substantial portion of both the transmitted light energy and the reflected light energy.    
     
     
         27 . The system of polarization recovery of  claim 26 , further comprising means for integrating a substantial portion of the emitted light energy.  
     
     
         28 . The system of polarization recovery of  claim 26 , further comprising means for redirecting the transmitted light energy towards the polarization modification means.  
     
     
         29 . The system of polarization recovery of  claim 26 , further comprising means for redirecting the reflected light energy towards the polarization modification means.  
     
     
         30 . The system of polarization recovery of  claim 26 , further comprising means for redirecting the transmitted light energy towards the integration means.  
     
     
         31 . The system of polarization recovery of  claim 26 , further comprising means for redirecting the reflected light energy towards the integration means.  
     
     
         32 . The system of polarization recovery of  claim 26 , further comprising means for imaging the integration light energy.  
     
     
         33 . The system of polarization recovery of  claim 26 , further comprising means for focusing the integrated light energy.

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