US20010033365A1 - Dual polarization optical projection systems and methods - Google Patents
Dual polarization optical projection systems and methods Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20010033365A1 US20010033365A1 US09/824,139 US82413901A US2001033365A1 US 20010033365 A1 US20010033365 A1 US 20010033365A1 US 82413901 A US82413901 A US 82413901A US 2001033365 A1 US2001033365 A1 US 2001033365A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- image
- pixel
- light
- polarization
- optical projection
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000010287 polarization Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 118
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 73
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 48
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 42
- 239000004973 liquid crystal related substance Substances 0.000 claims description 46
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 claims description 28
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000006185 dispersion Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000005499 meniscus Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000002238 attenuated effect Effects 0.000 claims 2
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 8
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000005262 ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) Substances 0.000 description 4
- 210000001747 pupil Anatomy 0.000 description 4
- 239000004988 Nematic liquid crystal Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000007493 shaping process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 101001026208 Bos taurus Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily A member 4 Proteins 0.000 description 2
- 206010010071 Coma Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 2
- 108091006146 Channels Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 201000009310 astigmatism Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000013078 crystal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001429 visible spectrum Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F19/00—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
- G09F19/12—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for using special optical effects
- G09F19/18—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for using special optical effects involving the use of optical projection means, e.g. projection of images on clouds
Abstract
A dual polarization optical projection system and method combines images from first and second image sources. The first image source includes a first array of image pixels wherein the first image source generates a first pixel image having a first polarization. The second image source includes a second array of image pixels wherein the second image source generates a second pixel image having a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization. The first pixel image having the first polarization is combined with the second pixel image having the second polarization to form a combined pixel image. Each pixel of the combined pixel image corresponds to a combination of a first pixel from the first array of image pixels having the first polarization and a second pixel from the second array of image pixels having the second polarization.
Description
- This application is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. (8390-4) ______ entitled “Tiltable Henispherical Optical Projection Systems And Methods Having Constant Angular Separation of Projected Pixels” filed Jan. 29, 1996, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
- This invention relates to optical systems and methods, and more particularly to optical projection systems and methods.
- Hemispherical optical projection systems arid methods, i.e. systems and methods which project images at an angle of at least about 160 degrees, are used to project images onto the inner surfaces of domes. Hemispherical optical projection systems and methods have long been used in planetariums, commercial and military flight simulators and hemispherical theaters such as OMNIMAX® theaters. With the present interest in virtual reality, hemispherical optical projection systems and methods have been investigated for projecting images which simulate a real environment. Such images are typically computer-genierated multimedia images including video, but they may also be generated using film or other media. Home theater has also generated much interest, and hemispherical optical projection systems and methods are also being investigated for home theater applications.
- Heretofore, hemispherical optical projection systems and methods have generally been designed for projecting in a large dome having a predetermined radius. The orientation of the hemispherical projection has also generally been fixed. For example, planetarium projections typically project vertically upward, while flight simulators and hemispherical theaters typically project at an oblique angle from vertical, based upon the audience seating configuration. Hemispherical optical projection systems and methods have also generally required elaborate color correction and spatial correction of the image to be projected, so as to be able to project a high quality image over a hemisphere.
- Virtual reality, home theater and other low cost applications generally require flexible hemispherical optical projection systems and methods which can project images onto different size domes and for different audience configurations. The optical projection systems and methods should also project with low optical distortion over a wide field of view, preferably at least about 160 degrees. Minimal color correction and spatial correction of the image to be projected should be required. A high intensity image should be projected, and it is desirable to have the capability of projecting three-dimensional images.
- It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved optical projection systems and methods.
- It is another object of the present invention to provide optical projection systems and methods which can project images with high intensity.
- It is yet another object of the present invention to provide optical projection systems and methods which can project three-dimensional images.
- These and other objects are provided, according to the present invention, by a projection system and method which combine the image generated by two image sources. The image generated by the first image source has a first polarization, and the image produced by the second image source has a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization. The combined image thus includes two colineated beams (i.e., beams having the same optical axis) with orthogonal polarizations. The two images can be the same thereby increasing the intensity of the combined image, or the two images can represent right and left eye views thereby producing a three-dimensional effect. Alternatively, the two images can be offset by a sub-pixel, thereby providing higher resolution.
- In particular, the first image source includes a first array of image pixels wherein the first image source generates a first pixel image having a first polarization. The second image source includes a second array of image pixels wherein the second image source generates a second pixel image having a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization. The first pixel image having the first polarization is combined with the second pixel image having the second polarization to form a combined pixel image. Each pixel of the combined pixel image corresponds to a combination of a first pixel from the first array of image pixels having the first polarization and a second pixel from the second array of image pixels having the second polarization.
- If the first and second pixel images comprise the same image, the combined pixel image can have an increased intensity. Alternately, if the first and second pixel images comprise different images, the combined pixel image can be used to project a three-dimensional image. That is, when projected onto a viewing surface, a viewer who wears glasses with orthogonal polarization filters will see a different image with each eye. In yet another alternative, the images can be offset by a sub-pixel to increase resolution. The image sources can include a reflective liquid crystal display (such as a ferroelectric liquid crystal display), a transmissive liquid crystal display, or a liquid crystal layer and an image generator for generating an image on the liquid crystal layer.
- The dual polarization optical projection systems and methods may be used to project the combined pixel image onto any surface. However, the combined pixel image is preferably projected into a hemispherical projection having constant angular separation among adjacent pixels. Accordingly, the dual polarization optical projection systems and methods can project the combined pixel image onto hemispherical surfaces of varying radii without requiring spatial distortion correction of the first and second arrays of image pixels. The dual polarization optical projection systems and methods can also include a dome including a truncated spherical inner dome surface. The constant angular projecting system is preferably mounted at the center of the dome to radially project the combined pixel image onto the inner dome surface.
- The dual polarization optical projection systems and methods can also project the combined pixel image onto a hemispherical surface at a projection angle of at least 160 degrees. Furthermore, at least part of the projecting means can be tilted, such that the combined pixel image is projected in one of a plurality of selectable positions. Accordingly, the same projection systems and methods can be used both as a planetarium as well as a hemispherical theater, for example.
- Each of the first and second pixel images preferably has a common image size. In addition, the projection systems and methods also preferably include a projection lens assembly which projects the combined pixel image onto a hemispherical surface at a projection angle of at least 160 degrees. This lens assembly is spaced apart from the first and second image sources by a separation distance which is at least six times the image size.
- The dual polarization optical projection system and method may also include first and second filters adjacent respective first and second image sources. The first filter includes a first color portion adjacent a first pixel of the first image source which selectively passes a first color of light. The first filter also includes a second color portion adjacent a second pixel of the first image source which selectively passes a second color of light. The second filter includes a first color portion adjacent a first pixel of the second image source which selectively passes the first color of light, and a second color portion adjacent a second pixel of the second image source which selectively passes the second color of light. Accordingly, the combined pixel image includes the first and second colors. In a preferred embodiment, three colors, such as red, green, and blue, are projected to thereby project the entire visible spectrum.
- Alternately, a multi-color light source can provide light having a first color to the first and second image sources during a first predetermined time period. The multi-color light source can then provide light having a second color to the first and second image sources during a second predetermined time period. Accordingly, the combined pixel image includes the first color during the first predetermined time period and includes the second color during the second predetermined time period. By making the time periods sufficiently short, the resulting flicker will be substantially indiscernible to the human eye.
- In yet another alternative, a single color light source can provide light having a single color to the first and second image sources. The combined output will thus include a single color. By combining outputs from other pairs of image sources which are provided with light of other colors, a full color projection can be provided.
- The projection systems and methods of the present invention thus provides an combined pixel image wherein each pixel of the combined pixel image corresponds to a combination of a first pixel from a first array of image pixels having a first polarization and a second pixel from the second array of image pixels having the second polarization. If a common image is generated by the first and second arrays of image pixels, the combined output can have an increased intensity. If different images are generated by the first and second arrays of image pixels, the common image can provide a three-dimensional projection, or provide increased resolution.
- FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams illustrating hemispherical optical projection systems and methods according to the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram representation of a first embodiment of the projecting optics of FIGS. 1A and 1B.
- FIG. 3 is a graph of the index of refraction versus dispersion for various types of glass.
- FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram representation of a second embodiment of the projecting optics of FIGS. 1A and 1B.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram representation of a third embodiment of the projecting optics of FIGS. 1A and 1B.
- FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a transmissive liquid crystal display assembly according to the present invention.
- The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
- Referring now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a tiltable hemispherical optical projection system and method having constant angular separation of projected pixels according to the present invention is described. Hemispherical
optical projection system 10 projects ahemispherical projection 12 having constant angular separation among adjacent pixels as indicated by angle θ which is constant amongadjacent pixels 12 a-12 n. For example, a circular array of 768 pixels may be projected at a constant angular separation of 13.7 arcminutes at 175 degree full field of view. Hemisphericaloptical projection system 10 projects the hemispherical projection having constant angular separation onto theinner surface 20 a of truncatedhemispherical dome 20. - The constant angular separation hemispherical optical projection system may be regarded as an “inverse telephoto” system having an f·θ lens. The image height is proportional to f·θ, where f is the focal length of the lens and θ is the constant angular separation among adjacent pixels.
- By maintaining constant angular separation among adjacent pixels, a low distortion image can be projected by hemispherical
optical projection system 10 onto domes of varying radii, shown by 20′. For example, domes of radii from 4 to 8 meters may be accommodated. In order to maintain low distortion with constant angle of separation, hemisphericaloptical projection system 10 is preferably mounted at the center of theinner dome surface 20 a so as to radially project the array of pixels onto the inner dome surface. - Still referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the hemispherical
optical projection system 10 includes means for tilting thehemispherical projection 12 having a constant angular separation among adjacent pixels, so that the constant angular separationhemispherical projecting system 10 projects the array of pixels onto a plurality of selectable positions on theinner dome surface 20 a. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B,projector 14 may be pivotally mounted onbase 16 usingpivot 18.Base 16 is located on thefloor 24 ofdome 20.Pivot 18 may allow pivoting within a plane or in multiple planes. The design ofpivot 18 is known to those skilled in the art and need not be described further herein. - By incorporating tilting means, the optical projection system can project vertically upward in a planetarium projection as shown in FIG. 1A or may project at an angle (for example 45 degrees) from vertical in a theater projection position, as shown in FIG. 1B. Typically, when projecting in a planetarium style, as shown in FIG. 1A, the
audience area 22 surrounds theprojection system 10. In contrast, when projecting theater style, theaudience area 22′ is typically behind theoptical projection system 10 and theaudience area 22′ is raised so the audience can see the entire field of view in front of them. Thus, different audience configurations are accommodated. -
Dome 20 is preferably constructed for portability and ease of assembly and disassembly. A preferred construction fordome 20 is described in copending application Ser. No. ______ to the present inventors filed Jan. 29, 1996, entitled “Multi-Pieced, Portable Projection Dome and Method of Assembling the Same” and assigned to the assignee of the present application (Attorney Docket 8390-3), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. - Referring now to FIG. 2, a schematic representation of
projector 14 is shown.Projector 14 may include a single light path for projecting gray scale images, a single light path for projecting color images, or separate red, green and blue light paths which are combined and projected, as will be described below.Projector 14 generally includesimage generating optics 30 and a projectinglens assembly 60. -
Image generating optics 30 includes alight source 32 for providing high intensity red, green and blue light along respective red, green and bluelight paths 34 a, 34 b and 34 c. As shown in FIG. 2,light source 32 includes a high intensity source of light such asarc lamp 36 and red andgreen notch filters 38 a and 38 b respectively, to reflect one color only. One ormore mirrors 42 a, 42 b are used to reflect the light into the appropriate light paths as necessary. It will be understood that separate monochromatic sources (such as lasers) may also be used, rather than a single polychromatic (white) source and notch filters. - Continuing with the description of FIG. 2,
image generating optics 30 includes three polarizing beam splitters 44 a, 44 b and 44 c respectively in the red, green and bluelight paths 34 a, 34 b and 34 c. Each polarizing beam splitter 44 a-44 c reflects light which is linearly polarized orthogonal to the plane of FIG. 2 and transmits light which is linearly polarized in the plane of FIG. 2. Accordingly, light which is linearly polarized orthogonal to the plane of FIG. 2 is reflected from the respective polarizing beam splitter 44 a, 44 b, 44 c to the respective image source 46 a, 46 b, 46 c. Furthermore, light which is linearly polarized in the plane of FIG. 2 is transmitted from respective polarizing beam splitter 44 a, 44 b, 44 c to the respective image source 47 a, 47 b, 47 c. - As shown, each image source46 a-c and 47 a-c can be a reflective liquid crystal display such as a twisted neiuatic or terroelectric liquid crystal display. An example of a suitable ferroelectric liquid crystal display is the model DR0256B marketed by Displaytech, Inc. As will be understood by one having skill in the art, the liquid crystal display is divided into an array of individually addressable pixels. Each pixel is capable of rotating the polarization vector of light incident thereon by zero or ninety degrees. In a twisted nematic liquid crystal display, the crystals for each pixel rotate polarization by zero degrees or ninety degrees, with the intensity of the image governing the proportion of the light which is rotated by ninety degrees. For example, the lowest intensity image may rotate none of the incident light by ninety degrees, and the highest intensity image may rotate all of the incident light by ninety degrees. In a ferroelectric liquid crystal display, light from the image rotates the polarization of the incident light of the entire pixel by ninety degrees. The duty cycle of the image may be varied to control the proportion of the time in which polarization is rotated by ninety degrees. For example, the lowest intensity light may have a zero duty cycle, so that the incident light polarization is not rotated at all. The highest intensity light can have a duty cycle of one hundred percent, so that the polarization of the incident light is rotated by ninety degrees for the entire time period. An image controller 49 provides image signals, such as a driving voltage amplitude or duty cycle, to each of the image sources 46 a-c and 47 a-c so that the array of pixels for each image source represents at least a portion of an image.
- Referring to polarizing beam splitter44 a together with image sources 46 a and 47 a, for example, the light incident on image source 46 a is linearly polarized orthogonal to the plane of FIG. 2, while the light incident on image source 47 a is linearly polarized in the plane of FIG. 2. The light reflected from each pixel of image sources 46 a and 47 a is rotated by an amount determined by the intensity or duty cycle of that pixel. As before, light which is linearly polarized orthogonal to the plane of FIG. 2 is reflected from the polarizing beam splitter 44 a, and light which is linearly polarized in the plane of FIG. 2 is transmitted by the polarizing beam splitter 44 a.
- Accordingly, the light54 a which emerges from the polarizing beam splitter 44 a includes a plurality of pixels, and each pixel includes first and second orthogonally polarized components. The first component of a pixel of light 54 a is linearly polarized in the plane of FIG. 2, and the intensity of this component is determined by amplitude or the duty cycle of the driving voltage to the respective pixel of image source 46 a. The second component of a pixel of light 54 a is polarized orthogonal to the plane of FIG. 2, and the intensity of this component is determined by the amplitude or the duty cycle of the driving voltage to the respective pixel of image source 47 a.
- For example, a darkest pixel on a twisted nematic liquid crystal display46 a causes zero degrees of polarization rotation (i.e. rotates none of the light by ninety degrees) and the light reflected from this darkest pixel is thus completely reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 44 a away from light beam 54 a, while a brightest pixel on liquid crystal display 46 a causes ninety degrees of polarization rotption (i.e. rotates all of the light by ninety degrees) and the light reflected from this brightest pixel is thus completely transmitted through the polarizing beam splitter 44 a to light 54 a. Conversely, a darkest pixel on liquid crystal display 47 a causes zero degrees of polarization rotation (i.e. rotates none of the light by ninety degrees) and the light reflected from this darkest pixel is thus completely transmitted by polarizing beam splitter away from light beam 54 a, while a brightest pixel on liquid crystal display 46 a causes ninety degrees of polarization rotation (i.e. rotates all of the light by ninety degrees) and the light reflected from this brightest pixel is thus completely reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 44 a to light 54 a.
- By providing the same image on image sources46 a and 47 a, the intensity of light 54 a can be doubled as compared to a system wherein only one image source is used. Accordingly, a projected image can be more brightly displayed. Alternately, by providing slightly different images on image sources 46 a and 47 a representing right and left eye views, light 54 a can be projected to provide a three dimensional image. For example, a viewer can wear glasses with orthogonal polarization filters to see the projected three-dimensional image. This feature may be particularly advantageous for virtual reality applications. In yet another alternative, images which are offset by one another by less than a pixel can be provided, to provide enhanced resolution of the combined image.
- The discussion of the operation of image sources46 a and 47 a together with polarizing beam splitter 44 a also applies to the operation of images sources 46 b and 47 b together with polarizing beam splitter 44 b, as well as to the operation of image sources 46 c and 47 c together with polarizing beam splitter 44 c. As previously discussed, each polarizing beam splitter 44 a-c of FIG. 2 is arranged to receive light of a different color. In particular, light path 34 a provides red light to polarizing beam splitter 44 a,
light path 34 b provides green light to polarizing beam splitter 44 b, and light path 34 c provides blue light to polarizing beam splitter 44 c. - The light54 a-c that emerges from respective polarizing beam splitters 44 a-c is thus respectively colored red, green and blue. A second set of
notch filters light path 58. The combined light path enters alens assembly 60 which projects the combined light onto a hemispherical surface at a projection angle of at least 160 degrees and a constant angular separation θ (e.g. 13.7 arcminutes) between adjacent pixels. Accordingly, each projected pixel includes a red component with orthogonal first and second polarizations, a green component with orthogonal first and second polarizations, and a blue component with orthogonal first and second polarizations. - Still referring to FIG. 2,
lens assembly 60 includes three elements: a collimatinglens assembly 62, a wavefront shapinglens assembly 64 and ameniscus lens assembly 66. - The collimating lens assembly includes at least three
collimating lenses 62 a, 62 b, 62 c. Each collimating lens includes an index of refraction and a dispersion. Each of the collimating lenses has a common ratio of index of refraction to dispersion. Stated differently, all three lenses lie on a common line when plotted on an index of refraction versus dispersion graph, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Lenses 62 a and 62 c are relatively high index and low dispersion glasses (SF4 and BASF10) respectively.Lens 62 b is a low index, high dispersion glass (BAK4). The outer glasses 62 a and 62 c preferably closely match those specified in a paper by Shafer entitled “Simple Method for Designing Lenses”, Proceedings of the SPIE, Volume 237, pages 234-241, 1980, for using concentric and aplanatic surfaces to minimize field aberrations. Table I illustrates the perforrmaince of thecollimating lenses 62 a-62 c. The surfaces are labeled in FIG. 2.TABLE 1 Surface SPHA COMA ASTI FCUR DIST CLA CTR 103 0.19905 −0.05074 0.01293 0.01930 −0.00822 −0.10168 0.02592 104 −0.14528 0.01565 −0.00169 −0.00552 0.00078 0.11196 −0.01206 105 −0.14321 −0.02453 −0.00420 −0.00323 −0.00127 0.05596 0.00959 106 0.12541 0.05146 0.02111 0.01544 0.01500 −0.05722 −0.02348 Total 0.03597 −0.00816 0.02815 0.02599 0.00629 0.00902 −0.00003 - As shown, the lenses have low color aberration and modest coma and astigmatism. Glass choice allows good color correction while maintaining near concentric/aplanatic conditions on the first and last surfaces.
- Wavefront shaping
lens assembly 64 includes lenses to correct aberrations caused bymeniscus lens assembly 66. In particular, theassembly 64 differentially affects wavefronts at different field points. Thus, on-axis field differential color correction and wavefront shaping is applied, compared to off-axis. - The meniscus lens assembly includes at least one meniscus lens. As known to those having skill in the art, a meniscus lens is a concavo-convex lens. The
meniscus lens assembly 66 performs two functions. First, it diverges the light such that the angular separation betweenbeams 12 a-12 n from adjacent pixels is nearly constant regardless of where the pixels are in the object plane. This reduces or eliminates unnatural distortion on the domed image. In particular, when theoptical projection system 10 is mounted in the center of curvature of the dome, the angular separation may be maintained constant and thereby eliminate the need for distortion correction. If the optics are located off the dome center of curvature, the angular separation may need to vary to produce distortion-free images. - The
meniscus lens assembly 66 also decreases the overall focal length of the system, thereby creating a very large depth of focus. Accordingly, the same lens assembly can be used across a wide range of dome sizes from about four meters to about eight meters. When combined with a constant angular separation between projected pixels, the same optical projection system may be used in all domes. Off-center curvature projection lens may have a large depth of focus, but their pixel angular separation generally must change with dome size. - In the
optical projector 14 described above, the need to place and align the optical components may require thelens assembly 60 to be spaced from the liquid crystal layer 46 more than in conventional projection lenses. In particular, as shown in FIG. 2, the distance L between the liquid crystal layer 46 b and the first lens 62 c inlens assembly 60 is more than six times the size of the array of pixels on reflective liquid crystal displays 46 b and 47 b. Nonetheless, the lens assembly projects the array ofimage pixels 12 from the image sources such as reflective liquid crystal displays 46 a-c and 47 a-c to a hemispherical surface at a projection angle of at least 160 degrees. - In order to further provide a complete description of the present invention, complete lens specifications for projecting
lens assembly 60 are provided below. The surfaces are labelled in FIG. 2.Surfaces: 25 Stop Surface: 107 System Aperture: Object Space Numerical Aperture Apodization: Uniform, factor = 0.000000 Effective Focal Length: 15.1415 (in air) Effective Focal Length: 15.1415 (in image space) Total Track (i.e. distance from image plane to object plane): 4325.92 Image Space F/#: 0.139349 Working F/#: 180.221 Object Space Numerical Aperture: 0.1 Stop Radius: 23.0427 Entrance Pupil Diameter: 108.659 Entrance Pupil Position: 538.573 Exit Pupil Diameter: 3.04199 Exit Pupil Position: −3646.38 Field Type: Object height in Millimeters Primary Wave: 0.588000 Lens Units: Millimeters Wavelengths: 3 Units: Microns Channel Value Weight 34a 0.486000 1.000000 34b 0.588000 1.000000 34c 0.656000 1.000000 Fields: 3 Object Space: 0 mm 11 mm 22.86 mm Image Space: 0° 43° 87.5° - A surface data summary is also provided in Table II below. The surfaces are identified in FIG. 2 at102-119.
TABLE II SURFACE DATA SUMMARY: Surface Type Radius Thickness, mm Glass Diameter Conic Liquid crystal 46 STANDARD Infinity 2 0 0 101 STANDARD Infinity 90 BK7 80 0 102 STANDARD −220 200 80 0 103 STANDARD 118.7 7 SF4 53 0 104 STANDARD 67.6 19 BAK4 53 0 105 STANDARD −53.357 6.2 BASF10 53 0 106 STANDARD −135.36 3 53 0 107-STOP STANDARD Infinity 190.6115 46.05922 0 108 STANDARD −310.083 16 F2 61 0 109 STANDARD −39.12 5.5 SK16 61 0 110 STANDARD 66.8 3.1 61 0 111 STANDARD 74.22 13 SF6 64 0 112 STANDARD 314.2 79.25666 64 0 113 STANDARD −93.22 6 SK16 93 0 114 STANDARD 60.77 22 F2 93 0 115 STANDARD 548.2 33 93 0 116 STANDARD −52.92 7 SK16 96 0 117 STANDARD −216.18 36.25 144 0 118 STANDARD −72.867 14 SF6 136 0 119 STANDARD −206.2 3575 234 0 DOME SURFACE 20aSTANDARD Infinity 0.002 0 - Furthermore, it may be desirable to project light which includes orthogonal circular polarizations as opposed to the orthogonal linear polarizations discussed above. Accordingly, a quarter wavelength retardation plate can be included in each
output light path 54 a-c from each polarizing beam splitter 44 a-c. - An alternate embodiment of the
projector 14′ of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4. Thelens assembly 60 is the same as that discussed above with regard to FIG. 2. Theimage generating optics 30′, however, includes only one polarizing beam splitter 44′ and associated image sources 46′ and 47′. The light source includesarc lamp 36 andcolor wheel 70 with respective red, green and blue filter portions 70 a, 70 b, and 70 c. Accordingly, as thecolor wheel 70 spins in the path of light from thearc lamp 36, thelight path 34′ to the polarizing beam splitter 44′ sequentially provides red, green, and blue light. For example, if the color wheel spins at 180 Hz, thelight path 34′ can provide red light for 1.85 milliseconds, followed by green light for 1.85 milliseconds, followed by blue light for 1.85 milliseconds. - As the color of the light from
light path 34′ changes, the images at image sources 46′ and 47′ also change so that a red image is generated when red light is provided, a green image is generated when green light is provided, and a blue image is generated when blue light is provided. As before, the image generated by each image source is controlled by image controller 49′. In this embodiment, the image controller 49′ may also control the rotation of thecolor wheel 70. Accordingly, the image controller 49′ may synchronize the rotation of the color wheel with the images generated by the image sources. Alternately, independent control of the color wheel and the images may be provided. By rotating the three sector wheel at 180 HZ, each color is provided 60 times a second. This frequency is well beyond that which is detectable by the human eye so that there is no substantial visible flicker in the projection generated by theprojection system 14′. - The polarizing beam splitter44′ and image sources 46′ and 47′ operate as discussed above with regard to FIG. 2 with the exception that the
light path 34′ into the polarizing beam splitter 44′ sequentially provides light of each of the three primary colors at different times. Accordingly, thelight path 54′ out of the polarizing beam splitter 44′ sequentially includes red images, green images, and blue images at different times. By alternating these red, green, and blue images at a sufficiently high frequency, the flicker will be substantially undetectable by the human eye. When projected, these images can blend into a single full color projection. - The embodiment of FIG. 4 has the advantage that the number of polarizing beam splitters and image sources for a color projection system can be cut by a third as compared to the embodiment of FIG. 2. Furthermore, the notch filters38 a-b and 56 a-b and mirrors 42 a-b of FIG. 2 can also be eliminated. This reduction in parts is accommodated by changing the images generated by image sources 46′ and 47′ at three times the frequency required by the embodiment of FIG. 2, and by synchronizing the rotation of the
color wheel 70 with the changing of the images. - Another alternate embodiment of the
projector 14″ of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 5. Thelamp 36 provides randomly-polarized white light alonglight path 34″. Accordingly, white light which is linearly polarized orthogonal to the plane of FIG. 5 is reflected from polarizing beam splitter 44″ to image source 46″, and white light which is linearly polarized in the plane of FIG. 5 is transmitted by polarizing beam splitter 44″ to imagesource 47″. - In this embodiment,
multi-color filters 55 are provided between each of the image sources 46″ and 47″ and the polarizing beam splitter 44″. Suitable multi-color filters are marketed by Sanritz and others. Each of themulti-color filters 55 includes a plurality of single color filters, and each of these single color filters is aligned with a respective pixel of the respective image source 46″ or 47″. Approximately a third of the single color filters transmit red light, approximately a third of the single color filters transmit green light, and approximately a third of the single color filters transmit blue light. - A third of the pixels of each image source are thus associated with the simultaneous projection of images of each of the primary colors. Accordingly, full color images can be projected without the need for the multiple polarizing beam splitters of FIG. 2 or the color wheel and synchronization of FIG. 4. The
light path 54″, out of the polarizing beam splitter 44″ simultaneously includes components of all three colors. The image controller 49″ thus provides red, green and blue image components to the image sources 46″ and 47″ simultaneously. That is, a third of the pixels associated with the red single color filters generate the red image component, a third of the pixels associated with the green single color filters generate the green image component, and a third of the pixels associated with the blue single color filters generate the blue image component. - To this point, the image sources46 and 47 have been discussed as being reflective liquid crystal displays such as ferroelectric liquid crystal displays. Alternately the image sources can include a liquid crystal layer and an image generator as discussed in parent application Ser. No. ______ entitled “Tiltable Hemispherical Optical Projection Systems And Methods Having Constant Angular Separation Of Projected Pixels” to Colucci et al. filed Jan. 29, 1996.
- As is well known to those having skill in the art, the liquid crystal layers generally include an unrestricted, non-pixillated layer of nematic liquid crystal which is capable of rotating the polarization vector of light incident thereon by ninety degrees. The amount of light which is rotated by ninety degrees is determined by the intensity of an image which is projected onto the liquid crystal layer. Image generators project an array of image pixels onto the respective liquid crystal layer. Image generators may be a cathode ray tube, a field emitter array or any other two dimensional image array. The array of pixels from the image includes a predetermined height and predetermined width.
- In yet another alternative, the image sources can be transmissive
liquid crystal displays 73 and 74 as shown in FIG. 6. Suitable transmissive liquid crystal displays are marketed by Kopin and others. When using transmissive liquid crystal displays, a firstpolarizing beam splitter 75 splits randomly polarized light from inputlight path 76 so that light which is linearly polarized orthogonal to the plane of FIG. 6 is reflected to transmissiveliquid crystal display 73, and light that is linearly polarized in the plane of FIG. 6 is transmitted to transmissive liquid crystal display 74. - Each transmissive liquid crystal display includes an array of pixels, with the intensity of each pixel being determined independently by the
image controller 80. The polarized light from thepolarizing beam splitter 75 passes through the transmissiveliquid crystal displays 77 and 78. In particular, the polarization of a percentage of the light passing through each pixel is rotated by ninety degrees as a function of the intensity of that pixel. The light transmitted by each of the transmissive liquid crystal displays is reflected byrespective mirrors 77 and 78 to a secondpolarizing beam splitter 79 which serves to combine the transmitted light from each of the transmissive liquid crystal displays into theoutput light path 81. The output light path thus includes pixels having two collimated beams with orthogonal polarizations. - As will be understood by one having skill in the art, the transmissive liquid crystal display assembly of FIG. 6 can be used in place of the respective reflective liquid display assembly of FIGS. 2, 4, and5. If used in the projection system of FIG. 2, a transmissive liquid crystal display assembly can be substituted for each of the three combinations of a polarizing beam splitter 44 with two reflective
liquid crystal displays 46 and 47. If used in the projection system of FIG. 4, a transmissive is liquid crystal display assembly can be substituted for the combination of the polarizing beam splitter 44′ and the reflective liquid crystal displays 46′ and 47′. - If used in the projection system of FIG. 5, a transmissive liquid crystal display assembly can be substituted for the combination of the polarizing beam splitter44″ and the reflective liquid crystal displays 46″ and 47″. In this application,
multi-color filters 55 may also be required adjacent each transmissive liquid crystal display as will be understood by one having skill in the art. - In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.
Claims (39)
1. A dual polarization optical projection system, comprising:
a first image source comprising a first array of image pixels wherein said first image source generates a first pixel image having a first polarization;
a second image source comprising a second array of image pixels wherein said second image source generates a second pixel image having a second polarization orthogonal to said first polarization; and
combining means for combining said first pixel image having said first polarization with said second pixel image having said second polarization to form a combined pixel image, such that each pixel of said combined pixel image corresponds to a combination of a first pixel from said first array of image pixels having said first polarization and a second pixel from said second array of image pixels having said second polarization.
2. A dual polarization optical projection system according to wherein said first and second pixel images comprise the same image so that the combined pixel image has an increased intensity.
claim 1
3. A dual polarization optical projection system according to wherein said first and second pixel images comprise different images so that the combined pixel image is a three-dimensional image.
claim 1
4. A dual polarization optical projection system according to wherein said first and second pixel images comprise the same image, offset from one another by a sub-pixel, so that the combined pixel image is of higher resolution than said first and second pixel images.
claim 1
5. A dual polarization optical projection system according to wherein each of said first and second image sources comprises a respective reflective liquid crystal display.
claim 1
6. A dual polarization optical projection system according to wherein each of said first and second image sources comprises a respective transmissive liquid crystal display.
claim 1
7. A dual polarization optical projection system according to wherein each of said first and second image sources comprises a respective liquid crystal layer and an image generator for generating an image on said liquid crystal layer.
claim 1
8. A dual polarization optical projection system according to further comprising:
claim 1
constant angular separation hemispherical projecting means, for projecting said combined pixel image into a hemispherical projection having constant angular separation among adjacent pixels, such that said dual polarization optical projection system projects said combined pixel image onto hemispherical surfaces of varying radii without requiring spatial distortion correction of said first and second arrays of image pixels.
9. A dual polarization optical projection system according to further comprising:
claim 8
a dome including a truncated spherical inner dome surface, said constant angular separation hemispherical projecting means being mounted at the center of said dome to radially project said combined pixel image onto said inner dome surface.
10. A dual polarization optical projection system according to further comprising:
claim 1
means for projecting said combined pixel image from said combining means onto a hemispherical surface at a projection angle of at least 160 degrees; and
means for tilting at least part of said projecting means, such that said projecting means projects said combined pixel image in one of a plurality of selectable positions.
11. A dual polarization optical projection system according to wherein each of said first and second pixel images has a common image size, said projection system further comprising:
claim 1
a projection lens assembly which projects said combined pixel image onto a hemispherical surface at a projection angle of at least 160 degrees, said lens assembly being spaced apart from said first and second image sources by a separation distance which is at least six times said image size.
12. A dual polarization optical projection system according to further comprising:
claim 1
a first filter adjacent said first image source, said first filter comprising a first color portion adjacent a first pixel of said first image source which selectively passes a first color of light, and a second color portion adjacent a second pixel of said first image source which selectively passes a second color of light; and
a second filter adjacent said second image source, said second filter comprising a first color portion adjacent a first pixel of said second image source which selectively passes said first color of light, and a second color portion adjacent a second pixel of said second image source which selectively passes said second color of light so that said combined pixel image includes said first and second colors.
13. A dual polarization optical projection system according to further comprising:
claim 1
a multi-color light source which provides light having a first color to said first and second image sources during a first predetermined time period and which provides light having a second color to said first and second image sources during a second predetermined time period so that said combined pixel image includes said first color during said first predetermined time period and includes said second color during said second predetermined time period.
14. A dual polarization optical projection system according to further comprising:
claim 1
a single color light source which provides light having a single color to said first and second image sources.
15. A dual polarization projection system comprising:
a source of light which projects a first polarized light having a first polarization along a first light path, and which projects a second polarized light having a second polarization orthogonal to said first polarization along a second light path;
a first image source including a first array of image pixels in said first light path which selectively rotates a polarization vector of said first polarized light in response to an intensity of the image pixels;
a second image source including a second array of image pixels in said second light path which selectively rotates a polarization vector of said second polarized light in response to an intensity of the image pixels;
first polarizing filter means in said first light path, downstream of said first image source, for attenuating light from said first light path as a function of polarization;
second polarizing filter means in said second light path, downstream of said second image source, for attenuating light from said second light path as a function of polarization; and
combining means for combining light from said first and second attenuated light paths into a combined light path.
16. A dual polarization projection system according to wherein said source of polarized light includes;
claim 15
a high intensity source of randomly polarized light; and
a polarizing beam splitter which projects said first polarized light having said first polarization along said first light path to said first image source, and which projects said second polarized light having said second polarization along said second light path to said second image source.
17. A dual polarization projection system according to further comprising:
claim 15
a lens assembly in said combined light path downstream of said combining means which projects light from said combined light path onto a hemispherical surface at a projection angle of at least 160 degrees.
18. A dual polarization projection system according to wherein said lens assembly comprises:
claim 17
a collimating lens assembly in said combined light path downstream of said combiner; and
a meniscus lens assembly in said combined light path downstream of said collimating lens assembly, to project the collimated light into an angular projection of at least 160 degrees.
19. A dual polarization projection system according to wherein said collimating lens assembly comprises at least three lenses arranged along said optical path, each of said lenses including an index of refraction and a dispersion, each of the three lenses having a common ratio of index of refraction to dispersion.
claim 18
20. A dual polarization projection system, according to wherein said lens assembly projects said combined array of image pixels into a hemispherical projection having constant angular separation among adjacent pixels, such that said hemispherical optical projection system projects said array of pixels onto hemispherical surfaces of varying radii without requiring spatial distortion correction of said array of image pixels.
claim 17
21. A dual polarization optical projection system according to wherein said first and second image sources each comprise a respective reflective liquid crystal display.
claim 15
22. A dual polarization optical projection system according to wherein said first and second image sources each comprise a respective transmissive liquid crystal display.
claim 15
23. A dual polarization optical projection system according to wherein said first and second image sources each comprise a respective liquid crystal layer and-image generator for generating an image on said liquid crystal layer.
claim 15
24. A dual polarization optical projection system according to further comprising:
claim 15
a dome including a truncated spherical inner dome surface, and a lens assembly mounted at the center of said dome to radially project said combined array of pixels onto said inner dome surface.
25. A dual polarization optical projection system according to further comprising:
claim 24
means for tilting at least part of said lens assembly, such that said optical projection system projects said combined array of pixels onto a plurality of selectable positions on said inner dome surface.
26. A dual polarization optical projection system according to wherein each of said arrays of image pixels has an image size, and wherein said lens assembly is spaced apart from each of said image sources by a separation distance which is at least six times said image size.
claim 24
27. A dual polarization optical projection system according to further comprising:
claim 15
a first filter adjacent said first image source, said first filter comprising a first color portion adjacent a first pixel of said first image source which selectively passes a first color of light, and a second color portion adjacent a second pixel of said first image source which selectively passes a second color of light; and
a second filter adjacent said second image source, said second filter comprising a first color portion adjacent a first pixel of said second image source which selectively passes said first color of light, and a second color portion adjacent a second pixel of said second image source which selectively passes said second color of light so that said combined pixel image includes said first and second colors.
28. A dual polarization optical projection system according to further comprising:
claim 15
a multi-color light source which provides light having a first color to said first and second image sources during a first predetermined time period and which provides light having a second color to said first and second image sources during a second predetermined time period so that said combined pixel image includes said first color during said first predetermined time period and includes said second color during said second predetermined time period.
29. A dual polarization optical projection system according to further comprising:
claim 15
a single color light source which provides light having a single color to said first and second image sources.
30. A dual polarization optical projection method, comprising the steps of:
generating a first pixel image having a first polarization;
generating a second pixel image having a second polarization orthogonal to said first polarization; and
combining said first pixel image having said first polarization with said second pixel image having said second polarization to form a combined pixel image, such that each pixel of said combined pixel image corresponds to a combination of a first pixel from said first pixel image having said first polarization and a corresponding second pixel from said second pixel image having said second polarization.
31. A dual polarization optical projection method according to wherein said first and second pixel images comprise the same image so that the combined pixel image has an increased intensity.
claim 30
32. A dual polarization optical projection method according to wherein said first and second pixel images comprise different images so that the combined pixel image is a three-dimensional image.
claim 30
33. A dual polarization optical projection method according to wherein said first and second pixel image comprise the same image, offset from one another by a sub-pixel, so that the combined pixel image is of higher resolution than said first and second pixel images.
claim 30
34. A dual polarization optical projection method according to further comprising the step of:
claim 30
projecting said combined pixel image into a hemispherical projection having constant angular separation among adjacent pixels, such that said dual polarization optical projection method projects said combined pixel image onto hemispherical surfaces of varying radii without requiring spatial distortion correction of said first and second pixel images.
35. A dual polarization optical projection method according to further comprising the steps of:
claim 30
projecting said combined pixel image onto a hemispherical surface at a projection angle of at least 160 degrees; and
tilting said combined pixel image in one of a plurality of selectable positions.
36. A dual polarization projection method comprising tile steps of:
projecting a first polarized light having a first polarization along a first light path; and
projecting a second polarized light having a second polarization orthogonal to said first polarization along a second light path;
selectively rotating a polarization vector of said first polarized light in response to an intensity of a first array of image pixels;
selectively rotating a polarization vector of said second polarized light in response to an intensity of a second array of image pixels;
attenuating light from said first light path as a function of polarization;
attenuating light from said second light path as a function of polarization; and
combining light from said first and second attenuated light paths into a combined light path.
37. A dual polarization projection method according to further comprising the step of:
claim 36
projecting light from said combined light path onto a hemispherical surface at a projection angle of at least 160 degrees.
38. A dual polarization projection method, according to further comprising the step of:
claim 36
projecting said combined array of image pixels into a hemispherical projection having constant angular separation among adjacent pixels, to project said array of pixels onto hemispherical surfaces of varying radii without requiring spatial distortion correction of said array of image pixels.
39. A dual polarization optical projection method according to further comprising the step of:
claim 36
tilting at least part of said combined light path onto a plurality of selectable positions on said inner dome surface.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/824,139 US20010033365A1 (en) | 1996-01-29 | 2001-04-02 | Dual polarization optical projection systems and methods |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/593,699 US5762413A (en) | 1996-01-29 | 1996-01-29 | Tiltable hemispherical optical projection systems and methods having constant angular separation of projected pixels |
US08/618,442 US6231189B1 (en) | 1996-01-29 | 1996-03-19 | Dual polarization optical projection systems and methods |
US09/824,139 US20010033365A1 (en) | 1996-01-29 | 2001-04-02 | Dual polarization optical projection systems and methods |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US08/618,442 Continuation US6231189B1 (en) | 1996-01-29 | 1996-03-19 | Dual polarization optical projection systems and methods |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20010033365A1 true US20010033365A1 (en) | 2001-10-25 |
Family
ID=27081775
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US08/618,442 Expired - Fee Related US6231189B1 (en) | 1996-01-29 | 1996-03-19 | Dual polarization optical projection systems and methods |
US09/824,139 Abandoned US20010033365A1 (en) | 1996-01-29 | 2001-04-02 | Dual polarization optical projection systems and methods |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US08/618,442 Expired - Fee Related US6231189B1 (en) | 1996-01-29 | 1996-03-19 | Dual polarization optical projection systems and methods |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US6231189B1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2990297A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1997029402A2 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070159607A1 (en) * | 2006-01-11 | 2007-07-12 | Konica Minolta Planetarium Co., Ltd. | Digital planetarium apparatus |
US20120008103A1 (en) * | 2006-10-06 | 2012-01-12 | Iglobe Inc. | Ray Casting for Coherent Light Internal Projection Systems |
Families Citing this family (24)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6698900B1 (en) * | 1999-09-21 | 2004-03-02 | Audio Visual Imagineering, Inc. | Reverse projection system for moving imagery |
KR100727905B1 (en) | 2000-06-26 | 2007-06-14 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Projection type image display apparatus |
US6905218B2 (en) * | 2001-04-12 | 2005-06-14 | Luc Courchesne | Panoramic and horizontally immersive image display system and method |
US6871961B2 (en) * | 2001-09-20 | 2005-03-29 | Elumens Corporation | Systems and methods for tiling multiple projectors to form an image |
WO2003087884A2 (en) * | 2002-04-15 | 2003-10-23 | Yitzhak Weissman | Stereoscopic display apparatus particularly useful with lcd projectors |
US20050037843A1 (en) * | 2003-08-11 | 2005-02-17 | William Wells | Three-dimensional image display for a gaming apparatus |
US7857700B2 (en) * | 2003-09-12 | 2010-12-28 | Igt | Three-dimensional autostereoscopic image display for a gaming apparatus |
EP1673946A1 (en) * | 2003-10-16 | 2006-06-28 | THOMSON Licensing | Pixel shifting color projection system |
US20060071901A1 (en) * | 2004-10-05 | 2006-04-06 | Feldman Mark G | Graphic illumination for contact-less control |
WO2006108141A2 (en) * | 2005-04-06 | 2006-10-12 | Elumens Corporation | Optical projection system and methods for configuring the same |
FR2884992B1 (en) * | 2005-04-22 | 2007-06-08 | Thales Sa | METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZATION AND SERVICING IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS |
CN101180873B (en) * | 2005-04-26 | 2012-02-29 | 图象公司 | Electronic projection systems and methods |
JP2006319147A (en) * | 2005-05-13 | 2006-11-24 | Hitachi Koki Co Ltd | Laser marking machine |
EP1915494A4 (en) * | 2005-07-29 | 2017-02-01 | The Elumenati, LLC | Dual pressure inflatable structure and method |
US7878910B2 (en) * | 2005-09-13 | 2011-02-01 | Igt | Gaming machine with scanning 3-D display system |
WO2007047682A2 (en) * | 2005-10-14 | 2007-04-26 | Learning Technologies, Inc. | Wede angle lens assembly for projector and an optical system having such a lens and projector |
EP1987679B1 (en) * | 2006-02-21 | 2010-05-12 | Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd. | Image display apparatus and image distortion correction method of the same |
US7621647B1 (en) | 2006-06-23 | 2009-11-24 | The Elumenati, Llc | Optical projection system and method of use |
US8646918B2 (en) | 2009-01-30 | 2014-02-11 | Old Dominion University Research Foundation | Projection system |
US8210686B2 (en) * | 2009-01-30 | 2012-07-03 | Old Dominion University Research Foundation | Projection system |
CN104042617A (en) | 2009-04-29 | 2014-09-17 | 阿马里纳药物爱尔兰有限公司 | Pharmaceutical Compositions Comprising Epa And A Cardiovascular Agent And Methods Of Using The Same |
US9465283B2 (en) * | 2009-11-06 | 2016-10-11 | Applied Minds, Llc | System for providing an enhanced immersive display environment |
EP3884341A4 (en) | 2018-11-19 | 2022-06-01 | Flightsafety International Inc. | Method and apparatus for remapping pixel locations |
EP3884343A4 (en) * | 2018-11-20 | 2022-08-31 | Flightsafety International Inc. | Rear projection simulator with freeform fold mirror |
Family Cites Families (40)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3904289A (en) | 1975-01-10 | 1975-09-09 | Us Navy | Flight simulator visual display system |
US3961334A (en) * | 1975-08-11 | 1976-06-01 | The Singer Company | Combined laser recording and color projection system |
US4131345A (en) | 1977-10-27 | 1978-12-26 | The Singer Company | Visible light projection device |
US4573924A (en) | 1983-11-14 | 1986-03-04 | Gq Defence Equipment Limited | Target image presentation system |
US4588382A (en) | 1984-01-26 | 1986-05-13 | The Singer Company | Wide angle area-of-interest visual image projection system |
US4597633A (en) | 1985-02-01 | 1986-07-01 | Fussell Charles H | Image reception system |
US4763280A (en) | 1985-04-29 | 1988-08-09 | Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp. | Curvilinear dynamic image generation system |
JPH01106689A (en) * | 1987-10-20 | 1989-04-24 | Nec Corp | Stereo projecting type display device |
US5274405A (en) | 1987-11-17 | 1993-12-28 | Concept Vision Systems, Inc. | Wide angle viewing system |
US5300942A (en) | 1987-12-31 | 1994-04-05 | Projectavision Incorporated | High efficiency light valve projection system with decreased perception of spaces between pixels and/or hines |
JPH01201693A (en) * | 1988-02-08 | 1989-08-14 | Nec Corp | Projection type liquid crystal display device |
US5042921A (en) * | 1988-10-25 | 1991-08-27 | Casio Computer Co., Ltd. | Liquid crystal display apparatus |
JPH02153336A (en) * | 1988-12-05 | 1990-06-13 | Sharp Corp | Projection type liquid crystal display device |
US5004331A (en) | 1989-05-03 | 1991-04-02 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Catadioptric projector, catadioptric projection system and process |
US4964718A (en) | 1989-08-14 | 1990-10-23 | Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation | Optical corrector |
US5023725A (en) | 1989-10-23 | 1991-06-11 | Mccutchen David | Method and apparatus for dodecahedral imaging system |
CA2003661A1 (en) | 1989-11-22 | 1991-05-22 | William C. Shaw | Method and apparatus for presenting 3-d motion pictures |
KR930003307B1 (en) * | 1989-12-14 | 1993-04-24 | 주식회사 금성사 | Three dimensional projector |
US5071209A (en) | 1990-05-07 | 1991-12-10 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Variable acuity non-linear projection system |
US5537144A (en) | 1990-06-11 | 1996-07-16 | Revfo, Inc. | Electro-optical display system for visually displaying polarized spatially multiplexed images of 3-D objects for use in stereoscopically viewing the same with high image quality and resolution |
US5165013A (en) | 1990-09-26 | 1992-11-17 | Faris Sadeg M | 3-D stereo pen plotter |
US5502481A (en) | 1992-11-16 | 1996-03-26 | Reveo, Inc. | Desktop-based projection display system for stereoscopic viewing of displayed imagery over a wide field of view |
JP2575558Y2 (en) * | 1990-12-26 | 1998-07-02 | エルジー電子株式会社 | Optical system structure of liquid crystal projection display |
US5281960A (en) | 1991-11-19 | 1994-01-25 | Silhouette Technology, Inc. | Helmet mounted display |
FR2686427A1 (en) | 1992-01-20 | 1993-07-23 | Essilor Int | Optical combination and exposure device employing such a combination |
US5242306A (en) | 1992-02-11 | 1993-09-07 | Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp. | Video graphic system and process for wide field color display |
JPH05257110A (en) | 1992-03-13 | 1993-10-08 | Sharp Corp | Projection type liquid crystal display device |
US5394198A (en) | 1992-12-22 | 1995-02-28 | At&T Corp. | Large-screen display system |
JPH06202140A (en) | 1992-12-28 | 1994-07-22 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Display device |
US5617152A (en) * | 1993-06-20 | 1997-04-01 | Unic View Ltd. | Projector system for video and computer generated information |
JPH0764042A (en) | 1993-08-24 | 1995-03-10 | Hitachi Ltd | Extremely wide-angle liquid crystal projector system |
BE1007993A3 (en) * | 1993-12-17 | 1995-12-05 | Philips Electronics Nv | LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR A COLOR IMAGE PROJECTION DEVICE AND circular polarizer SUITABLE FOR USE IN SUCH A LIGHTING SYSTEM AND COLOR IMAGE PROJECTION DEVICE CONTAINING SUCH LIGHTING SYSTEM WITH circular polarizer. |
KR0130606B1 (en) * | 1994-07-30 | 1998-04-11 | 배순훈 | A 3-d projector |
IL113796A0 (en) * | 1995-05-19 | 1995-08-31 | Unic View Ltd | Projector |
US5601353A (en) | 1995-12-20 | 1997-02-11 | Interval Research Corporation | Panoramic display with stationary display device and rotating support structure |
US5762413A (en) * | 1996-01-29 | 1998-06-09 | Alternate Realities Corporation | Tiltable hemispherical optical projection systems and methods having constant angular separation of projected pixels |
US5826959A (en) * | 1996-05-09 | 1998-10-27 | Pioneer Electronic Corporation | Projection image display apparatus |
US5863125A (en) * | 1998-01-30 | 1999-01-26 | International Business Machines Corporation | High efficiency two-SLM projector employing total-internal-reflection prism |
DE19959582A1 (en) | 1999-12-10 | 2001-06-13 | Bayer Ag | Nucleic acids encoding new acetylcholine receptor beta subunits of insects |
JP2002275210A (en) | 2000-10-24 | 2002-09-25 | Mitsui Chemicals Inc | Oil-resistant rubber-modified polystyrene composition |
-
1996
- 1996-03-19 US US08/618,442 patent/US6231189B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1997
- 1997-01-21 WO PCT/US1997/000588 patent/WO1997029402A2/en active Application Filing
- 1997-01-21 AU AU29902/97A patent/AU2990297A/en not_active Abandoned
-
2001
- 2001-04-02 US US09/824,139 patent/US20010033365A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070159607A1 (en) * | 2006-01-11 | 2007-07-12 | Konica Minolta Planetarium Co., Ltd. | Digital planetarium apparatus |
US7748852B2 (en) * | 2006-01-11 | 2010-07-06 | Konica Minolta Planetarium Co., Ltd. | Digital planetarium apparatus |
US20120008103A1 (en) * | 2006-10-06 | 2012-01-12 | Iglobe Inc. | Ray Casting for Coherent Light Internal Projection Systems |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO1997029402A2 (en) | 1997-08-14 |
AU2990297A (en) | 1997-08-28 |
US6231189B1 (en) | 2001-05-15 |
WO1997029402A3 (en) | 1997-09-25 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US6231189B1 (en) | Dual polarization optical projection systems and methods | |
US5762413A (en) | Tiltable hemispherical optical projection systems and methods having constant angular separation of projected pixels | |
WO1997029402A9 (en) | Tiltable hemispherical optical projection systems and methods having constant angular separation of projected pixels | |
US6853491B1 (en) | Collimating optical member for real world simulation | |
US7150531B2 (en) | Autostereoscopic projection viewer | |
US4799765A (en) | Integrated head-up and panel display unit | |
US6989935B2 (en) | Optical arrangements for head mounted displays | |
US6533420B1 (en) | Apparatus and method for generating and projecting autostereoscopic images | |
US6847489B1 (en) | Head-mounted display and optical engine thereof | |
US6715885B2 (en) | Display device with screen having curved surface | |
JP4377629B2 (en) | Single center autostereoscopic display with wide color gamut | |
US20050030308A1 (en) | Three-dimensional display method and device therefor | |
CN106164743A (en) | Eyes optical projection system | |
JPH06175075A (en) | Picture display device | |
AU590835B2 (en) | Integrated head-up and panel display unit | |
US6191876B1 (en) | Light diffusion control by electrically reconfigurable holographic optical elements | |
US6040928A (en) | Holographic desktop monitor | |
US6935747B2 (en) | Image enhancement and aberration corrections in a small real image projection system | |
US6476944B1 (en) | Image-forming apparatus | |
US6301027B1 (en) | Holographic desktop monitor | |
US20230418068A1 (en) | Anamorphic directional illumination device | |
Eichenlaub | Multiperspective look-around autostereoscopic projection display using an ICFLCD | |
JPH07128614A (en) | Image display device | |
US20230418034A1 (en) | Anamorphic directional illumination device | |
US20230341758A1 (en) | Display system |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |