Sparse source array for display pixel array illumination with rotated far field plane

摘要

A pixel array display system including an illumination source of discrete emitters with uniform emitting areas, a separate collimator in front of each emitter, and a condenser in front of said collimators which focuses collimated light from the emitters onto the pixel array. The pixel array display system does not include a light homogenizing optical element such as a light pipe. Each emitter is focused onto at least 75 percent of the pixels. A portion of the emitters which provide collimated light cones proximate to a modulated light optical cone from the pixel array may be provided reduced power in a high contrast operating mode.

主权项

1. An image display system, comprising:
an illumination source including a plurality of discrete LED light emitters to produce light for an image of the image display system, said emitters having characteristic orthogonal lateral dimensions such that at least 75 percent of a total light emission from each of said emitters is emitted from an area spanned by said characteristic lateral dimensions, said emitters being laterally separated from each other by a distance which is at least five percent of a minimum value of said characteristic lateral dimensions; a plurality of collimators, such that a separate collimator is disposed in front of each of said emitters, so that light from each of said emitters is converted to an optical cone by each respective said collimator, so that principal axes of said optical cones are parallel to one another, and so that a combination of said optical cones provides an illumination optical cone; a condenser disposed in said optical cones of said collimators; and a micromirror array including a plurality of micromirrors, without a light homogenizing optical element between said illumination source and said micromirror array, disposed so that said condenser focuses said optical cones of said collimators onto said micromirror array so that each of said emitters is imaged onto at least 75 percent of said micromirrors; such that said micromirror array is substantially uniformly illuminated by said illumination source without said a light homogenizing optical element, and said micromirror array modulates light in said illumination optical cone and directs said modulated light into a modulated light optical cone for display of said image.