Optically efficient polarized projector

摘要

A pixel array display system which has an illumination source with a plurality of emitters in a sparse array, collimators in front of the emitters, a condenser lens downstream of the collimators, an optical homogenizing element downstream from the condenser lens, a relay lens downstream from the optical homogenizing element, a pixel array downstream from the relay lens, a rear group of lens elements of a projection lens downstream from the pixel array, a polarization converter stack downstream from the rear group of lens elements and a front group of lens elements of the projection lens downstream from the polarization converter stack, so that light from the emitters is imaged onto input apertures of the polarization converter stack.

主权项

1. A display system, comprising:
an illumination source containing a plurality of emitters spatially configured in a sparse array; a plurality of collimators disposed in front of said emitters, such that each emitter has a separate instance of said collimators is disposed in front thereof; a condenser lens disposed downstream from said plurality of collimators; an optical homogenizing element disposed downstream from said condenser lens; a relay lens disposed downstream from said optical homogenizing element; a pixel array disposed downstream from said relay lens; a rear group of lens elements of a projection lens disposed downstream from said pixel array; a polarization converter stack disposed downstream from said rear group of lens elements of said projection lens, said polarization converter stack having input apertures; and a front group of lens elements of said projection lens disposed in front of said polarization converter stack; wherein said condenser lens, said optical homogenizing element, said relay lens, and said rear group of lens elements of said projection lens are configured to image light from said emitters onto said input apertures of said polarization converter stack; and wherein: said polarization converter stack includes an array of pairs of adjacent polarizing beamsplitters; a first polarizing beamsplitter of each pair of adjacent polarizing beamsplitters provides an instance of said input apertures; and said polarization converter stack further includes an input mask which reduces, by at least 50 percent, light from directly entering a second polarizing beamsplitter of each pair of adjacent polarizing beamsplitters.