COMPACT REAR PROJECTION SYSTEM USING BIREFRINGENT OPTICS

摘要

A rear projection system provides for reduced cabinet depth by folding the optical path with polarization sensitive mirrors. In one aspect, the projector outputs linearly polarized light to a quarter-wave polarizing sheet, which circularly polarizes the projector output. A mirror directs the projected light back through the quarter-wave material to a polarization-dependent reflector. The light has a reflective polarization state. The polarization-dependent reflector reflects the light back to the quarter-wave material and mirror. Upon traversing the path a second time, the light is in a transmissive polarization state.