Optics: image projectors – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-26
2001-05-15
Dowling, William (Department: 2851)
Optics: image projectors
Miscellaneous
C359S199200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231194
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The invention generally relates to a projection system.
An ever-increasing number of applications are using display devices that are derived from a combination of liquid crystal optics technology and semiconductor technology. For example, these display devices may be used in mobile telephones, projection systems, home entertainment systems and monitors for personal computers.
Examples of these display devices may include field emission displays (FEDs) and spatial light modulators (SLMs). For example, the SLMs may be used in a projection system to form a modulated beam image, and for color projection systems, the system may have one SLM for each primary color channel (red, green and blue (RGB) primary color channels, as examples) of the projection system. As an example, to form a projected multicolor image, one SLM may modulate a red beam (of the red channel) to form a red modulated beam image, one SLM may modulate a green beam (of the green channel) to form a green modulated beam image, and another SLM may modulate a blue beam (of the blue channel) to form a blue modulated beam image. In this manner, the red, green and blue modulated beam images combine on a projection screen to form the multicolor image.
A conventional color projection system
10
is illustrated in FIG.
1
. The projection system
10
may include a light source
28
that generates a beam of white light. For purposes of separating the beam of white light into its primary red, green and blue beams (of the different color channels), the projection system
10
may include dichroic beam splitters
12
and
16
. In this manner, the dichroic beam splitter
12
may separate a red beam, for example, from the white beam of light, and a mirror
13
may reflect the red beam to a polarizing beam splitter
19
that, in turn, reflects the red beam to a reflective SLM
14
that modulates the red beam. The polarizing beam splitter
19
directs the resultant green modulated beam of light to an X-cube prism
24
that directs the modulated beam through projection optics
26
to form one component of the multicolor image, the green modulated beam image, on a display screen (not shown). The projection system
10
typically includes additional optical devices, such as the dichroic beam splitter
16
, and polarizing beam splitters
17
and
22
to direct the unmodulated green and blue beams (from the original white beam) to an SLM
18
and an SLM
20
, respectively. The polarizing beam splitters
17
and
22
and the X-cube prism
24
direct the resultant green and blue modulated images through the projection optics
26
to form the remaining components of the multicolor image.
In the projection system
10
, optical communication with a viewer of the system
10
occurs in one general direction, i.e., in the general direction from the SLMs
14
,
18
and
20
to the display screen. However, the projection system
10
may need input from the viewer. For example, the projection system may be part of a computer system that is used to establish an interactive gaming environment. In this manner, the viewer of the display may provide input through a remote control device, for example, to change the image or as another example, to alter sound that is associated with the image. Unfortunately, the computer system may need an additional device, such as an infrared receiver, to receive and decode an infrared light wave from the remote control device.
Thus, there is a continuing need for a system that addresses one or more of the problems stated above.
SUMMARY
In one embodiment, a projection system includes a display screen, a light modulator and at least one light sensor. The display panel has an external surface that is adapted to receive a first light wave that is indicative of at least one command. An interior surface of the display panel is adapted to receive a second light wave to form an image on the display panel. The light modulator is adapted to produce the second light wave, and the light sensor(s) are adapted to furnish an electrical indication of the command(s) in response to the first light wave.
In another embodiment, a method includes forming an image on a display panel and receiving a light wave through the display panel. The light wave is indicative of a command. The method includes decoding the command after the receiving.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1
is a schematic diagram of a projection system of the prior art.
FIG. 2
is a schematic diagram of a projection system according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3
is another schematic diagram of a portion of the projection system of
FIG. 2
illustrating an optical system of
FIG. 2
in more detail.
FIGS. 4 and 7
are illustrations of display and command receiving areas of a display panel of
FIG. 2
according to different embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 5
is an exploded side view of the display screen assembly of
FIG. 2
according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 6 and 8
are illustrations of arrangements of pixel cells and light sensors of a spatial light modulator of
FIG. 2
according to different embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 9
is a schematic diagram of a light sensor according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 10
,
11
,
12
and
13
are waveforms illustrating operation of the light sensor of FIG.
9
.
FIG. 14
is a schematic of the spatial light modulator of
FIG. 2
according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 15
is a schematic diagram illustrating reconstruction of an object wave using a recorded hologram.
FIG. 16
is a schematic diagram illustrating the recording of the hologram.
FIG. 17
is an illustration of viewing areas of the display panel.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3775005 (1973-11-01), Szabo
patent: 5115230 (1992-05-01), Smoot
patent: 5235363 (1993-08-01), Vogeley et al.
patent: 5914764 (1999-06-01), Henderson
patent: 5917464 (1999-06-01), Stearns
patent: 5952996 (1999-09-01), Kim et al.
Booth, Jr. Lawrence A.
Raj Kannan
Dowling William
Intel Corporation
Trop, Pruner & Hu, P.
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