Reduced form factor projection system
View Patent ↗The invention includes a color projection system. System includes a light source, a first relay lens, disposed on a first optical path, optically coupled to the light source. System also includes a second relay lens, disposed in a second optical path, optically coupled to the first lens, the second optical path being of a predetermined vertical distance above the first optical path. The color projection system also includes a light management device, having a light entrance surface and a light exit surface, the light entrance surface optically coupled to the second lens along the second optical path, the light exit surface located on a third optical path, and the third optical path being substantially parallel to the first and second optical paths and being a predetermined distance below the second optical path. A projection lens may be optically coupled to the light exit surface of the light management device.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a light source;
a first relay lens, disposed on a first optical path, optically coupled to the light source;
a second relay lens, disposed on a second optical path, optically coupled to the first relay lens, the second optical path being substantially parallel to the first optical path; and
a light management device, having
a light entrance surface optically coupled to the second relay lens along the second optical path, and
a light exit surface on a third optical path.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the third optical path is substantially parallel to the second optical path.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises an arc lamp.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the arc lamp comprises a metal halide arc lamp.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first relay lens comprises an off-center relay lens.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second relay lens comprises an off-center relay lens.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light management device further comprises at least one liquid crystal on silicon device.
8. A method comprising:
providing light along a first optical path to a first relay lens;
deflecting the light to a second relay lens;
at the second relay lens, deflecting the deflected light on to a second optical path that is substantially parallel to the first optical path; and
providing the deflected light along the second optical path to a light entrance surface of a light management device, and
providing processed light from an exit surface of the light management device along a third optical path.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the third optical path is substantially parallel to the second optical path.
10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving the processed light with a projection lens optically coupled to the exit surface.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said providing processed light from the exit surface comprises processing the light within the light management device.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said processing the light within the light management device includes processing the light with one or more liquid crystal on silicon devices.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein said providing light comprises providing light from an arc lamp.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein said deflecting comprises focusing the light to the second relay lens.
15. The method of claim 8 , wherein said deflecting the deflected light comprises focusing the deflected light on to the second optical path.
16. The method of claim 8 , wherein said providing the deflected light comprises focusing the deflected light on the second optical path on to the light entrance surface.
17. A system comprising:
a light source;
a first relay lens, disposed on a first optical path, optically coupled to the light source;
a second relay lens, disposed on a second optical path, optically coupled to the first relay lens, the second optical path being substantially parallel to the first optical path;
a light management device, having
a light entrance surface optically coupled to the second relay lens along the second optical path, and
a light exit surface on a third optical path; and
a projection lens optically coupled to the light exit surface of the light management device.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the third optical path is substantially parallel to the second optical path.
19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the light source comprises an arc lamp.
20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the light management device further comprises at least one liquid crystal on silicon device.