Image projection method and projection system
Disclosed herein is a method of projecting images using reflective light valves. Pixel patterns generated of the light valve pixels based on image data are projected at different locations at a time.
1 . A method, comprising:
directing light onto a spatial light modulator comprising an array of device pixels resulting in modulated light;
projecting the modulated light to a first array of image pixels on a screen with a pitch that is defined as a center-to-center distance between the adjacent image pixels;
projecting the modulated light to a second image pixel array on the screen; and
wherein the image pixels of the first and second image pixel arrays on which the modulated light are projected from the same device pixel have an offset less than √{square root over (2)}/2 of the pitch on the screen.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the offset is less equal to or less than √{square root over (2)}/3 of the pitch on the screen.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the offset is less equal to or less than √{square root over (2)}/4 of the pitch on the screen.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the offset is less than √{square root over (2)}/2 of a diagonal of the image pixel.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the offset is less than √{square root over (2)}/3 of a diagonal of the image pixel.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the offset is along a diagonal of the image pixels.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the offset is along a row or a column of the
8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the offset is less than ½ of the width or column of an image pixel along a row or column of the image pixel array.
9 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the offset is less than ⅓ of the width or column of an image pixel along a row or column of the image pixel array.
10 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the offset is less than ¼ of the width or column of an image pixel along a row or column of the image pixel array.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the offset is greater than a gap between adjacent image pixels, but less than ⅓ the pitch.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the offset is greater than 1.5 times of the gap but less than 3 times the gap.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
projecting the modulate light on a third array of image pixels on the screen other than the first and second arrays of image pixels.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
projecting the modulate light on a forth array of image pixels on the screen other than the first, second, and third arrays of image pixels.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
projecting the modulate light on a fifth array of image pixels on the screen other than the first, second, third, and forth arrays of image pixels.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the light directed to the spatial light modulator is from an arc lamp.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the light directed to the spatial light modulator is from a light source comprising a LED.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the light source comprises an array of LEDs.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the LEDs have different spectrums.
20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the projecting of the modulated light onto the first and second arrays of image pixels are accomplished by a light module that is capable of directing the light onto different locations on the screen.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the light module is disposed on the spatial light modulator.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the light module comprises a birefringent crystal assembly attached to a package lid, said package lid is bonded to a package substrate resulting in a space in which the array of device pixels are enclosed.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the birefringent crystal assembly comprises LiNbO 3 .
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the birefringent crystal assembly comprises a half-wave crystal plate laminated between two LiNbO 3 crystals.
25 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the birefringent crystal assembly comprises YVO 4 .
26 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the light module comprises a folding mirror disposed after the spatial light modulator along the propagation path of the modulated light.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the folding mirror is disposed between the spatial light modulator and a projection lens for projecting the modulated light onto the screen.
28 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the light module is a vibrator connected to a projection lens for projecting the modulated light onto a screen such that the projection lens is capable of moving relative to the screen.
29 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the folding mirror is disposed after a projection lens for projecting the modulated light onto the screen.
30 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the light modulator comprises a vibrator that is connected to the spatial light modulator such that the spatial light modulator is capable of moving relative to the screen.
31 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
splitting the light into a set of different colors;
modulating the different colors separately by a spatial light modulator into different modulated colors; and
combining the different modulated colors into the modulated light.
32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the different colors are modulated by different spatial light modulators.
33 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the different colors are modulated by at least two different spatial light modulators.
34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the projecting of the modulated light onto the first and second arrays of image pixels are accomplished by a light module that is capable of directing the light onto different locations on the screen; and wherein the light module is disposed at a location when the different modulated colors are combined into the modulated light.
35 . A method comprising:
directing light from a light source onto a spatial light modulator comprising a plurality of spatial light modulator pixels including a first spatial light modulator pixel;
providing a first image on a target from light reflected from the spatial light modulator, wherein the first spatial light modulator pixel forms a corresponding first image pixel on the target; and wherein a center of the first image pixel is disposed at a first distance from a center of an adjacent pixel image;
providing a second image on the target from light reflected from the spatial light modulator, wherein the first spatial light modulator pixel forms a second image pixel on the target at a position offset from the position of the first image pixel; and
wherein a difference in position between the first image pixel and the second image pixel is less than √{square root over (2)}/2 of the first distance.
36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the difference in position between the first image pixel and the second image pixel is less equal to or less than √{square root over (2)}/3 of the pitch on the screen.
37 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the difference in position between the first image pixel and the second image pixel is less equal to or less than √{square root over (2)}/4 of the pitch on the screen.
38 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the difference in position between the first image pixel and the second image pixel is less than √{square root over (2)}/2 of a diagonal of the image pixel.
39 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the difference in position between the first image pixel and the second image pixel is less than √{square root over (2)}/3 of a diagonal of the image pixel.
40 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the difference is along a diagonal of the image pixels.
41 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the difference is along a row or a column of the image pixel array.
42 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the difference is less than 1 / 2 of the width or column of an image pixel along a row or column of the image pixel array.
43 . The method of claim 41 , wherein the difference is less than ⅓ of the width or column of an image pixel along a row or column of the image pixel array.
44 . The method of claim 43 , wherein the difference is less than ¼ of the width or column of an image pixel along a row or column of the image pixel array.
45 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the difference is greater than a gap between adjacent image pixels, but less than ½ the pitch.
46 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the difference is greater than 1.5 times of the gap but less than 3 times the gap.
47 . The method of claim 35 , further comprising:
projecting the modulate light on a third array of image pixels on the screen other than the first and second arrays of image pixels.
48 . The method of claim 47 , further comprising:
projecting the modulate light on a forth array of image pixels on the screen other than the first, second, and third arrays of image pixels.
49 . The method of claim 48 , further comprising:
projecting the modulate light on a fifth array of image pixels on the screen other than the first, second, third, and forth arrays of image pixels.
50 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the light directed to the spatial light modulator is from an arc lamp.
51 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the light directed to the spatial light modulator is from a light source comprising a LED.
52 . The method of claim 35 , further comprising:
splitting the light into a set of different colors;
modulating the different colors separately by a spatial light modulator into different modulated colors; and
combining the different modulated colors into the modulated light.
53 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the different colors are modulated by different spatial light modulators.
54 . The method of claim 52 , wherein the different colors are modulated by at least two different spatial light modulators.
55 . The method of claim 54 , wherein the projecting of the modulated light onto the first and second arrays of image pixels are accomplished by a light module that is capable of directing the light onto different locations on the screen; and wherein the light module is disposed at a location when the different modulated colors are combined into the modulated light.
56 . A projector, comprising:
first means for directing light onto a spatial light modulator comprising an array of device pixels resulting in modulated light;
second means for projecting the modulated light to a first array of image pixels on a screen with a pitch that is defined as a center-to-center distance between the adjacent image pixels;
third means for projecting the modulated light to a second image pixel array on the screen; and
wherein the image pixels of the first and second image pixel arrays on which the modulated light are projected from the same device pixel have an offset less than √{square root over (2)}/2 of the pitch on the screen.
57 - 83 . (canceled)