Granted Patent B2

US 7,940,341 · App. 11/844,214 · Granted May 10, 2011

Abstract

Claims (55)

1. A device comprising:

a plurality of illumination modules, each illumination module comprising:

a light source; and

a first optical element configured to receive light from the light source and collimate the light into a beam, wherein the light source comprises at least one semiconductor light emitting device;

a liquid crystal display panel; and

a projection lens;

wherein the liquid crystal display panel is disposed between the plurality of illumination modules and the projection lens,

wherein each illumination module illuminates only a portion of the liquid crystal display panel, wherein the portion of the liquid crystal display panel is less than the entirety of the liquid crystal display panel.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein each optical element in the plurality of illumination modules is a first optical element, the device further comprising at least one second optical element, wherein the at least one second optical element is disposed between the plurality of illumination modules and the liquid crystal display panel.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the semiconductor light emitting device emits white light.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein each light source comprises a semiconductor light emitting device that emits blue light, a semiconductor light emitting device that emits green light, and a semiconductor light emitting device that emits red light.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein each first optical element comprises a lens.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein each first optical element emits a light beam in a cone of light between 2×12° and 2×60°.

7. The device of claim 2 wherein each second optical element comprises a Fresnel lens.

8. The device of claim 2 wherein the plurality of second optical elements are formed in a single piece of material.

9. The device of claim 2 wherein the second optical element comprises a reflective polarizer.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a driver circuit, wherein the driver circuit is connected to the plurality of illumination modules and configured to receive image data and provide power to each illumination module based on the image data.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the liquid crystal display panel is a low temperature polysilicon liquid crystal display panel.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the liquid crystal display panel receives a light beam in a cone of light between 2×3° and 2×18.2°.

13. The device of claim 2 wherein each second optical element is configured to emit a light beam in a cone of light between 2×3° and 2×18.2°.

14. A device comprising:

a plurality of illumination modules, each illumination module comprising:

a light source; and

an optical element configured to receive light from the light source and collimate the light into a beam wherein the optical element comprises a compound parabolic concentrator;

a liquid crystal display panel; and

a projection lens;

wherein the liquid crystal display panel is disposed between the plurality of illumination modules and the projection lens,

wherein each illumination module illuminates only a portion of the liquid crystal display panel, wherein the portion of the liquid crystal display panel is less than the entirety of the liquid crystal display panel.

15. A device comprising:

a plurality of illumination modules, each illumination module comprising:

a light source; and

an optical element configured to receive light from the light source and collimate the light into a beam wherein the optical element comprises a reflector;

a liquid crystal display panel; and

a projection lens;

wherein the liquid crystal display panel is disposed between the plurality of illumination modules and the projection lens,

wherein each illumination module illuminates only a portion of the liquid crystal display panel, wherein the portion of the liquid crystal display panel is less than the entirety of the liquid crystal display panel.

16. A device comprising:

a plurality of illumination modules, each illumination module comprising:

a light source; and

a first optical element configured to receive light from the light source and collimate the light into a beam;

a liquid crystal display panel;

a plurality of second optical elements, wherein the plurality of second optical elements are disposed between the plurality of illumination modules and the liquid crystal display panel, wherein each of the second optical elements is aligned with an illumination module; and

a projection lens;

wherein the liquid crystal display panel is disposed between the plurality of second optical elements and the projection lens,

wherein each illumination module illuminates only a portion of the liquid crystal display panel, wherein the portion of the liquid crystal display panel is less than the entirety of the liquid crystal display panel.

17. A device comprising:

a plurality of illumination modules, each illumination module comprising:

a light source; and

an optical element configured to receive light from the light source and collimate the light into a beam;

a liquid crystal display panel;

at least one second optical element, wherein the at least one second optical element is disposed between the plurality of illumination modules and the liquid crystal display panel;

an array of lenses disposed between the second optical element and the liquid crystal display; and

a projection lens;

wherein the liquid crystal display panel is disposed between the array of lenses and the projection lens,

wherein each illumination module illuminates only a portion of the liquid crystal display panel, wherein the portion of the liquid crystal display panel is less than the entirety of the liquid crystal display panel.

Assignments (8)