Configurable optical coupling
An apparatus and method for flexible configuring of optical fibers to illuminate digital projectors. The optical fibers are attached to various positions of a configurable back plane assembly and a condensing assembly condenses the light beams prior to launch into the projector. Horizontal and vertical launch symmetries are maintained for any number of optical fibers between 1 and 9.
1. An optical coupling method comprising:
generating a first light;
transmitting the first light over a first optical fiber to produce a second light;
holding the first optical fiber in a first position of a configurable back plane assembly;
generating a third light;
transmitting the third light over a second optical fiber to produce a fourth light;
holding the second optical fiber in a second position of the configurable back plane assembly; and
condensing the second light and the fourth light in a condensing assembly.
2. The optical coupling method of claim 1 further comprising:
coupling the output of the condensing assembly to a mixing rod.
3. The optical coupling method of claim 2 further comprising:
coupling the output of the mixing rod to a digital projector.
4. The optical coupling method of claim 3 wherein a pattern of spots is formed by the condensing assembly; the pattern of spots depends on the first position and the second position; and the pattern of spots is symmetrical in an x-direction and a y-direction.
5. The optical coupling method of claim 4 wherein the pattern of spots has a long axis; and the long axis is oriented to extend across a short axis of the mixing rod.
6. The optical coupling method of claim 4 wherein the pattern of spots has two to nine spots.