Polarized Stereoscopic Projection System and Method
A stereoscopic display system and method of stereoscopic projection that include a polarization-switching light source and a polarization-preserving projector. The polarization state of the polarization-switching light source is synchronized with alternate projection of left-eye images and right-eye images. The polarization-switching light source may include a laser and a rotating disk, and the disk may include a waveplate that switches the polarization state as the disk rotates.
1 . A stereoscopic display system comprising:
a polarization-switching light source characterized by a polarization state; and
a polarization-preserving projector which is illuminated by the polarization-switching light source.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the polarization-preserving projector forms a left-eye digital image and a right-eye digital image, and the polarization state is changed in synchronization with an alternating projection of the left-eye digital image and the right-eye digital image.
3 . The system of claim 2 wherein an alternating projection of the left-eye digital image and the right-eye digital image forms a moving image.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the polarization state of the left-eye digital image is orthogonal to the polarization state of the right-eye digital image.
5 . The system of claim 4 wherein the polarization state of the left-eye digital image is a circular polarization state.
6 . The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a polarization-preserving spatial light modulator in the projector.
7 . The system of claim 6 wherein the polarization-preserving spatial light modulator is a digital micromirror device.
8 . The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a Philips prism in the projector.
9 . The system of claim 8 wherein the Philips prism comprises a color-splitting filter with low polarization splitting.
10 . The system of claim 1 wherein the polarization-switching light source comprises a laser.
11 . The system of claim 1 wherein the polarization-switching light source comprises a rotating disk that switches the polarization state.
12 . The system of claim 11 wherein the rotating disk comprises a wave plate.
13 . The system of claim 1 wherein the polarization-switching light source comprises an electro-optical device that switches the polarization state.
14 . The system of claim 1 wherein the polarization-preserving projector consists of polarization-preserving components.
15 . The system of claim 1 wherein the polarization-preserving projector is a front projector.
16 . The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a polarization-preserving screen.
17 . A stereoscopic display system comprising:
a polarization-switching light source characterized by an original polarization state;
a projector which is illuminated by the polarization-switching light source; and
a polarization compensation element;
wherein the polarization compensation element compensates for a polarization change in the projector.
18 . A method of stereoscopic projection comprising:
generating a light which is polarization switched;
modulating the light to make a left-eye digital image and a right-eye digital image; and
projecting the left-eye digital image and the right-eye digital image alternately to form a projected left-eye digital image and a projected right-eye digital image.
19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the modulating is synchronized with a polarization state of the light.
20 . The method of claim 18 wherein the projected left-eye digital image has one polarization state, and the projected right-eye digital image has an orthogonal polarization state.
21 . The method of claim 18 wherein the light is laser light.