High dynamic range projection with multiple numerical aperture illumination
A projection system includes first and second illumination sources and a homogenizer component. The first illumination source has a first numerical aperture value. The second illumination source has a second numerical aperture value lower than the first numerical aperture value. The homogenizer component on the illumination path is configured to receive light from both the first and second illumination sources. A projection lens in the imagining path is configured to receive an image data stream that includes a sequence of image frames having an image frame period. The first and second illumination sources are configured for modulation at a rate equivalent to the image frame period. One or more active irises may perform the modulation.
1. A projection system having an illumination path and an imaging path, the projection system comprising:
a first illumination source having a first numerical aperture value;
a second illumination source having a second numerical aperture value lower than the first numerical aperture value;
a homogenizer component in the illumination path, the homogenizer component configured to receive light from both the first and second illumination sources;
a projection lens in the imaging path, the projection lens configured to receive an image data stream, the image data stream comprising a sequence of image frames having an image frame period, wherein the first and second illumination sources are configured for modulation at a rate equivalent to the image frame period; and
an active iris configured to perform, at least in part, the modulation, wherein the active iris is deployed at a pupil position in an illumination path relay.
2. The projection system of claim 1 , wherein the modulation is at least one of intensity modulation and area modulation.
3. The projection system of claim 1 , wherein the modulation is based on an electronic preview of an image frame.
4. The projection system of claim 1 , wherein the modulation is based on metadata associated with an image frame.
5. The projection system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second illumination sources are configured for non-uniform modulation.
6. The projection system of claim 1 , wherein the first illumination source includes at least one of a laser, a lamp, a light-emitting diode, and an excited phosphor.
7. The projection system of claim 6 , wherein the first illumination source comprises components coupled into optical fibers or waveguides.
8. The projection system of claim 1 , wherein the homogenizer component is selected from the group consisting of a light pipe, a light tunnel, a tapered light pipe, a tapered light tunnel, a compound parabolic concentrator, and a fly's eye array.
9. The projection system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second active iris deployed in the imaging path, the second active iris configured to perform, at least in part, the modulation.
10. A polarization conversion system, comprising:
a first illumination source having a first numerical aperture value;
a second illumination source having a second numerical aperture value lower than the first numerical aperture value;
a homogenizer component on an initial light path, the homogenizer component configured to receive light from both the first and second illumination sources;
a first lens system on the initial light path, the first lens system configured to receive light from the homogenizer component;
a light splitting element configured to receive light from the first lens system as randomly polarized image light, the light splitting element further configured to direct light with a first polarization state along a first light path, and further configured to direct light with a second polarization state along a second light path;
a reflecting element located on the second light path and configured to receive light from the light splitting element;
a polarization rotator element located on the second light path and configured to receive reflected light from the reflecting element;
a second lens system configured to receive an image data stream on the first light path from the light splitting element, the image data stream comprising a sequence of image frames having an image frame period; and
a third lens system configured to receive the image data stream on the second light path from the polarization rotator element, wherein the first and second illumination sources are configured for modulation at a rate equivalent to the image frame period.
11. The polarization conversion system of claim 10 , further comprising:
at least one active iris configured to perform, at least in part, the modulation.
12. The polarization conversion system of claim 11 , wherein a first active iris is in the initial light path.
13. The polarization conversion system of claim 11 , wherein a first active iris is in either the first light path or the second light path.
14. The polarization conversion system of claim 13 , wherein the first active iris is in the first light path, the polarization conversion system further comprising:
a second active iris in the second light path, the second active iris configured to perform, at least in part, the modulation; and
a third active iris in the initial light path, the third active iris configured to perform, at least in part, the modulation.
15. A projection system having an illumination path and an imaging path, the projection system comprising:
a first illumination source having a first numerical aperture value;
a second illumination source having a second numerical aperture value lower than the first numerical aperture value;
a homogenizer component in the illumination path, the homogenizer component configured to receive light from both the first and second illumination sources;
a projection lens in the imaging path, the projection lens configured to receive an image data stream, the image data stream comprising a sequence of image frames having an image frame period, wherein the first and second illumination sources are configured for modulation at a rate equivalent to the image frame period; and
an active iris configured to perform, at least in part, the modulation, wherein the active iris is deployed at a pupil position in an imaging path relay.
16. The projection system of claim 15 , wherein the modulation is at least one of intensity modulation and area modulation.
17. The projection system of claim 15 , wherein the modulation is based on an electronic preview of an image frame.
18. The projection system of claim 15 , wherein the modulation is based on metadata associated with an image frame.
19. The projection system of claim 15 , wherein the first and second illumination sources are configured for non-uniform modulation.
20. A projection system having an illumination path and an imaging path, the projection system comprising:
a first illumination source having a first numerical aperture value;
a second illumination source having a second numerical aperture value lower than the first numerical aperture value;
a homogenizer component in the illumination path, the homogenizer component configured to receive light from both the first and second illumination sources;
a projection lens in the imaging path, the projection lens configured to receive an image data stream, the image data stream comprising a sequence of image frames having an image frame period, wherein the first and second illumination sources are configured for modulation at a rate equivalent to the image frame period; and
an active iris configured to perform, at least in part, the modulation, wherein the active iris is deployed in the projection lens.
21. The projection system of claim 20 , wherein the modulation is at least one of intensity modulation and area modulation.
22. The projection system of claim 20 , wherein the modulation is based on an electronic preview of an image frame.
23. The projection system of claim 20 , wherein the modulation is based on metadata associated with an image frame.
24. The projection system of claim 20 , wherein the first and second illumination sources are configured for non-uniform modulation.