Laser image projector
A laser image projector includes a substrate; and a two dimensional array of individually addressable laser pixels formed on the substrate for emitting an imagewise beam of laser light perpendicular to the substrate, each of the laser pixels including an addressable organic light emitting diode (OLED) and an organic vertical cavity laser that is arranged to be pumped by the OLED.
1. A laser image projector, comprising:
a) a substrate;
b) a two dimensional array of individually addressable laser pixels formed on the substrate for emitting an imagewise beam of laser light perpendicular to the substrate, each of the laser pixels including an addressable organic light emitting diode (OLED) formed on the substrate and an organic vertical cavity laser formed on the substrate that is arranged to be pumped by the OLED; and
c) means responsive to the emitted imagewise beam to project laser light to expose an element.
2. The laser image projector claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a projection screen arranged to receive and display the imagewise beam of laser light.
3. The laser image projector claimed in claim 2 , wherein the projection screen is a diffuse reflector.
4. The laser image projector claimed in claim 2 , wherein the projection screen is a diffuse transparent screen.
5. The laser image projector claimed in claim 1 , wherein the laser pixels emit different colors of light to form a color image projector.
6. The laser image projector claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a directional audio generator for transmitting a directional audio signal together with the imagewise beam of laser light.
7. The laser image projector claimed in claim 1 , further comprising optics for changing the size of the imagewise beam of laser light.
8. The laser image projector claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a mirror located in the path of the imagewise beam of laser light for redirecting the path.
9. The laser image projector claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a beamsplitter located in the path of the imagewise beam of laser light for creating a second beam of imagewise laser light.
10. The laser image projector claimed in claim 9 , further comprising two projection screens arranged at different distances from the laser image projector to receive and display the respective imagewise beams of laser light.
11. The laser image projector claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the individually addressable laser pixels further comprise a plurality of simultaneously addressed individual laser elements.
12. The laser image projector claimed in claim 11 , wherein the individual laser elements are separated by inter element regions to form a phase locked laser array.
13. The laser image projector claimed in claim 12 , wherein the phase locked laser array is a two dimensional array.
14. The laser image projector claimed in claim 11 , wherein the individual laser elements emit differently colored light.
15. The laser image projector claimed in claim 11 , wherein the individual elements form groups of phase locked laser arrays that emit different colors of light.
16. The laser image projector claimed in claim 15 , wherein the groups emit light of different colors so as to provide a substantially white light from an individually addressable laser pixel.
17. The laser image projector claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an array of lenslets aligned with the laser pixels.
18. A method of displaying an image, comprising:
a) providing a two dimensional array of individually addressable laser pixels formed on a substrate for emitting an imagewise beam of laser light perpendicular to the substrate, each of the laser pixels including an addressable organic light emitting diode (OLED) formed on the substrate and an organic vertical cavity laser formed on the substrate that is arranged to be pumped by the OLED;
b) employing the two dimensional array of laser pixels to emit an imagewise beam of laser light;
c) intercepting the imagewise beam of laser light with a diffuse display screen to form a visible image; and
d) projecting the emitted imagewise beam of laser light to display the image.
19. The method claimed in claim 18 , wherein the laser pixels emit different colors of light to form a color image projector.
20. A method of exposing an element to an imagewise pattern of light, comprising:
a) providing a two dimensional array of individually addressable laser pixels formed on a substrate for emitting an imagewise beam of laser light perpendicular to the substrate, each of the laser pixels including an addressable organic light emitting diode (OLED) formed on the substrate and an organic vertical cavity laser formed on the substrate that is arranged to be pumped by the OLED;
b) employing the two dimensional array of laser pixels to emit an imagewise beam of laser light; and
c) directing the imagewise beam of laser light onto the element.
21. The method claimed in claim 20 , wherein the element is a biological tissue.
22. The method claimed in claim 21 , wherein the element is a light sensitive material.
23. The method claimed in claim 22 , wherein the element is photographic paper.
24. The method claimed in claim 23 , wherein the element is photographic film.
25. The method claimed in claim 24 , wherein the element is a thermal transfer material.