Optical engine for three-dimensional printing

1. A device, comprising:

a light source configured to provide first light and second light;

a spatial light modulator optically coupled to the light source, the spatial light modulator configured to modulate the first light to produce first modulated light and to modulate the second light to produce second modulated light;

an optical assembly comprising a first component, the optical assembly configured to direct the first light and the second light towards the spatial light modulator;

projection optics comprising a second component, the projection optics optically coupled to the spatial light modulator and adapted to be optically coupled to a target having first and second pixel regions that partially overlap, the projection optics configured to project the first modulated light onto the first pixel region and to project the second modulated light onto the second pixel region; and

a pixel shifter physically coupled to the first component, to the second component, or to the spatial light modulator, the pixel shifter configured to move the first component, the second component, or the spatial light modulator between:

a first position while the spatial light modulator outputs the first modulated light; and

a second position while the spatial light modulator outputs the second modulated light.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first light has a first intensity, and the second light has a second intensity equal to the first intensity.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the spatial light modulator is a digital micromirror device.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the target is a resin, the first light has a first intensity below a curing threshold of the resin, the second light has a second intensity below the curing threshold, and a sum of the first and second intensities exceeds the curing threshold.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the resin is a photo-polymerizing resin.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the pixel shifter is coupled to the spatial light modulator and is configured to move the spatial light modulator between the first and second positions, so the spatial light modulator has the first position when the spatial light modulator outputs the first modulated light, and the spatial light modulator has the second position when the spatial light modulator outputs the second modulated light.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the pixel shifter is coupled to the second component and is configured to move the second component between the first and second positions, so the second component has the first position when the spatial light modulator outputs the first modulated light, and the second component has the second position when the spatial light modulator outputs the second modulated light.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the second component is a refractive device.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the second component is a reflective device.

11. A three-dimensional printer comprising:

a resin vat having a transparent bottom;

a lift plate insertable within the resin vat;

a light source configured to provide first light and second light;

a spatial light modulator optically coupled to the light source, the spatial light modulator configured to modulate the first light to produce first modulated light and to modulate the second light to produce second modulated light;

an optical assembly comprising a first component, the optical assembly configured to direct the first light and the second light towards the spatial light modulator;

projection optics comprising a second component, the projection optics optically coupled to the spatial light modulator and adapted to be optically coupled through the transparent bottom to a resin on the lift plate, the resin having first and second pixel regions that partially overlap, the projection optics configured to project the first modulated light onto the first pixel region and to project the second modulated light onto the second pixel region; and

a pixel shifter physically coupled to the first component, to the second component, or to the spatial light modulator, the pixel shifter configured to move the first component, the second component, or the spatial light modulator between:

a first position when the spatial light modulator outputs the first modulated light; and

a second position when the spatial light modulator outputs the second modulated light.

12. The three-dimensional printer of claim 11 , wherein the first light has a first intensity, and the second light has a second intensity equal to the first intensity.

13. The three-dimensional printer of claim 11 , wherein the spatial light modulator is a digital micromirror device.

14. The three-dimensional printer of claim 11 , wherein the pixel shifter is coupled to the spatial light modulator and is configured to move the spatial light modulator between the first and second positions, so the spatial light modulator has the first position when the spatial light modulator outputs the first modulated light, and the spatial light modulator has the second position when the spatial light modulator outputs the second modulated light.

15. The three-dimensional printer of claim 11 , wherein the pixel shifter is coupled to the second component and is configured to move the second component between the first and second positions, so the second component has the first position when the spatial light modulator outputs the first modulated light, and the second component has the second position when the spatial light modulator outputs the second modulated light.

16. The three-dimensional printer of claim 15 , wherein the second component is a refractive device.

17. The three-dimensional printer of claim 15 , wherein the second component is a reflective device.

18. The three-dimensional printer of claim 11 , wherein the first light has a first intensity below a curing threshold of the resin, the second light has a second intensity below the curing threshold, and a sum of the first and second intensities exceeds the curing threshold.

19. The three-dimensional printer of claim 18 , wherein the resin is a photo-polymerizing resin.

20. A system comprising:

a light source configured to provide first light and second light;

a spatial light modulator configured to:

modulate the first light to produce first modulated light; and

modulate the second light to produce second modulated light;

an optical assembly comprising a first component, the optical assembly configured to direct the first light and the second light towards the spatial light modulator;

projection optics comprising a second component, the projection optics configured to:

project the first modulated light onto a first pixel region; and

project the second modulated light onto a second pixel region; and

a pixel shifter physically coupled to the first component, to the second component, or to the spatial light modulator, the pixel shifter configured to move the first component, the second component, or the spatial light modulator between:

a first position while the spatial light modulator outputs the first modulated light; and

a second position while the spatial light modulator outputs the second modulated light.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the pixel shifter is physically coupled to the first component, and the first component comprises a prism.

22. The system of claim 20 , wherein the pixel shifter is physically coupled to the second component, and the second component comprises a prism.

23. The system of claim 20 , wherein the pixel shifter is physically coupled to the second component, and the second component comprises a pupil.

24. The system of claim 20 , wherein the pixel shifter is physically coupled to the second component, and the second component comprises a plate.

25. The system of claim 20 , wherein the pixel shifter is physically coupled to the second component, and the second component comprise a prism.

26. The system of claim 20 , wherein the pixel shifter is physically coupled to the spatial light modulator.