Granted Patent B2

US 8,142,021 · App. 12/491,288 · Granted Mar 27, 2012

Abstract

Claims (23)

1. A light projection system comprising:

a projection subsystem configured at least to project an image;

an image forming subsystem comprising:

a plurality of light source subsystems, each configured at least to generate a single color channel of a plurality of color channels of light, and

a plurality of light modulation subsystems, each associated with a light source subsystem and configured at least to cause the light it receives from its associated light source subsystem to follow either a light dump path or an image path in a manner consistent with image data, the light dump path not leading to the projection subsystem, and the image path leading to the projection subsystem; and

a light-intensity-measurement subsystem configured at least to determine an intensity of each of the plurality of color channels of light and comprising at least one light-intensity sensor in at least one light dump path.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a light-dump path exists for each of the plurality of color channels of light, and wherein the light-intensity-measurement subsystem comprises a light-intensity sensor in each light-dump path.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the light is stereoscopic light comprising a left-eye light beam and a right-eye light beam that follow a same path along the light-dump path when so directed by the light modulation subsystem.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the light-intensity sensor is configured at least to measure light intensity during a blanking period between the left-eye and right-eye light beams.

5. A method for measuring light intensity generated by a light projection system, the method comprising:

generating light from a light source subsystem;

directing the light, by a light modulation subsystem, along either an image path or a light dump path in a manner consistent with image data, the image path leading to a projection subsystem configured at least to project an image, and the light dump path not leading to the projection subsystem; and

determining an intensity of the light with in image sensor in the light dump path, wherein the light is stereoscopic light comprising a left-eye light beam and a right-eye light beam that follow a same path along the light-dump path when so directed by the light modulation subsystem.

6. The method of claim 5 ,

wherein the generating step generates a plurality of color channels of light, each from one of a plurality of light source subsystems,

wherein the directing step directs each of the color channels of light with a light modulation subsystem along either the image path or a light dump path not leading to the projection subsystem, and

wherein the determining step, determines an intensity of each of the plurality of color channels of light.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the determining step occurs when only one of the plurality of light source subsystems are generating light.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein a light-dump path exists for each of the plurality of color channels of light, and wherein the determining step is performed with a light-intensity sensor in each light-dump path.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the determining step determines light intensity during a blanking period between the left-eye and right-eye light beams.

10. The method of claim 5 , wherein the determining step occurs during or contemporaneously with completion of construction of the light projection system.

11. The method of claim 5 , wherein the determining step occurs during or contemporaneously with a startup procedure initiated by a powering-on or rebooting of the light projection system.

12. The method of claim 5 , wherein the determining step occurs just prior to projecting a video with the light projection system.

Assignments (18)