Fiber optic light homogenizer for use in projection displays
US5838865A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 5, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 5, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N9/3147
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A projection display (12) employs a fiber optic homogenizer (32) that includes a bundle (60) of optical fibers arranged such that an input end (64) has a substantially round cross-sectional shape that receives nonuniform illumination generated by a projection light source (24,26). The fiber optic homogenizer contains optical fibers that are interwoven and rerouted through the length of the bundle to terminate in an output end (66) having the same shape as a light valve (40) that generates the image projected by the display. The interweaving and rerouting provides a substantially random redistribution of fibers across the shape of the output end to propagate a uniform, rectangular illumination beam onto the light valve with very little light loss. A multiscreen projection display (70) further matches the luminance and color of adjacent projection displays (86) by employing a single projection light source (24,26) and a fiber optic homogenizer (72) that has an input end shaped and arranged as before, but with a bundle (74) further subdivided into subbundles (76) each terminating in an output end (78) having a shape matched to a light valve (80) in an associated one of the projection …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.