Optical system for miniature personal displays using reflective light valves
US6310713A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 7, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 30, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 7, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B5/30
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An illumination system and display are disclosed that include a light for providing light, a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) having a first surface that receives the light from the backlight. The PBS passes a first polarization of the received light to a curved mirror located at a second PBS face, which second PBS face is opposite the first PBS face. The curvature of the mirror provides the optical power necessary for proper imaging, while limiting the reflecting area of the mirror provides an aperture stop that determines the numerical aperture of the optical system. The display also includes a quarter wave plate and a spatial light modulator (SLM). The quarter wave plate is located between the PBS and mirror and changes the first polarization of light, directed from the PBS to the mirror, to a second polarization which is reflected from the mirror back to the PBS. The SLM receives this second polarization of light after reflection thereof by the PBS, and selectively rotates the second polarization of light to form an image forming light having the first polarization, which is reflected back to the PBS. Through an exit face, the PBS provides the rotated image forming light to a vie…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.