WO1998020475B1 - Projection display with gradation levels obtained by modulation of beamlets - Google Patents
Projection display with gradation levels obtained by modulation of beamletsInfo
- Publication number
- WO1998020475B1 WO1998020475B1 PCT/US1997/019660 US9719660W WO9820475B1 WO 1998020475 B1 WO1998020475 B1 WO 1998020475B1 US 9719660 W US9719660 W US 9719660W WO 9820475 B1 WO9820475 B1 WO 9820475B1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- beamlets
- row
- pixel
- modulated
- color
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Ceased
Links
Abstract
A time synchronized digital modulation (TSDM) image display system (10, 20) that achieves a high level of gray scale resolution while utilizing binary light modulators. By producing color digitally, extremely accurate and consistent color reproduction is achieved. In the preferred embodiment the system includes a light source (21, 22, 23) producing a light beam of optical radiation that is divided into a plurality of beamlets which are modulated in a light modulator (36, 38, 40, 48) having M rows by N columns of modulator elements. Each modulator element (50) has an 'on' state and an 'off' state that is controllable by a set of image signals. In the 'on' state a predetermined beamlet is transmitted by the modulator element, and in the 'off' state the beamlet is prevented from being transmitted. When all of the modulator elements are in the 'on' state, the intensity of the modulator output varies so that there is a different intensity of light transmitted by each modulator element. The modulated light beam is then scanned across a viewing surface (98). The modulator is synchronised with the scanner (64) so that during each scan a predetermined pattern of 'on' and 'off' states is present in the modulator, thus projecting a predetermined total intensity level of light onto each pixel of the viewing surface. Due to the speed at which the scanning occurs, a viewer perceives only the total integrated light intensity for each pixel, thereby producing a predetermined gray level (and thus color level) on each image pixel based on the particular pattern of 'on' and 'off' states of the modulator elements. When spectrally pure lasers are used for the light sources, the TSDM system makes standardizable digital color reproduction possible.
Claims
1. A scanning display system for projecting a visual image on a viewing surface, said image including a plurality of lines each having a plurality of pixels, each pixel having pixel data associated therewith, comprising: a light source (13) for supplying optical radiation including a plurality of beamlets, each beamlet having a predetermined intensity level and color; modulation means (14) for modulating said beamlets responsive to the pixel data (76) to generate a row of modulated beamlets, said modulation means modulating said beamlets so that the brightness and color of each pixel in the visual image is represented by a temporal sequence of modulated beamlets; and means for scanning (16) said image in a series of line scans that include scanning said row of modulated beamlets in synchronization with the modulation means so that each pixel is formed by writing said sequence of modulated beamlets sequentially over said pixel; and an image projection system (96) for imaging said scanned image to display a visual image.
2. The scanning display system of claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a plurality of individual light sources, each individual source defining a beamlet.
3. The scanning display system of claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a beam weighting device that defines said plurality of beamlets.
4. The scanning display system of claim 1 further comprising a lens array for receiving said optical radiation, defining said plurality of beamlets, and focusing said plurality of beamlets on said modulation means.
5. The scanning display system of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of beamlets are monochromatic.
6. The scanning display system of claim 1 , wherein: said plurality of beamlets comprise a first set of beamlets having a first color, a second set of beamlets having a second color, and a third set of beamlets having a third color; said modulation means further comprises a first set of light modulators for modulating said first set of beamlets to generate a first row of modulated beamlets, a second set of light modulators for modulating said second set of beamlets to generate a second row of modulated beamlets, and a third set of light modulators for modulating said third set of beamlets to generate a third row of modulated beamlets; and said scanning means further comprises means for scanning said first, second, and third rows of modulated beamlets to generate a multi-color scanned image.
7. The scanning display system of claim 6, wherein: said modulation means includes a first row of spatial light modulators for modulating said first set of beamlets, a second row of spatial light modulators for modulating said second set of beamlets, and a third row of spatial light modulators for modulating said third set of beamlets; and said scanning means includes a beam combiner for combining the first, the second, and the third rows of modulated beamlets to generate a combined row of modulated beamlets for scanning each line on the viewing screen.
8. The scanning display system of claim 6 wherein said first color is red, said second color is green, and said third color is blue.
9. The scanning display system of claim 8 and further comprising a fourth set of beamlets having a fourth color, and a fourth set of light modulators for modulating said fourth set of beamlets to generate a fourth row of modulated beamlets.
10. The scanning display system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of beamlets are arranged in a linear configuration, and said modulation means comprises -28-
a row of spatial light modulators situated to receive said linear configuration of beamlets.
11. The scanning display system of claim 10 wherein said light sources supplies optical radiation that includes a section having an approximately continuous intensity distribution, and said plurality of beamlets are defined within said section by said row of spatial light modulators.
12. The scanning display system of claim 10, wherein the beamlets incident upon the row of modulator elements have a varying intensity across said row.
13. The scanning display system of claim 12, wherein the beamlet having the highest intensity is modulated in the first modulator in the modulator row and the beamlet having the lowest intensity is modulated in a last modulator in the modulator row.
14. The scanning display system of claim 12, wherein the number of modulators in a row equals the number of bits of gray level intensity built up by the beamlets scanned across a given pixel.
15. The scanning display system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of beamlets supplied by said light source have a binary- weighted intensity distribution so that each beamlet has an intensity level that is about one-half of an adjacent beamlet.
16. The scanning display system of claim 15, wherein said modulation means further comprises means for simultaneously modulating adjacent beamlets in said row to provide a modulated beamlet row that includes a most significant bit ofa first pixel of an image, a next significant bit of a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel, a next significant bit of a third pixel adjacent to the second pixel, and continuing in the same pattern through the least significant bit of the N pixel of a row. -29-
17. The scanning display system of claim 10, wherein said modulation means comprises a binary modulator.
18. The scanning display system of claim 10, wherein said modulation means comprises an analog modulator.
19. The scanning display system of claim 10, wherein said modulation means comprises a transmissive modulator.
20. The scanning display system of claim 10, wherein said modulation means comprises a reflective modulator.
21. The scanning display system of claim 10, wherein said modulation means comprises a video processor responsive to said pixel data for generating signals to be supplied to modulate the elements of the light modulator array.
22. The scanning display system of claim 21 , wherein said scanning means includes a sensor coupled to determine the optical scan speed and position of the scanned beam, and thereby to synchronize said video electronics circuit with the scanning means.
23. The scanning display system of claim 10, wherein said modulation means comprises an MxN modulator array having M rows and N columns of modulator elements.
24. The scanning display system of claim 23, wherein the beamlets have a constant intensity in each of said columns.
25. The scanning display system of claim 24, wherein the beamlets incident upon the row of modulator elements have a varying intensity across each row.
26. The scanning display system of claim 10, wherein: -30-
the plurality of beamlets comprise a first set of beamlets having a first color, a second set of beamlets having a second color, and a third set of beamlets having a third color; said row of spatial light modulators comprises a first section for modulating said first set of beamlets, a second section for modulating said second set of beamlets, and a third section for modulating said third set of beamlets; and said modulation means further provides a phase delay between said first, second, and third set of modulated beamlets so that a full color image is generated.
27. The scanning display system of claim 26 wherein said first color is red, said second color is green, and said third color is blue.
28. The scanning display system of claim 26, wherein: the plurality of beamlets further comprises a fourth set of beamlets having a non-primary wavelength; and said row of spatial light modulators further comprises a fourth section for modulating said fourth set of beamlets.
29. The scanning display system of claim 1 wherein: said plurality of beamlets are arranged in a linear configuration having a binary-weighted intensity distribution wherein each beamlet has an intensity level that is about one-half of an adjacent beamlet; said modulation means comprises a row of binary spatial light modulators situated to receive said linear configuration of beamlets and to modulate them between a first binary state and a second binary state.
30. The scanning display system of claim 29, wherein said modulation means further comprises means for simultaneously modulating adjacent beamlets in said row to provide a modulated beamlet row that includes a most significant bit of a first pixel of an image, a next significant bit of a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel, a next significant bit of a third pixel adjacent to the second pixel, and continuing in the same pattern through the least significant bit of the N pixel of a row.
AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE.19 -31-
31. A method of scanning a visual image on a viewing surface, said image being defined by a plurality of lines each having a plurality of pixels, each pixel having pixel data associated therewith, comprising the steps of: a) generating a plurality of beamlets having a predetermined light intensity and color; b) modulating the plurality of beamlets to generate a row of modulated beamlets, so that the brightness and color of each pixel in the visual image is represented by a temporal sequence of modulated beamlets; and c) scanning the image in a series of line scans that include scanning the row of modulated beamlets in synchronization with said modulation step so that each pixel is formed by scanning said sequence of modulated beamlets sequentially over said pixel; and d) projecting said scanned image on the viewing screen to display a visual image.
32. The method of claim 31 wherein: said generating step comprises producing a first set of beamlets having a first color, a second set of beamlets having a second color, and a third set of beamlets having a third color; said modulation step comprises modulating said first, second, and third beamlet sets in a first, second, and third light modulator respectively to generate a first row, a second row, and a third row of modulated beamlets; and said scanning step includes scanning the first, second, and third modulated sets of beamlets to generate a multi-color scanned image.
33. The method of claim 31 , wherein said first color is red, said second color is green, and said third color is blue, and further comprising the steps of: combining said first, second, and third modulated sets of beamlets to generate a combined row; and scanning said combined row so that a full color image is generated. -32-
34. The method of claim 33 , wherein: said generating step further comprises producing a fourth set of beamlets having a non-primary color; said modulation step comprises modulating said fourth set in a fourth light modulator; and said combining step includes combining the fourth modulated set of beamlets with the first, second, and third modulated sets of beamlets to generate said combined row; and scanning said combined row so that an augmented full color image is generated.
35. The method of claim 33 , wherein: said first color is red, said second color is green, and said third color is blue; said modulation step further comprises applying said first, second and third sets of beamlets to a row of spatial light modulators, and modulating said first set in a first section of said row, modulating said second set in a second section of said row, and modulating said third set in a third section of said row; said modulation step further comprises creating a phase delay between said first, second, and third set of modulated beamlets; and scanning said modulated row over a plurality of lines so that a full color visual image is displayed.
36. The method of claim 31 , wherein: said generating step includes generating N beamlets in a linear configuration; and said modulating step further comprises applying said linear configuration of beamlets to a row of N spatial light modulators.
37. The method of claim 36, wherein: said modulating step further comprises simultaneously modulating adjacent beamlets in said modulator row to provide a modulated beamlet row of N modulated beamlets for imaging respectively to N pixels in a scan line. -33-
38. The method of claim 37, and wherein said scanning step comprises the step of scanning a line that includes at least N+l pixels, including the steps of:
(a) in a first time interval, writing a first modulated set of N modulated beamlets to a first group of N pixels in said line;
(b) in a second time interval, scanning to the next pixel in the line and writing a second modulated set of N modulated beamlets to a second group of N pixels that includes a second pixel through an N+l pixel; and
(c) repeating said steps (a) and (b) for each pixel in the line so that the intensity at each pixel is determined by the beamlets scanned sequentially on each pixel.
39. The method of claim 36, wherein said generating step comprises generating a linear configuration of N beamlets having an approximately continuous, Gaussian intensity distribution.
40. The method of claim 36, wherein said generating step comprises generating a linear configuration of N beamlets in which the light intensities of adjacent beamlets are approximately equal.
41. The method of claim 36, wherein: said generating step comprises generating a linear configuration of N beamlets in which said N beamlets have an intensity that decreases from a highest intensity to a lowest intensity.
42. The method of claim 36, wherein: said generating step comprises generating a linear configuration of N beamlets in which said N beamlets have a binary- weighted intensity distribution such that each beamlet has an intensity level which is about one-half of the intensity of an adjacent beamlet; and said modulating step comprises binary modulating each of said modulators to a first binary state or a second binary state. -34-
43. The method of claim 42, and further comprising the steps of:
(a) in a first time interval, binary modulating said beamlets and writing the resulting modulated set of N modulated beamlets to a first group of N pixels in said line;
(b) in a second time interval, binary modulating said beamlets, scanning to the next pixel in the line and writing a second modulated set of N modulated beamlets to a second group of N pixels that includes a second pixel through an N+l pixel; and
(c) repeating said steps (a) and (b) for each pixel in the line so that the intensity at each pixel is determined by the beamlets scanned sequentially on each pixel.
44. The method of claim 31 , wherein: said generating step includes producing a beamlet array of M rows of N beamlets; and said modulating step comprises modulating said beamlets in an array of spatial light modulators having M rows and N columns of modulator elements.
45. The method of claim 44 and further comprising the step of simultaneously modulating each of said beamlets across each of said rows in said modulator array.
46. The method of claim 44 wherein: said generating step comprises generating a linear configuration of N beamlets in which said N beamlets have a binary-weighted intensity distribution such that each beamlet has an intensity level which is about one-half of the intensity of an adjacent beamlet; and said modulating step comprises binary modulating each of said modulators to a first binary state or a second binary state.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU50954/98A AU5095498A (en) | 1996-11-01 | 1997-10-27 | Projection display with gradation levels obtained by modulation of beamlets |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US74204196A | 1996-11-01 | 1996-11-01 | |
| US08/742,041 | 1996-11-01 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO1998020475A1 WO1998020475A1 (en) | 1998-05-14 |
| WO1998020475B1 true WO1998020475B1 (en) | 1998-06-25 |
Family
ID=24983267
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US1997/019660 Ceased WO1998020475A1 (en) | 1996-11-01 | 1997-10-27 | Projection display with gradation levels obtained by modulation of beamlets |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU5095498A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1998020475A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KR100792603B1 (en) | 1998-06-05 | 2008-01-09 | 세이코 엡슨 가부시키가이샤 | Light source device and display device |
| US6980280B2 (en) | 2001-10-12 | 2005-12-27 | Eastman Kodak Company | Two level image writer |
| US6648475B1 (en) * | 2002-05-20 | 2003-11-18 | Eastman Kodak Company | Method and apparatus for increasing color gamut of a display |
| US6802613B2 (en) * | 2002-10-16 | 2004-10-12 | Eastman Kodak Company | Broad gamut color display apparatus using an electromechanical grating device |
| DE10319274A1 (en) * | 2003-04-29 | 2004-12-02 | Osram Opto Semiconductors Gmbh | light source |
| US6873398B2 (en) * | 2003-05-21 | 2005-03-29 | Esko-Graphics A/S | Method and apparatus for multi-track imaging using single-mode beams and diffraction-limited optics |
| GB2408646B (en) | 2003-11-28 | 2008-11-26 | Seos Ltd | Image Display Apparatus with Night Vision Goggle Compatibility |
| US7540616B2 (en) * | 2005-12-23 | 2009-06-02 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Polarized, multicolor LED-based illumination source |
| DE102007011425A1 (en) * | 2007-03-08 | 2008-09-11 | Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. | Projection device for scanning projecting |
| GB0719721D0 (en) * | 2007-10-09 | 2007-11-21 | Seos Ltd | Image display apparatus |
| CN108628070B (en) * | 2017-03-23 | 2020-09-11 | 深圳光峰科技股份有限公司 | Display system |
Family Cites Families (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2371107A1 (en) * | 1976-11-15 | 1978-06-09 | Laser Video Inc | Modulation of light beam containing several wavelengths - has beams which are modulated by pressure waves and different beams which are separated by diffraction |
| JPS5814134A (en) * | 1981-07-18 | 1983-01-26 | Dainippon Screen Mfg Co Ltd | Picture scanning and recording device |
| JPS5817442A (en) * | 1981-07-24 | 1983-02-01 | Dainippon Screen Mfg Co Ltd | Continuous gradation exposure method and its device in image scanning and recording device |
| JPS61256321A (en) * | 1985-05-10 | 1986-11-13 | Hitachi Ltd | LCD projection display device |
| DE69123288T2 (en) * | 1990-05-21 | 1997-04-24 | Victor Company Of Japan | Display device |
| JP3351888B2 (en) * | 1993-12-24 | 2002-12-03 | テキサス インスツルメンツ インコーポレイテツド | Gradation expression method and image expression device |
| US5534949A (en) * | 1994-04-08 | 1996-07-09 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Two channel field sequential color display system |
| US5704700A (en) * | 1994-07-25 | 1998-01-06 | Proxima Corporation | Laser illuminated image projection system and method of using same |
-
1997
- 1997-10-27 WO PCT/US1997/019660 patent/WO1998020475A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1997-10-27 AU AU50954/98A patent/AU5095498A/en not_active Abandoned
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