Projection display apparatus having both incoherent and laser light sources

[0002] This is a 111A Application of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/425,896, filed Nov. 13, 2002.

[0003] This invention generally relates to display systems that form a two-dimensional image on a display surface and more particularly relates to a color display apparatus using spatial light modulators that are illuminated by light from both incoherent light sources and laser light sources.

[0004] Currently, promising solutions for digital cinema projection and home theater systems employ, as image forming devices, one of two types of spatial light modulators (SLMs): area SLMs and linear SLMs. An area spatial light modulator has a two-dimensional array of light-valve elements, each element corresponding to an image pixel. Each array element is separately addressable and digitally controlled to modulate transmitted or reflected light from a light source. There are two salient types of area spatial light modulators that are conventionally employed for forming images in digital projection and printing apparatus: Digital Micro-mirror Devices (DMDs) and Liquid-Crystal Devices (LCDs).

[0005] Prototype projectors using one or more DMDs have been demonstrated. DMD devices are described in a number of patents, for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,791 by Hornbeck, issued Apr. 10, 1984, titled “Deformable Mirror Light Modulator,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,047 by Hornbeck, issued Jul. 9, 1996, titled “Active Yoke Hidden Hinge Digital Micromirror Device,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,383 by Hornbeck, issued Feb. 4, 1997, titled “Multi-Level Deformable Mirror Device with Torsion Hinges Placed In A Layer Different From The Torsion Beam Layer,” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,719,695 by Heimbuch, issued Feb. 17, 1998, titled “Spatial Light Modulator With Superstructure Light Shield.” Optical designs for projection apparatus employing DMDs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,818 by Tejada et al., issued Jun. 22, 1999, titled “Offset Projection Lens For Use With Reflective Spatial Light Modulators,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,050 by Dewald, issued Jul. 27, 1999, titled “Anamorphic Lens For Providing Wide-Screen Images Generated By A Spatial Light Modulator,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,008,951 by Anderson, issued Dec. 28, 1999, titled “Offset Projection Zoom Lens With Fixed Rear Group For Reflective Spatial Light Modulators,” and U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,717 by Iwai, issued Jul. 18, 2000, titled “Projector Apparatus.” LCD apparatus are described, in part, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,213 by Ruiz et al., issued Oct. 29, 1996, titled “Liquid Crystal Light Valve With Minimized Double Reflection” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,755 by Smith, Jr. et al., issued Apr. 15, 1997, titled “Inducing Tilted Perpendicular Alignment In Liquid Crystals.” Conventionally, area SLMs are provided filtered source illumination from a lamp or other broadband source. LCDs may be of either the reflective type (Liquid-Crystal On Silicon, or LCOS) or the transmissive type.

[0006] Linear SLMs, which could also be considered as one-dimensional spatial light modulators, have some advantages over the two-dimensional LCD and DMD area spatial light modulators described above. Inherent performance advantages for linear modulator arrays include the capability for higher resolution, reduced cost, and simplified illumination optics. In addition, linear arrays are more suitable modulators for laser light than are their two-dimensional counterparts. Grating Light Valve (GLV) linear arrays, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,360 by Bloom et al., issued May 10, 1994, titled “Method And Apparatus For Modulating A Light Beam” are one earlier type of linear modulator array that offers a workable solution for high-brightness imaging using laser sources, for example.

[0007] Recently, an electromechanical conformal grating device consisting of ribbon elements suspended above a substrate by a periodic sequence of intermediate supports was disclosed by Kowarz in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,663, issued Oct. 23, 2001, titled “Spatial Light Modulator With Conformal Grating Device.” The electromechanical conformal grating device is operated by electrostatic actuation, which causes the ribbon elements to conform around the support substructure, thereby producing a grating. The device of '663 has more recently become known as the conformal GEMS device, with GEMS standing for Grating ElectroMechanical System. The conformal GEMS device possesses a number of attractive features. It provides high-speed digital light modulation with high contrast and good efficiency. In addition, in a linear array of conformal GEMS devices, the active region is relatively large and the grating period is oriented perpendicular to the array direction. This orientation of the grating period causes diffracted light beams to separate in close proximity to the linear array and to remain spatially separated throughout most of an optical system, providing a high degree of system flexibility and allowing the use of lower cost optics. When used with laser sources, GEMS devices provide excellent brightness, speed, and contrast.

[0008] Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,411,425, issued Jun. 25, 2002, titled “Electromechanical Grating Display System With Spatially Separated Light Beams” and commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,476,848, issued Nov. 5, 2002, titled “Electromechanical Grating Display System With Segmented Waveplate,” (both to Kowarz et al.) disclose imaging systems employing GEMS devices in a number of printing and display embodiments. As with its GLV counterpart, a GEMS device modulates a single color and a single line of an for sequencing illumination and modulation data for each color to a single linear modulator or for combining separately modulated color images.

[0009] Among the recognized advantages of digital projection display employing spatial light modulators is an expanded color gamut, which allows displayed images to have improved color fidelity and appearance over images provided by conventional film-based or CRT-based projection systems. Color gamut is most readily visualized using the familiar tristimulus CIE color model developed by Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (International Commission on Illumination), which shows the color space perceived by a standard human observer. FIG. 1ashows the CIE color model, which represents a visible gamut 200 as a familiar “horseshoe” curve. Pure, saturated spectral colors are mapped to the “horseshoe” shaped periphery of visible gamut 200. The interior of the “horseshoe” then contains all mappings of mixtures of colors, including mixtures of pure colors with white, such as spectral red with added white, which becomes pink, for example. Within visible gamut 200, a device gamut 202 is typically represented by a triangle, with vertices approaching the curve of visible gamut 200. In FIG. 1a, device gamut 202, as drawn, approximates the familiar gamut for standard SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) phosphors, for example.

[0010] As is well known in the color projection arts, it is desirable for a display device to provide as much of visible gamut 200 as possible in order to faithfully represent the actual color of an image and to provide vivid colors. The component colors of a display, typically Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) define the vertices of the polygon for device gamut 202, thereby defining the area and shape of device gamut 202.

[0011] One basic strategy, then, to increase the size of device gamut 202 is to use light sources that are spectrally pure, or have at least a high degree of spectral purity. Lasers, due to their inherent spectral purity, are particularly advantaged for maximizing device gamut 202. Substantially monochromatic, laser sources effectively position vertices of device gamut 202 onto the periphery of visible gamut 200.

[0012] A number of digital projector designs have been proposed for taking advantage of the favorable spectral qualities of laser sources. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,092 by Troyer, issued Feb. 6, 2001, titled “Laser Projection Apparatus With Liquid-Crystal Light Valves And Scanning Reading Beam,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,426,781 by Lee, issued Jul. 30, 2002, titled “Laser Video Projector,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,682 by Kaelin et al., issued Aug. 20, 2002, titled “Laser Imaging Using A Spatial Light Modulator,” and U.S. Pat. No. 6,317,170 by Hwang et al., issued Nov. 13, 2001, titled “Large Screen Compact Image Projection apparatus Using A Hybrid Video Laser Color Mixer” show just a few of the proposed approaches for digital projection using laser illumination sources. Designs such as those disclosed in the patents just listed take advantage of continuing advances in laser design and fabrication that provide increased power, improved lifetimes, and overall lower cost for laser illumination solutions.

[0013] However, in spite of significant advances, the lack of low-cost lasers in the visible blue spectrum remains a problem. Laser manufacturers have, as yet, been unable to provide blue lasers at reasonable cost in the power range needed for digital projection. In fact, the cost of lasers available in the visible blue spectrum can be as much as ten times the cost of green lasers at the needed power levels. To a somewhat lesser extent, the problem of cost and availability also affects red lasers in some power ranges, particularly those providing illumination for large screen projection. This problem, then, dramatically impacts the cost of a projection apparatus, making laser projection an unlikely near-term alternative for wide acceptance with projection systems.

[0014] While lasers provide light that is spectrally pure and therefore allow an enlarged color gamut, there are other characteristics of laser light that are less than favorable for digital projection. Notably, laser light is at least relatively coherent and can be highly coherent. As a result, speckle and other effects are a problem for digital projection devices using laser illumination. As is noted above, area spatial light modulators, particularly transmissive and reflective LCDs, although they perform well with conventional incoherent light sources, such as lamps and LEDs, are not well-suited for modulation of laser light. Instead, linear spatial light modulators, such as GLV and GEMS devices are preferred for use with laser illumination.

[0015] In general, incoherent light sources are not as constrained as are lasers with respect to blue wavelengths. For example, mercury arc lamps, widely available at the necessary power range for projection, radiate light in the visible blue range. In fact, the standard 436 nm line of mercury arc lamps provides a characteristic blue spectral component that is sharply defined. This allows a filter to be used to isolate and pass only this visible blue component. Thus, the mercury arc lamp can serve as an incoherent light source, providing light that is substantially spectrally pure, within the range of wavelengths that are not affordably achievable using lasers.

[0016] LEDs, while not as spectrally pure nor as bright as lasers, provide yet another possible low-cost incoherent illumination source for digital projection systems with small screens. LEDs can provide favorable solutions for some types of display apparatus, particularly since these devices are becoming more widely available at the needed wavelengths.

[0017] It is worthwhile to summarize these considerations for illumination sources in digital projection apparatus design:

[0018] (a) lasers, providing optimal color gamut and high brightness, work best with linear SLMs to provide high resolution, but may not currently be affordable at all needed wavelengths, particularly in the visible blue region;

[0019] (b) incoherent light sources, such as lamp and LED light sources, may not provide as broad a color gamut as lasers at comparable wavelengths. Incoherent light sources work best with area SLMs used at relatively lower resolution, and are available at wavelengths across the visible spectrum, where lasers are not currently affordable;

[0020] It is recognized in the digital projection apparatus design arts that contesting factors of different color gamut, SLM type, resolution, and wavelength represent a fork in the road. The decision to use either a laser-based illumination system or an illumination system using incoherent light sources, such as the more conventional lamp, dictates how the designer then proceeds subsequently in order to optimize apparatus performance and value.

[0021] Because light handling optics and image modulation methods differ significantly between laser-based illumination systems and other types, hybrid solutions do not appear to be attractive or even viable. As one type of hybrid solution, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0154277 by Mukawa et al., published Oct. 24, 2002, titled “Image Display Device” discloses an image display device in which a laser is added to a conventional lamp-based illumination system in order to supplement the available brightness at a specific wavelength. Notably, the system disclosed in the Mukawa et al. application uses the same type of spatial light modulator for modulation of both laser light and incoherent light from a lamp. However, this approach neither takes advantage of special properties of laser light for modulation nor compensates for imaging anomalies caused by coherent laser light when used with SLMs optimized for conventional light sources.

[0022] As is well known, a projected color image comprises a Red color image, a Green color image, and a Blue color image, superimposed, collectively termed an RGB image. The displayed color image has a certain resolution, typically expressed in terms of the number of horizontal and vertical pixels. In order to form the RGB image at the desired resolution, individual pixels within each red, green, and blue color plane are aligned to each other. Thus, using conventional approaches, each color plane, and each SLM corresponding to a color plane, have the same resolution.

[0023] It is known that the human eye, which combines the separate red, green, and blue pixels displayed in order to perceive composite colors, has different sensitivity to different colors. Green sensitivity, for example, is very high; the green color channel corresponds most closely to human perception of luminance. There is less sensitivity to red, and even less to blue. In fact, with particular respect to detail perception, the human eye is relatively insensitive to blue. That is, the actual resolution of the blue color channel is of relatively minor importance for perception of detail. For a displayed image, this effect can be shown dramatically by decreasing the resolution of only the blue image plane while maintaining the original resolution of the red and green color planes. Although the relative insensitivity of the human eye to blue for discerning detail is well-documented, conventional digital projection designs have failed to take advantage of this characteristic to ease design constraints, to benefit from expanded color gamut, and to provide, at the same time, lower cost projection devices.

[0024] The aforementioned needs and shortcomings are met by the present invention by providing an improved digital projector solution that employs different types of illumination and image-forming components on different color channels. With this solution in mind, the present invention provides a display apparatus for forming, on a display surface, a color image including a plurality of superimposed images, the display apparatus includes:

[0025] (a) a first color modulation channel for forming a first color two-dimensional image, comprising:

[0026] (a1) a laser light source for providing a first color source beam;

[0027] (a2) a linear spatial light modulator for modulating said first color source beam to provide a modulated light beam having a first color;

[0028] (a3) a scanning element for scanning said modulated light beam having said first color to form said first color two-dimensional image;

[0029] (b) a second color modulation channel for forming a second color two-dimensional image, comprising:

[0030] (b1) an incoherent light source for providing a second color source beam;

[0031] (b2) an area spatial light modulator for modulating said second color source beam to form a second color two-dimensional image; and

[0032] (c) at least one projection lens for projecting, toward the display surface, the color image comprising said first color two-dimensional image superimposed with said second color two-dimensional image.

[0033] Another aspect of the present invention provides a system for forming, on a display surface, a color image including a plurality of superimposed images, the system includes:

[0034] (a) a first color modulation channel for forming a first two-dimensional image, comprising:

[0035] (a1) means for providing a source laser beam;

[0036] (a2) means for modulating said source laser beam to provide at least one modulated light beam having a first color;

[0037] (a3) means for directing, toward a color combiner, a scanned line image beam including said at least one modulated light beam having said first color;

[0038] (b) a second color modulation channel for forming a second two-dimensional image, comprising:

[0039] (b1) means for providing a second color incoherent source beam;

[0040] (b2) means for modulating said second color incoherent source beam to provide a second color image beam to said color combiner;

[0041] (c) said color combiner combining at least said scanned line image beam and said second color image beam to form a superimposed color image beam;

[0042] (d) means for projecting said superimposed color image beam toward the display surface.

[0043] A third aspect of the present invention provides a method for forming, on a display surface, a color image as a plurality of superimposed images, including the steps of:

[0044] (a) forming a first color linear image beam including the steps of:

[0045] (a1) providing a first color laser source beam;

[0046] (a2) modulating said first color laser source beam to provide at least one diffracted light beam having a first color;

[0047] (b) forming a second color two-dimensional image beam including the steps of:

[0048] (b1) providing a second color source beam from an incoherent light source;

[0049] (b2) modulating said second color source beam;

[0050] (c) combining said first color linear image beam with said second color two-dimensional image beam to form a superimposed image beam; and

[0051] (d) projecting said superimposed image beam toward the display surface.

[0052] A feature of the present invention is the use of a combination of different types of illumination sources and different types of spatial light modulators within the same display apparatus.

[0053] It is an advantage of the present invention that it obviates the need for obtaining lasers at specific wavelengths in the visible region, particularly in the blue region. The present invention provides methods for using incoherent light sources as well as laser sources.

[0054] It is a further advantage of the present invention that it allows a display apparatus to use lasers on any number of color channels, where lasers are the most suitable and economical, for example, and to use other light sources where they can be most advantageous.

[0055] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

[0056] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter of the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0057] FIG. 1 is a graph showing the relationship of the standard SMPTE color gamut to the visible color gamut;

[0058] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the overall arrangement of image modulation components in a display apparatus of the present invention;

[0059] FIG. 3ais a detailed schematic block diagram showing a first embodiment of a display apparatus using a combination of different types of modulation components, wherein the blue modulation path utilizes a reflective LCD spatial light modulator;

[0060] FIG. 3bis a detailed schematic block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of a display apparatus using a combination of different types of modulation components, wherein the blue modulation path utilizes a transmissive LCD spatial light modulator;

[0061] FIG. 3cis a detailed schematic block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of a display apparatus, wherein the blue modulation path utilizes a transmissive LCD spatial light modulator and a second modulation path utilizes a GEMS linear spatial light modulator to provide the two other colors in sequence, from laser sources;

[0062] FIG. 3dis a detailed schematic block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of a display apparatus, wherein the blue modulation path utilizes a transmissive area spatial light modulator and a second modulation path utilizes two GEMS linear spatial light modulators, fabricated on the same substrate as a single component, to provide the two other colors, with illumination from laser sources having different spatial displacement;

[0063] FIG. 3eis a detailed schematic block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of a display apparatus for expanded color gamut, wherein the blue modulation path utilizes a transmissive LCD spatial light modulator and a second modulation path utilizes three or more other lasers providing source illumination to GEMS linear spatial light modulators;

[0064] FIG. 3fis a detailed schematic block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of a display apparatus wherein one color modulation path employs an emissive display device and a second modulation path uses linear spatial light modulators to provide the other two colors from laser sources;

[0065] FIG. 4 is a detailed schematic block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of a display apparatus using multiple projection lenses;

[0066] FIG. 5 is a detailed schematic block diagram showing yet another alternative embodiment of a display apparatus using a combination of different types of modulation components;

[0067] FIG. 6 is a detailed schematic block diagram showing yet another alternative embodiment of a display apparatus using a DMD spatial light modulator on one color channel and GEMS spatial light modulators on other color channels; and,

[0068] FIG. 7 is a graph showing the improvement of color gamut available using the apparatus and methods of the present invention.

[0069] The present description is directed in particular to elements forming part of, or cooperating more directly with, apparatus in accordance with the invention. It is to be understood that elements not specifically shown or described may take various forms well known to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention provides a display apparatus and method for using a combination of laser and incoherent light sources for forming a two-dimensional color image on a display surface.

[0070] For the description that follows, components specific to a single color path may be more particularly identified with a letter appended to the part number. Where used, letters correspond to color paths; for example, “r” is appended for red, “b” for blue, “g” for green. Where shown, “bg” indicates a fourth color path, which could be blue-green, yellow, yellow-green, orange, or some other suitable color, as is described subsequently.

[0071] Overall Model

[0072] FIG. 2, is a block diagram showing the major components of a display apparatus 10 in a simplified embodiment of the present invention. Regarding the present invention, multiple resolution delivered by multiple color modulation channels, as components of display apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 2, will differ in pixel resolution substantially; contrary to prior art schemes. Display apparatus 10 comprises at least three color modulation channels: a red color modulation channel 30r; a green color modulation channel 30g; and a blue color modulation channel 30b. Red color modulation channel 30rcomprises a red laser 20rand a spatial light modulator 32r. Similarly, green color modulation channel 30gcomprises a green laser 20gand a spatial light modulator 32g. Blue color modulation channel 30bcomprises an incoherent light source 22b, a blue-pass filter 24bthat serves as a color separator, and a spatial light modulator 32b. A color combiner 73, such as an X-cube or Philips prism, combines the modulated light from each color modulation channel 30r, 30g, and 30bto provide multicolor modulated light along a single output axis O to a projection lens 300.

[0073] In conventional laser-based projection system designs, a laser, a highly coherent light source, would be used in each color modulation channel 30r, 30g, and 30b. The arrangement of display apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 2, however, substitutes an incoherent light source 22bin blue color modulation channel 30binstead of the expected laser. Incoherent light source 22bis preferably a mercury arc lamp or other type of lamp. A well known version of mercury arc lamp, for example, outputs a stable and significant 436 nm wavelength output that can be passed through blue-pass filter 24bto provide illumination for spatial light modulator 32b. An alternate arrangement could use a blue LED or an array comprising multiple blue LEDs as an incoherent light source; for such an alternate arrangement, blue-pass filter 24bwould not be necessary. By using an alternate, non-laser, incoherent source for blue illumination, the arrangement of FIG. 2 provides the advantages of laser projection for red and green color modulation channels 30rand 30g, respectively. However, for blue color modulation channel 30b, the high cost of a blue laser source is avoided, while enough light is provided for forming a multicolor image.

[0074] In one embodiment, red laser 20rwould be a semiconductor laser having a wavelength preferably between about 630 nm and 660 nm. Green laser 20gwould be a 532 nm diode-pumped solid state laser with frequency doubling for obtaining the desired emission wavelength. Spatial light modulators 32r, 32g, and 32bcould be of the same type, such as some type of transmissive LCD modulator, as is shown for spatial light modulators 32rand 32gin FIG. 2, for example. However, as is described in greater detail subsequently, spatial light modulators 32r, 32g, and 32bcan be of different types, selected to suit the type of illumination.

[0075] Apparatus Using Linear and Area Spatial Light Modulators

[0076] Following the model presented in FIG. 2, FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 4, 5, and 6 show various embodiments of display apparatus 10 using combinations having different types of spatial light modulators. Referring to FIG. 3a, there is shown an embodiment wherein red and green color modulation channels 30rand 30g, respectively, modulate laser light at an electromechanical grating light modulator 85rand 85g, such as a linear array of conformal GEMS, for example. Blue color modulation channel 30b, on the other hand, uses an area spatial light modulator 32b.

[0077] Referring to FIG. 3a, in red color modulation channel 30r, red laser 20rprovides illumination that is conditioned through a spherical lens 72 and a cylindrical lens 74 and directed towards a turning mirror 82. Light reflected from turning mirror 82 is modulated by diffraction at an electromechanical grating light modulator 85r. Modulated diffracted light from electromechanical grating light modulator 85ris diffracted past turning mirror 82 and to a dichroic combiner 94. The modulated light from dichroic combiner 94 is then directed by a lens 75, through an optional cross-order filter 110, to a scanning mirror 77. Turning mirror 82 acts as an obstructing element for the zeroeth order reflected light from electromechanical grating light modulator 85r.

[0078] As scanning mirror 77 rotates, individual modulated line images from electromechanical grating light modulator 85r, directed through a scan lens 84 and to an optional moving diffuser 86 (for speckle compensation), are provided to a dichroic combiner 92. Dichroic combiner 92 then directs the modulated line images from scanning mirror 77 along output axis O to projection lens 300, which projects the image onto a display surface 90. An optical compensation element 89 may be disposed in the path of red and green modulated light, when necessary, to make the red/green and blue light paths similar for projection lens 300, thereby reducing image aberrations. It should be noted that the scanned line images from green and red color modulation channels 30gand 30r, respectively, are perceived by a viewer as two-dimensional images when the scan refresh rate is sufficiently high, typically at least 48 Hz.

[0079] The path of modulated light from green color modulation channel 30gis similar to the path for red modulated light, just described. Dichroic combiner 94 combines the red and green modulated light and directs the combined light toward scanning mirror 77.

[0080] Still referring to FIG. 3a, the operation of blue color modulation channel 30bdiffers from that described for red and green color modulation channels 30rand 30g. Incoherent light from light source 22bis filtered at bluepass filter 24band polarized at optional polarizer 34, then directed by a lens 76 to a polarizing beamsplitter 93. Polarizing beamsplitter 93 directs light having the proper polarization through an optional quarter-wave plate 42 and to spatial light modulator 32b. Unlike linear spatial light modulators 32rand 32g, spatial light modulator 32bfor blue color modulation channel 30bis an area spatial light modulator, a reflective LCD in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3a. Modulated light from spatial light modulator 32bis then transmitted through polarizing beamsplitter 93 and to dichroic combiner 92, which combines the blue modulated light with red and green modulated light for projection. It is instructive to note that spatial light modulator 32bcould alternately be a transmissive LCD, a DMD, or some other type of area spatial light modulator, with the necessary changes to supporting optics, as is well known in the imaging arts.

[0081] With the arrangement of FIG. 3a, then, the blue color component from spatial light modulator 32bis a two-dimensional image; the red and green color components from spatial light modulators 85rand 85g, respectively, are scanned line images that form a two-dimensional image with sufficient scan rate, as noted above. Moreover, because of reduced eye sensitivity to blue, as noted in the background section above, the two-dimensional blue image from spatial light modulator 32bmay even be at a significantly lower resolution (that is, having fewer displayed pixels over the same area) than the corresponding scanned line image from spatial light modulators 85rand 85g. It is important to note that the size and shape of the two-dimensional blue image should be substantially equal to that for the red and green scanned line images. By proper lens design, lens 75 and scan lens 84 could be used to match the size and shape of the red and green scanned line images to that of the two-dimensional blue image. Any residual mismatch in color image sizing could be adjusted in the mapping of electronic image data to spatial light modulators 85r, 85g, and 32b, as necessary.

[0082] FIG. 3bshows an alternate embodiment of display apparatus 10 utilizing a transmissive LCD as an area spatial light modulator 32bin blue color modulation channel 30b. Light from light source 22bis directed through polarizer 34 and blue-pass filter 24bto provide polarized blue light, which is directed through lens 76 to area spatial light modulator 32b. Modulated light from spatial light modulator 32bthen travels to polarizing beamsplitter 93, which serves both to select the desired polarization of the blue modulated light and to combine the blue modulated light with red and green modulated light for projection. Red and green color modulation channels 30rand 30g, respectively, in FIG. 3buse linear spatial light modulators 85rand 85g, respectively, in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. 3a.

[0083] FIG. 3cshows an alternative embodiment having a red-green color modulation channel 30rgin which a single electromechanical grating light modulator 85rgserves to alternately modulate both red and green light, in sequential fashion. Red and green illumination are provided by laser sources 20rand 20gthat provide, along the same illumination path, a red laser beam and a green laser beam. These different beams could be combined in any of a number of ways well known in the imaging arts, such as using dichroic combiner 94.

[0084] FIG. 3dshows another alternative embodiment of display apparatus 10 in which red-green color modulation channel 30rguses a dichroic combiner 94 to direct red and green laser light simultaneously to a dual electromechanical grating light modulator 87rg. Dual electromechanical grating light modulator 87rgprovides, as a single component, two independently addressable linear arrays of electromechanical grating devices fabricated onto the same substrate. Spatial displacement, such as with laser illumination provided through dichroic combiner 94, or angular displacement could be used to direct the laser light along separate paths for modulation. With the arrangement of FIG. 3d, dual electromechanical grating light modulator 87rgis capable of simultaneously modulating the red and green light, using two separate linear arrays of electromechanical grating devices, for example.

[0085] FIG. 3eshows a four-color embodiment of display apparatus 10. An X-cube 96 is used to combine the modulated light from red and green color modulation channels 30rand 30gwith modulated light from a fourth color modulation channel 30bg. An electromechanical grating light modulator 85bgmodulates the fourth color beam from laser source 20bg. In one four-color embodiment, laser source 20bgemits blue-green light; however, other wavelengths could be employed. In addition, alternative arrangements of color modulation channels 30r, 30g, 30b, and 30bgcould include pairing two channels that use area spatial light modulators, such as blue area spatial light modulator 32band a fourth color area spatial light modulator (not shown) and two channels that use linear spatial light modulators such as electromechanical grating light modulators 85rand 85g. Conventional techniques, well known in the digital imaging arts, would be employed for modulating the fourth color. These could include, for example, using a single area spatial light modulator 32bor a fourth color area spatial light modulator to alternate between modulating two colors. Components such as color filter wheels or dichroic color separators could be used in cooperation with a single incoherent light source, for example, for obtaining the unmodulated color light beams for modulation at spatial light modulator 32bor the fourth color area spatial light modulator, using methods well known in the digital imaging arts.

[0086] FIG. 3fshows another embodiment of display apparatus 10 in which an emissive display 46 is used in color modulation channel 30b. Emissive display 46 could be a cathode ray tube (CRT), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a polymer light emitting diode (PLED), or a plasma display device, for example. This novel arrangement may be advantageous where it is not necessary to have the same resolution for blue color modulation channel 30band red and green color modulation channels 30rand 30g. Polarizing beamsplitter 93 or some other combiner is used for combining the imaged light output for projection lens 300.

[0087] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown an alternative embodiment of display apparatus 10 in which different projection paths are used for different colors. Here, blue color modulation channel 30bdirects modulated light to a first projection lens 300a. Red and green color modulation channels 30rand 30gdirect light to a second projection lens 300b. Optional cross-order filter 110 provides filtering of the projected red and green linear modulated light, which then travels to scanning mirror 77 and is combined, at a dichroic combiner 78, with blue modulated light projected from blue color modulation channel 30b. Dichroic combiner 78 is optional, since first and second projection lenses 300aand 300bcould be separately focused onto display surface 90 (not shown in FIG. 4), with appropriate modifications to the overall layout. The use of multiple projection lenses 300aand 300bcould also be advantageous with any of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3a-3fdescribed above, since it simplifies optical requirements for projecting imaged light from different types of modulation devices.

[0088] As is noted in the background material above, a primary motivation for using lasers on some color modulation channels and other light sources on other color modulation channels relates to the high cost of lasers at some wavelengths. FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, and 4 show embodiments using two laser sources 20g, 20r. However, there may be situations where it is advantageous to use a laser on only one color channel, with incoherent light sources on the other channels. Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown an alternative embodiment of display apparatus 10 wherein green color modulation channel 30guses green laser source 20g. Red and blue color modulation channels 30rand 30buse a lamp 21 as an incoherent light source. The specific lamp 21 chosen has significant red and blue wavelength components. Light from lamp 21 travels to optional polarizer 34 and is filtered at a red-blue pass filter 24rb. The polarized red and blue source light is then directed by lens 76 to a polarizing beamsplitter 93 which reflects light having the proper polarization to color combiner 73. For this unmodulated light, color combiner 73 also acts as a color separator, diverting the unmodulated incoherent red light to reflective spatial light modulator 32r, through optional quarter-wave plate 42. Similarly, color combiner 73 diverts modulated incoherent blue light to reflective spatial light modulator 32b, through optional quarter-wave plate 42. Modulated red light from spatial light modulator 32ris then combined by color combiner 73 with modulated blue light from spatial light modulator 32band with modulated coherent green light from green color modulation channel 30g. Polarizing beamsplitter 93 then transmits the combined modulated light to projection lens 300. Color combiner 73 could be an X-cube in one embodiment. As is well known in the imaging arts, X-cubes are optimized for different polarization states at different wavelengths. In standard configurations, the X-cube reflects red and blue light having S-polarization and transmits green light having P-polarization. However, for maximum brightness, it may be advantageous to use an X-cube that is fabricated to be substantially polarization-insensitive.

[0089] The embodiments shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, and 4 show incoherent light source 22bused for blue light, with lasers 20rused for red light. Alternative incoherent light sources could be used for red and/or blue illumination, such as LEDs, for example.

[0090] Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown another embodiment of the present invention, in which spatial light modulator 32bfor blue color modulation channel 30bis a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD). In the configuration of FIG. 6, incoherent light source 22bprovides illumination directed by lens 76 through blue-pass filter 24band reflected by a mirror 44 to spatial light modulator 32bat the proper angle for modulation. Dichroic combiner 92 combines the modulated light from blue color modulation channel 30bwith the scanned line of modulated light from red and green color modulation channels 30rand 30gand directs this combined light to projection lens 300.

[0091] Color Gamut

[0092] As is noted in the background information given above, one key motivation for using monochromatic laser illumination sources relates to color gamut. Referring back to FIG. 1, it was noted that optimum color gamut is achieved when vertices that define device gamut 202 are on the curve of visible gamut 200. Laser sources provide vertices on the visible gamut 200 curve; other light sources typically provide vertices somewhat back from the visible gamut 200 curve.

[0093] Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a graph of an improved color gamut 302 using red laser source 20rto provide red vertex 203r, green laser source 20gto provide green vertex 203g, and blue light source 22bto provide blue vertex 203b. Blue light source 22bis preferably an arc lamp having a stable 436 nm wavelength output. As has been described, red and green vertices 203rand 203gare on the periphery of visible gamut 200. Blue vertex 203b, although not directly on this periphery, is very near represented in FIG. 7. Note the considerable enlargement of improved color gamut 302 of the present invention over device gamut 202 available using standard SMPTE phosphors. Thus, while the method of the present invention does not yield the maximum possible color gamut obtainable according to the tri-vertex CIE model, the improvement available using the present invention can be substantial.

[0094] As is noted above with reference to FIG. 3e, expanded color gamut can be obtained by supplementing the conventional red, green, and blue light sources with additional monochromatic sources of other colors. Referring to FIG. 3e, the configuration of display apparatus 10 allows a broadened color gamut, effectively adding a fourth vertex 203bg(see FIG. 7), which may be emitted light in the blue-green region, for example, for defining a larger device gamut 202, as is represented in FIG. 7.

[0095] Optical Path Design

[0096] It must be observed that there are differences in handling the different types of modulated light provided by linear and area spatial light modulators. The method of the present invention may require that some compromises be made in order to accommodate both scanned linear and full area imaging. This is in addition to other changes required between color paths to handle light at different wavelengths, for example.

[0097] It has been observed that the modulated image provided by blue color modulation channel 30bis provided as a full image frame, as distinguished from the scanned linear light for red or green color modulation channels 30rand 30g. Moreover, also contrary to convention, the blue image itself may even be at lower resolution than the modulated images provided in red and green color modulation channels 30rand 30g. Because human eye sensitivity to detail is limited in the blue visible region, resolution requirements can be relaxed for blue color modulation channel 30b. With this same consideration, the optical path for modulated light can also be optimized for red and green color imaging where detail (and, to some extent, chromaticity) is more important.

[0098] FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3fand 4 show and describe the use of GEMS devices as linear light modulators. However, GLV or other linear devices could alternately be used, provided with the necessary changes to support components, as is well known in the imaging arts.

[0099] Optical Component Options

[0100] It must be pointed out that FIGS. 2, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 4, 5, and 6, show only the components of display apparatus 10 that are used for color modulation. Scanning, projection, and display functions can use components well-known to those skilled in the digital image display arts. Scanning mirror 77 is the simplest of a set of possible devices for scanning the image, one line at a time, toward display surface 90. However, other types of scanning elements could be used, such as a rotating polygon, for example.

[0101] Color combiners 73 typically comprise one or more dichroic surfaces that have been fabricated for reflecting or transmitting light at various wavelengths. FIGS. 2 and 5 show X-cubes or X-prisms that operate based on crossed dichroic surfaces, used for color combiner 73. However, other arrangements of color-combining dichroic surfaces may alternatively be used for directing multiple input colors into a single output color path.

[0102] In one embodiment, display surface 90 is a front projection screen; however, a rear-projection screen or other surface could also be used.

[0103] It can be seen that the apparatus and method of the present invention provide a solution to a recognized problem that has heretofore limited the feasibility of economical laser-based projection systems. Moreover, the solution of the present invention provides display apparatus 10 with an expanded color gamut, closely approximating the color gamut that would be achievable with an all-laser illumination system, yet, at a fraction of the cost of such a system. Finally, in contradistinction to conventional approaches for digital imaging, the method and apparatus of the present invention employ different types of spatial light modulators in different color channels of a single projection system, with the added option of using lower resolution in the blue color channel where detail is less perceptible.

[0104] The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the scope of the invention as described above, and as noted in the appended claims, by a person of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, specific components in red, green, and blue color modulation channels 30r, 30g, and 30b, respectively, can be varied to suit the type of image modulation being performed. More than 3 or 4 color channels could be employed, such as where additional colors would enhance the available color gamut, as is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/272,594, by Agostinelli et al., filed Oct. 16, 2002, titled “Broad Gamut Color Display Apparatus Using An Electromechanical Grating Device.”

[0105] 10 display apparatus

[0106] 20bglaser source, fourth color

[0107] 20glaser source, green

[0108] 20rlaser source, red

[0109] 21 lamp

[0110] 22blight source, blue

[0111] 24bblue-pass filter

[0112] 24rbred-blue pass filter

[0113] 30bcolor modulation channel, blue

[0114] 30bgcolor modulation channel, fourth color

[0115] 30gcolor modulation channel, green

[0116] 30rcolor modulation channel, red

[0117] 30rgcolor modulation channel, red-green

[0118] 32bspatial light modulator, blue

[0119] 32gspatial light modulator, green

[0120] 32rspatial light modulator, red

[0121] 34 polarizer

[0122] 42 quarter-wave plate

[0123] 44 mirror

[0124] 46 emissive display

[0125] 72 spherical lens

[0126] 73 color combiner

[0127] 74 cylindrical lens

[0128] 75 lens

[0129] 76 lens

[0130] 77 scanning mirror

[0131] 78 dichroic combiner

[0132] 82 turning mirror

[0133] 84 scan lens

[0134] 85bgelectromechanical grating light modulator, fourth color

[0135] 85gelectromechanical grating light modulator, green

[0136] 85relectromechanical grating light modulator, red

[0137] 85rgelectromechanical grating light modulator, red-green

[0138] 86 diffuser

[0139] 87rgdual electromechanical grating light modulator

[0140] 89 compensation elements

[0141] 90 display surface

[0142] 92 dichroic combiner

[0143] 93 polarizing beamsplitter

[0144] 94 dichroic combiner

[0145] 96 X-cube

[0146] 110 cross-order filter

[0147] 200 visible gamut

[0148] 202 device gamut

[0149] 203bvertex, blue

[0150] 203bgg fourth vertex

[0151] 203gvertex, green

[0152] 203rvertex, red

[0153] 300 projection lens

[0154] 300afirst projection lens

[0155] 300bsecond projection lens

[0156] 302 improved device gamut