HK1222753B - Display - Google Patents

Description

Display device

The present application is a divisional application of the invention patent application having application number 201280013117.2, application date 3/14/2012, entitled "local dimming of laser light sources for projectors and other lighting devices including movie theaters, entertainment systems, and displays".

Cross Reference to Related Applications

Priority of U.S. provisional patent application No.61/452,641, filed 3, month 14, 2011, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Background

The present invention relates to laser imaging systems and more particularly to laser projection systems and local dimming thereof.

Various projection systems are known, including movie projectors and home theaters. Various styles of other projections are known for illuminating modulators in, for example, LCD displays. These projection systems are typically 2D systems, but it is becoming increasingly popular to implement various configurations of 3D stereoscopic projectors.

3D stereoscopic projection includes Anaglyph (Anaglyph), linear polarization, circular polarization, shutter glasses, and spectral separation. Anaglyph is the oldest technology and provides left/right eye separation by filtering the light through 2 color filters (typically red for one eye and cyan for the other). At the projector, the left eye image is (typically) filtered through a red filter and the right image is filtered through a cyan filter. Glasses (eyewear) are composed of a red filter for the left eye and a cyan filter for the right eye. This method works best for black and white original images, but is not well suited for color images.

Linearly polarized 3D provides separation at the projector by filtering the left eye through a (usually) vertically oriented linear polarizer and the right eye image through a horizontally oriented linear polarizer. The glasses consist of a vertically oriented linear polarizer for the left eye and a horizontally oriented polarizer for the right eye. The projection screen must be of the polarization maintaining (pre) type, generally known as a "silver screen" due to its distinctive color. Linear polarization allows full color images to be displayed with little color distortion. It has several problems including the need for a screen that is expensive, fragile, and non-uniform. Another problem is that the viewer must keep his head oriented vertically to avoid cross talk from one eye to the other.

Circularly polarized 3D was invented to address the problem of requiring the viewer to keep his head oriented vertically. Circular polarization provides separation at the projector by passing the left-eye image through a (typically) left-handed circular polarizer and the right-eye image through a right-handed circular polarizer. The glasses are composed of a left-handed circular polarizer for the left eye and a right-handed circular polarizer for the right eye. This method also requires a screen.

Shutter glasses provide separation by multiplexing the left and right images in time. No separate filter is required for use at the projector. The glasses are composed of shutter glasses. These are active glasses that electronically block the lens in synchronization with the projector frame rate. The left eye image is displayed first, followed by the right eye image, and so on. Since it is impractical to have a direct wired connection to the glasses in a theater, wireless or infrared signaling methods are used to provide timing references for left/right eye shading. This approach requires that the IR or RF transmitter be in an auditorium (auditorium). Shutter glasses are expensive and difficult to clean, require that batteries must be replaced frequently, and are limited in their switching rate. Shutter glasses are only practical for use with D-film or other electronic projection systems because very few film projectors provide the signals needed to synchronize the shutter glasses with the frame rate. The method does not require a screen.

Spectral separation provides separation at the projector by spectrally filtering the left and right eyes. This system differs from anaglyph methods in that each of the filters for the left and right eyes passes a portion of the red, green, and blue color spectra to provide a full color image. The band pass spectrum of the left eye filter is complementary to the band pass spectrum of the right eye filter. The glasses consist of filters with the same general spectral characteristics as used in the projector. While this approach provides a full color image, it requires color compensation to make the colors in the left and right eyes match the colors present in the original image, and there may be a smaller reduction in color gamut compared to the color gamut (gamut) of the projector.

All of the above methods for providing left/right eye separation for 3D stereoscopic display may be used with two projectors (one for the left eye and one for the right eye) or may be used with a single D cinema projector system. In a typical projection system, the left and right images are time multiplexed. This means that the projection filter must be varied at the L/R multiplexing frequency, except in the case of shutter glasses where a projection filter is not required. This can be done with a filter wheel in the projector synchronized to the multiplex frequency or with electronically switched filters.

Disclosure of Invention

The present inventors have realized a need to improve performance, including contrast, in projection systems. The invention includes specific arrangements of light emitting and optical components that enable local dimming and increase the performance of a projector or lighting system.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a display device comprising: a plurality of laser light sources aligned to a spreader configured to spread light from each light source into an overlapping pattern on a primary modulator; and a processing device configured to calculate an energization level of each laser light source based on the image signal so that the overlapping pattern is locally dimmed. The display may further comprise a secondary modulator configured to modulate the laser light prior to illuminating the primary modulator.

The locally dimmed overlapping pattern may be configured such that areas of the modulator corresponding to darker regions of an image carried by the image signal have less illumination than areas of the modulator corresponding to brighter regions.

The locally dimmed overlapping pattern may be configured to, on average, cause areas of the modulator corresponding to darker regions of an image carried by the image signal to have less illumination than areas of the modulator corresponding to brighter regions.

The overlapping pattern of local dimming comprises overlapping cases of combined primary light colors and/or overlapping cases of more than 3 primary light colors. The overlapping pattern may include overlapping instances of red, green, blue, and cyan light colors. The overlapping pattern may comprise a sequential illumination of the modulators with primary light such that the overlapping pattern comprises an overlapping situation of the first primary light in the first time period, the second primary light in the second time period and the third primary light in the third time period. The primary color light may include red, green, blue, and at least one of yellow, magenta, cyan.

The processor may be further configured to calculate a power-on level for each pixel of the modulator based on the image signal and the power-on level of the light source. The energization levels for the pixels of the modulator may be based at least in part on Light Field Simulations (LFS) of the overlapping patterns.

The display may include an optical module configured to direct light beams from the light source through a spreader configured to spread and cause overlap between adjacent and/or nearby light beams and then onto the modulator.

The display may further include: a second plurality of laser light sources aligned to a second spreader configured to spread light from each light source of the second plurality of laser light sources into an overlapping pattern on a second modulator; and a third plurality of laser light sources aligned to a third spreader configured to spread light from each of the third plurality of laser light sources into an overlapping pattern on a third modulator. The plurality of light sources may comprise a plurality of only first primary color light sources, the second plurality of laser light sources may comprise a plurality of only second primary color light sources, and the third plurality of light sources may comprise only third primary color light sources.

The present invention may be embodied as an apparatus, device, method, system, or other form consistent with the description provided herein. Portions of the apparatus, methods, systems or other forms of the present invention may be conveniently implemented in programming on a general purpose computer or a networked computer, and the results may be displayed on an output device connected to any of the general purpose computer or networked computer, or transmitted to a remote device for output or display. Additionally, any components of the present invention represented in the form of computer programs, data sequences and/or control signals may be embodied as electronic signal broadcasts (or transmitted) over any medium, including but not limited to wireless broadcasts, and transmissions over one or more copper wires, one or more fiber optic cables, and one or more coaxial cables, etc. at any frequency.

Drawings

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a laser light source illuminating a modulator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a laser light source beam (bundle) illuminating a modulator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a diagram of a light source bundle and a multiple redirection block according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an expander (projector) and illumination pattern according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating various example illumination patterns according to this disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the systems and processes associated with various embodiments of the invention; and

fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating a modification (retrofit) of the projection apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a laser light source 105 illuminating a modulator 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The laser light is passed through the expander 110 to expand the light (115). The expanded light 115 then illuminates an area of the modulator 120 that is larger than the area of light produced by the laser light source and any "native" expansion that may have occurred in the optical path between the light source and the modulator in the absence of the expander. The increased area illuminated by a single light source allows the use of multiple and/or multiple overlapping laser light sources to illuminate the entire modulator.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a laser light source beam 205 illuminating a modulator 225 according to an embodiment of the invention. Here, several of the bundled laser light sources 205 are energized and produce light. The light is expanded (220) by expander 210 which causes the light to expand. The spread light 220 then illuminates the modulator 225. As shown, with the additional laser energized, the entire modulator 225 is illuminated. The illumination of the modulator is locally dimmed at different power-on/brightness levels.

In one embodiment, two or more of the light provided by the illustrated light sources may be produced by a common light source and a splitter or other separate optical element or elements, as alternatives to separate sources. In one embodiment, each of the series of light sources is split multiple times to provide a full array of light beams. In one embodiment, the light beams provided by the common light source may be individually modulated by means of the liquid crystal panel and the energizing of the particular liquid crystal cell upon which the individual light beams are incident. The modulation of the individual light beams may be accompanied by, for example, a combination of the level of energization of the liquid crystal cell on which the light or part thereof is incident and the level of energization of the light source.

Turning back to the exemplary embodiment of fig. 2, additional light sources may also be energized. For example, all light sources may be energized simultaneously. The bundled laser light sources 205 may be any primary color in a projection system, for example. The bundled light source 205 may be, for example, a set of monochromatic laser light sources, such as any one of red, green, or blue in an RGB system, or any one of yellow, magenta, or cyan, or other primary colors.

The bundled light source may also be a mixed set of primary colors, such as a set of red, green, and blue laser light sources. Depending on other factors of the projector design, the red, green, and blue lasers may be programmed to turn on simultaneously, or alternately in a time sequence (e.g., T1 energizes the red laser, T2 energizes the green laser, and T3 energizes the blue laser). The time periods may be sequential, repeated, or interspersed with other intervals, such as blanking intervals (blanking intervals). The time period may be adjusted such that one of the colors may have a longer time period than the other colors, and the time period may be variable for one color, more colors, or all colors.

In one embodiment, the time period (or number of time periods) for each color is determined based on the image data. For example, in darker scenes, the time period may be reduced. In scenes with specific color requirements, the dominant (dominant) color may be increased (e.g., a blue sky scene may utilize an increased blue time period). In accordance with such period adjustment, flash periods (flash periods) may be adjusted accordingly.

In another embodiment, the time period may also be adjusted based on the characteristics of the projector or the light source itself. For example, a projector with higher light loss in a particular color may increase the time period for that color. A failed laser or group of lasers may also be compensated for by adjusting the period of time that the lasers are energized or other parameters. The timing of energization of individual lasers of the same color may also be varied within the corresponding energization time period. Such timing may, for example, be to match the energization pattern or other elements of one or more modulators (e.g., filters, shutters, polarizers, etc.), including mechanical motion within the image chain.

Any form of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) may be utilized. However, the frequency at which PWM occurs must be considered. In the case of a DMD modulator implementation, the PWM frequency may not match the DMD modulator frequency, which would result in no benefit (the laser is on only when the mirror is reflecting into the image chain) or no illumination (the laser is not on when positioned to reflect into the image chain). In one embodiment, the PWM of the laser is implemented at a much higher frequency (e.g., greater than 400MHz for a DMD, or greater than 60FPS on a typical LCD) than the switching frequency of one or more modulators in a projector or display.

Amplitude modulation of the laser may also be utilized.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a light source beam 305 and a redirection module 335 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the redirection module 335 is a multiple redirection module in that it receives light from multiple light sources (light source beams 305) and redirects individual ones of the light sources toward the modulator 320. The redirection is provided by optical elements (e.g., optical elements 330 and 332). The optical element may be, for example, a reflector or a beam splitter (e.g., one portion of the split beam is directed toward modulator 320 and another portion is directed toward a second modulator) (e.g., a splitter configured to pass one beam and reflect the other beam into the same or similar optical path). The optical element may be a silvered surface or a mirror embedded in the optical module. The optical element may also be an indentation (impression) or other displacement in the optical module that causes total internal reflection. More than one optical element (or reflector) may be utilized in each optical path.

Spreader 310 is also shown and is intended to illustrate the case of a non-spread or low spread light source (e.g., a laser light source) that is then spread to illuminate modulator 320. However, as with all such exemplary embodiments described herein, such a configuration is not limited to a laser implementation. Also, for exemplary purposes, a selection of energized light sources is shown. However, as discussed above, all of the light sources may be energized, or alternatively may be energized, they may be energized at different times (e.g., pulse width modulation, PWM), and/or they may be energized at different energy levels (e.g., amplitude modulation).

In one embodiment, the redirecting optics and the expander/expansion function are combined. For example, the reflector may further include any one of a lenslet (lenslet), a diffuser (e.g., a hologram), or other optical device for performing expansion, which may be used in place of the function of the expander 310.

Typically, if brightness is desired (e.g., for a completely dark or black portion of the image, the modulator may not need to be illuminated), the selected energized light source will provide sufficient coverage for the entire modulation surface of the modulator 320. Alternatively, in case a completely dark area of the image or scene is close to a partially or completely illuminated area (e.g. spatially or temporally), some illumination (which may take the form of a gradual fade to black) may be provided for the dark area. In one embodiment, the rate of fade-out to black is adjusted in areas within the "dark" area based on image data, such as temporal image variation, relative brightness of nearby areas, or other factors, including optical performance of one or more components of the imaging system.

In one embodiment, the algorithm that detects a broken or malfunctioning light source and identifies the failure also adjusts internal parameters (such as fade-to-black rate or brightness/modulation of other light sources) to compensate for the failure. Sensors in the image chain may be positioned to provide real-time performance feedback, and any necessary adjustments to improve display performance or to compensate for faults may be made in real-time (on-the-fly) during image display or projection.

In one embodiment the optical path lengths of the light sources are matched. For example, when using optical modules such as those shown in fig. 3, the light sources may be moved upstream or downstream relative to each other based on the relative distance between the light sources and their corresponding redirecting elements (e.g., the light sources for reflector 330 may be downstream relative to reflector 332). The optical path may also be equalized by adjusting other elements in the optical path.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an expander 410 and an illumination pattern 420 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The expander 410 includes a series of expander elements (e.g., expander element 412). The expander elements are, for example, disposed on or in the substrate 416. The spreader element may be constructed, for example, using layers of lenticular material, diffusers, 414, and possibly shutters, light guides, and/or optical splitters (not shown). In one embodiment, the expander element comprises one or more light source/beam-aimed lens sub-elements followed by a diffuser sub-element, and the diffuser sub-element comprises reflective optical walls that direct the expansion of the light in a manner that fills a predetermined illumination pattern on the downstream modulator.

In one embodiment, the expander is constructed by using holographic material. The holographic material diffuses light at a predetermined angle or with a predetermined Point Spread Function (PSF). Holographic diffusers emit light at controlled angles and/or with limited PSF compared to typical diffusers. In one embodiment, the expander is a single layer holographic diffuser, while in other embodiments, the sub-elements of the diffuser comprise holographic material. Holographic diffusers or materials can be used in conjunction with other optical elements.

Typically, the expander causes the light to expand in a uniformly distributed manner. However, embodiments include sub-elements having characteristics that vary in order to achieve illumination patterns that are not homogeneous or isotropic.

Illumination pattern 420 illustrates an exemplary mixture of light from individual light sources, including overlap at the edges of the illumination patterns of adjacent light sources. For example, illumination region 422 overlaps illumination pattern 422-E on its east side, overlaps illumination pattern 422-S on its south side, and overlaps illumination pattern 422-SE at its south-east corner. Illumination pattern 424 overlaps with eight illumination patterns surrounding illumination pattern 424. All patterns together form an illumination pattern on the modulator.

Preferably, the illumination pattern is proportional to the display or screen size of the device or system viewing the desired or resulting image. In a 16:9 screen, the illumination area shown would itself be shaped with a 16:9 ratio. However, other sizes, shapes, or relative ratios may be utilized.

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating various example illumination patterns according to the present invention. The illumination pattern shown includes black dots indicating the approximate illumination pattern that would occur from the light source without spreading. The illumination pattern may be generated by natural expansion originating from a reflector near each light source, natural expansion only, or in particular in the case of laser light sources (separate light sources or split beams) mainly due to expansion caused by the expander element in the upstream optical path. In each case, black dots are still provided as a reference.

The illumination pattern 532 is provided by a circular spread of light or a Point Spread Function (PSF). The illumination pattern 534 is provided by a rectangular-shaped spreading function (e.g., a light spreader and/or a PSF). The illumination pattern 536 shows a blended overlap, where the illumination areas in the interior of the entire illuminated area are more heavily blended (more overlapped) than the illumination areas at the edges. The relative mixing between the regions may vary gradually across the illuminated region, or increase or decrease towards the central region. Ultimately, this mixing is produced on the surface of a modulator or other component of an optical, display, or projection system.

Although primarily shown as the edges of adjacent light sources/PSFs overlapping for exemplary purposes, the present invention includes a wider PSF or footprint (footprint) per light source, which may, for example, contain a central region of the illumination pattern of a predetermined number of light sources. For example, a light source may have a PSF that contains regions illuminated by 9 or more other light sources (e.g., example PSF 533) (e.g., not just adjacent illuminated regions overlap). For example, the extension of a first light source fully illuminates an area that closely surrounds the center point of the illumination pattern of the first light source and fully illuminates an area that closely surrounds the center point of the illumination of an adjacent light source. This may continue for one or more levels depending on the area or number of light sources. The first light source may then also partially illuminate an area that closely surrounds the center point of illumination by light sources adjacent to those whose illumination pattern is fully illuminated by the first light source.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a system 600 and processes associated with various embodiments of the invention. An array of laser light sources 605 provides a narrow band illumination beam 608, which narrow band illumination beam 608 is directed to an array of spreaders that operate to spread the narrow band laser light. The spread light 615 then illuminates a modulator 620.

The modulator 620 may be an LCD panel, a Digital Mirror Device (DMD), a Liquid Crystal On Silicon (LCOS) chip, or other modulation/light valve device. The modulator selection may be decided based on other architectural factors of the system being built. The modulator may be transmissive or reflective, and may be oriented at an angle such that the modulated light is reflected at an angle away from the upstream path and toward a downstream portion of the image chain.

Preferably, the illumination of modulator 620 comprises locally dimmed illumination comprising an approximation of the desired image to be displayed. The approximation is determined, for example, from an image signal 640 carrying a representation of the desired image. Processor 650 receives the image signal and determines the approximation and the appropriate energization levels of the array of laser light sources 605 to produce the approximation on modulator 620 (e.g., approximation module 655-1). This approximation includes a calculation based on the amount of light expansion that occurs in the image chain, which will depend on the optical characteristics of the expander 610 as well as other characteristics of the system. The energization level of each individually controllable light source (e.g., M light sources) is signaled to the light source (and may include additional driver hardware (not shown)).

In embodiments where the light sources are grouped into colors or another derivative, an approximation signal is calculated for each group. The signals for each group may contain some similar characteristics and this commonality may be exploited to increase the efficiency of the processing for each group.

The modulation performed by modulator 620 is implemented to account for the illumination pattern incident on the modulator, including the overlap (if any) of illumination originating from adjacent or nearby light sources. The modulation may be calculated by, for example, determining a simulation of the illumination field at the modulator and then energizing the modulator to change the illumination such that the light is fully modulated to encompass the desired image when projected and/or focused at the viewing position. The modulation may also be calculated based entirely on the image signal by calculating the laser power-on level and then by applying a look-up table or other conversion (formula) using both the original image signal and the laser power-on level. The modulation signal includes power-on data for, for example, N pixels of modulator 620.

In one embodiment, L additional "midpoint" modulations are performed. The "midpoint" modulation may be implemented, for example, by a midpoint modulator 612. The midpoint modulator may be, for example, a grayscale or color LCD panel, or an array of optical switches (e.g., of the type used for communications over fiber optic cables). The midpoint modulator is a quadratic modulator configured to modulate the laser light before illuminating modulator 620.

The midpoint modulator 612 may be positioned at a point after the spreader 610 but before the light overlaps. In one embodiment, the midpoint modulator 612 is positioned at a point after overlap has occurred. In one embodiment, the midpoint modulator is placed before the spreader (e.g., where the optical switch embodiment would have high efficiency). The powering up of the midpoint modulator 612 may include, for example, using Light Field Simulation (LFS) or other algorithms for determining a preferred modulation at the location of the midpoint modulator 612. The additional modulation provided by the midpoint modulator is considered by the LFS or other calculation and used to determine the energization of modulator 620.

In one embodiment, the midpoint modulator is constructed from an optical switch configured to selectively redirect light from its native region on the modulator to another region on the modulator. The switch may have 2 or more directions in which light may be directed, and in this embodiment, the switch redirects light, for example, from a "dark" area of the modulator corresponding to a dark portion of the modulated image to a "bright" area. The corresponding change in LFS (or other method for determining energization) at the modulator is implemented, for example, in processor 650, along with programming of the switch itself.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the projection apparatus 750 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The projection apparatus includes a core (kernel) having prisms for separating and recombining the color lights and modulators for individually modulating the color lights. In one embodiment, separate sets of lasers are provided for each primary color light. For example, laser set 705R produces modulated (locally dimmed) red light, laser set 705G provides modulated green light, and laser set 705B produces modulated blue light. The modulated light is then expanded (beginning to expand) via separate expanders (e.g., 710R, 710B, and 710G), combined and input (e.g., via optics 720) into the projector core where they are separated, further modulated, recombined, and then projected by a projection lens onto a viewing screen.

In other embodiments, a single set of lasers is provided with a set of primary lights and a common expander. The common expander may include separate or common optics (e.g., an array of lenslets) that expand the light. The lenslets may be designed to impart a Point Spread Function (PSF) to each light such that overlapping edges are faded out compared to a central region of each individual illumination pattern, such that the mixed light varies in a predetermined manner (e.g., smoothly from one illumination region to the next). Other PSFs may also be implemented.

Other embodiments include direct illumination of separate red, green, and blue modulators with corresponding red, green, and blue laser groups (beams) and expanders.

Although the invention has been described herein with reference to lasers providing illumination, the invention may also be practiced using broadband or wider-band light sources (e.g., LEDs, nanotube-based light sources, etc.). In describing the preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner.

For example, in describing any element of the present invention, any other equivalent means or other means having equivalent function or capability may be substituted for the element, whether or not listed herein. Furthermore, the inventors have recognized that newly developed techniques, now unknown, may also be substituted for the components described and still not depart from the scope of the present invention. All other described items (including but not limited to light sources, lasers, modulators, panels, processing devices, optical elements, etc.) should also be considered in view of any and all available equivalents.

Portions of the present invention may be conveniently implemented using a conventional general purpose or a specialized digital computer or microprocessor programmed according to the teachings of the present disclosure, as will be apparent to those skilled in the computer art.

Appropriate software coding can readily be prepared by skilled programmers based on the teachings of the present disclosure, as will be apparent to those skilled in the software art. The invention may also be implemented by the preparation of application specific integrated circuits or by interconnecting an appropriate network of conventional component circuits, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art based on the present disclosure.

The present invention includes a computer program product which is a storage medium (media) having stored thereon instructions that can be used to control or cause a computer to perform any of the processes of the present invention. Storage media may include, but are not limited to: any type of disk including floppy disks, Mini Disks (MD), optical disks, DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-ray, CD-ROMS, CD or DVD RW +/-, micro-drives, and magneto-optical disks, ROM, RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, DRAM, VRAM, flash memory devices (including flash memory cards, memory sticks), magnetic or optical cards, SIM cards, MEMS, nanosystems (including molecular memory ICs), RAID devices, remote data storage/archiving/warehousing, or any type of media or device suitable for storing instructions and/or data (including programs or data remotely stored or executed via the internet or other networks (such as wireless, cellular, satellite, etc.) connected to a device (e.g., a computer display, portable device, HDTV, or cinema system, etc.) that performs or uses one or more results of the present invention). Such instructions may also be distributed between a network server and end-user devices, such as processing performed by a remote server and a digital cinema server to produce the signals necessary to drive the light sources and modulators at a movie theater in accordance with any one or more of the teachings of the present invention.

Such signals may further include specialized processing AND architecture to achieve 3D AND/or wide COLOR GAMUT as described, FOR example, in U.S. patent 7,784,938 issued to the same inventor AND co-pending U.S. application nos. 11/804,602,12/530,379 (attorney docket No.: DOL213US, DOL216US AND DOL217US), AND serial No.61/452,638, "PROJECTOR AND PROJECTION SYSTEMS USE LASER LIGHT SOURCES ANDREGRATED METHOD FOR 3D PROJECTION AND COLOR GAMMA IMPMENTS" (attorney docket No.: D10101USP 1).

Stored on any one of the computer-readable media (media), the present invention includes both hardware for controlling a general/special purpose computer or microprocessor, as well as software for enabling the computer or microprocessor to interact with a human user or other mechanism utilizing the results of the present invention. Such software may include, but is not limited to: device drivers, operating systems, and user applications. Finally, such computer readable media further includes software for performing the present invention, as described above.

Included within the programming (software) of a general/specialized computer or microprocessor are software modules for implementing the teachings of the present invention, including, but not limited to, for calculating laser energization levels and subsequent modulation in a multi-modulation system and display, storage or communication of results of processing in accordance with the present invention.

The invention may suitably comprise, consist of or consist essentially of: i.e. any elements (various components or features of the invention, such as light sources, modulators, optics and processing) and their equivalents. Further, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element, whether or not specifically disclosed herein. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

Claims (22)

1. A display, comprising:

a light source comprising a mixed set of primary colors;

a display modulator; and

a midpoint modulator configured to direct light from the mixed set of primary colors onto the display modulator;

wherein the display modulator is energized according to image data and an illumination pattern on the display modulator, the illumination pattern comprising an overlapping pattern containing illumination that is selectively redirected from a native region of light on the display modulator to another region on the display modulator.

2. The display of claim 1, wherein the light selectively redirected from a native region of light comprises light redirected from a dark region to a bright region of the display modulator corresponding to a dark portion of the image to be modulated.

3. The display of claim 2, wherein energizing is based on light field simulation of overlapping patterns of illumination.

4. A display as claimed in claim 3, in which the midpoint modulator comprises an array of optical switches.

5. A display according to claim 3 wherein the midpoint modulator comprises an array of programmed light switches.

6. A display as claimed in claim 2, in which the midpoint modulator is capable of redirecting light in two or more directions.

7. A display according to claim 3 wherein a change in the midpoint modulator results in a corresponding change in light field simulation.

8. The display according to any of claims 1-7, wherein the overlapping pattern of each illumination completely surrounds the native region of each adjacent illumination.

9. The display according to any of claims 1-7, wherein the overlapping pattern of each illumination extends across the native area of each adjacent illumination.

10. The display of any of claims 1-7, wherein the display modulators include separate red, green, and blue modulators that are each illuminated by corresponding red, green, and blue patterns of overlapping light each having light redirected from dark to bright regions of the respective modulator.

11. The display of any of claims 1-7, wherein the display modulator comprises separate red, green, and blue modulators that are respectively illuminated by corresponding red, green, and blue laser light that form a local dimming or changing pattern of light containing an approximation of an image to be displayed.

12. The display according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the mixed set of primary colors comprises at least three of red, green, blue, yellow, and cyan, each generated from a laser, LED, or nanotube-based light source.

13. A display according to any one of claims 1-7 wherein the mixed set of primary colors comprises three or more of red, green, blue, yellow and cyan of a laser or LED source.

14. The display according to any of claims 1-7, further comprising a processor configured to calculate a power-on level for each pixel of the display modulator based on an image signal and a power-on level of a light source.

15. The display of claim 14, wherein the light source comprises at least three of red, green, blue, yellow, and cyan, each being a laser or LED source.

16. The display according to any of claims 1-7, further comprising a spreader between the midpoint modulator and the display modulator, the spreader configured to spread the overlapping pattern of illumination.

17. The display of claim 16, wherein the spreader comprises reflective optical walls that direct the spreading of light in a manner that fills a predetermined illumination pattern on the display modulator.

18. The display of claim 16, wherein the expander comprises a holographic material that expands light at a predetermined angle or with a predetermined point spread function.

19. A display as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the overlapping pattern is proportional to the display or screen size of the device or system viewing the desired or resulting image.

20. A display as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the overlapping pattern comprises a blend between adjacent and/or nearby light illuminations.

21. The display of claim 20, wherein illumination in the interior of the display modulator is mixed with more overlap than illumination at the edges of the display modulator.

22. The display of claim 20, wherein the amount of mixing of illumination varies gradually across the display modulator.