United States Patent
US Patent 7530693: Single MEMS imager optical engine
US 7530693 ยท granted 2009-05-12
Abstract
An optical engine for use with MEMS microdisplay devices is disclosed that comprises a collection stage module, an imaging stage module featuring polarization based imaging prism assemblage, and a polarizing illumination stage module featuring a special light integration tube that removes off-axis overfill loss.
| Patent Number | 7530693 |
|---|---|
| Title | Single MEMS imager optical engine |
| Filed | 2006-05-30 |
| Granted | 2009-05-12 |
| Inventor(s) | Mihalakis; George M. |
| Assignee | Next Wave Optics Inc. |
| CPC Classification | G03B 21/00 |
| Number of Claims | 58 |
Abstract
An optical engine for use with MEMS microdisplay devices is disclosed that comprises a collection stage module, an imaging stage module featuring polarization based imaging prism assemblage, and a polarizing illumination stage module featuring a special light integration tube that removes off-axis overfill loss.
Claim 1
An optical imaging engine comprising: a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) prism having an entrance face substantially perpendicular to an optical axis, an imager faceadjacent said entrance face, a dump exit face adjacent said entrance face, an output face adjacent said dump exit face and substantially parallel to said imager face, and an inert face adjacent to and substantially perpendicular to said imager face, saidinert face also adjacent to said output face; a quarter-wave retarder affixed to the imager face; and a micro-electrical mechanical (MEMS) imaging device affixed to said quarter-wave plate having an array of selectively addressable mirrors thereon,said selectively addressable mirrors having an on state and an off state; said PBS further comprising a PBS hypotenuse extending from where said dump exit face meets said output face to a location on said inert face, said PBS hypotenuse arranged andconstructed such that a light beam having a first polarization state entering said entrance face reflects off of said PBS hypotenuse towards said imager face while light beams reflecting from selectively addressable mirrors of said MEMS device in the onstate having a second polarizatio
Claims
58 totalAn optical imaging engine comprising: a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) prism having an entrance face substantially perpendicular to an optical axis, an imager faceadjacent said entrance face, a dump exit face adjacent said entrance face, an output face adjacent said dump exit face and substantially parallel to said imager face, and an inert face adjacent to and substantially perpendicular to said imager face, saidinert face also adjacent to said output face; a quarter-wave retarder affixed to the imager face; and a micro-electrical mechanical (MEMS) imaging device affixed to said quarter-wave plate having an array of selectively addressable mirrors thereon,said selectively addressable mirrors having an on state and an off state; said PBS further comprising a PBS hypotenuse extending from where said dump exit face meets said output face to a location on said inert face, said PBS hypotenuse arranged andconstructed such that a light beam having a first polarization state entering said entrance face reflects off of said PBS hypotenuse towards said imager face while light beams reflecting from selectively addressable mirrors of said MEMS device in the onstate having a second polarizatio