[54] FULL-COLOR PROJECTION DISPLAY SYSTEM USING TWO LIGHT MODULATORS
[75] Inventors: Frank Poradish, Piano; James M.
Florence, Richardson, both of Tex.
[73] Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated,
Dallas, Tex.
[ * ] Notice: This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
[21] Appl. No.: 08/700,329 [22] Filed: Aug. 8, 1996
Related U.S. Application Data
[63] Continuation-in-part of application No. 08/379,391, Jan. 27, 1995, Pat. No. 5,612,753.
[51] Int. CI.6 H04N 9/12; H04N 5/74
[52] U.S. CI 348/743; 348/771; 348/756
[58] Field of Search 348/756, 757,
348/779, 780, 742, 743, 771, 781, 270, 269, 271, 65, 71; 359/583, 589, 496, 492, 487, 489; H04N 5/64, 5/74, 9/31, 9/12
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
2,422,376 6/1947 Turner et al 359/583
A full color projection system is disclosed herein. The projection system includes a means for generating a first light beam and also a means for generating a second light beam. These means may include either separate light sources 10a and lOfc or a single light source 10 and a means for dividing the light source into the first and second light beams. In two examples, the means for dividing may include either a dichroic color wheel 40 or a color splitting prism 52. When a color splitting prism is used, they prisms are separated by an air gas where the distance of the air gap is determined by the size of spacer balls suspended in an adhesive between the two prisms. The first light beam will be modulated by a first spatial light modulator 30a and the second light beam will be modulated by a second spatial light modulator 30fc. These spatial light modulators 30a and 30fc are preferably, but not in necessarily digital micromirror devices.
6 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
