EXHIBIT 2185
`EXHIBIT 2185
`
`
`
`

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`II 1111111111111111111119111111111
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`11
`11111111111 111
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Silverstein
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,559,653 B2
`Jul. 14, 2009
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`STEREOSCOPIC DISPLAY APPARATUS
`USING LCD PANEL
`
`Inventor: Barry D. Silverstein. Rochester, NY
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company. Rochester,
`NY (US)
`
`*
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 490 days.
`
`EP
`
`6,505,940 B1
`6,513,932 B1
`6,585,378 B2
`6,637,888 B1
`6,676,260 B2
`6,739,723 B1
`
`1/2003 Gotham et al.
`2/2003 Ehrne et al.
`7/2003 Kurtz et al.
`10/2003 Haven
`1/2004 Cobb et al.
`5/2004 Haven et al.
`
`(Continued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`890 863
`1/1999
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Appl. No.. 11/302,824
`
`Filed:
`
`Dec. 14, 2005
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2007/0132953 Al
`Jun. 14. 2007
`
`(56)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`GO3B 21/00
`(2006.01)
`GO3B 21/26
`353/7; 353/30; 353/31
`U.S. Cl.
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`353/7,
`353/20, 31, 33, 34, 37, 30; 349/5-8; 348/742,
`348/743. 771
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3/1998 Gove et al.
`5,729.245 A
`6/1998 Ogino et al.
`5,758.940 A
`8/1998 Hattori et al
`5,798.819 A
`9/1998 Shimomura et al.
`5,808.795 A
`3/1999 Cobben et al
`5,889.614 A
`7/1999 Veda
`5,918.961 A
`6,010.221 A
`1/2000 Maki el al.
`3/2000 Sedlmayr
`6.034.818 A
`6.062.694 A
`5/2000 Oikawa et al.
`9/2000 Sampsell et al.
`6,113.239 A
`5/2001 Konno et al.
`6,231.192 B1
`6,280.034 B1
`8/2001 Brennesholtz
`9/2002 Hansen et al.
`6,452.724 B1
`
`Dewald et al.; "Sequential Color Recapture and Dynamic Filtering:A
`Method of Scrolling Color" SID 01 Digest, pp. 1076-1079.
`Primary ExaminerHung Henry Nguyen
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmNelson Blish
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A stereoscopic imaging apparatus (200) has an illumination
`source (110) pmviding polarized illumination beams and at
`least one uniformi zing element (22) for uniformizing first and
`second illumination beams. A left channel modulation appa-
`ratus (2200 modulates the first polarized illumination beam
`to provide the left eye portion of the stereoscopic image and
`a right channel modulation apparatus (220r) modulates the
`second polarized illumination bearn to provide the right eye
`portion. Each channel modulation apparatus has a color sepa-
`rator (78) for separating the polarized illumination beam into
`at least a first component wavelength illumination and a sec-
`ond component wavelength illumination. Each channel
`modulation apparatus also has at least two component wave-
`length modulating sections, each component wavelength
`modulating section being a portion of a monochrome trans-
`missive liquid crystal modulator panel (60) that accepts a
`corresponding component wavelength illumination and
`modulates the component wavelength illumination to provide
`a modulated component wavelength beam.
`
`48 Claims, 17 Drassing Sheets
`
`EXHIBIT
`
`diemes 4//2-
`
`.s.
`
`REALD INC.
`Exhibit 2185-1
`MASTERIMAGE 3D, et al. v REALD INC.
`IPR2015-00035
`
`

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`US 7,559,653 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`7/2004 Cobb et al.
`6,758,565 B1
`9/2004 Nelson et al.
`6,793,351 B2
`6,805,445 B2
`10/2004 Silverstein et al.
`
`6,808,269 B2 * 10/2004 Cobb
`6,831,722 B2
`12/2004 Ishilcawa et al.
`7,167,314 B2*
`1/2007 Lerner et al.
`7,198,373 B2*
`4/2007 Silverstein et al.
`* cited by examiner
`
`353/31
`
`359/629
`353/31
`
`REALD INC.
`Exhibit 2185-2
`MASTERIMAGE 3D, et al. v REALD INC.
`IPR2015-00035
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`

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`PRIOR ART
`
`FIG. 1
`
`REALD INC.
`Exhibit 2185-3
`MASTERIMAGE 3D, et al. v REALD INC.
`IPR2015-00035
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 14, 2009
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`Sheet 2 of 17
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 14, 2009
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`Sheet 3 of 17
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`REALD INC.
`Exhibit 2185-5
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`Exhibit 2185-6
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`IPR2015-00035
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`Jul. 14, 2009
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`Jul. 14, 2009
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`Jul. 14, 2009
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`Jul. 14, 2009
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`Sheet 8 of 17
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`US 7,559,653 B2
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`Exhibit 2185-10
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`IPR2015-00035
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 14, 2009
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`Jul. 14, 2009
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`Jul. 14, 2009
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`Sheet 16 of 17
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`US 7,559,653
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`REALD INC.
`Exhibit 2185-18
`MASTERIMAGE 3D, et al. v REALD INC.
`IPR2015-00035
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 14, 2009
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`Sheet 17 of 17
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`

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`US 7,559,653 B2
`
`1
`STEREOSCOPIC DISPLAY APPARATUS
`USING LCD PANEL
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`The present application is related to U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 11/120,331, filed May 3, 2005 Which is now U.S.
`Pat. No. 7,198,373, entitled DISPLAYAPPARATUS USING
`LCD PANEL, by Silverstein et al., the disclosure of which is
`incorporated herein.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`to
`
`This invention generally relates to electronic projection 15
`and more particularly relates to a stereoscopic electronic pro-
`jection apparatus using an LC modulator panel or panels for
`forming a full color stereoscopic projection image.
`
`2
`cinematic-quality film projectors, digital projection appara-
`tus must meet high standards of performance, providing high
`resolution, wide color gamut, high brightness, and frame-
`sequential contrast ratios exceeding 1,000:1. LCOS LCDs
`5 appear to have advantages as spatial light modulators for
`high-quality digital cinema projection systems. These advan-
`tages include relatively large device size, small gaps between
`pixels, and favorable device yields.
`Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a simplified block
`diagram of a conventional electronic projection apparatus 10
`using LCOS LCD devices. Each color path (rRed,
`b=Blue) uses similar components for forming a modulated
`light beam. Individual components within each path are
`labeled with an appended r, g, or b, appropriately. Following
`the red color path, a red light source 20r provides unmodu-
`lated light, which is conditioned by uniformizing element 22r
`to provide a uniform illumination A polarizing beamsplitter
`24r directs light having the appropriate polarization state to a
`20 spatial light modulator 30r which selectively modulates the
`polarization state of the incident red light over an array of
`pixel sites. The action of spatial light modulator 30r forms the
`red component of a full color image. The modulated light
`from this image, transmitted along an optical axis Or through
`25 polarizing beamsplitter 24r, is directed to a dichroic combiner
`26, typically an X-cube or a Philips prism. Dichroic combiner
`26 combines the red, green, and blue modulated images from
`separate optical axes 0,./08/0b to form a combined, multi-
`color image for a projection lens 32 along a common optical
`30 axis 0 for projection onto a display surface 40, such as a
`projection screen. Optical paths for blue and green light
`modulation are similar. Green light from green light source
`20g, conditioned by uniformizing element 22g is directed
`through a polarizing beamsplitter 24g to a spatial light modu-
`lator 30g. The modulated light from this image, transmitted
`35 along an optical axis Og, is directed to dichroic combiner 26.
`Similarly blue light from red light source 20b, conditioned by
`uniformizing optics 22b is directed through a polarizing
`beamsplitter 24b to a spatial light modulator 30b. The modu-
`lated light from this image, transmitted along an optical axis
`Ob, is directed to dichroic combiner 26.
`Among examples of electronic projection apparatus that
`utilize LCOS LCD spatial light modulators with an arrange-
`ment similar to that of FIG. 1 are those disclosed in U.S. Pat.
`45 No. 5,808,795 (Shimomura et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,819
`(Hattori et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,961 (Ueda); U.S. Pat. No.
`6,010,221 (Malci et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,694 (Oikawa et
`al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,239 (Sampsell et al.); and U.S. Pat.
`No. 6,231,192 (Konno et al.)
`As each of the above-cited patents shows, developers of
`motion-picture quality projection apparatus have primarily
`directed their attention and energies to LCOS LCD technol-
`ogy, rather than to solutions using TFT-based, direct view LC
`panels. There are a number of clearly obvious reasons for this.
`55 For example, the requirement for making projection appara-
`tus as compact as possible argues for the deployment of
`miniaturized components, including miniaturized spatial
`light modulators, such as the LCOS LCDs or other types of
`compact devices such as digital micromirrors. The highly
`60 compact pixel arrangement, with pixels typically sized in the
`10-20 micron range, allows a single LCOS LCD to provide
`sufficient resolution for a large projection screen, requiring an
`image in the range of 2048x1024 or 4096x2048 pixels or
`better as required by Society of Motion Picture and Television
`65 Engineers (SMPTE) specifications for digital cinema projec-
`tion. Other reasons for interest in LCOS LCDs over their
`direct-view LCD panel counterparts relates to performance
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Liquid crystal (LC) technology has been successfully har-
`nessed to serve numerous display applications, ranging from
`monochrome alphanumeric display panels, to laptop comput-
`ers, and even to large-scale full color displays. As is well
`lcnown, an LC device forms an image as an array of pixels by
`selectively modulating the polarization state of incident light
`for each corresponding pixel. Continuing improvements of
`LC technology have yielded the benefits of lower cost,
`improved yields and reliability, and reduced power consump-
`tion and with steadily improved imaging characteristics, such
`as resolution, speed, and color.
`One type of LC display component, commonly used for
`laptops and larger display devices, is the so-called "direct
`view" LCD panel, in which a layer of liquid crystal is sand-
`wiched between two sheets of glass or other transparent mate-
`rial Continuing improvement in thin-film transistor (TFT)
`technology has proved beneficial for direct view LCD panels,
`allowing increasingly denser pacicing of transistors into an
`area of a single glass pane. In addition, new LC materials that
`enable thinner layers and faster response time have been
`developed. This, in turn, has helped to provide direct view
`LCD panels having improved resolution and increased speed.
`Thus, larger, faster LCD panels having improved resolution
`and color are being designed and utilized successfully for full
`motion imaging.
`Alternatively, miniaturization and the utilization of
`microlithographic technologies have enabled development of
`LC devices of a different type. Liquid crystal on silicon
`(LCOS) technology has enabled the development of higlaly
`dense spatial light modulators by sealing the liquid crystal
`material against the structured backplane of a silicon circuit.
`Essentially, LCOS fabrication combines LC design tech-
`niques with complementary metal-oxide semiconductor
`(CMOS) manufacturing processes.
`Using LCOS technology, LC chips having imaging areas
`typically smaller than one square inch are capable of forming
`images having several million pixels. The relatively mature
`level of silicon etching technology has proved to be advanta-
`geous for the rapid development of LCOS devices exhibiting
`high speeds and excellent resolution. LCOS devices have
`been used as spatial light modulators in applications such as
`rear-projection television and business projection apparatus.
`With the advent of digital cinema and related electronic
`imaging opportunities, considerable attention has been
`directed to development of electronic projection apparatus. In
`order to provide a competitive alternative to conventional
`
`40
`
`50
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`REALD INC.
`Exhibit 2185-20
`MASTERIMAGE 3D, et al. v REALD INC.
`IPR2015-00035
`
`

`
`US 7,559,653 B2
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`3
`4
`attributes of currently available LCOS components, attributes
`in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,831,722 (Ishikawa et
`al.), which discloses the use of compensators for angular
`such as response speed, color, and contrast.
`polarization effects of wire grid polarizers and LCD devices.
`Yet another factor that tends to bias projector development
`For these reasons, it can be appreciated that LCOS LCD and
`efforts toward miniaturized devices relates to the dimensional
`characteristics of the film that is to be replaced. That is, the 5 DMD solutions face inherent limitations related to compo-
`image-forming area of the LCOS LCD spatial light modula-
`nent size and light path geometry.
`There have been various projection apparatus solutions
`tor, or its digital micromirror device (DMD) counterpart, is
`comparable in size to the area of the image frame that is
`proposed using the alternative direct view TFT LC panels.
`However, in a number of cases, these apparatus have been
`projected from the motion picture print film. This may some-
`what simplify some of tlae projection optics design. However, to proposed for specialized applications, and are not intended
`this interest in LCOS LCD or DMD devices also results ftom
`for use in high-end digital cinema applications. For example,
`an unquestioned assumption on the part of designers that
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,889,614 (Cobben et al.) discloses the use of a
`image fonnation at smaller dimensions is most favorable.
`TFT LC panel device as an image source for an overhead
`Thus, for conscious reasons, and in line with conventional
`projection apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,888 (Haven) dis-
`reasoning and expectations, developers have assumed that the 15 closes a rear screen TV display using a single subdivided TFT
`miniaturized LCOS LCD or DIVID provides the most viable
`LC panel with red, green, and blue color sources, using sepa-
`rate projection optics for each color path. Commonly
`image-forming component for high-quality digital cinema
`projection.
`assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,940 (Gotham et al.) discloses a
`low-cost digital projector with a large-panel LC device
`One problem inherent with the use of miniaturized LCOS
`and DMD spatial light modulators relates to brightness and 20 encased in a kiosk arrangement to reduce vertical space
`efficiency. As is well known to those skilled in the imaging
`requirements. While each of these examples employs a larger
`LC panel for image modulation, none of these designs is
`arts, any optical system is constrained by the Lagrange invari-
`intended for motion picture projection at high resolution,
`ant. A product of the area of the light-emitting device and the
`having good brightness levels, color comparable to that of
`numerical aperture of the emitted light, the LaGrange invari-
`ant is an important consideration for matching the output of 25 conventional motion picture film, acceptable contrast, and a
`one optical system with the input of another and determines
`high level of overall image quality.
`One attempt to provide a projection apparatus using TFT
`output brightness of an optical system. In simple terms, only
`LC panels is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,940 (Ogino et
`so much light can be provided from an area of a certain size.
`As the Lagrange invariant shows, when the emissive area is
`al.) In the Ogino et al. '940 apparatus, one or more Fresnel
`small, a large angle of emitted light is needed in order to 30 lenses is used to provide collimated illumination to the LC
`achieve a certain level of brightness Added complexity and
`panel; another Fresnel lens then acts as a condenser to provide
`cost result from the requirement to handle illumination at
`light to projection optics. Because it provides an imaging
`larger angles. This problem is noted and addressed in com-
`beam over a wide area, the Ogino et al. '940 apparatus has a
`monly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,565 (Cobb et al.); U.S.
`high light output, based on the Lagrange invariant described
`Pat. No. 6,808,269 (Cobb); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,676,260 35 above. However, while it offers potential applications for TV
`(Cobb et al.) These patents disclose electronic projection
`projection apparatus and small-scale projectors, the proposed
`apparatus design using higher numerical apertures at the spa-
`solution of the Ogino et al. '940 disclosure falls short of the
`tial light modulator for obtaining the necessary light while
`performance levels necessary for high-resolution projection
`reducing angular requirements elsewhere in the system.
`systems that modulate light and provide imaged light output
`A related consideration is that image-forming components ao having high intensity, at levels of 10,000 lumens and beyond.
`also have limitations on energy density. With miniaturized
`Thus, it can be seen that, although digital cinema projec-
`tion apparatus solutions have focused on the use of LCOS
`spatial light modulators, and with LCOS LCDs in particular,
`LCDs for image forming, there are inherent limitations in
`only so much energy density can be tolerated at the compo-
`nent level. That is, a level of brightness beyond a certain
`brightness and efficiency when using LCOS LCD compo-
`threshold level can damage the device itself. Typically, energy 45 nents for this purpose. TFT LC panel solutions, meanwhile,
`density above about 15 W/cm2 would be excessive for an
`would provide enhanced brightness levels over LCOS solu-
`tions. While projection apparatus using TFT LC panels have
`LCOS LCD. This, in tum, constrains the available brightness
`been disclosed, these have not been well suited to the
`when using an LCOS LCD of 1.3 inch in diameter to no more
`demanding brightness requirements of high-performance
`than about 15,000 lumens. Heat build-up must also be pre-
`vented, since this would cause distortion of the image, color 5o digital cinema projection.
`In cinema applications, the projector projects the modu-
`aberrations, and could shorten the lifespan of the light modu-
`lator and its support components. In particular, the behavior
`lated image onto a display screen or surface, which may be at
`of the absorptive polarization components used can be sig-
`a variable distance from the projector. This requires that the
`nificantly compromised by heat build-up. This requires sub-
`projector provide some type of focus adjustment as well as
`stantial cooling mechanisms for the spatial light modulator 55 color alignment adjustment. With conventional LCOS appa-
`itself and careful engineering considerations for supporting
`ratus such as that shown in FIG. 1, color alignment is per-
`optical components. Again, this adds cost and complexity to
`formed by color combining optics, so that the three composite
`RGB colors are projected along the same axis. However, for
`optical system design.
`Still other related problems with LCOS LCDs relate to the
`solutions using TFT devices, there would be benefits to pro-
`high angles of modulated light needed. The mechanism for so viding separate projection optics for red, green, and blue
`image formation in LCD devices and the inherent birefrin-
`paths. Some of these benefits include simpler and less costly
`gence of the LCD itself limit the contrast and color quality
`lenses with color correction for a narrow wavelength band at
`available from these devices when incident illumination is
`each lens. With such an approach, some aligtunent method
`highly angular. In order to provide suitable levels of contrast,
`must then be provided to form the color image from properly
`one or more compensator devices must be used in an LCOS os superimposed red, green, and blue images, thereby allowing
`the projector to be used over a range of distances from a
`system. This, however, further increases the complexity and
`cost of the projection system. An example of this is disclosed
`display screen.
`
`REALD INC.
`Exhibit 2185-21
`MASTERIMAGE 3D, et al. v REALD INC.
`IPR2015-00035
`
`

`
`US 7,559,653 B2
`
`io
`
`5
`Other problems relate to the nature of light modulation by
`the TFT LC device and to the support components necessary
`for high brightness applications requiring high levels of
`image quality. Conventional solutions would constrain both
`the light output levels and overall image quality, obviating the 5
`advantages afforded by '11'1 use for projection applications.
`For example, the use of absorptive polarizers directly
`attached to the TFT panels, as these devices are commonly
`provided, is disadvantageous for image quality. Heat absorp-
`tion from these films, typically exceeding 20% of the light
`energy, causes consequent heating of the LCD materials,
`resulting in a loss of contrast and contrast uniformity.
`Stereoscopic or "3D" imaging techniques have been used
`to provide improved visual depth for projected images. In
`stereoscopic projection, two overlapping 15
`conventional
`images are projected onto a display surface, with each image
`having different optical properties. In stereoscopic imaging
`systems that use polarization to differentiate left and right
`images, there is one image at one polarization for the right
`eye, one image at an orthogonal polarization for the left. The 20
`viewer is provided with a pair of polarized goggles or glasses,
`with the left and right portions differing with respect to the
`orientation of the polarization axis. For example, the light
`projected for the left eye image may be s-polarized and the
`light for the right eye image p-polarized. Other stereoscopic 25
`systems may use color to differentiate left-eye from right-eye
`images, with corresponding color-selective filters in viewing
`glasses.
`Conventional stereoscopic imaging systems using elec-
`tronic display components are typically inefficient and pro- 30
`vide low brightness levels. Thus, it can be appreciated that
`there would be advantages to a full-color stereoscopic pro-
`jection apparatus that takes advantage of inherent Lagrange-
`invariant-related advantages of TFT LC devices and provides
`improved image quality.
`
`35
`
`6
`least a first portion and a second portion, and
`wherein each portion is spatially separated from
`each other portion;
`an illumination path lens for focusing the correspond-
`ing component wavelength illumination through
`the corresponding portion of the monochrome
`transmissive liquid crystal modulator panel;
`an analyzer for further conditioning the polarization
`of the modulated component wavelength beam;
`at least one projection lens for forming, onto a display
`surface, a composite image that superimposes an image
`formed from the modulated component wavelength
`beam of the left channel modulation apparatus with the
`image formed from the modulated component wave-
`length beam of the right channel modulation apparatus;
`and
`a channel differentiator device provided to a viewer for
`separating the left eye portion and right eye portion of
`the stereoscopic image.
`It is a feature of the present invention that, unlike current
`approaches that use miniaturized LCOS LCDs, the apparatus
`of the present invention employs one or more LCD panels for
`stereoscopic imaging in a projection apparatus intended for
`high-end electronic imaging applications.
`It is an advantage of the present invention that it allows
`added brightness for the projected stereoscopic image. Vari-
`ous types of light sources could be used.
`These and other objects, 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 inven-
`tion.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`SUIVIMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Briefly, according to one aspect of the present invention to
`provide a stereoscopic imaging apparatus having:
`an illumination source providing a first polarized illu-
`mination beam for a left eye imaging channel and a
`second polarized illumination beam for a right eye imag-
`ing channel, wherein the illumination source comprises
`at least one uniformizing element for uniformizing the
`first and second illumination beams;
`a left channel modulation apparatus for modulating the
`first polarized illumination beam to provide the left eye
`portion of the stereoscopic image and a right channel
`modulation apparatus for modulating the second polar-
`ized illumination beam to provide the right eye portion
`of the stereoscopic image, wherein each channel modu-
`lation apparatus further comprises:
`a color separator for separating the polarized illumi-
`nation beam into at least a first component wavelength
`illumination and a second component wavelength
`illumination;
`at least two component wavelength modulating sec-
`tions, each component wavelength modulating sec-
`tion accepting a corresponding component wave-
`length illumination and modulating the component
`wavelength illumination to provide a modulated com-
`ponent wavelength beam, each component wave-
`length modulating section comprising:
`a portion of a monochrome transmissive liquid crystal
`modulator panel that has been segmented into at
`
`50
`
`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
`40 better understood from the following description when taken
`in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conventional projec-
`tion apparatus using LCOS LCD devices;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a stereoscopic imaging appa-
`45 ratus according to the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a polarized light pro-
`viding apparatus;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a left- or right-channel
`modulation apparatus;
`FIG. 5 is a plan view of a TFT LC device segmented
`according to the present invention, subdivided into compo-
`nent color modulating sections;
`FIG. 6A is a cross section of a conventional large panel LC
`device;
`FIG. 6B is a cross section of a simplified large panel LC
`device according to the present invention;
`FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a projection apparatus
`according to the present invention;
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a color separator in one
`60 embodiment;
`FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a projection apparatus
`with a control loop for alignment;
`FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an embodiment using mul-
`tiple light sources and two Fresnel lenses in each color chan-
`65 nel;
`FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing an alternate
`embodiment using color scrolling in a two panel apparatus;
`
`55
`
`REALD INC.
`Exhibit 2185-22
`MASTERIMAGE 3D, et al. v REALD INC.
`IPR2015-00035
`
`

`
`US 7,559,653 B2
`
`7
`FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram, in perspective, showing an
`alternate embodiment using a polarization beamsplitter in
`each color channel;
`FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram showing an alternate
`embodiment of a portion of a color projection apparatus using
`a V-prism as color combiner for modulated light;
`FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodi-
`ment using dither to enhance pixel fill factor;
`FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram showing the an
`embodiment using a blur filter to enhance pixel fill factor, and
`FIG. 16 is a schematic block diagram of an imaging appa-
`ratus in an alternate embodiment showing a switchable polar-
`ization rotating element.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`8
`the other modulation channel, labeled L in FIGS. 2 and 3.
`Lens 34 directs the polarized light into the appropriate modu-
`lation channel.
`Light source 20 in FIG. 3 can be any of a number of types
`5 of lamp or other emissive component. It can be appreciated
`that it would be particularly advantageous to select a com-
`mercially available component as light source 20, to take
`advantage of low cost and availability due to high manufac-
`turing volumes. In one embodiment, a conventional CER-
`10 MAX® xenon arc lamp, available from PerldnElmer Inc.,
`Wellesley, Mass., is used. The capability to efficiently use the
`light of such off-the-shelf devices is a particular advantage
`when using a larger size TFT LC device, as opposed to using
`smaller LCOS components that are unable to use a significant
`15 portion of the light available due to LaGrange limitations, as
`noted earlier in the background section. Other alternative
`light sources include high-power LEDs, which c,an be distrib-
`uted in an array when using uniformizing optics. Another
`option is to use ultra-high pressure Mercury lamps, for
`example. Conventional xenon bubble lamps offer yet another
`option and provide better color gamut than Mercury lamps. In
`all of these cases, substantially unpolarized light is typically
`provided from the source.
`In one embodiment, polarizer 96 is a wire grid polarizer,
`such as the polarizer type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,452,724
`(Hansen et al.) Wire grid polarizers of various types are com-
`mercially available from Moxtek, Inc., Orem, Utah. The wire
`grid type of polarizer is particularly advantaged for handling
`high levels of light intensity, unlike conventional types of
`absorptive polarizer. In one embodiment the wire grid polar-
`izer is placed such that wire elements on its wire surface side
`face toward the LCD panel. This configuration reduces ther-
`mally induced birefringence as disclosed in commonly
`assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,378 (Kurtz et al.) Polarizer 96
`could alternately be a conventional prism polarizer, such as a
`MacNeille polarizer, familiar to those skilled in the electronic
`imaging arts.
`Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown channel modulation
`apparatus 220/ for the left eye; channel modulation apparatus
`220r for the right eye would be similarly constructed. Here,
`an LC modulator panel 60 is segmented into three portions,
`one for each component color: Red (R), Green (G), and Blue
`(B), as is described subsequently. A condensing lens 38 then
`directs a uniformized polarized beam 76 to a color separator
`78 that separates the multiple wavelengths into component
`color wavelengths, conventionally red, green, and blue
`(RGB) along separate illumination paths 44r (red), 44g
`(green) and 44b (blue).
`There are at least three component wavelength modulating
`sections 114r, 114g, 114b, as shown in FIG. 4, each aligned
`along a corresponding illumination path 44r, 44g, 44b. In
`each component wavelength modulating section 114r, 114g,
`114b, a condensing lens 42r, 42g, 42b directs the correspond-
`ing component wavelength illumination through an optional
`polarizer 48r, 48g, 48b. Lenses 52r, 52g, and 52b, such as
`Fresnel lenses, then focus this illumination through a mono-
`chrome transmissive liquid crystal modulator panel 60 that is
`segmented to handle each component color for modulation,
`as is described subsequently. Liquid crystal modulator panel
`60 forms red, green, and blue component wavelength beams
`54r, 54g, and 54b. Component wavelength beams 54r, 54g,
`and 54b are the modulated light beams that are combined to
`form the color image. Analyzers 56r, 56g, and 56b condition
`the polarization of red, green, and blue component wave-
`length beams 54r, 54g, and 54b. In this embodiment,