Patent ID: 9618737
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: G02B,G03B,H04N

Claim:
1. An illuminator for an image projection system, comprising: a source of laser light of a first wavelength; a rotatable member including first and second annular bands having different radii; the first band having first and second phosphor segments and a third segment transmitting or reflecting light of the first wavelength, the respective first band segments being angularly spaced about the first band, wherein the first band third segment has an opening for transmitting light of the first wavelength; and the second band having first, second and third filter segments, the respective second band segments being angularly spaced about the second band in correspondence with the angular spacing of the first band segments; a dichroic optical element; light output optics; and light directing optics; the first and second phosphor segments configured to emit light of second and third wavelengths when illuminated by light of the first wavelength; the dichroic optical element configured to direct the first wavelength light received from the laser light source onto the rotatable member for sequential illumination of the respective first band segments as the rotatable member rotates, to direct light of the second and third wavelengths emitted from the first and second phosphor segments from the rotatable member to the light output optics, and to direct light of the first wavelength transmitted or reflected by the third first band segment to the light output optics; and the light directing optics configured to direct light received from the dichroic element to the second band segments of the rotating member; whereby light emitted from the first band first phosphor segment will be directed to the first filter segment, light emitted from the first band second phosphor segment will be directed to the second filter segment, and light transmitted or reflected from the first band third segment will be directed to the third filter segment.