Patent ID: 7306338
Filing Date: 2007-12-11
Classification: G03B,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image projection system for providing a bright and clear image, the system comprising: a light source producing a visible light beam; a wire-grid polarizing polarizing beam splitter locatable in the light beam and oriented at an angle with respect to the light beam, the wire-grid polarizing beam splitter comprising: a reflective array locatable in either the reflected or transmitted beam, the array modulating the polarization of the beam by selectively altering the polarization of the beam to encode image information thereon and creating a modulated beam, the array being oriented to direct the modulated beam back towards the polarizing beam splitter; the wire-grid polarizing beam splitter further being located in the modulated beam and oriented at an angle with respect to the modulated beam and so that the arrangement of thin, elongated elements supported by the substrate is oriented to face towards the reflective array, and the arrangement of elements of the beam splitter interacting with electromagnetic waves of the modulated beam to generally (i) transmit light through the elements which has a polarization oriented perpendicular to the plane that includes at least one of the elements and the direction of the incident light beam, defining a second transmitted beam, and (ii) reflect light from the elements which has a polarization parallel with the plane that includes at least one of the elements and the direction of the incident light beam, defining a second reflected beam, to separate out the unaltered polarization from the modulated beam; a screen located in either the second reflected beam or the second transmitted beam for displaying the encoded image information.