Patent ID: 8511827
Filing Date: 2013-08-20
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A telecentric optical illumination system for use with a reflective microdisplay, comprising: a source of optical radiation having a first polarization state; a polarized beamsplitter disposed at a location to receive optical radiation from the optical radiation source and oriented relative to the source of optical radiation to reflect the received optical radiation; an optical retarder disposed at a location relative to the beamsplitter to receive optical radiation reflected by the beamsplitter and oriented to convert the polarization state of the received optical radiation to be circularly polarized; and a reflector having optical power disposed at a location to receive the circularly polarized optical radiation from the optical retarder and to reflect the received optical radiation back through the retarder and beamsplitter, wherein the pupil of the illumination system is disposed at the source of optical radiation to provide an optical illumination system that is telecentric in image space.