Patent ID: 7628509
Filing Date: 2009-12-08
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a first LED, disposed to generate a first optical signal that is approximately linearly polarized, wherein the first optical signal has vertical and horizontal polarization components; a second LED, disposed to generate a second optical signal that is approximately linearly polarized, wherein the second optical signal has vertical and horizontal polarization components; a third LED, disposed to generate a third optical signal that is approximately linearly polarized, wherein the second optical signal has vertical and horizontal polarization components; a first beam splitter cube, positioned to receive the first and second optical signals and disposed to output a first output beam wherein the first output beam is a combination of the horizontal and vertical polarization components of the first and second optical signals respectively; a first half-wave plate, positioned to receive the first output beam and disposed to output a second output beam wherein the polarization orientation of the first output beam is different than the polarization orientation of the second output beam; a second half-wave plate, positioned to receive the third optical signal and disposed to output a third output beam, wherein the polarization orientation of the third optical signal is different than the polarization orientation of the third output beam; and a second beam splitter cube, positioned to receive the second and third output beams and disposed to output a fourth output beam, wherein the fourth output beam is a combination of the horizontal and vertical polarization components of the second and third output beams respectively.