Patent ID: 6961045
Filing Date: 2005-11-01
Classification: G02B,H04N

Abstract:
1. Method of creating a 2D-image-frame of multiple levels of an optical property using one image frame of a spatial light modulator, for applications in displaying 2D images or one frame of a volumetric 3D images, said optical property comprising a number of basic components, different said basic components being able to be combined to create multiple levels of said optical property; said optical property and said basic components comprising one of the following combinations: a. color as said optical property and different primary colors as said basic components; or b. brightness as said optical property and different brightness strengths as said basic components, or c. polarization as said optical property and different polarization states as said basic components, or d. phase as said optical property and different phase states as said basic components; the method including the steps of: (1) dividing the pixels of the spatial light modulator into a number of groups and defining each group as a sub-panel; (2) creating an illumination pattern by a pattern generation means, the illumination pattern comprising a 2D distribution of different said basic components; (3) projecting said illumination pattern onto the spatial light modulator by a projection optics and illuminating each said sub-panel with a light of a different said basic component, thereby each said sub-panel having an illumination beam of a different said basic component, and due to the illumination each said sub-panel also having an output object beam of a different basic component carrying the image of said sub-panel; (4) recombining the images of said sub-panels by an image combining means to create said 2D-image-frame, said 2D-image-frame thereby comprising composite pixels as its basic picture elements, each said composite pixels having a number of sub-pixels, each said number of sub-pixels being a pixel belonging to a different said sub-panel.