Abstract:
A complex image display device comprises a light source, an illumination optical module, a micro display module, at least one optical projection module, at least one image-light-path switch module, an image-light-path control unit, and at least one image display screen, wherein the light source provides a light beam, the illumination optical module receives and shapes the light beam, continuously the light beam is projected by the illumination optical module. The micro display module provides an image-to-be-displayed and the light beam is then modulated by the image to become at least an image-modulated light beam for displaying. Then, the optical projection module receives and magnifies the image-modulated light beam. Continuously, the image-light-path switch module receives the magnified image-modulated light beam and switches the light path of the light beam. The image display screen, thus, receives and displays the magnified image-modulated light beam, which is switched by the image-light-path switch module.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims foreign priority from a Taiwan Patent Application, Ser. No. 098102086, filed on Jan. 20, 2009. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a complex image display device and system, more particularly, an image display screen and system enabling images to be simultaneously displayed on a flat display screen, a rear-projection display screen and/or a front-projection display screen. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     With the hi-tech development and high standards of living in modern life, an image display device has become one of the most important household equipments to provide leisure entertainment. The developments of image display devices have been continuously advanced, such as CRT displays, flat panel displays, rear project displays, LCD display, plasma display panel, high-resolution LCD, Liquid Crystal On Silicon (LCoS), Digital Light Projector (DLP), etc.; the display quality has been improved, in addition, the screen size is expanded such as 28″, 32″ 50″ and 70″. 
     Currently, the audience at home still uses flat display devices, such as LCD, plasma TV set and high-resolution LCD or rear-projection display device in a bright environment to enjoy TV or other entertainment programs. 
     For those movies that require bigger size screens are positioned at a certain distance, we usually apply a front-projection display device and the corresponding display screen to project videos in a bigger display environment. 
     Moreover, the laptop computers have been popularized for work or entertainment; however, the screen size is not convenient for business presentation. Therefore, a laptop computer must work together with a projector to perform a business presentation to increase additional value and benefit. 
     In view of the foregoing point of views, the invention provides a complex image display device and system, enabling images to be simultaneously displayed on a flat display screen, a rear-projection display screen and/or a front-projection display screen through the change and switch of the light path of the light beam or the image-modulated light beam without additional display devices required, therefore, the complex image display device and system enables the audience to switch desired image display mode by personal preference or needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the aforementioned disadvantages and problems of the prior art, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a complex image display device and system, more particularly, an image display screen and system that enables image displays to be switched on a flat display screen, a rear-projection display screen or a front-projection display screen for the specific display mode based on the audience preference and needs. 
     The complex image display device according to the present invention at least comprises a light source, an illumination optical module, a micro display device, at least one optical projection module, at least one image-light-path switch module, an image-light-path control unit and at least one display screen. 
     The light source is a Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL), a Light Emitting Diode (LED), a light bulb or a laser light source to produce a light beam, and then, the illumination optical module receives, shapes and projects the light beam. 
     The micro display module is a Liquid Crystal On Silicon (LCoS), a Digital micro-Mirror Device (DMD) or a Grating Light Valve (GLV) to provide at least an image to be displayed; the image is then illuminated by the light beam from the illumination optical module to become a light beam with image information. 
     The optical projection module is either a prime lens set or a zoom lens set for receiving and magnifying the light beam with image to be displayed. 
     The image-light-path switch module receives the light beam with image information to be displayed from the projection optical module and switches the light path of the light beam; the image-light-path switch module is a mechanical rotary lens, a rotatable polarizer, a light-intensity splitting lens, a prism spectroscope, an active polarization or an intensity splitting component. 
     The image-light-path control unit connects the image-light-path switch module and controls the image-light-path switch module through either electric connection or mechanical connection to switch the light path of the light beam with image information. 
     The display screen is either a front-projection display screen or a rear-projection display screen to receive and to perform the image information, after the light path of the image is switched by the image-light-path switch module. 
     A complex image display device comprises a light source, at least a light-path switch module, a light-path control unit and at least two image display screens. 
     The light source is a Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL), a Light Emitting Diode (LED), a light bulb or a laser light source to provide a luminance light beam. The light-path switch module is a mechanical rotary lens, a rotatable polarizer, a light-intensity splitting lens, a prism spectroscope, an active polarization or an intensity splitting component, to receive the light beam and switch the light path of the incident light beam. The image-light-path control unit controls the switches of light path of the light beam by the image-light-path switch module through either electric connection or mechanical connection. 
     The image display devices are applied to receive the light beam from the image-light-path switch module after the light path of the light beam is switched; the image display device is a flat image display device, a projection display device, a complex image display device or any two of the above combination; the flat image display device comprises at least a beam-uniformed shaper, a light-guide module and a flat panel display, in addition, the flat image display screen is an LCD display screen; the projection display device is either a front-projection display device or a rear-projection display device; the complex image display device comprises an optical illumination system, at least one optical projection module, at least one image-light-path switch module, an image-light-path control unit and at least one display screen. 
     Other and further features, advantages, and benefits of the invention will become apparent in the following description taken in conjunction with the following drawings. It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory but are not to be restrictive of the invention. The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention in general terms. Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objects, spirits, and advantages of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be readily understood by the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptions, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a scheme view showing a first preferred embodiment of a complex image display device and system according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a light path diagram (I) according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a light path diagram (II) according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a scheme view showing a second preferred embodiment of a complex image display device and system according to the invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a scheme view showing a third preferred embodiment of a complex image display device and system according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a complex image display device and system, enables an image-light-path switch module to switch the light path of an image-modulated light beam, so that the audience is able to switch the image display on a flat display, a rear-projection screen and/or a front-projection screen by personal preference and needs. 
     The invention will become apparent in the following description taken in conjunction with the following drawings. With reference to  FIG. 1 , a complex image display device  100  comprises a light source  110 , an illumination optical module  120 , a micro display module  130 , an optical projection module  140 , an image-light-path switch module  150 , an image-light-path control unit  160 , a rear-projection display screen  170  and a front-projection display screen  180 . 
     The light source is a Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL), a Light Emitting Diode (LED), a light bulb or a laser light source; as shown in the drawing that the light source  110  provides a luminance light beam  600  and the illumination optical module  120  receives the light beam  600 , and then, shapes and projects the light beam  600  to the micro display module  130 . 
     The micro display module  130  is a Liquid Crystal On Silicon (LCoS), a Digital micro-Mirror Device (DMD) or a Grating Light Valve (GLV), as an image source to provide an image signal, subsequently, the light beam  600  projected by the illumination optical module  120  is then transformed into a light beam with image  650 , the optical illumination module  120  outputs the light beam with image  650  to the optical projection module  140 . 
     The optical projection module  140  is a prime lens set or a zoom lens set to receive the light beam with image  650  from the micro display module  130 , magnifying the light beam with image  650 , and then projecting the light beam on the rear-projection display screen  170  or the front-projection display screen  180 . 
     The image-light-path switch module  150  is disposed on the light path to receive and switch the light path of the light beam with image  650  from the optical projection module  140 ; the image-light-path switch module  150  is composed of one or a plurality of mechanical rotary lens(es), rotatable polarizer(s), light-intensity splitting lens(es) prism spectroscope(s), active polarization or intensity splitting component(s). The image-light-path control unit  160  connects the image-light-path switch module  150  and controls the image-light-path switch module  150  to change the path of the light beam with image  650  by electric connection or mechanical connection. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , when the image-light-path control unit  160  of the complex image display device  100  controls the image-light-path switch module  150  to switch the image to be displayed on the rear-projection display screen  170 , the light beam with image  650  is switched to the rear-projection display screen  170  for display, the rear-projection display screen  170  is either a polymer screen or a hollow light-guide screen. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , when the image-light-path control unit  160  of the complex image display device  100  controls the image-light-path switch module  150  to switch the image to be displayed on the front-projection display screen  180 , the light beam with image  650  is switched to the front-projection display screen  180  for display, the front-projection display screen  180  is a conventional front-projection display screen for image projection in front of the audience. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the light beam with image  650  in the complex image display device  100  is able to be outputted to both of the rear-projection display screen  170  and the front-projection display screen  180  through controlling the image-light-path switch module  150  by the image-light-path control unit  160 , therefore, the light beam with image  650  is able to be transmitted to both of the rear-projection display screen  170  and the front-projection display screen  180  for display. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4  of the second preferred embodiment according to the invention, a complex image display device  200  comprises a light source  210 , a light-path switch module  220 , a light-path control unit  230 , a flat image display screen  240 , and a projection display device  250 . 
     The light source  210  is a Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL), a Light Emitting Diode(LED), a light bulb or a laser light source to provide a luminance light beam  700 . The light-path switch module  220  receives the luminance light beam  700  and is able to change the path of the luminance light beam  700  by applying one or a plurality of mechanical rotary lenses, rotatable polarizers, light-intensity splitting lenses, prism spectroscopes, active polarization or intensity splitting components. 
     The light-path control unit  230  connects the light-path switch module  220  through either electric connection or mechanical connection and controls the light-path switch module  220  to switch the path of the luminance light beam  700 , enabling the luminance light beam  700  to be switched to be displayed on a flat image display screen  240 , a projecting display device  250  or both of the display devices at the same time by personal preference or needs. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the flat image display screen  240  is either an LCD display screen or other non-self-emitted display. The flat image display screen  240  comprises a beam-uniformed shaper  241 , a light-guide module  242  and a flat panel display  243 . When the light-path switch module  220  switches the luminance light beam  700  to the flat image display screen  240 , the luminance light beam  700  is linearly shaped by the beam-uniformed shaper  241  and formed as a light beam  725  to be transmitted to the light-guide module  242 , and then the uniform light beam  725  propagates in the light-guide module  242  and then is emitted out the light-guide module  242  to illuminate the flat panel display  243 , subsequently, the flat panel display  243  provides image signals and applies conventional LCD technology to display the image. 
     The projection display device  250  is either a front-projection display device or a rear-projection display device. The projection display device  250  comprises an optical illumination module  251 , a micro-display  252 , an optical projection optical module  253  and a projection display screen  254 ; when the light-path switch module  220  switches the luminance light beam  700  to the projection display device  250 , the luminance light beam  700  is evenly shaped by the optical illumination module  251  and outputted to the micro-display  252 , and then the micro-display  252  adds an image signal into the luminance light beam  700  to transform the luminance light beam  700  to a light beam with image information  750 , subsequently, the light beam with image  750  is outputted to the optical projection optical module  253  for image magnification and projected on the projection display screen  254  for display; in addition, the light-path control unit  230  controls the light-path switch module  220  to switch the luminance light beam  700  to both of the flat image display screen  240  and the projection display device  250  for display. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5  of the third preferred embodiment according to the invention, a complex image display device  300  comprises a light source  310 , a light-path switch module  320 , a light-path control unit  330 , a flat image display screen  340  and a complex image display device  350 . 
     The light source  310  is a Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL), a Light Emitting Diode (LED), a light bulb, or a laser light source to provide a luminance light beam  800 . The light-path switch module  320  receives the luminance light beam  800  and switches the path of the luminance light beam  800  by applying one or a plurality of mechanical rotary lenses, rotatable polarizers, light-intensity splitting lens, prism spectroscopes, active polarization or an intensity splitting components. 
     The light-path control unit  330  connects the light-path switch module  320  and controls the light-path switch module  320  through either electric connection or mechanical connection to switch the path of the luminance light beam  800 ; therefore, the light path of the luminance light beam  800  is able to be switched to the flat image display screen  340 , the complex image display device  350  or both of the devices for display by the audience&#39;s preference or needs. 
     The flat image display screen  340  is either an LCD display screen or other non-self-emitted display and comprises a beam-uniformed shaper  341 , a light-guide module  342  and a flat panel display  343 . When the light-path switch module  320  switches the luminance light beam  800  to the flat image display screen  340 , the luminance light beam  800  is linearly shaped by the beam-uniformed shaper  341  and coupled in the light-guide module  342 , subsequently, the light beam  825  is displayed with uniformity on the flat panel display  343 ; the flat panel display  343  provides image signals and applies conventional LCD technology to display the image. 
     The complex image display device  350  comprises a illumination optical module  351 , a micro display module  352 , a optical projection module  353 , an image-light-path switch module  354 , an image-light-path control unit  355 , a rear-projection display screen  356  and a front-projection display screen  357 . 
     The light-path switch module  320  switches and delivers the luminance light beam  800  to the complex image display device  350 , the luminance light beam  800  is uniformly shaped by the illumination optical module  351  and outputted to the micro display module  352 , the micro display module  352  adds an image signal to the luminance light beam  800  and transforms the luminance light beam  800  to a light beam with image  850 , the light beam with imaged  850  is then outputted to the optical projection module  353  for image amplification and projected to both of the rear-projection display screen  356  and the front-projection display screen  357  for display. the image-light-path switch module  354  connects the image-light-path control unit  355  and acts among the optical projection module  353  and both of the rear-projection display screen  356  and the front-projection display screen  357 ; so that the image-light-path control unit  355  controls the image-light-path switch module  354  to switch the light path of the light beam with image  850 , the light beam with image  850  is then displayed on the rear-projection display screen  356  or the front-projection display screen  357 , or both of the devices at the same time. 
     The light-path control unit  330  is able to control the light-path switch module  320  to simultaneously project the luminance light beam  800  to the flat image display screen  340  and the complex image display device  350 , the image-light-path switch module  354  of the complex image display device  350  is able to simultaneously project the light beam with image  850  to either the rear-projection display screen  356  or the front-projection display screen  357 , consequently, the audience is able to switch images on a flat display screen, on a rear-projection display or on a front-projection display, or even allow the images to be simultaneously displayed on the above image display screens by personal preference or needs. 
     Although the invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, the principles involved are susceptible for use in numerous other embodiments that will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. This invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.