Patent Publication Number: US-6905217-B2

Title: Projector with narrow-spectrum light source to complement broad-spectrum light source

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present patent application is a continuation of the previously filed and patent application entitled “Project with Narrow Spectrum Light Source to Complement Broad-Spectrum Light Source”, filed on May 3, 2002, and assigned Ser. No. 10/138,590 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,733,139, which is a continuation-in-part of the previously filed and copending patent application entitled “Multi-Source LCD Backlight for White Balance Adjustment”, filed on Jun. 5, 2000, and assigned Ser. No. 09/587,446, and now abandoned. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Projectors are generally devices that integrate light sources, optics systems, electronics, and displays for projecting images from computers or video devices onto walls or screens, for large-image viewing. They are especially popular among business users who give presentations as part of their job responsibilities. Newer projectors can weigh as little as a few pounds, making them well suited for business travelers. As the quality of projection technology has improved, projectors are also finding their way into peoples&#39; homes for high-definition television (HDTV) and other home entertainment applications. Some industry pundits predict that digital projectors will also become the standard projection technology used in movie theaters. 
   The light sources utilized in projectors are an integral factor in the resulting quality of the projected image. A light source is desirably small in size, long lasting, and uniform in the light that it produces. Until recently, most projectors relied on metal halide lamps that employ a spark across a gas-filled gap to create light. However, metal halide lamps tended to have color and luminance stability problems, and tended to deposit materials on their sidewalls during operation, resulting in reduced brightness. More recently, some projectors have been using ultra high pressure (UHP) arc lamps. These lamps use an arc in a pure mercury vapor under high pressure. The arc gap is much smaller than the gas-filled gap of a metal halide lamp, resulting in greater lighting efficiency. Small amounts of oxygen and halogen are usually mixed with the mercury vapor, helping to remove material deposits from a lamp&#39;s sidewalls, which maintains the lamp&#39;s brightness substantially throughout its lifetime. 
   However, UHP mercury-vapor arc lamps, as well as other types of lamps used in projectors, still suffer from some drawbacks. Arc lamps, for instance, usually output less light at red wavelengths than they do at other wavelengths. This means that parts of the images being projected that rely on red wavelengths of light for rendering may not appear as bright, or may appear inaccurate as compared to how they should appear. Arc lamps may also have uneven color intensities. For instance, the light output at blue wavelengths, or at green wavelengths, may only be able to be produced at deep or dull tones. This means that parts of the images being projected that rely on these wavelengths of light for rendering may appear dull, or may also appear inaccurate as compared to how they should appear. 
   For these and other reasons, therefore, there is a need for the present invention. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a projector that has a narrow-spectrum light source to complement a broad-spectrum light source. The broad-spectrum light source has a broad spectrum. The narrow-spectrum light source has a narrow spectrum complementing the broad spectrum of the broad-spectrum light source. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings referenced herein form a part of the specification. Features shown in the drawing are meant as illustrative of only some embodiments of the invention, and not of all embodiments of the invention, unless otherwise explicitly indicated, and implications to the contrary are otherwise not to be made. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a general projection system according to an embodiment of the invention that includes a broad-spectrum light source and a narrow-spectrum light source. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  are diagrams illustrating two different types of partial spectral deficiencies of a broad-spectrum light source, according to varying embodiments of the invention. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  are diagrams illustrating how use of a narrow-spectrum light source can compensate for and substantially correct the partial spectral deficiencies of  FIGS. 2A and 2B , respectively, according to varying embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side-view diagram of a projection system according to a specific embodiment of the invention in which narrow-spectrum light is combined with broad-spectrum light before passing through a rotatable color wheel. 
       FIG. 5  is a front-view diagram of the narrow-spectrum light source of  FIG. 4 , according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  are front-view diagrams of different types of rotatable color wheels that can be used as the rotatable color wheel of  FIG. 4 , according to varying embodiments of the invention. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  are diagrams of graphs showing light before it enters an integration rod, such as that of  FIG. 4 , and after it leaves the integration rod, respectively, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a method of use according to an embodiment of the invention that is consistent with the system of FIG.  4 . 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side-view diagram of a projection system according to another specific embodiment of the invention in which narrow-spectrum light is combined with broad-spectrum light after the broad-spectrum light has passed through a rotatable color wheel. 
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart of a method of use according to an embodiment of the invention that. is consistent with the system of FIG.  9 . 
       FIG. 11  is a flowchart of a method of manufacture according to an embodiment of the invention that is consistent with the systems of FIGS.  4  and  9 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized, and logical, mechanical, and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
   Overview 
     FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a projection system  100  according to an embodiment of the invention. The system  100  may be implemented as a projector. The projection system  100  includes a broad-spectrum light source  102 , a narrow-spectrum light source  104 , a spatial light modulator (SLM)  106 , projection optics  108 , and a screen  110 . The system  100  also includes light source optics  105 , an image source  107 , and an image controller  109 . The broad-spectrum light source  102  outputs light at a broad spectrum, and can be considered a means for emitting such light. It may be an ultra high pressure (UHP) mercury vapor arc lamp, or another type of broad-spectrum light source. By comparison, the narrow-spectrum light source  104  outputs light within a narrow spectrum, and can be considered a means for emitting such light. It may be one or more light-emitting diodes (LED&#39;s), or another type of narrow-spectrum light source. A narrow spectrum is generally defined as only a portion of the visible light spectrum. By comparison, a broad spectrum is substantially, but not necessarily completely, the visible light spectrum. 
   The light source optics  105  process the light output by the light sources  102  and  104  for output to the SLM  106 . The image controller  109  prepares an image signal received from the image source  107  for output to the SLM  106 . The image source  107  may be a computer, a video device, and so on. The image may be a still image or a moving image. The SLM  106  in turn modulates the light output by both the broad-spectrum light source  102  and the narrow-spectrum light source  104 , as received through the light source optics  105 , in accordance with the desired image, as received through the image controller  109 . The SLM may be a liquid-crystal display (LCD) SLM, a digital light processing (DLP) SLM, or another type of SLM. In the case of a DLP SLM, the SLM may more specifically be a digital micromirror display (DMD). 
   The broad-spectrum light source  102  outputs broad-spectrum light that likely suffers from a partial (i.e., narrow) spectral power deficiency. Broad-spectrum light is generally and non-restrictively defined as light that has wavelengths substantially across the entire visible light spectrum. Thus, the broad-spectrum light source  102  is a light source that can generate light having wavelengths substantially across the entire visible light spectrum. A partial spectral power deficiency is where the light has a power deficiency in at least a part of the spectrum of light output. The partial spectral power deficiency may more specifically be one of at least two different defects, among others. First, the light output may not be as bright in one part of the spectrum as compared to the other spectral parts. Second, the light output may not have as high a color intensity in one spectral part as compared to the other parts. 
     FIG. 2A  shows a graph  200  illustrating a partial spectral deficiency in which the light output is not as bright in one spectral part as compared to other spectral parts. The graph  200  of  FIG. 2A , like all other graphs of this patent application, is an idealized representation, and is not meant as an actual representation. That is, the graphs of this patent application are for illustrative purposes only. The axis  201  measures brightness. The spectrum has three chief parts, a red part  202 , a green part  204 , and a blue part  206 . The line  208  indicates the brightness of the light output across these spectral parts. The dotted line  210  indicates a threshold brightness level that is desired across the entire spectrum. As shown in  FIG. 2A , the light output falls below the threshold brightness level at the red wavelengths within the red spectral part  202 . That is, there is a partial spectral deficiency at red wavelengths of light. 
     FIG. 2B  shows a color intensity chart  250  illustrating a partial spectral deficiency in which the light output has a color intensity that is not as high in one spectral part as compared to other spectral parts. The chart  250  has a center  258  corresponding to a low color intensity that increases radially therefrom to a high color intensity indicated by the outside circle  260 . The spectrum has three chief parts, a red part  252 , a green part  254 , and a blue part  256 . The triangle  264  represents the color intensity of the light output across these spectral parts. The dotted circle  262  indicates a threshold color intensity level that is desired across the entire spectrum. As shown in  FIG. 2B , the light output falls below the threshold color intensity level at the green wavelengths within the green spectral part  254 . That is, there is a partial spectral deficiency at green wavelengths of light. There may also be a partial spectral deficiency at other wavelengths of light, such as at blue wavelengths of light, and so on. 
   The narrow-spectrum light source  104  of  FIG. 1  outputs narrow-spectrum light that has a narrow spectrum complementing the broad spectrum of the broad-spectrum light source  102  of FIG.  1 . Narrow-spectrum light is generally and non-restrictively defined as light that has wavelengths in only a part of the visible spectrum. For instance, the narrow-spectrum light may have only the red wavelengths of the visible spectrum, the green wavelengths of the visible spectrum, or the blue wavelengths of the visible spectrum, and so on. Thus, the narrow-spectrum light source  104  is a light source that can generate light having wavelengths only in a part of the visible light spectrum. This narrow spectrum preferably corresponds to the partial spectral deficiency of the broad spectrum of the broad-spectrum light source  102 . That is, the light output by the narrow-spectrum light source  104  may have a brightness at a narrow spectrum compensating for lower brightness at a part of this broad spectrum, or a high color intensity at a narrow spectrum compensating for a lower color intensity at a part of this broad spectrum, and so on. 
     FIG. 3A  shows a graph  300  illustrating how the narrow spectrum of light compensates for and corresponds to the partial spectral deficiency of the broad spectrum of light in terms of brightness, according to an embodiment of the invention. As before, the axis  201  measures brightness, and there are three primary spectral parts, a red part  202 , a green part  204 , and a blue part  206 . The line  208  indicates the brightness of the broad-spectrum light across these spectral parts. The dotted line  210  indicates a threshold brightness level that is desired across the entire spectrum. The line  208  falls below the dotted line  210  primarily at the red spectral part  202 . 
   The line  302  of  FIG. 3A  indicates the brightness of the narrow-spectrum light across the spectral parts  202 ,  204 , and  206 . As a result of its narrow spectrum, the light only is output at one spectral part, the red spectral part  202 , and not at the green part  204  or at the blue part  206 . The brightness of the narrow-spectrum light at the red spectral part  202 , however, is greater than the threshold level indicated by the dotted line  210 . Thus, combining the narrow-spectrum light indicated by the line  302  with the broad-spectrum light indicated by the line  208  yields the horizontal line  304 , which represents light having a brightness level greater than the threshold level across the entire spectrum. In this way, the narrow spectrum of light compensates for and corresponds to the partial spectral deficiency of the broad spectrum of light in one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 3B  shows a color intensity chart  350  illustrating how the narrow spectrum of light compensates for and corresponds to the partial spectral deficiency of the broad spectrum of light in terms of color intensity, according to another embodiment of the invention. As before, there is a chart center  258  correlating with a low color intensity that increase radially therefrom to a high color intensity indicated by the outside circle  260 . The spectrum has three primary parts, a red part  252 , a green part  254 , and a blue part  256 . The dotted circle  262  indicates a threshold color intensity level that is desired across the entire spectrum. The triangle  264  represents the color intensity of the broad-spectrum light output across the spectrum, where there is a partial spectral deficiency at the green spectral part  254 , at which the color intensity is undesirably low. 
   The triangle  354  of  FIG. 3B  indicates the color intensity of the narrow-spectrum light across the spectral parts  252 ,  254 , and  256 . As a result of its narrow spectrum, the light is substantially output only at one spectral part, the green spectral part  254 , and not at the red spectral part  252  or at the blue spectral part  256 . The color intensity of the narrow-spectrum light at the green spectral part  254 , however, is higher than the threshold level indicated by the dotted circle  262 . Thus, combining the narrow-spectrum light indicated by the triangle  354  with the broad-spectrum light indicated by the triangle  264  yields the triangle  352 , which represents light having a color intensity higher than the threshold level across the entire spectrum. In this way, the narrow spectrum of light compensates for and corresponds to the partial spectral deficiency of the broad spectrum of light in one embodiment of the invention. 
   The broad-spectrum light source  102  of  FIG. 1  can be considered a primary light means, whereas the narrow-spectrum light source  104  can be considered a compensatory light means. The primary light means is for providing light that has a broad spectrum, but that which is weak at a portion, such as a narrow portion, of the broad spectrum. The compensatory light means is for compensating for the narrow portion of the broad spectrum at which the light is weak. The part of the broad spectrum at which the light is weak may be, for example, the red spectral part, the green spectral part, or the blue spectral part, among other parts of the spectrum. It may be weak in terms of light brightness, color intensity, and so on. 
   First Specific Embodiment of Projection System 
     FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional side profile of a system  400  according to an embodiment of the invention. The system  400  is consistent with the system  100 , and shows the system  100  in more detail in accordance with a specific embodiment of the invention. The broad-spectrum light source  102  is preferably optically centered within the reflector  402 , which is at least substantially elliptical in shape. The reflector  402 , and other reflectors of the invention, may have other shapes as well. The broad-spectrum light source  102  may also be considered the primary light source. The narrow-spectrum light source  104  preferably includes a ring of LED&#39;s centered around the broad-spectrum light source  102 .  FIG. 5  shows a front view of the narrow-spectrum light source  104  in such an instance. The narrow-spectrum light source  104  may also be considered the secondary light source. The narrow-spectrum light source  104  may be said to be adjacent to the broad-spectrum light source  102 , although the positioning of the former to the latter as shown in  FIG. 4  is one example of such adjacency. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 4 , the light from the narrow-spectrum light source  104  is combined with the light from the broad-spectrum light source  102  before proceeding through the light source optics  105 . As has been described, the broad-spectrum light source  102  has a partial spectral deficiency that is compensated for by the narrow-spectrum light source  104 . Thus, this compensation or correction takes place prior to any light from the narrow-spectrum light source  104  or from the broad-spectrum light source  102  reaching the light source optics  105 . The light source optics  105  in the system  400  includes a condenser lens  404 , a rotatable color wheel  406 , an integration rod  408 , and a collimating lens  410 . The condenser lens  104  and/or the collimating lens  410  can be comprised of single or multiple glass elements. 
   The condenser lens  404  focuses the combined light from the broad-spectrum light source  102  and the narrow-spectrum light source  104 , as reflected by the elliptical reflector  402 . The condenser lens  404  specifically focuses this light through the rotatable color wheel  406 , which rotates into and perpendicular to the plane of  FIG. 4 , as indicated by the arrow  407 . The color wheel  406  is used to pass through light of a particular color at a given time, such that at that time only the parts of the image to be projected having that color are displayed. That is, the system  400 , instead of creating red, green, and blue images at the same time and combining them optically, creates the red, green, and blue images at different times, relying on the viewer&#39;s visual system to recombine them. 
     FIGS. 6A and 6B  show front views of different color wheels  406 . The color wheel  406  of  FIG. 6A  is divided into three equal portions, a red portion  602 , a green portion  604 , and a blue portion  606 . When the red portion  602  is incident to the combined light from the broad-spectrum light source  102  and the narrow-spectrum light source  104 , then only the red wavelengths are passed. Similarly, when the green portion  604  or the blue portion  606  is incident to the combined light from the light sources  102  and  104 , only the green or blue wavelengths, respectively, are passed. The color wheel  406  of  FIG. 6B  is similar to that of  FIG. 6A , except that half of the wheel  406  is reserved for a clear portion  608 , whereas the other half of the wheel  406  is divided into the red portion  602 , the green portion  604 , and the blue portion  606 . 
   Referring back to  FIG. 4 , the combined light passing through the color wheel  406  next passes through the integration rod  408 . The integration rod  408  renders the combined light more uniform. The integration rod  408  may also be referred to as a light pipe.  FIGS. 7A and 7B  show approximations of how light approaching the integration rod  408  appears, and how light leaving the integration rod  408  appears, respectively. In  FIG. 7A , the graph  700  shows a line  702  representative of the brightness of the light over a distance, prior to the light reaching the integration rod  408 . The light is brighter at the center than at the ends. By comparison, in  FIG. 7B , the graph  750  shows a line  752  representative of the brightness of the light over the distance after the light has passed through the integration rod  408 . The light is uniformly bright across the entire cross-sectional distance. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 4 , once the combined light passes through the integration rod  408 , it passes through the collimating lens  410 , which collimates the light before it reaches the SLM  106 . The SLM  106  is configured by the image controller  109  based on the desired image received from the image source  107 . Specifically, the SLM  106  is configured based on the current color of the light that the color wheel  406  has passed. For example, if the color wheel  406  passed only red light, then the SLM  106  is configured in accordance with the red parts of the desired image. As another example, if the color wheel  406  passes all light through a clear portion thereof, then the SLM  106  is configured in accordance with all color parts of the desired image. The light thus reflects off the SLM  106  and transmits through the projection optics  108  that focus the light onto the screen  110 , on which viewers see the desired image. 
   The system  400  therefore combines the compensatory light of the narrow-spectrum light source  104  with the broad-spectrum light of the broad-spectrum light source  102  prior to the then-combined light passing through the color wheel  406 . This approach to utilizing a narrow spectrum of light to compensate for a partial spectral deficiency in a broad spectrum of light is preferably employed when the partial spectral deficiency relates to light brightness. Where the broad spectrum of light has a spectral part at which it is not as bright as desirable, utilizing a corresponding narrow spectrum of light can be accomplished as shown in  FIG. 4  to add to this brightness and yield more uniform brightness across the entire visible light spectrum. 
     FIG. 8  shows a method  800  according to an embodiment of the invention. The method  800  is specifically a method of use for systems like the system  400  of  FIG. 4  that has been described, among other systems. First, broad-spectrum light is provided by a broad-spectrum light source ( 802 ), and narrow-spectrum light is provided by a narrow-spectrum light source ( 804 ). The narrow-spectrum light complements the broad-spectrum light as has been described. The narrow-spectrum light is combined with the broad-spectrum light ( 806 ). 
   The narrow-spectrum light may be particularly adjusted to properly compensate for the partial spectral deficiency of the broad-spectrum light ( 808 ). This may be accomplished by the projector or projection system itself, or by user adjustment of controls provided on the projector or projection system. For instance, in the former case, a brightness sensor may determine the brightness of the narrow spectrum and compare it to the brightness of the broad spectrum as a whole. If the brightness of the narrow spectrum is greater than the desired brightness relative to the brightness of the broad spectrum, then the narrow-spectrum light output is decreased, and so on. In the case where the narrow-spectrum light source is a number of LED&#39;s, increasing or decreasing the brightness of the narrow-spectrum light may be accomplished by turning on or off more LED&#39;s, respectively. 
   Next, the combined light is output through light-source optics, such as a condenser lens, a rotatable color wheel, an integration rod, and a collimating lens ( 810 ), as has been described. Thereafter, the combined light is output through an SLM in accordance with a desired image, and projected through projection optics onto a screen for viewing ( 812 ). In this way, the method  800  achieves projection by combining narrow-spectrum light with broad-spectrum light so that the former compensates for weakness in the latter. Weakness is generally defined herein as having a reduced or lower than desired intensity for a range of wavelengths. 
   Finally, at some point, the narrow-spectrum light source may fail ( 814 ). If not, then the method  800  is finished ( 816 ). However, if the narrow-spectrum light source does fail, then the processing of the combined light by the SLM may be adjusted to attempt to compensate for this failure ( 818 ). That is, the SLM may be adjusted by the image controller to attempt to compensate for the failure of the narrow-spectrum light source. For example, the other parts of the spectrum at which the broad-spectrum light source is not deficient may be artificially decreased in brightness level so that uniform brightness is still achieved across the entire spectrum, albeit not at the desired brightness level, and so on. 
   Second Specific Embodiment of Projection System 
     FIG. 9  shows a cross-sectional side profile of a system  900  according to another embodiment of the invention. The system  900  is consistent with the system  100 , and shows the system  100  in more detail in accordance with a specific embodiment of the invention. The broad-spectrum light source  102  is again preferably optically centered within the reflector  402 , which is at least substantially elliptical in shape. The broad-spectrum light source  102  may be considered the primary light source. The narrow-spectrum light source  104  is located away from the broad-spectrum light source  102 , outside of the reflector  402 . The narrow-spectrum light source  104  may also be considered the secondary light source. 
   Thus, only the light from the broad-spectrum light source  102  passes through the condenser lens  404  and the color wheel  406  components of the light source optics  105 . As before, the condenser lens  404  focuses the light through a portion of the color wheel  406 , which rotates into and perpendicular to the plane of  FIG. 9 , as indicated by the arrow  407 . The color wheel  406  may be a color wheel such as has already been shown in and described in conjunction with  FIGS. 6A and 6B , or another type of color wheel. The light from the broad-spectrum light source  102 , after passing through the condenser lens  404  and the color wheel  406 , reaches the integration rod  408 . 
   The light from the narrow-spectrum light source  104  is optically routed, preferably via fiber optics  902 , to the integration rod  408  as well. Thus, at the integration rod  408  the broad-spectrum light is combined with the narrow-spectrum light. Preferably, but not necessarily, the light from the narrow-spectrum light source  104  is in sync with the color wheel  406 , such that the light source  104  emits light when the color wheel  406  has turned to the color at which the broad-spectrum light source  102  is partially deficient. The integration rod  408  serves to render the cross-section of the combined light uniform, as has already been shown in and described in conjunction with  FIGS. 7A and 7B . The combined light then passes through the collimating lens  410 , which collimates the light before it reaches the SLM  106 . The SLM  106  is configured by the image controller  109  based on the desired image received from the image source  107 . As before, the SLM  106  is specifically configured based on the current color of the light that the color wheel  406  has passed. The light thus reflects off the SLM  106  and through the projection optics  108  that focus it onto the screen  110  on which viewers see the desired image. 
   The system  900  therefore combines the compensatory light of the narrow-spectrum light source  104  with the broad-spectrum light of the broad-spectrum light source  102  after the broad-spectrum light has passed through the condenser lens  404  and the color wheel  406 . This approach to utilizing a narrow spectrum of light to compensate for a partial spectral power deficiency is preferably employed when the partial spectral deficiency relates to color intensity. Where the broad spectrum of light has a spectral part at which its color intensity is not as high as desirable, utilizing a corresponding narrow spectrum of light can be accomplished as shown in  FIG. 9  to add to this color intensity and yield a more uniform color intensity across the entire visible light spectrum. 
     FIG. 10  shows a method  1000  according to an embodiment of the invention. The method  1000  is specifically a method of use for systems like the system  900  of  FIG. 9  that has been described, among other systems. First, broad-spectrum light is provided by a broad-spectrum light source ( 1002 ), and narrow-spectrum light is provided by a narrow-spectrum light source ( 1004 ). The broad-spectrum light is output through a condenser lens and a rotatable color wheel ( 1006 ), and thereafter combined with the narrow-spectrum light ( 1008 ). As has been described, the narrow-spectrum light may be particularly adjusted to properly compensate for the partial spectral power deficiency of the broad-spectrum light ( 1010 ). 
   The combined light is then output through an integration rod and collimating lens ( 1012 ), and then through an SLM in accordance with a desired image and focused through projection optics onto a screen for viewing ( 1014 ). As before, at some point the narrow-spectrum light source may fail ( 1016 ). If not, then the method  1000  is finished ( 1018 ). However, if the narrow-spectrum light source does fail, then the processing of the combined light by the SLM may be adjusted to attempt to compensate for this failure ( 1020 ), as has been described. 
   Method of Manufacture of Projection System 
     FIG. 11  shows a method  1100  according to an embodiment of the invention. The method  1100  may be substantially utilized to manufacture a projector or projection system according to an embodiment of the invention as has been described. This may include the system  100  of  FIG. 1 , the system  400  of  FIG. 4 , the system  900  of  FIG. 9 , or another system according to an embodiment of the invention. The order of  1102 ,  1104 ,  1106 ,  1108 , and  1110  as shown in  FIG. 11  may vary. First, a primary light source having a broad spectrum is provided ( 1102 ), and a secondary light source having a narrow spectrum complementing the broad spectrum is provided ( 1104 ). 
   The secondary light source is positioned relative to the primary light source so that the light provided by the latter is combined with the light provided by the former ( 1106 ). This may be accomplished by, for example, positioning the secondary light source adjacent to the primary light source. As another example, fiber optics may be used to optically route the secondary light source wherever it is positioned so that its light can be combined with the light of the primary light source. 
   Next, light source optics, such as a condenser lens, a rotatable color wheel, an integration rod, and a collimating lens, are positioned ( 1108 ). The rotatable color wheel and the integration rod may specifically be positioned so that the light provided by the primary light source as combined with the light provided by the secondary light source pass through both of these light source optics components. Alternatively, the color wheel and the integration rod may be positioned so that the light provided by the primary light source passes through these components by itself, before combination with the light provided by the secondary light source. Finally, an SLM and projection optics are positioned ( 1110 ), so that the combined light passes through the SLM—that is, reflects off the SLM—and passes through the projection optics that focus it for display. 
   Conclusion 
   It is noted that, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. For example, other applications and uses of embodiments of the invention, besides those described herein, are amenable to at least some embodiments. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and equivalents thereof.