Patent ID: 6924849

Claim:
A high performance light pattern projection apparatus, comprising: a light source including multiple arc lamps, the light source having an effective source size and emitting a principal light ray and an associated bundle of polychromatic light rays; multiple fold mirrors in the form of a pinwheel-shaped mirror configuration, each fold mirror associated with a different one of the arc lamps so that the bundle of polychromatic light rays is substantially collimated; a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel adapted to form a light pattern in response to incident polychromatic light rays emitted from the light source and applied signals carrying light pattern information; and an optical lens device including a flyseye lens array light homogenizer system positioned to receive and having optical light directing properties to steer the principal light ray and associated substantially collimated bundle of polychromatic light rays for incidence as homogenized light rays on the LCD panel at substantially the same angle that contributes to formation of the light pattern at a contrast ratio of at least 1000:1.