Patent ID: 8029139

Claim:
A 2D/3D switchable display system including a display that is a front projection or rear projection display comprising: a) a selector for selecting a two-dimensional (2D) or a three-dimensional (3D) image processing path; b) a first processor for processing image data through the two-dimensional image processing path; c) a second processor, independent of the first processor, for processing image data through the three dimensional image processing path; d) a first set of at least three narrow band emitters having corresponding first peak emission wavelengths; e) a second set of at least three narrow band emitters having corresponding second peak emission wavelengths which are different than the first peak emission wavelengths; f) a controller that during a 2D operation activates both first and second sets of narrow band emitters to present a single image, while during a 3D operation activates the first set of narrow band emitters to present a first image having one half of stereo image information and activates the second set of narrow band emitters to present a second image having a second half of stereo image information; (g) at least one dichroic combiner for transmitting a first emitter color and reflecting a second emitter color toward a color combining element that directs, along an illumination axis, a colored illumination beam having, at any one time, any one of the at least six different colors defined by the first set and second set of narrow band emitters; (h) a linear array of electromechanical grating devices for receiving the colored illumination beam along the illumination axis; (i) an obstructing element for blocking a zero order light beam reflected from the linear array of electromechanical grating devices from reaching the display surface; and (j) a projection lens cooperating with a scanning element for directing at least one diffracted light beam from the linear array of electromechanical grating devices toward the display surface of the front projection or rear projection display, thereby forming a line image of the linear array on the display surface; and wherein the controller controls the timing of the narrow band emitters for providing image data to the linear array of electromechanical grating devices.