Patent ID: 7209624

Claim:
An apparatus for illuminating a light valve, comprising: a.) a first laser array capable of emitting a first plurality of radiation beams each propagating along a first axis and a second axis; b.) a light pipe comprising: i.) two reflecting surfaces, the two reflecting surfaces being spaced apart and opposing each other to reflect light therebetween along the first axis; ii.) an input end separation between the two planar reflecting surfaces, said separation being sized so that the first plurality of radiation beams can be received without concentration thereof along the first axis; and iii.) an output end separation between the two reflecting surfaces sized for emitting an output radiation; c.) at least one optical element located downstream of the output end, operable for illuminating the light valve by imaging the output end separation onto the light valve; and d.) each emitted radiation beam being associated with a lens concentrating each radiation beam along the second axis toward a convergence point that is near or downstream of the output end separation without concentration thereof along the first axis to the convergence point; wherein the at least one optical element comprises a lens for imaging the output end onto the light valve in a substantially telecentric fashion.