Integrating rod modules are disclosed comprising a plurality of single and/or solid integrating rods that are mated together by straps. Such modules tend to comprise a greater length than the single and/or solid integrating rods and provide good illumination to a modulator that light from a light source is transmitted through the integrating rod module. The straps may comprise a material (e.g., glass) that has substantially same or similar thermal characteristics as the integrating rods. The straps may be glued to the integrating rods by a glue having a substantially different (e.g., lower) index of refraction than the integrating rods, so as not to disturb the internal reflectance of the rods. The straps may be reinforced by braces that may allow the integrating rod module to be set within a projection display system at an angle substantially different from horizontal.

Discrete light fiber inputs for high powered image projector display systems are disclosed herein. Various embodiments disclosed herein may employ a bundle of light fiber inputs, a diffuser and reducing relay optic to convert the fiber input array into a smaller pattern of spots that may be interfaced to a projector display system that may perform light recycling. Many embodiments herein may facilitate higher power laser light for illumination and, possibly, recycling. In these embodiments, laser fibers may be individually collimated and illuminate a diffuser. The diffuser spots may be then imaged through a common path relay that can be resized to allow room for the individual lasers and collimation lenses. The diffuser spots may be imaged through holes in a mirror that is on the input side of an integration rod which recycles the light.

A display device includes: a projection unit that emits light depending on a first picture signal, the first picture signal including three primary color signals; a display unit that includes a screen, a transmissive liquid crystal panel, and a polarizing plate, the transmissive liquid crystal panel changing a polarizing direction of each of three primary color lights from the projection unit, depending on a second picture signal including three primary color signals; and a display control unit that generates the first picture signal and the second picture signal from an input picture signal including three primary color signals, and that outputs a picture signal for controlling the projection unit based on the first picture signal and controlling the transmissive liquid crystal panel based on the second picture signal.

An illumination device for a light modulated projector includes a first and a second colour wheel. A first filter surface of the first colour wheel comprises at least three first surface sections arranged one behind the other, which protrude into an illumination beam path of the illumination device successively on rotation and in each case convey illumination radiation of a different partial range of the visible wavelength range. At least one of the first surface sections of the first filter surface conveys illumination radiation from the infrared range. A second filter surface of the second colour wheel comprises a first surface segment which only conveys illumination radiation from the visible wavelength range and a second surface segment which only conveys illumination radiation from the infrared range. The first and second surface segments protrude into the illumination beam path successively on rotation.

A hybrid projector architecture combines steered light with unsteered light. In some embodiments the steered light is narrowband light and the unsteered light is broadband light. Splitting between the steered and unsteered light may be determined based on luminance level. For example, the unsteered light may contribute a large proportion of the light for luminance levels up to a threshold. The steered light may contribute an increasing proportion of the light as luminance values rise above the threshold.

A projection system includes a light source, a reflective phase modulator, a display and a projection lens. The light source is configured to emit a first light. The reflective phase modulator is configured to modulate phase of the first light to form a second light. The display is configured to receive the second light. The display is located between the projection lens and the reflective phase modulator.

Light from an array of laser light sources are spread to cover the modulating face of a DMD or other modulator. The spread may be performed, for example, by a varying curvature array of lenslets, each laser light directed at one of the lenslets. Light from neighboring and/or nearby light sources overlap at a modulator. The lasers are energized at different energy/brightness levels causing the light illuminating the modulator to itself be modulated (locally dimmed). The modulator then further modulates the locally dimmed lights to produce a desired image. A projector according to the invention may utilize, for example, a single modulator sequentially illuminated or separate primary color modulators simultaneously illuminated.

Dual and multi-modulator projector display systems and techniques are disclosed. In one embodiment, a projector display system comprises a light source; a controller, a first modulator, receiving light from the light source and rendering a halftone image of said the input image; a blurring optical system that blurs said halftone image with a Point Spread

Function (PSF); and a second modulator receiving the blurred halftone image and rendering a pulse width modulated image which may be projected to form the desired screen image. Systems and techniques for forming a binary halftone image from input image, correcting for misalignment between the first and second modulators and calibrating the projector system—e.g. over time—for continuous image improvement are also disclosed.

Image display apparatus and methods may use a single imaging element such as a digital mirror device (DMD) to spatially modulate plural color channels. A color channel may include a light steering element such as a phase modulator. Steered light from a light steering element may be combined with or replaced by additional light to better display bright images. These technologies may be provided together or applied individually.

A novel high efficiency image projection system includes a beam-steering modulator, an amplitude modulator, and a controller. In a particular embodiment the controller generates beam-steering drive values from image data and uses the beam-steering drive values to drive the beam-steering modulator. Additionally, the controller utilizes the beam-steering drive values to generate a lightfield simulation of a lightfield projected onto the amplitude modulator by the beam-steering modulator. The controller utilizes the lightfield simulation to generate amplitude drive values for driving the amplitude modulator in order to project a high quality version of the image described by the image data.