JP2011512547A - Optical multiplexer, recycler, and microprojector incorporating them - Google Patents

Abstract

  The microprojector is connected to an LED layer, a light pipe connected to the LED layer, an LCOS panel, a projection lens, a PBS, and an output end of the light pipe, and a part of the light output. A transmissive aperture, and an aperture layer comprising a reflective surface that reflects the remainder of the light output towards the input end of the light pipe. As a result, the remaining portion of the light output is recycled back to the LED to increase the light intensity of the light output of the LED. The microprojector is further disposed between the light pipe and the opening layer, and reflects the other polarization portion of the light output while transmitting the predetermined polarization portion of the light output, thereby The reflective polarizing plate increases the luminous intensity of the light output of the LED by recycling the unused polarized portion of the light output to the LED.

Description

  The present invention relates to a system and method for multiplexing the output of LEDs, and in particular for increasing the luminosity of multiplexed LED outputs by recycling, and their incorporation into microprojectors.

  The light source is used in all types of lighting applications. Typical light sources include, but are not limited to, lamps, halogens, fluorescent devices, microwave lamps, light emitting diodes (LEDs). Many applications require a high level of light intensity in a small effective emitting area. High levels of luminosity have been possible in the past by adding more light sources. However, if the space for incorporating multiple light sources is limited, it is technically impossible, and incorporating multiple light sources is expensive and not economically feasible. But it can be. Therefore, the present invention is based on the desire to increase the luminous intensity of one light source without increasing the number of light sources.

  For example, a micro display type television (MDTV) has the potential to be low cost while having a large screen. Conventional MDTVs are usually illuminated by arc lamps. Although this light source is the most luminous at the lowest cost, it is less attractive due to the need to split white light into three colors and the short lifetime. As LED technology advances, it is necessary to consider using LEDs as the light source for MDTVs in order to take advantage of the long life features of LEDs and other features such as instantaneous ON. At present, however, LEDs are not bright enough for low-cost applications using small image forming panels or large screens. An LED recycling configuration has been proposed to increase the luminous intensity of the light source. See Zimmerman et al. US Pat. No. 6,869,206. However, Zimmerman et al. Discloses placing the LED in a light reflecting cavity with one light output aperture. US Pat. No. 6,144,536 issued to Zimmerman et al. Describes a fluorescent lamp having a glass envelope with a phosphor coating surrounding a gas filled hollow interior. A portion of the light generated by the phosphor coating is recycled to the phosphor coating. The present invention can be used to increase the available light intensity of an LED by making smaller panels available, or by efficiently recycling a large screen so that it can be illuminated with sufficient light intensity. This is based on the desire to provide a recycling device that can be connected to a plurality of LEDs.

  For example, LEDs are one type of light source that is used in many lighting applications, such as general lighting, architectural lighting, and more recently, projection televisions. For example, when used in a projection television, the LED must emit at a high luminous intensity level in a small effective light emitting area to provide the necessary high light output on the television screen. Specifically, LEDs must provide strong and bright light so that they can be used in projection televisions when measured in lumens with a small solid angle in a small effective light emitting area.

  Although great progress has been made in the development of light emitting diodes (LEDs), the output intensity of currently available LEDs is still insufficient for many light projection applications. Various methods have been proposed for combining a plurality of primary color LEDs and recycling the output light to increase the luminous intensity. However, most of these methods make use of expensive components and / or result in large, bulky devices, thereby limiting their use. The present invention is therefore based on the need for a low cost LED multiplexer with a recycling function that solves these problems.

  With the advance of information transmission, image display has become an important communication means in the market. For example, portable electronic devices such as mp3 players, mobile phones, audio and / or video players, and portable digital terminals (PDAs) continue to decrease in size and price, but the large display area in these portable electronic devices The need remains. Therefore, screen sizes currently limit the size of these portable electronic devices, and it is highly desirable to incorporate a microprojector in these portable electronic devices, but due to their high cost, such complete integration Is not possible. However, currently available microprojector architectures are simply reduced versions of standard projectors, so that the cost is still too high to be incorporated into low cost portable electronic devices. The most important parameters for incorporating any component into these portable electronic devices are their size and cost. Accordingly, the present invention is based on the desire to provide an integrated multiplexer and recycler for low cost projectors according to embodiments of the present invention.

  Accordingly, the present invention is based on the desire to provide a low-cost LED multiplexer with a recycling function to increase the brightness of the LED while keeping the size of the LED multiplexer small. As a result, the LED multiplexer and recycler of the present invention can be easily incorporated into a low-cost microprojector used in a low-cost portable electronic device. That is, the microprojector of the present invention provides a small, low-cost, versatile and bright LED type illumination system that can be easily integrated with a portable electronic device. The LED-type lighting system can further multiplex colors to provide both a color pixel display and a time sequential display.

US Pat. No. 6,869,206 US Pat. No. 6,144,536

  Therefore, the subject of this invention is providing the LED multiplexer provided with the recycling function for increasing the luminous intensity of LED.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a small, low-cost, LED multiplexer with a recycling function that can be easily incorporated into a microprojector.

  Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a light pipe type RGB multiplexer that efficiently combines the red, green and blue outputs of LEDs and recycles their outputs to increase their luminous intensity.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a wafer scale LED illumination system that can be extended to a wafer scale LED projection system. That is, a complete illumination and projection system can be made into a wafer shape, which can then be cut into individual systems.

  Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a low cost microprojector for portable electronic devices incorporating the multiplexer and recycler of the present invention.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the optical multiplexer and recycler have an LED layer comprising a plurality of LEDs each emitting light output. The optical multiplexer and recycler further include an optical layer having an input end and an output end. The input end of the optical layer is connected to the plurality of LEDs, and multiplexes the light output from the plurality of LEDs. An aperture layer is connected to the output end of the optical layer, which transmits a portion of the multiplexed light output to provide a single light output, and the multiplexed light A reflective surface that reflects the remaining portion toward the input end of the optical layer. Thereby, the remaining portion of the multiplexed light is recycled to the plurality of LEDs to increase the luminous intensity of the light output of the plurality of LEDs.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the microprojector has an LED layer comprising LEDs that emit light output. The microprojector further includes a light pipe having an input end and an output end, and the output end of the light pipe is connected to the LED. An aperture layer is connected to the output end of the light pipe, which is a transmissive aperture that transmits a portion of the light output and a reflection that reflects the remainder of the light output toward the input end of the light pipe. With a surface. Thereby, the remaining part of the light output is recycled to the LED to increase the light intensity of the light output of this LED. The microprojector further includes a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) panel that receives and reflects a predetermined polarization portion of the light output, and a polarization beam splitter (PBS) that connects the LCOS panel. The size of the transmissive opening substantially matches the size of the LCOS panel. Furthermore, the micro projector has a projection lens that captures a predetermined polarization portion of the light output from the LCOS panel and projects an image.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, a microprojector includes an LED layer having an LED that emits light output and a light pipe that includes an input end and an output end. The input end of the light pipe is connected to the LED. The microprojector further comprises a polarizing beam splitter, all surfaces of which are polished so that the PBS provides total reflection so that it functions as a wave guide.

  Various other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The following detailed description, which is provided by way of illustration and is not intended to limit the invention thereto, will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings. In these different drawings, like components or features are represented by like reference numerals.
1 is a cross-sectional view of a light pipe type optical multiplexer and a recycler according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the light pipe type optical multiplexer and recycler of FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the output end of a light pipe with a reflective coating except for a transmissive opening, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the output end of a light pipe with a reflective coating except for a transmissive opening, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a light pipe type optical multiplexer and recycler of the present invention comprising a selectively coated thin glass plate attached to the input end of a light pipe, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an optical multiplexer and recycler of the present invention using a light emitting layer excited by an external light source according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the optical multiplexer and recycler of the present invention of FIG. 5, wherein the light emitting layer is coated directly on the external light source according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cavity that houses the light emitting layer and / or the external light source according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cavity that houses the light emitting layer and / or the external light source according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the optical multiplexer and recycler of the present invention of FIG. 5, wherein the light emitting layer includes one or more different types of light emitting materials excited by a laser according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram of a light emitting layer including three types of light emitting materials excited by a laser according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the optical multiplexer and recycler of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, wherein the light emitting layer includes one or more kinds of light emitting materials excited by one or more lasers according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the optical multiplexer and recycler of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, wherein the light emitting layer includes one or more kinds of light emitting materials excited by one or more lasers according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the optical multiplexer and recycler of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, wherein the light emitting layer includes one or more kinds of light emitting materials excited by one or more lasers according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a light emitting layer including a coating according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of three cubic prisms that multiplex three colors of light from three light emitting materials to form one output, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wafer scale illumination system and / or a wafer scale projector system, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wafer scale light pipe illumination system and / or a wafer scale light pipe projector system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wafer scale illumination system and / or a wafer scale projector, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an LED package including a cover glass according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the micro projector by the Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the micro projector by the Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the micro projector by the Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the micro projector by the Example of this invention. FIG. 6 is a view of a surface of a PBS that is reflective coated except for an opening for connecting an LCOS panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a micro projector incorporating a DMD according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram of an optical multiplexer and recycler according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram of an optical multiplexer and recycler according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram of an optical multiplexer and recycler according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram of an optical multiplexer and recycler according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram of an optical multiplexer and recycler according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram of an optical multiplexer and recycler according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. These examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the optical multiplexer and recycler 1000 includes an LED layer 1100 that includes a plurality of LEDs 1140. Each LED 1140 emits light output to an optical layer 1200 such as a light pipe 1200. The optical layer 1200 includes an input end 1210 and an output end 1220. The input end 1210 of the optical layer 1200 is connected to the plurality of LEDs 1140 and multiplexes the light output from the plurality of LEDs 1140. Accordingly, the optical multiplexer and recycler 1000 has an aperture layer 1500, such as a reflective coating 1500, connected to the output end 1220 of the optical layer 1200. The aperture layer 1500 transmits a portion of the multiplexed light output to provide a single light output 1600, and the remaining portion of the multiplexed light is input to the optical layer 120. A reflective surface that reflects toward the end 1210 and thereby recycles the remaining portion of the multiplexed light to the plurality of LEDs 1140 to increase the luminous intensity of the light output of the plurality of LEDs 1140. Preferably, a reflective layer 1400 covers the input end end 1210 of the light pipe 1200 except for the areas 1410, 1420, 1430 of the input end 120 of the light pipe 1200, wherein the plurality of LEDs 1140 are The input end 1210 is reflective to all colors of light except for regions 1410, 1420, 1430.

  In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 illustrates a light pipe type optical multiplexer and recycler 1000 comprising an LED layer 1110 including a plurality of LED chips 1140 mounted on a heat sink 1150 and an optical layer or light pipe 1200. ing. The LED multiplexer and recycler 1000 uses the light pipe 1200 to multiplex or combine the outputs of red, green and blue LED chips 1110, 1120, 1130 to produce a single output 1600. According to an aspect of the present invention, the reflective layer 1400 may be configured such that the input end portion 1210 is for light of all colors except the area of the input end portion of the surface 1210 above or corresponding to the LED chip 1140. A reflective coating 1400 configured to be reflective. Further, the region 1410 of the input end 1210 of the light pipe 1200 corresponding to or above the red LED chip 1110 is coated with a transmissive red coating that transmits red light but reflects green and blue light. Has been. Similarly, the area 1420 of the input end 1210 of the light pipe 1200 corresponding to or above the green LED chip 1120 is a transmissive green coating that transmits green light but reflects red and blue light. It is coated. The region 1430 of the input end 1210 of the light pipe 1200 corresponding to or above the blue LED chip 1130 is coated with a transmissive blue coating that transmits blue light but reflects red and green light. Yes. Although only one red LED chip 1110, one green LED chip 1120, and one blue LED chip 1130 are shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of red LED chips 1110, a plurality of green LED chips 1120, and a plurality of blue LEDs are shown. It is also possible to mount the LED chip 1130 on the heat sink 1150. Preferably, the output end or surface 1220 of the light pipe 1200 includes a reflective coating 1500 except for the region or transmissive opening 1510 to which the output 1600 of the output end or surface 1220 is connected. Yes.

  When red light from the red LED chip 1110 enters the light pipe 1200, a part of the red light exits the light pipe through the transmission opening 1510. The remaining portion of the red light is reflected toward the input end 1210 of the light pipe 1200 and recycled. Similarly, when green light from the green LED chip 1120 and blue light from the blue LED chip 1130 enter the light pipe 1200, a part of the green and blue light passes from the light pipe 1200 through the transmission opening 1510. As it exits, the rest of these green and blue light is recycled.

  FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an optical multiplexer and recycler comprising nine LED chips 1140 of three different colors (red, green and blue) according to an embodiment of the present invention. In practical applications, the number of LED chips 1140 and the colors emitted by these LED chips can be optimized to produce the desired output. The LED chips 1140 can be arranged in any MxN array (where M and N are both positive integers), such as the 3x3 array illustrated in FIG.

  FIGS. 3 a and 3 b illustrate two examples of an aperture layer 1500 having a transmissive or output aperture 1510 at the output end 1220 of the light pipe 1200 surrounded by the reflective coating 1500. The transmission opening 1510 is smaller than the output end 1220 of the light pipe 1200. The transmission aperture 1510 may have a 16: 9 (FIG. 3a), 4: 3 (FIG. 3b), or other acceptable aspect ratio.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the transmission opening 1510 transmits light of a predetermined color such as red light, and the input end 1210 of the light pipe 1200 for recycling all other colors of light. It is coated with a reflective coating 1530 that reflects towards the. Preferably, the transmission aperture 1510 can also be coated with a reflective polarization coating 1540, or transmit light of a predetermined polarization, such as s-polarized light or p-polarized light, while transmitting all other polarized light. The light output (i.e., light with unused polarization) can be covered by a reflective polarizing layer 1540 that reflects for recycling. Alternatively, the transmissive opening 1510 may be coated with the reflective polarizing coating or covered with the reflective polarizing layer 1540 without the reflective coating 1530. According to an aspect of the present invention, the optical multiplexer and recycler 1000 further includes a wave plate between the reflective polarizing layer 1540 and the reflective coating 1530 or between the reflective polarizing layer 1540 and the transmission aperture 1510. 1550. The wave plate 1550 rotates the polarization state of the light output to convert unused polarized light into usable polarized light.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the optical multiplexer and recycler 1000 includes a color wheel including a plurality of color filters, and each color filter transmits light of a color corresponding to the color filter and all other colors. Reflects light. That is, here, the reflective coating 1530 selectively covers light of different colors depending on which color filter of the color wheel covering the transmission opening 1510 covers the transmission opening 1510. It has been replaced by a transparent color wheel.

  The embodiment of the present invention includes a reflective coating 1400, 1500 coated directly on the input and output ends of the light pipe 1200, as shown in FIGS. This is highly efficient but can be costly. Thus, in low cost applications, the reflective coatings 1400, 1500 can be performed separately, such as with a thin glass plate 1400 that is selectively reflective coated. One large glass plate is selectively or pattern coated with a reflective coating and then suitable to match the input end 1210 or output end 1220 of the light pipe 1200, as illustrated in FIG. It is also possible to cut to size. Then, such a pattern or a selectively coated glass plate 1400 is attached to the light pipe 1200.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light pipe 1200 can be configured as any of the following. That is, like a straight hollow light pipe, a gradually lighted tapered solid light pipe, a hollow light pipe, a solid light pipe, a straight light pipe, a gradually large tapered light pipe, gradually A small tapered light pipe, a composite parabolic concentrator, a free-form light pipe whose shape is defined by an equation, or a completely free-form light pipe whose numerical or other means is determined, or Any suitable combination of these. All these various light pipes are collectively referred to herein as light pipes. Whenever reference is made to a light pipe, it always includes any of the various light pipes individually described or a combination of these various light pipes.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the optical multiplexer and recycler 1000 includes a light emitting layer 1700 that generates a light beam when excited by a light source 1750 and includes a reflective surface on the input side. . An input end 1210 of the light pipe 1120 is connected to the light emitting layer 1700 and multiplexes light emitted from the light emitting layer 1700 to provide a light output. As shown in FIG. 1, the optical multiplexer and recycler 1000 has, on its output side, an opening layer 1500 connected to the output end 1220 of the light pipe 1200, and a part of the optical output. A transmissive opening 1510 that transmits light, and a reflective surface that reflects the remaining light output toward the light emitting layer 1700 that reflects and recycles the remaining light output toward the transmissive opening 1510. .

  As described herein, but not shown in FIG. 5, the optical multiplexer and recycler 1000 comprising the light emitting layer 1700 further includes the reflective coating 1530 and the reflective coating 1530, as shown in FIG. Partially or entirely by the reflective polarizing layer 1540 and / or the wave plate 1550 that transmits light of a predetermined color and / or polarization and reflects / recycles unused color and / or polarized light. Has a light pipe 1200 with an output end 1220 covered. The input end 1210 of the light pipe 1200 is disposed in the vicinity of the light emitting layer 1700 excited by the external light source 1750, whereby the light emitted by the light emitting layer 1700 is coupled into the light pipe 1200. . Preferably, the light emitting layer 1700 further has reflectivity, and the light reflected from the output end portion 1220 of the light pipe 1200 is entirely or partially from the reflective light emitting layer 1700 to the light pipe. Reflected back to 1200 output end 1250.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light emitting layer 1700 near the input end 1210 of the light pipe 1200 includes one or more kinds of material compositions that emit light having a plurality of wavelengths or colors. That is, the light emitting layer 1700 can emit only one color light or a plurality of colors depending on the material composition of the light emitting layer 1700. Preferably, the various material compositions of the light emitting layer 1700 are spatially distributed such that each region of the light emitting layer 1700 emits light of a different color. The external excitation light source 1750 may be an arc lamp, LED, laser, or the like that emits light of one wavelength or multiple wavelengths (ie, a single color or multiple colors). According to one aspect of the invention, the excitation wavelength (s) (ie, the wavelength of light emitted by the external excitation light source 1750) is shorter than the wavelength (s) emitted by the light emitting layer 1700. Can be. For example, blue or UV light can be used to generate red, green, blue, and other colors of light. The light emitting layer 1700 may be formed of a fluorescent material or other materials having the same characteristics as the fluorescent material. Alternatively, the excitation wavelength (s) can be longer than the wavelength (s) of the light emitting layer 1700. For example, infrared light is used to generate red, green, blue, or other color light using nonlinear optical crystals.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light emitting layer 1700 may be coated on the input end 1210 of the light pipe, similar to the reflective coating 1400 of FIG. Alternatively, the light emitting layer 1700 may be coated on a transparent sheet, for example, a glass plate, similar to the thin glass plate 1400 of FIG. 4, and disposed near the input end 1210 of the light pipe 1200. Alternatively, it may be coated directly on the excitation light source 1750 as shown in FIG. For example, the phosphor may be coated directly on a blue or UV LED 1750 and the nonlinear optical crystal material may be coated directly on an infrared LED 1750. One example of a blue or UV LED 1750 is a light emitting contact formed on GaN. One specific example of the infrared LED 1750 is a light emitting contact formed on GaAs.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7 b, the light emitting layer 1700 is disposed between total reflection or partial reflection layers 1810 on both sides of the light emitting layer 1700 to form a cavity 1800, Thereby, the light emitted by the light emitting layer 1700 has a smaller output angle distribution or the angle distribution is reduced. According to one aspect of the invention, the excitation light source 1750 and the light emitting layer 1700 are in the cavity 1800, as shown in FIG. 7a.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 8a, the light emitting layer 1700 may emit one or more kinds of light emitting materials 1710 to emit light of one or more colors when excited by a laser. (For example, containing fluorescent materials of different colors). These luminescent materials can be arranged in rows, columns, arrays or some predetermined pattern. For example, FIG. 8b illustrates a light emitting layer 1700 comprising three types of light emitting materials 1710 (green, red and blue light emitting materials 1710). Preferably, the laser is a diode laser. An example of a blue or UV laser is a laser made using a GaN material. An example of an infrared laser is a laser made using GaAs.

  In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, one or more lasers 1750 may be used to excite one or more types of light emitting materials 1710 of the light emitting layer 1700, as illustrated in FIG. 9a. For example, in FIG. 9b, three types of lasers 1750 can be used, each laser exciting a different luminescent material 1710, whereby the optical multiplexer and recycler 1000 emits three types of colors from the light emitting layer 1700. It is possible to control. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, one or more lasers 1750 are used to excite the same luminescent material 1710, thereby creating a higher light output from the luminescent material. For example, in FIG. 9c, the red and blue light emitters 1710 are each excited by one laser 1750, while the green light emitter 1710 is excited by two lasers, thereby causing the light emitting layer 1700 to emit blue light. Or it produces greener light than either red light.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 10, the light emitting layer 1700 is coated, and the coating 1760 transmits light from the excitation light source 1750, but the light generated by the light emitting layer 1700. Is configured so that the generated light is emitted in only one direction, thereby increasing the efficiency of the light emitting layer 1700 and the optical multiplexer and recycler 1000 of the present invention. Preferably, the surface of the light emitting layer 1700 in the vicinity of the excitation light source 1750 is coated.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, three types of light emitting materials 1710 (red, green and blue light emitting materials 1710) are excited using laser beams from three types of lasers 1750. The light emitted from these three types of luminescent material 1710 is multiplexed into one output using three total internal reflection (TIR) prisms or cubes 1900, as shown in FIG. Since the laser beam has a very narrow emission angle, each color luminescent material 1710 can be excited by one or more laser beams, thereby creating a higher light output. For example, if higher output green light is required for white balance, only one laser beam is directed at each of the blue and red light emitting materials, while two are applied to the green light emitting material 1710. Two laser beams can be directed, thereby producing higher output green light.

  According to an aspect of the present invention, the TIR cubic prism cube 1900 includes two triangular prisms. The entire surface or surface of these two triangular prisms is polished so that the TIR prism 1900 acts as a waveguide. Dichroism for reflecting light of a predetermined wavelength or color while reflecting light of a predetermined wavelength or color on the surface of the triangular prism at the interface between the two triangular prisms ( dichroic) coating 1910 is coated. Preferably, the joint portion is filled with voids or a low index adhesive.

  Referring now to FIGS. 12-14, there are shown schematic diagrams of a wafer scale illumination system 2000 and / or a wafer scale projector system 3000, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wafer scale illumination system 2000 includes a heat sink layer 2100 for mounting an LED wafer or layer 2200, and an optional filter layer 2300, preferably a color filter layer, an optical layer 2400, and an aperture layer 2500. The wafer scale projector system 3000 further includes an image forming or display panel layer 2700 including a reflective polarizing layer 2600, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel layer, a transmissive image forming panel layer, and the like, and a projection lens layer 2800. . While current technology allows multiple LEDs to be made with the same color, in embodiments of the present invention, colored phosphors can be used to make LEDs 2210 of different colors on the same wafer. It is possible to convert radiation from the same color LED 2210 into multiple other colors using colored phosphors. For example, a blue or UV LED wafer can be used to provide a plurality of LEDs 2210 of one color. It is also possible to deposit phosphors of different colors on the LED wafer, thereby creating a plurality of LEDs 2210 of different colors. That is, the red, green, and blue fluorescent materials can be used to create the three primary colors (red, green, and blue) of light-emitting LEDs 2210.

  Preferably, the color filter layer 2300 is placed on the LED layer 2200 including the color LEDs 2210 to improve the recycling efficiency of the wafer scale illumination system 2000. The color filter on the LED 2210 transmits only one color of light emitted by the LED 2210 and reflects all other colors of light. For example, the color filter on the blue LED 2210 transmits only blue light and reflects all other colors. For white or single color LED applications, the filter layer 2300 is not necessary and can be removed.

  The optical layer 2400 converts or images light onto subsequent layers. According to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 12, the optical layer 2400 includes a reflective layer 2420 and a lens layer 2440. Depending on the application, the optical layer 2400 may comprise an array of light pipes 2450, or a spherical reflective layer 2460 and a collimator lens layer 2480, as illustrated in FIG. Depending on the application, the wafer scale illumination system 2000 and the wafer scale projector system 3000 may include a plurality of optical layers 2400.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light pipe 2450 can be configured as any of the following. That is, like a straight hollow light pipe, a gradually lighted tapered solid light pipe, a hollow light pipe, a solid light pipe, a straight light pipe, a gradually large tapered light pipe, gradually A small tapered light pipe, a composite parabolic concentrator, a free-form light pipe whose shape is defined by an equation, or a completely free-form light pipe whose numerical or other means is determined, or Any suitable combination of these. All of these various light pipes are collectively referred to herein as light pipes. Whenever reference is made to a light pipe, it always includes any of the various light pipes individually described or a combination of these various light pipes.

  The light exiting the optical layer 2400 is then incident on the aperture layer 2500 that includes a plurality of apertures or transmissive apertures 2510 where a portion of the light is reflected and this light portion passes through the apertures 2510. To do. The reflected light is recycled to the LED 210. The light exiting the opening 2510 is unpolarized light, which can be used for non-polarized applications, such as providing a wafer scale illumination system 2000, for example.

  For LCD, reflective liquid crystal (LCOS), and other polarization applications, such as providing a wafer scale projection system 3000, an optional reflective polarizing layer 2600 is utilized. Preferably, the reflective polarizing layer 2600 includes a wave plate layer (not shown) similar to the wave plate 1550 of FIG. The reflective polarizing layer or reflective polarizing plate 2600 passes preset polarized light and reflects all other polarized light (eg, unused polarized light) to the LED layer 2200, thereby providing a recycling effect. To increase. The optional wave plate layer rotates the polarization state of the light output to convert the unused polarization component of the light into useful predetermined polarized light. At this stage, a plurality of illumination layers 2100-2600 (with or without the optional filter layer 2300, optional reflective polarizing layer 2600, or optional waveplate layer) form an array of LED illumination systems 2000. This array of LED lighting systems 2000 can be cut into individual pieces along a saw line 2900 to provide a plurality of separate LED lighting systems 2000.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the wafer scale illumination system 2000 can be further incorporated with other layers to provide a wafer scale projector system 3000. The wafer scale projector system 3000 further includes a display or image forming panel layer 2700 disposed on the illumination layers 2100-2600, followed by one or more projection lens layers 2800. FIG. 12 shows a wafer scale projector system 3000 where the image forming panel layer includes a plurality of transmissive LCD panels 2710 according to an embodiment of the invention. In the case of a color pixel LCD panel 2710, the LED 2210 may be a white LED 2210 of white phosphor or a red / green / blue (RGB) LED 2210 combined with the ability to adjust color in real time. it can. In the case of a fast switching LED panel 2700, the wafer scale projector system 3000 can utilize known time color multiplexing to turn on one or more of the red, green and blue LEDs 2210 at a time. . Again, the wafer-like completed projector unit or system 3000 can be cut along the saw line 2900 into individual projector units or systems 3000.

  An embodiment of a wafer scale projection system using a light pipe is shown in FIG. 13, and here again, an image forming panel layer 2700 and a projection lens layer 2800 are added to the illumination layers 2100-2600 of FIG. A scale projection system can be provided.

  For embedded microprojectors used in portable electronic devices such as cell phones, MP3 players, portable digital assistants (PDAs), etc., the most important parameters are size and cost. Therefore, it is important to minimize the number of components in these embedded microprojectors in order to reduce their size and cost. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the microprojector utilizes a plurality of LEDs on a single package, that is, red, green, and blue LEDs. The light output from these multiple LEDs is multiplexed to combine colors and recycled to increase the luminous intensity of the LEDs and to be coupled to the LCOS without a lens to minimize the number of components.

  Referring now to FIG. 15, the structure of an LED package 4000 including a plurality of LEDs 4100 is illustrated. Preferably, the LED package 4000 is comprised of one red, one blue, and two green LEDs 4100 that are commonly supplied by manufacturers such as Osram. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the LED 4000 package comprises a cover window or glass 4200, preferably coated with a dichroic coating 4400, and a substrate 4300 for mounting the plurality of LEDs 4100. For example, on the red LED 4100, the coating 4400 transmits red light and reflects light of all other colors as shown in FIG. On the green LED 4100, the coating 4400 transmits green light and reflects all other colors as shown in FIG. On the blue LED 4100, the coating 4400 transmits blue light and reflects all other colors (not shown). According to an embodiment of the present invention, each color LED 4100 is driven independently of each other. Optionally, the two green LEDs 4100 can be driven together or separately.

  FIG. 16 illustrates a microprojector 5000 incorporating the LED structure 4000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A micro projector 5000 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the LED package 4000, a light pipe 5100, a PBS 5200, a projection lens 5600, an LCOS panel 5500, an optional reflective polarizer 5300, and an optional wave plate 5400. I have. The light pipe 5100 has an input end 5110 substantially covering all the LEDs 4100 of the LED package 4000, and is mounted on the cover window 4200 package window and used to combine light emitted from the LED 4100. Is done. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light pipe 5100 can be configured as any of the following. That is, like a straight hollow light pipe, a gradually lighted tapered solid light pipe, a hollow light pipe, a solid light pipe, a straight light pipe, a gradually large tapered light pipe, gradually A small tapered light pipe, a composite parabolic concentrator, a free-form light pipe whose shape is defined by an equation, or a completely free-form light pipe whose numerical or other means is determined, or Any suitable combination of these. All of these various light pipes are collectively referred to herein as light pipe 1200. Whenever reference is made to a light pipe, it always includes any of the various light pipes individually described or a combination of these various light pipes.

  The output end 5120 of the light pipe 5100 has substantially the same size as a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) 5200 and couples light into the PBS 5200. All surfaces of the PBS 5200 are polished to function as a waveguide. A reflective polarizer 5300 is disposed between the light pipe 5100 and the PBS 5200 so that only a predetermined polarization component of light is transmitted into the PBS 5200. Between the light pipe 5100 and the reflective polarizer 5300, an optional wave plate 5400, preferably a quarter wave plate, can be used to increase the recycling efficiency of the system. As shown in FIG. 16, the LCOS panel 5500 is disposed on the opposite side of the light pipe 5100. Depending on the orientation of the PBS 520, the LCOS panel 5500 may be disposed on a vertical surface as shown in FIG. The projection lens 5600 may be disposed vertically with respect to the light pipe as shown in FIG. 16 or FIG. The light incident on the LCOS panel 5500 has a certain degree of divergence, typically F / 2.4, so that the PBS 5200 can be captured by the projection lens 5600 without being blocked by the PBS 5200. Bigger than. The LCOS panel 5500 is placed as close as possible to the PBS 5200 to minimize losses. The surface of the PBS 5200 facing the LCOS panel 5500 is coated with a reflective coating 5210 with an opening 5215, and the size of the opening 5215 matches the size of the LCOS panel 5500. As a result, part of the light irradiates the LCOS panel 5500, and the remaining light portion incident on the reflective coating 5210 is reflected back into the light pipe 5100 and recycled to the LED package 4000.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the reflective polarizer 5300 of FIGS. 16 and 17 can be omitted as illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19, and its function is illustrated in FIGS. The combination of the PBS 5200 and the reflective coating 5210 added to the PBS can be used. This eliminates another component from the microprojector, thereby reducing the cost of the microprojector.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the output end 5120 of the light pipe 5100 may be formed in a convex shape in order to improve light coupling. Preferably, the convex surface of the output end 5120 of the light pipe 5100 forms an integral lens. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, this integral lens function can be performed by an optional Fresnel lens 5700 disposed between the light pipe 5100 and the PBS 5200. The advantage of the Fresnel lens 5700 is that it is very thin and very suitable for the integrated microprojector of the present invention. Preferably, the focal length of the Fresnel lens 5700 or integral lens is adjusted for best performance.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the micro projector 5000 further includes the color filter described herein, which is placed on the cover glass 4200 of the LED package 4000. Alternatively, the color filter 4400 may be coated on the input surface or end 5110 of the light pipe 5100 as described herein for the optical multiplexer and recycler 1000. Thereby, preferably, the cover glass 4200 is optional, and another component is omitted from the microprojector 5000.

  The LED package 4000 described here is an RGGB LED package, but the LED package 4000 comprises a plurality of LEDs 4100 or an arbitrary M × N array of color LEDs 400, where M and N are both positive integers. It is also possible. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, each color LED 4100 may have one or more LED installations to make the manufacture of color filters easier. That is, each color can be made from a plurality of small LED installations adjacent to each other. Therefore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to treat a cluster of LED of the same color as one LED.

  The number of colors is not limited to three (red, green, blue) described here. The microprojector of the present invention can be implemented using an LED package that includes LEDs of a single color, two colors, three colors, or three or more colors.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, all surfaces of the PBS 5200 are polished. Some surfaces of PBS 5200 are for transmission and total reflection (TIR), others are used for TIR only. Preferably, these TIR dedicated surfaces of PBS 5200 can optionally be coated with a reflective coating for ease of assembly.

  Next, referring to FIG. 20, the PBS 5200 viewed from the direction of the LCOS panel 5500 is illustrated, and a state in which the LCOS panel 5500 uses only a part of the PBS surface is illustrated. The remaining portion of the PBS surface is made reflective or provided with a reflective coating 5210 for recycling purposes.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the micro projector 5000 uses an LED package 4000 having only a white LED 4100 instead of the RGGB LED 4100. As a result, the coating 4400 on the LED package can be omitted. The micro projector 5000 includes a white LED 4100, a light pipe 5100, and a PBS 5200. If a standard LCOS panel 5500 is used as shown in FIGS. 16-19, the output will be a black and white image projected on a screen (not shown). Preferably, color pixel LCOS can be used instead of a standard LCOS panel to create a color image. The color pixel LCOS can be formed with a transparent color filter on the pixel such that some of the pixels are red, some of the pixels are green, and some of the pixels are blue. . According to aspects of the invention, some of the pixels are not colored and are considered white pixels, thereby increasing the brightness of the display. The color pixel LCOS simplifies the structure, but its resolution can be low. In certain applications, lower resolutions are acceptable if they reduce the complexity of the microprojector and thereby reduce the cost of the microprojector.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the microprojector 5000 includes a digital mirror device (DMD) 5910 similar to a digital light processing (DLP (registered trademark)) device manufactured by Texas Instruments. This DMD 5910 is preferably mounted on a DMD package 5900. The DMD 5910 includes a number of small mirrors (pixels) that can be tilted. When light enters the DMD 5910 in the pixel OFF state, the light is reflected in a direction away from the incident angle and away from the projection lens 5600, and is not projected on a screen (not shown). When the pixel is turned on, the mirror of the DMD 5910 is tilted toward the incident beam, and the reflected light is directed to the projection lens 5600 and projected onto the screen. The TIR cubic prism 5800 includes two triangular prisms 5810 and 5820, where the first triangular prism 5810 provides an incident beam to the DMD 5910, which is reflected by total reflection. The reflected beam from the DMD 5910 is not reflected but is transmitted to the second triangular prism 5820 through the boundary member. These two triangular prisms 5810 and 5820 form a boundary surface parallel to each other so that the image from the DMD 5910 is not distorted.

  The entire surface of the first triangular prism 5810 (and preferably the entire surface of the second triangular prism 5820) is polished to form a waveguide. The angle sheeter (θ) is adjusted for maximum efficiency. Since light incident on the DMD 5910 has a certain numerical aperture, the TIR prism 5800 is larger than the image forming area of the DMD, as shown in FIG. The light guided to the TIR prism 5800 at the DMD surface is larger, and if light is not collected, it will usually be lost. Therefore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the area outside the image forming area of the TIR prism 5800 is covered by the reflection structure 5920. Preferably, the reflecting structure 5920 is an angle mirror array, an angle reflector array, an angle array of a plurality of mirrors, or a retroreflector array, so that light incident on the angle mirror array 5920 is shown by a line (b ) And reflected back to the incident angle. The angle mirror array 5920 can be formed with an interval determined by how much the thickness can be made. This limitation is usually due to the space between the TIR prism 5800 and the DMD package 5900. The reflected light eventually returns to the LED 4100 through the light pipe 5100.

  Referring now to FIGS. 22a-b, there is illustrated an optical multiplexer and recycler 6000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The optical multiplexer / recycler 6000 includes a light pipe 6100. The cross section of the light pipe 6100 can be rectangular, square, circular, or the like. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light pipe 6100 can be configured as one of the following. Hollow light pipe, solid light pipe, straight light pipe, progressively larger tapered light pipe, progressively smaller tapered, like straight hollow light pipe, progressively tapered taper light pipe Light pipes, compound parabolic concentrators, free-form light pipes whose shape is defined by an equation, or complete free-form light pipes determined numerically or by other means, or these Any suitable combination. All these various light pipes are collectively referred to herein as light pipe 1200. Whenever reference is made to a light pipe, it always includes any of the various light pipes individually described or a combination of these various light pipes.

  With the output end 6120 on the right side, the upper, lower and left surfaces of the light pipe 6100 are reflectively coated. As shown in the upper view of FIG. 22, the upwardly facing lower surface 6130 includes three openings for the LED chip 6200. The red chip chip 6200 is disposed in a red window 6310 having a CR coating that transmits red light and reflects green and blue light. The green chip chip 6200 is disposed in a green window 6320 having a CG coating that transmits green light and reflects red and blue light. The blue chip chip 6200 is disposed in a blue window 6330 having a CB coating that transmits blue light and reflects red and green light. Optionally, the light pipe sidewalls can be totally reflective coated so that they are inherently usable. As a result, light from the red chip 6200 is not visible to the green or blue chip 6200 by the red reflection window 6310. The same is true for the green and blue chips 6200.

  Thus, each color forms its own recycling system and all colors are mixed in the same light pipe 6100 to produce a multiplexed output 6400.

  Although FIG. 22 illustrates a configuration using red, green and blue LED chips 6200, the general structure is from one or more chips of one or more colors as illustrated in FIG. Can be configured. Corresponding coatings that match each color of the LED chip 6200 are used. For example, two or more chips 6200 of the same color can be used with the same type of coated window 6310, 6320, 6330. Depending on the relative intensity of the different colors required for a particular application, an appropriate number of chips can be utilized. Each of the LED chips 6200 is shown as a single LED chip 6200 in FIGS. 22-23, which is composed of a plurality of chips of the same color with a plurality of chips assembled in an arbitrary array form. It is also possible to do. The space between these chips is preferably maximized.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 24, the optical multiplexer and recycler 6000 further includes an output at the output end 6120 of the light pipe 6100 that is suitable for a particular application. A reflective aperture can be included, thereby providing further recycling. For polarized light applications, a reflective polarizer 6500 and optional waveplate 6600 can be added. The descriptions relating to the reflective coating or aperture, reflective polarizer and optical waveplate described herein in connection with other embodiments of the invention apply here as well and will not be repeated here.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 25, the optical multiplexer and recycler 6000 may be a tapered light pipe 6700 integrated with the multiplexer and recycler light pipe 6100 or an output of a desired size. A separate light pipe 6700 for converting to an angle is included.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 26a, the optical multiplexer and recycler 6000 using the white LED 6200 has its window 6340 without a coating. If a single color LED 6200 is used, an uncoated clear window 6200 can also be used, as illustrated in FIG. 26a.

  In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, when using two LEDs whose wavelengths are very close to each other, as illustrated in FIG. 26b, it is possible to multiplex them using coating windows 6350, 6360. As a result, it is possible to increase the luminous intensity of the system 6000. For example, this embodiment can be used with two or more green chips 6200 that are close enough that their wavelengths can both be considered green.

  It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention described above can be variously modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. All such optional modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (104)

An optical multiplexer and recycler comprising:
An LED layer comprising a plurality of LEDs each emitting light output;
An optical layer comprising an input end and an output end, wherein the input end of the optical layer is connected to the plurality of LEDs to multiplex the light output from the plurality of LEDs; and An aperture layer connected to the output end, which transmits a portion of the multiplexed light output to provide a single light output, and the remaining portion of the multiplexed light output to the optical A reflective surface that reflects toward the input end of the layer, thereby recycling the remainder of the multiplexed light to the plurality of LEDs to increase the luminous intensity of the light output of the plurality of LEDs. .   2. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 1, wherein the optical layer includes a lens layer that transmits part of light output from the plurality of LEDs to the aperture layer, and light from the plurality of LEDs. 3. A reflective layer that reflects the remainder of the output back to the plurality of LEDs for recycling.   2. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 1, wherein the optical layer transmits a part of the light output from the plurality of LEDs to the aperture layer and the remaining part of the light output from the plurality of LEDs. A light pipe that reflects back to the plurality of LEDs for recycling.   2. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 1, wherein the optical layer includes a lens that transmits a part of light output from the plurality of LEDs to the aperture layer, and light output from the plurality of LEDs. 3. And a spherical reflector that reflects back to the plurality of LEDs for recycling.   4. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 3, further comprising a reflective layer covering the input end portion of the light pipe other than a region where the plurality of LEDs at the input end portion are connected.   6. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 5, wherein the reflective layer covers a portion of the input end of the light pipe other than a region where the plurality of LEDs at the input end are connected. It is.   6. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 5, further comprising a reflective coating that covers a portion of the input end of the light pipe other than a region where the plurality of LEDs at the input end are connected. A glass plate coated on the surface.   2. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 1, wherein the transmission opening has an aspect ratio of 16: 9 or 4: 3.   The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of LEDs are arranged in an MxN array, where M and N are both positive integers.   The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 1, further comprising a heat sink for mounting the plurality of LEDs.   The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of LEDs include a plurality of color LED chips.   12. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of color LED chips include a plurality of green LEDs, a plurality of red LEDs, and a blue LED.   12. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 11, further comprising a filter layer covering the LED layer, wherein an area of the filter layer covering the color LED chip is radiated by the color LED chip. The light of the selected color is transmitted, and the light of all other colors is reflected.   4. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 3, wherein the light pipe includes a hollow light pipe, a solid light pipe, a straight light pipe, a gradually increased tapered light pipe, and a gradually decreased tapered light. At least one of a pipe, a compound parabolic concentrator, and a free-form light pipe.   The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 1, wherein the transmission opening includes a reflective coating that transmits light of a predetermined color and reflects light of all other colors.   2. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 1, further comprising a color wheel including a plurality of color filters covering said transmission opening, wherein any color filter of said color wheel is said collapse opening. Depending on whether it covers, it transmits light of different colors.   2. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 1, further comprising a reflective polarizing layer covering the transmission opening, which transmits the predetermined polarization component of the single light output and transmits the single polarization component. All other polarization components of one light output are reflected toward the input end of the optical layer, thereby recycling the unused polarization portion of the light to the plurality of LEDs to reduce the light output of the plurality of LEDs. Increase light intensity.   18. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 17, further comprising a wave plate that rotates a polarization state of the single light output to convert an unused polarization component of the light into the predetermined light polarization component.   16. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 15, further comprising a reflective polarizing layer covering the transmission aperture, which transmits the predetermined polarization component of the single light output and transmits the single polarization component. All other polarization components of one light output are reflected toward the input end of the optical layer, thereby recycling the unused polarization portion of the light to the plurality of LEDs to reduce the light output of the plurality of LEDs. Increase light intensity.   20. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 19, further comprising a wave plate that rotates a polarization state of the single light output to convert an unused polarization component of the light into the predetermined light polarization component. .   13. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 12, further comprising a filter layer covering the LED layer, wherein a region of the filter layer covering the green LED chip transmits green light. The filter layer region that reflects all other colors while covering the blue LED chip reflects all other colors while transmitting blue light, and covers the red LED chip. The filter layer region reflects all other colors while transmitting red light.   19. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 18, further comprising a projection lens that captures the predetermined polarization component of the light output and provides a micro projector.   2. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 1, wherein the LED layer is an LED wafer mounted on a heat sink layer.   24. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 23, further comprising a color phosphor deposited on the LED wafer to provide the plurality of LEDs of different colors.   25. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 24, further comprising a filter layer covering the LED wafer, wherein the area of the filter layer covering each LED is emitted by each LED. All other colors of light are reflected while transmitting the light.   26. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 25, wherein the optical layer includes a lens layer that transmits a part of the light output from the plurality of LEDs and a remaining part of the light output from the plurality of LEDs. A reflective layer that reflects back to the plurality of LEDs for cycling, thereby providing an array of wafer scale LED illumination systems.   27. The optical multiplexer and recycler of claim 26, wherein the wafer scale LED illumination system is cut into individual pieces to provide a plurality of separate wafer scale LED illumination systems.   27. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 26, further comprising: covering all the transmission openings and transmitting a predetermined polarization component of the single light output, and all other polarization components of the single light output. Is reflected towards the input end of the optical layer, thereby recycling the unused polarization component of light to increase the luminous intensity of the light output of the plurality of LEDs.   30. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 28, further comprising a wave plate that rotates a polarization state of a single light output to convert an unused polarization component of the light into a predetermined polarization component of the light. .   30. The optical multiplexer and recycler of claim 28, further comprising a display panel layer on the reflective polarizing layer and a projection lens layer on the display panel layer, thereby providing an array of wafer scale projector systems. I will provide a.   32. The optical multiplexer and recycler of claim 30, wherein the display panel layer comprises a layer of a transmissive liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.   32. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 31, wherein the color phosphor includes a white phosphor that provides a plurality of white LEDs.   32. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 31, wherein the color phosphors include red, green and blue phosphors that provide red, green and blue LEDs.   34. The optical multiplexer and recycler of claim 33, wherein the array of wafer scale LED projector systems is cut into individual pieces to provide a plurality of separate wafer scale projector systems.   26. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 25, wherein the optical layer includes a lens that transmits part of the light output from the plurality of LEDs to the aperture layer, and the remainder of the light output from the plurality of LEDs. A spherical reflector that reflects the portion back to the plurality of LEDs for recycling, thereby providing an array of wafer scale illumination systems.   26. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 25, wherein the optical layer transmits a part of the light output from the plurality of LEDs to the aperture layer and the remaining part of the light output from the plurality of LEDs. A light pipe that reflects back to the plurality of LEDs for recycling, thereby providing an array of wafer scale illumination systems.   37. The optical multiplexer and recycler of claim 36, wherein the array of wafer scale LED illumination systems is cut into individual pieces to provide a plurality of separate wafer scale illumination systems.   37. The optical multiplexer and recycler of claim 36, further covering the transmission aperture, transmitting a particular polarization component of the single light output, and all other polarization components of the single light output. Is reflected toward the input end of the optical layer, thereby returning an unused polarization component of light to the plurality of LEDs to increase the luminous intensity of the light output of the plurality of LEDs.   39. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 38, further comprising a wave plate for rotating the polarization state of the single light output to convert the unpolarized component of the light into the predetermined light polarized component.   40. The optical multiplexer and recycler of claim 38, further comprising a display panel layer on the reflective polarizing layer and a projection lens layer on the display panel layer, thereby providing an array of wafer scale projector systems. I will provide a.   41. The optical multiplexer and recycler of claim 40, wherein the display panel layer includes a layer of a transmissive liquid crystal display (LCD) panel.   42. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 41, wherein the color phosphor includes a white phosphor that provides a plurality of white LEDs.   42. The optical multiplexer and recycler of claim 41, wherein the color phosphors include red, green and blue phosphors that provide red, green and blue LEDs.   44. The optical multiplexer and recycler of claim 43, wherein the array of wafer scale LED projector systems is cut into individual pieces to provide a plurality of separate wafer scale projector systems.   4. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 3, wherein the aperture layer is a reflective coating on the output end of the light pipe.   4. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 3, wherein the aperture layer is a glass plate that is selectively coated with a reflective coating to cover the output end of the light pipe. A microprojector comprising:
An LED layer comprising LEDs emitting light output,
A light pipe comprising an input end and an output end, wherein the input end of the light pipe is connected to the LED;
An aperture layer connected to the output end of the light pipe, which is a transmissive aperture that transmits a portion of the light output and directs the remainder of the light output to the input end of the light pipe. A reflective surface that reflects and thereby recycles the remainder of this light output to the LED to increase the light intensity of the light output of the LED;
Arranged between the light pipe and the aperture layer to transmit a predetermined polarization component of the light output and reflect all other polarization components of the light output, thereby unused polarization of the light output A reflective polarizer that recycles components to the LED to increase the luminous intensity of the light output of the LED;
A reflective liquid crystal (LCOS) panel that receives and reflects a predetermined polarization component of the light output, wherein the size of the transmissive aperture substantially matches the size of the LCOS panel, whereby a polarized beam A projection lens for projecting an image by capturing the predetermined polarization component of the light output from the LCOS panel, wherein a surface of the splitter (PBS) connecting the LCOS panel is larger than the LCOS panel.   48. The microprojector according to claim 47, wherein the light pipe is a straight light pipe, a hollow light pipe, a solid light pipe, a light pipe that is gradually tapered, a light pipe that is gradually tapered, At least one of a compound parabolic concentrator and a free-form light pipe.   48. The micro projector according to claim 47, further comprising a wave plate that rotates a polarization state of the single light output to convert an unpolarized component of the light into the predetermined light polarized component.   48. The microprojector according to claim 47, wherein the aperture layer is the polarization beam splitter (PBS), and all surfaces thereof are polished to provide total reflection so that the PBS functions as a wave plate. The surface of the PBS connected to the light pipe has a size substantially equal to the output end of the light pipe.   48. The micro projector according to claim 47, wherein the LCOS panel is disposed on the opposite side of the output end of the light pipe or perpendicular to the light pipe.   51. The micro projector according to claim 50, wherein the output end of the light pipe has a convex surface to form an integral lens.   51. The micro projector according to claim 50, further comprising a Fresnel lens disposed between the light pipe and the PBS.   48. The micro projector according to claim 47, wherein the LED is a white LED, and the LCOS panel is a color pixel LCOS.   55. The microprojector of claim 54, wherein the color pixel LCOS includes a transparent color filter that provides a plurality of red, green and blue pixels.   48. The micro projector according to claim 47, wherein the LED layer is an LED package including an array of color LEDs, and further includes a reflective layer covering the color LED array.   57. The microprojector of claim 56, wherein the reflective layer is coated with a dichroic coating, wherein the area of the reflective layer that covers the color LED is the color of light emitted by the color LED. All other colors of light are reflected back to the color LED for recycling.   57. The microprojector of claim 56, wherein the reflective layer is a dichroic coating on the input end of the light pipe, wherein the input end of the light pipe connected to a color LED. The area of the reflective layer on the part transmits the color light emitted by the color LED and reflects all other color light back to the color LED for recycling.   57. The microprojector of claim 56, wherein the LED package includes an array of blue, green and red LEDs.   60. The microprojector of claim 59, wherein the LED package includes an array of at least one red LED, one blue LED, and one red LED.   61. The microprojector of claim 60, wherein the LED package includes an array of at least one red LED, one blue LED, and two green LEDs.   48. A microprojector according to claim 47, wherein the LEDs comprise clusters of LEDs of the same color closely packed together. A microprojector comprising:
An LED layer comprising LEDs emitting light output,
A light pipe comprising an input end and an output end, wherein the input end of the light pipe is connected to an LED;
A polarizing beam splitter (PBS), all surfaces of which are polished to provide total reflection, so that the PBS functions as a wave plate, and the PBS is connected to the output end of the light pipe. The surface of the PBS connected to the light pipe has a size substantially equal to the output end of the light pipe,
A reflective liquid crystal (LCOS) panel that receives and reflects a predetermined polarization component of the light output, wherein the size of the transmissive aperture substantially matches the size of the LCOS panel, thereby providing the PBS The surface connecting the LCOS panel is larger than the LCOS panel.
A projection lens connected to the surface of the PBS to capture the predetermined polarization component of the light output from the LCOS panel and project an image; and wherein all surfaces of the PBS are connected to the projection lens and the transmission lens It has a reflective coating except for the surface connected to the opening, and transmits a part of the light output through the transmission opening and reflects the remaining part of the light output back to the LED for recycling. Thus, the luminous intensity of the light output of the LED is increased.   64. The microprojector according to claim 63, wherein the light pipe is a straight light pipe, a hollow light pipe, a solid light pipe, a light pipe that is gradually tapered, a light pipe that is gradually tapered, At least one of a compound parabolic concentrator and a free-form light pipe.   64. The microprojector according to claim 63, further comprising a microprojector disposed between the light pipe and the PBS, wherein the polarization state of the single light output is rotated to convert the unpolarized component of the light into the predetermined It has a wave plate that converts it into a light polarization component.   64. The micro projector according to claim 63, wherein the LCOS panel is disposed on the opposite side of the output end of the light pipe or perpendicular to the light pipe.   64. The micro projector according to claim 63, wherein the output end of the light pipe has a convex surface to form an integral lens.   64. The micro projector according to claim 63, further comprising a Fresnel lens disposed between the light pipe and the PBS.   64. The micro projector according to claim 63, wherein the LED is a white LED, and the LCOS panel is a color pixel LCOS.   70. The microprojector of claim 69, wherein the color pixel LCOS includes a transparent color filter that provides a plurality of red, green and blue pixels.   64. The micro projector according to claim 63, wherein the LED layer is an LED package including an array of color LEDs, and further includes a reflective layer covering the array of color LEDs.   72. The microprojector according to claim 71, wherein the reflective layer is coated with a dichroic coating so that the area of the reflective layer covering the color LED emits light of the color emitted by the color LED. Transmits and reflects all other colors of light back to the color LED for recycling.   72. The microprojector according to claim 71, wherein the reflective layer is a dichroic coating on the input end of the light pipe, whereby an area covering the color LED of the reflective layer is the color LED. Transmits light of the color emitted by, and reflects all other colors of light back to the color LED for recycling.   72. The microprojector of claim 71, wherein the LED package includes an array of blue, green and red LEDs.   75. The microprojector of claim 74, wherein the LED package includes an array of at least one red LED, one blue LED, and one red LED.   76. The microprojector of claim 75, wherein the LED package includes an array of at least one red LED, one blue LED, and two green LEDs.   64. The microprojector of claim 63, wherein the LED package includes clusters of LEDs of the same color that are closely packed together. A microprojector comprising:
An LED layer comprising LEDs emitting light output,
A light pipe comprising an input end and an output end, wherein the input end of the light pipe is connected to an LED;
A total internal reflection (TIR) cubic prism, which includes first and second triangular prisms, where all surfaces of the first and second triangular prisms are polished to provide a waveguide;
A digital mirror device (DMD) including a plurality of tiltable mirrors connected to a surface of the first triangular prism of the TIR cubic prism to provide an image forming area, wherein the surface of the first triangular prism is Larger than the light beam of the light output incident on the image forming area and the DMD,
A reflective structure that covers the surface of the triangular prism outside the image forming region, where the reflective structure reflects and recycles the remaining light rays of the light output incident on the reflective structure toward the LED. To increase the luminous intensity of the light output of the DMD, and when the tiltable mirror of the DMD is turned on and connected to the surface of the second triangular prism, the light beam reflected from the DMD is captured. Projection lens that projects images.   79. The microprojector according to claim 78, wherein the light pipe is a straight light pipe, a hollow light pipe, a solid light pipe, a light pipe that is gradually tapered, a light pipe that is gradually tapered, At least one of a compound parabolic concentrator and a free-form light pipe.   79. The microprojector of claim 78, wherein a space between the light pipe, the TIR cubic prism, the DMD, and the projection lens is filled with a gap or a low index adhesive.   79. The micro projector according to claim 78, wherein the reflecting structure is any one of an angle reflector array, a mirror angle array, a diffraction grating, or a retroreflector array.   79. The microprojector according to claim 78, wherein the LED layer includes an array of a plurality of color LEDs and a reflective layer covering the array of color LEDs.   79. The microprojector according to claim 78, wherein the reflective layer is coated with a dichroic coating so that the area of the reflective layer covering the color LED emits light of the color emitted by the color LED. Transmits and reflects all other colors of light back to the color LED for recycling.   79. The microprojector of claim 78, wherein the reflective layer is a dichroic coating on the input end of the light pipe, whereby the reflective surface on the input end of the light pipe. The area connected to the color LED transmits light of the color emitted by the color LED and reflects all other colors of light back to the color LED for recycling.   79. The microprojector of claim 78, wherein the LED package includes an array of blue, green and red LEDs.   86. The microprojector of claim 85, wherein the LED package includes an array of at least one red LED, one blue LED, and one red LED.   90. The microprojector of claim 86, wherein the LED package includes an array of at least one red LED, one blue LED, and two green LEDs.   79. The microprojector of claim 78, wherein the LED package includes clusters of LEDs of the same color that are tightly packed together. An optical multiplexer and recycler comprising:
A light emitting layer that emits light when excited by a light source and has a reflective surface;
A light pipe having an input end and an output end, wherein the input end of the light pipe is connected to the light emitting layer to multiplex light rays from the light emitting layer to provide a light output; and An aperture layer connected to the output end of the pipe, which is a transmissive aperture that transmits a portion of the light output, and the light emission that reflects and recycles the remaining portion of the light output toward the transmissive aperture And a reflective surface that reflects the remainder of the light output towards the layer.   90. The optical multiplexer and recycler of claim 89, wherein the light emitting layer comprises one or more types of compositions that emit light having a plurality of wavelengths or colors.   91. The optical multiplexer and recycler of claim 90, wherein the one or more compositions are spatially distributed in the light emitting layer such that different regions of the light emitting layer emit light of different colors. ing.   90. The optical multiplexer and recycler of claim 89, wherein the light source used to excite the light emitting layer is either an arc lamp, an LED, or a laser.   90. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 89, wherein the light source emits light of a first wavelength, the light emitting layer emits light of a second wavelength, and the first wavelength is greater than the second wavelength. Also short.   90. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 89, wherein the light source emits light of a first wavelength, the light emitting layer emits light of a second wavelength, and the first wavelength is greater than the second wavelength. Also long.   90. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 89, wherein the light emitting layer is coated on the input end of the light pipe.   90. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 89, further comprising a glass plate disposed in the vicinity of the input end of the light pipe, wherein the light emitting layer is coated on the glass plate.   90. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 89, wherein the light emitting layer is coated on the light source.   90. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 89, further comprising a cavity formed by reflective layers facing each other, containing the light emitting layer, and reducing an angular distribution of light emitted by the light emitting layer. .   90. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 89, further comprising a reflective layer facing each other, containing the light emitting layer and the light source, and reducing an angular distribution of light emitted by the light emitting layer. It has a cavity to make.   94. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 92, wherein the laser is a diode laser.   101. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 100, wherein the light emitting layer includes red, green and blue light emitting materials excited by the diode laser.   101. The optical multiplexer and recycler of claim 100, wherein the light emitting layer includes red, green and blue light emitting materials, each light emitting material being excited by at least one diode laser.   90. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 89, wherein the light emitting layer reflects the light emitted from the light emitting layer while transmitting the light from the light source, and the light emitting layer is in one direction. It is coated so as to emit the light beam.   104. The optical multiplexer and recycler according to claim 103, further comprising three cubic prisms, wherein the light emitting layer emits red, green and blue light emitting red, green and blue light rays, respectively. Each light emitting material is pumped by at least one diode laser and connected to a separate cubic prism to multiplex the red, green and blue light rays into a single red light output.

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