Polarized Stereoscopic Projection System and Method

Abstract

A stereoscopic display system and method of stereoscopic projection that include a polarization-switching light source and a polarization-preserving projector. The polarization state of the polarization-switching light source is synchronized with alternate projection of left-eye images and right-eye images. The polarization-switching light source may include a laser and a rotating disk, and the disk may include a waveplate that switches the polarization state as the disk rotates.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stereoscopic display system comprising:
 a polarization-switching light source characterized by a polarization state; and   a polarization-preserving projector which is illuminated by the polarization-switching light source.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the polarization-preserving projector forms a left-eye digital image and a right-eye digital image, and the polarization state is changed in synchronization with an alternating projection of the left-eye digital image and the right-eye digital image. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein an alternating projection of the left-eye digital image and the right-eye digital image forms a moving image. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the polarization state of the left-eye digital image is orthogonal to the polarization state of the right-eye digital image. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the polarization state of the left-eye digital image is a circular polarization state. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a polarization-preserving spatial light modulator in the projector. 
 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the polarization-preserving spatial light modulator is a digital micromirror device. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a Philips prism in the projector. 
 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the Philips prism comprises a color-splitting filter with low polarization splitting. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the polarization-switching light source comprises a laser. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the polarization-switching light source comprises a rotating disk that switches the polarization state. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the rotating disk comprises a wave plate. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the polarization-switching light source comprises an electro-optical device that switches the polarization state. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the polarization-preserving projector consists of polarization-preserving components. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the polarization-preserving projector is a front projector. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a polarization-preserving screen. 
 
     
     
         17 . A stereoscopic display system comprising:
 a polarization-switching light source characterized by an original polarization state;   a projector which is illuminated by the polarization-switching light source; and   a polarization compensation element;   wherein the polarization compensation element compensates for a polarization change in the projector.   
     
     
         18 . A method of stereoscopic projection comprising:
 generating a light which is polarization switched;   modulating the light to make a left-eye digital image and a right-eye digital image; and   projecting the left-eye digital image and the right-eye digital image alternately to form a projected left-eye digital image and a projected right-eye digital image.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the modulating is synchronized with a polarization state of the light. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the projected left-eye digital image has one polarization state, and the projected right-eye digital image has an orthogonal polarization state. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the light is laser light.