ZSCREEN® modulator with wire grid polarizer for stereoscopic projection

Abstract

A projection design configured for use with a projector having a projector lens is provided. The device includes at least one pi-cell or pi-cell electro-optical modulator in combination with a wire grid polarizer mounted proximate the pi-cell(s). The design may include a cleanup polarizer between the pi-cell(s) and the wire grid polarizer and optionally a protective window between the wire grid projector and projection lens. The device may be oriented at an angle substantially differing from the axis of the projector lens. The resultant device includes spacing for airflow and can offer improved performance, particularly in heating, over designs previously available.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A stereoscopic polarization modulator device configured for use with a projector having a projector lens, the device comprising:
 a first pi-cell proximate to a second pi-cell; and 
 a wire grid polarizer mounted proximate to the first pi-cell, the wire grid polarizer being positioned between the first pi-cell and the projector lens; 
 wherein electrodes of the wire grid polarizer face comprises a surface and electrodes on the surface of the wire grid polarizer, the electrodes facing toward the projector lens either directly or indirectly through surface of the wire grid polarizer and being oriented to be operable to receive a substantial portion of light directed from the projector lens towards the first and second pi-cells, and wherein the electrodes are positioned on a side of the wire grid polarizer closest to the projector lens. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cleanup polarizer positioned between the first pi-cell and the wire grid polarizer. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the projector lens is oriented along a projection axis, and the first and second pi-cells and the wire grid polarizer are oriented along a component axis substantially offset from the projection axis. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising mounting hardware configured to maintain the first and second pi-cells and the wire grid polarizer in an orientation spaced apart from the projector lens. 
     
     
       5. A stereoscopic polarization modulator device configured for use with a projector having a projector lens, the device comprising:
 a first pi-cell proximate to a second pi-cell; 
 a wire grid polarizer mounted proximate to the first pi-cell, the wire grid polarizer being positioned between the first pi-cell and the projector lens, wherein the wire grid polarizer comprises a surface and electrodes on the surface of the wire grid polarizer face, the electrodes facing toward the projector lens either directly or indirectly through the surface of the wire grid polarizer and being oriented to be operable to receive a substantial portion of light directed from the projector lens towards the first and second pi-cells; 
 a cleanup polarizer positioned between the first pi-cell and the wire grid polarizer;and 
 a protective window comprising a substantially clear layer positioned between the electrodes of the the wire grid polarizer and the projector lens. 
 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5 , wherein the wire grid polarizer is spaced apart from the protective window and the protective window is spaced apart from the projector lens. 
     
     
       7. A stereoscopic polarization modulator device configured for use with a projector having a projector lens, the device comprising:
 a first pi-cell proximate to a second pi-cell; 
 a wire grid polarizer mounted proximate to the first pi-cell, the wire grid polarizer being positioned between the first pi-cell and the projector lens, wherein electrodes of the wire grid polarizer face comprises a surface and electrodes on the surface of the wire grid polarizer, the electrodes facing toward the projector lens either directly or indirectly through the surface of the wire grid polarizer and being oriented to be operable to receive a substantial portion of light directed from the projector lens towards the first and second pi-cells; and 
 a cleanup polarizer positioned between the first pi-cell and the wire grid polarizer; 
 wherein the first and second pi-cells cleanup polarizer, and wire grid polarizer have substantially no space therebetween. 
 
     
     
       8. A method of projecting stereoscopic images, comprising:
 projecting light energy through a projector lens; 
 receiving the light energy at a wire grid polarizer and transmitting polarized light energy; and 
 receiving the polarized light energy at least one pi-cell and transmitting resultant light energy, 
 wherein electrodes of the wire grid polarizer face comprises a surface and electrodes on the surface of the wire grid polarizer, the electrodes facing toward the projector lens either directly or indirectly through the surface of the wire grid polarizer and being oriented to be operable to receive a substantial portion of light directed from the projector lens towards the first and second pi-cells, and 
 wherein the electrodes of the wire grid polarizer are positioned on a side of the wire grid polarizer closest to the projector lens. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein polarized light energy from the wire grid polarizer passes to a cleanup polarizer before being received at the at least one pi-cell. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein light energy from the projector lens passes to a protective window before being received by the wire grid polarizer. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one pi-cell, cleanup polarizer, and wire grid polarizer have substantially no space therebetween. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the wire grid polarizer is spaced apart from the protective window and the protective window is spaced apart from the projector lens. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the projector lens is oriented along a projection axis, and the at least one pi-cell and wire grid polarizer are oriented along a component axis substantially offset from the projection axis. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one pi-cell and the wire grid polarizer are maintained in an orientation spaced apart from the projector lens. 
     
     
       15. A polarization modulator device, comprising:
 a first pi-cell electro-optical modulator having a first rub direction; 
 a second pi-cell electro-optical modulator having a second rub direction differing from the first rub direction; 
 a wire grid polarizer located proximate at least one of the first pi-cell electro-optical modulator and the second pi-cell electro-optical modulator and configured to receive light energy from a projector lens and transmit polarized light energy to the first pi-cell electro-optical modulator and the second pi-cell electro-optical modulator, wherein electrodes of the wire grid polarizer face comprises a surface and electrodes on the surface of the wire grid polarizer, the electrodes facing toward the projector lens either directly or indirectly through the surface of the wire grid polarizer and being oriented to be operable to receive a substantial portion of light directed from the projector lens towards the first and second pi-cells; and 
 a protective window comprises a substantially clear layout positioned between the electrodes of the wire grid polarizer and the projector lens. 
 
     
     
       16. The polarization modulator device of  claim 15 , further comprising a cleanup polarizer positioned between at least one of:
 the first pi-cell electro-optical modulator and the second pi-cell electro-optical modulator; and 
 the wire grid polarizer.