Barco, Naamloze Vennootschap

Barco N.v.

Krist Vandorpe

Peter Gerets

Nico Coulier

Stefan Lesschaeve

Bart Van Den Bossche

Geert Maes

Winter Van Rafelgem

An optical system as subject of the present invention comprises at least one packaged spatial light modulator comprising a front side for facing incident light. The optical system further comprises projection optics for projecting an image formed by the packaged spatial light modulator, there being a sealed gas space in between the front side of the packaged spatial light modulator. The optical system comprises a first heat transporting means being thermally coupled to the frontside of the packaged spatial light modulator, the first heat transporting means comprising a thermally conductive frame contacting the front side of the packaged spatial light modulator along an edge thereof. A second heat transporting means being thermally coupled to the package back side may be provided as well. The first and second heat transporting means are thermally separated by the package. The device may further comprise a control means for controlling the heat flow in at least one of the first heat transporting means and the second heat transporting means.

Cooling of reflective spatial light modulating devices

A prism assembly including two or more prisms, at least one of which has or more surfaces that are used for total internal reflection or partial spectral reflection of incoming light, wherein at least a part of one of the surfaces used for reflection purposes is covered with an element that is spaced apart from the surface, such that a gap is defined in between the surface and the element, and wherein the gap is sealed with a seal that is applied on one of said prisms in order to prevent contaminants from entering the gap.

Prism assembly

An improved architecture for a projector comprising a light source in the form of a lamp with a curved reflector with a distinctive focal distance for converging the light beam of the lamp; a so called cold mirror; an integration rod; a relay optics system consisting of a plurality of lenses followed by a light valve, wherein the architecture allows for the use of light sources with different focal distances.

Architecture for a projector

A prism assembly for use in optical devices, which includes a total internal reflection (TIR) assembly for redirecting an incoming lightbeam, a color prism assembly for splitting the incoming lightbeam into spectral bands, and at least one reflection light valve for redirecting and recombining the spectral bands to form an outgoing lightbeam, wherein the total internal reflection assembly has a back surface and said color prism assembly has a frontal surface facing said back surface and being parallel therewith, and wherein said back surface forms an angle with a general plane defined by the incoming and the outgoing lightbeams, which is different from 90&#xb0;.

Prism assembly for use in optical devices and projector comprising such a prism assembly

A projector is provided which can handle high light intensities without dust or foreign matter penetrating the inside of the apparatus and thus deteriorating the quality of the image projected. The projector apparatus comprises a spatial light modulator (SLM) unit provided with a plurality of reflective SLMs and a prismatic light splitting/combining unit. The SLM unit is enclosed in a substantially sealed chamber. A heat path for cooling each SLM is provided, whereby the heat path connection is through the wall of the substantially sealed chamber. In this way, heat energy from the main heat source inside the sealed chamber is brought outside the sealed chamber for dissipation.

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Beveren-Leie, Belgium

Krist Vandorpe