Invited Paper: The evolution of projection displays: From mechanical scanners to microdisplays

Abstract

Abstract— The development of electronic projection systems from its earliest days in the 1930s to the present will be reviewed. Early projection systems were dominated by cathode‐ray tubes (CRTs) and mechanical scanners (Scophony). Until the invention of the Eidophor oil‐film light‐valve (LV) projector in the 1940s, there was no all‐electronic alternative to CRTs. Oil‐film LVs and CRTs dominated projection until the introduction of the first liquid‐crystal‐device (LCD) light‐amplifier system by Hughes. Today, the oil‐film LV has vanished and the CRT is vanishing. The light amplifier has morphed into several variations of liquid crystal‐on‐silicon (LCoS). Mechanical scanners are starting to be re‐introduced for laser display systems. However, transmissive LCDs, the digital micromirror device (DMD), and LCoS microdisplays dominate the projection‐display market today. In addition to discussing the projection systems themselves, certain key component technologies that have made modern projection systems possible will be discussed.

β‐SiAlON:Eu2+ Phosphor‐in‐Glass Film: An Efficient Laser‐Driven Color Converter for High‐Brightness Wide‐Color‐Gamut Projection Displays

“…As known, the lighting source is the core component in projector, with the produced light transmitted to imager module for display of a color image on screen, whose optical performance always determines the system efficiency and imaging quality. [ 1–3 ] For a long time, the projectors assembled with xenon or high‐pressure mercury lamp dominated the commercial market; however, these lamps suffer from a mass of deficiencies including limited lifetime, UV/IR irradiation, relatively low luminous efficacy, large étendue value, and slow response to electric switch. [ 4,5 ] In looking for ideal lighting source, the era of solid‐state lighting opens up, stimulating the replacement of projectors’ lamp by light emitting diode (LED) or laser diode (LD).…”

82‐2: Invited Paper: Latest Progress of Laser Phosphor Projection Display

“…The lamp light source for modern projectors has been developed since the 20th century, and the most commonly used lamps are xenon and high-pressure mercury lamps [2]. They have been widely used in cinemas, large-venue projection displays, business and home projectors [3,4].…”

“…Over the past century, projection display systems have been well developed and widely used in many areas, including the cinema, education, business, and home theater [1,2]. Researchers and engineers are still working to further improve the performance of projection systems, in the aspects of the lifetime, brightness, energy efficiency, color gamut, display contrast ratio, and cost.…”

Inorganic polarization devices with optical functional layers fabricated by glancing angle deposition technique

“…1(a). 3,14,15 The unit comprises several polarization devices: a polarization converter (P-S convertor) 16,17 , polarizers, dichroic mirrors and a dichroic prism. Each LCD panel is sandwiched by two polarizers called an in-polarizer and out-polarizer, with small gaps between the panel and polarizers.…”