CA1294160C - Apparatus and method of forming and projecting high precision optical images - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

An image projection apparatus in which an image object plane contains a plurality of reflecting images and a light source and optical system projects a beam on each of said plurality of images. Spaced projection lenses are positioned to receive the light reflected from the images and direct the light on a projection surface with the plurality of reflected images in coregistration.

Description

APP~RATU5 AND ~ OD OF FO~I~T~
AND PROJECTING HIG~ PR~3CISION OPTICAL IMAGES

~C~;GROUND OF ~ INV~IO~

F~eld o~ th~ ~nv~nt~on 5 ~hi~ lnv~ntion relates *o an appar~tu6 ~nd ~e~od of ~onn~ ng ~Ind pro~ ect~ng high precleion optical i~ge~ rmd 2l1ore p~rticularly to a ~tho~ of for~ ng the i~nage~ ~y wri~ing and ~tir~g Wlth ~ eel~ctiYe heating $ourc~, advantageou~ly a la er, on ~ writzlble, ora~ble, ~ditable 10 electronic elide and ~imultanel~u61y e>r ~guenti~lly pro-~ectirlg the i~ages, in r~gistration, onto ~ receiving ~ur~4ce E;uch a~ a pro~ection 6c:re~n or phot~sensitive ~at~ri~l, in the ~ormer ca~e :Eox khe purpo~ of displayirlg the pro~ ec:ted i~nage and in the latter c~e ~or the purp~se 15 of creatirlg ~ hard copy o~ the pro~ected i~age.

Disou~ion o~ the :Prior i~r1:, Prior ~rt rel~tiYe tc~ ~his imrention relat~ rlr~tly to ~netho~s ~or cr~ating th~ ~llc~ or i~ g~ to be pro~t3ct~d an~ ~econdly ko E~ethocl~ ~or pro~ecting the sl$def; ~o that 20 certa~ u~ a~e~ ~re ln regiætr~tic~ egl~tratlon o~ t~e subimzlges ~ nportan~ ~or a variety ~ ~ppll~atlcn~ ~uch the cr~atlon o~ color i~ge~O ~rh~ ~es~t Dl~play Sy~te~G
inQ~rlng, ~dlt~d by ~ . Lux~ rs~ and ~s. L. ~u~hn ~1968) 3~ro~dlly ~ rlz~ th~ ~r~ prlor ~ 8. ~ore 25 a~cen1: ~rt has ~e~n r~ ew~c~ by CarbQ~e ~rg~ Scxeen Di~pl~y ~r~chnology ~urv~y, ~Rlchard ~7. C~r3:~4ne, l~he ~IT~E
Corporati~ ad$ordt ~g~s~ ov. î~2) and ~odd (~e T.

- 2~

Todd, Jr., Pro~ection Di6pl~1y Devic~s, Socl~ty ~or In~orma tion Di~play~ ~emin~r ~ecture Mot~s, Yol~ II, P~per ~.1, M~y 3, 198.5).

Tr~ditic~n~lly ~lice~ or ~ ges for pro~ec'clon h~e been 5 c:re~ted photcsgrnphically by ~xposure of a l~ht ~en6itiYe ~ l6ion or by ~a~dn~ of a ~crtbing ~y~tem in wh~ch ~ ~harp point or ~tylus ~crat ~e~ 1:he ~I nIormation lnto Qn op~e c~oat~ on a gla~ pl~te or Pi1DI. Srhe photographic 2nethod ~ not sp~ntanesu~ and doe~ nc)t per~t ~ tiD~e updnte 10 With ~ew lnfor~tlon or ~multan~c~u~ writing and viewirly.
It ~1160 require~ appar~tus for film proce~ing a~; well ~
w:riting. ~rhe ~crlbing ~e~:hod per~it6 real time YieWi~lg ~nd updates but sr~ure of pr~v~ou~ly E~cribed in~onR~i:ion is l~praçtical ~nd ~he ~cr~bing ra~6 ar~ rel~iYely ~low.

15 Projection ~y~tem~ in ~hich the c:athodolu~nine6cent target of a c~thode r~y tube 6erve6 a~ an ~lectronic 61ide c:r imflge ~ource ov~rcome the di~advantage6 o~ the pbotographic ~nd ~;~ribing approache~ but are 1 imited ln l~ge ~rlghtness and resolution. ~he projected image :bxigh~ne66 i~ li2nlted 20 by E;~tur~lon c~ th~ pho~phor ou~put as the ~ ~lectron beam current i6 increa6e~, by pho6phor burn and ~ceplate P~ilure due to 0~6!rheating by Qxces~ivç3 be~Lm current~, ~nd by pr~ctlcal l~it6 on the phy~ical HiZ~3 o~ the optiCG u~ed or im~g~ prc:~ction. Re~olution i6 limited by the in-25 orease ln ~ocused b~m ~pot BiZ~ wl~h incr~ed beamcurrent, re~ultinsl in ~I brlyhtne~s-r~o~ution ~r~deo~ nd by the nQed ~or hlgh bandwidth r~re~ circuit~ to rere~h the pro~ected i~age~; at ~O~z or ~ore in ors~er to ~ in~ke vis~bl~ fl~ck~3r. For 0xa~ple, ~ ~000 ac 4D00 picture 30 ~le~ent i~age r~fr~;hed ~t 60~z would requlre a 960 ~z aat~ lnput. Ev~n i~ ~uch a h~gh bandwidkh dat~ r~lte w~re practicEll~ po~itionlng o~ an ~ ctron bezun to th~ po~tion-~1 accuracy rsquir~ $or ~lch ~ display would r~guirs ~xtr~m~ly ~ nElv~ b~a~ iLnd~xlng buil~ in~o ~hs ~ub~ or 35 ~rtr~ely Ist~ e7 ~ xpen~i;iv~ nalog ~ tronic~.

~3~

~trong magneti.c shielding would be 2equired to minimize the ~fect 9f terre6trlal 3ll~gneti6~ ~nd local ~agnetic ~ield variatit)ns on the 01~ctron lbea~& po~ition. Large ~rea CRTs wlth i~ge diagon~l~ up tc> about 40 ir~ch~ h~ve be~n 5 constructed, but their r~olutic~n i6 13,160 limited by 'che ~forementioned con~traint~ on data rate and b~ po~itic~n~l a~cur~cy. Storz~ge CR'rE have been built which overcome the ne~d for high b~nawidth refr~h, but ~torage ~T6 h~ve significlm~ly lower lumen c~utput than r~frs~h~d CRI~ and 10 are therefore of limited intere~t ~or pro~ection ~y~te~
~nd the ~irect view ~anit~ ~nust be uEed in room~ with dued lightinçl.

The ~forementioned con~traint6 on brightn~s of ~y~te~s incorporating C:RTe w~th c~thodolwllinescent target6 are 15 overco~ne by a cla6s of deYice~ ~nown as ~ tronis:: light valve6. In ~e6e ~lec~ronic light valve~, the r~fl~tion or trans~Di6~ion propextie~ o~ ~ phy~c~ dium ~5 ~pati~l-ly ~nd t~mpc)r~lly varied by electronic~ an~. The~e electronic m~ans ~y include ~lectronir~ ~canning of ~n 20 ~lectron or optical be~m or g~ting o~ a vol'cage ~cros~ the light valve ~e~dium by eln electr~e ~rr~y. Tbe llg~lt valve can then be used to control the ~1 ow o~ light ~rom ~ liclht 60urc2 t~ ~ receiving tArget~ With appropri~te vptio~; ~n iD~age the light v~lve on the :receivirlg target, the ~p~ti~l 25 ~nd t~mporal v~sriationa lsnpo~i3d by the ~l~c~.ronic ~an~ on the llght vAlv~ c:an be :t~ h$ully reproduced at lthe po~i-tion o~ the rec~iving t~r~st. Co~nercial ligh~ ~ralve ayctem6 h2lYe been in~roduc~ witll c~p~bll i~ie~ ~o pro~ ect l~ge~ with ingor~tion conterlt up to e~b9ut ;i!O!;)O TV li.neæO

30 ~ new ~ype of ~lectronic l~g~t v~lYe ~ pl~y ~a6ed on a 1~2r Ei~c~nned ~mectl~: (I,SS) l~ d ~:ry6tal ~nd ~apable of ~tc~rlng and pro~ecting l~nage~ igniglcan~ly 21iqher than 2000 ~1 llne infor~zltion c:on'c~n~ wa~ cr1bed by ~:~n ~reder~c J. ~hn, U. &. P~at~nt 3,796,999, ~rch 1974).
35 Ev~n imaq~ w4th lc~w~r ~an 2000 llrle lnfor~ation conten~

L2~

h~ve ~ignl~ tly lmpr~ved de~inltion slue kc~ the re2;~1u tion of tlle LS5 l~ght valves. More recent ~evelop~Qn~cs in I,SS technology h~ve ~en r~viewed by Dewey ~A. Ç;. Dewey, L~ser-Addre~E;ed L~ d Cry~tal Di6pl~y~, 4ptic~1 ~ngineer-5 ing, May-June 1984, Vol. 23, pp. 230-240).

LSS light v~l~e~ con6i6'c c~ a thin l~yer o~ Is~ec:tir liquid cry6tal ~ndwiched be~ween two ~ trates . q h~ image i~
written ther~lly by 6canninq ~ foeu~ed la~er b~am ~cro~s 'ch~3 light val~ The ~n1:ire ~age c~rl be ~r~6~d in ~ ~mall 10 fr~c~iosl o~ a ~econd l~y ~pplying ~ voltage ~crc~s the 6mectlc layer. T~e writing beam can ~e tran~forD~ed lr~to ~n erasing be~ for loc~l editing of the written image by ~pplying a 60~ewha~ lower ~ol~age than required for erase of the entir~ image. Nhen 6uch ~ ~oltage 1~ applied only ~hose regions which are reheated ~y the la~er b~a~ will be erased. Advantage~ o~ these thermal BmeCtiC llght valv~s in addition ~o the high re~olution, erase, a~d local editing features ~re 1~ ~he i~ge i~ 6tored in the liguld c~yst~l until electric~lly era~ed, tbus no i~age re~resh 1~
required, 2) the optical propertie6 ~f the i~age ~re r~latively wavel~ngth lndependent; thu~ ~he~e light valves can be u6~d to control ll~ht ~ro~ th~ n~sr uv ~hrough the ir ~n~l ~ny p~rt s:~f 'cbe! BpeCtrum ln ~2tWe!~lE!n, 3 ) thQre ~i ~inim~l ab~rption o~ light by th~ liqui~ cry~t~l ~nd ~fisociated o~t~cal 21emQnt~, thus thi~ ht ~ c~n be UB~ to control v~ry h~gh ~nten~ity llght ~ourc~ wl~h hlgh optical ~t~lciency, 4) l~Qr ab~orb~r~ c~n be aon~tructed to ~atch a wide range o~ er w~vel~ngths ther~by ~n~bllng U8e 0~ ~ wide ~rl~ty o~ writing l~er~ including ~emicon-30 ductor la~er~ whlch ~re r~ iv~ly ~cono~lc~l, co~pact, andrellable.

~e~pite th~ ni~ican~ ~dv~ntag~s cltQd a~ov~, c~mercial appl~cation ~ th~ LSS l1ght ~lv~ ha~ b~en li~ d by ~he co~pl~x ~nd ~xp~n~l~e ~c~nnl~g ~echani~m~ r~quir~d for 35 cr~ting Y~ry h~gh ~nPor~tion conten~ ~ag~, the -s- 31 ~3''~

in~bility to ~can precl~ely in ~ r~p~thble ~hion, the unavail~blllty of a ~ethod practical ~ur s:re~ting a high re601ution ~ull color i~ag~ without u~$ng mul~iple E~Can-ner~, the urlnvallability of a ~c~n E~yE~tem ~or high re~olu-5 tion ull color lm~ge~; witb r~ndo~a ~ccess a~ w211 ~; ra~er6c~n r~abiliti~, the lnEIbility to ~ pl~y bright 2ull color i~nage wi~h ~noderate power ligh'c ~our~e~, and the inability to ~plement ~ practic~l on-scree~ t:ur~or. T~us ~ display ~nd i~aging ~ystem c~pable oiE ~::r~'cing preci6ion, 10 very high lnforma~ion content, ~ull color, random ~can i2n~ges with ~ rel&~ively ~ pl~ writing ~y~te~ ~nd relatively l~w power pro~ection ~!3ource i~ deslredO A~
~ddition~l de~irable feature i~ cursor. Furthermore the ~a~e precision image wri~lng almd pro~2ation cap2Lbilities 15 de~ired fc~r creation of full ct~lor i~age~ are r~guired for producirlg and regi6tering i~ges on photosen~itiYe hard copy materials.

SUP~Y OF THE IN~rENTIoN

Thi6 invention rel~e~ to a ~nethod e~f ~orming and proj ec~
20 ing h~gh preciE;ion op~ic~l im~ge~ and Dlore par~icul~rly, to a ~thod o~ Iorming the iDIlage~ by writiny and ~ùitinq with ~ 3eïeative heating ~ource, El~v~nt~geously a la~ser, on a writabl~, era~able, 0dl~a~1e electrc)nlc E~lide ~nd ~lmult~-neou~ly or E~equenti~lly pro~ectlng the lm~53e~, in regi~tra~
25 tion, onto ~ reaaiYin~ Gurf~ae ~uch ~ A pro~ection ll3er~en or photoB~n~itive ~n~teri~l. The preF~2n~ appar~tu~ and method provide~ for 0f~ici~nt uE~e of the: pro~eG~ion 11ght ~ourt::e ~nd excel lent ~patial ~ld~lity o~ pr~jec~:ed ~ye relativ~ to the original iDI~ge, the origin~l lD~ge 30 being electronically ~nter~d ~nto th~ ~nage fs:~rming ~nd pro~ ~ctic~n ~y~
~e pre~err4~d sD~thod ~nd appar~tus Par ~ora~ing th~ ~ge provi~lQa ~or pr~ci2iisn l3c~r~nin~ o~ A ~ocu~ed la~r be!~m ~cro~ llght ~e~n~l~lve layer which ~tor~ a pat~rn o~
35 info~s'c$on d~t~rmin~d by ~ the tr~ to~ o~ 'che la~er ~f.~

b~ . Th0 pooition o~ th~ ~9a~ 1~ Y~rled with n 6ingl~
~can ~yste~ . Thi~ posi'~c~n o~ th~ heam on the entire 1 ight ~en~tlvo lay~r 1~ controll~d by ~ ~rvo ~y~te~n whi ::h corr~ct~ th~ er be ~n tr~ectory by eompariny the desired 5 po~ition sign~l with actual po~ltiori to d~riY~ an error oigr~

Th~ ~erie~ o~ ~ra~ ~ctorie~ ~o cre~ted are ~tored in a id c:ry6tal c~ll whic~ i~ patterned ln'cc~ one or awre 6ubc~ ach on~ o~ whiCh 1~ indep~ndently writable, 10 ~rasable, and ~ditabl~ by means og the ~c~nned la~r b~am and appropriatq!~ el~ctrlcal c:ontrol volt~ge~.

Different cell~ which are oper~ble in either trans~nission or ref lon carl ~e ~abricated. A r2flec:tion ::ell Gl~ruc-ture i~ pr~ferr~d ~or colc~r display and h~rd copy printing 15 ~pplications becau~;e refleotive cell~ can withstand the required intense illumination level~.

The me~hod for creating a color proj~ction display con~ists of assigning ~ di~ferent prlm~ry pro~Qc'cion color~ ~.g., red, green, blu~ 20x ~n addit~v~ color ~yste~ wl~h broad 20 sp~ctral cover2ge, to a~ach o~ 6ev~ral ~ubcells, and where desir~d, to U!;2 an ~ddition~l subt::ell ~or an independent cur~or QJ:' ove~l~y . The~ ~ubc~ r~ copro~ ected ln r~glstr~tlon 1:Q ~chiev~ ull color i~ with cur6Qr or overl~y, Ons or 2nor~ at~c~or~ ~re provided a~ ~he edge o~
25 th~ r~ceiving ~ur~ac~ i~or th~ pro~ec~ed l~a;Te in ord~r to ~acilitat~ ~atiE~ctory regi~tratiort og the pro~ec~ed i~age with th~t ~Ur~C:e.

The prQ~rr~d D~thod ~or pro~ec~:ing ~h¢ full color i~age~
~o5ile~h~r With a~ oY.rærla~ pl~n~ whic:h can b~ u~d, ~or 30 3~xa~pl~, ~or 1~plq~ ntlng a cursor cQnsiE;~ ~P ~king th~
outpu~ ;~roDt a ~ingl~ l~p and 6~p~1~t~ng ~ n~o ~wo whl~e chann~l~. Onel~ wh1~D chann~ ivi~l~d lnto three color b~a~ (r~s~, gr~ blue). The~Q ~rQ4!~ color b~ms together ~ltll t2~e r~m~lning whlt~ be~m are pr~r~bly imaged ~y Jne~n~ o~ A ~ingle relay c:onden6er ~nt~ ~he liquid cry6t~l1 cell ~o th~t e~ch beam llluminat~ prim~rlLly only one aubc:ell. ~he r~l~ay conden~er or~ ~n im~ge ~f 'che 5 la~mp on the ~perture ~f ~ach o~ four pro~ction len~e~, one ~or ~ch b~. Th~ pro~ection lens~ are po~iti~ned ~o ~
to pro~ ect the ~ age~ ln r~gietrat~on ~nto a eingl e receiv$ng 6~ur~EIce ~t~ aB to r~ult in ~ 9~ull-color ~age with cur~or/overl~y on th~at ~urfalce. ~hie projection 10 ~ethod i~ h~ghly e~ficient ln oolle~ting light ~d 'cr~n~-~errin~ ~ t to the r~ceivl~g ~ur~c~ wllieh ~or ~ispl~y ~pplic~tion~ c~n be ~ re~r pro~2~ction ~t:reen.

Elec~ronic ~earl6 ~re proYldQd to ¢orrect ~or re6idual distor~ion ~nd po~ltional ~ ren ::e~ in th~ i~aye~ tten 15 on the subc:el le Glo ~ to provide im~ge r0gi~tr2l~ic)n to within ~ ~r~ct~on OI the ~lni~u~ linewidt}l whioh c~n be written and pro~ ected . ~rhe ~n~thod or ~i6tortion correc-tion ~nvolveE; u~e of a lt:3ok up t~ble ~rith t~ble 2ntrie k~yed to ~ction6 of the lm~ge.

2~ It ~ 6 ~ gener~ 13Ct OI the pr~ent inv~ntisn to pro~ide ~n improved ~pp~ratus ~nd meth~d ~e)x îor~ing ~lnd pro~ecting optical ir~age~.

It i~ Another ob~ect Q~ th~ pr~a~ent invsntion to prov$de ~n appllratu~ Por ~orming ~Indl pro~ ecting optic:al i~qe~ which 25 ~re for~ed ~lec~ronit::~lly on light valv~ in general and ~mecti~ llquid ~ t~ ght ~ & ~n p~rticular.

It 1~ ~ ~u~her ob~e::t o~ the preE3ent ~nvention to pro~ide an ~ppar~tuf; and ~etho~ ~or ~r~ing ~nd pro~ect~on plurall~y o~ ~ep~ra~e ~ge~ ln r0ql~tr~0nO

30 It i~ ~nother ob~ct o~E th~ pr~ent lnv~ntion to pro~,ride an app~r~tu~ ~n~ ~thod ~or ~onaln~ l~ages on ~ llguld cry~t~l 8 ~ 610~ 2~

cell ancl ~or projecting said lmage6 ln registratlon by re~lection from the cell.
The foregoing and other objects o~ the invention are achieved by a system in which stored image~ are projected by reflection from an image source such as a liquid crystal.
According to a broad aspect of the invention there is provided a projection apparatu~ including a light source, an image object plane containing at least ~wo spac~d 0 refle~ting images, optical means including a single condenser lens disposed to receive light from said source and form at least two beams and directing one of said beams on each of said reflecting images, at least two spaced multielemen~ projection lenses in which the power is concentra~ed primarlly in the inner elements and achromatization is concentrated prlmarlly in ~he out0r elements to provide len~es wlth ~ront to rear surface lengths less -than h~l~
the ~ocal len0tll to provide a compact desiyn wlth relcltively ~mal:L
o~-axl~ angle, high re~olution and low di~tortlon, said projectlan lenses posi~loned to rece:Lve llght re~lected by said lmages on ~o a rqceivlng plane ~o that the imayes are in coregistration.
According to another broad a~pect of the lnvention there iB provlded a projection apparatus including a light source r an image object plane containing at least three spaced reflecting images, 8a 61051-2069 optical means includlng a slngle condenser lens disposed ko receive ligh~ from said source and form at leas~ thrae beam~ with light of different wavelengths and directing said beams, one on each of said reflecting images, at least three spaced multielement projection lenses ln which the power is concentrated primarily ln the inner Qlements ard achromatization is concentrated primarily in the outer elements to provide lenses with front to rear surface lenyths less than half the focal leng~h to provide a compac~ design wi~h relatively small off-axis angle, high resolution and low distortion, said projection lenses positioned to receive light reflected by said images and direct the light from said imayes o.nto a receivlng plane so that the images are in coregistration.
Accordiny to another broad aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for projecting an image on a projeckion plane including an imaye ob~ect plane comprislncJ an electroni~ liyh~ valve, means ~orming at least one imaye on ~al~ elec~ronic licJht valv~, a llght source, optical means for receivlng liyht from said light source and forming at least one beam and directing said beam to said electronic light valve image, at least one projectlng lens posi~ionad to receive light from said liyht valve image and direc~ ~he li~ht to said projec-~,ion plane, s~

8b 61051~2069 means at said projection plane ~or senslng th~ posltion of the image on the projection plane and means for eontrolling the image forminy means for positionlny the image on said electron~c light valve responsive to the position sensed by the position sensing means.
According to another broad aspect of the invention there is provided an appara~us for projecting an image on a projeation plane including an i~age object plane comprising an electronic ligh~ valve, means forming at least a plurality of images on said electronic light valve, a liyht source, op~ical means for receiving light from said light source and forming a plurality of beams and directing said beams to the images on said electronic light valve, a plurality o~ projecting lenses posikioned to receive llght ~rom said li~h~ valve imaye and direct khe light ~rom eacJh Image in reyiskration on ~aid pro~ection plane, m~ans ak 3aid pro~eckion plane ~or sen~incJ the po~itlon of 0 each lmage on the projeakion plane and means for controlling ~he image forming means for positionirlg each imaye on said electronic light valve responsive to ~he position sensed by the position sensing means to assure positioning and registration.
Aacording ko another broad aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus ~or projecting an image on a projection plane including k~
Rc 6lO51-~069 an image object plane comprising an electronic liqht v~lve, means forminy at least one lmacJe on said electronic liyht valve, means for controlling the image forming means so that it records a distorted image which upon proje~tion has the fidelity of the intended image, a liyht source, optical means for receiving light from said ll~ht source and forming at least one beam and directing ~aid beam to said 0 electronic light valve image, at least one projecting lens positioned to receive light from said light valve image and direct the light from said ].ight valve image and direct the light to said projection plane to form an image on said plane.
According to another broad aspect o~ the invention there is provided an apparatus for projectiny an image on a projection plane including an image objeat plane aomprisiny an electronlc li~Jh~ Vcl].Ve, means formincJ a~ least a plurali~y oE imayes on ~alcl 0 electronic liyht valve, means for controlliny the image ~orming means so that it records a distorted imaYe which upon projection has the fidelity of the intended imaye, a light source, optlcal means for receiving light fron) said liyht source and forming a plurality of beams and direc~ing said beams ~o the 8d G10~ 069 images on said electronic llght valve, a plurality of projectincJ lenses positioned to raceive liyht from said light valve image and direct the li~ht from each imaye in registration on said projection plane to form an image on said plane.
According to another broad aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for projecting an image on a project'-on plane including an image object plane comprising an elec~ronic light valve, means forming a light beam, means for scanning the electronic light valve with the light beam to form at least one image on said electronic llght valve, means for controlling the light beam so that it records a distorted image which upon projection compensates for aberrations in the optics and to project the intended image on an image plane with hiyh fidelity, a light source, op1ical means ior reaelviny light irom said llcJht ~ou~l~ce and ~orminy at least one beam and directing said beam to saicl 0 electronic liyht valve imaye, and at least one projectiny lens positioned to receive light from said light valve image and direct the light ~o said projec~ion plane to form an image on said plane.
The foregoing and other objec~s of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following description when read in conjunction wlth the accompanying drawings of which:

8~ 510~ 6s Figure 1 15 a scllematic view showinq primarily a re~lec-tlon projection system in accordance with the invention.
Figure 2 shows the positioning of the projection lens.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing an ele~tronic imayinc~
system in accordance with the invention.
Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showlng the comhined imayiny and projection system. Figure 4 appears on the same ~heet as Figure 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION CF THE ~RAWIN~S
The present invention relates tc a method for electronically creating high precision optical images and, more ~articularly, to a me~hocl for creatiny images which have precisely controlled geometries and which can be uni~ormly registered with each other by coprojec~ion onto a receiving surEace such as a projestion screen or photosen.sitive material. A speci~ic emhodlment of this invention i.Y a high .information conten~, large area display apparatus ~or ~ull-color image~. Another i6 el~ ~ppar~tu~ ~r prlnting ~ull-col~r h~d c~py.

~igure 1 shows a pro~eetl~n ~y~tem lO0 æ~pl~yed ~n the pre6ent lnverltic~n. A source of radi~tion ~nergy or l~ght 5 lol, illu6tr~tively ~ lO00 watt Xenon arc lalDp, ~nlt6 lisht which i6 coll~cted ~y ~n optic~l ~y~t2~n 102 and dir~cted ~ntc~ ref lecti~e ob~ ~ct 104 in ~uch ~anner thA'C e!ach be~m ~lluminateG primarily one p~rticular ~rea or ~ection o~
object 104. ~uch ~n illumlnatlon ~y~tem ~!le~igne~ ~or 10 tran~mie6ion pro~ectiorl o~ ~ultiple ~ de liDas~e~ i6 d~scrib~d on pp. 197-l99 o~ Luxenber~ Imd Xuehn. Tn the pre~ent ~n~ent~on ~he l ig~t r~lected ~ro~ ~ch ~r~a illu~inat@!s the ~perture t)f one particular len~ 4f len~
arr3y 105, illustrativ~ly cc~n~i~tln0 of' ~ultiele~nt l~n6e~
15 with achromatized d~ign6. ~ ~rray 105 i~ages the reflective objec:t 104, lllu6tratively a p~ttern with ~p~tially Y~rylng r~flectivity, on th~ recelving ~ur~e~e ~06, illustrzltively ~ r~r pro~ctio2l ~rQen, in ~uch ~an~er th~ the received i~nage~ of Qach ~ection oP ob~E!ct 20 105 ~re precisi21y regi6ter~d wi~ ~3~ch other on ~urface 106. q~he illumination ~xe6 o~ the len6e~ in ~rray 105 ~re Elightly tilted rel~tive to ~ch o'ch~r ~o th~t they will t::onverg~ n'c th~ cent~r s~ ~ur~c:e :L06. ~h~ len~ po~it~on~
are ~let~rmined by draw~ng th~ r~y~ connecting tha oxtrema 2S o~ khe eubi~nage~ ~n~l Ithe ~xtr~ of ~he receiving ~ur~ace ~nd loc~ting the lQnBeB ~t the inter6-3ction o~ the r~yh.
~hes~ locati~ns prs:vide for coreyi~trat~c)n o~ the ~ag~
on the r~celving ~urPace a~ ~hown in Fi~r~ 2. I~Age po~ltl~n ~n~or 107, locat~d on the rec~iving ~urface or ~t 30 ~n optic311y ~quivale~n~ po~i~ion, iB u~d ~ e~ct teanpo~
ral E~ in po~ition o~ the rec~lved i~nage. Illu~rlsti~e-ly ~ r~g~ 6tration p~attern ~y be pro~e~'ced on 1~3erlfiQr la7, and the ~gnal rro~n 3@:n1;0r 107 proce~ed by proce~sor ~0 to ~etermlne th~ poslt~on o~ that ~ trat~on p~tt~ an~
35 ~en~e to d~termln~ po6~tion o~ the lDag~ w~lch ~a~ B
3cnown ~pati~l relationsh~p to ~h~ r~gi ~tr~lon pattern. In prefQrr2d ~bodi~ent, Itcy~t~n~ di~tc~rtcion can be ~void~
~y ~k~ng ~ pla~n~G o~ ob~ct 104 t ~rray 105 ~n~ ~urace 106 par~ l t~ ~ch other. Alt~rnatl~elyr k~y~toning CAn ~e 01e ::tron~ c:ally cc~rrsct~d by pr~iEitorting the l~age on S refl~ctlvz ob~Qct 10~,; an~ r~6ultirlg l~ocu~ ~hl2t~, ~hen 1~, 105, 2~d lU6 are~ no'c ~:oplan~r, can b~ co~rec~ed by ~ztl~y~ng th~ Sch~p~lug cond~t~on.

Di~t~rtionc in the pr4~9~ g~ c~ntr~but~ ~y ln~ividu-~1 lens~ rray 105 ~n~ by r~ u~l ~Dic~lign~nt~ ~nd 10 i~peri~c'c~on~ in the pro~ oction ~y~t~m, c:an be ~ rly corr~cted by lpredi~tc)r~ing tl~Q ~ 1!1q~ ~0111'~ n r~fl~ctive ~b~ct 10~. ~or t:hi6 purpo ~! proce~or 108 lncîudes tronic: ~e~n~ ~or cc~rr~cting ~ t~ n~ of the pro~Qct-nage, ~ llu~trativ~ly ~y :~ean~ g~f ~ look-up t~le in 15 which ~:orr~cti~n6 due to the c~Dput~d ~!li6tortl~n of the writing ~y~tem 300, ~igure 3, t:he co~put~d ~istortion of the pro~ection len6~ md the s-e~idu~l ~li6tortion ~I@ter-~a~ ned ~xperi~entally ~fter t:be c:cnnput~d d~tortlon~ have ~en corrected or, ~are trea~d additiv~ly to Co;[Dput~ the 20 ~ntrle~ ln tl~e look-up tabl~. Illu~tr~ti~ly, th~ e ~
the look-up t~ble and henc~ the ~aemory re~ red t~ ~tor~ ~t ~ay be ~nini3i~ized ~ ~nt~r~ng ~J~ LU~8 ~ y ~or ~ ted po$nt~ c~r th~ pro~ect~d l~g~ eln~ u~ing interpol~ti or ~lgorlthll~ to ~t~ ne the V~lUle~6 at lntor~e~iate point~.
25 Proc~s~or 108 ~180 1rc1ude~ ~1ec'crlmic ~ezm~ ~or d~coding the po~it1On ~hi~t~ tran~mi tt~d by 1~e-ge po~it1On i~2n60r 107 which i~ phyll;1ca11y link~ to r~c~1vins~ ~larr~ce 10~ and ~or c:orr~ct1ng the po6ition t~:t tho re~ c~1v~ age~ on 104 1n ~uch a~nn6~r th~t Sh~ w111 pro~ct w1th thQ corr~ct 30 po$ition8 r~ lYe to r~s~1Y1ng ~urfs ::~ 106 arld ~n~or 107 .
I11ustr~tive1y, ~on~or ~07 ~a~y con~i~t o~ on~ ~r ~30re p~tt~rn¢~ ks po~itiora~!l ln ~Eront o~ ~sn~ or ~ore pl~otoa~t~ctc~r~ c~or 108 ~nc1u~ cc~ntro11~r 309 ~nd ro 30~ 3.

The re~lective ob~ect 104 de5cribed ~bov~ ~ay be ~ 6tatic i~age , a . g ., a pattern of alu~inum or chro~e on ~ ta: an~p~r ~nt 6ub6trate ~uch ~ glas~ . ~uch ~n D~ Ct aUe to lts ~inl~nal 1~ ght ~b~orption ~n bo'ch the re~lec'clng ~md t2an~-5 aitting region~ will ~e ~u~table ~or pro~ec~ og veryinten~ lllumin~tion level~ onto the rec:eivlng ~urf~ce.
The reflect~vity c~f the ~etallic re~l~cting r~sgion6 2aay be enh~nc~d by ~ean~; of well known ~in ~ n diQlectric roating~ rly the tran~nittanc:e e~ the nc~nr~lecting 10 regions and hence 'che r~ul~ant c~ntrF~t of the ~a6J~ ~ay al~o be enhanced by thin film dielectrlc co~ting~.

The reflective object may be an image which can be wrttten and era6ed by electronic ~ean6, ~.e. t ~n ~lectroni~ ligh~
valve. Preferably, the reflec~ive ob~ect ~ay ~e a l~er ~canned ~ectic (~5S~ l~gu~d cry6tal light v~lve. By patterning the conducting el~ctrode~ of 6uch ~ devlce it 1~
p~6sible to ~elec~ively ~pply higher electric ~ields to one or ~ore independently 3elected ~ection6, e.g., 104a, 104b, 104c or 104d, th~n to the remaining un~elected 6ection~ o~
the ~a~e device ~nd therRby to indep~ndently era~e the individu~l 6elected ~ection~ or to ~dlt laser- ~lec~ed portion~ of ~h~ individual 6elect2~ $ection~

Ufie o~ ~ slngle cond~nser 109 in the dir~ctin~ optical $y~t~m 103 to lllu~inate two ~r ~ore o~ the pro~ection len~Q~ ln ~rr~y 105 18 ~dvant~geous ln ~n~bllng ~st~r ~lnrger ~pertur~) pro~eotion l~ns~6 t~ be ~ployed and higher l~ge-to~bb~ect ~gni~icAtion rntio~ to b~ achlev~d than would b~ the c~ ach pro~c~io~ l~n~ had it~ own lllumin~tlng cond¢n~2z. ~ithou~ ~ ~ingl~ c~nden~er it 30 vould ~ n~ce~6~ry to u~e pro~ec~lon len~e~ w$th v~y ~all ~p2rture~, whlch ~ou~ re~ul~ in ~n~cc~p~bly low ~age ~rlghtne~s, or l~pr~ct~c~lly larg~ o~f-nor~ ngl~ of lncid~nc~ on o~c~ 104. 5h~r~for~ a ~ul~iple i~ging re~lQctlv~ ~y~t~ practicæl. ~he pro~ ~ction l~n~@s 35 110 ~n ~rray ~05 ~re pr~rably ~ul~ m~nt l~n~6 in -12~ q3~J~

which the optit:al pt~wer i~ ncentr~t~d pri~rily in ~he inner ~le~ent6 qLnd achro~tlz~tion i~ concentrated pri~ari-ly ln the outer ~leanent~ ln order ~o provide lndiYidual len~es wi~ longth~ from ~ront-to-re~r ~urfac~ than 5 one 21~lf their tot~l focal l~n~th, there~by pr4~i~ g cc>mpact pro~ec:ti~n system ~ ign with ~ r~l~t~vely ~mall l~ff-nonaal pro~ect~on ~ngl~, high re~c~lution and low pro~ection ls!ns di~to~ ion. ~e preI2rred projection ~y~tem includE~ gle csnden~er lOg ~n the ~irecting 10 optic~l ~yE;tem 103, e~ cting e>ptic~l ~ystem 102 which ~plit~ t~e light ~nto 4 b~am~ pxedoJnin tely red, gr~en, blue, ~nd white wavel~ngth~ reE;p~ctiYely, ~ reflec-tive object 104 wi~ch four E~ubob~ect~ arranged with ~anh~t-tasl geo~e~ry aS in Flgure 1~, ar~d a rectangular array of 4 15 les~ses 105 to pro~ec1: the ~ ge~ ln regi6trati~n cnto receiving 6ur~ace 107. ~rhe coregi6tered red, gre~n/ and blue pro~ected i~aage~ pro~ide ~ g~ull aolor pro~ected image on 6urfac~d 107 while copro~ection of the white image ~nables r~alizn~ion o~ an independent cur~;or or swerlay 20 plane ~uperposed on that ~ull color image. ~urther;~ore the derivation of ~he red, green, l~nd blue beams ~rom a ~ingle whi'ce be~n by uee o~ dichroic fil~ers ln collec~ing opt~c~l ~yetem 102 r~ults in ~ rela~ively brig~t pro~ec:~ed lm~ge on sur~ace 107. ~lternativ~ly it ~na~ be de~irzlb~e ~o ~d 25 color ~r n~utral density ~llt~r6 to ~o~l~y the color or int~n~lty 3~ e whi~ce overlay ch~ l ox ~o add ~ blue ~lltær to the whita chann~l and UBq~! it tQ onhanc~ the brightne~s o~ the blue par~ o~ the ~ull color ifflages, In one e~c~di~n~n~ e po~itis: n el~en~or 107 ~y include a 30 patterned ~a~k ~n~ ~ pho~odetec~or po~itloned ~uc:h tha~ e ~ortion of t~ g~ pro~ct~d on rs~ ::ei~fins~ ~ur~ace 106 ~L~
ln fo~u~ on ~ patt~rned ~ask 2~n~ ~ tran~ t~d ~hrough th~t ~as~ b~ore reac~in~ phot~Q~c~or. I~ ~e s~
patt~r~ lnclu~ t l~st two r~gion3s ~1~ dii~ering 35 tran6ml~10n~ ~nd ~ ~h~ 21~1g~) bc~ twe~n ~em, ~t~pw~e or ron'cinuou~ ~ov~ nt a~cro~ ~at bounda~ of a - l3~ g~

pro~ecte~a i~age ~l~o containing ~t l~a~t one Qsl5~e ~7ill re~ult in I chaa~ge ~ n the output o~ the photodetector ~nabling unique cletermination o~ the writ~ng E;y~:te~ c:oordi-nate~ pc~6ition~ng tbe pro~e~ted ~ds~e at the po6itlon o~ the 5 ~ma6k ç~dge. It ~y be ~Idvant~geoul; tt~ u~e I~OrQ than ~n4 i~age posltion 6ens~r 107, gor ~xa~pl~ o det~r~ine rotEItion~l ~E; well ~6 tranE~l~tlorlal ~hlft~ ln l~a~e pC~
~icn and ~o correc:t for the ~ame by ~ f prt~ce~or 1û8.

In ~nc~ er ~xaDIple o~ ~ pro~ ection ~3y~t~m e~bo~ylng the 10 lnvention, len6 ~rray 105 inclu~es ~nly ~ ~lngle lon~ ~nd only a ~ingle i~age ~t ~ kiD~ iB pro~ect~d ont :7 receiving ~urface 107. I~age po~tion ~en60r 107 ir, c~mbin~tion wl~h proceEsor 108 can ~erv~ to ~s~int~n po~itional r~g~trat~on between the pro~ e:ted imAge and the re ::ei~,ring ~ur~ce .

15 The ~omblnat~on of im~lge position ~en~or 107 ~nd proce6~0r 108 will al~o be useful ~or maint~ining i~a~e-ko-r@ceiving surface 106 regi~tr~tion in pro~ection ~y~ke~s with trarls-mi6sive object6 ~nd in which the l lght source 10~ and pro~ection lense6 105 ~re located on c~pposit~ æid~ of the 20 object 10~.

Figur~ 3 ~how~ a wrltlng ~y~te~ e~aployed în th~ pre~ent lnvention. A beam of light ~rom wrikl2~g ~ource 30.1 i~
~ocused ~Ind ~canne~ acro6æ o~ ec:t 3 05 ~y ~cannin~ ~y6t~m 302. Posit~on 62n~0r 307 D~ea~ur~ charlg~e ln po~ on o~
25 the ~canning ~lrrc~r6, llluEitr~tival~ ~irror 303J 1al ~c~n ning ~y~te~n 02 ~nd provi~l¢~ Im output ~ign~l cont~ining t~e ln~ormation on tht~se change~ to ~ 308. ~ervo 308 provlde~ t21e ~l~ctronic drive~ ~lgnal ~or ~c~nning ~y~em 30~ ln ~uch ~ ~anner a~ to ~$ult ~n ~lni~ erenc~
30 b~tweerl the ae~ixed ~irror positiorl~ pro~ide~l ~y oon~roller 309 an~ ~ actu~l ~irror po~tlon~ d~t~ d l~y 2~irr~r l?csltion l~n~or 307 in co~lnatlon ~ o 30~. ~ be~m po~ltlon ~n~o:e 306 i~ loc:~t~ ~t ~ ~urf~c~ o~ ~b~e~t 305 or ~t ~n optically ~ valent po~i~ion. Ob~eck 30 14 ~105l~06~
recei~le6 th~ Socu6ed el~patlally ~c~nn~ er ~am ~nd en~or 306 p~s~ e~ an 1~b601Ute r~erence relalting th~
po~itic)n of ~ la~er b~ on o~æct 305 ~nd s~en~c~r 306 ~o tI~Q l~canning ~irror po6~tion~. Csr~trollsir 309 ~elec~crs:ni-~:~lly correct~ the d~sired ~irror po6i'cion ~gnal to account for t~mporal po~itiorl ~h~t~ d 3~y b~am po6i~
tion e~en60r 306. Illu~trat~vely, ~n~r 306 21iAy c~n~i6t of one or ~ore patterne~ ~a~k fsn~ phot~0t~ctor pa~ u~lo~
gous to ~en~or 107 ~cr~d slbo~e~ In one ~ llment, 10 patterning of 'che ~ to irlclude ~It l~a6t sne ~dge or boundary ~opar~ting ~wc~ ar~a~ v~ d~ r~rlt tr~n~ml~s~on will ~n~ble ~ ctlon o~ the wri~ing ~a~ po~tiDn a i'c ~oveE; ~:ro~e ~hat ~dge. ~lUG, ~aam pos$tlon ~ensor 306 ~ay illu6trzltiv~ly ~ ~i~llar in ~truc~ture snd oper~tioll to image pOBit~o~a ~enE~or 107 I@xcept th~ t l~ tAe 3c~nned ~er b~ t~el:E w~c~ t~ r~ r ~a~ ~n q~ge containe~ ~n al pro~ectQ~ ge.

Writlng ~ource 301 ~ay illu6tr~tively ~ncl~ad~ a ~e~ic~nduc-tor laser W~iC~l ~mit6 llght wi'ch ~ waval~ngth o~ ~bouc 20 800n~, prlsm~ ~nd len6es to clrcularlze, 2nîarg~, and collima'c~ r ~e~, an~ lan electrlcal circuit lto ~ary the ~nt~nslty c~ lthe ~zn in ~ timewi~ ~a~hlon. ~cannlng ~y~t2m 302, ln a~lt~on to including ~t l~t on~ mlrror 303 to de~lect the l~s~r ~a~ ay ilïuf~trA'civ~ly lnclud~ ~
galv~nomQter 304 to ~rlv~ the l~ar ~beAD~ d~ ctlng :mirror and a ~c~n l~ns, illufi;tr~1:ively ~n ~ t~ len~, tl~ conv~rt Elngul~r d~ ction3 o~ th~ la~e~r be!~a~ into ~pati~ QC-tions o~ ~ ~o~u~ed l~er b~am 3pot 2ll10ng the ~ur~ace of ob~ect 305. ~lrror p~ltlon se!n~or 307 ~ay lnclud~ llgh~
30 ~C\U2:C:Qi; ~nd gratislgs 310 and 1~ti~C~:O:r6 W~ r~ting ~ticle~ 311 ~nabllng ~6~t~rmin~ion o~ ~ p~ on~; ~nd lrslcti~ o~ ao~ nt o~C ~ach ~ann~n~ ~irror.

-15 ~ J

Controller 309 $11u6tr~tively ~y 1nclude ~ graphlcs proce6sor with ~ean~ to receive ~ Y~rlety of graphics inputs ~r~ ext~rnal Qlectronic lmage ~ource~ ~ ~ Yec'c~r gener~tor t~ provlde the d~ired ~c~n po~ition inf~rmation 5 ~ignAl ~or the ~rvo 308, oontrol s$ynal6 tor ~dulating the w~ite E~ource 301, emd ~lectrical ~ignal~ for era~ing and editlng of ~e vari~ue ~ection~ of ob~ct 305 ~herl tha~
ob~ect i6 ~n ~lsctronic liç~h~ ~alve~

O~ect 305 ~ay be ~ne o~ ~ny dif~erent devic:~6. For 10 eçx~mple, it allay be A previously p3~tt~rned r~fl~c:tive or tran~ 6ive object ~o be E~c~mned by th~ ser beam, illu~tratively for the purpo~e of ~nputt~ng dlat~ related to the pattern6 recorded ~n said e~bj2ct ~nto ~n infonnation proc:es6ing or ~tor~g~ l3y~t~m. ~rl~onE~ ln ln~erl~$ty l~f 15 the ~canned laser be3~ ~fter r~floction or transmi~ion froDI the ob~ect ~ay be ~en~ed by one or ~or~ ~ppropriz~tely po~itioned pho~odetector6. Object 305 ~Inay be a recording ~at~ri~l ~enslt~ve to the wavel~ngth o~ the 6~amled la~er beam, illu~trat~vely in~r~red ~ensi~ive paper or ~ilm.
20 Object 30~ ~y be an ~lectrorlic llght v~lve illu~tratively including a photoconducti~re l~lyer ~en~itive to the wave-length OI the ecanned la~er beam. Ob~ect 305 Dllay be ~
tran6mis~ive mo~e ~SS light valve~ 111u6tr~t~v¢1y lncluding ~ dye ~b~orbing ~t the ~can~ed la~er wa~elength a~d ~ix~
25 into the liquid cry~t~l ~or the purpo~e o~ ~b~orblng he~t transported by the ~canned la~er b~am ~irectly lnto the liquid cry~tal l~yer.

Ob~ect 305 ~ay b~ a re~lective a~d¢ ~SS ligh~ ~lve.
Pref~rably the o~ct 305 c~nsi~t~ o~ 4 ~ubi~age~ ~rr3nged 30 in a Nanhatt~n geometxy on ~ ~ingle ob~ect ~ own ln Flgur~ 3 ~o as to ~n~ble ~cannin~ o~ ~h~ entire l~ag@ ~l~h a ~ngle ~c~nner ~nd t~ ~inimi~e v~ri~tions ~n ~h~ r~l~tive po~ltlon~ o~ th~8~ ~ubi~ag~ du~ to ~e~hanlc~l and th~r~al di~turb~ce~ r~by ~acllitat~ny preci~ ~oregl~tr~ion 35 o~ the c~pro~ect~d ~y~.

Figure: 4 ~h~w6 a oc~mbined writing and pro~ection system consi6ting of ~ pro~ection ~y~tF~m 406 ~nd a writing Ely6t~!m 407 which include ~ common ob~e~ct 4û3, a be~m p~6ition 6en~0r 4û4 phy~ic~lly l~nked to obj~ct 403, ~ r~ceiving 5 ~urfac:e 401, an l~ge ~dge detector 402 phy6ically linked to receiving æur~ace 401, ~nd lla contrvller 405. Contzoller 405 receive~ the pc!~itic~n 3is~nals ~rom ~en~c~r6 402 and 404 ~nd csrrect6 the pc~it~on of the obj~ct image on ob~ec'c ~03 I!ilO ~6 ~:0 re~ul~ in accur~te r~gistr~tion o~ the pro; ected 10 iDIasJe with r~pect to recelvlng ~ur~ace 401 in keeping with ~he preceding dl~cu6~ion6 of proj~2ctic~n 6y~te~D lO0 ~nd writing systeD~ 300.

Thu~ t~ere iB provided ~ ~y6tem for ~orm~s~g and pro~ectlng and dieplaying or recording high precl~n ~ptical :LlI~Zlg~5.

Claims (27)

1. A projection apparatus including a light source, an image object plane containing at least two spaced reflecting images, optical means including a single condenser lens disposed to receive light from said source and form at least two beams and directing one of said beams on each of said reflecting images, at least two spaced multielement projection lenses in which the power is concentrated primarily in the inner elements and achromatization is concentrated primarily in the outer elements to provide lenses with front to rear surface lengths less than half the focal length to provide a compact design with relatively small off-axis angle, high resolution and low distortion, said projection lenses positioned to receive light reflected by said images on to a receiving plane so that the images are in coregistration.

2. A projection apparatus as in Claim 1 in which the spaced reflecting images are disposed on a single object.

3. A projection apparatus as in Claim 1 in which the image object plane comprises an electronic light valve.

4. A projection apparatus as in Claim 1 in which the image object plane comprises a smectic liquid crystal.

5. A projection apparatus including a light source, an image object plane containing at least three spaced reflecting images, optical means including a single condenser lens disposed to receive light from said source and form at least three beams with light of different wavelengths and directing said beams, one on each of said reflecting images, at least three spaced multielement projection lenses in which the power is concentrated primarily in the inner elements and achromatization is concentrated primarily in the outer elements to provide lenses with front to rear surface lengths less than half the focal length to provide a compact design with relatively small off-axis angle, high resolution and low distortion, said projection lenses positioned to receive light reflected by said images and direct the light from said images onto a receiving plane so that the images are in coregistration.

6. A projection apparatus as in Claim 2, in which said image object plane contains four images, said optical means forms four beams and four projection lenses direct the light onto said receiving plane.

7. An apparatus for projecting an image on a projection plane including an image object plane comprising an electronic light valve, means forming at least one image on said electronic light valve, a light source, optical means for receiving light from said light source and forming at least one beam and directing said beam to said electronic light valve image, at least one projecting lens positioned to receive light from said light valve image and direct the light to said projection plane, means at said projection plane for sensing the position of the image on the projection plane and means for controlling the image forming means for positioning the image on said electronic light valve responsive to the position sensed by the position sensing means.

8. A projection apparatus as in Claim 7 in which said optical means includes a single condensor lens to illuminate the projection lenses.

9. A projection apparatus as in Claim 7 in which said projector lenses are multielement lenses in which the power is concentrated primarily in the inner elements and achromatization is concentrated primarily in the outer elements to provide lenses with front to rear surface lengths less than half the focal length to provide a compact design with relatively small off-axis angle, high resolution and low distortion.

10. A projection apparatus as in Claim 8 in which said projector lenses are multielement lenses in which the power is concentrated primarily in the inner elements and achromatization is concentrated primarily in the outer elements to provide lenses with front to rear surface lengths less than half the focal length to provide a compact design with relatively small off-axis angle, high resolution and low distortion.

11. An apparatus for projecting an image on a projection plane including an image object plane comprising an electronic light valve, means forming at least a plurality of images on said electronic light valve, a light source, optical means for receiving light from said light source and forming a plurality of beams and directing said beams to the images on said electronic light valve, a plurality of projecting lenses positioned to receive light from said light valve image and direct the light from each image in registration on said projection plane, means at said projection plane for sensing the position of each image on the projection plane and means for controlling the image forming means for positioning each image on said electronic light valve responsive to the position sensed by the position sensing means to assure positioning and registration.

12. A projection apparatus as in Claim 11 in which said optical means includes a single condensor lens to illuminate the projection lenses.

13. A projection apparatus as in Claim 12 in which said projector lenses are multielement lenses in which the power is concentrated primarily in the inner elements and achromatization is concentrated primarily in the outer elements to provide lenses with front to rear surface lengths less than half the focal length to provide a compact design with relatively small off-axis angle, high resolution and low distortion.

14. Apparatus as in Claim 11 wherein said images are reflective images.

15. Apparatus as in Claim 11 wherein said beams are of light having different wavelengths.

16. An apparatus for projecting an image on a projection plane including an image object plane comprising an electronic light valve, means forming at least one image on said electronic light valve, means for controlling the image forming means so that it records a distorted image which upon projection has the fidelity of the intended image, a light source, optical means for receiving light from said light source and forming at least one beam and directing said beam to said electronic light valve image, at least one projecting lens positioned to receive light from said light valve image and direct the light from said light valve image and direct the light to said projection plane to form an image on said plane.

17. Apparatus as in Claim 16, in which said image is a reflective image.

18. An apparatus for projecting an image on a projection plane including an image object plane comprising an electronic light valve, means forming at least a plurality of images on said electronic right valve, means for controlling the image forming means so that it records a distorted image which upon projection has the fidelity of the intended image, a light source, optical means for receiving light from said light source and forming a plurality of beams and directing said beams to the images on said electronic light valve, a plurality of projecting lenses positioned to receive light from said light valve image and direct the light from each image in registration on said projection plane to form an image on said plane.

19. A projection apparatus as in Claim 18 wherein said images are reflective images.

20. A projection apparatus as in Claim 18 wherein said beams are of light having different wavelengths.

21. A projection apparatus as in Claim 20 in which said optical means includes a single condensor lens to illuminate the projection lenses.

22. A projection apparatus as in Claim 21 in which said projector lenses are multielement lenses in which the power is concentrated primarily in the inner elements and achromatizaton is concentrated primarily in the outer elements to provide lenses with front to rear surface lengths less than half the focal length to provide a compact design with relatively small off-axis angle, high resolution and low distortion.

23. An apparatus for projecting an image on a protection plane including an image object plane comprising an electronic light valve, means forming a light beam, means for scanning the electronic light valve with the light beam to form at least one image on said electronic light valve, means for controlling the light beam so that it records a distorted image which upon projection compensates for aberrations in the optics and to project the intended image on an image plane

24 61051-2069 means for controlling the light beam so that it records a distorted image which upon projection compensates for aberrations in the optics and to project the intended image on an image plane with high fidelity, a light source, optical means for receiving light from said light source and forming at least one beam and directing said beam to said electronic light valve image, and at least one projecting lens positioned to receive light from said light valve image and direct the light to said projection plane to form an image on said plane.

24. An apparatus as in Claim 23 including means at the image plane for sensing the position of the image, and means for controlling the position of the light beam responsive to the position sensed by the positioning sensing means.

25. An apparatus as in claim 23 including means for scanning the light beam to form multiple images on said electronic light valve, and including multiple projection lenses to project said images in registration on an image receiving surface.

26. An apparatus as in Claim 25 in which the electronic light valve operates in the reflective mode whereby images are reflected and projected.

27. An apparatus as in Claim 26 which includes a single condenser to illuminate the image and projection lens.