A light engine that provides a polarized light engine image, comprising:na light source that has a front surface comprising a first region and a second region;a collection lens that collects the non-collimated light from the front surface and that provides incompletely collimated light from the front surface;a collimating lens that receives the incompletely collimated light and that provides a substantially collimated image of the front surface;a polarizing filter that receives the collimated image of the front surface, the polarizing filter passing a polarized portion of the collimated image as a direct component of the polarized light engine image, and the polarizing filter reflecting a recycled image back to the front surface, the front surface providing the recycled image as a recycled component of the polarized light engine image; andthe polarizing filter comprising a non-orthogonal shape that shifts portions of the recycled component relative to the direct component, to increase brightness uniformity of the polarized light engine image.
›2.↳ 1The light engine of claim 1 wherein the non-orthogonal shape of the polarizing filter is selected from the group of a tilted polarizing filter shape a…d2
The light engine of claim 1 wherein the non-orthogonal shape of the polarizing filter is selected from the group of a tilted polarizing filter shape and a curved polarizing filter shape.
›3.↳ 1The light engine of claim 1 wherein the filter shape comprises a curved, convex face that faces the collimating lens.d2
The light engine of claim 1 wherein the filter shape comprises a curved, convex face that faces the collimating lens.
›4.↳ 1The light engine of claim 1 wherein the first region comprises an array of light emitting diodes.d2+2
The light engine of claim 1 wherein the first region comprises an array of light emitting diodes.
›5.↳ 4The light engine of claim 4 wherein the array of light emitting diodes emit white light.d3
The light engine of claim 4 wherein the array of light emitting diodes emit white light.
›6.↳ 4The light engine of claim 4 wherein the array of light emitting diodes sequentially emit red, green and blue light.d3
The light engine of claim 4 wherein the array of light emitting diodes sequentially emit red, green and blue light.
›7.↳ 1The light engine of claim 1 wherein the collection lens and the light source are combined in an encapsulated light emitting diode ball lens.d2
The light engine of claim 1 wherein the collection lens and the light source are combined in an encapsulated light emitting diode ball lens.
›8.↳ 1The light engine of claim 1 wherein the collimating lens comprises at least one Fresnel lens.d2
The light engine of claim 1 wherein the collimating lens comprises at least one Fresnel lens.
›9.↳ 1The light engine of claim 1 wherein the collimating lens comprises at least one convex lens.d2
The light engine of claim 1 wherein the collimating lens comprises at least one convex lens.
›10.↳ 1The light engine of claim 1 wherein the first region includes a light emitting diode that emits a pattern of optical brightness that is off-center rel…d2
The light engine of claim 1 wherein the first region includes a light emitting diode that emits a pattern of optical brightness that is off-center relative to a light emitting diode center, and the non-orthogonal polarizing filter improves centering of the polarized light engine image.
›11.↳ 1The light engine of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second regions comprises a phosphor.d2
The light engine of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second regions comprises a phosphor.
›12.↳ 1The light engine of claim 1 wherein the second region comprises a reflective surface.d2
The light engine of claim 1 wherein the second region comprises a reflective surface.
›13.↳ 1The light engine of claim 1 wherein the light engine image has substantially the same size as the collimated image.d2
The light engine of claim 1 wherein the light engine image has substantially the same size as the collimated image.
›14.↳ 1The light engine of claim 1 wherein the light engine image comprises a collimated image.d2
The light engine of claim 1 wherein the light engine image comprises a collimated image.
›15.↳ 1The light engine of claim 1 and further comprising a quarter wave plate disposed between the light source and the polarizing filter.d2
The light engine of claim 1 and further comprising a quarter wave plate disposed between the light source and the polarizing filter.
›16.↳ 1The light engine of claim 1 wherein the substantially collimated image of the front surface comprises recycled light.d2
The light engine of claim 1 wherein the substantially collimated image of the front surface comprises recycled light.
›17.↳ 1The light engine of claim 1 wherein the light engine does not include a light tunnel.d2
The light engine of claim 1 wherein the light engine does not include a light tunnel.
›18.↳ 1The light engine of claim 1 wherein the recycled image comprises an autocollimated image relative to the front surface.d2
The light engine of claim 1 wherein the recycled image comprises an autocollimated image relative to the front surface.
›19.↳ 1The light engine of claim 1 wherein the collection lens, the collimating lens, the polarizing filter, and the polarized light engine image are aligned…d2
The light engine of claim 1 wherein the collection lens, the collimating lens, the polarizing filter, and the polarized light engine image are aligned along a common optical axis.
›20.↳ 1The light engine of claim 1 wherein the polarizing filter comprises multilayer optical polarizing film.d2
The light engine of claim 1 wherein the polarizing filter comprises multilayer optical polarizing film.
›21.↳ 1The light engine of claim 1 wherein the light source and the collection lens are portions of a light emitting diode compound encapsulant lens.d2
The light engine of claim 1 wherein the light source and the collection lens are portions of a light emitting diode compound encapsulant lens.
