IMAGE PROJECTOR WITH MULTIPLE IMAGERS

Disclosed are a system and method for microprojection that uses multiple imagers to produce a high resolution output image. Light created for use by the microprojector is split by a polarization-sensitive element into a number of beams. Each polarized beam is then sent to an imager. Each imager modulates the light beam to produce a portion of the final image. Another polarization-sensitive element directs the individual image portions through a projection lens system so that when they are projected, the individual image portions tile together into a seamless projected image. This technique uses essentially all of the original light, doubling the lighting efficiency of previous devices. Because the height of the individual imagers is smaller than the height of a monolithic imager, they can fit into a very thin device. The combined image has a resolution equal to the sum of the resolutions of the individual imagers.