Patent attributes
A projector includes a light source, an integrating rod, an image panel, a beam shaper, and an actuator mechanically connected to the beam shaper. The image panel is configured to display an image at a displayed aspect ratio. The beam shaper includes multiple prisms shaped and oriented such that when the beam shaper intersects an optical path of the illumination between the integrating rod and the image panel, the illumination transmitted by the beam shaper is collinear with the illumination incident on the beam shaper. The actuator is configured to switch the projector between (i) a first configuration, in which the beam shaper does not change an aspect ratio of the illumination, and (ii) a second configuration, in which the beam shaper intersects the optical path between the integrating rod and the image panel and changes the aspect ratio of the illumination.
