Changing the focal plane of a video projection?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenge of changing the focal plane of a video projection beam that needs to be divided horizontally into two separate beams. Participants explore potential solutions, including optical modifications and alternative setups, while addressing the limitations of their current projector system.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the feasibility of changing the focus plane of a split video projection beam and seeks guidance on how to achieve this.
  • Another participant suggests replacing the 45° mirror with a curved mirror but notes that this may lead to a fuzzy overlap between the two projected images. They propose using two separate projectors as an alternative.
  • A different participant dismisses the relevance of the 45° mirror to the main issue and emphasizes that using two projectors is not a viable option for their specific project.
  • Some participants propose using large flat screens in different locations as a cost-effective alternative to projectors, while others suggest strategically positioning the projector to adjust screen placements.
  • One participant expresses frustration that the complexity of their near-eye foveated screen project cannot be easily explained and insists that the proposed alternatives would not work for their needs.
  • Another participant requests additional information or a detailed explanation of the project, indicating that a comprehensive description would be beneficial for understanding the context.
  • There is mention of using pico projectors with specific specifications, which may influence the discussion on potential solutions.
  • Concerns are raised about the practicality of using two projectors due to added weight and dimensions, as well as the inefficiency of duplicating projection components.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility of using two projectors versus modifying the existing setup. There is no consensus on a single solution, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to achieve the desired projection outcome.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the complexity of the project and the limitations of their current equipment, which may affect the proposed solutions. There is also uncertainty regarding the implications of using different types of projectors and optics.

wosoka
Messages
44
Reaction score
2
A bit of unsual scenario, I need to divide a video projection beam horizontally into two. Since the splitted beams in my diagram are treated as a separate beam they have to have their focus plane changed. Is that possible to do and how would one do it?

http://image.ibb.co/jAu9x7/9241421.jpg

If this helps the resolution of the original beam is pretty low by todays standards, 856x480 pixels.
 
Science news on Phys.org
It would be hard to get into the internal optics of the projector but you could replace that 45° mirror with a curved mirror. However, the overlap between the two regions on the split image would be fuzzy. OK if you can do with an omitted part between the two images.
A large non-plane mirror could be hard to get hold of. Why not just use two video projectors, one with the left part of the image and the other with the right part?
More details of the actual setup could hep get a good answer to this.
 
you can ignore the 45 degree mirror, it is irrelevant for the issue at hand

I don't want to describe the whole project with a wall of text just to ask a single question, but I can say that obviously the easiest solution would be to use two separate projectors if that was an option but sadly isn't
 
If you can't afford two projectors then I would say you definitely can't afford of the sort of optics to do the job with just one.
An alternative approach could to be to use two large flat screens in different places. That could be cheaper still and large screens are always useful to have, once you have bough them.
Or. . . could the projector be positioned strategically, at equal distances from both screens, with a bit of adjustment of the actual screen positions?
 
It's not about not being able to afford projectors. The near-eye foveated screen project I am working on is complicated, it would take over 1000 words to describe it (which I know because I have it written down and can copy paste here), but do you really want that? Bottom lines is two projectors or flat screens won't work, if they could I wouldn't be wasting my time and complicating things.
 
wosoka said:
It's not about not being able to afford projectors. The near-eye foveated screen project I am working on is complicated, it would take over 1000 words to describe it (which I know because I have it written down and can copy paste here), but do you really want that? Bottom lines is two projectors or flat screens won't work, if they could I wouldn't be wasting my time and complicating things.
A link to a 1000 word page would be quite in order on PF. People here tend to like information and background detail.
 
Oh... give some time to generate a PDF with illustrations then
 
wosoka said:
Oh... give some time to generate a PDF with illustrations then
Or some relevant links would do. From what I can see, we could be talking in terms of small, rather than large? That could make things different.
 
Yup, pico projectors with a 30mm aprture beam and 1.2 throw ratio
 
  • #10
wosoka said:
Yup, pico projectors with a 30mm aprture beam and 1.2 throw ratio
That's good to know. So what else do we need to know?
 
  • #11
I think that's all, really. Two projectors are not suitable becaue of the extra weight and dimensions they would add and would be a waste of doulb the illuminating LEDs, DLP chips and projection optics.
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Prism Spectrometer Objective: Optics Question
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
Optics for High Resolution Laser Imaging: Finding the Best Path
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Undergrad Calculating Video Recording Capability of 4500 ft Object w/ Camcorder
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
5K
Admissions Could I please get critique on my SOP? (Experimental Biophysics)
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Studying Skipping Chapters in Stewart’s Calculus? (Pearson's Edexcel IAL Background)
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Undergrad Progress In Calculating The HLbL Contribution To Muon g-2
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
3K
Graduate How cross-section area of single E-M wave looks like?
  • · Replies 35 ·
2
Replies
35
Views
11K