Patents by Inventor Eberhard Piehler

Eberhard Piehler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20140049819
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical projection system for a display, and more particularly to an optical projection system for a head-up display with improved light efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Sypro Optics GmbH
    Inventor: Eberhard PIEHLER
  • Publication number: 20130342905
    Abstract: The optical projection system according to the invention for a display has an imaging display unit, which emits image information at least partly in the form of unpolarized light, and imaging optics, wherein the imaging optics are configured to present a virtual image of image information generated by the display unit in a display area, and wherein the imaging optics are further configured to split the light emitted by the display unit into two partial beam paths each having a different polarization, to rotate the polarization direction of at least one of the two partial beam paths and to subsequently superimpose the two partial beam paths and to present them as a virtual image display in the display area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventor: Eberhard Piehler
  • Publication number: 20100103387
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rear project device, comprising a screen, projection optics, and an image module for generating an image, which is projected from the rear onto the screen by means of the projection optics, so that an observer located in front of the screen can perceive the image projected onto the screen. Furthermore, a method for such a rear projection apparatus is described. To this end, a Fresnel mirror, or an aspherical mirror, is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Eberhard Piehler, Gudrun Schroeter, Guenther Benedix, Gertrud Blei, Thomas Maack
  • Publication number: 20100091249
    Abstract: A projector for projecting light onto a projection surface includes a first group (1) with a negative meniscus, a second group (2) with positive refractive power, a third group (3) with a single lens, a fourth group (4) with a lens with positive refractive power, and a field lens (5) with positive refractive power, such that the light passes through the projection objective from the fourth to the first group. In order to be provide a high image quality with a small number of optical components and the smallest dimensions, the projector is configured so the common focal width of the fourth group (4) and the field lens (5) is smaller than twice the image circle diameter (9) of the projection objective and the maximum free diameter (8) is smaller than the overall focal width, and in particular smaller than 0.8 times the overall focal width of the projection objective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Guenther Benedix, Gurdrun Schroeter, Gertrud Blei, Rainer Fischer, Eberhard Piehler
  • Patent number: 7517094
    Abstract: In a projection device including a reflective light modulator for generating an image, a light source unit for illuminating the light modulator, and projection optics which include first and second partial optics, the projection optics have an optical axis. Each optical boundary surface of each lens of the first partial optics is curved and/or arranged such that, in a reference plane in which the optical axis of the projection optics is located and which is divided by the optical axis into upper and lower half-planes, each reflection ray bundle exiting the first partial optics proceeds completely either into the first or into the second half-plane. Thus, the invention prevents the reflection ray bundles from being projected onto the projection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH
    Inventor: Eberhard Piehler
  • Publication number: 20070177107
    Abstract: This invention involves a lighting arrangement for color image projection with at least two lighting units, whose light will hit image-forming elements, such as DMDs or grating light valves via optical elements, so that a subsequent optical projection system will project a multi-colored image on a projection surface. This invention shows that the illuminating optical paths will hit one or more image-forming elements from different directions and that once they pass the image-forming element or elements, they will be combined into one common optical projection path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Eberhard Piehler
  • Publication number: 20060250582
    Abstract: The invention concerns a design for generating a multi color image over a projection surface to be applied in digital projectors with reflective LCD chips (LCoS) as image generating elements, in which the light stream, emitted from a white light source, passes over a color modulator, a polarization beam splitter or a color splitter and for the purpose of generating polarized light that divides the light from optical elements in two partial light streams of different polarization planes at the image generating elements and the light portions that serve for generating the images produced by the image generating elements will be reflected in the projection objective. According to the invention, two image generating elements are intended for at least one basic color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Inventor: Eberhard Piehler
  • Publication number: 20060139581
    Abstract: In a projection device comprising including a reflective light modulator for generating an image, a light source unit for illuminating the light modulator, and projection optics which include first and second partial optics, the projection optics have an optical axis. Each optical boundary surface of each lens of the first partial optics is curved and/or arranged such that, in a reference plane in which the optical axis of the projection optics is located and which is divided by the optical axis into upper and lower half-planes, each reflection ray bundle exiting the first partial optics proceeds completely either into the first or into the second half-plane. Thus, the invention prevents the reflection ray bundles from being projected onto the projection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventor: Eberhard Piehler
  • Patent number: 7001026
    Abstract: In an apparatus for projecting a picture on a projection screen, having a light source (1) emitting light, whereby a luminous area (3) can be generated with said light, having a reflective light modulator (12, 13, 14) that can receive the light emitted from the luminous area (3) and modulates it for the purpose of generating a picture, and further having a projection optics (16) arranged following the light modulator (12, 13, 14) in order to project the picture on the projection screen (17), wherein an optics system (7, 23, 31, 33, 34) is arranged in front of the light modulator (12, 13, 14), wherein the optics system images the light received from the luminous area (3) on the light modulator (12, 13, 14) on the one hand, and on the other hand images the light modulated by means of the light modulator (12, 13, 14) in order to generate a picture in the intermediate image level (ZE) that can be projected on the projection screen by the projection optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Rudolph, Eberhard Piehler, Dirk Muehlhoff
  • Patent number: 6963456
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement of optical elements in projection systems, preferably in projection modules having a changeable focal width such as for the imaging of tilt mirror matrices or for the imaging of reflective, i.e. transmissive, LCDs, whereby the optical elements (2, 3) fixed in place in mechanical holders (6, 7) are arranged so that they can be positioned on a common optical axis (5) relative to one another. According to the invention, for the purpose of accommodating the mounted optical elements (2, 3, 4), a common carrier element (1) is provided. With a minimized number of optical and mechanical elements, both the construction lengths and the diameters of the overall arrangement are reduced so that inexpensive production is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Koehler, Rainer Schnell, Guenther Benedix, Eberhard Piehler, Hans-Juergen Meissner, Bjoern Hauer
  • Publication number: 20050226480
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for the graphical reproduction of the surface of objects, in which additional prisms are placed in the path of the detection beam between a scanning prism and an optoelectric sensor. Such optical devices are particularly suited for taking fingerprints. At least one of the additional prisms located in the path of the detection beam is designed as a reflecting prism, which has an incoming beam surface and an exiting beam surface that can be located together on a prism surface, and a reflective back area onto which the incoming light falls inside the prism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 13, 2005
    Inventors: Guenther Benedix, Mathias Schulz, Eberhard Piehler
  • Patent number: 6873470
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for the visualization of information in a motor vehicle, comprising wherein an optical device for projecting at least one display image for forming a virtual image in front of or in an area of a windshield of the vehicle, wherein microchips such as DMDS or LCOs are used as image-generating elements. According to the invention, an apparatus for splitting the light flow into partial light flows is provided for the purpose of illuminating the pupil plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH
    Inventor: Eberhard Piehler
  • Patent number: 6844984
    Abstract: A projection objective having a variable focal length, preferably serving to image tilting mirror matrices or reflecting and/or transmitting LCDs, said projection objective comprising three groups of lenses (G1, G1, G3) arranged on a common optical axis, wherein, starting from the side facing the projection screen, the first lens group (G1), serving the purpose of focussing, and the second lens group (G2), serving the purpose of varying the focal length, are arranged on the optical axis in a variably positioned manner, and the third lens group (G3) is stationary. According to the invention, the following condition is met: 1.0 h max<dG2-G3<1.5 h max and s?10 mm, wherein h max is the maximum object height, dG2-G3 is the distance between the lens group G2 and the lens group G3 in a first position, and s is the object-side intercept distance or distance from the vertex to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH
    Inventors: Guenther Benedix, Eberhard Piehler
  • Publication number: 20040261517
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement of optical elements in projection systems, preferably in projection modules having a changeable focal width such as for the imaging of tilt mirror matrices or for the imaging of reflective, i.e. transmissive, LCDs, whereby the optical elements (2, 3) fixed in place in mechanical holders (6, 7) are arranged so that they can be positioned on a common optical axis (5) relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Juergen Koehler, Rainer Schnell, Guenther Benedix, Eberhard Piehler, Hans-Juergen Meissner, Bjoern Hauer
  • Patent number: 6817719
    Abstract: In an apparatus for projecting a multi-colored picture on a projection screen (17), having a light source (1) that emits multi-colored light, a color unit (9, 35), a first and a second light modulator (12, 13, 14) arranged following the color unit (9, 35), and a projection optics (16), wherein the color unit (9, 35) is illuminated with light from the light source (1) and separates light in a first and a second color and directs it on the first and second light modulator (12, 13), wherein the light modulators (12, 13, 14) modulate the light shining on them, in order to generate a color frame each of the multi-colored picture, and wherein the modulated light is superimposed to a common luminous beam by means of the color unit (9, 35), where the luminous beam illuminates the projection optics (16), and wherein an optics system (7, 23, 28, 31) that is illuminated by the common luminous beam is provided between the color unit (9, 35) and the projection optics (16) comprising a curved mirror (21, 24, 26), wherein t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Rudolph, Eberhard Piehler, Marco Pretorius, Dirk Muehlhoff
  • Publication number: 20040169830
    Abstract: In a projection arrangement comprising a light source (1) for generating a luminous field (2), a reflecting light modulator (4; 27) onto which light coming from the luminous field (2) may be directed, said light being modulated by the light modulator (4; 27) in order to generate an image, and further comprising projection optics (5; 21, 32), arranged following the light modulator, for projecting said image, the projection optics (5; 21, 32) comprise imaging optics (5; 21) including a mirror (9, 25) and a lens (6; 7; 8; 22; 23; 24) arranged between the light modulator (4; 27) and the mirror (9; 25), the light coming from the light modulator (4; 27) and reflected by the mirror (9; 25) passing twice through the lens (6; 7; 8; 22; 23; 24) and the light coming from the luminous field (2), which is directed onto the light modulator (4; 27), passing through the lens (6; 7; 8; 22; 23, 24) of the imaging optics (5; 21) only once.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Eberhard Piehler
  • Publication number: 20040125464
    Abstract: A projection objective having a variable focal length, preferably serving to image tilting mirror matrices or reflecting and/or transmitting LCDs, said projection objective comprising three groups of lenses (G1, G1, G3) arranged on a common optical axis, wherein, starting from the side facing the projection screen, the first lens group (G1), serving the purpose of focussing, and the second lens group (G2), serving the purpose of varying the focal length, are arranged on the optical axis in a variably positioned manner, and the third lens group (G3) is stationary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Guenther Benedix, Eberhard Piehler
  • Publication number: 20040119946
    Abstract: In an apparatus for projecting a picture on a projection screen, having a light source (1) emitting light, whereby a luminous area (3) can be generated with said light, having a reflective light modulator (12, 13, 14) that can receive the light emitted from the luminous area (3) and modulates it for the purpose of generating a picture, and further having a projection optics (16) arranged following the light modulator (12, 13, 14) in order to project the picture on the projection screen (17), wherein an optics system (7, 23, 31, 33, 34) is arranged in front of the light modulator (12, 13, 14), wherein the optics system images the light received from the luminous area (3) on the light modulator (12, 13, 14) on the one hand, and on the other hand images the light modulated by means of the light modulator (12, 13, 14) in order to generate a picture in the intermediate image level (ZE) that can be projected on the projection screen by the projection optics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Guenter Rudolph, Eberhard Piehler, Dirk Muehlhoff
  • Publication number: 20040100420
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for the visualization of information in a motor vehicle, comprising an optical device for projecting at least one display for forming a virtual image in front of or in an area of a windshield of the vehicle, wherein microchips such as DMDs or LCOs are used as image-generating elements. According to the invention, an apparatus for splitting the light flow into partial light flows is provided for the purpose of illuminating the pupil plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS JENA GmbH
    Inventor: Eberhard Piehler
  • Publication number: 20040051850
    Abstract: In an apparatus for projecting a multi-colored picture on a projection screen (17), having a light source (1) that emits multi-colored light, a color unit (9, 35), a first and a second light modulator (12, 13, 14) arranged following the color unit (9, 35), and a projection optics (16), wherein the color unit (9, 35) is illuminated with light from the light source (1) and separates light in a first and a second color and directs it on the first and second light modulator (12, 13), wherein the light modulators (12, 13, 14) modulate the light shining on them, in order to generate a color frame each of the multi-colored picture, and wherein the modulated light is superimposed to a common luminous beam by means of the color unit (9, 35), where the luminous beam illuminates the projection optics (16), and wherein an optics system (7, 23, 28, 31) that is illuminated by the common luminous beam is provided between the color unit (9, 35) and the projection optics (16) comprising a curved mirror (21, 24, 26), wherein t
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Guenter Rudolph, Eberhard Piehler, Marco Pretorius, Dirk Muehlhoff