Patents by Inventor John William Bowron

John William Bowron 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: 20230314924
    Abstract: A system may include a projector subsystem in a theatre projecting fight toward a screen, a sensor measuring light levels of the projected light, and a processing device. The projector subsystem may project light such that there is a hazardous light area and a non-hazardous light area of an audience seating area. The processing device may receive a measured light level of projected light from the sensor. The processing device may determine a second light level between the hazardous light area and the non-hazardous light area based on the measured light level and the position of the light projected over the audience seating area. The processing device may compare the second light level to an unsafe threshold light level. The processing device may determine a configuration for the system such that the light level of projected light in the non-hazardous light area is less than the unsafe threshold light level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: John William Bowron, Paul Constantinou, Anton Leonard Baljet
  • Patent number: 9720314
    Abstract: A theatre system is described that includes a screen and a projection system. The projection system includes a first mirror and a second mirror that are positionable within axes for imaged light and between projection lenses of projectors and the screen. The axes include a first axis and a second axis. The first mirror and the second mirror are configured for causing the first axis and the second axis to be parallel to each other and to have a displacement between the first axis and second axis along a dimension by which the screen is curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: IMAX Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Charles Read, John William Bowron
  • Publication number: 20160054648
    Abstract: A theatre system is described that includes a screen and a projection system. The projection system includes a first mirror and a second mirror that are positionable within axes for imaged light and between projection lenses of projectors and the screen. The axes include a first axis and a second axis. The first mirror and the second mirror are configured for causing the first axis and the second axis to be parallel to each other and to have a displacement between the first axis and second axis along a dimension by which the screen is curved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Steven Charles Read, John William Bowron
  • Patent number: 9091860
    Abstract: Systems and methods configured for outputting light having a polarization state distribution that is spatially uniform by applying a correction to, for example, a beam of light with a spatially uniform polarization state distribution that has been altered (unintentionally or otherwise) to become spatially non-uniform are described. A projection system can include an optical element and a polarization-altering device (PAD). The optical element can cause a polarization of light in the projection system to be spatially non-uniform. The PAD can change the polarization state distribution of the light spatially based on an amount of spatial non-uniformity on the light caused by the optical element and before the light enters the optical element. The projection system can output the light having a spatially uniform polarization state distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: IMAX Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Charles Read, John William Bowron
  • Patent number: 7077528
    Abstract: A digital projection display system includes one or more digital projection displays. Each digital projection display has an external light source producing as an output a light beam, an internal optics system, and a housing in which the internal optics system is received, but wherein the external light source is located external to the housing. A display screen forms one face of the housing. Preferably, an optical fiber extends from the output of the external light source to an input of the internal optics system. Multiple digital projection displays may be illuminated by a single external light source using multiple optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: John William Bowron, Blaise Rene Robitaille, Peter Duffield, Paul LoRegio
  • Patent number: 6997564
    Abstract: A digital projection display includes a light source producing a light beam, and an integrator, an illumination lens, an illumination fold mirror, a light director, and a digital light modulator which sequentially process the light beam. The digital projection display further has a projection lens that receives the spatially modulated light beam from the light director and includes two projection lens elements. A projection lens fold mirror is disposed between the two projection lens elements. A projection fold mirror receives the light beam from the projection lens and redirects the light beam to a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Blaise Rene Robitaille, John William Bowron
  • Patent number: 6992830
    Abstract: A projection display includes a light source, a spatial light modulator that receives a light from the light source, and an angle-selective coating disposed to receive the light beam from the spatial light modulator. The angle-selective coating is oriented at a non-zero inclination angle to the light beam. The angle-selective coating has a higher transmission for light that is incident upon the angle-selective coating at an incidence angle within an acceptance-angle deviation from a design incidence angle, than for light that is incident upon the angle-selective coating at an incidence angle greater than the acceptance-angle deviation from the design incidence angle. The projection display preferably includes a TIR (total internal reflection) prism disposed to reflect a light beam from the light source to the spatial light modulator, and to receive the light beam from the spatial light modulator. The angle-selective coating is preferably buried within the TIR prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Daniel Bruce Mitchell, John William Bowron
  • Patent number: 5860721
    Abstract: A pixellated light valve projector with optical image resizing, comprising: a) a lamp and optical integrator for generating a rectangular beam of light according to a predetermined aspect ratio; b) a pixellated panel for generating a rectangular image of a video signal in any one of a plurality of native pixel formats; c) a relay optical system intermediate the optical integrator and the pixellated panel for automatically concentrating the light onto the image in accordance with the one of the plurality of native pixel formats; d) a projection screen; and e) a projection lens for projecting the image onto the projection screen so that the projected image fills the projection screen in accordance with the one of the plurality of native pixel formats while image brightness level is maintained by concentrating the light onto the image on the pixellated panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Electrohome Limited
    Inventors: John William Bowron, Terrence Carl Schmidt