Patents by Inventor Nobuo Minoura

Nobuo Minoura 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).

  • Patent number: 5696852
    Abstract: An image signal processing apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus to process image signal, wherein an input image signal is corrected and made into a sharp and visually preferred image signal through such composition that an outline correction signal which has been non-linearly processed corresponding to the outline section of the input image signal is formed, the formed outline section correcting signal is added to the delayed image signal to be output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Minoura, Masaaki Kanashiki
  • Patent number: 5690772
    Abstract: A method for mass-producing eccentric Fresnel lens sheets comprising the steps of: preparing a number of concentric Fresnel lens sheets; dividing the concentric Fresnel lens sheets into a first set and a second set each including a plurality of Fresnel lens sheets; cutting out a plurality of first sheets each corresponding to one portion of the eccentric Fresnel lens sheet from each of the Fresnel lens sheets of the first set; cutting out a plurality of second sheets each corresponding to the other portion of the eccentric Fresnel lens sheet from each of the Fresnel lens sheets of the second set; and bonding each of the first sheets and each of the second sheets in such a manner that patterns on the first sheet and the second sheet are continuous to prepare a plurality of eccentric Fresnel lens sheet. The second set can include a third set and a fourth set and a plurality of third sheets are cut out from the third set and a plurality of fourth sheets are cut out from the fourth set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Mitsutake, Nobuo Minoura, Katsumi Kurematsu, Haruyuki Yanagi
  • Patent number: 5631750
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device for controlling scattering of light beams incident upon a liquid crystal layer so as to modulate the light beams includes: a first lens array having lenses corresponding to the liquid crystal layer, the lenses causing the light beams transmitted from the liquid crystal layer, the lenses causing the light beams transmitted from the liquid crystal layer to travel toward a focal plane; a mask for shielding scattered light transmitted from the first lens array as well as allowing non-scattered light to pass through, the mask having a plurality of aperture portions which are formed along the focal plane to correspond to the lenses of the first lens array so as to allow non-scattered light transmitted from corresponding lenses to pass through; and a second lens array having lenses arranged to correspond to the aperture portions of the mask, the lenses substantially collimating the non-scattered light transmitted from corresponding aperture portions of the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Minoura, Hidetoshi Suzuki, Katsumi Kurematsu, Kazuo Yoshinaga, Hideaki Mitsutake
  • Patent number: 5540858
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing a display layer between a pair of electrode plates. The display layer comprises a mesomorphic polymer and a low-molecular weight mesomorphic compound. The mesomorphic polymer may preferably be a main chain-type ferroelectric mesomorphic polymer having an ester linkage or a mesomorphic polymer derived from a polymerizable mesomorphic compound. The display layer may preferably comprise a ferroelectric mesomorphic polymer having a dielectric anisotropy .DELTA..epsilon. of -3.0 or below and a low-molecular weight mesomorphic compound incompatible with the mesomorphic polymer and having a positive dielectric anisotropy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Yoshinaga, Hidetoshi Suzuki, Katsumi Kurematsu, Yomishi Toshida, Toshikazu Ohnishi, Hideaki Mitsutake, Nobuo Minoura, Koichi Sato, Takeo Eguchi
  • Patent number: 5483299
    Abstract: The television apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus which displays an image corresponding to the television signal, is so arranged that the picture quality of an image signal can be adjusted according to the projection condition of the image when the image corresponding to the image signal is projected, so that the optimum image may be projected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuo Minoura
  • Patent number: 5461500
    Abstract: This specification discloses a polarization converting apparatus having means emitting non-polarized light, and polarizing means having a light incidence surface and a light emergence surface, the polarizing means receiving the non-polarized light by the light incidence surface and causing polarized light to emerge from the light emergence surface, the size and shape of the light incidence surface being similar to the size and cross-sectional shape of the non-polarized light. The specification also discloses an optical instrument having such apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sadahiko Tsuji, Hidetoshi Suzuki, Hideaki Mitsutake, Katsumi Kurematsu, Noritaka Mochizuki, Nobuo Minoura, Shigeru Kawasaki, Kazumi Kimura, Junko Shingaki
  • Patent number: 5446510
    Abstract: An image display apparatus has a radiation source, generator for generating an image by modulating a polarized light beam and directing device for directing a light beam from the radiation source toward the generator. The directing device has a conversion optical system for converting the beam from the radiation source into the polarized light beam. The conversion optical system has a polarizing beam splitter for splitting the beam from the radiation source into a first and second beams. In the conversion optical system, a 1/4 wavelength plate and a mirror are arranged so that the plane of polarization of the first beam is rotated to generate a third beam with the plane of polarization same as that of the second beam. The third beam is directed toward the generator through the polarizing beam splitter while the second beam is also directed toward the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Mitsutake, Nobuo Minoura, Kazumi Kimura, Katsumi Kurematsu
  • Patent number: 5390050
    Abstract: An eccentric Fresnel lens is formed from a concentric Fresnel lens sheet or Fresnel lens sheet mold. The concentric Fresnel lens sheet or mold is cut to produce an eccentric Fresnel lens having a center offset from the optical axis of the concentric Fresnel lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruyuki Yanagi, Nobuo Minoura, Katsumi Kurematsu, Hideaki Mitsutake
  • Patent number: 5387953
    Abstract: A polarization illumination device and projector having the polarization illumination device are provided. An example of the polarization illumination device comprises an illuminator and a polarized including a polarization splitting surface and a reflecting surface, the splitting surface and the reflecting surface form an inverted V shape. The splitting surface splits part of the light into a transmitted component and a reflected component and directs the former in a first direction and the latter toward the reflecting surface. The reflecting surface reflects a remaining part of the light and directs it toward the splitting surface. The splitting surface splits the remaining part of the light into a transmitted component and a reflected component. The former directed toward a second direction different from the first direction, and the latter is returned to the illuminator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Minoura, Kazumi Kimura
  • Patent number: 5372745
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing a display layer between a pair of electrode plates. The display layer comprises a mesomorphic polymer and a low-molecular weight mesomorphic compound. The mesomorphic polymer may preferably be a main chain-type mesomorphic polymer having an ester linkage or a mesomorphic polymer derived from a polymerizable mesomorphic compound. The display layer may preferably comprise a mesomorphic polymer having a dielectric anisotropy .DELTA..epsilon. of -3.0 or below and a low-molecular weight mesomorphic compound incompatible with the mesomorphic polymer and having a positive dielectric anisotropy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Yoshinaga, Hidetoshi Suzuki, Katsumi Kurematsu, Yomishi Toshida, Toshikazu Ohnishi, Hideaki Mitsutake, Nobuo Minoura, Koichi Sato, Takeo Eguchi
  • Patent number: 5337092
    Abstract: The television apparatus of the present invention is a apparatus which displays an image corresponding to a television signal, where an image signal is received and, by use of the received image signal, a first image signal and a second image signal are generated, between which time axis is deviated by n times (n is an integral number of 2 n 10) of horizontal scanning period, and by providing a cathod ray tube which simultaneously emits a first electron beam corresponding to the first image signal and a second electron beam corresponding to the second image signal, so that a high precision picture can be displayed and at the same time the brightness of display can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Inventor: Nobuo Minoura
  • Patent number: 5333021
    Abstract: A projector has means for supplying first and second radiation beams, first image generating means for modulating a plurality of portions of the first radiation beam individually and forming a deflected beam and a non-deflected beam to generate a first image, second image generating means for modulating a plurality of portions of the second radiation beam individually and forming a deflected beam and a non-deflected beam to generate a second image, and means for projecting the first and second images onto a predetermined plane by the use of one of the deflected beams and the non-deflected beams from the first and second image generating means, the first and second image generating means emitting the deflected beams so that most of the deflected beam from one of the generating means may substantially not enter the other generating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Mitsutake, Hidetoshi Suzuki, Katsumi Kurematsu, Kazuo Yoshinaga, Nobuo Minoura
  • Patent number: 5276523
    Abstract: There is disclosed a video projector provided with automatic focusing function. An image is generated on a liquid crystal light valve according to the video signal, and this image is projected through a projection lens system. The aberration between the focal plane of the projection lens system and the projection surface, such as a screen, is detected, and the focal plane is shifted according to thus detected aberration, in such a manner that the focal plane coincides with the projection surface or screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurematsu, Nobuo Minoura
  • Patent number: 5267029
    Abstract: An image projector has a device for supplying a first light exhibiting a first color and a second light exhibiting a second color differing from the first color, a first generator for modulating the first light and generating a first image by polarized lights whose planes of polarization are orthogonal to each other, a second generator for modulating the second light and generating a second image by polarized lights whose planes of polarization are orthogonal to each other, an optical coupler for reflecting one of the polarized lights from the first generator and transmitting the other therethrough and transmitting therethrough one of the polarized lights from the second generator and reflecting the other, and a projection optical system for receiving the one polarized light from the first generator and the one polarized light from the second generator through the coupler, and projecting the first and second images by these polarized lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurematsu, Shigeru Oshima, Nobuo Minoura
  • Patent number: 5237435
    Abstract: A projector capable of compactizing the structure and improving the efficiency of light utilization is disclosed. The projector has an illuminating system, a light modulation device and a projection optical system. A first and a second lights of mutually different colors are emitted from the illumination optical system. The light modulating device has a first light modulator for modulating the first light according to a first image signal and a second light modulator for modulating the second light according to a second image signal. Each of the first and second light modulators is provided with a grating, a liquid crystal filled in the grooves of the grating and a driver for driving the molecules of the liquid crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurematsu, Shigeru Oshima, Nobuo Minoura
  • Patent number: 5210610
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus by which, in the image display corresponding to a image signal, image signal is processed to adjust the contrast of the picture so as to provide automatically the contrast adjustment most suitable for respective level of image signal, thereby improving the quality of the picture by regulating the level of the image signal according to the information showing the distribution status of the levels of image signals input during a specified period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Kanashiki, Nobuo Minoura
  • Patent number: 5208620
    Abstract: A display apparatus comprises a projecting device for projecting an image, with the projecting device having a projection optical system having a limited pupil diameter and screen device arranged at a position where an image is substantially projected by the projecting device. The screen device has at least two sheets in each of which a number of prisms extending like a straight line or a curve are formed on the surface on the side opposite to the projecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Mitsutake, Nobuo Minoura, Katsumi Kurematsu, Haruyuki Yanagi
  • Patent number: 5191472
    Abstract: An image display apparatus comprises an image projection system having a projecting optical system, and a screen for displaying an image by receiving the image light deflected by a mirror system. The screen has a plurality of sheets one of which contains a group of cylindrical lenses which act as light transmitting areas and light blocking areas arranged on an image light exit plane along the direction of arrangement of the cylindrical lenses. The screen arrangement is capable of blocking undesirable reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurematsu, Nobuo Minoura, Haruyuki Yanagi, Hideaki Mitsutake
  • Patent number: 5170194
    Abstract: A reflection type liquid crystal light valve comprises a first transparent substrate, a second transparent substrate for supporting the liquid crystal layer together with the first transparent substrate therebetween, a driver for driving liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer to modulate a light directed to the liquid crystal layer through the first transparent substrate, and a heat sink substrate attached to the second transparent substrate and having a reflection plane for reflecting the light directed thereto through the second transparent substrate to the first transparent substrate, on a plane thereof facing the second transparent substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurematsu, Nobuo Minoura, Haruyuki Yanagi, Masaaki Kanashiki
  • Patent number: 5153752
    Abstract: A liquid crystal type video projector is disclosed which has a reflection type optical modulator for effective use of beams from a radiation source such as a lamp or the like. The projector further comprises means for modulating the plane of polarization of a polarized beam entering the radiation source and for reflecting the polarized beam, thereby causing a reflection beam and an optical arrangement. The optical arrangement includes a first polarizing beam splitter for separating the beam from the radiation source into P and S polarized components and for directing the S polarized component to the modulator and a converter for rotating the plane of polarization of the P polarized component and converting into another S polarized component for enhanced efficiency of beam utilization. It further includes a second polarizing beam splitter for reflecting the other S polarized component and directing the other S polarized component and directing to the modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurematsu, Hideaki Mitsutake, Nobuo Minoura, Haruyuki Yanagi, Masaaki Kanashiki