Patents by Inventor Patricia M. Hughes

Patricia M. Hughes 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: 8072687
    Abstract: A front projection display device includes an optical engine including an illumination system, an imaging system, and projection optics. The projection optics include a first lens group of negative refractive power that has at least one aspheric surface. The projection optics output an image at a half field angle of at least 45°, where the image has substantially no distortion. For example, when the first lens group is placed at a distance of less than 1 meter from a viewing screen, the output image has a size of about 40 inches diagonal or greater, and requires substantially no keystone correction. In other aspects, the optical engine can be implemented in a wall-mounted projection system, a multimedia system, a compact integrated monitor system, and a portable projection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ernesto M. Rodriguez, Jr., Patricia M. Hughes, William E. Haushalter, Kai Chang Lu
  • Publication number: 20110075269
    Abstract: A front projection display device includes an optical engine including an illumination system, an imaging system, and projection optics. The projection optics include a first lens group of negative refractive power that has at least one aspheric surface. The projection optics output an image at a half field angle of at least 45°, where the image has substantially no distortion. For example, when the first lens group is placed at a distance of less than 1 meter from a viewing screen, the output image has a size of about 40 inches diagonal or greater, and requires substantially no keystone correction. In other aspects, the optical engine can be implemented in a wall-mounted projection system, a multimedia system, a compact integrated monitor system, and a portable projection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Ernesto M. Rodriguez, JR., Patricia M. Hughes, William E. Haushalter, Kia Chang Lu
  • Patent number: 7864435
    Abstract: A front projection display device includes an optical engine including an illumination system, an imaging system, and projection optics. The projection optics include a first lens group of negative refractive power that has at least one aspheric surface. The projection optics output an image at a half field angle of at least 45°, where the image has substantially no distortion. For example, when the first lens group is placed at a distance of less than 1 meter from a viewing screen, the output image has a size of about 40 inches diagonal or greater, and requires substantially no keystone correction. In other aspects, the optical engine can be implemented in a wall-mounted projection system, a multimedia system, a compact integrated monitor system, and a portable projection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ernesto M. Rodriguez, Jr., Patricia M. Hughes, William E. Haushalter, Kai Chang Lu
  • Patent number: 7850311
    Abstract: A front projection display device having a projection module and a docking station. The docking station has a base. Further, the docking station can include an extendable arm attached to the base. The projection module contains an optical engine. The optical engine includes an illumination system, an imaging system, and a wide-angle projection lens. The optical engine outputs an image at a half field angle of at least 45°. The projected image has substantially no distortion and requires substantially no keystone correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ernesto M. Rodriguez, Jr., Patricia M. Hughes, William E. Haushalter, Kai Chang Lu, Steven G. Saxe
  • Publication number: 20080137040
    Abstract: A front projection display device having a projection module and a docking station. The docking station has a base. Further, the docking station can include an extendable arm attached to the base. The projection module contains an optical engine. The optical engine includes an illumination system, an imaging system, and a wide-angle projection lens. The optical engine outputs an image at a half field angle of at least 45°. The projected image has substantially no distortion and requires substantially no keystone correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Ernesto M. Rodriguez, Patricia M. Hughes, William E. Haushalter, Kai Chang Lu, Steven G. Saxe
  • Patent number: 7342723
    Abstract: A portable projection device comprises a housing, a handle, and an optical engine. The optical engine comprises an illumination source, an imaging system, and a wide angle projection lens that includes a first lens group of negative refractive power, the first lens group having at least one aspheric surface, a second lens group, and a third lens group of positive refractive power. For the wide angle projection lens, the following Conditions (1) to (4) are satisfied: |F1/F|?4.5 (Condition (1)); 2.5?|F2/F|?6.0 (Condition (2)); 3.8?|F3/F|?5.0 (Condition (3)); and 0.8?BFL/F?1.4 (Condition (4)). The portable projection device can be implemented as a personal gaming system and can also be configured as a portable, fully integrated video gaming system that allows gamers to plug in and play at nearly any location, with only a wall or other viewing surface being used to view the projected image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ernesto M. Rodriguez, Jr., Patricia M. Hughes, Kai Chang Lu
  • Patent number: 7271964
    Abstract: A front projection display device includes an optical engine including an illumination system, an imaging system, and projection optics. The projection optics include a first lens group of negative refractive power that has at least one aspheric surface. The projection optics output an image at a half field angle of at least 45°, where the image has substantially no distortion. For example, when the first lens group is placed at a distance of less than 1 meter from a viewing screen, the output image has a size of about 40 inches diagonal or greater, and requires substantially no keystone correction. In other aspects, the optical engine can be implemented in a wall-mounted projection system, a multimedia system, a compact integrated monitor system, and a portable projection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ernesto M. Rodriguez, Jr., Patricia M. Hughes, William E. Haushalter, Kai Chang Lu
  • Patent number: 7173777
    Abstract: A wide angle projection lens includes, in sequential order from an image side, a first lens group of negative refractive power, the first lens group having at least one aspheric surface, a second lens group, and a third lens group of positive refractive power. For the wide angle projection lens, the following Conditions (1) to (4) are satisfied: |F1/F|?4.5 (Condition (1)); 2.5?|F2/F|?6.0 (Condition (2)); 3.8?|F3/F|?5.0 (Condition (3)); and 0.8?BFL/F?1.4 (Condition (4)). An optical engine, including the wide angle projection lens, can be implemented in a projection display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kai Chang Lu, Patricia M. Hughes
  • Patent number: 6530664
    Abstract: A front projection screen and associated system and method are disclosed that utilize a back structured layer and a front diffusing layer to provide improved viewable image quality. The structured layer is formed with a plurality of grooves and can operate to direct light into a defined audience view region. The diffusing layer is coupled to the structured layer and is formed from a matte polyester film to provide dry erase capability on a front surface of the diffusing layer. For example, the matte polyester film can be TEKRA Marnot XL matte Melinex polyester film. Further, the structured layer can be formed as an acrylate linear prismatic structure having a gloss white coating. The acrylate linear prismatic structure and the matte polyester film can be coupled, for example, by lamination or can be coupled by being extruded as a unitary construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dennis F. Vanderwerf, Patricia M. Hughes, Ernesto M. Rodriguez, Jr.