Patents by Inventor Yoshihiro Maeda

Yoshihiro Maeda 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: 7944605
    Abstract: A color display apparatus includes a color changeover unit for changing over colors of an illumination light or a projection light, and a control circuit for applying a video signal for generating a control signal for controlling a spatial light modulator, wherein the control circuit further applying the video signal for generating a control signal during a transition period when the illumination and/or the projection light are projected with a first color coexisting with a second color as the color changeover unit changing over the colors of the illumination light or projection light from the first color to the second color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Taro Endo, Yoshihiro Maeda, Akira Shirai, Fusao Ishii
  • Patent number: 7933059
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a mirror device that comprises 1) a mirror element for modulating incident light emitted from a light source and for controlling the reflecting direction of incident light, and 2) a coolant flow channel for containing and flowing a liquid coolant through the flow channel to carry away heat generated in the mirror device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Nishino, Yoshihiro Maeda, Fusao Ishii
  • Patent number: 7933060
    Abstract: The present invention provides a spatial light modulator, comprising a mirror modulating a light emitted from a light source, wherein the mirror is further controlled to operate with at least three stationary states whereby an image is projected with a gray scale expression through a combination of modulation of the light operated in the three stationary states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Fusao Ishii, Naoya Sugimoto, Hirotoshi Ichikawa, Yoshihiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 7911680
    Abstract: A mirror device comprises: a plurality of electrodes disposed on a substrate; a hinge connected to at least one of the electrodes; a mirror connected to the hinge and corresponding to at least one of the electrodes. The mirror device further comprises a barrier layer is disposed between the hinge and mirror, and/or between the hinge and electrode. Also noted is a mirror device production method for producing such-configured mirror device. Furthermore, this invention discloses a projection apparatus implemented with a mirror device manufactured and assembled according to the configuration as described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Fusao Ishii, Yoshihiro Maeda, Hirotoshi Ichikawa, Naoya Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7907325
    Abstract: A method for controlling a micromirror device including mirror elements each composed of a micromirror supported on a substrate by an elastic hinge, and a address electrode arranged across the deflection axis of the micromirror comprises deflecting the micromirror by changing a potential to a predetermined waveform for the address electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Maeda, Fusao Ishii, Hirokazu Nishino, Kazuma Arai
  • Patent number: 7907320
    Abstract: A micromirror device comprises a plurality of mirrors arranged on a substrate, an elastic hinge for supporting each mirror to be deflectable, an address electrode having first and second regions arranged across the deflection axis of each mirror, a driving circuit for controlling a deflection of the mirror, and a stopper provided in a position of making contact with the mirror in a deflected state of the mirror. When the mirror makes contact with the stopper, the potential of the mirror or the stopper changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Maeda, Fusao Ishii, Hirokazu Nishino, Kazuma Arai
  • Publication number: 20110058247
    Abstract: A micromirror device includes an elastic hinge for supporting a mirror on a substrate, and an address electrode for deflecting the mirror. The device further includes a protective layer and an oriented monolayer laid to cover a stopper also functioning as an address electrode provided below the mirror and between the mirror and the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Maeda, Fusao Ishii, Kazuhiro Watanabe, Hirotoshi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7880736
    Abstract: This invention provides a display control system that includes: a) a micromirror array comprising a plurality of mirrors; b) a first control function for controlling the mirrors in a first state; c) a second control function for controlling the mirrors in a second state; d) and a switchover controller for switching from the first state to second state, or from the second state to first state, wherein the switchover controller switches the state of at least two mirrors simultaneously at a same predetermined point within a frame period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Fusao Ishii, Taro Endo, Yoshihiro Maeda, Kazuma Arai, Hirokazu Nishino
  • Patent number: 7880952
    Abstract: A micromirror device includes an elastic hinge for supporting a mirror on a substrate, and an address electrode for deflecting the mirror. The device further includes a protective layer and an oriented monolayer laid to cover a stopper also functioning as an address electrode provided below the mirror and between the mirror and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Maeda, Fusao Ishii, Kazuhiro Watanabe, Hirotoshi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7876488
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mirror device, comprising: a substrate; a mirror disposed approximately in parallel to the substrate above the substrate; and a hinge supported on and extended approximately perpendicularly from the substrate for supporting the mirror, wherein the hinge is connected to the mirror with a first edge part of the hinge buried in the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Maeda, Fusao Ishii, Hirotoshi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7876492
    Abstract: The present invention provides a spatial light modulator, comprising: a plurality of mirror elements; a plurality of address electrodes for controlling the movement of each of the mirror elements; and first and second control circuits for generating a voltage in the address electrode, wherein the second control circuit applies a voltage to the address electrode when the mirror element is in a moving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Naoya Sugimoto, Kazuma Arai, Yoshihiro Maeda, Fusao Ishii
  • Patent number: 7869115
    Abstract: The present invention provides a display apparatus, comprising: a light source; at least one spatial light modulator for modulating a luminous flux emitted from the light source; and controller for processing video image information, which is input, and controlling the light source and the spatial light modulator, wherein the controller controls the light source and the spatial light modulator so as to perform pulse emission of the light source during a period shorter than a period in which the spatial light modulator is controlled under a modulation state and also controls the light source so as to modulate the pulse emission during a period shorter than a period in which the spatial light modulator is controlled under a modulation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Taro Endo, Kazuma Arai, Yoshihiro Maeda, Fusao Ishii
  • Patent number: 7848005
    Abstract: The present invention provides a spatial light modulator, comprising: a plurality of row lines each connected to a plurality of memory circuits; and a plurality of word lines and a plurality of plate lines connected to the memory circuits for selecting and controlling sets of the memory circuits connected to the selected row lines at pre-designated times for each of the row lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Naoya Sugimoto, Kazuma Arai, Akira Shirai, Fusao Ishii, Yoshihiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 7839561
    Abstract: A micromirror device comprises a plurality of mirrors arranged on a substrate, an elastic hinge for supporting each mirror to be deflectable in a plurality of directions, an address electrode composed of first and second regions that are arranged across the deflection axis of each mirror, and a driving circuit for controlling the mirror to deflect in the directions of the first and the second regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Maeda, Fusao Ishii, Hirokazu Nishino, Kazuma Arai
  • Patent number: 7835062
    Abstract: A mirror device comprises: a plurality of electrodes disposed on a substrate; a hinge connected to at least one of the electrodes; a mirror connected to the hinge and corresponding to at least one of the electrodes, wherein a barrier layer is comprised between the hinge and mirror, and/or between the hinge and electrode. Also noted is a mirror device production method for producing such-configured mirror device. Further noted is a projection apparatus comprising such-configured mirror device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Fusao Ishii, Yoshihiro Maeda, Hirotoshi Ichikawa, Naoya Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20100284057
    Abstract: A mirror device comprises: a plurality of electrodes disposed on a substrate; a hinge connected to at least one of the electrodes; a mirror connected to the hinge and corresponding to at least one of the electrodes, wherein a barrier layer is comprised between the hinge and mirror, and/or between the hinge and electrode. Also noted is a mirror device production method for producing such-configured mirror device. Further noted is a projection apparatus comprising such-configured mirror device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Fusao Ishii, Yoshihiro Maeda, Hirotoshi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7817330
    Abstract: A projection apparatus includes a light source for emitting a light including at least two different wavelengths; a light source control circuit for controlling a light source to emit the light as pulse emissions with a pulse modulation control; at least two spatial light modulators each comprises plurality of pixel elements are arranged in an array; a spatial light modulator control circuit for selectively controlling a modulation state of the respective pixel elements in each of the spatial light modulators in accordance with image data corresponding to the respective pixel elements; and the light source control circuit controls the light source so that a starting time of a pulse emission period of the pulse emissions of at least one of the wavelengths emitted from the light source is different from a modulation control timing of the pixel element of the spatial light modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuma Arai, Yoshihiro Maeda, Fusao Ishii
  • Patent number: 7796321
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator supported on a device substrate includes a plurality of light modulation elements to modulate a light emitted from a light source. The spatial light modulator and the device substrate further comprises a cyclic structure on a surface of the spatial light modulator and/or the device substrate for preventing a reflection of the incident light from the cyclic structure. In an exemplary embodiment the cyclic structure includes cyclic structural elements having a distance between two cyclic elements shorter than the wavelength of an incident light for preventing a reflection of the incident light from the cyclic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Ichikawa, Yoshihiro Maeda, Fusao Ishii
  • Publication number: 20100214646
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image projection system comprising a spatial light modulator (SLM) comprises a plurality of pixel elements, wherein each of the pixel elements further comprises a deflectable mirror, and at least a first electrode and a second electrode for controlling the deflectable mirror to deflect to different tilt angles to reflect and modulate an illumination light for displaying an image; and a controller for applying a voltage to the second electrode wherein the voltage applied in an initial operation period is different from the voltage applied in an image display period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Naoya Sugimoto, Yoshihiro Maeda, Fusao Ishii
  • Patent number: 7782524
    Abstract: The mirror device comprising a plurality of deflectable mirrors for reflecting light, wherein the mirror is controllable to deflect to a first direction during an incident period with the light incident to the deflectable mirror and at an end of the incident period the mirror is controllable to deflect to a second direction opposite to the first direction during a non-incidence period in which the light is not incident to the present mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Shirai, Yoshihiro Maeda, Hirokazu Nishino, Fusao Ishii