Color Sequential Patents (Class 348/742)
  • Patent number: 7410261
    Abstract: In an image projection system, there are at least two light illumination units producing illumination light beams of respective first and second primary colors. A first beamsplitter is disposed to split at least a portion of the first illumination light beam into sub-beams, one of which is directed to a first image-forming panel. The other sub-beam is combined with at least some of the second illumination light beam to form a light beam of mixed light that illuminates the image-forming panel. In some embodiments, the first beamsplitter is a polarizing beamsplitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Simon Magarill
  • Patent number: 7404643
    Abstract: A projector has an illumination system, an electro-optical modulator, a projection optical system, and a scanning system. The illumination system has a light source, a first lens array, a second lens array, a polarization conversion element and a superposing lens. The polarization conversion element includes a polarized light separating element and a phase plate. The polarized light separating element includes a plurality of polarized light separating prisms each of which has a polarized light separating surface and a reflection surface. The plurality of polarized light separating prisms are arranged along the one direction, and polarized light separating surfaces in the polarized light separating prisms at both ends of the polarized light separating element in one direction are constituted so as to reflect the luminous flux involving the second polarized light component in a direction approaching the illumination optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7404644
    Abstract: A time-sequential colour projector comprises a pixellated light valve (2), such as a liquid crystal device, and a plurality of light sources (30, 31, 32). The light sources (30, 31, 32) direct light on different sets of pixels of the light valve (2) via an optical system (1), such as a lens array, which focuses the light on pixels of the light valve (2). At least two of the light sources (30, 31, 32) are multiple colour light sources and the multiple colour light sources emit different colour components during each set of frames making up a complete image frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Allan Evans, Grant Bourhill, Marina V. Khazova
  • Patent number: 7397484
    Abstract: A method of displaying an image including receiving a plurality of corresponding to an image data, wherein each of the plurality of frames includes a plurality of color sub-frames; sequentially displaying the color sub-frames corresponding to a first frame in a first color sequence over time; and displaying the sub-frames corresponding to a second frame following the first frame in a second color sequence over time, wherein the first color sequence is different from the second color sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: TPO Displays Corp.
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Chang, Li-Sen Chuang, Dai-Liang Ting
  • Publication number: 20080158437
    Abstract: The invention provides a display method using a plurality of subfields, the method including the step of splitting image data into N segments and distributing the intensity information on the image data in such a way that in a plurality of subfields that form a one-frame display period, the integrals of display light to be displayed in M (M?2) subfields are substantially the same, wherein in the splitting and distributing step, each of at least M split data has the LSB (least significant bit) is equal to the weight of the bit of the image data having the weight of the bit close to the (N?1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Kazuma Arai, Fusao Ishii, Yoshihiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 7379123
    Abstract: To sequentially display pictures in a television signal, a first picture is separated into sets of red, green and blue segments, with each segment of each color interleaved with the segments of the other colors in a first sequence for display in that sequence. Each successive picture is likewise separated into sets of red, green and blue segments, which each segment of each color interleaved with the segments of the other colors in a shifted sequence for display in that sequence. Shifting the color sequence of the segments of each successive picture among the primary colors so at least the first and last segment of the occurrence of motion artifacts that manifest themselves as a color distortion at the leading and trailing edges of a moving object followed by a viewer's eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Donald Henry Willis
  • Patent number: 7364306
    Abstract: A digital display system consists of an image modulator and multiple light modulators. An image processing system processes an incoming data stream, scans processed data to an image modulator and controls for the light modulators. Other user inputs and sensors are used to affect the processing and controls. The timing for scanning the processed data into the image modulators is controlled along with the intensity and wavelength of the light modulators. The display system may implement a spatial and temporal image processing, digital shutter controls, rolling shutter controls, sequential color output, adaptive dynamic sensor feedback, frame rate matching, motion compensated field sequencing and a variety of other techniques to produce a high quality display output. The resulting display has improved image consistency, enhanced color gamut, higher dynamic range and is better able to portray high motion content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Digital Display Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Neal D. Margulis
  • Patent number: 7362336
    Abstract: A color display system including a display device for four or more visible color primaries and a processor for controlling the four or more color primaries to selectively render portions of an image or image sequence such that visually equivalent colors displayed in two or more image portions differ in their spectral composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael E. Miller, Michael J. Murdoch, Thomas E. Madden
  • Patent number: 7358930
    Abstract: A display system for displaying an image based upon image data includes an image processing unit configured to define a plurality of sub-frame images including a first sub-frame image and at least a second sub-frame image based upon the image data; a scrolling color device configured to generate a scrolling color light beam comprising a plurality of colors; a spatial light modulator disposed to receive and modulate the scrolling color light beam based upon the plurality of sub-frame images; and a wobbling device configured to cause the sub-frame images to be displayed in an alternating manner such that said first sub-frame image is spatially offset from said second sub-frame image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Winthrop D. Childers
  • Patent number: 7333156
    Abstract: For implementing an anthropomorphic visual telepresence system with high resolution and low loop latency a sequential color video loop is provided. A sequential color camera sequentially captures color images, each captured image consisting of a portion of a single color component, and provides information as separate color information relating to portions of the sequentially sensed color images. The information is transmitted as separate color information. A sequential color display receives the transmitted information and displays sequentially each color image within the received information. Synchronization means synchronize the sequence and color of corresponding portions of images comprising a single color in said display with the portions of the images sensed by said camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Canadian Space Agency
    Inventor: Gilles Primeau
  • Publication number: 20080018807
    Abstract: A field sequential color display is obtained by successive display of a sequence of monochromatic images. Each monochromatic image is displayed with light occupying a different wavelength region, but one of the wavelength regions includes part or all of another one of the wavelength regions. These two wavelength regions are used to display one of the original primary colors of the color image, the included or partially included wavelength region being used for comparatively low gray levels and both wavelength regions being used for comparatively high gray levels. This scheme provides a way to increase the number of gray levels that can be displayed following a gamma correction, as well as broadening the gamut of reproducible colors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Jun Someya, Shuichi Kagawa, Takahiko Yamamuro, Hiroaki Sugiura
  • Patent number: 7300156
    Abstract: A prism assembly is provided. The prism assembly comprises a first prism component having a triangular cross-section along an optical path, a second prism component having a first quadrilateral cross-section along the optical path, a third prism component having a second quadrilateral cross-section along the optical path, a first dichroic interface between the first and second prism components and along the third prism component and configured to reflect a first range of wavelengths of the light, and a second dichroic interface between the first and third prism components and along the second prism component and configured to reflect a second range of wavelengths of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott Lerner, Anurag Gupta, James W. Ring
  • Patent number: 7290886
    Abstract: An illuminating system and method for improving asymmetric projection includes a light source producing a light beam to form a light path, a projection lens disposed in the light path, a light valve inserted in the light path between the light source and the projection lens, and at least one anamorphic surface unit placed in the light path between the light source and the light valve. The anamorphic surface unit offsets a distortion of a light spot resulted from obliquely incidence on the light valve, thus an asymmetric light spot can be improved as a more symmetric one to increase illuminating collection efficiency and uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Chu-Ming Cheng, Yi-Hao Kang
  • Publication number: 20070252918
    Abstract: A 2D image display apparatus using a laser light source. By controlling the timing of a scan by a beam scan portion in response to the characteristic of a laser light source and by setting a light emitting time of the laser light source to an integral multiple of a scan cycle of the beam scan portion, it is possible to illuminate a spatial light modulator homogeneously with a laser beam. It is thus possible to display an image at high accuracy without causing a bright line, irregularities in brightness, and contrast deterioration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Furuya, Kiminori Mizuuchi, Toshifumi Yokoyama, Tatsuo Itoh, Akira Kurozuka, Kazuhisa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7284865
    Abstract: A scrolling device with color separation and a projection system incorporating same are disclosed. The scrolling device comprises a scrolling shaft and a plurality of dichroic mirrors that are spirally arranged as screw threads on the scrolling shaft. The scrolling device rotates around predetermined axis, and the dichroic-mirror threads can separate an incident light beams into two or more color light beams, thereby scrolling the positions of these color beams. The scrolling color beams are then transmitted to a light modulating panel in the projection system. Therefore, a single-panel projection system with color scrolling function is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Inventor: Tung-Chi Lee
  • Patent number: 7281806
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for projecting video onto a screen. A video unit (10) comprising a first component (30) configured to create a first beam of light with a first polarity, a second component (40) configured to create a second beam of light with a second polarity subsequent to the creation of the first beam of light, and a third component (42) configured to allow the first beam of light pass through it without a change of polarity and to change the polarity of the second beam of light to the first polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: TTE Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Murphy O'Donnell, Estill Thone Hall, Jr., James Edward Lyst, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7283181
    Abstract: A display system is configured to produce a color image formed of a plurality of differently colored images and may include at least one light source that directs light along an optical path, and at least one filter having a given optical filter characteristic. The display system may be selectively operable in a first state in which the optical path does not pass through a first filter during production of the plurality of differently colored images to form a color image having a first optical characteristic, and in a second state in which the optical path passes through the first filter during production of the plurality of differently colored images to form a color image having a second optical characteristic different than the first optical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: William J. Allen, Brian S Dixon, Michael A Pate, Peter Guy Howard
  • Patent number: 7278743
    Abstract: The present invention provides an illumination system and projection system using the same. The present invention can eliminate the reflective light on the internal optical surface of the optical system, using the phase plate and linear polarizer, in the color sequential driving of illuminating at least two colors on the single display panel at a random moment. The phase plate converts the incident light from a linearly polarized light to a circularly polarized light, and vice versa. And, the linear polarizer transmits the linearly polarized light of the incident light in the specific direction. Therefore, the present invention prevents the degradation of color purity generated from the mutual intrusion of light of at least two colors, thereby enhancing quality of color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jong Myoung Park
  • Patent number: 7255448
    Abstract: A display system includes a light source, a spatial light homogenizer, and imaging optics. The spatial light modulator has a plurality of modulator pixels. The display system also includes a pixelated plate illuminated by the light source. The pixelated plate has a plurality of individually defined pixels formed thereon. The spatial light modulator is in optical communication with the pixelated color management device by the imaging optics and each of the modulator pixels is associated with at least one of the individually defined pixels of the pixelated plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael Greer, David C. Collins, William J. Allen, Timothy F Myers
  • Patent number: 7226169
    Abstract: A projection system that can adjust color balance of incident light is provided. The projection system includes a light source, a spatial filter, an optical separator, a scrolling unit, a light valve, and a projecting lens unit. The spatial filter has a slit to adjust a divergent angle or etendue of light emitted from the light source. The optical separator separates light passing through the spatial filter according to color of incident light. The scrolling unit has one or more spiral lens discs, which are formed by spirally arranging cylindrical lens cells, rotate, and scroll color beams separated by the optical separator. The light valve processes light passing through the scrolling unit according to an image signal and forms an image. The projecting lens unit magnifies the image formed on the light valve and projects the magnified image onto a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-sik Kim, Kun-ho Cho, Sung-ha Kim, Hee-joong Lee
  • Patent number: 7218437
    Abstract: A method and system for generating colors efficiently. In one embodiment, a start signal for a primary color subcycle may be received. A primary light source used to drive the primary color may be activated if there is data in the primary color's buffer. The primary light source may be deactivated during the primary color subcycle if there is no data in the primary color's buffer. In another embodiment, a highest amplitude signal for one of a plurality of primary colors may be normalized. A drive light source intensity may be adjusted to a percentage of a maximum intensity where the percentage corresponds to a content of the normalized primary color in a frame. The amplitude of all but the normalized primary color may be adjusted proportionally. In another embodiment, a maximum intensity for a light source intensity may be set to a first value. A maximum pixel intensity for each of a plurality of pixels may be set to a second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Uni-Pixel Displays, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin G. Selbrede
  • Patent number: 7212254
    Abstract: An illumination optical system includes a light source for emitting a plurality of different colors of light, a plurality of rotating optical scanners, and a plurality of scanning lenses. Each of the optical scanners has a reflecting surface that is formed helically around a cylindrical body. The different colors of light enter the respective reflecting surfaces in the direction parallel to the rotation axis, are reflected therefrom, and pass through the scanning lenses, so that each color of light is magnified and then scans the region to be illuminated sequentially. This makes it possible to provide an illumination optical system that can improve scanning linearity, lower noise because of its reduced wind resistance, and achieve reduction in the cost and power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Yamamoto, Motonobu Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 7202917
    Abstract: A light source, an image display panel including multiple pixel regions, each of which modulates light, light control means for focusing light from the light source onto associated pixel regions according to their wavelength ranges, and optical systems that form an image on a projection plane by the light that has been modulated by the panel are provided. A circuit for generating data representing multiple image subframes from data representing each image frame as a component of the image and getting the subframes displayed by the panel time-sequentially, and an image shifter for shifting a selected one of the subframes on the projection plane are further provided. The same area on the projection plane is sequentially irradiated with light rays that have been modulated by different pixel regions of the panel and that fall within respectively different wavelength ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromi Katoh, Hiroshi Nakanishi, Hiroshi Hamada, Akihito Jinda, Tadashi Kawamura, Takashi Shibatani
  • Patent number: 7180554
    Abstract: A digital micro-mirror device (DMD) format conversion system for outputting a stereoscopic encoded optical signal using a DMD and a color wheel is provided. The DMD format conversion system includes a 3D data formatter for receiving an input signal and a DMD data formatter for receiving an output signal having stereoscopic image information and control information from the 3D data formatter and for outputting a DMD output signal having stereoscopic image information and control information. A color wheel control signal and output digital micro-mirror device data are synchronized based on an output frame rate generated by the 3D data formatter independent of the original input frame rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: VREX, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Divelbiss, David Swift
  • Patent number: 7180510
    Abstract: A field sequential color projector includes an area sensor unit having an area sensor for photographing a screen, and an optical filter for permitting only a red light having the same color as a laser beam from a laser pointer to be input to the area sensor, and a color period/timing extraction unit which extracts timings for projecting red, green, and blue images. When a projection timing for a red image arrives while an image is projected, an MPU (Micro Processor Unit) receives a light of an image projected on the screen at that time to acquire image information, and detects a position pointed by the laser beam based on the acquired image information. Even if there exists a portion having the same color as the laser beam in the projected image, a pointed position detection device accurately detects the position irradiated by a pointing light of the laser pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Inoue, Keiichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7165845
    Abstract: An image display device and a projector using th image display device includes a tilt-mirror device having a plurality of movable mirror elements. A first color-ray light-source may be arranged so that a first color-ray light is reflected in a predetermined direction when the movable mirror elements are located in the first reflective position, and is reflected in a direction different from the predetemined directon when the movable miror elements are located in the second reflection position. A second color-ray light-source may be arranged so that a second color-ray light is reflected in the predetemined direction when the mobable mirror elements are located in the second reflection position, and is reflected in a direction different from the predetermined direction when the movable mirror elements are located in the first reflection position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Takeda, Masatoshi Yonekubo
  • Patent number: 7150532
    Abstract: A projection system including a light source, a polarization conversion system, a reflection mirror, a color separator, a scrolling unit, a light valve, and a projection lens unit is provided. The polarization conversion system includes an incidence plane through which light emitted from the light source enters, and transmits a beam with a first polarization from the light entering through the incidence plane and reflects a beam with a second polarization toward the incidence plane and then changes the polarization of the reflected beam. The reflection mirror reflects the light emitted from the polarization conversion system through the incidence plane back toward the incidence plane. The color separator separates an incident beam according to color. The scrolling unit scrolls the color beams. The light valve processes an incident beam according to an image signal and forms a color picture. The projection lens unit magnifies and projects the color picture onto a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-ha Kim, Kun-ho Cho, Dae-sik Kim, Hee-joong Lee
  • Patent number: 7147331
    Abstract: To reduce the color break-up and to provide high quality projection images. A method of driving a spatial light modulator, including generating a sub-frame pulse signal for a first colored light R1 through R8, B1 through B8, generating a sub-frame pulse signal for a second colored light G1 through G8, arranging the sub-frame pulse signals for the respective colored light so that at least three of the sub-frame pulse signals for the first colored light R1 through R8, B1 through B8 adjoin either one of the sub-frame pulse signals for the second colored light G1 through G8 during at least one frame of the image, and driving a plurality of movable mirror elements in accordance with the sub-frame pulse signals for the respective colored light arranged in arranging the sub-frame pulse signals, the movable mirror elements being alternatively moved at least to a first reflecting position and a second reflecting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuro Yamazaki, Hidehito Iisaka
  • Patent number: 7140737
    Abstract: A projection system that can adjust color balance of incident light is provided. The projection system includes a light source, a spatial filter, an optical separator, a scrolling unit, a light valve, and a projecting lens unit. The spatial filter has a slit to adjust a divergent angle or etendue of light emitted from the light source. The optical separator separates light passing through the spatial filter according to color of incident light. The scrolling unit has one or more spiral lens discs, which are formed by spirally arranging cylindrical lens cells, rotate, and scroll color beams separated by the optical separator. The light valve processes light passing through the scrolling unit according to an image signal and forms an image. The projecting lens unit magnifies the image formed on the light valve and projects the magnified image onto a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-sik Kim, Kun-ho Cho, Sung-ha Kim, Hee-joong Lee
  • Patent number: 7131734
    Abstract: A projection system that can adjust color balance of incident light is provided. The projection system includes a light source, a spatial filter, an optical separator, a scrolling unit, a light valve, and a projecting lens unit. The spatial filter has a slit to adjust a divergent angle or etendue of light emitted from the light source. The optical separator separates light passing through the spatial filter according to color of incident light. The scrolling unit has one or more spiral lens discs, which are formed by spirally arranging cylindrical lens cells, rotate, and scroll color beams separated by the optical separator. The light valve processes light passing through the scrolling unit according to an image signal and forms an image. The projecting lens unit magnifies the image formed on the light valve and projects the magnified image onto a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-sik Kim, Kun-ho Cho, Sung-ha Kim, Hee-joong Lee
  • Patent number: 7113231
    Abstract: 1266-03028 A color display system includes a color light separator that separates incident white illumination light into red, green and blue wavelength bands to be directed to distinct color component sub-pixels (sometimes called dots) that are arranged in a dot-matrix, color triad arrangement (e.g., stripe or delta) to form individual picture elements (pixels) on a pixelated electronic image device (e.g., LCD of DMD). The entire picture is optically shifted from one set of color component sub-pixels to another in a 3-field sequence. As a result, the sets of red, green and blue color component sub-pixels appear to an observer as a single full-color image, thereby providing a dot sequential color display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Arlie R. Conner, Bruce L. Cannon, Eric Aspnes
  • Patent number: 7090359
    Abstract: A scrolling unit for forming a color image through scrolling, and a color illuminating system and a projection system using the scrolling unit. The scrolling unit includes a first spiral lens disk, a second spiral lens disk, and a glass rod. The first spiral lens disk includes a plurality of cylindrical lens cells arranged in a spiral pattern and can be rotated. The second spiral lens disk is installed facing the first spiral lens disk and can be rotated at the same speed as the first spiral lens disk. The projection system includes a light source, an optical splitter for splitting light into light beams having different colors, and a scrolling unit that scrolls the light beams by periodically changing paths on which the light beams proceed. Also included is a light valve for forming an image, and a projection lens unit for enlarging and projecting the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-sik Kim, Kun-ho Cho, Sung-ha Kim
  • Patent number: 7057674
    Abstract: A color wheel is disclosed that has at least one segment that occupies, for a given radius, a percentage of the circumference of the wheel at that radius, which percentage varies continuously or in multiple steps from a radially inward point to a radially outer point on the wheel. In one embodiment, the color wheel has a plurality of filter segments adjacent each other around the circumference of the wheel, wherein at least one of the transitions from one filter segment to the next is curved or stepped. A color wheel also is disclosed that has a plurality of filter segments adjacent each other around the circumference of the wheel, wherein at least one of the segments is a higher brightness segment than the others and has sides facing adjacent filter segments that do not lie on the radius of the wheel. A projection system is also disclosed that has a light source, a unique color wheel, a spatial light modulator, and projection optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Reflectivity, INC
    Inventors: Peter W. Richards, Andrew G. Huibers, Gregory R. Muir
  • Patent number: 7057790
    Abstract: A method and system for generating colors efficiently. In one embodiment, a start signal for a primary color subcycle may be received. A primary light source used to drive the primary color may be activated if there is data in the primary color's buffer. The primary light source may be deactivated during the primary color subcycle if there is no data in the primary color's buffer. In another embodiment, a highest amplitude signal for one of a plurality of primary colors may be normalized. A drive light source intensity may be adjusted to a percentage or a maximum intensity where the percentage corresponds to a content of the normalized primary color in a frame. The amplitude of all but the normalized primary color may be adjusted proportionally. In another embodiment, a maximum intensity for a light source intensity may be set to a first value. A maximum pixel intensity for each of a plurality of pixels may be set to a second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Uni-Pixel Displays, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin G. Selbrede
  • Patent number: 7048385
    Abstract: A projection display system has at least one light-recycling illumination system, a color scroller and an imaging light modulator. The light-recycling illumination system includes a light source that is enclosed within a light-recycling envelope. The light source is a light-emitting diode that emits light, and a fraction of that light will exit the light-recycling envelope through an aperture. The light-recycling envelope recycles a portion of the light emitted by the light source back to the light source in order to enhance the luminance of the light exiting the aperture. The fraction of the light that exits the aperture is partially collimated and is directed to a color scrolling means. The color scroller scans the partially collimated light across the face of the imaging light modulator. The imaging light modulator spatially modulates the scrolled beam of light to form an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Goldeneye, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl W. Beeson, Scott M. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 7048380
    Abstract: A projection apparatus including a polarization conversion system to convert light having a first polarization component; a color recycling system, which separates the light into first and second color lights, to transmit and reflect the first and second color lights; an image forming system including a first reflective panel and a second reflective panel, which respectively modulate the first and second color lights, and a third reflective panel, which modulates the third color light; and an optical path conversion system, which splits the optical paths of fourth and fifth color lights incident from the color recycling system such that the first color light in the fourth color light is directed to the first reflective panel, the second color light in the fifth color light is directed to the second reflective panel, and the third color light in the fourth and fifth color light is directed to the third reflective panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kirill Sokolov
  • Patent number: 7050120
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a display device that includes an illumination source configured to direct light along an optical path, a first color filter having a first number of color regions, and a second color filter having a second number of color regions, the first and second color filters being configured so as to cooperate in sequentially filtering the directed light to display an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: William J. Allen, Winthrop D. Childers, Clement C. Lo
  • Patent number: 7048381
    Abstract: A cylindrical lens array for achieving color scrolling, a projection system using the cylindrical lens array, and a scrolling method. The cylindrical lens array is formed by arranging lens cells in an endless track. When the cylindrical lens array rotates, light rays passing through the lens cells advance along different paths. The projection system includes a light source, the cylindrical lens array, a light splitter, a light valve, and a projection unit. The light source emits a light. The cylindrical lens array has a plurality of lens cells arranged in an endless track and scrolls color bar images upon rotation. The light splitter splits incident light emitted from the light source into color beams according to a wavelength. The light valve receives the color beams split by the light splitter and scrolled by the cylindrical lens array and forms a color image by turning pixels on or off according to an input image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-sik Kim, Kun-ho Cho, Sung-ha Kim, Hee-joong Lee
  • Patent number: 7046309
    Abstract: There is provided a single panel type video display capable of increasing the luminance of image. A color separator separates light from a light source into light beams in three colors in a band shape to emit the light beams and introduces the band-shaped light beams in the three colors so as to be overlapped with one another in a predetermined region. A lens array wheel has a plurality of functional units each composed of a convex lens of a size corresponding to the predetermined region, circularly passes the plurality of functional units each composed of the convex lens through the predetermined region, and scrolls the band-shaped light beams in the three colors in a state where they are divided among regions on a single liquid crystal display panel. A video signal is fed to the liquid crystal display panel in synchronization with the movement of the plurality of functional units each composed of the convex lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kanayama, Kazuhiro Arai, Koji Ishii
  • Patent number: 7042637
    Abstract: This invention is an image display device for performing color display of an image using two spatial light modulators. The image display device has a first spatial light modulator (52) for modulating a first wavelength range component of illuminating light from an illuminating light source (10), dichroic mirrors (40), (41) for separating second and third wavelength range components of the illuminating light and condensing the respective wavelength range components, a second spatial light modulator (50) for modulating the second and third wavelength range components, and a dichroic mirror (60) for combining modulated light emitted from the first and second spatial light modulators (52), (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corproation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mukawa, Yoshinori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7042527
    Abstract: A method of displaying a color video picture according to a field sequential process is provided. A display device displays an image comprising a matrix of pixels. One frame image is composed of four field images ranging from a first field image to a fourth field image. With four adjacent pixels handled as one unit, the colors R, G, B, W of illuminating lights applied to the pixels in each unit are different from each other, and the arrangement of the colors is successively switched or changed in each field period. Information representing the colors R, G, B, W separated from a video signal is displayed sequentially in successive fields at positions corresponding to the colors of the illuminating lights applied to the pixels and times at which the illuminating lights are applied to the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Imai
  • Patent number: 7040760
    Abstract: In order to provide a liquid crystal projector that prevents the image burn-in phenomenon or image sticking in a liquid crystal projector of ferroelectric liquid crystal, and moreover, that provides a bright projected image, the polarization directions of linearly polarized light beams that are irradiated upon a liquid crystal display device are switched in synchronization with the alternate reversal of the polarity of the liquid crystal display device, whereby a negative image, which could not be displayed in the prior art, can be converted to a positive image and displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Viewtechnology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Nakanishi, Atsushi Kato
  • Patent number: 7034801
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a color image display apparatus which can easily display a full-color animation of VGA class and attains reduction in size and lowering of price and which facilitates full-color gradation control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuneo Sato, Ichiro Furuki, Hiroshi Ito, Keiki Yamada, Masatoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7029126
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a color projection system includes a lamp; at least one prism configured to diffract light from the lamp into a diffracted beam; and an LC microdisplay panel or MEMS panel configured to receive the diffracted beam from the at least one prism, wherein by moving the at least one prism with respect to the light from the lamp, the diffracted beam received by the LC microdisplay or MEMS panel sequentially comprises a diffracted red beam, a diffracted blue beam, and a diffracted green beam, the LC microdisplay panel or MEMS panel being configured to sequentially modulate the diffracted red beam into a red sub-frame of an image, the diffracted green beam into a green sub-frame of the image, and the diffracted blue beam into a blue sub-frame of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventor: Yin S. Tang
  • Patent number: 7011414
    Abstract: A highly efficient projection system and a color scrolling method are provided. In the color scrolling method, first, an optical splitter splits a beam emitted from a light source into individual color beams. Next, a rectangular light valve is disposed such that its long axis is along the direction into which the optical splitter splits the beam. Thereafter, the individual color beams are scrolled in the long axial direction of the light valve. The color scrolling in the long axial direction can increase light efficiency much more than a color scrolling performed in a short axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-sik Kim, Kun-ho Cho, Sung-ha Kim
  • Patent number: 7006163
    Abstract: An illuminating device comprising a light source for emitting a plurality of light beams (207, 208, 209) of different colors, a plurality of rotating beam scanners (102, 103, 104) and a plurality of scanning lenses (109, 110, 111). The beam scanners have spiral reflection surfaces (102, 103, 204) formed on the outer peripheries of cylindrical bodies, Each colored light beam is shone onto each reflection surface from a direction parallel to a rotating axis, and magnified by each scanning lens after reflected to scan an illuminated area with a plurality of beams of different colors one after another. Accordingly, the illuminating device can enhance scanning linearity, reduce noise due to a minimal windage loss, and decrease costs and power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Yamamoto, Motonobu Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 6994438
    Abstract: An optical component casing (40) that houses a plurality of optical components including a reflection mirror (424) and disposes the plurality of optical components on a planarly defined illumination optical axis (L1) has a holder (81) that holds the reflection mirror (424) and a housing main body (401) that houses the other optical components. A bulging portion (816) bulging in an out-plane direction of the reflection mirror (424) is formed on a side of the holder (81) opposite to the side on which the reflection mirror (424) is attached, the bulging portion (816) pivotally moving on the inner surface of the housing main body (401) to rotate the holder (81) relative to the housing main body (401), where a rotation center (P) of the holder (81) is substantially coincident with an intersecting point (Q) of the illumination optical axis (L1) and a reflection surface (424A) of the reflection mirror (424).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Taisuke Uehara, Tomiyoshi Ushiyama, Shohei Fujisawa, Hirotatsu Okubo
  • Patent number: 6988808
    Abstract: To reduce the thickness of a digital light projector (DLP), a circulating tape having sequences of red, green and blue segments is used instead of a color wheel to produce a color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daryl Carvis Cromer, George O. Diatzikis, William P. Durham, Jr., Jennifer Lynn Greenwood
  • Patent number: 6971752
    Abstract: A fixing structure for fixing a color wheel to a base of a projector is provided. The color wheel is rotatably installed and includes a color rotating disc having a plurality of color filters selectively transmitting light of a predetermined wavelength, and a driving source which drives the color rotating disc. The fixing structure includes a first cover member coupled to a base, and a second cover member coupled to the first cover member and together therewith encompassing the color wheel. A bracket is provided to which the color wheel is coupled, and a coupling unit couples the bracket to the second cover member. A buffer member is provided between the first and second cover members and between the bracket and the second cover member for reducing vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Heong-seog Lee
  • Patent number: 6952241
    Abstract: A projection-type video display apparatus has a polarizing beam splitter for matching light, which is outputted by a light source unit, to one of S polarizing light and P polarizing light, an optical characteristics switching element for electrically and periodically switching a wavelength band of light outputted by the polarizing beam splitter, a video display element, as a light valve element, for forming an optical image from light outputted by the light source unit, in accordance with a video signal, and a radiating unit for radiating a plurality of color light, which are sequentially outputted by the optical characteristics switching element, to the video display element, wherein light outputted by the video display element is incident on a projecting lens, and a light path from the light source unit to the projecting lens is U-shaped. Consequently, the projection-type video display apparatus becomes compact and has improved contrast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Ouchi, Taro Imahase, Nobuaki Kabuto