Plural Parallel Light Modulators Patents (Class 348/750)
  • Patent number: 7878656
    Abstract: A stereo projection optical system includes a first polarizing beam splitter, a transmission-type light modulator positioned to receive the first polarized light component from the first polarizing light splitter and an image assimilator positioned to receive an emergent light of the transmission-type light modulator. The image assimilator includes a second polarized light splitter and first, second reflective spatial light modulators. The stereo projection optical systems provide viewers three-dimensional images formed by two alternative polarization light beams whose polarizations are perpendicular to each other utilizing the transmission-type light modulators to form “3-D” images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Wen Hsu, Chia-Hung Kao
  • Patent number: 7845802
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes a plate-like separation optical element having a dichroic surface and a PBS surface. The dichroic surface reflects green component light and transmits yellow component light. The PBS surface transmits P polarization component light and reflects S polarization component light. The separation optical element combines red component light entering from a certain direction and transmitted through the dichroic surface, with yellow component light entering from a different direction and reflected by the PBS surface, and leads a combined light towards a red liquid crystal panel. The separation optical element combines green component light entering from the certain direction and reflected by the dichroic surface, with yellow component light entering from the different direction and transmitted through the PBS surface, and leads a combined light towards a green liquid crystal panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Takashi Ikeda, Makoto Maeda, Ken Mashitani, Hideyuki Kanayama
  • Patent number: 7834939
    Abstract: One embodiment of a display system includes a first light source that projects a first projected video light to define a first viewable video image, a second light source that projects a second projected video light to define a second viewable video image identical to the first viewable video image wherein the first and second viewable video images together define a displayed video light image, and a controller that fades out projection of the first projected video light and simultaneously fades in projection of the second projected video light such that a light intensity of the displayed video light image remains substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Gilg, Aloke Gupta
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20100253863
    Abstract: Image display apparatus (102) comprising projector means (112), a light source (104), at least one primary modulator (106) for modulating light, an auxiliary modulator (110) for modulating the light modulated by the primary modulator (106), optical means (108) for relaying the light modulated by the primary modulator (106) to the auxiliary modulator (110), and control means (118, 120) for controlling the primary modulator (106) and the auxiliary modulator (110), characterised in that: the primary modulator (106) comprises a first array of pixels, and the auxiliary modulator (110) comprises a second array of pixels; each pixel in the first array of pixels of the primary modulator (106) is controlled by the control means (118, 120) as a function of video input data for each pixel in the first array of pixels; and each pixel in the second array of pixels of the auxiliary modulator (110) is controlled by control means (118, 120) as a function of video input data for each equivalent pixel in the second array of pi
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: John Robert Harding, Geoffrey Howard Blackham, Philip John Scarfield
  • Publication number: 20100245686
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an illumination system of a video unit. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the illumination system comprises a module comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) adapted to emit light. The illumination system further includes a plurality of lens elements disposed subsequent to the LEDs. The plurality of lens elements is adapted to distribute intensity of the light emitted by the LEDs across an aperture. In addition the intensity of the light at the aperture directly corresponds to the location of the LEDs within the module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: SHENZHEN TCL NEW TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: Estill Thone Hall, JR.
  • Patent number: 7773160
    Abstract: An image display system comprises a first liquid crystal projector which projects a counterclockwise-rotating, circularly polarized light beam to form an image containing specific visual information on a screen and a second liquid crystal projector which projects a clockwise-rotating, circularly polarized light beam to form a white image on the same screen. When viewed with the naked eye, a combination of the two images projected on the screen appears totally white. A viewer wearing a dedicated viewing device equipped with an optical filter which allows counterclockwise-rotating, circularly polarized light to pass through can selectively see the image projected by the first liquid crystal projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Yoshiharu Hirakata, Jun Koyama, Satoshi Teramoto
  • Patent number: 7738038
    Abstract: A content-dependent scan rate converter with adaptive noise reduction that provides a highly integrated, implementation efficient de-interlacer. By identifying and using redundant information from the image (motion values and edge directions), this scan rate converter is able to perform the tasks of film-mode detection, motion-adaptive scan rate conversion, and content-dependent video noise reduction. Adaptive video noise reduction is incorporated in the process where temporal noise reduction is performed on the still parts of the image, thus preserving high detail spatial information, and data-adaptive spatial noise reduction is performed on the moving parts of the image. A low-pass filter is used in flat fields to smooth out Gaussian noise and a direction-dependent median filter is used in the presence of impulsive noise or an edge. Therefore, the selected spatial filter is optimized for the particular pixel that is being processed to maintain crisp edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey Kempf, Arnold P. Skoog, Clifford D. Fairbanks
  • Publication number: 20100118213
    Abstract: A device includes a light source 1, a reflection-type light valve 9 that controls a traveling direction of exiting light based on an input signal, an illumination optical system 2, 3, 4, 6a that focuses light from the light source on the reflection-type light valve as illumination light, a projection lens 10 that projects exiting light from the reflection-type light valve, a first diaphragm 7 provided at a position of a pupil of the illumination optical system so as to block a part of the light from the light source, and a second diaphragm 8 provided at a position of the pupil of the projection lens so as to block a part of the exiting light from the reflection-type light valve. A part of the illumination light reflected from a surface of the reflection-type light valve to be incident on a pupil of the projection lens as unnecessary light is blocked by a combination of the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kentaro Kato, Yoshimasa Fushimi
  • Publication number: 20100110311
    Abstract: A handheld device configured for displaying a modulated image. The handheld device comprises an image generation unit configured for projecting at least one light. The at least one light beam corresponding to image data and allows a presentation of the image data to a user. The handheld device further comprises a user interface configured for receiving at least one instruction for adjusting a display of said image data from the user and a modulation unit configured for modulating the at least one light according to said at least one instruction during the presentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sharon Sade, Noam Sorek, Liran Shimshi, Ido Dotan
  • Publication number: 20100103332
    Abstract: Disclosed is a personal portable device that includes a microprojector. The microprojector creates an image for display. The image is sent to a “beam-switching element” that shunts the image toward a selected display screen (e.g., a display screen on the device or an off-device projection). The image is then displayed on the selected screen. By commanding the beam-switching element to change its configuration, different screens can be driven by the same microprojector. The combination of a single microprojector with multiple display screens gives the personal portable device the flexibility of multiple displays while preserving space within the device and, in some embodiments, lowering power consumption. In some embodiments, the microprojector simultaneously drives more than one display screen. The driven display screens may display the same or different images, and the images displayed may be of the same or of different resolutions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Zili Li, George T. Valliath
  • Publication number: 20090290075
    Abstract: An image output apparatus includes: a display device having a light modulation section which is divided into a plurality of channels; a level adjusting unit that is provided to each of the channels adjusts a level of input signal, and outputs adjusted output signal to corresponding channel; a signal switching unit that switches between a video input signal and a first reference signal as the input signal of the level adjusting unit, for a predetermined period; an adjustment amount correcting unit that compares an output signal from each of the level adjusting units with a second reference signal for the predetermined period and corrects the adjustment amounts of the corresponding level adjusting units on the basis of the comparison results; and a connection state switching unit that outputs a control instruction to the display device to change a state of the channels to an open state for the predetermined period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro SAGAWA
  • Patent number: 7621641
    Abstract: A projection apparatus (10) has an LC modulator panel (60) with photoresponsive layer, segmented into at least first, second, and third portions, each spatially separated. An image writing section (120) forms a first, second, or third image within the corresponding portion of the LC modulator panel by scanning successive lines of image writing light to energize the photoresponsive layer (316). The image writing section has at least one grating electromechanical system for modulating incident emission from a narrow-band light source (70) by providing diffracted and non-diffracted orders and a scanning element for directing a line of light thus formed toward the LC modulator panel to energize the photoresponsive layer. An illumination section (130) directs first, second, and third illumination beams for modulation by the respective portions of the LC modulator panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Barry D. Silverstein, Andrew F. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 7616368
    Abstract: Improved apparatus and methods for displays are disclosed that utilize light concentration array between mechanical light modulators and the viewing surface of the display. The light concentration array includes an array of optical elements that concentrate light on respective ones of the light modulators to maximize the contrast ratio and off axis viewing of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Nesbitt W. Hagood, IV
  • Patent number: 7583325
    Abstract: Apparatuses and processes for generating images having increased brightness uniformity are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventor: Mark D. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20090207325
    Abstract: The present invention provides a spatial light modulator, comprising: a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixel elements; a plurality of word lines each connected to a row of pixel elements; a plurality of plate lines; and a plurality of bit lines each connected to a column of pixel elements, wherein each of the pixel elements further comprises a memory and an electrode connected to the memory, wherein the memory is connected to the word line and the word line is further connected to the plate line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Naoya Sugimoto, Yoshihiro Maeda, Fusao Ishii
  • Publication number: 20090207324
    Abstract: The present invention provides a spatial light modulator comprises a plurality of deflectable mirror controllable to deflect from a horizontal state to first and second deflecting directions; an electrode connected to a memory and disposed in the first deflecting direction underneath each of the deflectable mirrors; and an electrode connected to a plate line and disposed in the second deflecting direction underneath each of the deflectable mirrors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Naoya Sugimoto, Yoshihiro Maeda, Fusao Ishii
  • Publication number: 20090195709
    Abstract: Provided are an image projection system and method, the image projection system including: a light source for providing illumination light; an illumination optics for receiving and illuminating the illumination light; a Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) having 2 rows of modulation devices formed to be offset from each other, each of the modulation devices modulating the light illuminated from the illumination optics; a frame scanner for scanning the modulated light from the SLM onto a screen to thereby generate a two-dimensional (2D) image corresponding to one frame on the screen; and a projection optics for projecting and focusing the modulated light transmitted from the frame scanner onto the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventor: Sung-Hoon Kwon
  • Patent number: 7564501
    Abstract: A projection system being composed of a plurality of projectors for performing a tiling projection with the plurality of projectors including: arrangement information generating section that generates arrangement information relating to an arrangement position of the respective projectors at the time of the tiling projection; overlap information generating section that generates overlap information relating to ranges of mutually overlapped areas of projected images; and write start position calculating section that calculates write start positions of the image information in the respective projectors on the basis of the arrangement information and the overlap information so that the image information is written also in the mutually overlapped areas of the projected images at the same timing when the respective projectors start writing of the image information of the amounts corresponding to one frame to light modulating elements at the same timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasunaga Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 7559654
    Abstract: A projection apparatus (10) has an LC modulator panel (60) with photoresponsive layer (316), segmented into a first, second, and third portion, each spatially separated. An image writing section (120) forms a first, second, or third image within the corresponding portion of the LC modulator panel by scanning successive lines of image writing light to energize the photoresponsive layer. The image writing section has at least one grating electromechanical system for modulating a narrow-band light source (70) by providing diffracted and non-diffracted orders and a scanning element (98) for directing a line of light toward the LC modulator panel to energize the photoresponsive layer. An illumination section (130) directs the illumination beams for modulation by the LC modulator panel. Polarizing beamsplitter (24r, 24g, 24b), polarize and direct the illumination beams toward the LC modulator panel and directs modulated light toward projection lens (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Barry D. Silverstein, David Kessler, Andrew F. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 7554711
    Abstract: An interferometric modulator comprising a substrate, a movable membrane and one or more stiction bumps disposed between the substrate and the movable membrane. The stiction bumps are configured to mitigate stiction between the substrate and the movable membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: IDC, LLC.
    Inventor: Mark W. Miles
  • Publication number: 20090161028
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus receives first and second input image signals and generates first and second projection image signals for projecting images from first and second projectors so as to be superimposed on a screen. A storage unit stores, for each projection position on the screen, intensity ratios between projected light from the first and second projectors when viewing from first and second viewing position. An intensity correcting unit adds the first and second input image signals in proportions set for generating the first projection image signal and in proportions set for generating the second projection image signal, according to the stored intensity ratios. The first projection image signal is supplied to the first projector and the second projection image signal is supplied to the second projector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji TANAKA, Tetsujiro Kondo, Tetsushi Kokubo, Hitoshi Mukai, Hirofumi Hibi, Kazumasa Tanaka, Hiroyuki Morisaki
  • Publication number: 20090153752
    Abstract: A digital image projector for increasing brightness includes a first light source; a second light source that is spectrally adjacent to the first light source; a dichroic beamsplitter disposed to direct light of both the first and second light source; a spatial light modulator that receives light from both the first and second light sources; and projection optics for delivering imaging light from the spatial light modulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: Barry D. Silverstein
  • Publication number: 20090147154
    Abstract: An image display apparatus is disclosed in the present invention. The image display apparatus includes a light source emitting an illumination light of at least two colors comprising a first color and a second color, at least two spatial light modulators for receiving and applying an image signal for modulating the illumination light emitted from the light source; and a control circuit for controlling the light source and/or the spatial light modulators to emit the illumination lights of different colors for modulation by the SLM to generate different gray scale characteristics between lights of different colors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Kazuma Arai, Taro Endo, Fusao Ishii
  • Publication number: 20090115918
    Abstract: An oscillating element which can improve the adhesiveness thereof with an actuator is disclosed. In an oscillating element which includes a substrate which is configured to support an oscillation portion in an oscillating manner, and a driving layer which is configured to oscillate the oscillation portion, the driving layer including an adhesive layer formed on a substrate side thereof, an intermediate layer is positioned between the substrate and the driving layer. The intermediate layer is made of a material which allows surface activation bonding with the substrate, and the surface roughness of the intermediate layer on the adhesive layer side is set coarser than the surface roughness of the intermediate layer on the substrate side thus allowing the intermediate layer to easily acquire an anchoring effect with the adhesive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuaki Asai
  • Publication number: 20090109405
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a plurality of video image data are converted into individual spatial frequency information using Fourier transformation. The individual spatial frequency information is provided to a plurality of information display unit corresponding to the individual spatial frequency information. The spatial frequency information corresponding to the plurality of video image data is displayed on the plurality of information display unit, light is irradiated onto the plurality of information display unit using a plurality of light sources corresponding to the plurality of information display unit. The spatial frequency information that is displayed by the plurality of information display unit is projected by using diffraction light, and a plurality of video images are synthesized on projection surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiaki HORIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20090086111
    Abstract: In a projection display device which includes a light source for outputting a light and a plurality of light modulating devices for modulating the light from the light source based on an input image signal, the projection display device comprises: a plurality of light quantity adjusting devices disposed on respective incidence sides of the light modulating devices and serving to adjust the quantity of light incident on the respective light modulating devices; and a controller unit for controlling the respective light quantity adjusting devices based on the input image signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masutaka Inoue, Takaaki Abe, Seiji Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7497577
    Abstract: A projection assembly includes a dichroic beam splitter having first and second crossed dichroic surfaces, at least one interference type light modulator panel optically coupled to the dichroic beam splitter, and at least one filter at least partially between the light modulator panel and the dichroic beam splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Wiatt Kettle, James W. Ring, Scott Lerner
  • Patent number: 7499111
    Abstract: The system provides a projection-type video display device with high image quality and high reliability. The system improves color purity by cutting the yellow component from red and green, enhances the optical energy balance of the three colors by providing a reflection-type attenuation filter for reflecting light in the green optical path. The system also improves contrast characteristics by providing an optical phase difference compensator in the green optical path and increases durability of a video display element by arranging two optical parts having ultraviolet reflection coating in the blue optical path. Also an ultraviolet absorption filter for the incidence side of a blue liquid crystal panel is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu
  • Publication number: 20090052774
    Abstract: A maximum and minimum color information detection means (3, 51, 52) detects a maximum color-signal gradation level or a value equivalent to the maximum gradation level (CMAX) and a minimum color-signal gradation level or a value equivalent to the minimum gradation level (CMIN) as color information for an image signal input to the image processing apparatus, a correction parameter generating means (53) sets correction parameters (Pa) according to the color information (CMAX, CMIN) about the input image signal, and a gradation correction means (6) corrects the gradation scale of each color component of the input image signal according to the correction parameters (Pa). Contrast can thereby be improved without excessive color collapse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Hideki Yoshii, Jun Someya
  • Patent number: 7474361
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a plurality of optical modulators that display monochromatic images, respectively, an optical system that synthesizes the monochromatic images into a color image, a luminance non-uniformity correction unit that adjusts a correction coefficient according to a luminance to be displayed, and that corrects a luminance non-uniformity in the monochromatic image using the adjusted correction coefficient, and a color non-uniformity correction unit that adjusts a luminance balance among the monochromatic images per pixel or pixel block, thereby correcting a color non-uniformity in the color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiko Sakashita
  • Patent number: 7453475
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide an optical display device that modulates light from a light source in two stages through an optical modulator and a luminance adjusting element to expand the luminance dynamic range and the number of the gradation levels of a display image, that allows the picture quality to be enhanced, and that is suitably applied to display an image according to the resolution of the luminance adjusting element having a higher resolution than the optical modulator. Exemplary embodiments provide a projection type display device that converts RGB pixel values in HDR display data into YCbCr pixel values, selects the maximum Ymax from corresponding YCbCr values on a pixel-basis in a color modulation light valve, and calculates average values Cbave and Crave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Nitta, Junichi Nakamura, Shoichi Uchiyama, Tsunemori Asahi
  • Patent number: 7445345
    Abstract: A projection-type display device 1 including a light source 10, an optical integrator 20, dichroic mirrors 30 and 35, a reflecting mirror 36, a relay optical system 40, parallelizing lenses 50B, 50G and 50R, liquid crystal light valves 60B, 60G and 60R, incident side lenses 70B, 70G and 70R, a light-synthesizing cross dichroic prism 80, a relay lens 90, an emergent side lens 95, a liquid crystal light valve 100 and a projection lens 110, and liquid crystal light valve 100 is provided in the rear stage of liquid crystal light valves 60B, 60G and 60R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Itoh, Shohei Yoshida, Shoichi Uchiyama, Junichi Nakamura, Takashi Nitta, Tsunemori Asahi
  • Patent number: 7443594
    Abstract: A display device includes a condenser unit, an illumination lens system, a plurality of diffractive light modulators, a mirror for separating illumination light from diffracted light, a polarized beam separator, a filter unit and a projection unit. The condenser unit converges polarized light, and outputs the converged polarized light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haeng Seok Yang, Dong Ho Shin, Kwan Young Oh, Jun Won An, Sang Kyeong Yun
  • Publication number: 20080259224
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, apparatus and system of producing a color image using four or more primary colors. The apparatus, according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention, may include four or more transmissive spatial light modulators to modulate four or more, respective, primary color light beams in accordance with four or more, respective, primary color image components of the color image to produce four or more, respective, modulated light beams; and a beam combiner to combine the four or more modulated light beams into a combined light beam carrying the color image. The beam combiner may include, for example, an X-cube to jointly direct three of the four or more modulated light beams; and a selective color rotator to rotate the polarization of two of the three modulated light beams, while maintaining the polarization of a third one of the three modulated light beams. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventor: Shmuel Roth
  • Publication number: 20080259223
    Abstract: The present invention discloses systems, equipment and methods that allow the improved tiling of multiple projections displays in order to create higher resolution images. Equipment and methods are disclosed for improved blending of the seam by optical means where edge blending masks are employed to create a brightness ramp in the blending region. Equipment and methods are also disclosed for the correction of artifacts in an optically blended seam by modifying the brightness of image pixels in the overlap or blend region. Equipment, systems, and techniques are disclosed for preserving the resolution and uniformity of the image across each seam by actively controlling the position of each display using a servo controlled lens mount for the positioning of each projected image in conjunction with a real time image analysis system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Steven Charles Read, Sean M. Adkins
  • Patent number: 7429110
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a projector which includes several optical elements, reflective devices and beam splitters, arranged to reduce back reflection effects. At least one exemplary embodiment includes a mirror, two beam splitters, three reflection devices, and two optical elements affecting polarization of incident light upon the optical elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Inoko
  • Patent number: 7416306
    Abstract: A reflection-type laser projector (100) projects modulated laser beams outputted from a laser projection unit (40), on a screen, wherein a reflector (112) as a constituent of the screen (110) has reflection characteristics of reflecting, among the incident light, only laser beams of three colors of red, blue, and green, which are projected from the laser projection unit (40) and light in the neighboring wavelength band, and transmitting light in other wavelength bands, thereby preventing pictures on the screen (110) from becoming hard to be seen due to effects of indoor illumination or light from outdoors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Yamamoto, Kiminori Mizuuchi, Yasuo Kitaoka, Ken'ichi Kasazumi
  • Publication number: 20080192152
    Abstract: A projector arrangement includes a first image generation and projection unit and a second image generation and projection unit. A first or two-dimensional projection/display mode and a second stereoscopic or projection/display mode can be realized by the cooperating first and second image generation and projection units. The second image generation and projection unit is configured to receive waste light from the first image generation and projection unit and to base the generation of its respective second image on the waste light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Zoltan Facius, Markus Kamm, Evangelos Zoidis
  • Patent number: 7401925
    Abstract: An image projector system includes an LED controller and first and second LEDs, a dichroic mirror. The LED controller controls the first and the second LED to emit first and second color lights, respectively. The second color light is of high luminance and is decomposed by a dichroic mirror into third and forth color lights having luminance close to that of the first color light. Each color light is guided through a light valves to adjust the spectral transmittance of the color light. A light-combining device, such as an x-cube, receives and combines the first color light, the third color light, and the forth color light, to form light images, and transmits the images to a display through a projector lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Chien-feng Lu
  • Patent number: 7396131
    Abstract: Projection assemblies are provided herein for use in a display system. According to one exemplary embodiment, the projection assembly includes an illumination source and a plurality of co-planar modulator panels. A method of modulating light is also provided herein that includes generating multi-component light, splitting the multi-component light into a plurality of component beams, and modulating the component beams with a plurality of co-planar modulator panels to form a plurality of sub-images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott Lerner, Anurag Gupta
  • Patent number: 7390094
    Abstract: An absorptive layer is added to an image display system. The absorptive layer is selected to compensate for tint in a black state of a displayed image. In a Liquid Crystal On Silicon (LCOS) based light engine, blue wavelengths may cause a predominate tint in black portions of an image (or an entirely black image is tinted blue), and the absorptive layer is calculated to absorb an amount of blue equivalent to the tint. The absorptive layer is, for example, an unbalanced magenta dichroic, or a yellow filter. The yellow filter may be placed at any point in the light chain, including input/output of a kernel, input/output of a projection lens, or portions of a light engine or display screen. An unbalanced magenta may be constructed by adding a yellow filter to an existing magenta dichroic in the kernel design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: LightMaster Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Berman, Ying-Moh Liu, Samson Yang
  • Patent number: 7390095
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention can provide a projector that includes three optical modulators which modulate respectively red light, green light, and blue light, a color-synthetic optical system which synthesizes the light modulated by the three optical modulators, and a projection optical system which projects the light synthesized by the color-synthetic optical system. The color-synthetic optical system can include a first reflection film that reflects the green light, and a second reflection film that reflects the blue light, the first reflection film and the second reflection film are arranged in the shape of an X character, and a wavelength in which a reflectance factor of the first reflection film comes to 50% can be longer than a wavelength in which a reflectance factor of the second reflection film comes to 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kanji Yoshida, Hidemasa Yamakawa, Joji Karasawa, Masafumi Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 7387389
    Abstract: An image display device includes an image processing unit, a light source assembly, an optical modulator assembly, and a projection lens assembly. The image processing unit is configured to receive a video signal and generate image data and control signals. The light source assembly and optical modulator assembly are each controlled by the control signals such that the light source assembly generates illumination in a spatial distribution pattern that is coupled to optical modular assembly via a homogenizing device. The projection lens assembly is configured to project an image from the optical modulator assembly onto a viewing surface. The optical modular assembly is configured to maximize the amount of illumination coupled from the light source assembly, and includes at least one optical modulator surface configured to have a substantially 1:1 aspect ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Anurag Gupta, David L. Erickson, Scott A Lerner
  • Patent number: 7387391
    Abstract: An optical device that includes an optical element, an imager, and a prism bracket. The optical element includes an optical element having first and second prisms coupled together. The imager is arranged adjacent to the first prism and configured to receive light from or to transmit light to the optical element, wherein the first prism is spaced between the second prism and the first imager. The prism bracket is coupled between the second prism and the first imager to hold the first imager in a desired positional alignment relative to the optical element. The optical device may further include additional sets of an optical element, imager, and prism bracket, wherein all of the sets are coupled to a color light combiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael K. Domroese, Michael P. Keyes, Jiaying Ma
  • Patent number: 7384153
    Abstract: A light source device is provided comprising: a light-emitting element; a support member having the light-emitting element flip chip mounted thereto; and a thermally conductive filling agent between the light-emitting element and the support member. By injecting the filling agent between the light-emitting element and the support member, the thermal conduction is supplemented by the filling agent. As such, heat generated by the light-emitting element can be efficiently removed outside the light source device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7375760
    Abstract: A content-dependent scan rate converter with adaptive noise reduction that provides a highly integrated, implementation efficient de-interlacer. By identifying and using redundant information from the image (motion values and edge directions), this scan rate converter is able to perform the tasks of film-mode detection, motion-adaptive scan rate conversion, and content-dependent video noise reduction. Adaptive video noise reduction is incorporated in the process where temporal noise reduction is performed on the still parts of the image, thus preserving high detail spatial information, and data-adaptive spatial noise reduction is performed on the moving parts of the image. A low-pass filter is used in flat fields to smooth out Gaussian noise and a direction-dependent median filter is used in the presence of impulsive noise or an edge. Therefore, the selected spatial filter is optimized for the particular pixel that is being processed to maintain crisp edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey Kempf, Arnold P. Skoog, Clifford D. Fairbanks
  • Patent number: 7369318
    Abstract: A display device is disclosed herein. The display device includes a condenser unit, an illumination lens system, an optical modulation system, a filter system and a projection system. The condenser unit converges polarized light output from a plurality of light sources, and outputs the converged polarized light. The illumination lens system converts the polarized light into linear parallel light. The optical modulation system produces diffracted light beams having a plurality of diffraction orders by optically modulating the polarized light. The filter system passes some of the diffracted light beams having desired orders therethrough. The projection system focuses the diffracted light beams passed through the filter system, and projects the focused diffracted light beams onto a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Haeng Seok Yang
  • Patent number: 7364302
    Abstract: An image projection system has two illumination beams of different colors. A first polarizing beamsplitter (PBS) has first and second input faces. Light of the first color is incident on the first input face and the light of the second color is incident on second input face. At least some of the light of the first color propagates from the first PBS to a first imager unit via a second PBS. The light of the second color propagates from the first PBS to a second imager unit via, in some embodiments, the second PBS and, in other embodiments, via a third PBS. One type of PBS includes a polarizing layer and a dichroic optical layer that is substantially transparent for light of the first color in a first polarization state and is substantially reflective for light of the second color in a polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Arlie R. Conner
  • Patent number: 7354162
    Abstract: A projector includes: a light source device that emits substantially parallel illumination light; a first lens array having a plurality of first small lenses each of which divides the illumination light coming from the light source device into a plurality of partial light fluxes; a second lens array having a plurality of second small lenses corresponding to the first small lenses; a superposing optical system that superposes the partial light fluxes coming from the second lens array on regions to be illuminated; a color-separating and guiding optical system that separates the lights coming from the second lens array into lights in a plurality of different colors and guides the separated lights to the regions to be illuminated; a plurality of electro-optical modulation devices each of which modulates the light in the corresponding color of the lights in the plural colors separated by the color-separating and guiding optical system in accordance with image information; a color synthesizing optical system that s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama