Abstract: In a display panel, a first substrate is opposed to a second substrate and interposing a liquid crystal/resin composite layer. If the display panel is a transmission type display, a film for absorbing light is formed on a black matrix and between pixel electrodes. If the display panel is a reflection type display, a film for absorbing light is formed between reflection electrodes. Further, a counterelectrode is made from a multi-layer film of dielectric films and a transparent electrically conductive film for preventing reflection. The film for absorbing light includes pigments which can absorb light modulated by the liquid crystal/resin composite layer. By using the display panel, a projection display system of high contrast and high brightness can be constructed.

Abstract: A light source for projecting rectangular color light bands includes a white-light source, a color separation device for separating the white light into red, green and blue components, and separate optics for forming images of rectangular red, green and blue light bands at predetermined positions. The light source is particularly useful in projection television apparatus having single panel light valves.

Abstract: This system for illuminating a liquid-crystal screen comprises a light source which emits an unpolarized light beam (F). A polarizing splitter device (PBS) receives this unpolarized light beam and retransmits, onto the liquid-crystal screen, a first and a second beam (F1, F2) which are polarized in the same polarization direction. The axes of the two beams make a defined angle (2.beta.) between them. A matrix of microlenses is provided with one microlens (.mu.L) for at least two adjacent picture elements (EL1, EL2) in the liquid-crystal screen. Each microlens directs that part of the first beam which it receives onto one (EL1) of the two picture elements and that part of the second beam which it receives onto the other picture element (EL2).

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus which includes: a light-addressed liquid crystal light valve including a photoconductive layer and a liquid crystal layer between a pair of light transmitting substrates, each of the light transmitting substrates having an electrode for applying a voltage across the photoconductive layer and the liquid crystal layer; a writing unit for writing an image of a display medium in the light-addressed liquid crystal light valve with writing light from the display medium through a writing lens; a projecting unit for projecting the image written in the light-addressed liquid crystal light valve by irradiating reading light from a projection light source to the light-addressed liquid crystal light valve; and a controlling unit for controlling at least one of operational characteristics of the light-addressed liquid crystal light valve and a luminance of the writing light in accordance with a luminance of the display medium, is disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal projector using monochromatic liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The liquid crystal projector includes a filter for filtering light emitted from a light source and for outputting a white light. A condenser lens group then condenses the white light, and, thereafter, the condensed white light is separated into the three primary colors of light by (color filters and applied to an LCD part comprising monochromatic LCDs. The LCD part outputs video images corresponding to the three primary colors of light separated according to an applied video signal. A reflective part their combines the outputted video images and outputs the combined video image to a projector lens. Finally, the projector lens projects the combined video image onto a screen.

Abstract: A visual display system, composed of an array of light emitting devices, forming an image source, a phase spatial light modulator scanner, driver/control circuitry and an optical magnification system. The display system being enclosed within a housing, thereby forming an optical magnifier. The phase spatial light modulator scanner is operative in either a transmissive mode or a reflective mode. In operation, an external stimulus, such as a voltage, is applied to the scanner, thereby changing the phase of light emitted therethrough. The scanning action enhances display resolution of the generated resultant image without an increase in the number of pixels of the image source. The phase spatial light modulator scanner operates by scanning sub-pixels, pixel groups, and/or sub-arrays of the image source.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator (SLM) providing effects light blocking of even strong incident light without reducing the photoelectric conversion efficiency, and a projector using said SLM, are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to customized electronic identification of desirable objects, such as news articles, in an electronic media environment, and in particular to a system that automatically constructs both a "target profile" for each target object in the electronic media based, for example, on the frequency with which each word appears in an article relative to its overall frequency of use in all articles, as well as a "target profile interest summary" for each user, which target profile interest summary describes the user's interest level in various types of target objects. The system then evaluates the target profiles against the users' target profile interest summaries to generate a user-customized rank ordered listing of target objects most likely to be of interest to each user so that the user can select from among these potentially relevant target objects, which were automatically selected by this system from the plethora of target objects that are profiled on the electronic media.

Abstract: The projection type liquid crystal display apparatus of the invention includes: a light source; a liquid crystal display device; and a projection lens. In the projection type liquid crystal display apparatus, the projection lens and the liquid crystal display device are arranged to satisfy the relationship: .theta..sub.LC-max -1.degree..ltoreq..theta..sub.LENS .ltoreq..theta..sub.LC-max +1.degree., where .theta..sub.LENS is a collection angle of the projection lens and .theta..sub.LC-max is a maximum viewing angle of the liquid crystal display device at which a contrast ratio of an image light beam emitted through the projection lens CR.sub.PROJ is equal to a prescribed contrast ratio CR.sub.TARGET, and CR.sub.PROJ is calculated by the following equation:CR.sub.PROJ =.intg.T.sub.max (.theta..sub.LC, u, V.sub.LC-max).multidot.t(.theta..sub.LC) d.theta..sub.LC /.intg.T.sub.min (.theta..sub.LC, u, V.sub.LC-min).multidot.t(.theta..sub.LC)d.theta..sub.LC,where, u=d.multidot..DELTA.n/.lambda.; t(.theta.

Abstract: An LCLV projection system (10) includes color separation dichroic mirrors (50, 52) positioned between a group of reflective liquid crystal light valves (38, 40, 42) and a polarizer analyzer (26) which enables a single projection lens (34) to project all colors via a light beam of single linear polarization with a high degree of contrast, efficiency and color separation. The polarizer analyzer (26) directs a light beam with a single polarization state to a pair of dichroic filters (50, 52) which separate the beam into three different colors that are sent to three different reflective liquid crystal light valves (38, 40, 42). The light valves reflect the respective colored light beams with change in polarization state back to the dichroic mirrors (50, 52) which combine the three colors into a single combined multi-color beam that is fed through the polarizer analyzer (26) to a single system projection lens (34).

Abstract: A beam combiner for an LCD projection television system makes use of a penta-prism which focuses three separate light sources on a viewing screen. The use of a penta-prism as a beam combiner allows for a compact light path, simplicity of manufacturing and a cost effective dichroic mirror arrangement as part of the penta prism. The light path within the penta-prism from the three light sources forms a right-angled triangle which provides the above-identified advantages.

Abstract: A liquid crystal projection display system includes a liquid crystal display panel (7) which is illuminated by light directed at a small angle (A) to its normal for display contrast enhancement. To reduce defocussing and distortion effects, the panel is tilted with the normal to its plane at an angle (B) to the axis of the projection lens smaller than the illumination angle (A) and a deflector element is disposed between the panel and the projection lens for deflecting the panel output beam so that it is directed generally parallel to the projection lens axis. The panel may be operated in a reflective mode or a transmissive mode. In the latter case, a further deflector element may be disposed adjacent the input side of the panel allowing the axis of illuminating light beam to be arranged parallel with the projection lens axis.

Abstract: A multiple printhead cartridge color thermal ink jet printer having apparatus for measuring the offsets between the multiple printhead cartridges each of which includes a nozzle array of one or more columns of nozzles, each column being parallel to the media axis of the printer. The cartridges are individually operated, stationarily and while scanning, to fire drops at an aperture plate interposed between an optical drop detector and the nozzle arrays of the printhead cartridges. The detection of drops passing through the aperture plate and the non-detection of drops blocked by the aperture plate provide information which is utilized in conjunction with the nature of the operation of the cartridges that produced the detected drops to determine the positions of the nozzle arrays of the cartridges relative to each other.