Polarizer Or Interference Filter Patents (Class 353/20)
  • Patent number: 10690595
    Abstract: Various embodiments may provide an optical sensing device based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The optical sensing device may include an optical arrangement configured to provide a first polarization light beam and a second polarization light beam, and a first optical member including a sensing surface, the first optical member configured to receive the first and second polarization light beams and reflect the first and second polarization light beams at the sensing surface. The optical sensing device may further include a second optical member arranged to receive the reflected first and second polarization light beams from the first optical member and configured to separate the reflected first and second polarization light beams in a first direction and a second direction, respectively. The optical device may additionally include a detector arrangement configured to detect the reflected first and second polarization light beams from the second optical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Agency for Science, Technology and Research
    Inventors: Chi Lok Wong, Malini Olivo
  • Patent number: 10670953
    Abstract: A light source device is provided with a blue laser emitting element, a red laser emitting element, a phosphor, a polarization split element having a polarization split function with respect to blue light and red light, and a diffusion element. The blue light emitted from the blue laser emitting element enters the polarization split element to be split into a first blue polarization component and a second blue polarization component. The first blue polarization component enters the diffusion element to turn to blue diffused light. The phosphor is excited by the second blue polarization component to emit fluorescence, and the red light emitted from the red laser emitting element enters the diffusion element to be diffusely transmitted to turn to red diffused light. The blue diffused light, the red diffused light and a part of the fluorescence are combined with each other, and then emitted from the polarization split element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shoichi Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 10649321
    Abstract: A light source device is provided with a blue laser emitting element, a red laser emitting element, a light combining element, a diffusely reflecting element, a phosphor, a polarization splitting/combining element having a polarization split function, and a first wave plate. The polarization splitting/combining element guides a blue first polarization component obtained by performing polarization split on the light from the blue laser emitting element, and the light from the red laser emitting element to the diffusely reflecting element, and guides a blue second polarization component obtained by performing polarization split on the light from the blue laser emitting element to the phosphor. Then, the polarization splitting/combining element emits red diffused light, blue diffused light, a red polarization split component, and a principal fluorescence component obtained by removing the first red fluorescence component from fluorescence in one direction to thereby generate illumination light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 10634983
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes a plurality of semiconductor lasers arranged on a substrate along a first direction, a rod integrator on which the plurality of light beams from the plurality of semiconductor lasers are incident, and a cylindrical lens so provided between the plurality of semiconductor lasers and the light incident end surface of the rod integrator as to cover the optical paths of the plurality of light beams. The plurality of semiconductor lasers include a first, second and third semiconductor laser. The center axis of each of the plurality of light beams intersects the first direction. A light emitting region of each of the semiconductor lasers has a lengthwise direction. The generatrix of the cylindrical lens is parallel to the lengthwise direction. First to third color light beams are combined with one another by the rod integrator, and the combined light exits out of the rod integrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 10627710
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes a blue laser light emitter, a red laser light emitter, a phosphor that produces yellow fluorescence, a first optical element that combines the yellow fluorescence with a second component of the blue laser light to produce first combined light containing a red component, a green component, and a blue component, a second optical element that reflects the red laser light, transmits a first polarized component in the red component, reflects a second polarized component in the red component, transmits the green component and the blue component, and combines the red laser light, the first polarized component, the green component, and the blue component with one another to produce second combined light, a retardation film provided at a downstream side of the second optical element, and a third optical element that combines part of third combined light with the second polarized component to produce illumination light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 10627559
    Abstract: An artifact mitigation system includes a projector assembly, a set of imaging optics optically coupled to the projector assembly, and an eyepiece optically coupled to the set of imaging optics. The eyepiece includes an incoupling interface. The artifact mitigation system also includes an artifact prevention element disposed between the set of imaging optics and the eyepiece. The artifact prevention element includes a linear polarizer, a first quarter waveplate disposed adjacent the linear polarizer, and a color select component disposed adjacent the first quarter waveplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Curtis, Hui-Chuan Cheng, Paul M. Greco, William Hudson Welch, Eric C. Browy, Miller Schuck, Bradley Jay Sissom
  • Patent number: 10620518
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a light source device including a blue laser emitting element configured to emit a blue laser beam, a red laser emitting element configured to emit a red laser beam, a phosphor excited by the blue laser beam to generate yellow fluorescence, a combiner configured to combine the yellow fluorescence and a part of the blue laser beam with each other to generate composite light, a polarization conversion element disposed in a posterior stage of the combiner, and a mirror disposed at a light emission side of the polarization conversion element to reflect the red laser beam, wherein the mirror is located at a position failing to overlap the composite light emitted from the polarization conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 10591742
    Abstract: Polarizing beam splitters and systems incorporating such beam splitters are described. More specifically, polarizing beam splitters and systems with such beam splitters that incorporate multilayer optical films and reflect imaged light towards a viewer or viewing screen with high effective resolution are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Joseph C. Carls, Seong Taek Lee, Yeow Leng Teo, Kin Sheng Chan, Xiaohui Cheng
  • Patent number: 10594976
    Abstract: Systems and methods for wide field of view (FOV) image projection using a spatial light modulator (SLM) and a fast steering mirror (FSM) cooperatively managed by a projection sequence controller. The computer-implemented process determines projection regions within the FOV, creates sub-images of an input target image for each of the regions, and operates the SLM and FSM to time-division multiplex sequential projections of each of the sub-images and to direct each projection to a respective region in the FOV within an observer frame rate. The projection sequence controller determines the number projection regions within the FOV based on a projection frame time of the SLM (including a frame read-in time and a modulation time), a mirror steering time of the FSM, and the observer frame rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Inventor: Joshua Lentz
  • Patent number: 10578780
    Abstract: A transparent panel is provided. The transparent panel includes a polarization plate, a transparent diffusion plate which is disposed on one side of the polarization plate and is configured to transmit light incident from a side of the polarization plate and to reflect and diffuse a light incident from an opposite side of the polarization plate, a ¼ wavelength plate which is disposed on one side of the transparent diffusion plate and is configured to convert a polarization direction of an incident light, and a lens part which is disposed on one side of the ¼ wavelength plate. The lens part includes a lens array comprising a birefringent material having different refractive indexes according to a polarization direction of an incident light, and a refractive index alignment member configured to transmit or refract the light according to a polarization direction of a light that penetrates the lens array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Seoul National University R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Young-yoon Lee, Jonghyun Kim, Byoungho Lee, Jong-Young Hong, Seokil Moon, Chanhyung Yoo
  • Patent number: 10571090
    Abstract: An automotive headlight includes: a light source for emitting light; a polarization beam splitter for receiving a light flux from the light source, and dividing the light flux into a first polarization and a second polarization; a liquid crystal element disposed to receive the first polarization and the second polarization, divided by the polarization beam splitter; a phase shifter disposed on optical axis of one of the first polarization and the second polarization, and aligning polarization axis directions of the first polarization and the second polarization; and an output side polarizer disposed on output side of the liquid crystal element, wherein illumination regions corresponding to respective control electrodes in the liquid crystal element can be controlled to shield light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Toko, Ryotaro Owada, Yoshifumi Takao
  • Patent number: 10569282
    Abstract: A light source module for microparticles sorting performed in a light-induced dielectrophoresis chip is provided, which includes a light emitting element, a control unit and a light converting unit. The light emitting element is configured to generate and emit light. The control unit is configured to generate a driving signal based on image data. The Light converting unit is coupled to the control unit, and is configured to convert the light into a light pattern based on the driving signal. A luminous exitance of the light converting unit is between 9×104 lux and 1.2×105 lux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: TECHTRON TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Wei Wu, Cheng-Yuan Hung, Chang-Sin Ye
  • Patent number: 10571790
    Abstract: An illumination device includes: an excitation light source that emits excitation light having a first wavelength; and a fluorescent member that includes a fluorescent substance that, when it is irradiated with the excitation light, emits light having a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength, transmits a part of the excitation light and reflects another part of the excitation light, and a first reflective film provided at a side of the fluorescent substance, which is opposite to an excitation light incidence side, the fluorescent member emitting multiplexed light including an excitation light component reflected from the fluorescent substance and the first reflective film and a light component emitted from the fluorescent substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Kita
  • Patent number: 10571692
    Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) includes a field curvature corrected (FC) display to mitigate field curvature in an image that is output to a user's eyes. The FC display includes elements that generate the image light and elements to mitigate field curvature from the image light. The FC display may include a display panel with lenses, a display panel with a reflective polarizer and reflective surface, or other optical elements. The FC display may include a pancake lens configuration including a polarized display with a quarter wave plate, a reflective mirror, and a polarization reflective mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ying Geng, Jacques Gollier, Stephen James McNally, Brett Joseph Bryars, Scott Charles McEldowney
  • Patent number: 10558066
    Abstract: A vehicular sun visor includes a light shielding unit having a plurality of liquid crystal panels each of which enables a transmittance to be changed, and a sensor unit. The sensor unit includes a housing having a front wall part and a rear wall part, a pinhole formed on the front wall part, and a plurality of light receiving elements that are provided on the rear wall part and adapted to receive light passing through the pinhole. The plurality of liquid crystal panels are adapted to change a light transmittance based on light-receiving states of the plurality of light receiving elements each of which is associated with each of the liquid crystal panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keita Ishizaka
  • Patent number: 10542241
    Abstract: A polarization separation element that separates a light emitted from a first light emitting device into a light having first polarization in a first wavelength range and a light having second polarization in the first wavelength range, a wavelength conversion element converts the light into a light in a second wavelength range, a first light modulation device modulates the entering light according to image information, an optical element that separates the light in the second wavelength range into a light in a third wavelength range and a light in a fourth wavelength range, a second light modulation device that modulates the light according to the image information, a third light modulation device that modulates the light according to the image information, and a projection system that projects an image light are provided, wherein the wavelength conversion element has a first surface and a second surface different from the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryuta Koizumi
  • Patent number: 10533845
    Abstract: A measuring device for measuring an object includes a controller, a projector, an imaging unit, and a processor, the controller controls the projector and the imaging unit to start projection and imaging in a second condition after starting projection and imaging in a first condition, and to start imaging in the second condition with a time interval of an integer multiple of a period of intensity of light other than a pattern of light from an imaging start time in the first condition, and the processor obtains intersection point positions of gradation values between image data obtained at the same imaging time in each condition among image data obtained at each imaging time in the first condition and image data obtained at each imaging time in the second condition, and calculates the shape information based on the obtained intersection point positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Seki
  • Patent number: 10520727
    Abstract: A holographic display apparatus includes a spatial light modulator configured to generate hologram patterns to modulate light; an illuminator configured to emit the light to the spatial light modulator; and a controller configured to control operations of the spatial light modulator and the illuminator, the spatial light modulator being configured to generate, from among the hologram patterns, a first hologram pattern and a second hologram pattern according to the control operations of the controller, the first hologram pattern and the second hologram pattern being configured to form a first hologram image and a second hologram image having different viewpoints, and the controller being configured to set a first phase modulation value of the first hologram pattern and a second phase modulation value of the second hologram pattern to be different from each other such that hologram images having different viewpoints are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jungkwuen An, Geeyoung Sung, Sunil Kim, Hongseok Lee, Chilsung Choi
  • Patent number: 10502970
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a display device comprises a light modulating element which transmits or reflects incident light, a display unit which emits display light toward the light modulating element, and a retroreflective element which retroreflects the display light reflected from the light modulating element, the light modulating element including an inner surface on a side opposed to the display unit and the retroreflective element, and an outer surface on a side opposite to the inner surface, the light modulating element includes a first mode of transmitting light incident from the outer surface at a first transmittance, and a second mode of transmitting the light incident from the outer surface at a second transmittance lower than the first transmittance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Takeo Koito, Yudai Numata
  • Patent number: 10497137
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method of compensating temperature shifts of a structured light pattern for a depth imaging system. In some embodiments, a depth imaging device includes a light source, an imaging sensor and a processor. The light source emits light corresponding to a pattern. A temperature drift of the light source can cause a shift of the pattern. The imaging sensor receives the light reflected by environment in front of the depth imaging device and generates a depth map including a plurality of pixel values corresponding to depths of the environment relative to the depth imaging device. The processor estimates the shift of the pattern based on a polynomial model depending on the temperature drift of the light source. The processor further adjusts the depth map based on the shift of the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jian Zhao, Raymond Kirk Price, Michael Bleyer, Denis Demandolx
  • Patent number: 10481473
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus includes a first light modulation element configured to modulate first light from a light source and to generate second light, a second light modulation element configured to modulate second light, an imaging optical system configured to image the second light on the second light modulation element and disposed on an optical path from the first light modulation element to the second light modulation element. The image projection apparatus is configured to project an image formed by light from the second light modulation element onto a projection surface and satisfies a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuuki Maeda
  • Patent number: 10481311
    Abstract: Provided are a transparent film that allows scenery to be observed without color unevenness in a state where light is not irradiated, a transparent screen and an image display system including the transparent film, and a transparent poster. The transparent film includes: a support; a dot array that is formed on one surface of the support and in which dots obtained by immobilizing a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase are two-dimensionally arranged; and an overcoat layer that covers the dots and is laminated on the support, in which areas of the dots and distances between the dots are made to be irregular. As a result, the object is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Yanai, Michio Nagai, Akira Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10474022
    Abstract: An illuminator includes a light source apparatus that outputs first light containing a first polarized light component, an afocal system that includes a first lens and a second lens so arranged that optical axis directions thereof coincide with each other and reduces the light flux diameter of the first light, a polarization adjusting element that converts the first light, while transmitting the first light, into second light containing the first polarized light component and a second polarized light component the polarization direction of which is perpendicular to the polarization direction of the first polarized light component, and a polarization separation element that separates the second light into light formed of the first polarized light component and light formed of the second polarized light component. The polarization adjusting element is located between the first lens and the second lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiro Kashiwagi
  • Patent number: 10466184
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of providing image data for constructing an image of at least a region of a target object, comprising the steps of simultaneously recording, at a detector, a plurality of separable diffraction patterns formed by a respective portion of radiation scattered by the target object; and providing the image data via an iterative process responsive to the detected intensity of radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: PHASE FOCUS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Maiden
  • Patent number: 10466395
    Abstract: A system such as a vehicle system, building, or electrical equipment may be provided with one or more optical components. The optical components may include a near-infrared camera or other components that operate at near-infrared wavelengths. A visible-light-reflecting-and-infrared-light-transmitting layer may overlap the optical component. This overlapping layer may have first and second index-matched layers and an interposed textured layer. The textured layer may be a thin-film interference filter or other coating that is configured to reflect visible light while transmitting infrared light. The transmitted infrared light may pass to the optical component with minimal wavefront distortion due to the index matching of the first and second layers. The texture of the textured layer may cause visible light to reflect diffusely and thereby provide the visible-light-reflecting-and-infrared-light-transmitting layer with a matte appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm J. Northcott, Matthew E. Last, Irene Perali, Bradford J. Zercoe
  • Patent number: 10459240
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a time-multiplexed stereoscopic 3d projection system wherein the image-beam from a digital cinema projector is separated by a polarization beam-splitting element into one primary image-beam possessing a first state of polarization and at least one secondary image-beam possessing a second state of polarization. Polarization modulators are provided in order to modulate the polarization state for each of said primary and secondary image-beams thereof and arranged so that all left-eye images possess a first modulated state of polarization and all right-eye images possess a second modulated state of polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Volfoni R&D
    Inventor: Stephen Palmer
  • Patent number: 10459329
    Abstract: A projection-type display apparatus includes a light source unit, reflection-type light modulation elements, a color combining unit, a color separation unit, and a filter. The light source unit is capable of emitting first color light, second color light, third color light, and near infrared light. A first polarization separation unit receives the first color light, and a second polarization separation unit receives the second color light and the third color light. The color separation unit guides near infrared light to the first polarization separation unit, and the color combining unit guides the near infrared light from the first polarization separation unit to color combining unit. The projection-type display apparatus can be switched between a first mode in which a first region of the filter unit is inserted into the light path and a second mode in which a second region of the filter unit is inserted to the light path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shun Miura, Yuuki Maeda
  • Patent number: 10452138
    Abstract: An eye tracker characterization system comprising a scanning retinal imaging unit and a controller. The scanning retinal imaging unit characterizes eye tracking information determined by an eye tracking unit under test. The scanning retinal imaging unit includes a scanning optics assembly and a detector. The scanning optics assembly scans light in a first band across a retinal region of an eye of a user. The detector detects the scanned light reflected from the retinal region. The controller selects eye tracking information received from the eye tracking unit under test and corresponding eye tracking parameters received from the scanning retinal imaging unit. The controller calculates differences between the selected eye tracking information and the corresponding selected eye tracking parameters, and characterizes the selected eye tracking information based on the calculated differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Sharma, Nicholas Daniel Trail, Robert Dale Cavin
  • Patent number: 10444525
    Abstract: A method for producing an optical wedge or prism assembly, including identifying a first prism wedge and a second prism wedge, wherein the first prism wedge includes at least one wedge surface and wherein the second prism wedge includes a wedge surface; indexing the first prism wedge and the second prism wedge such that wedge surfaces of the first prism wedge and the second prism wedge are adjacent to one another; applying an adhesive to adjacent wedge surfaces of the aligned prism wedges; manipulating at least one of the prism wedges relative to the other prism wedge to obtain a desired angle between the outer surfaces of the prism wedges; and allowing the adhesive to cure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Inventor: John L. Baker
  • Patent number: 10425516
    Abstract: An iPhone LED projector device that projects a large image from an iPhone onto a nearby wall or screen, where the LED projector is built into a housing for the iPhone, where the iPhone is attached via a lightning connector, where the LED projector device is about the same size as an iPhone and encloses the iPhone in a case, where the LED projector has a removable rechargeable lithium ion battery, an A/C power unit, wherein the LED projector includes external controls on one or more outer surfaces of the housing, wherein the LED projector is able to project an image approximately 100? in size diagonal dimension, and wherein the LED projector includes an audio Bluetooth connection for connecting to an external audio unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Inventor: Yonatan Zike Zenebe
  • Patent number: 10403180
    Abstract: The examples relate to implementations of an apparatus and a luminaire that use isolated display and lighting portions and optical passages for backlit general illumination through the display. The apparatus includes a general illumination light source, an optical coupling, and an optical array. A luminaire includes the apparatus and a display light board. The display light board may include display light emitters and transparent regions. The transparent regions enable general illumination light to pass through the display light board. The general illumination light source outputs general illumination light that is directed by the optical coupling toward the optical array. The optical array has optical passages and optical array supports. The optical array supports frame the display light emitters and the optical passages channel the directed general illumination light from the optical coupling around display light emitters framed near the optical array supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Ravi Kumar Komanduri, An Mao
  • Patent number: 10386557
    Abstract: An optical element includes a substrate, a plurality of reflection layers disposed on one side of the substrate, an absorbing layer disposed on a side of the reflection layers that is opposite to the substrate, and an oxide film that covers the absorbing layer and portions between any two adjacent reflection layers. The reflection layers are arranged in a striped manner in plan view. The oxide film is made of an oxide of a material contained in the absorbing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitomo Kumai
  • Patent number: 10345610
    Abstract: Polarizing beam splitters and systems incorporating such beam splitters are described. More specifically, polarizing beam splitters and systems with such beam splitters that incorporate multilayer optical films and reflect imaged light towards a viewer or viewing screen with high effective resolution are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Joseph C. Carls, Seong Taek Lee, Yeow Leng Teo, Kin Sheng Chan, Xiaohui Cheng
  • Patent number: 10321108
    Abstract: A projector which modulates light emitted from a solid light source by an optical modulator and projects an image includes, a division unit which divides first light beams forming the image, a diffusion plate which diffuses one of the first light beams divided by the division unit, a first sensor which receives the light beams diffused by the diffusion plate, a second sensor which receives second light beams having a full width at the half maximum of a spectrum different from the first light beams and forming the image, an adjustment unit which adjusts a ratio of the first light beams to the second light beams according to a detection result of the first sensor and a detection result of the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya Iguchi, Takashi Toyooka
  • Patent number: 10278458
    Abstract: A display position of an image is moved in accordance with positional information of a display device having a curved display surface. Displacement of a display device is sensed by a camera portion and an acceleration sensor, and the display position is determined in accordance with the displacement, so that the image is displayed in the display position. In the case where the display device rotates and the like, a desired piece of information can be displayed automatically in a display region that can be easily seen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Tamaki, Tadaaki Maekoya
  • Patent number: 10247945
    Abstract: In a projection system, providing a stop that forms an opening that is symmetric with respect to a first flat plane including the projection system optical axis and a first axis that extends in parallel to the first direction and intersects the projection system optical axis but asymmetric with respect to a second flat surface including the projection system optical axis and a second axis that extends in parallel to the second direction and intersects the projection system optical axis allows appropriate light adjustment at the stop even when pencils of light from the points in a video device exit at different angles along a second direction, whereby high-quality video images can be provided with the size of an optical system further reduced and therefore the size of an overall virtual image display apparatus reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Takagi, Takahiro Totani, Takashi Takeda, Akira Komatsu, Toshiaki Miyao
  • Patent number: 10229482
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of projecting a portion of an image, which is to be projected on to a display area, with improved brightness, comprising the steps of, configuring a projector such that it projects over a portion of the display area, modifying a signal which defines the pixels of the image, to provide a signal which defines pixels of a portion of the image. The present invention further relates to a corresponding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: North Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas Abele, Lucio Kilcher
  • Patent number: 10175566
    Abstract: A light source device, an illumination device, and a projector which are capable of thinning a bundle of light beams while being low in a focal magnification ratio, and are small in size are to be provided. The light source device includes a first light source unit adapted to emit a first light beam, a second light source unit adapted to emit a bundle of light beams including a second light beam and a third light beam, a reduction optical system adapted to reduce the bundle of light beams, and a combining optical system adapted to combine the first light beam and the reduced bundle of light beams with each other. The combining optical system is provided with a light transmitting area and a light reflecting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Matsubara, Koichi Akiyama, Noriyuki Hirano
  • Patent number: 10156715
    Abstract: An illumination device for a light modulated projector includes a first and a second color wheel. A first filter surface of the first color wheel comprises at least three first surface sections arranged one behind the other, which protrude into an illumination beam path of the illumination device successively on rotation and in each case convey illumination radiation of a different partial range of the visible wavelength range. At least one of the first surface sections of the first filter surface conveys illumination radiation from the infrared range. A second filter surface of the second color wheel comprises a first surface segment which only conveys illumination radiation from the visible wavelength range and a second surface segment which only conveys illumination radiation from the infrared range. The first and second surface segments protrude into the illumination beam path successively on rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Krause, Enrico Geissler, Juergen Kraenert
  • Patent number: 10151917
    Abstract: A device for homogenizing laser light using a rotating lens is provided. The device comprises: a laser; an integrating rod having an input face; a lens located between the laser and the input face of the integrating rod, the lens having an optical axis, the lens positioned to receive light from the laser, off the optical axis, and focus the light through the input face of the integrating rod; and, an actuator device configured to rotate the lens about an axis of rotation different from the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventors: Darren Pastrik, Daniel Robert Adema, John Domm
  • Patent number: 10146119
    Abstract: A light source device, an illumination device, and a projector which are capable of thinning a bundle of light beams while being low in a focal magnification ratio, and are small in size are to be provided. The light source device includes a first light source unit adapted to emit a first light beam, a second light source unit adapted to emit a bundle of light beams including a second light beam and a third light beam, a reduction optical system adapted to reduce the bundle of light beams, and a combining optical system adapted to combine the first light beam and the reduced bundle of light beams with each other. The combining optical system is provided with a light transmitting area and a light reflecting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Matsubara, Koichi Akiyama, Noriyuki Hirano
  • Patent number: 10139538
    Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) 10 can include a reflective layer 15 sandwiched on each side by a pair of transparent layers (11-12 and 13-14). An index of refraction of each outer transparent layer 11 or 14 can be greater than an index of refraction of the adjacent inner transparent layer 12 or 13, respectively. Material composition of the outer transparent layers 11 and 14 can be the same, material composition of the adjacent inner transparent layers 12 and 13 can be the same. There can be high reflection of one polarization (e.g. Rs1>93% and Rs2>93%) for light incident on either side of the WGP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Wang, Shaun Ogden, R. Stewart Nielson, Hua Li, Brian Bowers
  • Patent number: 10108076
    Abstract: Alight source apparatus includes alight source section having a first area and a second area, a first condensing optical system, a second condensing optical system, a wavelength conversion element, a reflection element, and a wavelength selective polarization element. The first area and the second area respectively emit a first light ray flux and a second light ray flux. The first light ray flux passes through the first condensing optical system to excite the wavelength conversion element. The excited wavelength conversion element emits fluorescence. The second light ray flux passes through the wavelength selective polarization element and the second condensing optical system to enter the reflection element. The wavelength selective polarization element transmits the fluorescence irrespective of the polarization state of the fluorescence to combine the second light ray flux reflected by the reflection element with the fluorescence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 10088677
    Abstract: An illumination unit includes a plurality of sets of illumination modules each having a light source placed at a conjugate position and a plurality of stages of condenser lenses that collect light from the light source toward a display device, a magnifying optical system being between the conjugate position and a viewing area. Each illumination module set includes an initial stage lens closest to the light source and a final stage lens farthest from the light source. In a surrounding illumination module of the illumination module sets, principal points of all stages of condenser lenses are positioned on a surrounding principal ray that passes through a periphery of an angle of view center of the display device to reach the viewing area, and the light source is positioned on the surrounding principal ray by being offset from a light axis of the initial stage lens in the reference direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Nambara
  • Patent number: 10091478
    Abstract: A first projection display apparatus includes a color separator (41A) that has first and second incident surfaces (S1a and S1b), and allows light in first to third wavelength bands to pass therethrough or reflects the light in the first to third wavelength bands; first to third reflective light modulators (15); a first polarization splitter (12G); a second polarization splitter (12RB); and a projection optical system (19). Light in at least one of the first to third wavelength bands enters the first incident surface of the color separator as first polarized light, and light in the other wavelength bands enters the second incident surface of the color separator as second polarized light orthogonal to the first polarized light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Sato, Hiroyuki Yanagisawa, Masa Tanaka, Ryo Miyao
  • Patent number: 10082731
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes an illumination optical system configured to illuminate a light modulation element; a plurality of light source units each including a fluorescent member, at least one light source, and a light-guiding optical system; and an optical-path combining system. A predetermined region in an area where light source images are formed by the illumination optical system using light beams from the optical-path combining system is defined as an effective region, and the number of the light source units is denoted by N. In this case, the light source images and N subregions obtained by dividing the effective region by N along a first side direction of the effective region or a second side direction orthogonal to the first side direction satisfy a predetermined relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehito Kawasumi
  • Patent number: 10079957
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, an addition unit, and a transfer unit. The reading unit reads image data from a document. The addition unit adds attribute information regarding a preset item to the image data read by the reading unit. The transfer unit transfers to a specified destination the image data to which the attribute information is added by the addition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaru Fujii
  • Patent number: 10067401
    Abstract: A beam expander includes a first lens unit including one of an SLM or a VFL, a second lens unit being optically coupled to the first lens unit and including one of an SLM or a VFL, and a control unit controlling focal lengths of the first and second lens units. A distance between the first and second lens units is invariable. The control unit controls the focal lengths of the first and second lens units such that a light diameter D1 of light input to the first lens unit and a light diameter D2 of light output from the second lens unit are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Naoya Matsumoto, Takashi Inoue, Yuu Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 10015456
    Abstract: A projector includes a light-emitting element that outputs light of a first wavelength band which is in a first polarization state; a retardation plate that converts a portion of the light into a second polarization state; a polarization separation element that separates the light into a first flux of light in the first polarization state and a second flux of light in a second polarization state; a phosphor, which outputs a third flux of light of a second wavelength band; an optical modulator that modulates the light in accordance with a video signal; a light-emitting element control unit that controls brightness of the light-emitting element in accordance with brightness information; and a retardation plate control unit that controls a rotation angle of the retardation plate in accordance with the brightness information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Toyooka, Tatsuya Iguchi
  • Patent number: RE47179
    Abstract: The wire grid type polarization device includes a substrate, and a metal layer formed on one face of the substrate in a substantially stripe shape in a plan view, a first dielectric layer provided on two side faces opposite to each other among a plurality of side faces of the metal layer and in a top part of the metal layer, and a second dielectric layer provided on the first dielectric layer. A substrate side end portion of the second dielectric layer is located between the one surface of the substrate and the top part of the first metal layer. The wire grid type polarization device includes a substrate and a plurality of metal layers that includes a first metal layer having a first side face, a second side face opposed to the first side face, and a top part. First and second dielectric layers are provided in the first side face, the second side face, and the top part of the first metal layer. The first dielectric layer is provided between the first metal layer and the second dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitomo Kumai