Abstract: A method and system of selectively projecting images is disclosed. An illuminated area is created on a projection surface by directing a light source to the projection surface. The illuminated area is detected with a camera. Electrical signals are transmitted from the camera to the projector, the electrical signals being indicative of the position of the illuminated area in relation to the projection surface. Based on the received electrical signals, an image and a second image are projected on the projection surface. The image is projected on the illuminated area of the projection surface. The second image is projected on an area of the projection surface that is not illuminated by the light source. Applications of this method and system include the projection of background and foreground images creating the illusion of an x-ray beam, the projection of a normal image and an overblown image creating the illusion of a magnifying light beam.

Abstract: An illumination system including an optical element, a primary light source, an auxiliary light source, and a light guide element is provided. The primary light source and the auxiliary light source are disposed adjacent to the light incident end of the optical element. The primary light source provides a primary light beam, and the auxiliary light source provides an auxiliary light beam. The duration for the primary light source to reach the maximum light-emitting luminance is longer than that of the auxiliary light source. The light guide element is shifted in or away from the transmission path of the primary light beam, so that the illumination system provides an illumination light beam with an appropriate luminance. An optical projection apparatus having the above-described illumination system capable of promptly displaying images upon turning on is provided.

Abstract: A projection system is provided. The projection system comprises a projector for producing a polarized light for projecting an image and a projection screen on which the image projected by the projector is visualized. The polarization plane of the polarized light and the polarization plane of the polarizing means are parallel. The polarizing means comprises a film formed by rodlike supramolecules including at least one polycyclic organic compound with conjugated ?-systems, whereby the 40% viewing angle transmittance iso-line of the polarizing means of the screen has an aspect ratio of not less than 2.

Abstract: Signals encoded with watermark information are generated and broadcast into a protected area for capture by illicit recording devices along with their intended targets. An illicit recording in which at least a portion of the broadcast watermark signals are recorded is obtained and correlated with a known position of the broadcast watermark signals to yield the location of illicit recording devices. In an alternate embodiment, a surveillance device, being image and time synchronized with a signal broadcasting device, monitors and records the protected area. Illicit recordings containing the broadcast watermark are obtained and correlated with corresponding recordings taken by the surveillance device to identify the location of illicit recording devices. In an alternate embodiment, the surveillance device further monitors the quality of the broadcast watermark signals and adjusts them accordingly to achieve a desired quality level.

Abstract: To provide an electro-optical device displaying high-contrast images in all directions due to the orthogonality of the polarization axes of the polarizers by improving the structure of the polarizers, and an electronic apparatus including the same. In an electro-optical device 1, a polarizing sheet 130 surrounds a virtual axis line L extending vertically substantially in the center of the liquid-crystal panel 100. A portion of the cylindrical polarizing sheet centered on the virtual axis line L adjacent to the back face of the liquid-crystal panel 100 is defined as a first polarizer 140 and a portion of the cylindrical polarizing sheet centered on the virtual axis line L adjacent to the front face of the liquid-crystal panel 100 is defined as a second polarizer 150. As a result, the first polarizer 140 and the second polarizer 150 are disposed in cross-Nicol arrangement.

Abstract: A screen (which may be a display or electronic display) for projection that has embedded in the screen other active display technologies, such as LEDs, LCDs, etc., or the screen itself is a hybrid of translucent surfaces with a low-resolution display. This display will have two faces such that the alphanumeric information appears from left to right on both sides of the projected image.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention include a system, method and apparatus for combining light paths of colored light sources through a common integration tunnel.

Abstract: A projection system is provided with a primary light source and an auxiliary light source to compensate the primary light source for at least white light during an initial period to provide a user with an instant-on experience. In various embodiments, the auxiliary light source further compensates the primary light source for energy deficiencies for the red spectrum to achieve more balance in color.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image projector with a High-Intensity-Discharge HID lamp (112) and a method of operating it. Such lamps have the disadvantage that their voltaic arc jumps back and forth between different positions at unforeseeable times during operation. This so-called arc jumping has the effect of changing the brightness, i.e. the overall brightness and/or the brightness distribution of the light emitted by the HID lamp (112). For the viewer of an image projected with such a projector, this effect appears as a jolt of this projected image. To avoid such effects for the viewer, it is first proposed according to the invention that changes in the brightness of the light in the image projector's beam path are detected. As soon as a change in brightness caused by an arc jump has been detected, this brightness is reset to a brightness detected at a moment t-2 before the arc jump, in order subsequently to convert it during a predetermined time interval T to the brightness resulting from the arc jump.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention include a system, method and apparatus for combining light paths of multiple colored light sources through a common integration tunnel.

Abstract: A system for viewing 3-D images that comprises an image source (50), a computer (105) and a television screen (110). The television screen is divided into a plurality of sections (115–130), with each section displaying an image representative of a certain depth in the image, as provided by the computer. Image display elements comprising optical fiber bundles (200–215) or lamps, (e.g. 520) and leads (e.g. 540) convey individual depth images from the television screen to a plastic block (225) in which the fiber bundles terminate or the lamps are positioned. The individual fiber bundles terminate at predetermined depths within the plastic block, with those conveying the nearest part of an image terminating at the front of the block, as viewed by an observer (220). The fiber bundle or lamp conveying the greatest depth in the image terminates near the rear portion of the block, as seen by an observer.

Abstract: A light device has a plurality of light sources, and laser beam sources are arranged near a discharge bulb so that the laser beam can be overlapped with illuminating light from the discharge bulb. By doing so, the illuminating light is irradiated as overlapped illuminating light reinforcing red component, so that color rendering and luminance can be improved.

Abstract: A front projection screen for a video projection system is provided. The front projection screen includes a reflection screen surface, and a reflection material on the reflection screen surface, wherein the reflection material consists of a plurality of red, green, and blue color reflecting cells for receiving projected lights, absorbing a part of the projected lights having spectrums beyond ranges of red, green, and blue color spectrums, and reflecting a part of the projected lights having spectrums within ranges of red, green, and blue color spectrums back.

Abstract: The image projection system of the present invention improves either one or both of the brightness and color balance of a projected image. The system includes an auxiliary light source from which compensating light co-propagates with polychromatic light emitted by a primary light source along a primary light path. The compensating light has an emission energy content that minimizes an emission energy imbalance introduced by the primary light source and an intensity that is, in part, established by the application of electrical energy to the auxiliary light source. Adjusting the amount of electrical energy applied to the auxiliary light source regulates the color temperature of the projected image without perceptibly decreasing its brightness.

Abstract: An image projection system improves the brightness and/or color balance of a projected image. The system includes an auxiliary light source from which compensating light co-propagates with polychromatic light emitted by a primary light source along a primary light path. The compensating light has an emission energy content that minimizes an emission energy imbalance introduced by the primary light source. In a first preferred embodiment, the auxiliary light source is affixed at a location near the entrance end of a light tunnel such that the compensating light coincides with the primary light path before first reflection occurs. In a second preferred embodiment, the auxiliary light source is coupled to a light reflector adjacent to the primary light source and thereby allows the compensating light to propagate through the image projection system with the same efficiency as that of the light generated by the primary light source.

Abstract: A prism is mounted onto a motor without regard to its rotation angle relative to the motor index. Its position is electronically set later after construction of the optical path. A motor controller is used to control the rotation of the prism. This motor controller keeps the prism spinning at a constant velocity and positions the prism phase (rotation angle versus time). A variable offset is used to position the absolute prism rotation as a function of time. The phase may be advanced or delayed by an operator during set up. Each prism has its own phase. The phase of each prism in the system is set so that the illumination pattern correctly matches the video addressing of the panel. This is a one time set up during construction. The correct positions are set, and stored in non-volatile memory for life.

Abstract: A multi-display device synthesizes partial images, by using multiple projectors to construct one image. Each projector has an illumination device, a lattice-like lens array, a display, and a projection lens. The illumination device and lattice-like lens array form secondary light source images that are arrayed in a rectangular lattice. The display is illuminated by the plurality of secondary light source images and displays partial images. The projection lens projects the partial images. Interceptors intercept the margins of projected partial images to obtain uniform luminance. Each interceptor has an intercepting edge that is alternately concave and convex. The height of the convex parts and the pitch between adjoining concave and convex parts are selected so that projections produced by adjoining secondary light source images are displaced from each other by a half phase. Thus, a belt-shaped distribution of luminance values in the margins of the partial images are resolved nearly perfectly.

Abstract: A computerized projector system which automatically adapts projected images emanating from projectors to fit the size and conditions of screens on which the images are displayed. Moreover, disclosed is a novel method of utilizing a computerized projector system which automatically adapts projected images to a shape and condition in correlation with the size and configuration of the screens onto which the images are projected.

Abstract: A method for producing a hologram recording an interference fringe formed by an object light and a reference light on a photosensitive dry plate, and the object light either having diffusing and scattering characteristics or being passed through an optical diffusion body, mainly includes the following steps: In a first step, a ratio &eegr;R0/&eegr;00 of a first diffraction efficiency &eegr;00 and a second diffraction efficiency &eegr;R0, is calculated. The diffraction efficiency &eegr;00 is dependent on two object light beams. The efficiency &eegr;R0 is dependent on the object light and the reference light. In a second step, the intensity E0 of the object light and the intensity ER of the reference light is adjusted in such a way that the ratio &eegr;R0/&eegr;00 is set to at least 10 and the efficiency &eegr;00 does not exceed 5%.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing the realism of a displayed image may include an image display subsystem and a shadow projector. When an image is displayed, a shadow is projected near the image so that the shadow appears to be cast by the image. Shadows and lighting effects may also be reflected within a displayed image by rendering shadows and lighting corresponding to the viewer's environment within the image before or during display.

Abstract: The image projection system of the present invention improves either one or both of the brightness and color balance of a projected image. The system includes an auxiliary light source from which compensating light co-propagates with polychromatic light emitted by a primary light source along a primary light path. The compensating light has an emission energy content that minimizes an emission energy imbalance introduced by the primary light source and an intensity that is, in part, established by the application of electrical energy to the auxiliary light source. Adjusting the amount of electrical energy applied to the auxiliary light source regulates the color temperature of the projected image without perceptibly decreasing its brightness.

Abstract: The image projection system of the present invention improves either one or both of the brightness and color balance of a projected image. The system includes an auxiliary light source from which compensating light co-propagates with polychromatic light emitted by a primary light source along a primary light path. The compensating light has an emission energy content that minimizes an emission energy imbalance introduced by the primary light source. In a first preferred embodiment, the auxiliary light source is affixed at a location near the entrance end of a light tunnel such that the compensating light coincides with the primary light path before first reflection occurs. In a second preferred embodiment, the auxiliary light source is coupled to a light reflector adjacent to the primary light source and thereby allows the compensating light to propagate through the image projection system with the same efficiency as that of the light generated by the primary light source.

Abstract: A scanner phase control for a scrolling color projector utilizes the back-EMF value of a motor which rotates a prism of the scanner to set a reference point for the prism. A reference phase signal is provided which corresponds to timing information of the scan of a stripe of light provided by the prism. The phase of the motor is altered in response to the reference phase signal such that the back-EMF zero crossings of the motor coincide with the beginning of a scan as identified by the reference phase signal.

Abstract: A prism is mounted onto a motor without regard to its rotation angle relative to the motor index. Its position is electronically set later after construction of the optical path. A motor controller is used to control the rotation of the prism. This motor controller keeps the prism spinning at a constant velocity and positions the prism phase (rotation angle versus time). A variable offset is used to position the absolute prism rotation as a function of time. The phase may be advanced or delayed by an operator during set up. Each prism has its own phase. The phase of each prism in the system is set so that the illumination pattern correctly matches the video addressing of the panel. This is a one time set up during construction. The correct positions are set, and stored in non-volatile memory for life.

Abstract: The projector includes a first light source for generating a light beam; a succession of functional assemblies for imparting special light effects to the light beam; an output mirror for deflecting the light beam in a controlled manner; a laser source for generating a laser beam; a controlled-deflection optical unit for controlled deflection of the laser beam; and a mirror for superimposing the laser beam on the light beam. The projector emits a light beam of predetermined color and shape, which may be directed in a controlled manner, and in which is visible a beam of greater intensity and predetermined color, by which to form writing or images on illuminated targets.

Abstract: A soft edge mask comprises a panel having an opaque area forming a mask portion and defined by a clearly focussed edge of a predetermined shape, a transparent area forming a clear portion defined by a clearly focussed edge of the same said predetermined shape, and a margin portion extending between the opaque portion and the clear portion, the margin portion having a light transmissability varying progressively from the edge of the mask portion to the edge of the clear portion, and, at each position between the mask portion and the clear portion, being clearly focussed and having the same said predetermined shape.

Abstract: Color display apparatus for viewing a photographic transparency on a first screen that is illuminated by a selectively variable colored light source and a bordering screen that is illuminated by a standard white light source to provide background light. The degree of overlap of color filters in front of a single light source, or the intensity of three light sources quantify and uniquely define the amount of component light illuminating the transparency. The amount of each light component in comparison with the standard light components is displayed digitally and is also stored so that the coloring of the transparency can subsequently be reproduced.

Abstract: An apparatus having a projection lens through which an image produced by a Braun or cathode ray tube or other image reproducing device is projected onto a viewing screen is further provided with a source or sources of colored light, preferably of at least one hue different from that of the projected image, and which is superimposed on the image projected onto the viewing screen. The source or sources of colored light may directly irradiate the entire area of the viewing screen with such colored light, or the panel of the image reproducing device on which the image is produced may be irradiated with the colored light.