With Reflector Or Additional Screen Patents (Class 359/449)
  • Patent number: 7244030
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rear projection type image display device comprising projection lenses (2, 3) for projecting an image displayed on an image display element onto a transmission type screen (6) on a larger scale, an optical path turn-back mirror (7) for turning back halfway a light beam projected from the projection lenses, and a drive circuit for displaying an image on the image display element, that are fixedly housed within a housing (5). When a diagonal size of the transmission type screen (6), the depth of the housing (5), and the length from a lower end of the screen (6) to a lower end of the housing (5), are assumed to be SS (inch), D (inch), and L (inch), respectively, the following conditions are satisfied: SS >40, D?SS/3.0, L?SS/10.9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Shuji Kato, Hidehiro Ikeda, Masahiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7242523
    Abstract: A projection screen comprises a red-reflecting particle layer, green-reflecting particle layer and blue-reflecting particle layer sequentially stacked on a substrate. In each particle layer, particles are accumulated by eleven cycles in a regularly alignment such as close-packed structure. Diameter of red-reflecting particles is approximately 280 nm, diameter of green-reflecting particles is approximately 235 nm, and diameter of blue-reflecting particles is approximately 212 nm. Each particles layer is accumulated by self-organized technique. The substrate used here can absorb light of wavelengths other than those of red, green and blue three primary colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Toda, Yoshihiko Kuroki, Michihiro Ohnishi, Hirotaka Akao, Ko Ishimoto
  • Patent number: 7239445
    Abstract: The present invention is a broadband projection-receiving surface that can function as a projection screen. This surface can, even in strong ambient light, provide high gain, prevent glare and speckle, provide high contrast, preserve of gray-scale linearity, provide a uniformity of brightness, provide rapid angular cut-off, preserve polarization, and provide the ability to function over a large spectral range. These achievements result from a production method that utilizes purposeful partitioning of the material processes used in sub-wavelength morphology (finish) from the processes used to make super-wavelength morphology (figure).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Merlin Technology Limited Liability Company
    Inventor: Peter D. Pouslen
  • Patent number: 7236278
    Abstract: A projection optical apparatus is provided that is fast and of satisfactory illumination efficiency albeit being of simple construction and compact size including at least three projection optical systems for magnifying and projecting an image appearing on a display device, and further including a concave mirror for projecting exit pupils of the projection optical systems onto a viewer side and a diffusing plate comprising a transmission hologram, which is located near to images projected through the projection optical systems for magnifying the images of the exit pupils of the projection optical system upon projected by the concave mirror. The image of the exit pupil of each projection optical system projected by the concave mirror and magnified through the diffusing plate comprising a transmission hologram is projected in a mutually, at least partially overlapping fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Takayoshi Togino
  • Patent number: 7232229
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a luminescent screen having pixels formed from blue, green and red luminescent material that are selectively activated by a laser beam to generate a full color image. The display utilizes a closed loop laser scanning/modulating arrangement in which a Position Sensitive Device (PSD) located next to the screen is used to determine the location of the impinging beam, and to transmit timing/location data to the laser addressing system. The laser addressing system uses the timing/location data to adjust and/or modulate the laser beam, thereby generating high-energy beam pulses that activate the selected pixels. The PSD includes vertical strips located along the side edges of the screen, or a sheet that is located behind the screen and accessed, for example, by way of slits or apertures formed in the screen material. The PSD sheet is coupled to an optional power source to form a photon-multiplication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Eric Peeters, Noble M. Johnson, Ross D. Bringans
  • Patent number: 7233439
    Abstract: A screen member for a transmission screen includes: a microlens substrate, a light incident face thereof being formed with a plurality of microlenses for condensing incident light; a black matrix formed on a light emission face of the microlens substrate, which has a plurality of openings on light paths of the light transmitted by the microlenses of the microlens substrate; and a plurality of light diffusion portions for diffusing the light transmitted by each microlens of the microlens substrate. Each microlens of the microlens substrate is designed so that the light transmitting each microlens is focused on the side of the light emission face of the microlens substrate beyond the black matrix. Further, each light diffusion portion is formed into a protrusion that protrudes from the surface of the black matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7224526
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are three-dimensional free space imaging systems and related methods employing a dynamic stereoscopic image projection system in combination with a optic module comprising a doublet of Fresnel lenses. The dynamic projector systems calculating derived flat image information for each projector based upon inputted stereopair images and information regarding the projector elements and optic module. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the projection system uses an image computational device that employs a neural network feedback calculation to calculate the appropriate flat image information and appropriate images to be projected on the screen by the projectors at any given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: NeurOK LLC
    Inventors: Andrey N. Putilin, Andrew Lukyanitsa
  • Patent number: 7221506
    Abstract: Images are projected onto two adjacent screens whereby one screen is movable with respect to the second screen. A projection system disposed generally in front of the two screens is capable of displaying images on each screen independently when the two screen are in an “open” position or on both screens together when the two screens are configured in a “closed” position. In a first “open” configuration, the images viewable on one screen are not viewable to the viewers of images on an adjacent screen and, in a second “closed” configuration, images are displayed on both screens together so as to be viewable by all members of the audience. In addition, a berm is configured between the viewing area of one screen and the viewing area of the other screen to create an audio and visual barrier between the two screens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Inventor: Andrew J. Schlosser
  • Patent number: 7206130
    Abstract: A projection screen for displaying an image by reflecting imaging light projected from a projector, including a substrate and a projected-image-receiving layer formed on the substrate. The projected-image-receiving layer has the function of selectively reflecting a specific polarized-light component and the function of diffusing the specific polarized-light component. Further, the projected-image-receiving layer includes two or more selective reflection layers having different reflection wave ranges, and, of these selective reflection layers, the selective reflection layer having a reflection wave range covering the shorter wavelength side is situated apart from the observation side as compared with the selective reflection layer having a reflection wave range covering the longer wavelength side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Umeya
  • Patent number: 7158300
    Abstract: The invention provides a projection screen, wherein clear images can be obtained without being influenced by projection environments, the flexibility can be obtained, and its manufacturing cost can be reduced and its manufacturing method. An optical multilayer film is formed on a transparent substrate by alternately layering metal films and dielectric films by using spattering. This multilayer film has the high reflection characteristics in relation to three primary colors wavelength bands lights, and has the high absorption characteristics in relation to lights other than the three primary colors wavelength bands lights. Therefore, the white level and the black level of images can be raised. Further, in terms of the optical multilayer film, as the film thickness dependence of the reflectance change becomes smaller and the incidence angle dependence of reflectance change becomes smaller, a wide visual field angle can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhito Shimoda
  • Patent number: 7137710
    Abstract: A method for presenting secondary information to a video-viewing audience comprises projecting video images onto a screen and projecting invisible light signals encoded to represent secondary information associated with said video images onto the screen concurrently with said video images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Gregory J May
  • Patent number: 7139123
    Abstract: A screen with an improved luminance uniformity is provided. A diffusion film that is disposed at the front surface of the screen is attached to a Fresnel lens with an adhesive. The Fresnel lens is attached to a reflective layer that is deposited on a base film with an adhesive that has a refractive index lower than that of the Fresnel lens and as low as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideya Chubachi, Hiroshi Hayashi, Osamu Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7133201
    Abstract: A display system is provided that includes a light source configured to project an image, and a display surface configured to receive the projected image and at least partially compensate for a non-ideal spectral power distribution exhibited by the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Michael A. Pate
  • Patent number: 7123409
    Abstract: The present invention provides a projection screen capable of sharply displaying an image by minimizing the influence of the loss of light that occurs on a polarized-light selective reflection layer and of providing high image visibility. A projection screen includes: a polarized-light selective reflection layer that selectively reflects a specific polarized-light component; and a substrate that supports the polarized-light selective reflection layer. The polarized-light selective reflection layer includes a plurality of partial selective reflection layers that are laminated to one another, and the partial selective reflection layers have cholesteric liquid crystalline structures, owing to which they selectively reflect a specific polarized-light component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Umeya
  • Patent number: 7123410
    Abstract: A projection screen includes a polarized-light selective reflection layer having a cholesteric liquid crystalline structure, capable of selectively reflecting a specific polarized-light component; and a substrate that supports the polarized-light selective reflection layer. In the cholesteric liquid crystalline structure of the polarized-light selective reflection layer, the helical pitch on the side farther from the imaging-light-incident side is longer than that on the side closer to the imaging-light-incident side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Umeya
  • Patent number: 7118228
    Abstract: A display system includes a single image-projection device, and a reflective surface optically coupled to the image-projection device, wherein the reflective surface is configured to reflect a plurality of images projected by the image-projection device onto a plurality of display surfaces, the projection being along a same path as a collection of the plurality of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Gregory J. May
  • Patent number: 7113333
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a screen or the like that enables a bright, homogeneous projection image to be observed in a wide range across an area where viewers are present. A screen having a micro-lens array formed of a plurality of micro-lens elements each having a first surface having a curvature and a second surface of an almost planar shape through which incident light that comes incident on the first surface can be transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shunji Kamijima
  • Patent number: 7110175
    Abstract: An assembly for use in a projection screen that includes a metal reflective surface, and a layer above the metal reflective surface to reduce an amount of difference in reflectivity of the metal reflective surface for light polarized in two different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Barret Lippey, Steve O'Dea
  • Patent number: 7102820
    Abstract: A Fresnel lens for a display device is provided. The Fresnel lens includes a first sloped surface angled to receive input light, a second sloped surface facing the first sloped surface, and a valley floor linking the first sloped surface to the second sloped surface. The valley floor may be configured to scatter stray light reflected from the first sloped surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Peterson, Jeffrey A. Gohman
  • Patent number: 7099079
    Abstract: A plurality of reflecting mirrors (322) extending in the vertical direction of a screen are provided in parallel as appropriate between a light incident surface and a light exiting surface. The reflecting mirrors (322) each have a shape of parabolic cylinder, for condensing light on substantially one line. Light rays (L2) are reflected from a concave mirror part on the inner surface of one of the reflecting mirrors (322), and are reflected again from a convex mirror part of an adjacent one of the reflecting mirrors (322), to be emitted to the outside. Being reflected from the inner surface of one of the reflecting mirrors (322), the light rays (L2) are condensed on a predetermined focal point (FP1), and are then emitted while diffusing. Thus obtained is a diffuser panel for a rear projection screen capable of contributing to improved clarity of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taketoshi Hibi, Yuzo Nakano
  • Patent number: 7095557
    Abstract: A projection screen includes a plurality of convex portions serving as a light diffusion control portion, on the surface of a substrate. An optical thin film overlies the substrate and has convex portions having the same shape as that of the convex portions of the substrate. When external light enters the optical thin film with light in three primary color wavelength bands, the optical thin film reflects only the light in the three color wavelength bands and absorbs at least visible light of the external light. When light in the three primary color wavelength bands perpendicularly enters the optical thin film, the rays of the light have incident angles at the convex portions of the optical thin film and diffuse-reflected at angles twice the incident angles. Thus, a predetermined percentage of the light is diffused to increase the viewing angle of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Ohsako, Masayasu Kakinuma, Hideya Chubachi, Hiroshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7088508
    Abstract: In order to provide a dual-surface lens sheet in which a color shift is reduced and positions of unit lenses on a front surface and a back surface are easily aligned even if the unit lenses are disposed in fine pitch when used for a rear projection screen which is used for a display device using a plurality of projector as light sources, a half-column-cylindrical-convex-lens is used in a lens sheet having lens sections on front surface and a back surface such that pitch ratio for disposing the unit lenses on the front surface and the back surface is in a range of 1:2 to 1:30 and disposition directions of the lens sections are uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Ebina, Takashi Abe, Masaru Miyashita, Susumu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7088507
    Abstract: The ultra-thin rear projection display device described herein includes a lens system and one or more planar mirrors that are parallel to a screen on which an image is to be displayed. The screen may be a Fresnel lens having a plurality of bumps on the output surface to reduce the visibility of a stray light image. The Fresnel lens may have a diffusion layer on the output side of the Fresnel lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventor: Mark D. Peterson
  • Patent number: 7088509
    Abstract: A rear projection display device is provided. In an embodiment, the display device includes a laminate screen including a Fresnel lens lamina having a non-planar input surface, a substantially planar output surface and a first index of refraction. The laminate screen further may include a diffusion screen lamina having a substantially planar input surface, an output surface and a second index of refraction. The diffusion screen lamina may be in optical communication with the Fresnel lens lamina. Moreover, the planar output surface of the Fresnel lens lamina and the planar input surface of the diffusion screen lamina may be in facing relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Peterson, Jeff Gohman
  • Patent number: 7068433
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a focusing screen master having a microlens array formed all over a flat substrate surface, the microlens array being constructed by arranging a plurality of types of microlenses that are different from each other in height, radius of curvature and surface configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetaka Hayashi, Satoshi Fujimori
  • Patent number: 7057812
    Abstract: A projection screen includes a substrate having at least a first surface, a reflective layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface, and diffusion layer having a first surface defined by a matte finish and an opposing second surface. The second surface of the reflective layer is attached (e.g., via an adhesive) to the first surface of the substrate and the second surface of the diffusion layer is attached (e.g., via an optically transparent adhesive) to the first surface of the reflective layer. The projection screen is preferably flexible and wound around a conventional roller to form a projection screen system. Alternatively, the projection screen may be attached to a rigid substrate. The second surface of the diffusion layer has a preferably smooth finish, but may include desired irregularities to achieve a desired screen directivity performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Inventor: Howard Sinkoff
  • Patent number: 7035008
    Abstract: A projection screen comprises a red-reflecting particle layer, green-reflecting particle layer and blue-reflecting particle layer sequentially stacked on a substrate. In each particle layer particles are accumulated by eleven cycles in a regularly alignment such as close-packed structure. Diameter of red-reflecting particles is approximately 280 nm, diameter of green-reflecting particles is approximately 235 nm, and diameter of blue-reflecting particles is approximately 212 nm. Each particles layer is accumulated by self-organized technique. The substrate used here can absorb light of wavelengths other than those of red, green and blue three primary colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Toda, Yoshihiko Kuroki, Michihiro Ohnishi, Hirotaka Akao, Ko Ishimoto
  • Patent number: 7035007
    Abstract: A reflection screen apparatus in which a projection apparatus projects an image based on received image data and an observer observes the image comprises a screen reflection surface which visibly diffuses and reflects the image projected by the projection apparatus to the observer. The reflection screen apparatus further has a light distribution correction section configured to change a state of a distribution direction of a light reflected on the screen reflection surface so as to increase a diffused light reflected on the screen reflection surface to the observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Imade
  • Patent number: 7029128
    Abstract: A table type display device, in which a high resolution display with an unremarkable connection is realized at the time of large screen display by using a screen with a composition having few bending is described. In a table type display device comprising plural M of projectors 1L, 1R for projecting luminous flux to form an image, plural N of reflection mirrors 2L, 2R for bending optical paths of luminous fluxes projected from respective plural M of projectors 1L, 1R, screen 3 of horizontal installation type for projecting luminous fluxes for which optical path is bent, by the plurality N of reflection mirrors 2L,2R onto the predetermined region, respectively, the screen comprises a transparent base member 7 for reducing flexure of the screen, optical sheet 9 substantially for making luminous fluxes projected respectively from the plural M of projectors 1L,1R uniform, and a diffusing screen for imaging the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Nishio, Ikuharu Sadano, Atsutoshi Yokota, Takanori Ishizawa
  • Patent number: 7018055
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image projecting device for projecting projecting light corresponding to image information by projecting means. The image projecting device includes at least scanning monitoring means for monitoring entrance of an entering object into a projecting area on which the projecting light is projected. The scanning monitoring means monitors at least a part of outer edges of the projecting area on which the projecting light from the projecting means is projected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6999232
    Abstract: A rear projection display system is disclosed. The display system includes an image source for projecting an image, a rear reflector, and a screen configured to display the projected image. The screen includes a plurality of reflective elements configured to angularly discriminate light without regard to polarity by reflecting light incident on the screen from a first angle toward the rear reflector, and to allow light incident on the screen from a second angle to be transmitted through the screen for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Peterson, Dave Slobodin, Jeff Gohman, Serge Bierhuizen
  • Patent number: 6992822
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a projection screen includes a diffuse reflecting polarizer that diffusively reflects light polarized in a first direction and transmits light polarized in a second direction. The projection screen may also include a second polarizer adjacent a back side of the diffuse reflecting polarizer, wherein the second polarizer is oriented to transmit light polarized in the second direction. The projection screen may appear substantially diffuse when viewed from a front side and substantially transparent when viewed from a back side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jiaying Ma, David J. W. Aastuen, Abolghassem B. Mahmoodi
  • Patent number: 6985290
    Abstract: Three-dimensional imaging without parallax barriers or specialized eye gear, and without attendant loss of resolution, is provided by a display that produces dynamic images for display on at least two stacked electronic transmissive displays to create a continuous 3-D image field in a large viewing area or in multiple viewing areas. The images on each display are derived from stereoscopic image sources corresponding to both eyes of a viewer, and the derived images act as a mask for each other causing 3-D perception. The derived images are processed by summing the predicted image data, comparing the predicted image data to the desired stereopair, and minimizing the error. In preferred embodiments, the processing can be performed by an artificial neural network. A viewer may be presented with different aspects of an image as their viewing position changes to allow the viewer to perceive various perspectives of an image in dynamic fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: NeurOK LLC
    Inventors: Andrey N. Putilin, Andrew Lukyanitsa
  • Patent number: 6961175
    Abstract: A projection screen comprises a red-reflecting particle layer, green-reflecting particle layer and blue-reflecting particle layer sequentially stacked on a substrate. In each particle layer, particles are accumulated by eleven cycles in a regularly alignment such as close-packed structure. Diameter of red-reflecting particles is approximately 280 nm, diameter of green-reflecting particles is approximately 235 nm, and diameter of blue-reflecting particles is approximately 212 nm. Each particles layer is accumulated by self-organized technique. The substrate used here can absorb light of wavelengths other than those of red, green and blue three primary colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Toda, Yoshihiko Kuroki, Michihiro Ohnishi, Hirotaka Akao, Ko Ishimoto
  • Patent number: 6952295
    Abstract: A hologram screen 1 displays an image by diffracting and scattering image light 31 projected from an image projection apparatus 2. An upward/downward light scattering device 13, which scatters light incident from an upward/downward specific angle range spreading obliquely upward or downward, is placed on the image projection apparatus side of a hologram device 12 in the hologram screen 1. A leftward/rightward light scattering device 14, which scatters light incident from a leftward/rightward specific angle range spreading obliquely leftward and rightward, is placed between the hologram device 12 and the scattering device 13. The construction is such that the upward/downward specific angle range contains the incidence angle of the image light 31 on the hologram screen 1, and thus provides a hologram screen having good color reproducibility and which permits viewing of the background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Suzuki, Kenichiro Takada
  • Patent number: 6950234
    Abstract: A transparent synthetic resin protective film to be mounted on prisms (15) of a synthetic resin prism lens (14) where a light entering from the side face or the back face emerges from the prism forming face on the front side formed with ridge prisms (15) continuously. A rough surface (24) comprising micro protrusions and recesses for suppressing moire fringes, blur, glare, and inversion is provided at least to the protective film facing the prism (15). The top part of each protrusion (24a) constituting the rough surface (24) is a flat face substantially contained in a single plane (25) and having such a predetermined small extent not recognizable by naked eyes or a convex face of small curvature. The flat faces of the protrusions (24a) is continuous with the edges (15a) of the prisms (15) in any relative position of the protective film (20) and the prism lens (14) in the two-dimensional direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Tsujiden Co., LTD
    Inventor: Arataka Onishi
  • Patent number: 6934080
    Abstract: A low-scatter polarization-preserving multilayer viewing screen. A substrate D, preferably a volume diffuser, for increasing the divergence of information-coded-light while preserving its polarization sense A as it passes therethrough has a discrimination of at least 2:1 within a viewing zone. An absorbing polarizer on one or both sides of D and aligned to pass polarization state A. In one embodiment, there is provided a polarization-state phase-shift layer for modifying the polarization state of forward-scatter and/or back-scatter that total internally reflects within the viewing screen into the state opposite of A. The phase-shift layer being located at any position between the polarizer and an outermost surface of the viewing screen through which said information-coded light passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Saccomanno, Kanghua Lu
  • Patent number: 6930832
    Abstract: An improved strap design is provided for to reducing edge reflections in tiled video cubes. More particularly, a groove is notched on the outside of the strap into which bonding compound is injected for bonding the screen mounting surface to the video cube. In addition to eliminating edge reflections, the new strap design also provides a clearer bond, without voids and cutting debris trapped between the side strap and clear screen mounting surface. Crazing is also reduced with the new bond, and there is no excessive machining requirement to create the groove in the strap, thereby saving on construction time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Christie Digital Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John Parkin, O. Nicholas Komarnycky
  • Patent number: 6927908
    Abstract: A visual display screen (100?) such as an LCD screen is provided with a display area (30) for displaying an image. The display area (30) extends as far as an optically inactive region (60), containing device drivers, at the edge of the screen. A cover plate assembly (40) overlays the display area (30). The cover plate assembly is laminar and an upper translucent plastics layer (520) thereof is planar over the display area (30) but is curved at the edge to provide a lens there. Thus, the image in the display area viewed through the cover plate assembly (40) appears to be shifted to the edge of the screen (100?) so that the optically inactive region (60) becomes invisible. Two screens can be abutted adjacent each other with no visible join using this technique. Compression of the image at the edge compensates for edge distortion by the lens. Repeating of the image either side of the join between two screens increases the viewing angle beyond which the join appears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Seamless Display Limited
    Inventor: Bernard Harry Stark
  • Patent number: 6912086
    Abstract: The invention provides a projection device comprising a screen constituted in a layered structure with a light-transmissive screen panel and a light-transmissive reinforcing panel, wherein a front panel in the screen has a plane wider than residual panels on the back of the screen, an image projector for projecting an image on the screen, a screen frame fit on the peripheral edges of the residual back panels with a plane smaller than the front panel, a double-side adhesive tape inserted between residual back panels and the screen frame for uniting them together, a single-side adhesive tape applied across the peripheral edges of the front panel and the screen frame for uniting them together, and a housing for accommodating therein the image projector and for holding at its opening the screen via the screen frame so as that the front panel of the screen exposes outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Kouichi Honda
  • Patent number: 6898008
    Abstract: A front projection screen includes a plane base layer forming a plurality of parallel outwardly-protruding annular bars on the light-reflecting side surface thereof. Each bar contains an outside surface facing the projection light source and being a light-reflecting portion, and an outside surface not facing the projection light source and being a stray-light absorbing portion. The two surfaces intersect each other. All bottom interfaces between the bars and the base layer are in a common plane. All outside surfaces of these bars have a common focus point. The outside surface is arranged in such a manner that the outside surface of each bar does not block the projection light incident on the whole outside surface of its adjacent bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventor: Bolin Sun
  • Patent number: 6894835
    Abstract: A projection screen includes a plurality of convex portions serving as a light diffusion control portion, on the surface of a substrate. An optical thin film overlies the substrate and has convex portions having the same shape as that of the convex portions of the substrate. When external light enters the optical thin film with light in three primary color wavelength bands, the optical thin film reflects only the light in the three color wavelength bands and absorbs at least visible light of the external light. When light in the three primary color wavelength bands perpendicularly enters the optical thin film, the rays of the light have incident angles at the convex portions of the optical thin film and diffuse-reflected at angles twice the incident angles. Thus, a predetermined percentage of the light is diffused to increase the viewing angle of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Ohsako, Masayasu Kakinuma, Hideya Chubachi, Hiroshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6854850
    Abstract: An image projection system capable of projecting images to multiple screens or viewing surfaces. The system uses a moveable mirror to direct the projected images to the screens. The moveable mirror may work in concert with one or more fixed mirrors to reflect the projected images to screens in a variety of configurations relative to the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: SI Diamond Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Zvi Yaniv
  • Patent number: 6847483
    Abstract: Selective reflective optical apparatus includes a projection screen. The projection screen has structure constructed and arranged to selectively reflect only incident optical energy of a predetermined number of narrow bands of optical wavelength regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: Barret Lippey, Steve O'Dea, Mark Kniffin
  • Patent number: 6844967
    Abstract: A screen unit includes a semipermeable screen sheet sandwiched between a first transparent sheet and a second transparent sheet. The semipermeable screen sheet transmits and reflects a projected image in a constant percentage. The first transparent sheet such as an acrylic sheet wider than the semipermeable screen sheet. The second transparent sheet is the same as the first transparent sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Nishinihon-Denken Inc.
    Inventors: Kohei Teramoto, Yasuo Sato, Yoshinori Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 6842282
    Abstract: A front projection screen (S) has a front shading sheet (5) facing a viewing side (A), and formed of a transparent material. The front shading sheet (5) has a front surface facing the viewing side (A), provided with a plurality of horizontal, parallel, minute ridges (8) having a triangular cross section and each having an upper side surface coated with a shading layer (9). A transparent filler layer (13) of a material having a refractive index nearly equal to that of the transparent material of the front shading sheet (5) is formed on the rear surface (4) of the front shading sheet (5), transparent glass beads (12) are embedded uniformly in a plane in the rear surface of the transparent filler layer (13), the rear surface of the transparent filler layer (13) is coated with a white, reflecting adhesive layer (11), and an opaque film (10) impermeable to light is applied to the rear surface of the reflecting adhesive layer (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Arisawa Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumi Kuroda, Koji Tanaka, Yoshio Wakabayashi, Tatsufumi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 6833951
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical faceplate made from fibrous crystals which are transparent, colorless and work as a coherent faceplate. The numeric aperture of a single fiber is within a range of about 0.20 to 0.66. A nonlimiting example of such a fibrous crystal is Ulexite (also known as “TV” rock). In one embodiment the present invention comprises an optical faceplate made of a fibrous crystal in lab-created, artificially grown form. In a further embodiment, an optical faceplate is made of crystals not found in nature, or not found in nature in fibrous form. In one embodiment the present invention provides a seamlessly tiled projection display comprising at least one fibrous crystal faceplate as a pre-screen in combination with a diffused rear projection screen. A faceplate made of fibrous crystals does not have a size limitation. In one embodiment, smaller plates of crystals may be seamlessly tiled into a larger plate, satisfying the need for a large projection screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Aleksandra Kolosowsky
  • Publication number: 20040252373
    Abstract: A projection screen capable of sharply displaying an image even under bright environmental light with high image visibility. A projection screen has a polarized-light selective reflection layer with a cholesteric liquid crystalline structure, capable of selectively reflecting a specific polarized light component, and a substrate for supporting the reflection layer. Of the light (right-handed circularly polarized light and left-handed circularly polarized light in the selective reflection wave range, and right-handed circularly polarized light and left-handed circularly polarized light not in the selective reflection wave range) entering the reflection layer from the viewer's side, the right-handed light in the selective reflection wave range is reflected from the reflection layer as reflected light. The cholesteric liquid crystalline structure light layer includes a plurality of helical-structure parts that have different directions of helical axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Umeya
  • Publication number: 20040240053
    Abstract: The invention provides a projection screen, wherein clear images can be obtained without being influenced by projection environments, the flexibility can be obtained, and its manufacturing cost can be reduced and its manufacturing method. An optical multilayer film is formed on a transparent substrate by alternately layering metal films and dielectric films by using spattering. This multilayer film has the high reflection characteristics in relation to three primary colors wavelength bands lights, and has the high absorption characteristics in relation to lights other than the three primary colors wavelength bands lights. Therefore, the white level and the black level of images can be raised. Further, in terms of the optical multilayer film, as the film thickness dependence of the reflectance change becomes smaller and the incidence angle dependence of reflectance change becomes smaller, a wide visual field angle can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhito Shimoda
  • Publication number: 20040196551
    Abstract: There is provided a screen, which, with a simple configuration, is capable of effectively utilizing light projected thereon and realizing an even luminance distribution on the screen. This screen has a diffusion layer whose diffusion characteristic expressed as a luminance distribution with respect to a scattering angle of incident light incident at an angle of 0° is varied such that the peak position of the luminance distribution is shifted towards a greater value of scattering angle in the direction of the central portion of the screen the greater the distance from the central portion of the screen is. The present invention also provides an optical film suitable for use in such a screen, and a manufacturing method therefor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Hideya Chubachi, Masayasu Kakinuma, Hiroshi Hayashi, Kazuhito Shimoda, Tomoharu Mukasa, Shina Kuriki