Patents Assigned to Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9479769
    Abstract: A projector system includes an image generator and at least one projector for receiving an image from the image generator and projecting the image onto a screen to provide a final projected image. A computer generates correction data based on a calibration process that includes comparing an uncorrected image projected by the at least one projectors with a geometrically correct image. Wherein the at least one projector maps incoming pixel locations from the image generator to corrected pixel locations in the final projected image based on the correction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Wright, Greg Clancy
  • Patent number: 9473754
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for dynamically distributing light are provided. The apparatus includes a source conduit configured to collect light from a light source and transmit the collected light for emission towards an optical switch. The optical switch is moveable between several discrete resting positions, each corresponding to a different one of a plurality of projector conduits. In each resting position, the optical switch directs light from the source conduit to a corresponding projector conduit. Each projector conduit receives the directed light from the optical switch and transmits the light to a corresponding one of a plurality of projectors. The optical switch is also configured to rest at each of the resting positions for respective portions of a given period of time, to regulate what amount of the light emitted by the source conduit during the period of time is received by each projector conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventor: Simon Guthrie
  • Patent number: 9462241
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed that use one or more of advanced signal processing or auxiliary metadata to detect maximum video pixel drive levels required, in advance, for quickly reducing light source power levels to only supply what is absolutely required by the spatial light modulator for that time period. A spatial light modulator is controlled so as to compensate proportionally by increasing its throughput. Thus, the image brightness can be preserved at a lower average source power level resulting in increased lifetime of the light source and lower operating cost on a per-hour basis and/or projection at a desired brightness using a lower cost light source than prior art systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventors: Simon Guthrie, Terry Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9429760
    Abstract: Spatial color mixing in a cascade imaging system is provided herein. The system comprises: at least two spatial light pre-modulators; and, a primary spatial light modulator, each of the at least two spatial light pre-modulators configured to vary illuminating light colors spatially across the primary spatial prime modulator simultaneously with at least two of the illuminating light colors, and the primary spatial light modulator configured to form the illuminating light colors into images and turn on pixels of each of the at least two of the illuminating light colors simultaneously in synchronization with the at least two spatial light pre-modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventor: Stuart Nicholson
  • Patent number: 9389492
    Abstract: A system including rotationally static light emitting material with rotating optics is provided. The system comprises: a heatsink; at least one light emitting material on the heatsink, at least a portion of the light emitting material being circularly symmetrical around an axis, the heatsink and the light emitting material being rotationally fixed; optics configured to rotate relative to the at light emitting material around a rotational axis that is coaxial with the axis of the light emitting material, the optics configured to: receive excitation light along the rotational axis; convey the excitation light to one or more locations on the light emitting material as the optics are rotating; collect light emitted from the one or more locations on the light emitting material excited by the excitation light; and, convey the light collected from the at least one light emitting material to the rotational axis for emission there along.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Robert Adema, Graham Hill, Joseph Ma
  • Patent number: 9372472
    Abstract: A system for order alignment of diffractively produced images is provided. The system comprises: a diffractive spatial light modulator (DSLM) configured to provide a computer generated hologram of an image; a substantially coherent light source configured to illuminate the DSLM which responsively produces the image along each of different diffractive order paths; and, at least one set of optical components located along respective diffractive order paths of the DSLM, the at least one set of optical components configured to align at least one respective image diffracted from the DSLM with at least another diffracted image at a common image plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventors: Simon Guthrie, Michael Perkins, John Domm, John M. Nieminen
  • Patent number: 9335612
    Abstract: A system for uniform distribution of light is provided. The system comprises: an integrating rod comprising an output end opposite an input end, the integrator rod configured to emit, at the output end an integrated image of light received at the input end, the integrated image having an etendue Eimg and an area Aimg at a given distance from the output end; and, an apparatus comprising an input side located at the given distance, the apparatus configured to: receive, at the input side, the integrated image from the output end of the integrating rod; split the integrated image into a number N of sub-images, each of the sub-images having an area Asub, and an etendue Esub, such that Aimg is about N*Asub, and Eimg is about N*Esub; and, relay the sub-images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventor: John Domm
  • Patent number: 9316837
    Abstract: A display stand is provided, the display stand comprising: a frame; a display holder attached to the frame, the display holder configured to hold a display in a substantially downward facing position; and, a mirror holder attached to the frame, the mirror holder located under the display holder, the minor holder configured to hold a mirror in a substantially upward facing position below the display and tilted at an angle thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventor: Gordon Harris
  • Patent number: 9316388
    Abstract: A device and kit for cooling a light emitting material are provided. The device comprises: a light emitting material; a cooling plate configured to cool the light emitting material; a window, the light emitting material sandwiched between the window and the cooling plate, the window configured to: transmit excitation light for exciting the light emitting material; transmit emitted light from the light emitting material; and, conduct heat away from the light emitting material to the cooling plate. The kit comprises the window and a holder there for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventors: Darren Pastrik, Daniel Robert Adema, David Cochrane, Graham Hill
  • Patent number: 9307616
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for dynamically monitoring and calibrating display tiles are provided. The apparatus comprises: an array of light emitting devices; one or more light emitting devices paired with light emitting devices of the array; one or more sensors configured to detect an optical characteristic and/or an electrical characteristic of the one or more paired light emitting devices; and, circuitry configured to: drive the array; drive each of the one or more further light emitting devices under same conditions as light emitting devices of the array; temporarily drive each of the one or more paired light emitting devices under different conditions from the array; and, adjust driving of the array based on the optical characteristic and/or electrical characteristic of the one or more paired light emitting devices detected at sensor(s) when the one or more paired light emitting devices are driven under the different conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventors: James Robinson, Marc Lemieux
  • Patent number: 9291826
    Abstract: A system for variable distribution of light is provided. The system comprises: a plurality of reflective optical devices having a first variable reflective beam splitter configured to receive light along an input light path and direct a first portion of the light along a first light path and direct a second portion of the light to another one of the plurality of reflective optical devices, and a last reflective optical device configured to receive remaining light from a second last reflective optical device and to perform one of: direct the remaining light along a last light path; and, divide the remaining light into two portions, and direct the two portions along two different light paths. At least one optical property of one or more of the plurality reflective optical devices is adjustable to variably apportion received light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventor: John Domm
  • Patent number: 9287991
    Abstract: Described is a light module interlock system comprising: an optical cable enabled to transmit light of a first wavelength and a second wavelength different than the first wavelength; a first light module enabled to provide the first wavelength to the optical cable; a second light module enabled to provide the second wavelength to the optical cable; a sensor enabled to detect the first wavelength transmitted by the optical cable, the sensor located at an opposite end of the optical cable as the first light module; and an interlock in communication with the sensor, the interlock enabled to: disable the second light module when the sensor fails to detect the first wavelength, such that the second wavelength is no longer provided to the optical cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Vieth
  • Patent number: 9247906
    Abstract: A system is set forth for detection of catheter location for intravenous access, comprising a catheter having a light source for illuminating a needle tip thereof; and an infrared detector and image projector for simultaneously detecting image vasculature and the location of the needle tip below the surface of the skin and in response projecting an image onto the skin to reveal the location of the needle tip relative to the vasculature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventors: George P. Pinho, Robert Benjamin Wagner
  • Patent number: 9232172
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus for two-stage light modulation in high-definition digital projection or cinema can include two light modulators. Each light modulator can include a multi-chip imaging system coupled to a total internal reflection prism (TIR) system, which has a light input face and an on-state face. Relay optics can be positioned between the two light modulators. The relay optics can be configured to defocus light received from the pre-modulator and to provide defocused light to the prime modulator using a substantially Gaussian pixel shaping function. The prime modulator can be oriented to receive defocused light from the relay optics at the light input face of its TIR prism system. The pre-modulator can be oriented backwards, so as to receive source light at the on-state face of its TIR prism system and to output pre-modulated light to the relay optics via the light input face of the TIR prism system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Perkins, Duane Scott Dewald, Nathan Wainwright
  • Patent number: 9217876
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein which produce polarization-independent full color images suitable for rear-projection television sets and other multimedia displays. The system uses illumination with R, G, B light from two different light sources for each color. A viewer wears glasses with narrowband optical filters, preferably holographic filters. The R, G, B light from the light sources is slightly offset at each of the 3 emission wavelengths, with one set of R, G, B light being filtered by the holographic filter in front of the left eye of the, and the other set of R, G, B light being filtered by the holographic filter in front of the viewer's right eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Masayuki Karakawa
  • Patent number: 9202418
    Abstract: A projection system is provided that uses an additional light valve in series with the conventional color splitting-converging prism in order to increase the contrast of a projected image, wherein bit sequences are generated for the additional light valve that do not result in interference with the conventional color light valve bit sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventor: Lawrence Goerzen
  • Patent number: 9195122
    Abstract: A relay lens system is provided. The relay lens system comprises: an air-spaced doublet comprising: a biconvex lens and a negative meniscus lens, an optical axis of the air-spaced doublet offset between the biconvex lens and the negative meniscus lens, each of the biconvex lens, the negative meniscus lens, an air space there between and an offset of the optical axis there between are selected to adjust the coma in an image travelling there through; and, a pair of cylindrical lenses, cylindrical with a relay optical path through the system, each of the pair of cylindrical lenses, and a respective air space there between, selected to adjust the astigmatism in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventors: Duane Scott Dewald, Nathan Wainwright
  • Patent number: 9191659
    Abstract: A collimated stereo display system is provided. The system comprises: an image generator enabled to provide a stream of stereoscopic images comprising left eye images and right eye images; at least one image modulator enabled to receive the stream of stereoscopic images from the image generator and form light into the stereoscopic images for viewing at a viewing apparatus for filtering the light into the left eye images and the right eye images respectively thereby providing a three dimensional rendering of the stereoscopic images when viewed through the viewing apparatus; and, collimation apparatus enabled to receive and collimate the light from the at least one image modulator, such that rays of light are substantially parallel when the stereoscopic images are received at the viewing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Harris, Lawrence Stewart Paul, Roy C. Anthony
  • Patent number: 9188767
    Abstract: A relay lens system for a high dynamic range projector is provided. The relay lens system comprising: a light input; a light output; one or more lenses configured to relay light from the light input to the light output; and, an aperture stop configured to provide a given numerical aperture to the light being relayed through the one or more lenses, the combination of the given numerical aperture and the one or more lenses are configured to introduce a spherical aberration in the light between the light input and the light output, the spherical aberration changing a shape of a pixel in the light from an approximate square shape at the light input to a function having an upper boundary and a lower boundary based on a distance from a center of the pixel, and a pixel dimension of a dither pattern in the light entering the light input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventors: Koichi Ito, Mang Li, John Domm, Jerome D. Shields
  • Patent number: 9146452
    Abstract: A light engine is provided for a projection system, comprising a color wheel having a plurality of color phosphor portions; at least two light sources for illuminating the wheel at different locations for generating at least two time-sequenced beams of red, green and blue light, wherein the output beams are highly synchronized and exhibit substantially similar colorimetry, including spectrum and balance of red, green and blue light; and a digital micromirror device for modulating the time-sequenced beams of red, green and blue light to create an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventor: Simon Guthrie