Patents Examined by Bao-Luan Le
  • Patent number: 9476596
    Abstract: A function indicator system for displaying the control settings related to functions and features of an electric fireplace. The function indicator system can feature a function indicator module, a controller communicatively connected to the function indicator module, and a power source electrically connected to the function indicator module. The function indicator module can contain a plurality of light sources that emit paths of light, which can pass through control status indicia to create a visual display on an exterior surface of a projection screen of the electric fireplace. The visual display is visible to a viewer so as to alert the viewer as to the particular status of a control setting of the electric fireplace such as, for example, the temperature of heat produced, the brightness of simulated flames, or the length of time that the user desires for the electric fireplace to operate prior to automatic shutdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: TWIN-STAR INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Asofsky, Tyler Nemes
  • Patent number: 9477145
    Abstract: A light source device has a laser light emitting element including a cylinder portion, a flange portion and lead wire terminals, a collimator lens, a collimator lens holder including a collimator lens mounting depressed portion and a hole portion communicating with the depressed portion and accommodating the cylinder portion, and a light source element holder holding the laser light emitting element and including a lead wire outlet hole portion accommodating the lead wire terminals and penetrating from a front surface to a rear surface, and a front surface of the flange portion is fastened by the perimeter of a rear end of the hole portion to press the laser light emitting element against the front surface of the light source element holder to thereby fix the laser light emitting element to the light source element holder, an adhesion fixing member being filled in the lead wire outlet hole portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomio Higo
  • Patent number: 9475983
    Abstract: A fluorescence light emitting element includes a phosphor layer that includes phosphors and a binder made of an inorganic material. A thermal conductivity B of the binder is larger than 1.88 times a thermal conductivity A of the phosphors. When the volume of the phosphors included in the phosphor layer is X and the volume of the binder included in the phosphor layer is Y, a relationship of X/Y>1/2 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kuroi, Toshiaki Hashizume
  • 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: 9470965
    Abstract: A projection system includes a projection lens, an image modulation device, a light-guiding rod and two light sources. The light-guiding rod is defined with an axial direction and has a first end and a second end. The first end has a transmission surface and a reflection surface. The ratios of the widths of the transmission and reflection surfaces to the panel width of the image modulation device are 0.13˜0.35. The lights of the first and second light sources are incident into the light-guiding rod through the transmission surface and onto a first side surface and reflected into the light-guiding rod through the first reflection surface, respectively. The light-guiding rod homogenizes the incident lights and transmits the homogenized light to the image modulation device through the second end thereby forming an image light. The projection lens projects the image light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Kuen Lin, Tsung-Hsun Wu
  • Patent number: 9470899
    Abstract: A transmissive screen formed in an arc shape around a center axis, and, when light entering an inner circumferential surface is output from an outer circumferential surface, having a diffusion angle in a first direction as a direction along the center axis wider than a diffusion angle in a second direction as a circumferential direction around the center axis, projection devices that are arranged at equal intervals along the second direction around the center axis and respectively project image lights on the inner circumferential surface, and a display control device that allows the projection devices to project the image lights so that partial images formed by portions of the respectively projected image lights of the projection devices may be observed as one visually recognized image having the partial images arranged in the second direction at viewpoints set outside of the outer circumferential surface along the second direction are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunio Yoneno, Takashi Endo, Tomio Sonehara
  • Patent number: 9470886
    Abstract: Apparatus for generating blue color illumination for use in a projection system a color wheel with segments of respective different color light emitting phosphors formed over light non-transmitting portions and at least one blue color generating segment. The blue color generating segment has cyan color light emitting phosphor formed over a light non-transmitting first portion and a second portion that transmits blue laser light through the wheel. A dichroic filter directs blue laser light from a light source onto the respective segments as the color wheel rotates. The light strikes the first and second portions of the blue color generating segment to generate blue light at a color point determined by both blue laser light and phosphor emitted cyan light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Terry Alan Bartlett
  • 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: 9465281
    Abstract: A light projection apparatus includes: a light setting unit to set specifications of lights; an optical data generating unit to generate optical data with the specifications; a projection range setting unit to set projection ranges; an optical correction data generating unit to generate optical correction data by correcting the optical data to project the lights to the projection ranges; a layer specifying unit to classify the optical correction data and specify a priority of layer; and a light drawing unit to generate light drawing data through drawing process on the optical correction data. The apparatus further includes a light projection unit to project the lights with the light drawing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryo Kawamura
  • Patent number: 9465283
    Abstract: An immersive dome includes a number of novel features designed to enhance the performance of the immersive dome over presently-known immersive dome environments. Projectors are mounted in a multi-tier tower, out of sight beneath a viewing platform positioned to provide optimal wrap-around viewing. The projection surface consists of open-cell foam that allows passage of behind-surface sound into the dome while allowing unwanted ambient noise within the dome to escape. A visually-reflective coating, in conjunction with the open cell structure, provides a textured surface that acts as a micro-baffle and suppresses cross-reflection of projected imagery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MINDS, LLC
    Inventors: Bran Ferren, Clinton B. Hope
  • Patent number: 9466941
    Abstract: A patterned retarder is described that may be used with a laser source array to obtain a combined beam suitable for laser image projection (e.g., three-dimensional laser image projection using orthogonal polarization states and/or orthogonal color spaces). An effect of the retarder on a polarization state of an incident beam may be dependent on the location of the retarder upon which the beam is incident. In one example, a method of producing a laser beam from a plurality of component laser beams includes directing the plurality of component laser beams onto corresponding regions of such a patterned retarder having a plurality of pattern elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Janssens, Koenraad Vermeirsch
  • Patent number: 9459452
    Abstract: Provided is a display device for a vehicle that can, in a configuration in which the cost of parts is curbed, quickly raise the temperature of a laser light source (LD) in a low temperature environment, and quickly perform stable image output. The LDs (11, 12, 13) emit laser light (RGB) and an MEMS mirror (30) scans the laser light (RGB) and generates a display image (M). A convex mirror (70) reflects display light (L) indicating the display image (M) in an external direction via a translucent light-transmitting unit (90). An LD driving means (101) emits laser light (RGB) to the LDs (11, 12, 13) when the temperature is low, and causes the LDs (11, 12, 13) to perform self-heating driving for raising the temperature of themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON SEIKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Hada, Shun Sekiya, Yasuhiro Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 9459517
    Abstract: A projection image display apparatus which performs an operation for attaching and detaching a projection lens by one action with a simple mechanism is provided. The projection image display apparatus includes an optical engine which irradiates a display element with light emitted from a light source to form an image, a projection lens which enlarges and projects the image emitted from the optical engine, a lens shift mechanism for adjusting a position of an image to be projected onto a screen, a lens attachment unit for attaching the projection lens to the lens shift mechanism, and a first plate for attaching the projection lens to the lens attachment unit to achieve a locked state, and the attachment of the projection lens to the lens attachment unit and the achievement of the locked state are performed by only rotation of the first plate in a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuki Matsui, Shinro Inui, Chohei Ono, Kazuomi Kaneko, Masayuki Fukui
  • Patent number: 9454068
    Abstract: A projection-type image display apparatus includes a light source unit that emits light, an image generating unit that generates image light according to an input video signal, a light-guide optical system that guides the light from the light source unit to the image generating unit, and a projection optical system that projects the image light generated by the image generating unit. The light source unit includes a light source that produces light, phosphor that is excited by the light from the light source, and a dichroic mirror that directs the light from the light source to the phosphor. The dichroic mirror is arranged with an incident angle of the light from the light source being 50° or more and 60° or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takaaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9451244
    Abstract: A projection-type display system includes: a projection-type display apparatus that alternately switches images for the left eye and images for the right eye and projects the images onto an object; and an opening and closing control device that receives a control signal based on the display states of the images projected onto the object by the projection-type display apparatus and controls switching apertures of stereoscopic image viewing glasses corresponding to left and right eyes, wherein the projection-type display apparatus is connected to one end of a LAN cable and the opening and closing control device is connected to the other end of the LAN cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yukihiro Sasazaki, Masaaki Mizoe
  • Patent number: 9448464
    Abstract: A projector includes an image beam generator and a projecting lens. The projecting lens includes a relay system and a projection system. The relay system has a focusing set and a converging set, and the projection system has a projection lens group and a reflector. The image beam generator generates an image beam, and emits it to the projecting lens, and the image beam emits through the focusing set, the converging set, and the projection lens group in sequence, and then is reflected by the reflector to enter the projection lens group again. After leaving the projection lens group the image beam emits through a lens of the converging set, and then is projected onto a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventors: Yi-Jou Lin, Hsin-Ying Wu
  • Patent number: 9448390
    Abstract: A second group has different power in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the liquid crystal panel. Therefore, the horizontal-to-vertical ratio of the image of the liquid crystal panel and the horizontal-to-vertical ratio of the image projected on the screen can be set to be different. That is, the projection optical system is able to convert the aspect ratio which is a ratio of width and height. At this time, at the time of converting the aspect ratio, that is, at the time of switching the projection state, it is possible to adjust the position of the image on the screen through a zoom operation or a shift operation of the first driving mechanism or the fourth driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Otani, Eiji Morikuni
  • Patent number: 9442357
    Abstract: A projection light source has a source of laser light of a first color. A first member has first and second phosphor material segments respectively configured to emit light of second and third colors when illuminated by the laser light of the first color. A second member has first and second dichroic filter segments respectively configured to pass the light of the second and third colors emitted by the first and second phosphor material segments, while blocking light of the others of the first, second and third colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: John M. Ferri, Gregory S. Pettitt
  • Patent number: 9442352
    Abstract: A light source device includes: a first light emitting unit including a light emitting element that emits light having a predetermined wavelength range; a second light emitting unit including a wavelength conversion member that receives the light from the light emitting element and emits light having a different wavelength range different than the predetermined wavelength range; an optical unit configured to define a path of the light emitted from the light emitting element and a path of the light emitted from the wavelength conversion member; an air blowing unit configured to generate a cooling air; and a passage forming member configured to form a passage through which the cooling air flows, the passage being in contact with both of the first light emitting unit and the second light emitting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiro Nishimori, Kazuhiro Fujita, Toshiharu Murai, Tatsuya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9445066
    Abstract: A CPU controls an attitude adjustment unit to change the lengths of legs of an electric leg part independently of each other so that a roll angle is changed to roll a projected image, and controls an image converter to correct the projected image to be a rectangular image on a projection target based on the changed roll angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideaki Inoue