Patents Examined by Christopher A Lamb, II
  • Patent number: 10571784
    Abstract: A projection optical device includes a fourth lens group movable along an optical axis, a fifth lens group provided in a position maintained within the projection optical device, a fourth lens frame holding the fourth lens group and having cam pins, a guide tube having a rectilinear groove, the cam pins inserted into the rectilinear groove, and a cam tube rotated with respect to the guide tube to guide the cam pins with the rectilinear groove and the cam groove, and moving the fourth lens frame along the optical axis, wherein the cam pins are formed on an upstream side in an optical path of the fourth lens group in a direction along the optical axis, and the fifth lens group is provided on the upstream side in the optical path of the fourth lens group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Hatano, Naoto Takehana
  • Patent number: 10564531
    Abstract: A light source device of the invention includes an excitation light source, a wavelength conversion layer having a light incident surface and a light exiting surface, a reflection member, and a pickup system, wherein the light exiting surface at least has a first light exiting surface with a tilt with respect to an optical axis of the pickup system and a second light exiting surface with a tilt with respect to the first light exiting surface, the reflection member has a reflection surface along the optical axis of the pickup system and an end portion on the pickup system side extends closer to the pickup system than the light exiting surface, and a focal point of the pickup system is formed on a plane crossing the optical axis of the pickup system and containing the end portion of the reflection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 10558039
    Abstract: A head-up display apparatus mounted on a moving body. The head-up display apparatus projects an image on a projecting portion. The head-up display apparatus includes a light source portion, an imaging element, a cold mirror, and a phase shifter. The light source portion emits a source light. The imaging element generates the image and outputs the light of the image. The light of the image has a predetermined polarization state. The cold mirror reflects the light of the image toward the projecting portion. In the cold mirror, an optical multilayer film is disposed on a translucent base member, and the light of the image obliquely enters the cold mirror along a plane of incidence of the cold mirror. The phase shifter converts the light of the image into an S wave. The phase shifter is disposed on an optical path between the imaging element and the cold mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Heng Liu, Masayuki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10551727
    Abstract: An illumination device of the invention includes a light source unit including light emitting devices having light emission surfaces, a collimating system having collimating lenses provided to respectively correspond to the light emitting devices of the light source unit, into which lights from the respective light emitting devices enter, a collecting lens into which the lights output from the collimating lenses enter, and a rod lens having a light incident end surface into which the light collected by the collecting lens enters. The light source unit and the collimating system are adapted so that a principal ray of the light output from the light emission surface corresponding to a part of the light emitting devices of the light source unit may enter a position separated from an optical axis of the collimating lens corresponding to the part of the light emitting devices of the light source unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wataru Yasumatsu
  • Patent number: 10545397
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a light source unit including a solid light emitting device which emits light source light, a diffuse plate which diffuses the light source light, and a light guiding device which diffuses light which exits from the diffuse plate, wherein the diffuse plate has a plurality of arc-shaped diffuse cells arranged along either of a first direction of an exit side surface thereof which lies opposite to an entrance side where the light source light enters and a second direction that intersects the first direction at substantially right angles, and wherein a diffuse angle in the first direction differs from a diffuse angle in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Kurosaki
  • Patent number: 10539778
    Abstract: A rotor unit includes a rotor including a substrate and a wavelength conversion region, and a driving unit. The substrate includes an outer edge and is configured such that a substrate material is continuously provided from a center to the outer edge. The wavelength conversion region is provided on the substrate and receives light having a first wavelength region and emits light having a second wavelength region different from the first wavelength region. The driving unit rotates the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Takamatsu
  • Patent number: 10527840
    Abstract: A light conversion device includes a phosphor wheel, a circulation fan, a motor, a casing unit, and a heat absorber. The phosphor wheel has a first side on which a phosphor layer is formed. The circulation fan blows an air flow to the phosphor layer. The motor rotatably drives the phosphor wheel. The casing unit houses the phosphor wheel, the circulation fan, and the motor. In the casing unit, a circulation path of the air flow created by the circulation fan is formed. The heat absorber is in the shape of a cylinder. The heat absorber includes a fin structure including a plurality of fins arranged along a radial direction of the casing unit and provided so as to extend in a height direction of the cylinder. The air flow is supplied to the heat absorber to cool the air flow that has absorbed heat generated at the phosphor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 10508779
    Abstract: A projector includes: an illumination device; first color separation device that separates first and second color light from light emitted from the illumination device; second color separation device that separates third and fourth color light from the second color light; plurality of light modulation devices that modulate the lights separated by the first and second devices; projection optical device that projects an image based on the modulated lights; first and second filters provided on optical paths of the third and fourth color lights, respectively. A wavelength of the third color light is shorter than that of the fourth. The first filter attenuates light at a wavelength exceeding a first threshold set in a dimming wavelength region between a wavelength region of the third and fourth color lights. The second filter attenuates light at a wavelength equal to or less than a second threshold set in the dimming wavelength region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoharu Masuda
  • Patent number: 10503061
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a focusing method of optical machine of projector, a focusing device and an optical machine. The focusing method comprises steps of: detecting deformation amount of lens of an optical machine; and controlling and adjusting a focal length of the lens of the optical machine according to the deformation amount of the lens of the optical machine. In the he focusing method, by detecting the deformation amount of the lens of the optical machine in real time and controlling to adjust the focal length of the lens of the optical machine in real time according to the deformation amount of the lens of the optical machine, the adjustment precision of the focal length of the lens of the optical machine can be greatly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hongtao Guan, Wenchu Dong, Junwei Yan, Ying Zhang, Tailiang Li
  • Patent number: 10496124
    Abstract: A projector includes a main body and an adjusting assembly. The main body includes a casing, a light source, a light valve, and a projection lens. The casing has an opening. The adjusting assembly includes a rotation shaft, a knob, and at least one fastening component. The rotation shaft is connected to the main body. The knob is disposed on the rotation shaft and located in the opening. One of the rotation shaft and the knob has at least one fastening hole. The at least one fastening component penetrates the at least one fastening hole and is fixed to another one of the rotation shaft and the knob. An inner diameter of the at least one fastening hole is larger than an outer diameter of the at least one fastening component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Mao-Min Fu, I-Hsien Liu
  • Patent number: 10495954
    Abstract: A projector including a light source, a power supply section, a power supply control section that controls power supply from the power supply section, a projection lens that projects an image, and a projection system driver that moves the projection lens, wherein the power supply control section performs, as power supply modes, an operation mode in which power is supplied to the light source section to allow the light source section to output light and a first standby mode in which the power supply to the light source section is terminated, and in the first standby mode, power is supplied to the projection system driver to allow the projection lens to move to an attachment/detachment position where the projection lens is attachable and detachable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Furihata, Daisuke Yanagihara
  • Patent number: 10488666
    Abstract: An optical device includes a range of angularly selective reflectors are contained within an optical waveguide substrate and substantially optimized according to their reflector order within the sequence of reflectors. This configuration of reflectors ensures that the required angular information is passed through to the correct reflector within the sequence. The angular response in addition reduces or eliminates formation of secondary images carried to successive reflectors, resulting in undesired artefacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Daqri, Llc
    Inventors: James Leighton, Brennon Pennell, Adrian Stannard, Louahab Noui, Nan Ma, Iain Wellington, Philip Greenhalgh, Lawrence Hoar, Iain Wright
  • Patent number: 10491891
    Abstract: A display system and method for using the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the display system comprises a swept volume display operable to produce a displayed swept volume and a re-imaging glass to re-image the displayed swept volume that appears on a first side of the re-imaging glass to a second side of the re-imaging glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seth E. Hunter
  • Patent number: 10481477
    Abstract: An illumination optical system of a projector apparatus includes a rod lens which equalizes illuminance of illumination light incident on a micromirror device from lamps, and a plurality of light-shielding plates that shields unnecessary light not incident on the rod lens among the illumination light. The plurality of light-shielding plates is disposed on the incidence side of the rod lens such that each light-shielding plate is provided at a predetermined gap in an optical axis direction of the rod lens. Openings of each light-shielding plate are formed such that a light-shielding plate disposed on an emission side has a smaller passage area of illumination light than on an incidence side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Nohechi, Takeshi Katayama, Naoto Kubota
  • Patent number: 10477194
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes optical elements and optical devices that use the optical elements to allow the output of two imagers to be combined onto a single optical axis. Each of the two imagers can be based on alternate polarization directions, and the disclosed embodiments can enable high contrast 3D projectors without requiring either time or polarization sequencing. The present disclosure further describes projection systems that include the optical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph C. Carls, Craig R. Schardt, Duane E. Preiss, Dwight E. Baldwin
  • Patent number: 10477166
    Abstract: A wavelength conversion device includes a main body, a first reflective layer, a second reflective layer, a first wavelength conversion layer and a second wavelength conversion layer. The main body has at least two sections. The first and second reflective layers are disposed on the main body and aligned to the sections respectively. Materials of the first and second reflective layers are different. The first and second wavelength conversion layers are disposed on the main body and aligned to the first and second reflective layers respectively. The first wavelength conversion layer is adapted to convert an excitation light beam into a first excited light beam having a first wavelength. The second wavelength conversion layer is adapted to convert the excitation light beam into a second excited light beam having a second wavelength. The first and second wavelengths are different. Besides, a projector using the wavelength conversion device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: I-Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 10473929
    Abstract: A head-up display includes a display device and a projection optical system. The projection optical system has a lens group including at least one lens element and projects onto a reflecting member an image displayed on the display device. The lens group includes a drive lens that shifts along an optical path to change its distance from the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kuzuhara, Hiroaki Okayama, Toshiya Mori
  • Patent number: 10474023
    Abstract: A light source apparatus, an illuminator, and a projector that output a reduced light beam flux in a direction roughly the same as the direction of the optical axis of an incident light beam flux. The light source apparatus includes a light source unit that outputs a light beam flux and a reduction system that includes a plurality of optical elements and reduces the cross section of the light beam flux. The optical elements each have first and second surfaces and first and second reflection surfaces and allow a corresponding light beam of the light beam flux to pass through the first surface, to be incident on the first reflection surface, to be sequentially reflected off the first reflection surface and the second reflection surface, and then to exit through the second surface to shift the optical path of the light beam in a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi Akiyama, Takayuki Matsubara
  • Patent number: 10466496
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-color light source device including a first light source configured to emit light of a first color, a second light source configured to emit light of a second color that is distinct from the first color, and a first geometric phase lens associated with a first focal length for the light of the first color and a second focal length, distinct from the first focal length, for the light of the second color. The first light source is located at a first distance from the first geometric phase lens, and the second light source is located at a second distance, distinct from the first distance, from the geometric phase lens. Also disclosed is a head mounted display system including the multi-color light source device, a light modulator configured for modulating light from the multi-color light source device, and one or more lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Maxwell Parsons
  • Patent number: 10457214
    Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, folding in an exterior mirror of a motor vehicle having a door with a rear-mounted hinge. The exterior mirror is folded in when the door is opened and when at least one of the following conditions is met: (1) an obstacle is detected adjacent the door or (2) a speed at which the door is opened is less than a predefined threshold value. A motor vehicle configured to perform the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Knuettel, Robert Spahl, Igor Fischbein, Torsten Gerhardt