Patents Examined by Joris S Reilly-Diakun
  • Patent number: 8297760
    Abstract: Embodiments include an image processing device having a lens-shift amount acquisition section adapted to acquire an amount of shift of a projection lens of an image display apparatus, and an image signal correction section adapted to correct the image signal corresponding to a sub-pixel of a pixel in accordance with the amount of shift acquired by the lens-shift amount acquisition section to correct displacement of the sub-pixel relative to another sub-pixel of the pixel due to the lens-shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Aragaki, Hiroshi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8282215
    Abstract: A spatial light modulation device includes: a light modulation unit which modulates light according to an image signal; and a first electrode and a second electrode provided on a surface of one of an optical element disposed either on the entrance side of the light modulation unit or the exit side of the light modulation unit and the light modulation unit. Voltage is applied to the first electrodes and the second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Egawa
  • Patent number: 8282222
    Abstract: An image projection device for displaying an image onto a remote surface. The image projection device employs a scanner to project image beams of visible light and tracer beams of light onto a remote surface to form a display of the image. The device also employs a light detector to sense at least the reflections of light from the tracer beam pulses incident on the remote surface. The device employs the sensed tracer beam light pulses to predict the trajectory of subsequent image beam light pulses and tracer beam light pulses that form a display of the image on the remote surface in a pseudo random pattern. The trajectory of the projected image beam light pulses can be predicted so that the image is displayed from a point of view that can be selected by, or automatically adjusted for, a viewer of the displayed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Patent number: 8277049
    Abstract: A projector is provided, which includes a red substrate, a green substrate, a blue substrate, an X-cube, an electronic control element, a light guide element, a light valve element, and a projection lens. The red substrate, the green substrate, and the blue substrate respectively illuminate three surfaces of the X-cube, and the light is mixed in the X-cube and then exits from a light emitting surface. The electronic control element controls the red substrate, the green substrate, and the blue substrate. The light guide element is used for reflecting the light from the light emitting surface of the X-cube. The light valve element is used for reflecting the light from the light guide element back to the light guide element, and the light passes through the light guide element and then projected by the projection lens onto a projection plane area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: National Kaohsiung First University Of Science And Technology
    Inventors: Yi-Chin Fang, Jung-Hung Sun, Wei-Chi Lai, Hsuan-Fu Wang
  • Patent number: 8240855
    Abstract: A diffuser having a shape for reducing speckle noise and a laser projection system including the diffuser are provided. The diffuser is employed by a laser projection system to reduce speckle noise, and includes a scattering pattern. The scattering pattern includes a plurality of scattering ribbons, and a curved surface of each of the plurality of scattering ribbons satisfies equations so that speckle noise is minimized for an aperture size of an optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Oleg Prudnikov
  • Patent number: 8235531
    Abstract: A laser projection system comprising a laser source system configured to emit coherent light, an optical integrating system configured to uniformize coherent light it receives, a randomizing optical element configured to spatially move over time in order to temporally randomize the phase, angle or spatial location of coherent light it receives, an image forming system configured to interact with laser light that has been both uniformized by the optical integrating system and randomized by the randomizing optical element, thereby forming a laser light image, and a projection system configured to project the laser light image onto a viewing screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Barry D. Silverstein, Gary E. Nothhard, Joseph R. Bietry, Robert Metzger
  • Patent number: 8231231
    Abstract: An image display device includes a light source which emits laser light; an optical element which is operable to switch between a first state for reducing a coherence of the laser light and a second state for substantially maintaining the coherence of the laser light; a switching control circuit which controls the optical element; an imager which modulates the laser light transmitted through the optical element; and a modulation control circuit which controls the imager based on an image signal. The modulation control circuit causes the imager to render an image pattern for generating an image by changing alight amount at each pixel position when the optical element is in the first state, and causes the imager to render a hologram pattern for generating an image by diffraction when the optical element is in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michihiro Okuda, Yoshihiro Yokote, Ryoko Kubo, Takaaki Abe, Shinya Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8220929
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image display apparatus includes a light source and an optical system including a light modulation unit having pixels for generating a two-dimensional image by modulating light from the light source by the respective pixels and emitting a spatial frequency in the generated two-dimensional image along a diffraction angle corresponding to diffraction orders generated from the respective pixels, a Fourier transform image formation unit for performing Fourier transform on the spatial frequency in the two-dimensional image to generate Fourier transform images corresponding to the diffraction orders, a Fourier transform image selection unit for selecting a Fourier transform image corresponding to a desired diffraction order among the Fourier transform images, and a conjugate image formation unit for forming a conjugate image of the selected Fourier transform image, and further includes a semi-transmissive mirror for changing a light ray travelling direction emitted from the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuyuki Miyawaki, Kyohei Iwamoto, Yoshio Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8210692
    Abstract: A mirror unit of the present invention includes a base member constituted of an upper plate portion, a lower plate portion, a connecting portion connecting the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion, and wall portions. A mirror holder for holding a mirror is pivotally supported between the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion. A recess is formed in the wall portions. An adjuster is mounted in the recess. Screw holes extend through the recess, and adjusting screws are engaged in the screw holes. Lifting amounts of plate portions of the adjuster can be adjusted by the adjusting screws. The tilt angle of the mirror is adjusted so that the mirror is properly tilted with respect to a light flux from either one of two lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taichi Yoshimura, Naoya Ishida
  • Patent number: 8192032
    Abstract: An aspheric mirror has an aspheric reflective surface symmetrical with respect to an optical axis that goes through the reflective surface and a reference plane provided in the reflective surface. The optical axis may go through the reflective surface at a non-center position on the reflective surface. The reference plane may be perpendicular to the optical axis. The reference plane may be flat enough for a beam to be reflected from the reference plane in almost specular reflection when emitted to the reference plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Takahashi, Hiroyuki Takada
  • Patent number: 8194963
    Abstract: A method for performing pharmacokinetic analysis in magnetic resonance (MR) images includes administering a dose of contrast agent (CA) into a subject. A sequence of medical images is acquired of the subject at set temporal intervals. The time-based behavior of concentrations of CA is described within the subject for each voxel of each medical image of the sequence of medical images based on a reference voxel using a compartmental model for pharmacokinetic analysis that is based on a set of compartmental model parameters. The compartmental model is solved for each of the compartmental model parameters. The solution for the compartmental model parameters is used to estimate one or more parameters of physiological significance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Shinagawa, Vandana Mohan, Gerardo Hermosillo Valadez, Bing Jian
  • Patent number: 8172403
    Abstract: In a coherent light projection system including an image forming system, a relay system, a speckle reduction element, and a projection subsystem, the relay system can have a first f-number, and the projection subsystem can have a second f-number less than the first f-number. The relay system can have a first working distance, and the projection subsystem can have a second working distance less than the first working distance. The image forming system can project an initial image having a first size, and an intermediate image can have a second size greater than or equal to the first size. The speckle reduction element can have a curved surface through which the intermediate image is transferred. The speckle reduction element can include a lenslet arrangement formed on a surface thereof. The speckle reduction element can be moved in a direction parallel to an optical axis of the speckle reduction element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Barry D. Silverstein, Joseph R. Bietry, Gary E. Nothhard, Robert Metzger, Andrew F. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 8162482
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for stereoscopic 3D image projection and viewing using a single projection source, alternating polarization, and passive eyewear. This approach is applicable to frame sequential video created using existing 3D graphics APIs, as well as other video signal formats, and is compatible with existing digital light processor (DLP) technology for both front and rear projection systems. A alternating polarizer filter actuator in the form of a closed feedback loop with pulse width modulated control is used to modulate the projected image. A preferred embodiment enables an existing DLP projection system to be enhanced with 3D capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Casimer M. DeCusatis, Timothy M. Trifilo
  • Patent number: 8147066
    Abstract: A portable type information device includes: a projector device that, with illumination light from a light source unit, projects a projection pattern which has been created upon an image pattern generation unit to an exterior of the portable type information device via a projection lens; and a power supply command device that commands the projector device to turn ON only a power supply to the light source unit. The projector device is configured to be utilized as a simple electric torch. In addition, by retracting the image pattern generation unit from an optical path for projection, the illumination light can be irradiated to the exterior effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotake Nozaki, Nobuhiro Fujinawa, Akira Ohmura, Tadashi Ohta
  • Patent number: 8132925
    Abstract: A projector includes: a light source; a light modulation device which modulates a light emitted from the light source and forms image light; a projection device which magnifies and projects the image light; and an exterior casing, wherein on a light exiting surface for the image light of the exterior casing, a first opening is formed and a projection direction change unit which opens and closes the first opening is provided, and the projection direction change unit has: a cover which has a second opening for passing the image light from the projection device and which is provided rotatably in an off-plane direction with respect to the light exiting surface and thus opens and closes the first opening; a shutter which is movably provided along an inner surface of the cover and thus opens and closes the second opening; and a reflection mirror which is provided on an inner surface of the shutter and reflects the image light from the projection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Nasukawa, Takashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8123360
    Abstract: A display device includes: a transmission/reception section that transmits and receives information to/from any other display device connected thereto; a setting input section that enables setting of relative position information about a relative position between the display device and the other display device; and a control device that generates partial image information from original image information, and makes a display section to display thereon a partial image. The control device includes: a related information transmission control section that transmits position-sequence-related information related to the relative position information; a configuration position recognition section that recognizes an absolute position of the partial image in the original image that is supposed to be displayed by the display device; and a partial image information generation section that generates the partial image information by cutting out at least a part of image information from the original image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8123366
    Abstract: An illumination device includes a light source device including an ellipsoidal reflector with a reflecting concave surface and a light emitting tube having an emission center in the vicinity of a first focal position of the ellipsoidal reflector, and defining a first focal position and a second focal position of the ellipsoidal reflector in a cross-sectional plane in a first virtual plane including a center axis of the ellipsoidal reflector as F1 and F2, respectively, and defining a first focal position and a second focal position of the ellipsoidal reflector in a cross-sectional plane in a second virtual plane including a center axis of the ellipsoidal reflector and perpendicular to the first virtual plane as F1? and F2?, respectively, the ellipsoidal reflector has a rotationally asymmetrical concave shape having F1 and F1? at the same position, and F2 located between the F2? and the ellipsoidal reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 8113670
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes an apparatus body, a recording section for forming an image, a display panel assuming upright and laying posture with respect to the apparatus body by pivoting on a predetermined axis, and a covering member having a first end and a second end. The first end is mounted pivotably on one of the apparatus body and the back surface of the display panel. The second end engages slidably with the other of the apparatus body and the back surface of the display panel. Accordingly, the covering member can be accommodated substantially in parallel with the back surface of the display panel. As a result, when the display panel is laid down, it is low in height, thereby making the image recording apparatus to be compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motohito Muraki, Takamitsu Kawai
  • Patent number: 8100541
    Abstract: A device for navigating and displaying digital media, such as images, videos, audio files etc, is described. The device determines the distance between the device and a projection screen and selects media for display based on this distance. A user can, therefore, navigate through a media collection by moving the projection screen with respect to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Inventor: Alexander S. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8096661
    Abstract: A projection-type image display apparatus including: a light source unit; an optical modulator including an incident surface and an output surface both being perpendicular to an optical axis of a light beam emitted from the light source, and configured to modulate a light beam emitted from the light source; a first polarizer provided to a surface of the optical modulator; and a second polarizer provided to another surface of the optical modulator. In the projection-type image display apparatus, the polarization direction of a light beam allowed to pass through the first polarizer and the polarization direction of a light beam allowed to pass through the second polarizer are substantially orthogonal to each other, and the light source unit emits a cross shaped light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Arai