Patents Examined by Magda Cruz
  • Patent number: 11402625
    Abstract: A phosphor wheel (300, 400, 500, 600) includes an annular disc (310, 410, 510, 610) having phosphor segments (320, 420, 522, 524, 620) and an exposed annular sector (305, 405, 505, 605), a hub (330, 430, 530, 630) coupled to the inner perimeter (304, 413) of the annular disc, and a balancing piece (340, 440, 540, 640) located between the hub and the exposed annular sector. The balancing piece minimizes the initial imbalance of the phosphor wheel about the center (301, 441, 541) of the disc due to the exposed annular sector by making up the difference in torque. A method for making a phosphor wheel, a projector comprising a phosphor wheel, and a method for minimizing imbalance in a phosphor wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: MATERION PRECISION OPTICS (SHANGHAI) LIMITED
    Inventors: Carter Ni, James Li
  • Patent number: 11397376
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing device, an image projection device, a control device, an information processing device, an image projection system, an image processing method, and a program that make it possible to suppress a reduction in a subjective image quality. On the basis of each frame image of a moving image, a time during which a projection image of each frame image of the moving image is viewable by a user is controlled. For example, a controller controls the time during which the projection image is viewable by the user, to cause a difference between the moving image and the projection image due to a reduction in a luminance and a difference between the moving image and the projection image, which increases due to an increase in the time during which the projection image is viewable by the user, to be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noriaki Takahashi, Takahiro Nagano
  • Patent number: 11340517
    Abstract: A projection lens module and a projector are provided. The projector includes an optical engine and a projection lens module. The optical engine includes a casing, a light source, a light valve, and a prism, where the light source, the light valve, and the prism are disposed in the casing. The light source emits an illumination beam to the light valve. The light valve modulates the illumination beam to generate an image beam and projects the image beam to the projection lens module. The prism is disposed on an optical path of the image beam. The projection lens module is connected to the casing of the optical engine and is configured to project the image beam. The projection lens module includes a projection lens and a smooth picture actuator, where the smooth picture actuator is fixed to the projection lens and is located outside the optical engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Kuang-Hsiang Chang, Ching-Chuan Wei, Tsung-Hsin Liao
  • Patent number: 11333960
    Abstract: A light source device of the present disclosure includes a light emitting device, a first optical element having a first area and a second area, a second optical element converting a first light output from the first area into a second light, a diffuser element into which the second light is entered, and a wavelength conversion element into which the first light output from the second area is entered. The light output from the diffuser element and entered into the second optical element is converted into a third light, the third light output from the second optical element and entered into the first area is output from the first area, the light output from the diffuser element and entered into the second area is output from the second area, and a fourth light is output through the first area and the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 11336873
    Abstract: An illumination system includes an excitation light source module, a light splitting and combining module, a filter module, and a wavelength conversion module. The excitation light source module provides an excitation beam. The light splitting and combining module is disposed on a transmission path of the excitation beam. The excitation beam includes a first and a second excitation beam which are different from each other in polarization state or wavelength range. The filter module is disposed on the transmission path of the excitation beam. The filter module includes a light passing area configured to allow the excitation beam to pass there-through and a light filtering area. The wavelength conversion module is disposed on the transmission path of the excitation beam reflected by the light filtering area and configured to convert the reflected excitation beam into a conversion beam. A projection apparatus including the above illumination system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Kuan-Ta Huang, Jo-Han Hsu, Chi-Tang Hsieh, Yu-Hua Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11327392
    Abstract: A light source device of the present disclosure includes a light emitting device that outputs a first light having a first wavelength in a first polarization direction, a first optical element having a first area and a second area, a second optical element into which the first light reflected by the first area is entered, converting the first light into a circularly-polarized second light having the first wavelength, and a diffuser element into which the second light is entered. The second light entering the second optical element is converted into a third light having the first wavelength in a second polarization direction, the third light is transmitted through the first area, the second light is transmitted through the second area, and a fourth light output from the diffuser element and entered into the first area and the second area is transmitted through the first area and the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 11300861
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes a light emitting element configured to emit first light, a wavelength conversion element configured to convert part of first light into second light having a wavelength different from that of the first light, and to emit the second light and unconverted light that is the first light which is not converted into the second light, and an optical element configured to cause the first light from the light emitting element to enter the wavelength conversion element, and the second light and the unconverted light from the wavelength conversion element to travel in a direction different from a direction of the light emitting element. The wavelength conversion element emits the second light and the unconverted light as linear polarization light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shun Miura
  • Patent number: 11294153
    Abstract: A system for delivering light from a light source to a digital micro-mirror device. The system includes one or more lens groups. At least one lens of the system is laterally displaced, so that its optical axis is not centered on the chief ray of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Canada LTD.
    Inventor: Viktor Syvokin
  • Patent number: 11294265
    Abstract: A display device of an autonomous vehicle is controlled based on data collected from sensors located in or on the vehicle. The display device is used to present one or more images to a driver and/or passengers of the autonomous vehicle. The display device can be, for example, a windshield and/or other window of the vehicle. Image data can be, for example, transformed to improve visual perception by passengers in the vehicle when the images are displayed on a curved shape of the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Junichi Sato
  • Patent number: 11287734
    Abstract: A single light projection device providing illumination in two opposing directions includes a lens module and a light source module. The lens module includes a light-incident surface, a first light-emitting surface, and a second light-emitting surface. The light source module includes a light source configured for emitting light toward the light-incident surface. The first light-emitting surface and the second light-emitting surface introduce the light from the light source module outside of the light projection device in two different and opposing directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: TRIPLE WIN TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Wei Qi, Ching-Huang Lin
  • Patent number: 11269241
    Abstract: A novel spatial light modulator (SLM) includes a cover glass, and modulation layer, and a plurality of pixel mirrors, and separates unwanted, reflected light from desired, modulated light. In one embodiment, a geometrical relationship exists between the cover glass and the pixel mirrors, such that light that reflects from the cover glass is separated from light that reflects from the pixel mirrors and is transmitted from the SLM. In one example, one of the cover glass or the pixel mirrors is angled with respect to the modulation layer. In another example embodiment, the cover glass has a particular thickness, which introduces destructive interference between light that reflects from the top and bottom surfaces of the cover glass. In another embodiment antireflective coatings are disposed between optical interfaces of the SLM. In another embodiment, light from the SLM is directed through an optical filter to remove unwanted light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Juan P. Pertierra, Martin J. Richards, Barret Lippey
  • Patent number: 11262644
    Abstract: The disclosed structured light projector may include (1) a light source having a light-emitting side that emits light, (2) a solid optical spacer element having a first side securely coupled to the light-emitting side of the light source, and (3) a diffractive optical element (DOE) stack including one or more DOEs, where the DOE stack includes (a) a light-receiving side securely coupled to a second side of the solid optical spacer element opposite the first side, and (b) a light-emitting side opposite the light-receiving side that emits structured light in response to the light received from the light-emitting side of the light source via the solid optical spacer element. Various other devices and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Sullivan, Jonatan Ginzburg
  • Patent number: 11233980
    Abstract: Techniques for improving laser image quality are disclosed herein. An ultra-compact illumination module includes multiple illuminators, photodetectors, and color filters. The illuminators each emit a different spectrum of light. Because of the compact nature of the module and the positioning of the illuminators relative to one another, the different spectrums of light overlap one another prior to being detected by the photodetectors. Each of the photodetectors is associated with a corresponding one of the illuminators, and each of the color filters is associated with a corresponding one of the photodetectors. Each color filter is positioned in-between its corresponding illuminator and photodetector and passes a particular spectrum of light while filtering out other spectrums of light. Consequently, the photodetectors each receive spectrally filtered light having passed through at least one of the color filters. The power output of the illuminators can also be corrected based on output from the photodetectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGLY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond Kirk Price, Yarn Chee Poon, Fei Chen
  • Patent number: 11215913
    Abstract: A projector drive circuit includes a first voltage converter, a light source driver, a second voltage converter, and an isolation circuit. The first voltage converter converts a first voltage into a second voltage. The light source driver converts the second voltage into a third voltage. The second voltage converter converts the second voltage into a fourth voltage. The control circuit, coupled to the second voltage converter, receives the fourth voltage and outputs a first control signal. The isolation circuit, coupled to the control circuit and the light source driver, receives the first control signal and generates a second control signal to the light source driver, which controls the light source driver to generate the third voltage and provide the third voltage to a light source according to the second control signal. The isolation circuit electrically isolates the control circuit from the light source driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Hsiang Wu, Chi-Jen Chen
  • Patent number: 11209724
    Abstract: A projector including a cooling target includes a light source, a light modulator, a projection optical apparatus, and a cooler configured to cool the cooling target based on transformation of a refrigerant into a gas. The cooler includes a refrigerant generator configured to generate the refrigerant, a refrigerant sender configured to send the generated refrigerant toward the cooling target, and a cooling air blower configured to deliver air to the cooling target. The cooling target includes a cooling target main body and a cooled part which is thermally coupled to the cooling target main body and to which the refrigerant is sent from the refrigerant sender. The cooled part is disposed on a downstream of the cooling target main body in the flowing direction of the air delivered from the cooling air blower to the cooling target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuo Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11204540
    Abstract: A projection display device comprising a light source and an SBG device having a multiplicity of separate SBG elements sandwiched between transparent substrates to which transparent electrodes have been applied. The substrates function as a light guide. A least one transparent electrode comprises a plurality of independently switchable transparent electrode elements, each electrode element substantially overlaying a unique SBG element. Each SBG element encodes image information to be projected on an image surface. Light coupled into the light guide undergoes total internal reflection until diffracted out to the light guide by an activated SBG element. The SBG diffracts light out of the light guide to form an image region on an image surface when subjected to an applied voltage via said transparent electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: DigiLens Inc.
    Inventors: Milan Momcilo Popovich, Jonathan David Waldern
  • Patent number: 11175577
    Abstract: Projection systems and/or methods for efficient use of light by recycling a portion of the light energy for future use are disclosed. In one embodiment, a projection display system is disclosed comprising a light source; an integrating rod that receives light from said light source at a proximal end that comprise a reflective surface which may reflecting/recycle light down said integrating rod; of reflecting light down said integrating rod; a relay optical system, said relay optical system further comprising optical elements that are capable of moving the focal plane of the projector display system; and a modulator comprising at least one moveable mirror that reflects light received from the integrating rod in either a projection direction or a light recycling direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Martin J. Richards, Nathan Wainwright, Douglas J. Gorny, Duane Scott Dewald
  • Patent number: 11163227
    Abstract: An illumination system, a wavelength conversion module, a projection apparatus and an illumination control method are provided. The illumination system includes excitation light source modules emitting excitation beams and a wavelength conversion module located on a transmission path of the excitation beams and including a substrate, a first region and a second region. The first and second regions are respectively located on a first surface and a second surface of the substrate. When the illumination system is in a high chroma illumination mode, one of the excitation light source modules provides the excitation beams to the first region, and the excitation beams form a first illumination beam through the first region. When the illumination system is in a high brightness illumination mode, one of the excitation light source modules provides the excitation beams to the second region, and the excitation beams form a second illumination beam through the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Chun-Wei Lin, Hsin-Yueh Chang
  • Patent number: 11150768
    Abstract: A projector includes an imaging section configured to generate imaging data obtained by taking an image of first infrared light with a first wavelength emitted by a first pointing member, second infrared light with a second wavelength emitted by a second pointing member, and a target range, and a position detection section for detecting a first position and a second position with respect to the target range based on the imaging data so as to be distinguished from each other, and the imaging section includes a sensor configured to output detection values of first colored light, second colored light, and third colored light to generate the imaging data including the detection values obtained by detecting the first infrared light and the second infrared light with the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ryuichi Shiohara
  • Patent number: 11150545
    Abstract: A projection apparatus including a housing, a light-transmissive cover, an optical engine module, a frame, and a projection apparatus and media player circuit module is provided. The light-transmissive cover is arranged on the housing to cover an opening of the housing. The optical engine module is configured to provide a projection light beam to be transmitted through the light-transmissive cover. The optical engine module is arranged in the housing. The frame is arranged on a top surface of the optical engine module. The frame includes extension arms extending in a direction away from the top surface. The projection apparatus and media player circuit module is configured to drive the optical engine module, and to play a pattern or an image, and is arranged on the extension arms to be distributed on at least two of side surfaces and a bottom surface of the optical engine module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Hung-Lin Lee, Yun-Lin Miao