Patents Examined by William C. Dowling
  • Patent number: 11194234
    Abstract: A projector includes a communication unit configured to communicate with an external device, an operation unit configured to receive a user operation, and a system control unit. The system control unit is configured to validate a network function of the communication unit in response to receipt of a particular key sequence received by the operation unit in a stand-by state. The system control unit is configured not to validate the network function of the communication unit even if the operation unit receives the particular key sequence in an image projection state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junji Kotani, Masato Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 11194242
    Abstract: An image display device according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a light source, an image generator, and a projection optical system. The image generator modulates a light beam emitted by the light source and generates image light. The projection optical system includes a first lens system, a first reflection optical system, a second lens system, and a second reflection optical system. The first lens system has a positive refractive power as a whole, and refracts the generated image light. The first reflection optical system includes two or more reflection surfaces, each reflection surface being a surface off which the image light refracted by the first lens system is reflected. The second lens system has a positive refractive power as a whole, and refracts the image light reflected off the first reflection optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jun Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 11187968
    Abstract: An image projection device includes an image display element that forms a projection image, a transmissive optical system that is disposed on an emission surface side of the image display element and includes a diaphragm and a plurality of lenses, and a reflection optical system that includes a first mirror reflecting light emitted from the transmissive optical system and having positive power and a second mirror that is a plane mirror for reflecting light reflected by the first mirror on a projection surface. The first mirror is disposed between the second mirror and the projection surface in a direction along an optical axis of the transmissive optical system. An intermediate image is formed between the transmissive optical system and the first mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INIELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuneo Uchida, Katsu Yamada
  • Patent number: 11175572
    Abstract: The light emitting device includes an excitation light source, and a light emitting light source, wherein the light emitting light source includes a substrate, a photonic crystal structure which is provided to the substrate and has a light emitting layer, and an electrode configured to inject an electrical current into the light emitting layer, the excitation light source irradiates the light emitting layer with excitation light, the light emitting layer generates light due to the electrical current injected from the electrode and the excitation light, and in the photonic crystal structure, the light emitted in the light emitting layer resonates in an in-plane direction of the substrate, and a laser beam is emitted in a normal direction of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventor: Yoshiki Nakashima
  • Patent number: 11169433
    Abstract: A light source module comprises a first light source, a second light source, a first heat sink structure, and a second heat sink structure. The second light source disposed downstream of a main airflow flowing through the first light source module. The first heat sink structure has a plurality of first heat sink fins. The second heat sink structure has a plurality of second heat sink fins, wherein the first light source and the second light source are disposed along a first direction. The first heat sink structure and the second heat sink structure are disposed along the first direction, the first heat sink fins are arranged along the first direction, the second heat sink fins are arranged along a second direction, and the first direction is different from the second direction. A projection apparatus comprising the light source module is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignees: Coretronic Corporation, Coretronic Projection (Kunshan) Corporation
    Inventors: Shih-Yao Li, Yu-Wei Guo, Chun-Ting Lin
  • Patent number: 11163228
    Abstract: A screen forming apparatus 20 includes: a particle source selecting unit 24 which selects a particle source to be used from a plurality of particle sources 22 having different characteristics regarding a viewing angle; a vaporizing unit 26 which vaporizes particles acquired from the particle source selected by the particle source selecting unit 24; and a screen forming unit 28 which forms a screen using the particles vaporized by the vaporizing unit 26.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Kusabuka
  • Patent number: 11164990
    Abstract: [Object] To provide an optical device and a display apparatus capable of decreasing a waveguide loss, inhibiting a laser oscillation, and achieving a high-output. [Solving Means] An optical device includes a first electrode layer, a first conduction type layer, a second conduction type layer, an active layer, and a second electrode layer. The first conduction type layer includes a current injection region formed by the first electrode layer and a current non-injection region. A waveguide structure included in the first conduction type layer, the active layer, and the second conduction type layer includes a first region and a second region. The first region has a first waveguide that is the current injection region and the current non-injection region and having a first refractive index difference. The second region has a second waveguide arranged to be extended from the first waveguide to the first end and has a second refractive index difference greater than the first refractive index difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Fujii, Tomoki Ono
  • Patent number: 11150546
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes a first light source, a second light source, a first radiator configured to hold the first light source and to radiate heat from the first light source, and a second radiator configured to hold the second light source and to radiate heat from the second light source. The first radiator includes a plurality of first radiating members to be cooled by air introduced from a first direction and superposed in a second direction. The second radiator includes a plurality of second radiating members to be cooled by air introduced from the first direction and superposed in a third direction. Each of the second direction and the third direction is orthogonal to the first direction. The second direction and the third direction are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Nomoto
  • Patent number: 11146769
    Abstract: A projection device including a projecting unit, an input unit and a processor and an image adjusting method of the projection device are provided. The projecting unit projects a first image to a projection surface. The input unit receives an input operation. The processor is electrically connected to the projecting unit and the input unit. The processor divides the first image into at least one block according to the input operation, selects one block from the at least one block to serve as a to-be-adjusted block, defines at least one control point within the to-be-adjusted block, and adjusts a position of the at least one control point so as to adjust a part of the first image. With the device and method provided, a user may independently adjust one block of the image without adjusting other blocks, so as to improve image authenticity and user satisfaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Chun-Lin Chien, Yung-Chiao Liu
  • Patent number: 11143941
    Abstract: A projection device including a housing and a display module is provided. The display module is configured in the housing and may include a frame, an optical engine assembly, and at least one first electronic component. The frame may include a first assembling portion and at least one second assembling portion. The optical engine assembly is assembled to the first assembling portion in a first direction. The at least one first electronic component is assembled to the at least one second assembling portion in a second direction different from the first direction. In the projection device provided, interior space may be effectively utilized and the projection device may have advantages in a smaller volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: Hung-Lin Lee
  • Patent number: 11140316
    Abstract: A projection method is provided. The projection method comprises the steps of identifying the resolution of an original image, comparing the resolution of the original image with a preset resolution to generate a comparison result, determining whether to deflect a projection lens in a projection process according to the comparison result, and projecting at least one image in the projection process according to the comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Sheng Lin, Yaw-Huei Chiou
  • Patent number: 11131917
    Abstract: An image display apparatus according to an aspect of the present technology includes a light source, an image generator, and a projection optical system. The image generator modulates light emitted from the light source and generates image light. The projection optical system includes a lens system and a concave reflective surface. The lens system is configured on a basis of a reference axis at a position on which the generated image light is incident, and has a positive refracting power as a whole. The concave reflective surface is configured on a basis of the reference axis, and reflects the image light emitted from the lens system toward a projection target. In addition, the concave reflective surface reflects at least one or more light beams included in the image light incident on the concave reflective surface, toward a direction that intersects with a direction along the reference axis at an angle of 80 degrees or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Nishikawa, Naoko Edamitsu, Tatsushi Nashida, Yosuke Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11131911
    Abstract: A technique can reduce the time and effort of a user to project a projection image in a projection area on a projection surface. A projector includes: a projection unit projecting a projection image onto a projection surface; an image pickup unit picking up an image of the projection surface and generating a picked-up image; a detection unit detecting a position of a removable object arranged at the projection surface, based on the picked-up image; and an adjustment unit adjusting a projection position of the projection image on the projection surface, based on the position of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ichieda
  • Patent number: 11131428
    Abstract: An adjusting mechanism includes a movable plate having a substantially rectangular shape and including a long side and a short side, a position adjusting actuator configured to come into contact with and press the movable plate, a reference plate on which the movable plate is placed, and an elastic member coupling the movable plate and the reference plate, the elastic member being elastically deformable in a direction along an X axis. The position adjusting actuator adjusts a position of the movable plate with respect to the reference plate when the position adjusting actuator presses the movable plate in the direction along the X axis and moves the movable plate in the direction along the X axis and a ?z direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Nemura, Tomohisa Iwazaki, Yutaka Arakawa
  • Patent number: 11125995
    Abstract: A driving device for a head-up display including a motor, a driving gear mounted at the motor and rotated when the motor is driven, a worm gear engaged with the driving gear and rotated by interlocking with the driving gear, a movable mirror configured to linearly move by being engaged with the worm gear, a stopper configured to restrict movement of the movable mirror, and a bending prevention part formed in the driving gear and configured to be inserted into the worm gear, so that engagement between the driving gear and the worm gear is maintained in an excessive torque section, and noise generation is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Jaepio You
  • Patent number: 11126071
    Abstract: An image modulating system including layers such as a formatter plate (PCB), an electrical connector plate called an interposer, a back cooling block, a front cooling frame and a reflective spatial light modulator. A cooling heat transfer channel is provided to transfer heat between the front cooling frame of the light valve and the back cooling block of the reflective spatial light modulator so as to reduce the thermal gradient between the front and back of the reflective spatial light modulator. The cooling heat transfer channel passes through any intervening layers such as the formatter plate (PCB), and/or the electrical connector plate called the interposer. The cooling heat transfer channel is preferably formed of a heat pipe or a circulating cooling medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: BARCO N.V.
    Inventor: Winter Van Rafelghem
  • Patent number: 11119317
    Abstract: A virtual image display device includes a projection optical system that includes a projection mirror that projects an image display light toward a concavely curved surface of a virtual image presentation plate. The projection mirror has a convexly curved surface on which the image display light is incident and reflected diagonally and is arranged such that a direction orthogonal to both a direction of incidence and a direction of reflection of the image display light on the concavely curved surface and a direction orthogonal to both a direction of incidence and a direction of reflection of the image display light on the convexly curved surface are parallel to each other. The display unit is provided at a focal point of a composite optical system within a meridional plane, the composite optical system being formed by the virtual image presentation plate and the projection optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: JVCKENWO0D CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Kojima
  • Patent number: 11119393
    Abstract: A first holding barrel, a first mirror bending a first optical axis of the first holding barrel at 90°, a second holding barrel, a second mirror bending a second optical axis of the second holding barrel at 90°, and a third holding barrel are disposed on an optical axis from a screen side to an image forming panel. A first connection member connects the first holding barrel including the first mirror to the second holding barrel to be rotationally movable in increments of 90°. A second connection member connects the second holding barrel and the second mirror to the third holding barrel to be rotationally movable in increments of 90°. An orientation of a display image of the image forming panel is changed based on rotational movement states of an optical axis of a first sensor and an optical axis of a second sensor to make an orientation of a projection image on the screen match an original image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Masaru Amano, Yukiko Nagatoshi, Hironobu Kayano, Kenji Ito
  • Patent number: 11102459
    Abstract: One embodiment can provide a machine-vision system. The machine-vision system can include a structured-light projector, a first camera positioned on a first side of the structured-light projector, and a second camera positioned on a second side of the structured-light projector. The first and second cameras are configured to capture images under illumination of the structured-light projector. The structured-light projector can include a laser-based light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: eBots Inc.
    Inventors: Zheng Xu, Kai C. Yung, MingDu Kang
  • Patent number: 11092819
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for a display apparatus for a vehicle. The display apparatus includes a display screen configured to emit images in an emission direction; a mirror apparatus configured to reflect the images from the display screen towards a viewing direction; and a lens apparatus configured to receive the images from the mirror, wherein the lens apparatus is configured to project the images to a focal distance substantially opposite the viewing direction, wherein the focal distance is positioned at least about 750 mm from eyes of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Andrew D. Weller