Abstract: A color display device is disclosed. The color display device includes an illumination lens system, a diffractive light modulation system, a combining system, a Fourier filter system, and a projection system. The illumination lens system converts a plurality of light beams into linear parallel light beams. The diffractive light modulation system produces a plurality of diffracted light beams having a plurality of diffraction orders by modulating each of the plurality of parallel light beams that are almost perpendicularly incident from the illumination lens system, The combining system focuses the plurality of diffracted light beams having the plurality of diffraction orders. The Fourier filter system selects diffracted light beams having desired diffraction orders using a dichroic filter. The projection system focuses the diffracted light beams on an object, and allowing the focused diffracted light beams to scan the object.

Abstract: A projection display system includes (1) a transparent screen, (2) a polarizer on the transparent screen, (3) a retarder plate on a first side of the transparent screen, (4) a mirror on the first side of the transparent screen, and (5) a projector for projecting an image through the transparent screen, the polarizer, the retarder plate, and onto the mirror. The mirror reflects the image onto the polarizer so that the reflected image is visible from the first side of the transparent screen and invisible from the second side of the transparent screen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cooling apparatus of a color wheel for color separation in a single plate type projector and a projection system using the projector, which comprises an airflow generator, thereby cooling the color wheel and a rod lens of the single plate type projector. The cooling apparatus of the color wheel of the projector of the present invention prevents the color wheel and the rod lens from being thermally degraded by using the high-powered lamp. Further, an airflow generator such as the airfoil-shaped or plate-shaped blades is formed on a hub of the color wheel, thereby miniaturizing the system of the projector and reducing its production cost.

Abstract: An optical detection system for forming an image of a field of view in an object plane onto an image plane in which the electromagnetic radiation image is transmitted to a detector array at the image plane via an optical distorting element such as a reflector 11, so as to impose a non linear relationship between areas in the image and object planes.

Abstract: A tilt foot mechanism includes: two or more tilt feet that allow adjustment of the length of extension with respect to the bottom surface of the case of a projector; two or more locking levers that are each provided corresponding to each of the tilt feet; an elastic part that presses each of the locking levers against a corresponding tilt foot to thus lock the tilt foot; and a control button for causing the two or more locking levers to simultaneously separate from the tilt feet against the pressure of the elastic part.

Abstract: A method of producing a light beam for a display system includes generating a light beam having a transverse cross section that is elongate along a longitudinal axis, and moving a plurality of beam-modifying optical elements sequentially along a travel path that intersects the light beam with the light beam cross-section longitudinal axis oriented transverse to the travel path.

Abstract: A system for separating light into different spectrums and for recombining the light includes at least one polarizing beamsplitter and at least one retarder stack configured to condition the polarization of input light differently for different spectrums. A device embodying the invention could utilize multiple polarizing beamsplitters and multiple retarder stacks. Alternatively, a system could utilize a single polarizing beamsplitter and a single retarder stack in combination with one or more dichroic beamsplitters. In preferred embodiments, one or more reflective modulator panels are included to separately modulate each separated spectrum of light. Such an embodiment can be used for a color projection system. In each of the embodiments that utilize modulators, distances between the modulators and the focusing optics is essentially the same.

Abstract: A color management system for use with projection displays includes, for example, a separating polarizing beamsplitter, a compensating prism group, an image assimilator, and a combining polarizing beam splitter. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the separating polarizing beamsplitter receives a bi-oriented light input and separates it into two output beams, one comprising a first component and the other comprising a second component. The image assimilator receives an output light beam from the separating polarizing beamsplitter, transmits the light output to one or more corresponding microdisplays, receives one or more modified outputs from the microdisplays, and emits an output comprising those modified outputs to a combining polarizing beamsplitter.

Abstract: A rear-type projection display device is provided, in which even a liquid crystal panel having several point defects is used, the point defects are hardly recognized. According to the present invention, in order not to display the display defects (the bright spots or unlit defects) that take place when a light from a light source transmits a liquid crystal panel having the point defects, means for correcting the display defects is provided on the liquid crystal panel side of a screen.

Abstract: A display apparatus of the type which forms a color image by modulating a plurality of lights different from each other in color by one or more display elements, includes a device for changing the color purity of at least one light by inserting or extracting a wavelength selection element into or out of the optical path of at least one of the plurality of lights, or changing the attitude of the wavelength selection element, and a device for supplying information as to whether the wavelength selection element is in the optical path of the at least one color light or information on the attitude of the wavelength selection element in the optical path of the at least one color light.

Abstract: An imaging optical system includes at least one ghost image prevention element. Ghost images are prevented even when the imaging optical system includes an optical element that has at least one planar surface that is generally orthogonal to an optical axis of the imaging optical system, and is located in a light flux area with at least a central portion of the light flux area being generally parallel to the optical axis. The ghost image prevention element is especially useful in video cameras and digital cameras that use an image sensor having a planar surface that exhibits a high coefficient of reflection. The ghost image prevention element includes one planar surface, that is “tightly bound” to the planar surface of the optical element, and another surface that is curved so as to satisfy a given condition. The curved surface diffuses light that would otherwise contribute to a ghost image.

Abstract: A liquid crystal projector comprises an illuminating optical system including a light source, a color separating optical system for separating illuminating light rays emitted by the illuminating optical system into light rays of three colors, a projection lens unit comprising a projection lens, a cross dichroic prism disposed near a light receiving end of the projection lens, and a plurality of liquid crystal panels arranged around the cross dichroic prism, and a light source power supply for supplying power to the light source. The projection lens unit, the color separating optical system, the illuminating optical system and the light source power supply are arranged in that order. The liquid crystal projector has an outside size in a horizontal plane of 263 mm by 318 mm or below. The liquid crystal panels have a display screen size of 0.9 in. A cooling fan for cooling the plurality of liquid crystal panels is disposed beside the projection lens.

Abstract: A method and systems for projecting an image onto a screen in high ambient light. The image is composed as pixels comprising selected intensities of preselected bands of visible light. The pixels are created by modulating three frequencies of light corresponding to hues in the red, green, and blue spectrum. The modulated light selectively generates pixels of a frame of the image. A diffusive projection screen has a triple bandpass light filter surface that selectively transmits preselected bands of light frequencies around the red, green, and blue spectrums of the modulated light source. The triple bandpass light filter is used with projection screens in front and rear projection systems. The hues of red, green, and blue may be generated from LEDs or from extracting the frequencies from a broadband source. The modulator system may comprise a time multiplexed single modulator design or a triple modulator design.

Abstract: An ultrathin optical panel, and a method of producing an ultrathin optical panel, are disclosed, including stacking a plurality of glass sheets, which sheets may be coated with a transparent cladding substance or may be uncoated, fastening together the plurality of stacked coated glass sheets using an epoxy or ultraviolet adhesive, applying uniform pressure to the stack, curing the stack, sawing the stack to form an inlet face on a side of the stack and an outlet face on an opposed side of the stack, bonding a coupler to the inlet face of the stack, and fastening the stack, having the coupler bonded thereto, within a rectangular housing having an open front which is aligned with the outlet face, the rectangular housing having therein a light generator which is optically aligned with the coupler. The light generator is preferably placed parallel to and proximate with the inlet face, thereby allowing for a reduction in the depth of the housing.

Abstract: A visible light modifier and method provide a new visual display. A projection is generated by the visible light modifier that includes a monochromatic or chromatically separated light beam having variations generating a stunning visual display. The display may be used in advertising, entertainment, psychotherapy and anywhere that attention-getting or mood-altering visual displays are desired. The visible light modifier includes a fluid refractive medium within a container and a a mirror positioned within the fluid refracting medium at a predetermined angle so that for multi-chromatic sources an angular chromatic separation is achieved in a beam reflected from the reflective surface through the refractive medium, or for monochromatic sources, a projected beam having a shape variance is achieved. Motion of the fluid generates variations in the shape and/or chromatic distribution within the reflected beam, which can be projected on a screen or other suitable background.

Abstract: An ultrathin optical panel, and a method of producing an ultrathin optical panel, are disclosed, including stacking a plurality of glass sheets, which sheets may be coated with a transparent cladding substance or may be uncoated, fastening together the plurality of stacked coated glass sheets using an epoxy or ultraviolet adhesive, applying uniform pressure to the stack, curing the stack, sawing the stack to form an inlet face on a side of the stack and an outlet face on an opposed side of the stack, bonding a coupler to the inlet face of the stack, and fastening the stack, having the coupler bonded thereto, within a rectangular housing having an open front which is aligned with the outlet face, the rectangular housing having therein a light generator which is optically aligned with the coupler. The light generator is preferably placed parallel to and proximate with the inlet face, thereby allowing for a reduction in the depth of the housing.

Abstract: A projector 1 has a first casing 1A (including a first part 2 and a second part 3) and a second casing 1B (including a third part 4). The second casing 1B is moved between an enlarging position where the second casing 1B is protruded from the first casing 1A and a reducing position where the second casing 1B is retracted into the first casing 1A. As the second casing 1B moves to the enlarging position, the distance between the exhaust ports 45 and the exhaust fan 9 increases, so that the wind noise is restricted. As the second casing 1B moves to the reducing position, the exhaust ports 45 are concealed in the first casing 1A, so that the entry of the dust or the like into the projector 1 is prevented.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a projecting device without prisms. The projecting device comprises a light source for generating an incident light beam, a reflective image module comprising a plurality of reflective surfaces which can be separately controlled to generate the image-containing reflected light beam, a first lens set for concentrating the incident light beam, a reflective mirror for reflecting the incident light beam and concentrating the light beam through the first lens set onto the image module, and a second lens set installed between the light source and the reflective mirror for shortening an optical path from the light source to the reflective mirror. The optical path of the incident light beam reflected from the image module intersects a plane formed by the optical paths of the incident light beam from the light source to the reflective mirror and from the reflective mirror to the image module at one point, thus interference of the light beams is prevented.

Abstract: A white light beam from a light source portion (201) is separated into respective light beams of red, green and blue by a color separation optical system (204). The respective light beams are reflected by a rotating polygon mirror (207), travel via a second optical system (210) and form belt-like illuminated regions on an image display panel (212). By a rotation of the rotating polygon mirror (207), the illuminated regions of the respective light beams move continuously, and each pixel of the image display panel (212) is driven by a signal corresponding to a color of light entering this pixel. An image on the image display panel (212) is magnified and projected onto a screen by a projection optical system (216).

Abstract: An optical device is provided comprising a plurality of prisms, two dichroic surfaces having different wavelength characteristics from each other, and a prism surface that satisfies a total reflection requirement for a predetermined light component. Also provided is a projection display apparatus comprising a light source, light valves for respectively modulating components of the light from the light source, an optical device for chromatically synthesizing the modulated light components, and a projection section for projecting the modulated light. Optionally, the optical device may also be used in the projection display apparatus for separating the light from the light source into the multiple light components. Further provided is an image capturing apparatus comprising a taking lens unit for receiving light, an optical device for separating the light received by the taking lens unit into multiple light components, and imaging devices for respectively converting the multiple light components into image data.