Abstract: A projection optical apparatus has a light source for emitting light, an illumination optical system for emitting as illumination light the light radiated from the light source, a Digital Micromirror Device™, having a plurality of micromirrors, for separating the illumination light into signal light and unnecessary light by varying, in accordance with a signal, the angles at which the individual micromirrors reflect the illumination light shone thereon, a total internal reflection prism composed of a first prism for totally reflecting and thereby directing the illumination light exiting from the illumination optical system to the Digital Micromirror Device™ and a second prism for transmitting the signal light reflected from the Digital Micromirror Device™, and a projection optical system for projecting the signal light transmitted through the second prism onto a projection surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a projection type display using a transmission type liquid crystal light valve, and its object is to supply a projection type display capable of exhibiting a high quality gradation display by preventing a leak current at a switching device. The projection type display comprises three liquid crystal light valves 21R, 21G, and 21B which have polarizing plates 20Rp, 20Gp, and 20Bp, modulate in intensity and emit each light of color components of red, green, and blue, and a dichroic prism to synthesize exiting lights from respective light valves. The projection type display is structured to arrange half-wave plates 20Ri, and 20Gi between the liquid crystal light valves 21R, and 21G for red and green, to set a polarizing direction of an exiting light of a blue component orthogonal to polarizing directions of the other two exiting lights.

Abstract: A projected image is overlaid on an actual view of an object, the image being identical to the actual view in size, shape and scale, and being perfectly registered with the actual view, e.g, as to position or location, and, accordingly being substantially parallax-free. The image may be of different “color” than the actual view, i.e., one may be a view or image of light in a visible wavelength region, band or bandwidth, and the other may be a view or image in a non-visible wavelength region, band or bandwidth, such as a view or image of infrared light or of x-ray radiation. The infrared view or image may be converted to a view or image in the visible bandwidth for viewing by a person. The image mentioned above may be a real image of an actual view of an object, scene or the like. Alternatively, the image may be an image other than of an actual view of an object, for example being a previously-obtained image along a same or similar point of view as the actual view of the object, scene, or the like.

Abstract: An image projection device having a spatial light modulator and a polarized source system for illuminating the spatial light modulator such that light of a first polarization state illuminates one region of the spatial light modulator and light of a second polarization state illuminates another region of the spatial light modulator. Preferably, the image projection device includes a first set of polarization selective light processing elements, including a first conicoid element which passes light of the first polarization state and reflects light of the second polarization state and a second set of polarization selective light processing elements including a second conicoid element which passes light of the second polarization state and reflects light of the first polarization state.

Abstract: An image projection device includes a Fresnel lens positioned in an optical path of an illuminated image in such a way that light from the image passes twice through the Fresnel lens, once in each direction. The first optical element may be a planar mirror arranged to reflect light transmitted by said Fresnel lens in the first direction back through said Fresnel lens in the second direction. In addition, a second optical element may be provided for changing a path of light exiting said Fresnel lens in said second direction so that the projected image appears at a location away from the path of light from the image source to the Fresnel lens.

Abstract: A transparency protection device for protecting a transparency sheet, the protection device including a protective sheet and a presentation flap generally coupled to the protective sheet. The protective sheet includes a generally transparent film having a first major surface and a second major surface, the first surface positioned to be in contact with the transparency sheet. At least a portion of the first major surface includes a plurality of integral micromounds protruding from the major surface. The protective sheet is micro-textured bi-axially oriented polypropylene having a micromound density in the range of 100 to 300 micromounds per square millimeter, the micromounds have a major axis length of 20 to 60 microns.

Abstract: The invention concerns achieving an increase in illumination efficiency of an illumination optical system in a projector using an optical modulation device. A projector may include an optical modulation device for controlling a direction of emission of illumination light applied to a substantially rectangular light application surface, including a plurality of pixels, for each pixel according to image information to thereby emit image light representing an image, an illuminating optical system for emitting the illumination light so that the central axis of the illumination light applied to the light application surface enters the light application surface at a predetermined angle, and a projection optical system for projecting the image light emitted from the optical modulation device. The illuminating optical system may include a light source, and a light-transmitting rod through which the light emitted from the light source passes.

Abstract: This patent document discloses an interactive, disassemblable, portable multi-display system for displaying images. The multi-display system includes a multi-sided structure that is associated with at least two image projectors. The structure forms an enclosure wherein at least two of the sides have light transmissive portions. The image projectors may advantageously be disposed within the enclosure for projecting their respective image beams on the light transmissive portions of the side. At least two of the image beams produce viewable images on the light transmissive portions and, according to one embodiment, at least a portion of each of these image beams intersect without interference.

Abstract: A method for the elimination of image speckles in a scanning laser projection is suggested, in which a phase hologram is used for dividing the illumination beam of the projector into partial beams. The partial beams are heterodyned again on the image screen within the image element (pixels) to be projected in such a way that differing speckle patterns are formed which average each other out in the eye of the viewer over time and/or space. Thus, a device is provided especially for the laser projection which substantially eliminates or reduces the speckles at the viewer. However, the beam form and the beam density are hardly or not changed.

Abstract: In a projection display provided with an optical unit, a power source unit, an external case to store the optical unit and the power source unit, a suction opening (75) is formed in one end part of the power source unit, a discharge opening (77) is formed in the other end part, and the suction opening (75) is arranged in the vicinity of an air inlet in the external case. Because the suction opening (75) and the discharge opening (77) are provided, the inside of the power source unit can be independently and efficiently cooled, and the optical unit and the power source unit can be arranged closely to each other.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image projection apparatus including a display device which has a plurality of pixel apertures and displays image information, an illumination optical unit for illuminating the display device, a projection optical unit for projecting the image information displayed on the display device on a predetermined surface, and a blower for blowing air to the atmosphere in the display device. Dust affecting a projected image is prevented from attaching near the display device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the virtual production of an image, with a housing, an image projection device, which produces an image to be displayed. The housing has an observation opening in a wall of the housing with a fresnel lens arranged therein. Imaging optics arranged in the housing for depicting the object onto the fresnel lens. In order to ensure a large range of applications for this device, provision is made that the imaging optics have a concave mirror arranged in the path of light rays between the image projection device and the fresnel lens. The concave mirror lies opposite the fresnel lens and a ray divider is provided therebetween. To increase the illusion effect, a partially translucent mirror (spy mirror) is additionally arranged on the observation side of the fresnel lens.

Abstract: A video-displaying apparatus uses a rod integrator that converts light emitted from a light source into uniform light. The apparatus includes a rod integrator, a holding member, and a flat spring. The rod integrator has a first surface, a second surface that opposes the first surface, a third surface, and a fourth surface that opposes the third surface. The holding member has a first contact surface which abuts the second surface, and a second contact surface which abuts the fourth surface. The first and second contact surfaces have smaller areas than the second and fourth surfaces, respectively. The rod integrator is fixedly mounted to the holding member such that the rod integrator is sandwiched between the holding member and the flat spring mounted to the holding member. Only the projections formed in the spring abut the first and third surfaces.

Abstract: A projector that can project a picture up and down on a screen free from the trapezium deformation, and allows the projection lens to be exchanged with other projection lens by an easy operation from outside of the front panel, without necessitating dismounting of any of the internal structure of projection apparatus. Projection lens shifts its standing up and down in accordance with revolving of a revolving knob disposed on the upper part of the projection apparatus. For the exchange of projection lens, a projection lens can be unscrewed and detached from the outer cylindrical section 9-2 of lens holding member 9 by turning the inner barrel 8 from outside the cabinet at the front.

Abstract: A video projector shows the desired scene on a projection screen. An infrared source close to the video projector uniformly floods the projection screen with non-visible infrared radiation. An infrared sensitive camera, also close to the video projector, observes the projection screen and sees only the uniform infrared illumination of the screen. Upon entry of a subject into the projected video image, the infrared reflected from the subject will not match that of the projection screen and thus the subject area is identified. All pixels of the projected scene, in the area occupied by the subject, are inhibited before reaching the video projector. The subject may then look directly at an audience without being blinded by the projector.

Abstract: A color projection display system, comprising a rotatable color drum with transmissive segments on the surface of the drum, the segments composed of dichroic filters having different color transmission bands, a cylindrical lens mounted co-axially inside the drum, and means for focussing images of the boundaries between segments onto an electro-optical light modulator panel, whereby in operation the segment images are scrolled across the surface of the light modulator panel, synchronously with the application of color components of a display signal corresponding to the colors of the scrolling segment images, to produce a full color display image for projection to a viewing screen.

Abstract: An optical apparatus has a reflection-type spatial light modulator having a plurality of minute variable-reflection-angle mirrors that individually deflect the light incident thereon in one of two different directions, namely in a first direction or in a second direction, in accordance with a signal fed in, an optical system to which the light deflected in the first direction by the modulator is directed, a prism disposed between the modulator and the optical system so as to direct the light deflected in the first direction by the modulator to the optical system and direct the light deflected in the second direction by the modulator to a side face of the prism, and a light-absorbing member shaped like a plane-parallel plate and disposed with an entrance face thereof kept in close contact with the side face of the prism.

Abstract: An LCD device has a distorted and/or curved shape corresponding to an image formed on the screen before correcting for distortion and/or curvature of the image formed on the screen, which are generated due to distortion aberration and/or curvature aberration of the projection lens unit, so that distortion and/or curvature can be corrected. The LCD device has a pin-cushion type structure distorted and curved positively (+) so that negative (−) distortion and curvature of the image formed on the screen, which is generated due to distortion aberration and curvature aberration of the projection lens unit, can be corrected. Also, the LCD device includes a front substrate and a rear substrate, each having electrodes formed thereon, and the front substrate and/or the rear substrate have a pin-cushion shape distorted and/or curved positively (+).

Abstract: An image forming optical system has an illumination light source for forming an illumination light beam, a reflective type image forming device for optically modulating the illumination light beam into an image-carrying light beam, a light beam selecting surface for selectively reflecting or transmitting a light beam shone thereon according to the angle of incidence thereof, and deflecting means disposed between the light beam selecting surface and the reflective type image forming device. One of the illumination light beam and the image-carrying light beam is shone on the light beam selecting surface at an angle of incidence larger than the critical angle so as to be reflected therefrom, and the other is shone on the light beam selecting surface at an angle of incidence smaller than the critical angle so as to be transmitted therethrough, so that these two light beams are separated. The above-mentioned angles of incidence are set appropriately by the deflecting means.

Abstract: An image projector is provided with a light valve having an upstream side and an downstream side. A light source is disposed on the upstream side of the light valve, and a front lens system with an entrance pupil is disposed on the downstream side of the light valve. A back optical system is disposed between the light source and the light valve. The back optical system has a nonimaging device with an exit aperture that is either imaged into the entrance pupil of the front lens system (Kohler) or imaged onto the light valve (Abbe).