Abstract: In a display device comprising a suction fan for cooling and an air filter arranged on the suction side of the suction fan for cooling, there are provided means for calculating, in a case where the suction fan for cooling is driven, the integrated value of time periods during which the suction fan for cooling is driven, and means for displaying a warning message for causing a user to clean the air filter when the integrated value of the time periods during which the suction fan for cooling is driven is not less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: An image forming system is provided which includes an optical sheet and an image projector. The optical sheet is constructed by joining a plurality of sheet members with adjoining sheet members meeting to form a joint line. The image projector produces an image and projects the image to the optical sheet through a projection optical system. The relative positional relationship between the image projector and optical sheet is such that the optical axis of the projection optical system included in the image projector perpendicularly intersects the joint line in the optical sheet. Thus, reflection or scattering of light at the joint line is minimized.

Abstract: A projection and display system for reverse projection of imagery includes an imagery projection system having a lens barrel for projecting images. The imagery projection system extends into a substantially closed, geometric viewing surface, such that the lens barrel is disposed at a predetermined distance from and at a predetermined orientation relative to an interior surface of the geometric viewing surface. The images are projected onto an interior surface of the geometric viewing surface. The images may be defined in vector coordinates or in raster coordinates.

Abstract: A small polarizing illumination device is provided which can apply light effectively to a small-sized liquid crystal display device at a reduced diverging angle. The above device has a light source lamp, a reflecting mirror, a reflecting device with an opening, a square-wave plate, a rod integrator, a polarized light separating unit, and a condenser lens, in which the reflecting device with an opening, square-wave plate, rod integrator, and polarized light separating unit can be integrally arranged. The device can be made small.

Abstract: A projector having a polymeric housing containing an electrical light source, an image medium support assembly aligned in the light path of the light source, and a lens through which light emanating from the light source exits the housing after passing through an image medium disposed in the image support assembly. The projector is preferably adjustably mounted on a support member comprising a tubular section containing a transformer. The projector can be made with an electric motor inside the housing that causes a wheel comprising multiple fixed images to continuously or intermittently rotate the same or different images sequentially through the light path of the projector. A projector assembly is also disclosed in which a projector is mounted in a frame assembly in combination with a rotating mirror ball that simultaneously redirects the projected image in many different directions and continuously changes the image being projected onto a particular spot on surrounding viewing surfaces.

Abstract: A multi-projection image display device using a plurality of image projectors to form one picture on a screen, in which images projected from the projectors are smoothly connected with one another, so that seams of the images do not appear conspicuously. The image display device has projectors and a screen laid out in such a manner that maximum image projection ranges of the respective projectors overlap the adjacent ranges. An image signal control unit for processing an image signal supplied from an external image input has, therein, a member for cutting out a partial image area dealt with by each projector, an image converting member for performing geometric transformation and local color correction of the partial image, and an arithmetic control member for controlling the image converting member on the basis of image information inputted from a screen state monitor camera.

Abstract: A novel projection system includes an illumination source for emitting an illumination beam, a reflective display device for modulating the illumination beam to form a reflected imaging beam, a projection lens group having an optical axis, and a field lens group. The field lens group is de-centered with respect to the optical axis of the projection lens group and is disposed to redirect the illumination beam to illuminate the display device at a non-zero angle of incidence, and to redirect the reflected imaging beam along an optical path parallel to the optical path of the projection lens group. In a particular embodiment the display device is disposed on the optical axis of the projection lens group. In a more particular embodiment, the redirected portion of the optical path of the reflected imaging beam is coincident with the optical axis of the projection lens group.

Abstract: In order to prevent dust from sticking to the LCD panel, to prevent the LCD panel from being heated and to suitably adjust the position of the LCD panel, a duct is provided between cooling means for a light source and cooling means for a LCD panel to send cooling air from the LCD panel side to the light source side. Therefore, a light incidence/reflection plane of the LCD panel is disposed in an almost hermetically closed space and an optical path from an integrator lens to the LCD panel is formed in the almost hermetically closed space.

Abstract: A stereographic display system comprises a signal processing unit receptive of stereographic images originating from stereographic image sources at a prescribed frame rate. The stereographic display system is operative to generate a multiplexed image stream and a series of synchronization pulses. An image display device is receptive of the multiplexed image stream and operative to display the multiplexed image stream as multiplexed images. A phase-locked loop is receptive of the series of synchronization pulses from the signal processing unit. An optical signal filter system is coupled to the phase-locked loop and receptive of the multiplexed stereographic images. The optical signal filter system includes rotating polarization filters that alternately pass or block the passage of a first and second image of the multiplexed stereographic images. The stereographic display system may be made, in whole or in part, an integral part of an item of apparel such as a pair of glasses or a helmet.

Abstract: A digital projection apparatus (10) for projection of a multicolor image includes a magnifying relay lens assembly (28) as part of the light modulation assembly (38) for each component color. The relay lens assembly (28) increases the effective f/# of incident light to the V-plate assembly (25) or V-prism assembly (27) that serves as dichroic combiner, used to combine modulated light of each color from each light modulation assembly (38) in order to form the multicolor image. The magnifying relay lens assembly (28) also provides a reduced working distance for the projection lens (32), allowing a lower-cost design and facilitating substitution of the projection lens (32) best suited for a display surface (40).

Abstract: An integrated prism-based optical device for a projection system performs light integration, beam shaping, and input/output beam separation. The integrated optical device preferably includes a light integrator tunnel with a first lens located adjacent one end and a prism located adjacent an opposite end. A second lens is located adjacent another side. The individual elements are preferably secured together using an index matching adhesive to form a unitary optical device. The integrated optical device is compact and provides uniform, high intensity light to the display device. The integrator tunnel may have a wedge or frustum shape eliminating the need for the first lens. The integrated optical device allows for a projector that requires fewer parts, is lighter weight, more compact, less costly, and more easily assembled than prior projection systems.

Abstract: A projector including an illumination system that illuminates a modulation device modulating light according to image information. The illumination system includes a light source that emits a light beam along a light source optical axis, a first lens array having a plurality of small lenses which divide the light beam emitted from the light source into a plurality of partial light beams, a superimposing lens that superimposes the plurality of partial light beams emitted from the first lens array on the modulation device, and an entrance angle reducing system disposed between the superimposing lens and the modulation device. The entrance angle reducing system reduces an entrance angle of light rays, which are emitted from the superimposing lens and enter the modulation device, compared with an illumination system without the entrance angle reducing system.

Abstract: A color synthesizing optical apparatus comprises a plurality of reflection type light valves, a color synthesizing/analyzing optical system, and quarter wave plates disposed corresponding to the plurality of light valves. In a state to effect image-displaying, in one of first and second light valve groups, phase advance axes of the quarter wave plates are disposed substantially in parallel to predetermined axes within surfaces of the light valves which axes correspond to the respective predetermined axes within the projection image field plane of the light valves. In the other group in the same state, phase advance axes of the quarter wave plates are disposed substantially perpendicularly to the predetermined axes within the surfaces of the light valves which axes correspond to the respective predetermined axes within the projection image field plane of the light valves.

Abstract: A reflection type projector including a critical angle prism for changing the path of light. The reflection type projector includes a light source for generating and emitting light, an image forming unit having a multiplicity of pixels in a two-dimensional array structure, each of the pixels being independently driven, for forming and reflecting an image from the input light, a critical angle prism having a transmission/reflection surface disposed along an optical path of the light, to transmit the light input from the light source and reflect the light re-entering from the image forming unit, and a projection lens unit for enlarging and transmitting the light reflected from the transmission/reflection surface of the critical angle prism onto a screen.

Abstract: An image projection system includes one or more wire grid polarizing beam splitters and one or more transmissive arrays. A polarized light beams from a light source and pre-polarizer is directed towards the transmissive array which modulates the polarization of the polarized light beam by selectively altering the polarization of the polarized light beam to encode image information thereon and creating a modulated beam. The modulated beam is directed towards the wire grid polarizing beam splitter which acts as an analyzer to separate the modulated beam into reflected and transmitted beams. A screen is disposed in one of the reflected or transmitted beams to display the encoded image information. The polarizing beam splitter is oriented at an angle with respect to the modulated beam such that the reflected beam is directed away from the transmissive array. A plurality of transmissive arrays can be used for different colors. One or more polarizing beam splitters can act as both analyzers and combiners.

Abstract: A reflective-type liquid crystal projection system consists of a dichroic prism that diffracts the light beam generated by a light source module into two colored light beams of different wavelengths; and three polarizing light flux splitter prisms that are symmetrically disposed around the said dichroic prism as well as two related converging lens groups enabling three RGB color images shown on three reflective-type liquid crystal display panels to be merged into a single image and then projected onto a television screen for viewing.

Abstract: Multimedia projectors (90, 120) include a light source (32) for propagating illumination through a color modulator (42) and a light integrating tunnel (94). Lenses (100, 106) image the integrated light through a patterned-silvered mirror (104, 126) and onto a micromirror display device (MDD) (76, 122). Micromirrors in the MDD that are tilted to an image-forming angle, reflect the image-forming light back toward the patterned-silvered mirror, which propagates the image-forming light toward a projection lens (110). The patterned-silvered mirror includes an accurately positioned boundary separating transparent (102, 116, 128) and reflective (108, 124) portions, resulting in improved contrast of the projected image.

Abstract: A method and projection system (10) for increasing the color gamut of images projected onto a display surface (140) by using four or more light sources (12), where the light sources (12) are selected for high brightness and narrow wavelength characteristics and are selected from optimal wavelengths for color gamut expansion. Light sources (12) for large-scale projection environments are preferably lasers. Smaller systems may employ LEDs or other relatively saturated, relatively bright light sources (12).

Abstract: A power supply unit is formed so as to be divided into first and second power supply blocks, which are disposed on both sides of a projecting lens. This allows the power supply blocks to be efficiently disposed in a projection display device, so that dead space is not easily formed in the projection display device, making it possible to reduce the size of the projection display device. First and second power supply block cooling paths are formed at first and second power supply blocks which are liable to generate heat, respectively. A light modulating system cooling path is formed at a light modulating system disposed at substantially the center of the projection display device. Therefore, even when these component parts are closely disposed in the projection display device of a compact size, proper cooling operations can be carried out, making it possible to cool the entire projection display device more efficiently.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel unit is attached to a light incident surface of a prism composite. The liquid crystal panel unit includes a panel frame plate holding a liquid crystal panel, and a fixation frame plate glued and fixed to the light incident surface. The panel frame plate is fastened to the fixation frame plate by screws through an intermediate frame plate. By using wedges, the position of the panel frame plate with respect to the light incident surface is adjusted. This allows the liquid crystal panel to be reliably positioned and fixed so that the deviation amount in pixel matching is minimized and the focus adjustment can be accomplished correctly.