Abstract: An off-axis backscreen visual display system with rotating backscreen and projector assembly. The system includes a full color projector for projecting the image beam, and a backscreen which redirects the image beam from the projector onto a collimating mirror. The mirror in turn reflects the beam toward the observer eye point. The backscreen and projector are mechanically integrated together to form an integrated assembly which is mounted for rotation about a pivot point. The collimating mirror is oversized relative to the nominal beam size so as to present mirror surface to the beam redirected by the backscreen through a range of rotation of the integrated assembly. An actuator system rotates the integrated assembly about the pivot point to obtain increase vertical field of view. The backscreen can alternatively be fixed in position, with only the projector assembly rotating.

Abstract: A system that projects a multi-color laser beam image based on assembly or alignment data of a manufacturing process onto a work surface. The system provides, for example, an optical layup template in manufacturing processes, especially the layup of composite laminates. In various implementations additional important features are shown. A plurality of lasers emit beams of different colors, including colors different from that emitted by any one laser. In certain implementations, the system comprises a red and a green laser adapted to emit red, green and yellow laser beams. Software to control the system is also disclosed.

Abstract: An output light from an light source lamp unit 8 in a projection-type display apparatus illuminates liquid-crystal light valves 925R, 925G and 925B for three colors via an integrator optical system 923. A superimposing lens 930 that is a component of the integrator optical system 923 as a uniform illumination optical system is arranged such that the mounting position of the superimposing lens 930 is fine-adjustable in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis 1a. By fine-adjusting the mounting position of the superimposing lens 930, the position of an illumination area B is adjusted such that the illumination area includes the image forming area A of the liquid-crystal light valve. It is not necessary to assure a wide margin around the image forming area A to cover the offset of the position of the illumination area B. As a result, the utilization of illumination light is heightened and a bright projected image results.

Abstract: A lens plate integrator includes first and second lens plates which transmit light from a light source on an optical path to a projection plane. Each lens plate includes corresponding first and second groups of lens elements; light from the first group of the second plate is focused on a projection face in the projection plane, while light from the second group of the second plate is focused in front of or behind the projection plane and only partially illuminates the projection face.

Abstract: An apparatus synthesizes the image of a viewer and a second image into a synthesized image and displays the synthesized image. The apparatus is capable of aligning the line of sight of the viewer with the line of sight of the displayed image of the viewer and correctly reproducing colors on the synthesized image. The apparatus has a transparent hologram screen (15) on which a diffuser is recorded, a camera (25) for imaging a viewer (81) through the hologram screen, a synthesizer (28) for synthesizing the image of the viewer and a second image into a synthesized image, and a projector (11) for projecting signal light (31) containing the synthesized image onto the hologram screen. In place of the synthesizer, a display unit may be arranged behind the viewer. The hologram screen (15) may be combined with a mirror or a half-mirror.

Abstract: A reflection type projector is disclosed by which efficiency of the use of light can be increased using a birefringent prism.

Abstract: A stereoscopic 3D display comprises a light source and condenser optics which direct light through a spatial light modulator and a polarisation modulator. Each of the modulators is pixellated with the pixels of one modulator being optically aligned with respective pixels of the other modulator. Each pixel of the spatial light modulator is controlled so as to provide a light amplitude which is equal to the square root of the sum of the squares of the corresponding pixels of the stereoscopic images. Each pixel of the polarisation modulator is controlled so as to supply output light with a polarisation angle give by the arc-tangent of the quotient of the pixel amplitudes of the stereoscopic images. Polarising glasses with suitably aligned polariser lenses allow an observer to perceive the 3D effect, for instance on a polarisation preserving screen on which the encoded stereoscopic image is projected by projection optics.

Abstract: A video projector mount system which is positioned within a ceiling grid. The projector is within a housing which includes mirrors to convey a video image to a screen. A supply of ventilating and cooling air for the projector is provided to efficiently cool the projector so it may be used in the ceiling location. The overall system provides security from theft or tampering and a pleasing aesthetic appearance.

Abstract: An illumination optical system has a light source unit, a first array having a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged cells which deflect a incident light from the light source unit and a second array having a plurality of cells two-dimensionally arranged in a vicinity of a focal plane of the first array, wherein at least one of the first array and the second array is formed as a reflection array.

Abstract: Several different magnification lenses are adjustably mounted in a contour projector housing for movement selectively and one by one into operative registry with an entrance lens that faces a workpiece that is to be inspected. Spaced illuminators in the housing direct light beams onto opposite sides of the workpiece to produce combined profile and surface images thereof that are projected by the entrance lens and the registering magnification lens onto the reflective surface of a first mirror. This mirror projects the combined, magnified images in the housing onto a second mirror, which then projects the combined images onto a projection screen mounted in the housing for observation by the person using the projector.

Abstract: A front liquid crystal display projector includes a housing having an exhaust port and a projection opening, an optical block, installed in the housing, having a light source, a reflection mirror, a light separator, an image display unit using liquid crystal, an image combining unit, a projection lens, and an exhaust fan installed between the light source and the exhaust port. The reflection mirror changes the direction of the light from the light source, and the projection lens and the light source are disposed parallel to each other. The exhaust port and the projection opening are provided at a first side of the housing. An image formed by the optical block is projected from the first side and from the projection opening, and air in the housing is discharged from the exhaust port and also from the first side. In addition, the exhaust port prevents stray light from the light source, which exits the exhaust port, from overlapping the image projected from the projection opening.

Abstract: An autostereo projection system uses multiple projectors to form a seamless and extended field of view. Each projector is registered to a CRT display. Shutter elements in each projector create multiple pupils for each CRT display. Each CRT display is driven with different images for each shutter pupil.

Abstract: A video wall has a plurality of spatial object image display devices, each spatial object image display device including a luminous display screen for providing a first image. The luminous display screen is operably engaged with a video wall computer, which is operatively engaged with at least one video input device such as a video cassette recorder (VCR). The video wall computer acts as a splitter to distribute the output of the VCR to the plurality of spatial object image display devices. Each spatial object image display device also includes a lens operatively spaced apart from the luminous display screen for projecting the first image beyond the lens to appear as a first spatial object. The luminous display screen and the lens of each spatial object image display device are mounted within a housing that surrounds the luminous display screen and the lens, excluding substantially all light from within the housing, except through an aperture in the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multiprojection system in which an image can be freely projected by plural projectors so that projected images of the plural projectors are arranged in lines longitudinally and laterally and all of the projected images become one image; an entirely enlarged image or divided images can be projected; or an individual image can be projected, which comprises each of the plural projectors being provided independently with a pan driving device and a tilt driving device so that the direction of projection can be freely changed; and having at least one of functions of changing the direction of projection, the position of a projected image, the synthesis, shape or arrangement of an image and/or the size of an image and displaying each image in a flying state to constitute a screen image system harmonized with lighting in a representation space.

Abstract: A projector for separating white light into three primary colors, forming images with liquid crystal light valves, mixing these images, and projecting an enlarged picture of the mixed images with a projection lens. The projector includes an optical unit having a light source, a plurality of dichroic mirrors for separating the white light into blue, green, and red beams, respective liquid crystal light valves forming images of the blue, green, and red colors. The optical unit has a chassis with a rigid center portion at which one of the liquid crystal light valves is mounted, the other two light valves being mounted symmetrically with respect thereto. An adjustment mechanism is provided for matching pixels of the second and third color valves with those of the first color valve. The red color liquid crystal light valve is disposed midway between the blue and green color liquid crystal light valves and a cooling fan is disposed below the red color liquid crystal light valve.

Abstract: One type of kaleidoscope has an object cell that contains a multitude of small objects immersed in a viscous liquid. By inverting the object cell, a user can enjoy a continuous ever-changing display of pleasing and colorful symmetrical images as the objects cascade through the viscous liquid under the influence of gravity. Eventually the objects settle to the top or bottom of the object cell as determined by their densities, and the viewer needs to invert the object cell again. It is desirable to prolong each cascade so as to reduce the frequency with which the object cell must be inverted. Several ways of accomplishing this are disclosed. The walls of the cell may converge and may be provided with bumps or other surface irregularities. The movement of the objects may be impeded by the provision of fixed obstacles within the object cell. In another approach, an upwelling and circulation of the viscous liquid is produced by a simple pump that is mobilized by inverting the object cell.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an illuminating device for illuminating a projection image. The illuminating device includes a light source having of a collector-mirror-incorporated lamp, an adapter lens capable of being mounted in or dismounted out of an optical path, and a field lens capable of moving on the optical axis. A projection lens projects the projection image under illumination of the illuminating device onto a projection surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an improved area of interest display system by providing a transition zone between a high resolution image being reflected onto and a low resolution image being projected onto a display screen. A combiner surface is provided in the form of a mirror having an all-reflective surface which transitions to an all-transmissive surface. The transition occurs in the form of pixels of highly reflective material which are disposed on the combiner surface using a dithering pattern generated from a modified error diffusion algorithm which minimizes undesired grouping of pixels.

Abstract: A multimedia projector comprises a optical frame that mounts, from back to front, a light source, a back fresnel lens, a back polarizer, an LCD display object, a front polarizer, a front fresnel lens, and a front lens group for projecting images formed by the LCD display object. To provide contrast adjustment, a contrast adjustment mechanism is attached to the back polarizer to permit the manual selective tilting of the back polarizer about an axis extending perpendicular to the front polarizer, in order to optimize contrast of images projected by the front lens group.

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.