Abstract: A projection system includes a total reflection element, an image reader, an analysis system and a server device. The image reader reads a projective image guided by the optical projection device and the total reflection element and outputs a read signal. The analysis system analyzes the read image by an evaluation function and determines the clearest image on the projective plane so as to output an adjustment signal. The server device automatically performs the focal adjustment to the optical projection device based on the adjustment signal.

Abstract: An integrated front projection system has a housing assembly, a projection assembly, and an expansion assembly. The housing assembly includes a frame having a front surface that provides a front projection screen and contains other modular components. In addition, a projection assembly with a movable arm may be included, having a storage position and a projection position, and to which the front projection head may be coupled. According to one aspect, the projection assembly is modularized and has a plurality of easily replaceable component modules coupled to the housing and which operate together to project an image onto the front projection screen. According to another aspect, the integrated front projection system further has an expansion assembly coupled to the housing. The expansion assembly includes an expansion slot formed in the housing and electrically coupled to a display controller in the projection assembly and expansion modules coupled to the expansion slot.

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: Optical apparatus includes a source light a reflector having a reflecting face on one side facing the source of light to receive light therefrom, a small interruption in the reflecting face, and a sampling device located on the opposite side of the reflector aligned with the small interruption for extracting a sample of the light received by the reflecting face.

Abstract: A multimedia projector (30) includes an image processor (36) that forms an image on an image forming device (38). Illumination reflecting off the image, propagates through a projection lens (50), along a projection axis (18), and lands on a projection surface (20) as a projected image (16). An elevator mechanism (52) tilts the projection axis to position the projected image on the projection surface, which tilting causes keystoning of the projected image. In a first embodiment, an inclinometer (56) generates angle data indicative of a projection axis angle (58). A controller (34) receives the angle data and coacts with the image processor to predistort the image to compensate for the keystoning. In a second embodiment, the elevator mechanism includes an elevator shaft (60) having teeth (66) that alternately pass and obscure light as the elevator shaft undergoes movement. An optical sensor (70) generates angle data proportional to a distance moved by the elevator shaft.

Abstract: An autostereo projection system uses multiple projectors to form an essentially 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. Seamlessness is promoted by the use of a tunable optical diffuser as part of a common lenticular viewing, lens.

Abstract: A reflective projector includes a light source, reflective liquid crystal panels, a dichroic prism for separating a light beam from the light source into light beams of predetermined colors by using interference and for synthesizing the light beams of predetermined colors into a light beam, and a projection lens. The reflective projector further includes a first polarizer provided between the light source and the reflective liquid crystal panels and a second polarizer provided between the reflective liquid crystal panels and the projection lens.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a mask comprises a pair of members. The mask held against each member by a vacuum arrangement which prevents relative motion between the mask and members. The members are compliant such that they accommodate flatness variations in the mask but without deforming the mask.

Abstract: Disclosed is a projection lens of a projection display apparatus including a first lens group arranged upstream from a screen, the first lens group having a negative power and including at least one aspherical lens element and at least three spherical lens elements, the lens element of the first lens group spaced away from the screen by a maximum distance having a positive power, a second lens group arranged upstream from the first lens group, the second lens group having a positive power and including a triple cemented lens composed of three lens elements cemented together, and at least one lens element arranged at one side of the triple cemented lens opposite to the screen, and an aperture stop arranged between the first and second lens groups.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lighting device that has two lamp units and is suitable for a light source of a projector-type display apparatus to realize bright illumination, and also a projector-type display apparatus with such a lighting device incorporated therein. The lighting device includes a light source unit and an integrator optical system and enables an illumination area to be illuminated uniformly and evenly with the light emitted from the light source unit and transmitted via the integrator optical system. The light source unit includes a pair of lamp units arranged in parallel, and a reflector of each lamp unit has a contour with both sides cut off. The pair of lamp units are preferably arrayed in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the illumination area. This structure realizes a small-sized, compact lighting device with a high quantity of output light.

Abstract: A projection optical system for projecting onto a screen an image formed on a display device having a plurality of pixel sets each of which is composed of at least three pixels arranged in correspondence to at least three color light beams of respective different wavelengths. The projection optical system includes a projection lens formed so that lateral chromatic aberration for a color light beam having a wavelength longer than that of a predetermined color light beam has the same sign as that of lateral chromatic aberration for a color light beam having a wavelength shorter than that of the predetermined color light beam.

Abstract: White light L11 emitted from a white light source 11 is split into R, G, B effective light beams L12 and reflected in an opposite direction with respect to the white light source 11 by a reflection type color wheel 17. The beams strike a spatial light modulator where they are modulated to R, G, B optical images L13, and the images are projected to a screen by a projection lens 18. Consequently, the diameter of the color wheel can be made larger without increasing the overall height of the apparatus. Further, unwanted light L14 transmitted through the reflection type color wheel 17 is prevented from causing heating or is transformed to electricity by a solar battery etc.

Abstract: A projector has a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image, a lamp for illuminating the liquid crystal display panel, and a projection optical system for projecting light modulated by the image displayed. The lamp is held by a member whose position is variable to allow fitting of different types of lamp. The projector acquires data related to the lamp currently fitted and controls the light emission of the lamp on the basis of that data. The data includes the life of the lamp, so that the projector prevents the lamp to be lit longer than its remaining life. The remaining life is updated in accordance with how long the lamp has been lit. In addition to the lamp that is lit, an auxiliary lamp may be fitted so that the lamp that is lit can be switched to the auxiliary lamp as required. The lamp is formed into a single lamp unit together with a reflector or a casing to prevent the user from touching the lamp.

Abstract: A mannequin comprises a translucent headshell rigidly connected to a projection assembly which is mounted on a ball-and-socket joint on the torso. The headshell is movable about three axes by a gimballed motor arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image display apparatus in which an image from a single image display device is led to two eyes without using a half-mirror, thereby allowing observation of a bright image and facilitating correction of various aberrations. A viewing optical system includes a left ocular part 10L, a right ocular part 10R, and an optical path distributing part 20 for leading a light beam from a single image display device 3 to the left and right ocular parts 10L and 10R. The left and right ocular parts each have at least two reflecting surfaces 12R(L) and 13R(L). The planes of decentered optical paths of the axial principal rays in the left and right ocular parts are arranged to be approximately parallel to each other.

Abstract: The projection type display apparatus according to the present invention has a prism for separating incident light into a plurality of light components and combining the plurality of modulated color components. The prism is constituted by a plurality of prism assemblies, each including an optical member made of an optically transparent material having a photoelastic constant whose absolute value is not greater than +1.5×10−8 cm2/N with respect to the incident light. More preferably, these plurality of prism assemblies are arranged such that each of a plurality of the separated color components is totally reflected by any of the prism assemblies.

Abstract: For increasing the illumination efficiency to a liquid-crystal display element, an illuminating apparatus has a reflector for reflecting light from a light source, a negative meniscus lens, which is convex on the light source side, a first lens array unit of lens elements, a second lens array unit of lens elements, which is conjugate with the light source, and an optical polarization converting element in the stated order along a traveling direction of the light from the light source. The illuminating apparatus illuminates the liquid-crystal display element through the optical polarization converting element.

Abstract: A prism (13) for use in a projection system which employs a digital light panel (35) is provided. The prism includes first (19) and second (21) spaced part surfaces which are oriented such that: (a) light from a light source (33) will pass through the spaced apart surfaces to the digital light panel; (b) light from “on” pixels will undergo total internal reflection at the second surface (21) and be directed into the acceptance angle of a projection lens (39); and (c) light from “off” pixels which reflects from the second surface will be directed away from the lens' acceptance angle.

Abstract: A digital micro mirror device (and a single-panel color projector using a digital micro mirror device) includes a reflection surface including an array of micro mirrors. The reflection surface is divided into two or more areas, and the axis direction about which a mirror of the array of micro mirrors rotates in one area is the same for all of the micro mirrors in the area. The single-panel color projector includes a white light source, a color separator for separating a white light from the white light source into two or more light beams, the digital micro mirror device reflecting the two or more light beams, an illumination light establishing unit for illuminating the two or more light beams from the color separator, and a projection unit for collecting and projecting light reflected from the digital micro mirror device.

Abstract: Projection display apparatus 1 includes light source lamp unit 8, optical lens unit 9, projection lens unit 6, and power supply unit 7. Projection lens unit 6 is disposed in the front part of outside case 2, light source lamp unit 8 is disposed in the back part of the outside case of the apparatus, and between these units 6 and 8 optical lens unit 9 and power supply unit 7 are disposed in a vertically stacked arrangement with optical lens unit 9 on the top and power supply unit 7 on the bottom. Because these large units 9 and 7 are vertically stacked, the front-back and right-left dimensions (i.e. length and width) of the overall apparatus can be reduced. An apparatus 1 that is easily portable and does not require a large installation space can therefore be achieved. Because the heavy power supply unit 7 is on the bottom, apparatus 1 is also stable when placed on a table, etc.