Patents by Inventor Dirk L. A. Maes

Dirk L. A. Maes has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220171270
    Abstract: An imaging projection system that can project uniform illumination onto a light modular while keeping the point spread function small. A Fourier optical system can be inserted between two uniformization structures so that when light passes the through the system, the light output is uniform both in spatial-and angular space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: BARCO N.V.
    Inventors: Dirk L.A. MAES, Dries Jan DOORNAERT, Daniel LAMBOT
  • Patent number: 9482875
    Abstract: A DLP optical structure and corresponding method of controlling it are described including an optical integrator system having an optical integrator, a relay lens system, a TIR prism assembly, a digital imager, and a projection lens, said optical structure being adapted to accept a polarized light beam, said DLP optical structure comprising: at least one retarder positioned after said optical integrator for controlling the polarization state throughout said DLP optical structure, and achieving the desired polarization state after said projection lens; wherein said desired polarization state is substantially linear or circular. A DLP optical structure is also described including an optical integrator, a relay lens system, a TIR prism assembly, a digital imager and a projection lens, wherein the integrator is a fly-eye integrator for maintaining an input polarization of a light beam, and wherein said input polarization is linear or circular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Barco N.V.
    Inventors: Koenraad Vermeirsch, Peter Janssens, Dirk L. A. Maes
  • Patent number: 9170475
    Abstract: A method and system are presented directed to a light valve projector with a laser-phosphor light converter. The phosphor converter converts excitation light in order to provide light to a light valve projector. The phosphor converter reduces the étendue of laser-phosphor light sources using a light pipe integrator system. The light pipe integrator system includes a light pipe integrator configured to mix the excitation light and reduce the spot size of excitation light entering the system from, e.g., a laser array. The excitation light is imaged onto a phosphor as it exits the light pipe integrator. The phosphor emits fluorescent light, in response to being illuminated by the excitation light, that enters the light pipe integrator. The light pipe integrator reduces the emission angles of the fluorescent light while maintaining the étendue of the fluorescent light. The system and method may include a reflective polarizer to polarize the fluorescent light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Barco N.V.
    Inventors: Dirk L. A. Maes, Rik Defever, Bart Henri Johanna Maximus
  • Publication number: 20140240676
    Abstract: A method and system are presented directed to a light valve projector with a laser-phosphor light converter. The phosphor converter converts excitation light in order to provide light to a light valve projector. The phosphor converter reduces the étendue of laser-phosphor light sources using a light pipe integrator system. The light pipe integrator system includes a light pipe integrator configured to mix the excitation light and reduce the spot size of excitation light entering the system from, e.g., a laser array. The excitation light is imaged onto a phosphor as it exits the light pipe integrator. The phosphor emits fluorescent light, in response to being illuminated by the excitation light, that enters the light pipe integrator. The light pipe integrator reduces the emission angles of the fluorescent light while maintaining the étendue of the fluorescent light. The system and method may include a reflective polarizer to polarize the fluorescent light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: BARCO N.V.
    Inventors: Dirk L.A. Maes, Rik Defever, Bart Henri Johanna Maximus
  • Publication number: 20140085609
    Abstract: A DLP optical structure and corresponding method of controlling it are described including an optical integrator system having an optical integrator, a relay lens system, a TIR prism assembly, a digital imager, and a projection lens, said optical structure being adapted to accept a polarized light beam, said DLP optical structure comprising: at least one retarder positioned after said optical integrator for controlling the polarization state throughout said DLP optical structure, and achieving the desired polarization state after said projection lens; wherein said desired polarization state is substantially linear or circular. A DLP optical structure is also described including an optical integrator, a relay lens system, a TIR prism assembly, a digital imager and a projection lens, wherein the integrator is a fly-eye integrator for maintaining an input polarization of a light beam, and wherein said input polarization is linear or circular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: BARCO N.V.
    Inventors: Koenraad Vermeirsch, Peter Janssens, Dirk L.A. Maes
  • Patent number: 8322864
    Abstract: A projection system incorporating a prism with dual total internal reflection function, to increase the performance of DLP™ projection, by offering a solution to combine 2 light paths to contribute to the brightness on the screen and at the same time rejecting flat-state and off-state light from entering the projection lens thereby enhancing contrast. In one implementation those two light paths can be collecting light from 2 different light sources which are driven in a pulsed manner with a duty cycle of approximately 50% for each of the two light sources at increased power. In a second implementation with a color sequential single DMD™ projector, while one light path passes a primary color the second light path passes the complementary secondary color. A special color transformation algorithm is proposed to transform the image input signals to make optimal use of the capabilities offered by the second implementation, and create maximum brightness and color saturation of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Barco N.V.
    Inventor: Dirk L. A. Maes
  • Publication number: 20100189344
    Abstract: A projection system incorporating a prism with dual total internal reflection function, to increase the performance of DLP™ projection, by offering a solution to combine 2 light paths to contribute to the brightness on the screen and at the same time rejecting flat-state and off-state light from entering the projection lens thereby enhancing contrast. In one implementation those two light paths can be collecting light from 2 different light sources which are driven in a pulsed manner with a duty cycle of approximately 50% for each of the two light sources at increased power. In a second implementation with a colour sequential single DMD™ projector, while one light path passes a primary colour the second light path passes the complementary secondary colour. A special colour transformation algorithm is proposed to transform the image input signals to make optimal use of the capabilities offered by the second implementation, and create maximum brightness and colour saturation of the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventor: Dirk L.A. Maes