Patents by Inventor Jeffrey A. Gohman

Jeffrey A. Gohman 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).

  • Patent number: 7102820
    Abstract: A Fresnel lens for a display device is provided. The Fresnel lens includes a first sloped surface angled to receive input light, a second sloped surface facing the first sloped surface, and a valley floor linking the first sloped surface to the second sloped surface. The valley floor may be configured to scatter stray light reflected from the first sloped surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Peterson, Jeffrey A. Gohman
  • Patent number: 7090354
    Abstract: A projection unit is provided. The projection unit may include a projector having a wide-angle lens system. The projector may be positioned substantially adjacent a display surface and may be configured to generate an image on the display surface. The projection unit further may include a moveable element supporting the projector configured to enable selective lateral positioning of the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: T. Scott Engle, Jeffrey A. Gohman
  • Patent number: 7072003
    Abstract: An image projector (8, 68) includes a light source (14) that illuminates a three-path reflective LCD assembly (25, 74) that produces images for projection by a projection lens (27). The light source produces S-polarized light rays that are received by a spectrally selective wave plate (36) that changes a first wavelength range of light to P-polarized light rays (34) and transmits without polarization change second and third wavelength ranges of light. A plate-type transflective polarizing beam splitter (40) transmits the P-polarized first wavelength range light rays and reflects S-polarized second and third wavelength range light rays (34). The P-polarized first wavelength range light rays transmit through a field lens (421) and impinge on a first reflective LCD light valve (261).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventors: Kurt Stahl, Jeffrey A. Gohman
  • Patent number: 7031063
    Abstract: Embodiments of this invention include a system, method and apparatus for combining light paths of colored light sources through a common integration tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Infocus Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Peterson, T. Scott Engle, Jeffrey A. Gohman
  • Publication number: 20060001973
    Abstract: Embodiments of this invention include a system, method and apparatus for combining light paths of colored light sources through a common integration tunnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Inventors: Mark Peterson, T. Engle, Jeffrey Gohman
  • Publication number: 20050275811
    Abstract: The ultra-thin rear projection display device described herein includes a wide angle lens system and one or more planar mirrors that are parallel to a screen on which an image is to be displayed. In one embodiment, the screen that has multiple groove angles to provide better illumination than screens with a single groove angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Inventors: Mark Peterson, Jeffrey Gohman
  • Publication number: 20050237619
    Abstract: Embodiments of this invention include a system, method and apparatus for combining light paths of multiple colored light sources through a common integration tunnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventors: Mark Peterson, T. Engle, Jeffrey Gohman
  • Patent number: 6956701
    Abstract: Embodiments of this invention include a system, method and apparatus for combining light paths of multiple colored light sources through a common integration tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Peterson, T. Scott Engle, Jeffrey A. Gohman
  • Publication number: 20050146687
    Abstract: A display device for displaying images in a rear projection display device is provided. The display device may include, amongst other structure, a screen including a lens portion and a frame portion. A tensioner may be operatively associated with the screen and may be adapted to adjust the frame portion to maintain a predetermined tautness in the lens portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Jeffrey Gohman, T. Engle, David Slobodin
  • Publication number: 20050001990
    Abstract: The ultra-thin rear projection display device described herein includes a wide angle lens system and one or more planar mirrors that are parallel to a screen on which an image is to be displayed. In one embodiment, the screen that has multiple groove angles to provide better illumination than screens with a single groove angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Mark Peterson, Jeffrey Gohman
  • Publication number: 20040257652
    Abstract: A Fresnel lens for a display device is provided. The Fresnel lens includes a first sloped surface angled to receive input light, a second sloped surface facing the first sloped surface, and a valley floor linking the first sloped surface to the second sloped surface. The valley floor may be configured to scatter stray light reflected from the first sloped surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Mark D. Peterson, Jeffrey A. Gohman
  • Publication number: 20040233394
    Abstract: A projection display device is provided. The projection display device may include an image generation device configured to generate an image and a wide angle lens system having an optical axis configured to receive the image and project the image along an optical path for display above the display device. The projection display device further may include direction changing optics configured to fold the optical path such that the optical path changes direction from a first direction to a second direction. In some embodiments, the image generation device may be positioned below the optical axis of the wide angle lens system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Gohman
  • Publication number: 20040223123
    Abstract: A projection unit is provided. The projection unit may include a projector having a wide-angle lens system. The projector may be positioned substantially adjacent a display surface and may be configured to generate an image on the display surface. The projection unit further may include a moveable element supporting the projector configured to enable selective lateral positioning of the projector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: T. Scott Engle, Jeffrey A. Gohman
  • Publication number: 20040085634
    Abstract: An image projector (8, 68) includes a light source (14) that illuminates a three-path reflective LCD assembly (25, 74) that produces images for projection by a projection lens (27). The light source produces S-polarized light rays that are received by a spectrally selective wave plate (36) that changes a first wavelength range of light to P-polarized light rays (34) and transmits without polarization change second and third wavelength ranges of light. A plate-type transflective polarizing beam splitter (40) transmits the P-polarized first wavelength range light rays and reflects S-polarized second and third wavelength range light rays (34). The P-polarized first wavelength range light rays transmit through a field lens (421) and impinge on a first reflective LCD light valve (261).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Kurt Stahl, Jeffrey A. Gohman
  • Patent number: 6661475
    Abstract: An image projector (8, 68) includes a light source (14) that illuminates a three-path reflective LCD assembly (25, 74) that produces images for projection by a projection lens (27). The light source produces S-polarized light rays that are received by a spectrally selective wave plate (36) that changes a first wavelength range of light to P-polarized light rays (34) and transmits without polarization change second and third wavelength ranges of light. A plate-type transflective polarizing beam splitter (40) transmits the P-polarized first wavelength range light rays and reflects S-polarized second and third wavelength range light rays (34). The P-polarized first wavelength range light rays transmit through a field lens (421) and impinge on a first reflective LCD light valve (261).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt Stahl, Jeffrey A. Gohman
  • Patent number: 6652105
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Peterson, Jeffrey A. Gohman
  • Patent number: 6471356
    Abstract: An image projector employs a prism assembly that receives incident light, illuminates a reflective light modulator, and receives therefrom reflected imaging light for direction toward a small-diameter light entry pupil of a light-weight, compact projection lens. The prism assembly includes compensating and output prism components having opposed surfaces separated by an air gap. The prism assembly sets up a correct illumination angle on the DMD and then separates the incident illumination light from the reflected imaging light. Each on-state micromechanical DMD mirror reflects the illumination light nearly normal to a horizontal datum plane, forming reflected imaging light that reflects off the air gap and reenters the prism assembly through the output prism component. A focusing lens disposed between the prism assembly and the DMD refracts the reflected imaging light into a converging imaging light bundle compatible with the small diameter light entry pupil of the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Gohman, Mark Peterson
  • Patent number: 6147812
    Abstract: A projection zoom lens system of the present invention for projecting image onto a screen from a light modulator such as a DMD includes a first lens group having a negative refractive power and a second lens group having a positive refractive power arranged in this order from the screen side. An outer diameter LD of the last lens and a back focus at the wide-angle end Bfw of the projection zoom lens system satisfy the condition below.0.3<LD/Bfw<0.5 (A).Further, at least one of surfaces of the last lens is aspheric. Therefore, even though the back focus is long and a diameter of the last lens is small, it is possible to provide a compact projector lens system having excellent optical performance with the only nine lenses arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignees: Nittoh Kogaku K.K., In Focus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Syuji Narimatsu, Jeffrey A. Gohman
  • Patent number: 6137638
    Abstract: A projection zoom lens system of the present invention having telecentric incident side is suitable for a projector apparatus using LCD or DMD with prism. The projection zoom lens system of this invention comprises five lens groups having, from the screen side, negative, positive, positive, negative and positive power. In addition to this arrangement, since the lens located closest to the screen is a screen side convex negative meniscus lens, wide-angled and bright zoom lens system can be realized. Further, by designing the distribution of power of the first lens group located closest to the screen, the projection zoom lens provides further improved aberration correction. As the condition for realizing the aforementioned projection zoom lens system, it is preferable that a focal length f1 of the first lens group and a focal length at a wide-angle end fw satisfy the following condition:-1.9<f1/fw<-0.9 (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignees: Nittoh Kogaku K.K., InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Yamagishi, Jeffrey A. Gohman
  • Patent number: 6053615
    Abstract: An image projector has an optical path including, from upstream to downstream, a light source, a light pipe, a polarization conversion prism, a positive lens group and a light valve. The light pipe has an outlet and an inlet, and is constructed to receive light from the light source and to produce a unique projection display format as light is transmitted therethrough. The polarization conversion prism recycles light to optimize the amount of light that is properly polarized in the system. The positive lens group includes at least one positive lens positioned downstream of the polarization conversion prism. The positive lens group images the outlet of the light pipe onto the light valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: In Focus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Peterson, Jeffrey A. Gohman