Abstract: A luminance determining unit determines a luminance distribution of an exterior circumstantial image in a line-of-sight direction of a driver, and a luminance changing unit determines a bright region of this luminance distribution. Further, the luminance changing unit determines a luminance after the change in a peripheral region of this bright region. A virtual-image creating unit creates a virtual image based on the determined luminance, and a display processing unit displays this virtual image on a display unit. In this manner, since a display system displays the virtual image for use in increasing the luminance in periphery of the bright region, the feeling of the brightness for the driver can be moderated, and therefore, the visual recognition can be improved. That is, the display system can output the virtual image depending on the circumstances.

Abstract: A luminance determining unit 14 determines a luminance distribution of an exterior circumstantial image in a line-of-sight direction of a driver 300, and a luminance changing unit 15 determines a bright region 301 of this luminance distribution. Further, the luminance changing unit 15 determines a luminance after the change in a peripheral region 302 of this bright region 301. A virtual-image creating unit 16A creates a virtual image based on the determined luminance, and a display processing unit 17 displays this virtual image on a display unit 200. In this manner, since a display system 1A displays the virtual image for use in increasing the luminance in periphery of the bright region 301, the feeling of the brightness for the driver 300 can be moderated, and therefore, the visual recognition can be improved. That is, the display system 1A can output the virtual image depending on the circumstances.

Abstract: A luminance determining unit 14 determines a luminance distribution of an exterior circumstantial image in a line-of-sight direction of a driver 300, and a luminance changing unit 15 determines a bright region 301 of this luminance distribution. Further, the luminance changing unit 15 determines a luminance after the change in a peripheral region 302 of this bright region 301. A virtual-image creating unit 16A creates a virtual image based on the determined luminance, and a display processing unit 17 displays this virtual image on a display unit 200. In this manner, since a display system 1A displays the virtual image for use in increasing the luminance in periphery of the bright region 301, the feeling of the brightness for the driver 300 can be moderated, and therefore, the visual recognition can be improved. That is, the display system 1A can output the virtual image depending on the circumstances.

Abstract: The optical information recording/reproduction device for recording information by irradiating an optical information recording medium with signal light and reference light to form a hologram, and reproducing the information by irradiating the hologram with the reference light, wherein the optical information recording/reproduction device is provided with a branching element for branching laser light from a laser light source into signal light and reference light, a spatial light modulation unit for adding two-dimensional information to the signal light, an objective lens for irradiating an optical information recording medium with the signal light, a photodetector for detecting diffracted light from the optical information recording medium when irradiated with the reference light, and an optical axis adjustment unit disposed between the laser light source and the branching element, the optical axis adjustment unit adjusting the optical axis of the laser light.

Abstract: A projector using coherent light as a light source includes: one or more coherent light sources emitting coherent light beams; a beam scanner which changes a direction of the coherent light beam; and a beam splitter which splits a beam into multiple segments and changes a phase of light of each split segment, the beam splitter being located in an optical path between the beam scanner and the coherent light source. This projector reduces speckle noises. The beam splitter includes a pair of transparent substrates; a plurality of parallel electrodes disposed on each surface of the pair of transparent substrates, the pair of the parallel electrodes being disposed in a perpendicular direction to each other. Voltages are applied to the respective electrodes at predetermined time intervals so as to produce different potentials in a liquid crystal sandwiched by the transparent substrates.

Abstract: To provide a back light unit that reduces an uneven brightness and has a spatially uniform brightness distribution. According to an aspect of the present invention, the back light unit comprises an LED and a light guide plate for guiding light from the LED to a liquid crystal panel side, wherein a recess is provided on the back surface side of the light guide plate, wherein a plurality of LEDs are housed in the recess, and wherein a light amount limiting member is provided at a position facing the recess on s light exit surface side of the light guide plate. The light amount limiting member is configured, for example, by applying an ink with a predetermined optical property to a transparent sheet.

Abstract: An optical unit includes a light source that emits light to be projected onto a screen, one or a plurality of optical elements that controls a spread of a beam of light from the light source to the screen, a combining element that combines the light emitted from the light source, and a scanning element. The light source outputs an optical beam that will generate an elliptically shaped beam spot on the screen, the beam spot having a major axis substantially perpendicular to a scanning direction, and the light source is driven with pulse width modulation (PWM) so that one driven pulse corresponds to one beam spot on the screen.

Abstract: An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus, to apply holograms of an angle multiplex recording method therein includes: a light source to emit a light beam; a divider unit to divide the light beam into a signal beam and a reference light; an angle variable unit to change an angle of the reference light incident upon an optical information recording medium; a spatial light modulator unit to add information to the signal beam; an objective lens to irradiate the signal beam on the medium; an image pickup unit to detect a diffracted light generating from a recording region, when the reference light is irradiated on the medium; and an optical element to shape a form of light flux of the reference light, so that a light flux diameter of the reference light in a multiplex direction becomes larger than the light flux diameter of the reference light in a pitch direction.

Abstract: An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus, to apply holograms of an angle multiplex recording method therein includes: a light source to emit a light beam; a divider unit to divide the light beam into a signal beam and a reference light; an angle variable unit to change an angle of the reference light incident upon an optical information recording medium; a spatial light modulator unit to add information to the signal beam; an objective lens to irradiate the signal beam on the medium; an image pickup unit to detect a diffracted light generating from a recording region, when the reference light is irradiated on the medium; and an optical element to shape a form of light flux of the reference light, so that a light flux diameter of the reference light in a multiplex direction becomes larger than the light flux diameter of the reference light in a pitch direction.

Abstract: An optical unit includes a light source that emits light to be projected onto a screen, one or a plurality of optical elements that controls a spread of a beam of light from the light source to the screen, a combining element that combines the light emitted from the light source, and a scanning element. The light source outputs an optical beam that will generate an elliptically shaped beam spot on the screen, the beam spot having a major axis substantially perpendicular to a scanning direction, and the light source is driven with pulse width modulation (PWM) so that one driven pulse corresponds to one beam spot on the screen.

Abstract: A cross section of each divided light guiding plate is formed in a wedge shape, a step is formed at a portion of each divided light guiding plate where LEDs are arranged, and holes used for accommodating the LEDs are formed at the step. A plated face is formed on a lower face of each LED, and is coupled to a wiring substrate through solder. Each LED includes a light-emitting face, a lower frame, and an upper frame. The height of the lower frame of each LED is larger than the height of the upper frame, so that a lower end of the light-emitting face of each LED can be always located higher than a lower end of the divided light guiding plate.

Abstract: A beam light source of an image display device which displays an image on a screen by scanning an optical beam in a two-dimensional direction in which the beam light source includes a light source that emits a diffuse light modulated according to an image signal, and an optical element that shapes the light emitted from the light source to the optical beam. The optical beam has an elliptically shaped beam spot on the screen in which a major axis of the beam spot is substantially perpendicular to a scanning direction. A horizontal spot size of the optical beam on an exit surface of the optical element is at least or equal to a horizontal spot size of the optical beam on the screen, and the horizontal spot size of the optical beam on the screen is no greater than a horizontal pixel pitch displayed on the screen.

Abstract: A plurality of backlight blocks are aligned, each block includes light sources and a unit light guide plate for guiding light from the light sources to the side of a liquid crystal panel, unit diffusion patterns are formed in a zigzag alignment on the unit light guide plate and another diffusion pattern is formed on the back of the unit light guide plate. One side of the unit light guide plate is defined as a light entrance surface and LEDs as the light sources are aligned along the light entrance surface to satisfy p?a?c where a indicates the size of the unit diffusion pattern in a direction orthogonal to an exit optical axis of the LEDs, c indicates the size of an LED emission surface in the direction of alignment of the LEDs, and p indicates the pitch of alignment of the light sources.

Abstract: A backlight device, for irradiating lights on a liquid crystal panel, comprises plural numbers of backlight blocks, each backlight block has a sheet-like reflection member (19), which is disposed on a bottom surface of the backlight block, a plate-like optical element (2), provided facing to the reflection member and disposed separating in direction perpendicular to a light irradiating surface of the backlight from the reflection member, and LEDs (7), disposed within a space between the optical element and the reflection member, for emitting the lights in direction in parallel with the light irradiating surface of the backlight.

Abstract: A beam light source of an image display device which displays an image on a screen by scanning an optical beam in a two-dimensional direction in which the beam light source includes a light source that emits a diffuse light modulated according to an image signal, and an optical element that shapes the light emitted from the light source to the optical beam. The optical beam has an elliptically shaped beam spot on the screen in which a major axis of the beam spot is substantially perpendicular to a scanning direction. A horizontal spot size of the optical beam on an exit surface of the optical element is at least or equal to a horizontal spot size of the optical beam on the screen, and the horizontal spot size of the optical beam on the screen is no greater than a horizontal pixel pitch displayed on the screen.

Abstract: A backlight unit of thin-type comprises: at least one or more light source(s); plural numbers of light guide plates, each of which is configured to guide and irradiate the light of the light source(s) to a side of a liquid crystal panel; and a chassis, on which the light source(s) and the light guide plates are fixed, thereby being constructed by aligning the light guide plates, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: 15.0 mm>h, 20°???60° when assuming that a distance from an irradiation surface of the backlight unit to the light guide plate is “h”, and that an angle indicative of a half-value light intensity of a light emitting from a light emission surface of the light guide plate, thereby providing a video of high picture quality, and there is also provided a video display apparatus applying the same therein.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical unit for an image display device, the unit including: one or a plurality of light sources; one or a plurality of optical elements that control a spread of light; a combining element that combines the beams of light emitted from the light sources; and a scanning element, wherein the light from each of the light sources generates an elliptical beam spot on a screen and the spot has a major axis substantially perpendicular to a scanning direction, the result is that the unit is simple in structure, inexpensive, compact, lightweight, and capable of providing high-resolution image quality, thus providing the display device reduced dimensionally and in weight. Such an image display device using the optical unit is also disclosed.

Abstract: To provide a back light unit that reduces an uneven brightness and has a spatially uniform brightness distribution. According to an aspect of the present invention, the back light unit comprises an LED and a light guide plate for guiding light from the LED to a liquid crystal panel side, wherein a recess is provided on the back surface side of the light guide plate, wherein a plurality of LEDs are housed in the recess, and wherein a light amount limiting member is provided at a position facing the recess on s light exit surface side of the light guide plate. The light amount limiting member is configured, for example, by applying an ink with a predetermined optical property to a transparent sheet.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus equipped with a backlight unit includes an LED, a light guide plate for light emission by guiding light from the LED to a liquid crystal panel, an LED board for driving the LED, a reflection sheet interposed between the light guide plate and the LED board, and a chassis on which the LED, the light guide plate, the reflection sheet and the LED board are mounted. The light guide plate has a half length and a half width of the liquid crystal panel, and the reflection sheet has substantially the same size as the light guide plate. The reflection sheet is extended at portions abutting on sides of the chassis to define flanges.

Abstract: A backlight device includes light emitting diodes (LED's) and a plate-like light guide plate which guides light from the light emitting diodes to a liquid crystal panel. Grooves are disposed on the back of the light guide plate and the light emitting diodes are disposed in the grooves. The light emitting diodes disposed in the grooves are arranged so that light emission direction thereof is parallel with light emission plane of the light guide plate. First optical pattern is disposed on first side opposite to light emission plane of light emitting diodes and second optical pattern is disposed on second side opposite to the back of light emitting diodes. The optical patterns are formed into minute prism array or lens array, for example.