Patents by Inventor Michihiro Okuda

Michihiro Okuda 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: 20230280643
    Abstract: A light source device includes: a first light source that emits light of first linear polarization; a half mirror that separates emitted light from the first light source into first light traveling to a first optical path and second light traveling to a second optical path; a polarized light combination mirror that combines the first light and the second light; an optical path change element that is disposed on the second optical path and reflects the second light and guides the second light to the polarized light combination mirror; and a retardation plate that is disposed on the second optical path and converts the second light into second linear polarization inclined with respect to the first linear polarization. The optical path change element is disposed such that point images of the first light and point images of the second light on the polarized light combination mirror are alternately arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Takanori YOGO, Michihiro OKUDA
  • Patent number: 11550213
    Abstract: The light source device includes a first solid-state light source array emitting a first color light, a second solid-state light source array emitting a second color light, a third solid-state light source array emitting a third color light, and a light combiner for combining the first to third color lights respectively from the first to third solid-state light source arrays into a combined color light, and emitting a light flux of the combined color light in the same direction. The third solid-state light source array requiring the lowest target cooling temperature among the first to third solid-state light source arrays is disposed on a first side, and the first and second solid-state light source arrays are disposed on a second side, with an optical axis of the light flux emitted from the light combiner, as a boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Aya Kurita, Michihiro Okuda
  • Publication number: 20220308434
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus of the present disclosure includes a solid-state light source array that includes a plurality of solid-state light sources, a first diffuser plate that diffuses light emitted from the solid-state light source array, a light uniformizing element that uniformizes the light diffused by the first diffuser plate, a light modulation element that modulates the light uniformized by the light uniformizing element with an image signal to generate image light, and a projection unit that projects the image light generated by the light modulation element. The first diffuser plate has different diffusion characteristics in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and allows the light emitted from the solid-state light source array to be transmitted through the first diffuser plate to diffuse the light emitted to have an aspect ratio of an angle distribution that is approximately 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Michihiro OKUDA, Aya KURITA
  • Publication number: 20220299859
    Abstract: The light source device includes a first solid-state light source array emitting a first color light, a second solid-state light source array emitting a second color light, a third solid-state light source array emitting a third color light, and a light combiner for combining the first to third color lights respectively from the first to third solid-state light source arrays into a combined color light, and emitting a light flux of the combined color light in the same direction. The third solid-state light source array requiring the lowest target cooling temperature among the first to third solid-state light source arrays is disposed on a first side, and the first and second solid-state light source arrays are disposed on a second side, with an optical axis of the light flux emitted from the light combiner, as a boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Aya KURITA, Michihiro OKUDA
  • Patent number: 11385535
    Abstract: The light source device includes a first solid-state light source array emitting a first color light, a second solid-state light source array emitting a second color light, a third solid-state light source array emitting a third color light, and a light combiner for combining the first to third color lights respectively from the first to third solid-state light source arrays into a combined color light, and emitting a light flux of the combined color light in the same direction. The third solid-state light source array requiring the lowest target cooling temperature among the first to third solid-state light source arrays is disposed on a first side, and the first and second solid-state light source arrays are disposed on a second side, with an optical axis of the light flux emitted from the light combiner, as a boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Aya Kurita, Michihiro Okuda
  • Publication number: 20210191250
    Abstract: The light source device includes a first solid-state light source array emitting a first color light, a second solid-state light source array emitting a second color light, a third solid-state light source array emitting a third color light, and a light combiner for combining the first to third color lights respectively from the first to third solid-state light source arrays into a combined color light, and emitting a light flux of the combined color light in the same direction. The third solid-state light source array requiring the lowest target cooling temperature among the first to third solid-state light source arrays is disposed on a first side, and the first and second solid-state light source arrays are disposed on a second side, with an optical axis of the light flux emitted from the light combiner, as a boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Aya KURITA, Michihiro OKUDA
  • Patent number: 10353281
    Abstract: The projection display apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a light source part; a color separating mirror that separates light emitted from the light source part into a first color light and a second color light; a first light modulation element that modulates the first color light; a second light modulation element that modulates the second color light; a color combining prism unit that combines the first color light modulated by the first light modulation element and the second color light modulated by the second light modulation element; and a projection unit that projects combined light emitted from the color combining prism unit. The color combining prism unit includes four prisms and has two air gap faces that totally reflect or transmit light depending on the angle of incidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Michihiro Okuda
  • Patent number: 10154252
    Abstract: A projection-type image display apparatus of the present disclosure includes a fluorescent substance, a blue-color laser diode excitation optical system, a DMD, a projection optical system, a polarizing plate, and a depolarizing plate. The fluorescent substance has characteristics of emitting predetermined fluorescence in response to excitation light. The blue-color laser diode has a semiconductor laser that emits laser light of a wavelength with which the fluorescent substance is excited. The excitation optical system condenses light from the blue-color laser diode. The DMD is controllable by a signal from an external source. The projection optical system is an optical system that can enlarge and project an image displayed by the DMD. The polarizing plate is disposed on the output side of the projection optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Yamagishi, Michihiro Okuda
  • Patent number: 10146114
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus of the present disclosure includes a solid state light source discharging blue light in a first wavelength range; a wheel having a transmission part transmitting blue light and a first light-emitting body emitting light in response to irradiation with blue light; a second light-emitting body emitting light in a second wavelength range closer to the longer wavelengths than the first wavelength range is and adjacent to the first wavelength range, in response to irradiation with blue light that has passed through the transmission part; a light uniformizing element uniformizing the blue light and the light emitted from the first and second light-emitting body; a light modulation element modulating the light uniformized by the light uniformizing element; and projection unit projecting the light modulated by the light modulation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michihiro Okuda, Manabu Okuno
  • Patent number: 10133164
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus of the present disclosure includes a solid state light source that emits blue light in a first wavelength range; a wheel having a light-emitting body that emits emission light in a second wavelength range closer to the longer wavelengths than the first wavelength range is and adjacent to the first wavelength range, in response to irradiation with the blue light; a light uniformizing element that uniformizes the blue light and the emission light; a light modulation element that modulates light uniformized by the light uniformizing element; and a projection unit that projects the light modulated by the light modulation element. An end of the light-emitting body that the blue light enters has a dichroic coating that partly reflects the blue light and transmits emission light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Michihiro Okuda
  • Publication number: 20180259839
    Abstract: The projection display apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a light source part; a color separating mirror that separates light emitted from the light source part into a first color light and a second color light; a first light modulation element that modulates the first color light; a second light modulation element that modulates the second color light; a color combining prism unit that combines the first color light modulated by the first light modulation element and the second color light modulated by the second light modulation element; and a projection unit that projects combined light emitted from the color combining prism unit. The color combining prism unit includes four prisms and has two air gap faces that totally reflect or transmit light depending on the angle of incidence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventor: MICHIHIRO OKUDA
  • Patent number: 9958765
    Abstract: A projection image display device includes: laser diodes which emit excitation light; a top-hat diffusing element which diffuses and provides the excitation light with a top-hat intensity distribution; a phosphor which emits light when illuminated by the excitation light diffused by the top-hat diffusing element; an integrator rod which homogenizes the light emitted by the phosphor; DMDs which modulate the light homogenized by the integrator rod; and a projector which projects the light modulated by the DMDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Michihiro Okuda
  • Patent number: 9891514
    Abstract: A light source apparatus and a projection display apparatus according to the present disclosure include: a laser light source; and a multiplexing reflection mirror having a first surface on which a partial reflection coating having a predetermined reflectance is formed, and a second surface on which a total reflection coating is formed, the first surface and the second surface being opposite to each other and formed in a parallel flat shape. The multiplexing reflection mirror is disposed so as to incline toward an optical path of an emission light from the laser light source such that the emission light is incident from first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michihiro Okuda, Hiroshi Kitano
  • Patent number: 9874805
    Abstract: A light source apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a first light source unit which emits a blue light in a first direction; a second light source unit which emits a blue light in a second direction which intersects with the first direction; a split/combining optical element which splits the blue lights emitted from the first light source unit and the second light source unit, into a first optical path and a second optical path; a light emitting body which is provided on the first optical path and emits an emission light in response to an excitation light; and a combining optical element which combines the first optical path and the second optical path into one optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Michihiro Okuda
  • Publication number: 20170357151
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus of the present disclosure includes a solid state light source discharging blue light in a first wavelength range; a wheel having a transmission part transmitting blue light and a first light-emitting body emitting light in response to irradiation with blue light; a second light-emitting body emitting light in a second wavelength range closer to the longer wavelengths than the first wavelength range is and adjacent to the first wavelength range, in response to irradiation with blue light that has passed through the transmission part; a light uniformizing element uniformizing the blue light and the light emitted from the first and second light-emitting body; a light modulation element modulating the light uniformized by the light uniformizing element; and projection unit projecting the light modulated by the light modulation element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: MICHIHIRO OKUDA, MANABU OKUNO
  • Publication number: 20170347075
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus of the present disclosure includes a solid state light source that emits blue light in a first wavelength range; a wheel having a light-emitting body that emits emission light in a second wavelength range closer to the longer wavelengths than the first wavelength range is and adjacent to the first wavelength range, in response to irradiation with the blue light; a light uniformizing element that uniformizes the blue light and the emission light; a light modulation element that modulates light uniformized by the light uniformizing element; and a projection unit that projects the light modulated by the light modulation element. An end of the light-emitting body that the blue light enters has a dichroic coating that partly reflects the blue light and transmits emission light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventor: MICHIHIRO OKUDA
  • Patent number: 9740014
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus includes: a laser light source which emits a blue light; a wheel which includes a light emitting body provided on a reflection surface of a substrate, the light emitting body emitting an emission light when the emitting body is irradiated with the blue light; a bandpass filter which is disposed on an optical path on which the emission light of the light emitting body travels; a plurality of optical modulating elements which modulate the blue light and the emission light from the light emitting body; and a projection unit which projects the light modulated by the plurality of optical modulating elements. The bandpass filter allows transmission of part of lights whose wavelength bands are 560 nm to 590 nm in the emission light of the light emitting body, and reflects other lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Michihiro Okuda
  • Publication number: 20170227837
    Abstract: A projection image display device includes: laser diodes which emit excitation light; a top-hat diffusing element which diffuses and provides the excitation light with a top-hat intensity distribution; a phosphor which emits light when illuminated by the excitation light diffused by the top-hat diffusing element; an integrator rod which homogenizes the light emitted by the phosphor; DMDs which modulate the light homogenized by the integrator rod; and a projector which projects the light modulated by the DMDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventor: Michihiro OKUDA
  • Patent number: 9645481
    Abstract: The light source apparatus of the present disclosure includes a solid-state light source, a dichroic mirror for reflecting blue excitation light emitted from the solid-state light source, a phase difference plate for receiving the excitation light reflected on the dichroic mirror, a fluorescent plate having a fluorescent region irradiated with the excitation light, which is reflected on the dichroic mirror and transmitted through the phase difference plate, to emit fluorescent light and a reflection region for reflecting the excitation light, and a plurality of condenser lenses that are disposed between the phase difference plate and the fluorescent plate and condense the excitation light and the fluorescent light. Among the plurality of condenser lenses, the condenser lens closest to the fluorescent plate is made of a glass material having a linear expansion coefficient of 32.5×10?7 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaaki Tanaka, Michihiro Okuda
  • Patent number: RE48753
    Abstract: A projection image display device includes: laser diodes which emit excitation light; a top-hat diffusing element which diffuses and provides the excitation light with a top-hat intensity distribution; a phosphor which emits light when illuminated by the excitation light diffused by the top-hat diffusing element; an integrator rod which homogenizes the light emitted by the phosphor; DMDs which modulate the light homogenized by the integrator rod; and a projector which projects the light modulated by the DMDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Michihiro Okuda