Patents by Inventor Mutsuya Furuhata

Mutsuya Furuhata 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: 6856375
    Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal light valve that makes it possible to increase the life of a polarizer at a light-exiting-surface side of the liquid crystal light valve by reducing the burden thereon, and a projection display device that incorporates the liquid crystal light valve. In liquid crystal light valves that modulate incident light in accordance with image information, at least two corresponding polarizers are provided respectively at the light-exiting-surface sides of liquid crystal panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akitaka Yajima, Mutsuya Furuhata, Hisashi Iechika, Toshio Matsumiya
  • Patent number: 6840628
    Abstract: A panel cooling system A has a pair of Sirocco fans 51A, 51B arranged at both sides of the radial direction of a projection lens 46, a suction duct portion 52A and an exhaust duct portion 52B. The suction duct portion 52A communicates a suction port of the undersurface of an armored case 2 with a suction side of each of the Sirocco fan 51A, 51B, and the exhaust duct portion 52B communicates an exhaust side of each of the Sirocco fans 51A, 51B and color lights R, G, B of an optical part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Arai, Toshio Matsumiya, Mutsuya Furuhata
  • Patent number: 6820984
    Abstract: In a projection display device which can be controlled by a remote controller, the remote controller includes a power supply switch button for turning on/off a power supply at a body of the projection display device, a zoom adjuster button for adjusting the zooming of a projection lens, and a focus adjuster button for adjusting the focusing of the projection lens. The projection display device body includes a restricting system which can restrict the adjusting functions of these buttons, so that inadvertent operation of any of these buttons does not affect the projection display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Mutsuya Furuhata
  • Publication number: 20040095559
    Abstract: A panel cooling system A has a pair of Sirocco fans 51A, 51B arranged at both sides of the radial direction of a projection lens 46, a suction duct portion 52A and an exhaust duct portion 52B. The suction duct portion 52A communicates a suction port of the undersurface of an armored case 2 with a suction side of each of the Sirocco fan 51A, 51B, and the exhaust duct portion 52B communicates an exhaust side of each of the Sirocco fans 51A, 51B and color lights R, G B of an optical part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Jun Arai, Toshio Matsumiya, Mutsuya Furuhata
  • Patent number: 6644817
    Abstract: A power supply unit is formed so as to be divided into first and second power supply blocks, which are disposed on both sides of a projecting lens. This allows the power supply blocks to be efficiently disposed in a projection display device, so that dead space is not easily formed in the projection display device, making it possible to reduce the size of the projection display device. First and second power supply block cooling paths are formed at first and second power supply blocks which are liable to generate heat, respectively. A light modulating system cooling path is formed at a light modulating system disposed at substantially the center of the projection display device. Therefore, even when these component parts are closely disposed in the projection display device of a compact size, proper cooling operations can be carried out, making it possible to cool the entire projection display device more efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akitoshi Kuroda, Mutsuya Furuhata
  • Patent number: 6637895
    Abstract: In a projection display provided with an optical unit, a power source unit, an external case to store the optical unit and the power source unit, a suction opening (75) is formed in one end part of the power source unit, a discharge opening (77) is formed in the other end part, and the suction opening (75) is arranged in the vicinity of an air inlet in the external case. Because the suction opening (75) and the discharge opening (77) are provided, the inside of the power source unit can be independently and efficiently cooled, and the optical unit and the power source unit can be arranged closely to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyuki Fujimori, Akitoshi Kuroda, Shinji Haba, Kiyoshi Miyashita, Takeshi Takizawa, Mutsuya Furuhata
  • Patent number: 6540360
    Abstract: A projector is provided which can project a high quality image unaffected by dust, or the like, scattered in the projector by preventing the temperature of light-modulating elements from rising. Light transmissive plates are adhered to the light emitting surface of a liquid crystal panel for red light and the light emitting surface of a liquid crystal panel for green light. The amount of heat transmitted from the polarizing plates, which generate the heat, to the liquid crystal panels is reduced by the light transmissive plates. In addition, dust, scattered in the projector, does not stick onto the light emitting surfaces of the liquid crystal panels. In contrast, a light transmissive plate is not provided at the light emitting surface of liquid crystal panel for blue light having a high energy value per unit quantity of light. Thus, the problem of a light transmissive plate preventing heat dissipation at the liquid crystal panel is eliminated, so that efficient cooling can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mutsuya Furuhata, Akitaka Yajima, Shinji Haba
  • Patent number: 6530665
    Abstract: A projector prevents deterioration in optical characteristics of liquid crystal panels caused by heat generated by polarizers, and sticking of dirt onto the light-outgoing surface of the liquid crystal panels. Polarizers are disposed adjacent to the light-outgoing surfaces of liquid crystal panels, while other polarizers are disposed adjacent to the light-incoming surfaces of the liquid crystal panels. The liquid crystal panels and the two polarizers disposed adjacent to the light-incoming and light-outgoing surface of their corresponding liquid crystal panels, are supported by dust protection members. The area between the light-incoming surface of each liquid crystal panel and its associated polarizer disposed adjacent to the light-incoming surface, and the area between the light-outgoing surface of each liquid crystal panel and its associated polarizer disposed adjacent to the light-outgoing surface thereof are cut off from the outside by the dust protection member associated thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Takizawa, Mutsuya Furuhata
  • Publication number: 20020154274
    Abstract: In a projection display device which can be controlled by a remote controller, the remote controller includes a power supply switch button for turning on/off a power supply at a body of the projection display device, a zoom adjuster button for adjusting the zooming of a projection lens, and a focus adjuster button for adjusting the focusing of the projection lens. The projection display device body includes a restricting system which can restrict the adjusting functions of these buttons, so that inadvertent operation of any of these buttons does not affect the projection display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: Seiko Epson
    Inventor: Mutsuya Furuhata
  • Publication number: 20020131025
    Abstract: A power supply unit is formed so as to be divided into first and second power supply blocks, which are disposed on both sides of a projecting lens. This allows the power supply blocks to be efficiently disposed in a projection display device, so that dead space is not easily formed in the projection display device, making it possible to reduce the size of the projection display device. First and second power supply block cooling paths are formed at first and second power supply blocks which are liable to generate heat, respectively. A light modulating system cooling path is formed at a light modulating system disposed at substantially the center of the projection display device. Therefore, even when these component parts are closely disposed in the projection display device of a compact size, proper cooling operations can be carried out, making it possible to cool the entire projection display device more efficiently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akitoshi Kuroda, Mutsuya Furuhata
  • Publication number: 20020126228
    Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal light valve that makes it possible to increase the life of a polarizer at a light-exiting-surface side of the liquid crystal light valve by reducing the burden thereon, and a projection display device that incorporates the liquid crystal light valve. In liquid crystal light valves that modulate incident light in accordance with image information, at least two corresponding polarizers are provided respectively at the light-exiting-surface sides of liquid crystal panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akitaka Yajima, Mutsuya Furuhata, Hisashi Iechika, Toshio Matsumiya
  • Patent number: 6409347
    Abstract: In a projection display device, a main board that is substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by optical axes of an optical unit is allowed to stand aside the optical unit. Therefore, if the main board is designed to have a small vertical size, the vertical size, i.e., the thickness of the projection display device, can be reduced. Therefore, unlike the conventional projection display device in which the main board is disposed above the optical unit, the entire device can be reliably reduced in thickness and size regardless of the thickness of the main board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akitoshi Kuroda, Toshihiko Nakazawa, Takeshi Takizawa, Mutsuya Furuhata, Fumio Koyama
  • Patent number: 6402324
    Abstract: A power supply unit is formed so as to be divided into first and second power supply blocks, which are disposed on both sides of a projecting lens. This allows the power supply blocks to be efficiently disposed in a projection display device, so that dead space is not easily formed in the projection display device, making it possible to reduce the size of the projection display device. First and second power supply block cooling paths are formed at first and second power supply blocks which are liable to generate heat, respectively. A light modulating system cooling path is formed at a light modulating system disposed at substantially the center of the projection display device. Therefore, even when these component parts are closely disposed in the projection display device of a compact size, proper cooling operations can be carried out, making it possible to cool the entire projection display device more efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akitoshi Kuroda, Mutsuya Furuhata
  • Publication number: 20020060779
    Abstract: A projection display device is provided which can project a high quality image unaffected by dust, or the like, scattered in the projection display device by preventing the temperature of light-modulating elements from rising. Light transmissive plates are adhered to the light emitting surface of a liquid crystal panel for red light and the light emitting surface of a liquid crystal panel for green light. The amount of heat transmitted from the polarizing plates, which generate the heat, to the liquid crystal panels is reduced by the light transmissive plates. In addition, dust, scattered in the projection display device, does not stick onto the light emitting surfaces of the liquid crystal panels. In contrast, a light transmissive plate is not provided at the light emitting surface of a liquid crystal panel for blue light having a high energy value per unit quantity of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: MUTSUYA FURUHATA, AKITAKA YAJIMA, SHINJI HABA
  • Patent number: 6364492
    Abstract: In a projection display provided with an optical unit, a power source unit, an external case to store the optical unit and the power source unit, a suction opening (75) is formed in one end part of the power source unit, a discharge opening (77) is formed in the other end part, and the suction opening (75) is arranged in the vicinity of an air inlet in the external case. Because the suction opening (75) and the discharge opening (77) are provided, the inside of the power source unit can be independently and efficiently cooled, and the optical unit and the power source unit can be arranged closely to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyuki Fujimori, Akitoshi Kuroda, Shinji Haba, Kiyoshi Miyashita, Takeshi Takizawa, Mutsuya Furuhata
  • Publication number: 20020030792
    Abstract: A projection display device prevents deterioration in optical characteristics of liquid crystal panels caused by heat generated by polarizers, and sticking of dirt onto the light-outgoing surface of the liquid crystal panels. Polarizers are disposed adjacent to the light-outgoing surfaces of liquid crystal panels, while other polarizers are disposed adjacent to the light-incoming surfaces of the liquid crystal panels. The liquid crystal panels and the two polarizers disposed adjacent to the light-incoming and light-outgoing surface of their corresponding liquid crystal panels, are supported by dust protection members. The area between the light-incoming surface of each liquid crystal panel and its associated polarizer disposed adjacent to the light-incoming surface, and the area between the light-outgoing surface of each liquid crystal panel and its associated polarizer disposed adjacent to the light-outgoing surface thereof are cut off from the outside by the dust protection member associated thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: TAKESHI TAKIZAWA, MUTSUYA FURUHATA
  • Publication number: 20020021415
    Abstract: In a projection display provided with an optical unit, a power source unit, an external case to store the optical unit and the power source unit, a suction opening (75) is formed in one end part of the power source unit, a discharge opening (77) is formed in the other end part, and the suction opening (75) is arranged in the vicinity of an air inlet in the external case. Because the suction opening (75) and the discharge opening (77) are provided, the inside of the power source unit can be independently and efficiently cooled, and the optical unit and the power source unit can be arranged closely to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyuki Fujimori, Akitoshi Kuroda, Shinji Haba, Kiyoshi Miyashita, Takeshi Takizawa, Mutsuya Furuhata
  • Patent number: 6345897
    Abstract: In a projection display device which can be controlled by a remote controller, the remote controller includes a power supply switch button for turning on/off a power supply at a body of the projection display device, a zoom adjuster button for adjusting the zooming of a projection lens, and a focus adjuster button for adjusting the focusing of the projection lens. The projection display device body includes a restricting system which can restrict the adjusting functions of these buttons, so that inadvertent operation of any of these buttons does not affect the projection display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Mutsuya Furuhata
  • Patent number: 6203158
    Abstract: A projection display device capable of improving cooling efficiency of the power unit includes a light source lamp unit, a projection lens unit, an exhaust fan provided near the light source lamp unit for ventilating an outer case, and a ventilating path provided inside the power unit. A suction fan is provided at the inlet of the ventilating path which is connected to the cooling air intake port through a duct cover to directly conduct fresh air into the ventilating path. Because the interior of the power unit is cooled by fresh air which is cooler than the air inside the outer case, cooling efficiency is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mutsuya Furuhata, Takeshi Takizawa, Motoyuki Fujimori, Akitoshi Kuroda, Shinji Haba, Kiyoshi Miyashita
  • Patent number: RE38006
    Abstract: A projection display device projector capable of improving cooling efficiency of the power unit includes a light source lamp unit, a projection lens unit, an exhaust fan provided near the light source lamp unit for ventilating an outer case, and a ventilating path provided inside the power unit. A suction fan is provided at the inlet of the ventilating path which is connected to the cooling air intake port through a duct cover to directly conduct fresh air into the ventilating path. Because the interior of the power unit is cooled by fresh air which is cooler than the air inside the outer case, cooling efficiency is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mutsuya Furuhata, Takeshi Takizawa, Motoyuki Fujimori, Akitoshi Kuroda, Shinji Haba, Kiyoshi Miyashita