With Moving Color Filters Patents (Class 348/743)
  • Patent number: 7118226
    Abstract: A method for transmitting light in an image display system includes generating a beam of light from a light source. The beam of light is directed at a first segment of an electronically-switchable filter. A first portion of the beam of light is accepted by the first segment of the electronically-switchable filter, and a second portion of the beam of light is rejected by the first segment of the electronically-switchable filter. The first portion of the light beam is modulated to produce at least a portion of a displayed image. The second portion of the light beam is recycled to redirect the second portion of the light beam at a second segment of the electronically-switchable filter. The second portion of the light beam is accepted by the second segment of the electronically-switchable filter. The second portion of the light beam is modulated to produce at least a portion of the displayed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael T. Davis, Steven M. Penn
  • Patent number: 7116378
    Abstract: A technique for providing a desired level of color balance in field sequential color systems with brightness enhancement. In color wheels having a spectrally-broad transmissive segment, the spectrally-broad segment has a transmittance that is selected to provide a desired level of color balance. This can include transmittance characteristics that are inversely related to the spectral characteristics of the light source or optics. In color switches, this can include varying the amplitude and time duration of the contribution from each of the three primary colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Displaytech, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. McDonald
  • Patent number: 7113353
    Abstract: A color wheel is attached to a hub of a motor before the hub is built in the motor. In this process, portions of the hub which do not impact the rotation accuracy of the motor are held by appropriate clamping means and attaching means so that excessive stress and heat are not applied to bearings of the motor. Then, the hub with the color wheel attached thereto is assembled to the rest of components of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Niwa, Toshiaki Asakawa, Shigeyuki Adachi, Kuniyuki Takao
  • Patent number: 7113324
    Abstract: An image display apparatus is capable of recycling the “OFF” state light to increase the image brightness and contrast. The image display apparatus includes a light source, a spatial light modulator, a total internal reflection (TIR) prism, a projection lens set, and a reflector. The spatial light modulator selectively modulates a light beam from the light source to a first path to form a first path light beam or to a second path to form a second path light beam. The TIR prism disposed between the light source and the spatial light modulator is configured to allow the light beam to travel therethrough in a first direction and to be incident on the spatial light modulator. The projection lens set disposed between the modulator and a screen is configured to project the first path light beam to form an image on a screen. The reflector is configured to reflect the second path light beam to form a reflected light beam that is incident on the TIR prism in a second direction as a recaptured light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Benq Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Kuang Lee, Chih-Yuan Wang
  • Patent number: 7111941
    Abstract: A projected image is created by receiving an image represented in a colorspace onto a projector device. The image is parsed into two or more color image components of the colorspace having two or more different resolutions. The two or more color image components of the colorspace are projected in two or more different resolutions superimposed and coincident with each other to make the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: William Allen, David A. Williams, Thomas J. Gilg
  • Patent number: 7097308
    Abstract: A highly efficient projection system is provided, including a light source, a color separator, a scrolling unit, a light valve, a projection lens unit, and a polarization conversion system. The color separator separates an incident beam according to color. The scrolling unit includes at least one lens cell and converts a rotation of the lens cell into a rectilinear motion of an area of the lens cell through which light passes so the incident beam is scrolled. The light valve processes a beam transmitted by the color separator and the scrolling unit, according to an image signal and forms a color picture. The projection lens unit magnifies the color picture formed by the light valve and projects the magnified color picture onto a screen. The polarization conversion system is installed between the color separator and the light valve and converts the incident beam into a beam with a single polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-sik Kim, Kun-ho Cho, Sung-ha Kim, Hee-Joong Lee
  • Patent number: 7086736
    Abstract: A display system for displaying an image includes a modulator configured to produce a light beam that sequentially bears a plurality of color image sub-frames, where each color image sub-frame corresponds to one color in a plurality of colors; display optics configured to display the light beam such that the plurality of color image sub-frames are successively displayed to form the image; and a wobbling device configured to displace the light beam between display of each of the color image sub-frames such that a color image sub-frame corresponding to each color in the plurality of colors is displayed in each of a number of image sub-frame locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: David C. Collins, Richard E. Aufranc, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7080909
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus which directs light from a light source to an illuminated area. The illumination apparatus comprises a plurality of light emitters as the light source, a lighting unit configured to cause the light emitters to emit light so that the intensities of light emitted by the light emitters can be adjusted, an optical system configured to direct light emitted by the light emitters to the illuminated area, a storing unit configured to store an adjusting amount of the emitted light for changing the intensities of light emitted together with time, and a lighting control unit configured to control the lighting unit based on the adjusting amount of the emitted light stored in the storing unit so that the respective light emitters carry out pulsed emission at different timings. The adjusting amount of the emitted light stored in the storing unit is an adjusting amount so as to change the intensities of light in a pulsed emission period of the respective light emitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Shinzo Matsui
  • Patent number: 7070284
    Abstract: A projector apparatus includes digital micromirror device (DMD) Color temperature and adjustment of white balance with respect to projection light can be detected in a light condition in a convenient manner. A position of the picture formed by the projection light on the screen can be shifted. A projector apparatus includes a shutter disposed downstream of the projection optics for blocking the projection light and a sensor attached to the shutter. In a second embodiment, a projector apparatus includes a sliding structure for causing a projection optics to be slid relative to a casing constituting an apparatus body in a perpendicular relation to the optical axis of projection optics means and a follow-up structure for causing a sensor to follow the projection optics means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Marantz Japan, Inc.
    Inventors: Nobutomo Tanaka, Eiichi Kamino
  • Patent number: 7066605
    Abstract: A sequential color display system using a white light source to create a full color image projected onto an image plane. A dynamic filter, typically a series of moving dichroic filters, generates a series of primary colored light beams that are swept across the surface of a spatial light modulator. Typically all three primary colors are produced simultaneously by the dynamic filter. The illuminated portion of the dynamic filter is imaged onto the modulator and controller provides appropriate image data for each portion of the modulator in synchronization with the sweep of the primary color bands across the modulator surface. The primary color bands are modulated by the spatial light modulator and the modulated light is focused by lens onto the image plane. The viewer integrates the light arriving at each portion of the image plane over a frame period to provide the perception of a full-color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Duane S. Dewald, Steven M. Penn, Michael T. Davis
  • Patent number: 7063425
    Abstract: A color wheel includes a carrier having a carrier surface, a color filter plate unit mounted coaxially on the carrier surface and having at least one first through hole, a press cover for covering the color filter plate unit, and a fixing unit. The press cover has at least one second through hole corresponding in position to the first through hole. The fixing unit extends through the first and second through holes, and is fixed to the carrier so as to position the color filter plate unit on the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., INC
    Inventor: Ting-Chiang Wu
  • Patent number: 7061701
    Abstract: A color wheel includes a motor, a covering element and a color filter. In this case, the motor has a housing and a motor body. The motor body has a central axis and the housing is set at one side of the motor body. The housing has a surface, which is opposite to the motor body. The housing and the motor body rotate around the central axis. The covering element covers one part of the housing. The color filter is set around the covering element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Prodisc Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Neng Chang, Chih-Huang Wang
  • Patent number: 7061550
    Abstract: A color wheel index aligning apparatus for a projection display apparatus and an alignment method thereof. The color wheel index aligning apparatus has a signal supply unit for supplying a predetermined image signal to the display apparatus, a color detection unit for detecting the color of the image signal output to the screen, a storage unit for storing a color coordinate value, and a control unit for measuring the color coordinate of the color detected at the color detection unit based on the color coordinates stored in the storage unit, and using the measured color coordinate value, providing the display apparatus with an alignment value for aligning the color wheel index. Increasing and decreasing the delay time of the output timing of an R, G and B color signal in correspondence with the increase and decrease of the alignment value, the display apparatus automatically adjusts aligns the color wheel index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ik-song Kim
  • Patent number: 7057674
    Abstract: A color wheel is disclosed that has at least one segment that occupies, for a given radius, a percentage of the circumference of the wheel at that radius, which percentage varies continuously or in multiple steps from a radially inward point to a radially outer point on the wheel. In one embodiment, the color wheel has a plurality of filter segments adjacent each other around the circumference of the wheel, wherein at least one of the transitions from one filter segment to the next is curved or stepped. A color wheel also is disclosed that has a plurality of filter segments adjacent each other around the circumference of the wheel, wherein at least one of the segments is a higher brightness segment than the others and has sides facing adjacent filter segments that do not lie on the radius of the wheel. A projection system is also disclosed that has a light source, a unique color wheel, a spatial light modulator, and projection optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Reflectivity, INC
    Inventors: Peter W. Richards, Andrew G. Huibers, Gregory R. Muir
  • Patent number: 7048385
    Abstract: A projection display system has at least one light-recycling illumination system, a color scroller and an imaging light modulator. The light-recycling illumination system includes a light source that is enclosed within a light-recycling envelope. The light source is a light-emitting diode that emits light, and a fraction of that light will exit the light-recycling envelope through an aperture. The light-recycling envelope recycles a portion of the light emitted by the light source back to the light source in order to enhance the luminance of the light exiting the aperture. The fraction of the light that exits the aperture is partially collimated and is directed to a color scrolling means. The color scroller scans the partially collimated light across the face of the imaging light modulator. The imaging light modulator spatially modulates the scrolled beam of light to form an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Goldeneye, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl W. Beeson, Scott M. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 7048381
    Abstract: A cylindrical lens array for achieving color scrolling, a projection system using the cylindrical lens array, and a scrolling method. The cylindrical lens array is formed by arranging lens cells in an endless track. When the cylindrical lens array rotates, light rays passing through the lens cells advance along different paths. The projection system includes a light source, the cylindrical lens array, a light splitter, a light valve, and a projection unit. The light source emits a light. The cylindrical lens array has a plurality of lens cells arranged in an endless track and scrolls color bar images upon rotation. The light splitter splits incident light emitted from the light source into color beams according to a wavelength. The light valve receives the color beams split by the light splitter and scrolled by the cylindrical lens array and forms a color image by turning pixels on or off according to an input image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-sik Kim, Kun-ho Cho, Sung-ha Kim, Hee-joong Lee
  • Patent number: 7042527
    Abstract: A method of displaying a color video picture according to a field sequential process is provided. A display device displays an image comprising a matrix of pixels. One frame image is composed of four field images ranging from a first field image to a fourth field image. With four adjacent pixels handled as one unit, the colors R, G, B, W of illuminating lights applied to the pixels in each unit are different from each other, and the arrangement of the colors is successively switched or changed in each field period. Information representing the colors R, G, B, W separated from a video signal is displayed sequentially in successive fields at positions corresponding to the colors of the illuminating lights applied to the pixels and times at which the illuminating lights are applied to the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Imai
  • Patent number: 7018046
    Abstract: A display system is provided, the system including an illumination source configured to produce light and direct light along an optical path, a plurality of color filters disposed in the optical path configured to generate a plurality of colored light beams, and a spatial light modulator disposed in the optical path adapted to receive and adjust the colored light beams to produce an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Winthrop D. Childers, Noah Lassar, William Allen, Mohammad M. Samii, Jack H. Schmidt, Mark A. Van Veen
  • Patent number: 7018051
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cooling apparatus of a color wheel for color separation in a single plate type projector and a projection system using the projector, which comprises an airflow generator, thereby cooling the color wheel and a rod lens of the single plate type projector. The cooling apparatus of the color wheel of the projector of the present invention prevents the color wheel and the rod lens from being thermally degraded by using the high-powered lamp. Further, an airflow generator such as the airfoil-shaped or plate-shaped blades is formed on a hub of the color wheel, thereby miniaturizing the system of the projector and reducing its production cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Ki So Bok
  • Patent number: 7006163
    Abstract: An illuminating device comprising a light source for emitting a plurality of light beams (207, 208, 209) of different colors, a plurality of rotating beam scanners (102, 103, 104) and a plurality of scanning lenses (109, 110, 111). The beam scanners have spiral reflection surfaces (102, 103, 204) formed on the outer peripheries of cylindrical bodies, Each colored light beam is shone onto each reflection surface from a direction parallel to a rotating axis, and magnified by each scanning lens after reflected to scan an illuminated area with a plurality of beams of different colors one after another. Accordingly, the illuminating device can enhance scanning linearity, reduce noise due to a minimal windage loss, and decrease costs and power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Yamamoto, Motonobu Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 7006310
    Abstract: A color projection type display apparatus having a light source, a color wheel driven to rotate and having a plurality of types of color filters, different in characteristics from one another, disposed on the same surface thereof to transmit a particular component of light from the light source and to reflect the remaining components, a reflector for reflecting a component of light impinging on the color wheel and reflected by one type of the color filters to again direct the component back to another type of color filters, an image display device having a plurality of areas each irradiated with particular component of light transmitted by the color filters, respectively, to display an image, and a projection lens for projecting the image displayed by the image display device onto a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Nec Viewtechnology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroo Karube, Mikio Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6999253
    Abstract: A color wheel assembly includes a color wheel and a driving motor. The color wheel is attached directly to a hub of the driving motor. Consequently, no additional components are required to fix the color wheel to the driving motor, thereby reducing the number of components and the number of manufacturing processes. Thus, the color wheel assembly as a time-share light dispersing device can be inexpensively manufactured with a high degree of precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Niwa, Toshiaki Asakawa, Shigeyuki Adachi, Kuniyuki Takao
  • Patent number: 6999252
    Abstract: A color wheel includes a carrier, a color filter assembly mounted coaxially on the central boss and formed by a plurality of annularly arranged filter segments, a press cover connected to the carrier to press the filter segments against the carrier, and a limiting element. The color filter assembly defines inner and outer peripheries, upper and lower surfaces extending between the inner and outer peripheries, and an engaging element projecting axially from one of the upper and lower surfaces. The limiting element projects axially toward the engaging element from one of the carrier and the press cover to engage the engaging element so as to prevent the color filter assembly from displacing radially from an axis of the carrier due to a centrifugal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Lee, Yan-Jun Jia
  • Patent number: 6999251
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in forming colored segments of a color filter on a substrate includes at least one pair of first and second masking plates, and a securing device for securing together the first and second masking plates and the substrate. The substrate has an outer periphery and a first surface which is adapted to be coated with the colored segments. The first masking plate overlies the first surface, and has a first outer periphery corresponding to the outer periphery of the substrate, and at least one first cutout part to expose a portion of the first surface. The second masking plate has a second outer periphery corresponding to the first outer periphery, and at least one second cutout part corresponding to the first cutout part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Po-Sung Kao, Wen-Hao Huang, Yan-Hong Liu, Yang-Sang Tien
  • Patent number: 6991336
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus comprise a light control member configured to perform changing the path of light from light emitters to be directed to an illuminated area and/or moving of the light emitters, a movement unit configured to allow the light control member to operate, and a light selector control unit configured to control the movement unit and/or a lighting unit, which is configured to cause the light emitters to emit light so that the intensities of light emitted by them can be adjusted, so as to select light to be directed to the illuminated area from light of the emitters. The light selector control unit controls the lighting unit to cause an emitter to emit light when it is positioned in the vicinity of a light concentration area of an optical system by the operation of the light control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Shinzo Matsui
  • Patent number: 6988808
    Abstract: To reduce the thickness of a digital light projector (DLP), a circulating tape having sequences of red, green and blue segments is used instead of a color wheel to produce a color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daryl Carvis Cromer, George O. Diatzikis, William P. Durham, Jr., Jennifer Lynn Greenwood
  • Patent number: 6984040
    Abstract: A plurality of colors of light is generated. The plurality of colors of light have a color sequence that periodically varies with a characteristic sequential color time period. The plurality of colors of light are modulated to provide a plurality of sub-frame images for each of a sequence of image frames. The plurality of sub-frame images are projected for each of the image frames during a frame period. For each image frame, each of the sub-frame images is projected displaced relative to each other sub-frame image. The periodic variation of the plurality of colors of light and the projection of the plurality of sub-frame images are synchronized to assure an integer relationship between the color time period and the frame period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Winthrop D. Childers
  • Patent number: 6972736
    Abstract: The color display device includes a colored light generation unit for repetitively generating a plurality of colored lights in a time sequence with a predetermined frequency, and an image generation unit for processing said plurality of colored lights, so as to generate an image corresponding to each of the plurality of colored lights generated in a time sequence. The said predetermined frequency is 180 Hz or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Wada, Junichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6971752
    Abstract: A fixing structure for fixing a color wheel to a base of a projector is provided. The color wheel is rotatably installed and includes a color rotating disc having a plurality of color filters selectively transmitting light of a predetermined wavelength, and a driving source which drives the color rotating disc. The fixing structure includes a first cover member coupled to a base, and a second cover member coupled to the first cover member and together therewith encompassing the color wheel. A bracket is provided to which the color wheel is coupled, and a coupling unit couples the bracket to the second cover member. A buffer member is provided between the first and second cover members and between the bracket and the second cover member for reducing vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Heong-seog Lee
  • Patent number: 6970309
    Abstract: A color wheel includes a carrier element, a filter group, and a connection component. The carrier element includes a first carrier, and a second carrier. The carrier element rotates around the central axial line. The first carrier has at least one aperture. The filter group has a transparent zone and a filter bonding zone. The filter group and the carrier element share the central axial line. The filter bonding zone has at least one concave zone. The combining component is simultaneously in the apertures of the first carrier and the filter bonding zone to fix the filter bonding zone of the filter group between the first carrier and the second carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Chang, Kenny Chen
  • Patent number: 6967795
    Abstract: The present invention provides a color wheel including a motor and a color filter module. The color filter module includes a first color filter having a first transmittance and a second color filter having a second transmittance that is smaller than the first transmittance. 50% of the first transmittance is corresponding to a first light wavelength and a second light wavelength that is larger than the first light wavelength. The second color filter and the first color filter have substantially same hues. 50% of the second transmittance is corresponding to a third light wavelength and a fourth light wavelength that is larger than the third light wavelength. The second color filter satisfies a first condition chosen from the third light wavelength being larger than the first light wavelength or the second light wavelength being larger than the fourth light wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Chu-Ming Cheng, Jiunn-Lih Lin, Huang-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 6963457
    Abstract: In a color wheel comprising plurality of color filter segments, one of the filter segments consists of a sector portion, and a circular core portion which is formed intergrally at the inner circumferential area of the sector portion, and which is located at the center of the wheel assembled. The inner circumferences of the remaining filter segments are fitted directly to the outer perimeter of the circular core portion of the one segment, whereby the geometric accuracy of the color wheel can be achieved. Also, the alignment process of the filter segments for preventing the color wheel from generating vibrations and noises at the time of spinning at high speed can be simplified or even eliminated thus preventing the number of manufacturing processes from increasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Niwa, Toshiaki Asakawa, Shigeyuki Adachi, Kuniyuki Takao
  • Patent number: 6958870
    Abstract: A color wheel is disclosed having balancing groove. The color wheel includes a carrier, having a central axis about which it is rotated. An external surface and a periphery rotates along the central axis; a color filter plate shares a same central axis with the carrier, wherein an annular groove is disposed on the external surface of the carrier. The groove is shaped, for example in a wedge so that once a balancing substance such as epoxy is added into the annular groove to balance the color wheel, it becomes lodged therein after curing as the opening is smaller than the cured epoxy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventor: Hung Xuan Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6921171
    Abstract: A projection system including an adjusting part, a scrolling part, and a color separating part is provided. The adjusting part adjusts the divergence angle of light emitted from a light source. The scrolling part scrolls a plurality of color bars on a light valve. The color separating part separates an incident beam, emitted from the light source and transmitted by the scrolling part, into a plurality of color beams. The adjusting part, the scrolling part, and the color separating part are sequentially arranged from the light source. Since beams of individual colors travel along a single path, the number of required optical components is reduced, thereby making the projection system compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee-joong Lee, Kun-ho Cho, Dae-sik Kim, Sung-ha Kim
  • Patent number: 6913360
    Abstract: A single-panel color image display apparatus realizing a wide color gamut includes a light source, a colored light separator, and a light valve. The colored light separator has four or more dichroic filters of reflective type which separate a light emitted from the light source according to a wavelength. The light valve controls the light that is emitted from the light source and separated by the colored light separator according to color, on a pixel-by-pixel basis according to an input image signal, and forms a color image. By performing color scrolling using a scrolling unit having a spiral array of lens cells, the same resolution as that obtained when using a color wheel can be realized and the same light efficiency as that obtained when using a three-panel color image display apparatus can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-ho Cho, Dae-sik Kim, Sung-ha Kim, Hee-joong Lee
  • Patent number: 6914734
    Abstract: A color filter assembly. The color filter assembly rotates around a central axis and includes a first carrier, a second carrier, a protrusion and a color filter. The first carrier has a first contact surface and a first joining portion protruding therefrom. The second carrier has a second contact surface and a second joining portion connected to the first joining portion. The protrusion is disposed on the first or second contact surface. The color filter has an opening with the protrusion inserted therein such that the color filter is fixed between the first and second carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc
    Inventors: Po-Sung Kao, Shou-Chy Chia
  • Patent number: 6911977
    Abstract: A method for restoring a light signal from digital data defining a colorimetric coordinate of the light signal in a specific colorimetric system, comprises the step of generating a first light signal using a first light restoration unit, the step of generating a second light signal using a second light restoration unit, and the step of generating a third light signal obtained by superimposing the first and second light signals. The second light restoration unit covers a brightness dynamics less than the brightness dynamics covered by the first restoration light unit. The second light restoration unit has a brightness resolution finer than the first light restoration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Centre Scientifique et Technique du Batiment (CSTB)
    Inventors: Laurent David, Samuel Carre
  • Patent number: 6912017
    Abstract: There is disclosed a display device using a color wheel having a color filter Cw, in addition to normal color filters corresponding to the three primary colors. The filter Cw has almost flat spectral transmission characteristics. Brightness information included in a color image signal is quantized with (n+m) bits. Information corresponding to the lower-order n bits is displayed by light transmitted through the filter Cw. Information corresponding to the upper-order n bits is displayed by light transmitted through the normal color filters. Only brightness information to which the human eye is visually sensitive is reproduced by the filter Cw having a lower transmissivity. This can eliminate a lack of the number of gray levels due to a constraint on the minimum switching speed of a light valve. Furthermore, the brightness little deteriorates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Minami, Yoshiteru Suzuki, Kohei Teramoto, Hiroaki Sugiura, Shinsuke Shikama
  • Patent number: 6905212
    Abstract: A method of producing a light beam for a display system includes generating a light beam having a transverse cross section that is elongate along a longitudinal axis, and moving a plurality of beam-modifying optical elements sequentially along a travel path that intersects the light beam with the light beam cross-section longitudinal axis oriented transverse to the travel path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael A. Pate, Peter Guy Howard
  • Patent number: 6896376
    Abstract: A color wheel including a motor body, a housing and a color filter. The housing is set to a side of the central axis of the motor body. The color filter is set on the housing. In this case, a circumferential housing surface is formed with a recess. In addition, the invention also provides a motor for a color wheel. The motor includes a motor body and a housing, both of which have the same features as those described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Prodisc Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Ke-Shu Chin, Chih-Neng Chang, Kuang-Hua Chang
  • Patent number: 6886943
    Abstract: An image display system uses a polarizing beam splitter to direct light from a lamp to multiple spatial modulators. The spatial light modulators (“SLM”) each generate an image portion, which are stitched together on a display screen to obtain a high resolution image. In particular embodiment, image portions from two conventional SLMs, each controlling about two million pixels, are stitched together to form an image having about four million pixels. In another embodiment, two lamps are used with four SLMs to produce a resultant image having about eight million pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Greenberg, Matthew W. Bellis
  • Patent number: 6885512
    Abstract: A color wheel includes lens structures, which are formed on a surface of a substrate opposite to a surface having filter sectors, and which have curved surfaces formed at their abutting ends and positioned along a boundary between adjacent filter sectors. Light impinging on an area of the substrate corresponding to the boundary is deflected due to one of the curved surfaces so as to be surely guided into one of the adjacent filter sectors and to be duly dispersed into a predetermined color, whereby light can be efficiently utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Niwa
  • Patent number: 6877861
    Abstract: A projection system and method are provided. The projection system includes a light source, at least one filter having a slit, a scrolling unit, a color separator, and a light valve. The slit in the at least one filter controls a divergence angle of light emitted from the light source. The scrolling unit scrolls an incident beam. The color separator has a plurality of dichroic filters which separate an incident beam emitted from the light source according to color. The light valve receives a plurality of color beams from the color separator and transmitted by the scrolling unit on corresponding color areas and forms a plurality of color bars by scrolling the color beams. A black bar is formed between adjacent color bars by controlling a distance between adjacent dichroic filters or by controlling the width of the slit in the at least one filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-ho Cho, Dae-sik Kim, Sung-ha Kim, Hee-joong Lee
  • Patent number: 6879451
    Abstract: The present application describes embodiments of a neutral density color wheel filter. According to one embodiment, a neutral density color wheel (100) includes an opaque coating (135) over one or more color segments (120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170) with randomly placed transmissive regions (131). The transmissive regions (131) can be configured to substantially transmit incident light and the opaque coating (135) can be configured to substantially block or absorb the incident light. Alternatively, the transmissive regions (131) can be configured to substantially transmit the incident light. The color segments with opaque coating (135) and transmissive regions (131) substantially eliminate light recycling due to the reflection from the color wheel. The light transmission from the color wheel (100) is independent of the optics of a display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory J. Hewlett, Steven M. Penn, Greg S. Pettitt, Dana F. Segler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6876505
    Abstract: A color wheel is fabricated with filter sectors formed on both surfaces of a substrate such that filter sectors adjacent to each other are disposed respectively on the top and bottom side surfaces of the substrate, whereby structures as means for demarcating each of the filter sectors can be shaped on the substrate at one time so that the adjacent filter sectors can be positioned with respect to each other with an accuracy of the demarcation of the structures without positioning masking jigs every time each filter is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Niwa
  • Patent number: 6870523
    Abstract: A device, system and a method for displaying an expanded spectrum of colors. The present invention is suitable for various types of electronic display devices, such as televisions and monitor devices (“monitors”) for computational devices, for example. The present invention operates by electronic production of more than three primary colors. As previously described, the term “primary color” specifically does not include light as produced by a neutral filter. Thus, unlike background art systems and devices, the present invention is not limited to combinations of colors which are produced from only three primary colors, such as red, green and blue for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Genoa Color Technologies
    Inventors: Ilan Ben-David, Moshe Ben-Chorin
  • Patent number: 6862047
    Abstract: In a color image projection apparatus using a color wheel to illuminate a spatial optical modulator with light in color sequence, light reflected from the color wheel is added to light having passed through the color wheel, and the combined light is spatially modulated by the spatial optical modulator to form an image. If the light reflected a the incident surface of the color wheel is guided to the exit surface of the color wheel, and combined with the light having passed through the color wheel, the light utilization efficiency is improved. Any type of images can be projected with improved brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taketoshi Hibi
  • Patent number: 6851811
    Abstract: A relay optical system, which focuses light from a light outgoing plane of an integrator rod into an image on a predetermined illumination area, has a first optical element for correcting at least a distortion aberration, and a second optical element for correcting at least a chromatic aberration. The first optical element includes at least one focusing lens having a non-spherical convex plane, and the second optical element includes at least one diverging lens having a spherical concave lens. The diverging lens is composed of a relatively high dispersive optical glass material having an Abbe's number of not greater than 40. The focusing lens is composed of either an acrylic resin material or an olefin resin material. This arrangement focuses light into an image as an illumination area with a high accuracy and thereby enhances the quality of a resulting displayed image in a projector based on SCR technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 6832839
    Abstract: A system for enhancing the quality of an image on a screen is provided. The system typically includes an illumination source configured to produce light and direct such light along an optical path, and a time-varying focus device disposed in the optical path and configured to periodically alter incident light to enhance the quality of the image on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Winthrop D. Childers, William J. Allen
  • Patent number: 6830343
    Abstract: The present invention is a color wheel and a projector apparatus using the same. The projector apparatus includes a lamp, a color wheel, and a driving device. The lamp generates a beam directing into the color wheel. The driving device drives the color wheel to rotate, to radially move, or to axially move. The color wheel includes a plurality of filter devices. At least one filter device includes a first filter and a white filter connected to the first filter. A boundary arc is defined at the connection of the first filter and the white filter. The ratio of the area of the first filter to the area of the white filter for each filter device is predetermined, and the ratios among the filter devices are selectively the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: BenQ Corporation
    Inventor: Pei-Lun Song