Projection Device Patents (Class 348/744)
  • Patent number: 8508671
    Abstract: Projection systems and methods may provide improved remote capabilities and interaction with client devices. Further, systems and methods may provide for calibration of a projection system, in particular using an auxiliary device. Further, methods may provide control of audio associated with presentation data, in particular at client devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Dean Slack, David Robbins Falkenburg, Reese T. Cutler
  • Patent number: 8508672
    Abstract: A system for, and method of, improving video image sharpness and a continuous-light-emitting video display system employing the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system for improving video image sharpness includes: (1) a sub-frame generator configured to receive a frame of a video image and generate plural sub-frames therefrom and (2) a spatial filter, associated with the sub-frame generator and configured to cause the plural sub-frames to be spatially filtered with respect to one another based on a display sequence thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Andrew I. Russell
  • Patent number: 8506087
    Abstract: A laser light projector includes a laser beam generated by a laser light source, a scanner associated with the laser light source and having one or more moving mirrors capable of scanning the laser beam along X-Y coordinates, a scan-fail monitor and a safety-lens. The safety-lens includes at least one optical power, and is positioned and arranged for increasing the safety of the projected light within audience areas by increasing beam divergence in the audience, while keeping beam divergence low above the heads of the audience, thus allowing mirror targeting to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventors: William R. Benner, Jr., Jeremy Philip Turner
  • Publication number: 20130201409
    Abstract: A light-adjusting unit includes: a pair of light-shielding plates arranged about an illuminating optical axis of an incoming light flux and configured to block the light flux in response to the amount of rotation; a pair of rotation transmitting gears configured to hold and rotate the pair of light-shielding plates respectively; a pair of supporting shafts configured to rotatably support the pair of rotation transmitting gears respectively; a supporting substrate on which the pair of supporting shafts are provided; and a pair of urging members configured to press and urge the pair of rotation transmitting gears respectively against the supporting substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seiko Epson Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130201408
    Abstract: A light source device includes an LD module having a plurality of small light sources such as LDs, a control device selectively controlling On/Off of a plurality of the LDs, a first optical system collecting light emitted from the LDs into one collected light, and a second optical system emitting the collected light directly or through an optical process as source light. The control device maintains a constant amount of luminescence of the light source by controlling a number of the LDs selectively turned on in order to achieve a simple configuration of the light source device and a proper gradation expression of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventor: Toshiharu MURAI
  • Patent number: 8502926
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that allow light display systems, such as projectors, to be manufactured having lower power consumption, reduced speckling, and/or that are less expensive than conventional light projectors. In some embodiments, may include an incoherent light source and a coherent light source operating in concert with one another to produce a combined light beam that has similar wavelength contributions from the incoherent and coherent light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Brett Bilbrey
  • Patent number: 8498532
    Abstract: A digital camera equipped with a projector, includes a photographing device; a projector device that projects an optical image; a mode switching operation member that outputs a switching operation signal indicating a changeover to one of a photographing operation mode in which image data photographed by the photographing device are saved as a photographic image file in a recording medium and a projection operation mode in which a reproduced image is projected by the projector device; a top surface operation member disposed at an upper surface of a casing; and a projection control device that controls the projector device based upon an operation signal provided by the top surface operation member upon receiving a switching operation signal indicating a changeover to the projection operation mode from the mode switching operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotake Nozaki, Nobuhiro Fujinawa, Akira Ohmura
  • Patent number: 8491125
    Abstract: A lighting device configured to efficiently combine light beams emitted from a plurality of light sources, and to emit high output light while minimizing light loss, and a projection type display apparatus including the lighting device. The lighting device includes: a first light source and a second light source; two converging lenses for converging light beams emitted from the first and second light sources; two right-angle prisms for bending the light beams emitted from the first and second light sources; and a composite rod integrator for combining the light beams emitted from the first and second light sources. Between an exit surface of each right-angle prism and an incident surface of the composite rod integrator, a predetermined air gap is provided. The focal point of each converging lens is located on an incident surface of each right-angle prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shigekazu Yamagishi, Hiroki Sugiyama, Hiroshi Kitano, Yoshimasa Fushimi, Hirokazu Sakaguchi
  • Publication number: 20130182194
    Abstract: A docking device for connecting an electronic device includes a base and a connector. The connector has a body and a connecting port on the base. The body is provided on the base to be moved between a first position and a second position. The connecting port is hidden in the base when the body is moved to the first position, and the connecting is exposed to connect the electronic device when the body is moved to the second position. The docking device may be incorporated in a portable projector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Asia Optical International Ltd.
    Inventors: CHIEN-CHAO LIAO, Deng-Ke Guo, Chang-Yi Huang
  • Publication number: 20130169887
    Abstract: The present invention provides a projection application device which is working through a wireless video output device and its video output control unit. The video output device includes a microprocessor. A video output unit is coupled to the microprocessor for outputting a video data. A video output control unit is coupled to the microprocessor for controlling a projecting image outputted by the projection device. The video output control unit includes a designation unit for designating the video data to the projection device or the video output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: AIPTEK INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Hui-Hsien WU, Wei-Hong CHEN, Heng LIU
  • Patent number: 8466966
    Abstract: A video calibration device comprising an elongated image tube having a length, a first opening at one end of the image tube and a second opening at the opposite end of the image tube. The device includes an elongated sensor tube having a length, a first opening at one end of the sensor tube and a second opening at the opposite end of the sensor tube. The first opening of the sensor tube is adapted to support a video calibration sensor. A video calibration sensor is disposed in the first opening of the sensor tube. The sensor tube is sealingly secured to the image tube at an angle whereby the second opening of the sensor tube and the second opening of the image tube are substantially juxtaposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas E. Ciesco
  • Patent number: 8462273
    Abstract: The image display device and the like may generate an OSD image with the contents at the time of temporary non-display instruction when there is a redisplay instruction after temporary non-display instruction of a normal OSD image. As a result, the user can perform adjustment and the like of an image using an OSD image more efficiently. Since the image display device and the like generate a second OSD image showing temporary non-display at the time of temporary non-display of a normal OSD image, the user can see that the normal OSD image is in a temporary non-display state. In addition, since the size of the second OSD image is small, almost the entire original image can be checked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Kumamoto
  • Patent number: 8462196
    Abstract: Provided are a methods and apparatuses for generating a stereoscopic image format and reconstructing stereoscopic images from the stereoscopic image format. The method of generating a stereoscopic image format for compression or transmission of stereoscopic images includes receiving a base view image and an additional view image, determining block pixel information for the stereoscopic image format for each block position using first block pixel information of the base view image and second block pixel information of the additional view image based on blocks obtained by dividing the base view image and the additional view image, and disposing the determined block pixel information in each block position, thereby generating a combined image including pixel information of the base view image and pixel information of the additional view image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-tae Kim, Jae-seung Kim, Moon-seok Jang
  • Publication number: 20130141646
    Abstract: With a projector, a user may confirm other content information such as music during image display. The projector is adapted to connect to a portable music reproducing player and a personal computer, and includes a sound output unit and an image display unit. The sound output unit performs sound output corresponding to a first content supplied from the portable music reproducing player. The image display unit that performs projection display of content information corresponding to the first content reproduced in the portable music reproducing player on an image corresponding to a second content supplied from the personal computer. Thereby, the projector displays the second content image and the content information corresponding to the first content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seiko Epson Corporation
  • Patent number: 8452121
    Abstract: An image processor that corrects an image signal, includes: a frequency analysis section that analyzes a spatial frequency of a luminance component of the image signal; a luminance component correction amount calculating section that calculates an amount of correction of the luminance component of the image signal according to the analysis result of the frequency analysis section only for an image signal in a predetermined luminance level range of a predetermined spatial frequency band; and a luminance component correcting section that corrects the luminance component of the image signal by using the amount of correction calculated by the luminance component correction amount calculating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Kanai
  • Publication number: 20130120668
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment of the disclosure, an image projection system includes an image supply device and a projector. The image projection system projects an image of a figure adapted to represent a predetermined record in a competition on a floor or a ground of a stadium. The image supply device further includes a storage section adapted to store record information representing the predetermined record, and an image data output section adapted to output image data based on the record information to the projector. The projector includes an image data input section adapted to receive input of the image data, and an image projection section adapted to project the image of the figure based on the image data input to the image data input section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yuki Ueda
  • Patent number: 8439507
    Abstract: A projector includes: an OSD processing section that generates a synthesized image formed by synthesizing an OSD image on a main image; an image projecting section that projects and displays the synthesized image; a zoom adjusting section that adjusts a zoom state of the image projecting section; and a zoom state detecting section that detects the zoom state that is adjusted by the zoom adjusting section, wherein the OSD processing section adjusts a size of the OSD image with respect to the main image based on the detection result of the zoom state detecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20130107132
    Abstract: A light source capable of solving a problem in which the etendue is increased when random polarization is converted into a specific polarization is provided. A relief structure that functions as surface plasmon excitation means for exciting a surface plasmon by a specific polarization component in a polarization direction perpendicular to a first direction in an interface between metal layer 15 and first cover layer 14 in light from emission layer 13 incident on the interface is formed at the interface. The relief structure is periodic in a second direction. Projections 21A of the relief structure are extended along the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shin Tominaga, Masao Imai, Masanao Natsumeda
  • Publication number: 20130100358
    Abstract: An optical display system includes a projection system for outputting images having an image refresh frequency and a two-dimensional screen for receiving the images. The screen is coupled to a motion unit which allows a motion of the screen at a frequency which is equal to the refresh frequency of the images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: International Business Machines Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130100495
    Abstract: Wallpaper serving as a screen and display content such as an image to be projected onto the wallpaper are created while maintaining their correlation. The created display content is projected on the wallpaper. The content display system creates a background image, which is a first image serving as a screen, and a second image for a predetermined area on the first image while maintaining their visual relationship, and forms a composite image of the second image on the first image by projecting the second image from a projector onto the predetermined area of the first image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Tetsuya AKIBA
  • Patent number: 8427590
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to display technologies. More specifically, various embodiments of the present invention provide projection display systems where one or more laser diodes are used as light source for illustrating images. In one set of embodiments, the present invention provides projector systems that utilize blue and/or green laser fabricated using gallium nitride containing material. In another set of embodiments, the present invention provides projection systems having digital lighting processing engines illuminated by blue and/or green laser devices. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a 3D display system. There are other embodiments as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Soraa, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Raring, Paul Rudy
  • Publication number: 20130093965
    Abstract: An object is to provided a lighting device in which damage due to friction between a reflection sheet and a light guide plate is reduced or suppressed even if a stress is applied toward the reflection sheet by a housing due to asperities of a bottom plate of the housing. A backlight unit 24 according to the present invention includes a light guide plate 20, an LED unit 32, a reflection sheet 26, a backlight chassis 22, and a cushion sheet 27. The light guide plate 20 has a light entrance surface 20a that is a side surface, a light exit surface 20b that is a plate surface, and an opposite surface 20c that is an opposite surface from the light exit surface 20b. The LED unit 32 is arranged opposite the light entrance surface 20a of the light guide plate 20. The reflection sheet 26 is arranged so as to be in contact with the opposite surface 20c of the light guide plate 20. The backlight chassis 22 holds at least the reflection sheet 26 and the light guide plate 20 therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventor: Yoshitake Ishimoto
  • Patent number: 8421867
    Abstract: A projection device includes: a light source; a modulation element that modulates light from the light source; a projection optical system that projects light modulated by the modulation element; a drive unit that drives the projection optical system; and a control unit that drives the light source and the drive unit in a complementary manner when driving the drive unit while turning on the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hirotake Nozaki
  • Patent number: 8419190
    Abstract: A auto-focusing method for projection of a computing device with imaging function is illustrated. The computing device exemplarily includes a projection unit, an image receiving unit, and a processing unit. The method firstly controls the projection unit to project images on plural positions along an optical axis. The method then controls the image receiving unit to receive the images, which are regarded as candidate images, projected on the positions by the projection unit. The candidate images correspond to the projective positions. The method further receives the candidate images captured by the image receiving unit, and compute their definitions. Therefore, the image with a greatest definition may be acquired and regarded as a focus image. The focus image's corresponding position is a focus position. After acquiring the focus position, an image may be projected thereon. The illustrated computing device is enabled to complete the image focusing automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignees: Silitek Electronic (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Yu Huang, Hsi-Pin Li
  • Publication number: 20130083167
    Abstract: There is provided a projector apparatus including a terminal unit supplied with video data output by a source apparatus; a video projection processing unit that generates a projection video based on the video data and projects the generated projection video through a projection lens, a distance detection unit that detects a distance to a display surface on which the projection video projected through the projection lens is displayed, a projection angle detection unit that detects a projection angle of the projection video projected through the projection lens, and a control unit that calculates a display size of the projection video on the display surface based on the distance detected by the distance detection unit and the projection angle detected by the projection angle detection unit and transmits the calculated display size as the data regarding the display capability of the projector apparatus from the terminal unit to the source apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Jun MIYAUCHI
  • Patent number: 8411211
    Abstract: A projection type video display device is provided, which is capable of displaying a plurality of kinds of input videos with different aspect ratios without requiring cumbersome adjustment operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Tamotsu Akeyama
  • Patent number: 8411137
    Abstract: A dual projection system utilizes a first projector and a second projector to project alternating left and right channel images of a 3D display. The projectors are inversely synchronized such that while the first projector projects a right channel image the other projector projects a left channel image. A projection filter in each projector has left channel properties when the image being projected is a left channel image and right channel properties when the image being projected is a right channel image. The images projected from each projector alternate between left and right channel images approximately once per frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Jacobs, John Carey, Martin Richards
  • Patent number: 8406562
    Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein for a system and method for calibrating a display device to eliminate distortions due to various components such as one or more of lenses, mirrors, projection geometry, lateral chromatic aberration and color misalignment, and color and brightness non-uniformity. Calibration for distortions that vary over time is also addressed. Sensing devices coupled to processors can be used to sense display characteristics, which are then used to compute distortion data, and generate pre-compensating maps to correct for display distortions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Geo Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Zorawar Bassi, Masoud Vakili
  • Patent number: 8400479
    Abstract: A color signal processing apparatus calculates a target color gamut including color signal values of each pixel of an input video, and calculates target primary colors corresponding to the calculated target color gamut. The color signal processing apparatus produces the calculated target primary colors by mixing primary colors in an input color gamut of the input video, and converts and outputs the color signal values of each pixel of the input video to match the calculated target color gamut defined by the calculated target primary colors. Since it is possible to adaptively transform the input color gamut of the input video, the input video that is reproduced has an increased light quantity and an enhanced contrast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Il-do Kim, Moon-cheol Kim, Dong-bum Choi
  • Publication number: 20130057641
    Abstract: When a material sharing mode using a projector at a first point and the projector at a second point is active, the projector at the first point causes a projection unit to project a video image from a first personal computer onto a projection screen, causes an image taking unit to take an image of the projected video image on the projection screen, causes a control unit of the projector or the first personal computer to compare the taken video image with a supply video image supplied from the first personal computer to the projector, and supplies a difference video image generated based on the comparison to the projector at the second point so as to be superimposed on the supply video image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jyouji WADA, Mikio MORIOKA
  • Patent number: 8384832
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices provide for fast and power efficient transfer of three color data words (e.g., a M-bit red color word, a M bit green color word and a M-bit blue color word) per pixel from a controller to a laser diode driver (LDD). First and second transfer words are produced based on the three color data words. The first transfer word is transferred from the controller to the LDD and stored at LDD in response to a low-to-high portion of a cycle of a data transfer clock, and the second transfer word is transferred and stored in response to a high-to-low portion of a cycle of the data transfer clock. The first, second and third color data words are reproduced by the LDD in dependence on the first and second received transfer words. First, second and third DACs of the LDD are driven with the first color data word, the second color data word, and the third color data word. Three light sources (e.g., red, green and blue laser diodes or LEDs) are driven with output currents of the DACs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Fairgrieve, D. Stuart Smith
  • Patent number: 8382289
    Abstract: A projector apparatus includes: a projection unit that projects an image onto a projection surface; a reflectance distribution detection unit that detects a reflectance distribution at the projection surface; a density distribution detection unit that detects a density distribution of a base pattern on the projection surface; a smoothing unit that smooths the reflectance distribution and the density distribution; an input unit that inputs image data; a correction unit that corrects the input image data based upon the smoothed reflectance distribution and the smoothed density distribution; and a control circuit that controls the projection unit so as to project the image based upon the correction image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro Hikosaka
  • Patent number: 8384769
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image display method is disclosed. The three-dimensional image display method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: displaying an object image; displaying a background image by using a three-dimensional image display method; and disposing the object image at a close distance and the background image at a far distance such that the object image and the background image overlap inside a same viewing angle. By using images having a different sense of depth, a high-resolution image can be displayed while providing a sense of reality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Kwangwoon University Research Institute for Industry Cooperation
    Inventors: Suk-Pyo Hong, Yong-Seok Oh, Dong-Hak Shin, Eun-Soo Kim, Seung-Cheol Kim
  • Publication number: 20130033650
    Abstract: A system for projecting changeable electronic content, such as video or digital still images, onto multiple surfaces. The system includes a projector, one or more reflectors, and at least two display surfaces. The projector via a reflector projects content onto one of the display surfaces and either directly or via another reflector projects content onto the other display surface. The display surfaces can be multiple curved surfaces, multiple planar surfaces in different viewing planes, or a curved surface and a planar surface. For the curved surfaces, the projector receives converted content and projects the converted content such that the curved surface displays the converted content undistorted to a viewer. The system can also provide for display of branded content on a product container having a shape corresponding with the brand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Ralph R. Roberts, Brian T. Weber, Jane K. Wardhana, Glenn E. Casner, Brett J. Sitter, Patrick A. Thomas, Steven T. Berg
  • Publication number: 20130033651
    Abstract: A projector includes an excitation light source and a color wheel which is rotatable, with an axis in parallel to an optical axis of the excitation light source serving as a rotation axis. The color wheel includes two phosphors arranged adjacent to each other in a direction of rotation and emitting G light and Ye light respectively as they are excited by excitation light from the excitation light source. The projector further includes a phosphor drive portion which drives the color wheel to rotate such that the two phosphors emit light in a time-division manner within 1 frame period, a video signal analysis portion which analyzes a video signal for each piece of image data in each frame, and an excitation light source drive portion which sets an intensity of excitation light emitted to each phosphor in accordance with a result of analysis by the video signal analysis portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Masahiro Haraguchi, Masutaka Inoue
  • Patent number: 8368803
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a calibration module in a projector platform establishes an initial configuration of settable exposure attributes for a digital camera. The calibration module projects a preview image onto a surface and captures the projection of the preview image with the digital camera and receives input from a user identifying regions of interest in the capture of the preview image. Next the calibration module projects an exposure image onto the surface. The calibration module then computes a final configuration of exposure attributes for the digital camera by iteratively: (a) capturing the projection of the exposure image with the digital camera; (b) measuring descriptive statistics relating to the color channels of pixels in the regions of interest in the capture of the exposure image; (c) evaluating the descriptive statistics with an evaluation function determined by a calibration process; and (d) establishing a revised configuration of exposure attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Victor Ivashin
  • Publication number: 20130021537
    Abstract: A rear projection imaging system with an image warping distortion correction system using a camera and processing unit to generate a warping map that corrects for image distortion. The warping map is generated in an iterative process by displaying a known pattern on a viewing screen and, through the use of a camera, having a microprocessor determine the location and shape of the pattern on the screen. The microprocessor then compares the displayed image to the original reference image, calculates the distortion effects present in the projection optics, and generates a warping map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Mark T. Bolas
  • Patent number: 8356902
    Abstract: A system comprises means (PL; MI) for projecting an image light beam (ILB) on a projection area (PA) for display of an image (PI) on the projection area (PA), and means (1) for generating an ambient light beam (ALB; ALB1, ALB2) and comprising: an ambient light source (LS; LS1, LS2) for generating ambient light, a collimator (CO) or a light-guide (LG1, LG2) for receiving the ambient light to supply the ambient light beam (ALB; ALB1, ALB2), and a reflector (RF; RF1, RF2) for reflecting the ambient light beam (ALB; ALB1, ALB2) towards the projection area (PA) to obtain an ambient lighting area (ALI) adjacent the image (PI).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Elvira Johanna Maria Paulussen, Vlatko Milosevski, Egbert Lenderink, Lingli Wang, Joseph Ludovicus Antonius Maria Sormani
  • Publication number: 20130010211
    Abstract: Disclosed is a display device capable of inhibiting a projected picture from occurrence of brightness unevenness while reducing speckle noise. The display device (100) includes a control portion (15) continuously supplying current to a laser beam generation portion (12, 13, 14) nonstop for a period longer than a first period thereby controlling the laser beam generation portion to output the laser beam and controlling the laser beam generation portion to stop the output of the laser beam at least once in a second period scanning one image forming element (1, 2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Nishioka, Kenji Nagashima, Atsuya Hirano, Atsuhiko Chikaoka
  • Publication number: 20130010212
    Abstract: A projector that performs light control by varying power level of a light source in response to a video signal, includes a cooling fan that cools the light source, and a control device that averages samples of the power level of the light source based on the video signal or a brightness level of the video signal acquired with respect to each unit time and performs feedback control of a rotational speed of the cooling fan based on the average value, wherein the control device varies the number of samples and calculates the average value between the cases where the power level or the brightness level is rising and falling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunsuke Hino
  • Patent number: 8350789
    Abstract: A 2D image display apparatus using a laser light source. By controlling the timing of a scan by a beam scan portion in response to the characteristic of a laser light source and by setting a light emitting time of the laser light source to an integral multiple of a scan cycle of the beam scan portion, it is possible to illuminate a spatial light modulator homogeneously with a laser beam. It is thus possible to display an image at high accuracy without causing a bright line, irregularities in brightness, and contrast deterioration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Furuya, Kiminori Mizuuchi, Toshifumi Yokoyama, Tatsuo Itoh, Akira Kurozuka, Kazuhisa Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20130002831
    Abstract: An IR emitter internally mounted behind the screen of a projection television apparatus. The IR emitter is mounted so as not to interfere with the image display light path. The IR emitter is mounted so that IR rays are reflected off the mirror and exit through the screen of the projection television. The IR emitter includes one or more IR type LEDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Charles Davis, Masafumi Naka
  • Publication number: 20130002968
    Abstract: A compressive imaging system modulates an incident light stream and senses the modulated light stream to obtain compressive measurements. The measurements are algorithmically processed to reconstruct a sequence of images. The image sequence is displayed. The system receives user input (through a user interface) representing a user command to set or change one or more visual performance factors such as image quality and frame rate. The system immediately adjusts the visual performance factors by adjusting one or more underlying system parameters/algorithms. Thus, the visual consequences of any inputs to the user interface become immediately apparent in the displayed sequence of images. The user may therefore intuitively learn how to operate the user interface simply by making trial inputs and observing their effects in the displayed image sequence. The user interface may include one or more mechanical input devices and/or one or more graphical user interface (GUI) elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Robert F. Bridge, Donna E. Hewitt, Tyler H. Weston
  • Publication number: 20120327314
    Abstract: A projector includes a projecting portion, an image data producing portion, an angular velocity sensor, and a control portion. The projecting portion projects an image based on input image data. The image data producing portion produces the image data and then outputs the image data to the projecting portion. The angular velocity sensor detects angular velocity and is longitudinally arranged in a longitudinal direction that is different than a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the front panel and configured to determine angular velocity in a direction of rotation about the longitudinal direction of the angular velocity sensor to determine movement of the projector in at least one of in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. If the angular velocity is detected by the angular velocity sensor, the control portion controls the image data producing portion so as to adjust the image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20120327313
    Abstract: A wall projection system for a room comprising a projector, where the projector is mounting on the ceiling of a four-walled room; at least one projection lens directed from the projector to each wall of the room, where the projection lens projects an image; and a screen type covering for each wall, where the screen type covering receives the image projected from the projection lens. The projector is mounted to a center point of the ceiling, to allow the projection lenses to project the images onto a screen-type wallpaper on the walls. The image projected is a single panoramic image projected onto each of the walls of the room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Dean Thompson, Holly Markland
  • Publication number: 20120327315
    Abstract: A mobile device such as a robot includes a processor, a memory that stores components executable by the processor, and a projection assembly. The projection assembly includes a projector, a lens, a movable mirror, and a first projection surface integral with a surface of the mobile device. The components include a projection component and a control component. The projection component determines the projection parameters, and projects the image onto the movable minor, dependent upon the projection parameters. The control component causes the projector and the lens to focus the image onto the first projection surface, and further causes the movable mirror to reflect the image onto the first projection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Glen C. Larsen, Russell Sanchez
  • Patent number: 8330876
    Abstract: A projector includes: a light source; an image processing section adapted to perform an expansion process of an aspect ratio in either one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of an image to be formed by an image signal input; a light modulation element adapted to modulate light from the light source to form an image on which the expansion process is performed; a projection optical system adapted to project the image, formed by the light modulation element, on a projection surface; and an anamorphic zoom optical system adapted to be capable of changing a magnification ratio of the image with respect to a direction different from a direction, along which the expansion process is performed in the image processing section, out of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Morikuni
  • Patent number: 8325282
    Abstract: In projection television (PTV) systems utilizing folded optical systems such as a rear projection CRT, DLP, LCD, or LCOS based televisions, or the like, an automatic geometric alignment (AGA) system including a first programmable logic, a second programmable logic operably coupled to the first programmable logic, and light sensors positioned in the over-scan region along the border of the screen and operably coupled to first programmable logic. In operation, the first programmable logic causes an on screen display (OSD) system to display and move test patterns on the screen and, using feed back data received from the light sensors, determines the geometric alignment and/or pin cushion effect error in the displayed test pattern. The second programmable logic, which includes deflection shaping circuitry to align, center or steer the beams from the projection systems, utilizes data received from the first programmable logic to compensate for geometric alignment error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Mortensen
  • Publication number: 20120297428
    Abstract: A handheld device comprises a media and communication device and a detachable projector unit. The detachable projector unit further comprises a processor, a file system, a projector and a power supply. An expandable projector device with a plurality of projectors connected together is also disclosed. The projectors may share resources such as power and stored media files.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventor: Yang Pan
  • Patent number: 8310499
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a system for creating a display from multiple projectors receives as an input a source pixel derived from an image to be displayed. The system generates a scalar-adjusted pixel by applying a scalar for an adjustment range to each channel value in the source pixel, where the scalar depends on whether the source pixel is gray or color. The system modifies each channel value in the scalar-adjusted pixel according to a luminance adjustment curve for a projector, where the luminance adjustment curve depends on whether the source pixel is gray or color. The system generates the luminance adjustment curve from captured calibration images by: (1) creating an interpolated response curve; and (2) generating and inverting a median difference curve based on the interpolated response curve for the projector and the interpolated response curves for the other projectors in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Victor Ivashin