Plural Parallel Light Modulators Patents (Class 348/750)
  • Patent number: 5737038
    Abstract: Methods of reducing artifacts in SLM-based display systems (10, 20), whose images are based on data displayed by bit-weight for pulse-width modulated intensity levels. A first method is suitable for systems (20) that use multiple SLMs (14) to concurrently display images of different colors, which are combined at the image plane. The data for each color are staggered in time (FIG. 4). A second method is suitable for either multiple SLM systems (20) or for systems (10) that use a single SLM (14) and a color wheel (17) to display differently colored images sequentially. The data for each color is arranged in a different data sequence (FIG. 5). In either method, the intensity transitions do not occur at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard O. Gale, Gerhard P. Deffner, Vishal Markandey
  • Patent number: 5715021
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for a multi-application, laser-array-based image system utilizes three linear laser arrays. Each linear array generates multiple (N>1) parallel output beamlets at one of the three primary colors (red, green, blue). The corresponding 1 to N output beamlets of the three linear arrays, each individually modulated in luminance according to a specific encoding scheme representing the video image to be produced on the viewing screen, are combined spatially to form a single white light linear array source. Through a projection/scanner optical system, the N output beamlets of the white light source are simultaneously directed to, and swept horizontally across a distant viewing screen, resulting in a swath of N lines of a graphic video image. By producing M contiguous swaths vertically down the viewing screen, a full image of M.times.N lines is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: NITOR
    Inventors: Frank C. Gibeau, Roger Frank Bessler, James Henry Arbeiter
  • Patent number: 5696564
    Abstract: A video projector including a light source and a light valve for receiving light emitted from the light source. A first filter is disposed between the light source and the light valve. The first filter removes light having a bandwidth ranging from ultraviolet to a wavelength within the visible spectrum of light and infrared light from the light emitted from the light source. A second filter is disposed between the first filter and the light valve. The second filter removes light having a bandwidth ranging from ultraviolet to a wavelength within the visible spectrum of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 5663775
    Abstract: In a video projector, first and second light sources respectively emit first and second collimated, white light beam, a luminance optical modulation means modulates the first light beam in accordance with a luminance signal of an input video signal, a chrominance optical modulation means modulates the second light beam in accordance with a chrominance signal of the input video signal, a first projecting means projects the first light beam having been modulated by the luminance optical modulation means onto a projection screen to form a projected luminance image on the screen, and a second projecting means projects the second light beam having been modulated by the chrominance optical modulation means onto the projection screen to form a projected chrominance image on the screen. The projected luminance image and the projected chrominance image are superimposed with each other on the screen to form a full color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawamura, Hisao Koizumi, Yoshisuke Ohtsuru
  • Patent number: 5614961
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for a multi-application, laser-array-based image system utilizes three linear laser arrays. Each linear array generates multiple (N>1) parallel output beamlets at one of the three primary colors (red, green, blue). The corresponding 1 to N output beamlets of the three linear arrays, each individually modulated in luminance according to a specific encoding scheme representing the video image to be produced on the viewing screen, are combined spatially to form a single white light linear array source. Through a projection/scanner optical system, the N output beamlets of the white light source are simultaneously directed to, and swept horizontally across a distant viewing screen, resulting in a swath of N lines of a graphic video image. By producing M contiguous swaths vertically down the viewing screen, a full image of M.times.N lines is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Nitor
    Inventors: Frank C. Gibeau, Roger F. Bessler, James H. Arbeiter
  • Patent number: 5570140
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus incorporating a light receiver or a light transmitter, in which the light signal is received or transmitted through a screen or condensing lens disposed in its vicinity, and hence the luminous flux utility efficiency is high.A projection type display apparatus capable of preventing deterioration of picture quality due to difference in color in the projection units, and the best picture quality is realized even when the projection lenses for different colors are composed of nearly same components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiichi Toide, Kazuo Tsukagoshi
  • Patent number: 5565882
    Abstract: An image processing system for an image display comprising an image data producing device for producing image data corresponding to an image to be displayed and a display device for displaying the image on the basis of the produced image data. The image data producing device divides the image data into a plurality of data sections respectively corresponding to image areas constituting the image so that each of the plurality of data sections is produced as serial data and the plurality of data sections are outputted in parallel. The display device includes a number of pixel elements continuously arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally and equally divided into a plurality of element sections respectively corresponding to the plurality of data sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Itsuo Takanashi, Shintaro Nakagaki, Ichiro Negishi, Tetsuji Suzuki, Fujiko Tatsumi, Ryusaku Takahashi, Keiichi Maeno
  • Patent number: 5534949
    Abstract: A two-channel field sequential display system utilizes both simultaneous and sequential color display methods to display full color images in a way that is less complex, smaller in size and less costly than prior art additive color systems, while exhibiting higher light output and fewer temporal visual effects than prior art single-channel field sequential color display systems. The two-channel field sequential display system displays two of three primary colors that make up the image simultaneously during a portion of a display frame and displays the third primary color sequentially during a subsequent part of the display frame. The two-channel field sequential color display concept may be applied to any projection system which combines individual monochrome projector outputs to form an image on a screen or to any display technique that is capable of superimposing two images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Peter C. Baron
  • Patent number: 5534950
    Abstract: An image projection system employing microlaser and/or diode laser arrays. Each laser in each array is individually addressable. The system includes three linear laser arrays, one red, one green, and one blue, each individually addressable laser being powered and modulated in accordance with the input image signal. When microlaser arrays, which are energized by laser diode pumps, are used, the laser diode pumps are formed in equivalent arrays. The laser output beams are combined in a dichroic prism and reflected off a rotating multifaceted scanning mirror which effects two dimensional scanning as it rotates. The image beam reflected from the scanner passes through an imaging lens, a speckle eliminator and then onto the projection screen. The invention also includes the method of generating and scanning the image beam, as well as the novel speckle eliminator and the microlaser array configured for optimally close spacing to achieve the desired result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Laser Power Corporation
    Inventors: David E. Hargis, Graham Flint, Shlomo Assa
  • Patent number: 5528318
    Abstract: A color projection video system utilizing only a single light valve. A white light source is separated into red, green and blue bands. Scanning optics in the form of three prisms coaxially mounted for rotation cause the RGB bands to be sequentially scanned across a light valve, such as a transmission LCD panel. Prior to each color passing over a given row of panels on the light valve, that row will be addressed, by the display electronics with the appropriate color content of that portion of the image which is being displayed. The image is projected by a projection lens onto a viewing surface, such as a screen. The sequence of light bands occurs so quickly as to give the viewer an appearance of simultaneous full color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Peter J. Janssen
  • Patent number: 5526063
    Abstract: A three-color image projector, of the type using several colored light beams with primary colors, with improved luminous efficiency. The projector employs spatial rather than temporal beam modulation. The projector includes a generator producing light in the three spectral bands corresponding to the primary colors (red, green, blue). The generator has at least two light sources (S1, S2), one of which produces multi-spectral band light, and the other is a monochromatic source. By comparison with the prior art, where the white light is produced by a single source, this arrangement avoids, in particular, the elimination of a significant quantity of lumens in the excess primary color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Cecile Joubert, Claude Puech, Brigitte Loiseaux, Jean-Pierre Huignard
  • Patent number: 5489950
    Abstract: A red image light signal emitting array, a green image light signal emitting array and a blue image light signal emitting array are driven by separate drivers in accordance with one-line image data at a time. The light signals emitted from the arrays are processed by a light signal combining lens and then are incident to a scanning mirror. The scanning mirror vibrates within a specified range of scan angles at a specified frequency, and while the scanning mirror reciprocates once, one frame of two-dimensional image is formed on a projection surface. The scan angle of the scanning mirror is detected by a detector, and the detector sends a detection signal to a timing signal generating circuit. The timing signal generating circuit is stored with values specified for the respective drivers, and when the detector detects that the scan angle becomes one of the values, the timing signal generating circuit sends a timing signal to the corresponding driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomohiko Masuda
  • Patent number: 5477280
    Abstract: A liquid crystal projector has a video monitor for displaying the same image as that displayed on a screen. The video monitor uses an amount of the light which is not displayed on the front screen according to the light transmission characteristic of a dichroic mirror, to thereby enable a user to view the same image as that displayed on the front screen through a projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Han-il Ko
  • Patent number: 5440352
    Abstract: A television projection system for generating picture points of a television picture has at least three light sources which may be controlled in intensity for light signals (R.sub.L ', G.sub.L ', B.sub.L ') of different wavelengths, wherein the hue of each picture point is fixed by means of color value signals (R, G, B) in a first base system which may be represented in a CIE diagram by corner points of a hue region which are defined via wavelengths of screen phosphors. The wavelengths of the light signals determine a second base system which shares a common range of hues with the first base system. Further, an input circuit is provided for generating at least three electrical signals which are proportional to the color value signals (R, G, B) or contain a mixture thereof, and a control device is provided for controlling the light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Schneider Rundfunkwerke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christhard Deter, Dirk Loeffler
  • Patent number: 5392077
    Abstract: A projection TV light controller is comprised of a plurality of blocks of material which are transparent to the light of a lamp, adjacent sides of the blocks being cooperatively shaped and being disposed adjacent to each other, to form a single light controlling element. The element is shaped to surround a cylindrical region coaxial with a central axis of the element for containing the lamp. Light is conducted from the lamp in each of the three primary colours into respective ones of the blocks. Apparatus is associated with each block for creating video display light signals relating to a corresponding primary colour. The video display light signals of all of the primary colours are combined into a single light beam which is conducted out of the light controlling element. With the lamp being contained in a central region, it can be cooled either by convection, by a fan, or by a fused quartz fluid jacket around the lamp, maintaining the block cool and minimally subject to expansion or contraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Inventor: Elmer H. Hara
  • Patent number: 5317348
    Abstract: This invention uses various solid-state semiconductor lasers along with frequency doublers as needed to achieve the required three-color light beam wavelengths for input to available light combiners and to a state-of-the-art scanner. The scanner projects a color laser beam to a screen or other equipment. A number of alternate solid-state laser means are described, each combination providing the required light output. Use of the described solid-state lasers instead of the commonly used gas lasers results in considerable savings in required electrical power, cooling and system size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Inventor: Randall J. Knize