Liquid Crystal Patents (Class 348/751)
  • Publication number: 20100039571
    Abstract: A charge-discharge circuit charges or discharges a capacitor having a fixed electric potential at one end. A first comparator compares an output voltage of the capacitor with a first threshold voltage and outputs a first comparison signal in accordance with a comparison result. An edge detecting circuit detects an edge of a synchronization signal input from the outside and having a frequency of about ½ of a triangular-wave signal generated by the triangular-wave generating circuit, and outputs an edge detection signal that will be at a predetermined level for each of the detected edges. A charge-discharge controller receives the first comparison signal that is output from the first comparator and the edge detection signal that is output from the edge detecting circuit, and switches between a charge state and a discharge state of the charge-discharge circuit in accordance with a level transition of these signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Hagino, Kenichi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 7641346
    Abstract: A transmissive LCD is placed in optical series with pixels of an image. The transmissive LCD is set to full transmissivity when bright pixels of the image pass through the transmissive LCD. Transmissivity is decreased where pixels darker than a darkening threshold pass through the transmissive LCD. A darkening curve representative of an amount of darkening performed by the transmissive LCD provides an amount of darkening to be performed on each pixel. Preferably, the darkening curve gradually darkens pixels more as the pixels themselves are darker. The darkening curve may be implemented as a formula or a look-up table in software or drive electronics that energize the transmissive LCD. Both the darkening threshold and the darkening curve may be user selectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: LightMaster Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur Berman
  • Patent number: 7611248
    Abstract: A projection lens unit and a thin projector using the same are disclosed. The projection lens unit includes a plurality of lens sets for emitting light carrying an image, and a reflector arranged between adjacent ones of the lens sets or at a downstream end of the lens sets, and adapted to change a direction of light incident on the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Nam Sik Kim, Seung Gyu Lee, Han Kyoung Cho, Ki So Bok, Jun Ho Lee, Soon Hyung Kwon
  • Publication number: 20090262261
    Abstract: The present invention provides a projection display capable of realizing high contrast in a display image plane. The projection display includes a light source; a first light modulator modulating light from the light source on the basis of an input image signal, and generating a first image light; a second light modulator modulating the first image light on the basis of the image signal, and generating a second image light; and a projection lens projecting the second image light generated with the second light modulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventor: Hirohisa ISHINO
  • Publication number: 20090256974
    Abstract: Difference values that are defined as values representing a magnitude of an influence exerted upon an illuminance of an ambient environment according to a brightness component of an input video signal and are set so as to correspond to the brightness component based on a result of measuring the magnitude of the influence previously, a plurality of illuminance ranges set by dividing an extent of the illuminance of the ambient environment, and brightness correction characteristic data for correcting the brightness component according to each of the illuminance ranges are stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuo Mukai
  • Publication number: 20090244405
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a laser projection device which can keep the colors of red, blue, and green laser beams constant even in high ambient temperature. The laser projection device includes a red laser light source which emits a red laser beam, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the red laser light source, and a radiating unit for radiating heat from the red laser light source to the outside based on the temperature of the red laser light source detected by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Yamamoto, Tetsuro Mizushima, Ken'ichi Kasazumi, Akihiro Morikawa, Shin-ichi Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 7591560
    Abstract: A reflection optical system placed between a light valve 5 and a screen 4, wherein curved surfaces are only three reflection surfaces of first to third mirrors 1 to 3, and satisfies the following: (1) ?L<20 degrees, (2) 25 degrees<?UL<55 degrees, (3) 20 degrees<?M1<55 degrees, (4) 15 degrees<?M2<50 degrees, (5) 8 degrees<?M3<30 degrees, (6) ?L<15 degrees, (7) 30 degrees<?UL and (8) 7.5 degrees<|?F|, where ?L: minimum angle which a light beam of pupil center forms with respect to the enlargement side image surface; ?UL: difference between maximum and minimum angles which a light beam of pupil center forms with respect to the enlargement side image surface; ?M1, ?M2 and ?M3: deviation angles of the light beam of pupil center passing the center of the reduction-side image surface in first to third mirrors 1 to 3; and ?F: reduction-side pupil divergent angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignees: Fujinon Corporation, NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventor: Chikara Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20090225236
    Abstract: A projection system is described that provides improved contrast and contouring of a light signal on a pixel-by-pixel basis using a two-stage projection architecture, thus improving all video pictures. A micro-lens array is positioned between a first transmissive LCD imager and a second transmissive LCD imager in order to image on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Use of the transmissive LCD imagers minimizes the space required for the light engine, providing a high contrast low cost projector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventor: Youngshik Yoon
  • Patent number: 7576719
    Abstract: A display capable of displaying multi-color space and including a display unit, a control circuit, and a light source is provided. The control circuit is electrically connected to the display unit and the light source respectively. In addition, the light source is controlled by the control circuit to switch between different illumination modes, such that the display is capable of displaying multi-color space with different specifications, for example, sRGB, NTSC, SMPTE, PAL, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventor: Jih-Fon Huang
  • Publication number: 20090161029
    Abstract: A display device includes a light source and an image generating unit that modulates light from the light source and generates an image. The image generating unit includes a color modulating element that performs color modulation for the light of the light source based on color information separated from image information, a luminance modulating element that performs luminance modulation for the light of the light source based on luminance information separated from the image information, and a relay optical system that relays the light of the light source between the color modulating element and the luminance modulating element. The relay optical system includes a focus adjusting mechanism that images an optical image at one modulating element between the color modulating element and the luminance modulating element on the light incident side of the other modulating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masafumi SAKAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20090147031
    Abstract: A projection system includes: a first image forming unit which releases the first image light; a second image forming unit which releases the second image light; a polarization combining system which combines the first image light and the second image light; a projection unit which projects the first image light and second image light combined; a pixel shift control unit which controls a pixel shift unit; a display timing control unit which controls display timing; and an image display control unit having a function which controls the pixel shift control unit and a function which controls the display timing control unit. The image display control unit performs the pixel shifting control when the image is a still image, and performs at least display timing control out of the pixel shifting control and the display timing control when the image is a dynamic image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasunaga MIYAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20090141193
    Abstract: A laser light source 1 outputs a laser. A condenser lens 80 condenses the laser outputted from the laser light source 1, and outputs it to an optical fiber 8. The laser that propagates through the optical fiber 8 enters a light guide panel 2. The light guide panel 2 converts the inputted laser into a planar illumination light. The planar illumination light passes through a light passing control section 4 and illuminates a liquid crystal panel 7, which is a spatial modulation element that convert light into an image. The light passing control section 4 controls a scatter pattern during the passing of the laser individually in each predefined image area, by a control circuit 81. Consequently, an image area 5 in which a speckle noise is reduced and an image area 6 in which the speckle noise is generated, are formed on a liquid crystal panel 7.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Kenji NAKAYAMA, Kazuhisa YAMAMOTO, Tatsuo ITOH
  • Publication number: 20090059098
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes: rate multiplication section multiplying frame rate of input image by 2n (n is a natural number), the input image being generated through a process including a frame rate conversion from cinema image to television image, the frame rate conversion being performed so that two consecutive frames of cinema image are treated as a unit; replacement section replacing, with n frames of first image, n frames of second image which come immediately after a switch position from the first image to the second image in a sequence of image frames with a rate multiplied by the rate multiplication section, the first image and the second image corresponding to first half and latter half of the unit of the cinema image, respectively; and display section displaying image outputted from the replacement section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitake Kondo
  • Publication number: 20090059097
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes: a light source; a spatial light modulation element modulating light from the light source based on a video signal; light quantity adjustment section adjusting the light quantity of light from the light source based on luminance information in the video signal; image correction section correcting luminance level of the video signal in accordance with light quantity adjustment by the light quantity adjustment section, and supplying a corrected video signal to the spatial light modulation element; and re-adjustment section performing re-adjustment such that a light quantity adjustment target is re-adjusted to a lower value, in a case that a final display luminance level, representing a luminance of the light modulated by the spatial modulation element, is lower than a predetermined first luminance level, where the light quantity adjustment target represents a adjustment target value in the light quantity, employed by the light quantity adjustment section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Aruo Miura
  • Publication number: 20090040397
    Abstract: A projector includes a projecting module for projecting a projecting image on a screen panel, an image sensor for capturing an image of an object which is located outside of the projecting module and faces toward the lens module, a light director, and a controlling unit. The projecting module has a lens module and a light source for emitting light transmitting through the lens module. The light director is movable between a first position where the light director is located outside of a light path associated with the lens module, and a second position where the light director is configured for directing light of the object through the lens module to be incident on the image sensor. The controlling unit controls the light director to move between the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ming-Shan Chan, Sheng-An Wang
  • Publication number: 20090027572
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a variable aperture stop device, a control circuit and a user interface. The variable aperture stop device is operable to adjust the lens opening size by opening and closing an aperture. The control circuit is operable to control the opening and closing of the aperture based on an aperture ratio for the brightness distribution of an input signal constituting a screen. The user interface permits to set times necessary for the opening and closing of the aperture. The control circuit controls the opening and closing of the aperture based on times set via the user interface so that the response to the opening and closing of the aperture differs between when the signal changes from dark to light levels and when the level changes from light to dark levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Kido, Hideki Onuma
  • Patent number: 7458687
    Abstract: A digital cinema projection apparatus having an illumination source with a first etendue value for providing polarized polychromatic light. A first lens element lies in the path of the polarized polychromatic light for forming a substantially telecentric polarized polychromatic light beam. A color separator separates the telecentric polarized polychromatic light beam into at least two telecentric color light beams. At least two transmissive spatial light modulators modulate the two telecentric color light beams. There is an etendue value associated with each spatial light modulator. The etendue value is within 15% or greater than the first etendue value corresponding to the illumination source. A color combiner combines the modulated color beams along a common optical axis, forming a multicolor modulated beam thereby; and a projection lens directs the multicolor modulated beam toward a display surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Barry D. Silverstein, James R. Kircher, Joseph R. Bietry
  • Publication number: 20080284920
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image generating apparatus (1) which comprises a plurality of image generating optical paths (P1, P2, P3) and single and common means (30) for simultaneously deflecting a received plurality of light beams (l1, l2, l3) of primary illumination light (L1) having coherence properties. Said light beams (l1, l2, l3) are assigned to said respective optical paths (P1, P2, P3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Zoltan FACIUS, Markus Kamm
  • Patent number: 7453475
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide an optical display device that modulates light from a light source in two stages through an optical modulator and a luminance adjusting element to expand the luminance dynamic range and the number of the gradation levels of a display image, that allows the picture quality to be enhanced, and that is suitably applied to display an image according to the resolution of the luminance adjusting element having a higher resolution than the optical modulator. Exemplary embodiments provide a projection type display device that converts RGB pixel values in HDR display data into YCbCr pixel values, selects the maximum Ymax from corresponding YCbCr values on a pixel-basis in a color modulation light valve, and calculates average values Cbave and Crave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Nitta, Junichi Nakamura, Shoichi Uchiyama, Tsunemori Asahi
  • Patent number: 7429111
    Abstract: The invention provides a two-panel color management system for projection display applications, wherein color sequencing is accomplished using achromatic beam switching and static color separation. In a preferred embodiment, a liquid-crystal polarization switch alternates a polarization of an input light beam between two orthogonal states. A polarization beam splitter directs the beam comprising three primary color components alternately along a first and second paths, wherein first and second different secondary color filters are disposed for forming first and second secondary colored beams, each having two different primary color components. A dichroic color separator alternately receives the first and second secondary colored beams, separates their primary color components and directs them to first and second imager panels. A beam combiner combines the first polarized primary color beam from the first imager and the second polarized primary color beam from the second imager to form a projection beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventor: Georg J. Ockenfuss
  • Patent number: 7391568
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus including: a liquid crystal display element having a liquid crystal layer; a backlight apparatus arranged at one side of the couple of substrates of the liquid crystal display element; a polarizer arranged between the liquid crystal display element and the backlight apparatus; a luminous intensity distribution control element arranged at the other side of the couple of substrates of the liquid crystal display element; an analyzer arranged between the liquid crystal display element and the luminous intensity distribution control element, wherein the luminous intensity distribution control element comprises a transparent base member, a plural lenses arranged on the transparent base member, and a light absorbing layer having small opening portions substantially at focal positions of an individual lens of the plural lenses, and the transparent base member is constituted of a transparent body substantially optically isotropic or a transparent body having uniaxial optical anisotro
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Adachi, Makoto Tsumura, Ikuo Hiyama, Tetsuro Minemura
  • Publication number: 20080129893
    Abstract: An electro-optical device includes configuration to apply, to a plurality of the data lines through capacitors, inverted data signals that are generated by inverting voltage levels of data signals supplied to image signal lines with respect to a predetermined electric potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru AOKI
  • Patent number: 7336289
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus that projects video onto a screen includes a liquid crystal panel using polymer-dispersed liquid crystal that disperses light when a voltage is applied and that transmits light when a voltage is not applied, being attached to an apparatus body 2 as a screen 1; and the video output from the apparatus body 2 is projected onto the screen 1 from the front side. Accordingly, there is provided the projection type display apparatus suitable for use in small space such as at home, in which a place for setting the apparatus is flexibly selected and the feeling of oppression is mitigated when the apparatus is not used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Hidenori Ishikawa, Yoshiaki Kumagai, Akihiko Tsurishima, Shunichi Hashimoto, Akira Masutani
  • Publication number: 20080030629
    Abstract: The invention provides an image display method of displaying an image on a projection plane in response to an input video signal. The method includes steps of: emitting each of multiple color lights having mutually different hues; modulating the each of the multiple color lights; controlling light emission amounts of the multiple color lights individually, based on an analyzed result of the video signal; and correcting tone values of the video signal to generate a driving signal, for providing the modulation. The tone values are corrected such that a plurality of luminance profiles of the multiple color lights approximate each other, the plurality of luminance profiles being varied independently by individually controlling the amounts of light emission, each of the plurality of luminance profiles representing a relation between the tone value and relative luminance value for each of the modulated multiple color light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Toyooka
  • Patent number: 7327408
    Abstract: A hollow sphere with a scattering (e.g., white diffusive) interior surface directs light input from at least one input light source to an exit. In one embodiment, an internal hot mirror and phosphor are positioned to intercept the input light on which visible light is reflected and ultraviolet light is directed to the phosphor for conversion to visible light. The exit has a reflective polarizer that passes light of a selected polarization to an output. Light of other polarization(s) is reflected back into the sphere where it becomes unpolarized because of reflections and may eventually be returned to the exit at the selected polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: LightMaster Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur Berman
  • Publication number: 20080018808
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes: a light source emitting light; a spatial light modulator having a display region, and modulating the light emitted from the light source in accordance with an image signal; a projection device projecting the light modulated by the spatial light modulator onto a projection surface including an illumination region; and a deflecting section deflecting the light that is emitted from the light source and is then incident on the spatial light modulator. In this structure, the light emitted from the light source illuminates a part of the display region of the spatial light modulator, the light is deflected by the deflecting section, and the illumination region illuminated by the light moves on the projection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideya Seki
  • Patent number: 7293880
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention can provide a light source that can reduce the optical system in size while enlarging a color reproducible range and achieving higher luminance. The system can include a cross dichroic prism to combine an R light, a G1 light, a G2 light, and a B light, and an LED R to generate the R light, an LED G1 to generate the G1 light, an LED G2 to generate the G2 light, and an LED B, disposed near the LED G2 to be side by side, to generate the B light, as well as a control portion to drive these LED R, LED G1, LED G2, and LED B under control. The peak wavelengths of the G2 light and the B light are adjacent to each other, and the control portion can drive the LED G2 and the LED B under its control by switching in time division.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidefumi Sakata, Masatoshi Yonekubo
  • Patent number: 7213922
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a projector capable of comparatively easily achieving a contrast ratio higher than the original contrast ratio of the liquid-crystal light valve by a simple mechanism. The illumination light modulated by liquid-crystal light valves, i.e., image light, can be combined together in a cross dichroic prism, and then light intensity of suitable pixels is reduced by a proper amount by a liquid-crystal light valve, and then sent to a projection lens. The image light entering the projection lens can be projected to a projection surface. Because the light intensity of the image light formed by the liquid-crystal light valves is appropriately attenuated at suitable pixel areas by the liquid-crystal light valve, image light projection with a contrast ratio exceeding by far the contrast ratio achievable by the liquid-crystal light valves alone is possible due to cumulative light-intensity adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Suzuki, Mamoru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7198376
    Abstract: A lighting optical unit having an optical system for irradiating light from a light-source lamp on a predetermined object in a uniform and/or convergent manner includes a reflector for reflecting light from the light-source lamp to provide converged light and an optical assembly for collimating this converged light to provide a bundle of approximately parallel rays, wherein the bundle of approximately parallel rays is made to enter the optical systeml. Thus, in a liquid-crystal projector using a transmission type liquid-crystal panel with micro-lens, while a demand for increasing a quantity of light incident on an effective area of pixel of a liquid-crystal panel is being satisfied, the lighting optical unit can be made compact in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Katsumata, Tetsuro Okamura
  • Patent number: 7190519
    Abstract: This specification discloses a polarizing. element for dividing light into first and second polarized lights differing in polarized state from each other by a polarizing dividing surface, directing the first polarized light in a first direction, reflecting the second polarized light by a reflecting surface and directing it in the first direction, and varying the polarized state of at least one of the first and second polarized lights to thereby make the polarized states of the first and second polarized lights coincident with each other, characterized in that the polarizing dividing surface is disposed on one surface of a plane parallel plate and the reflecting surface is disposed on the other surface of the plane parallel plate, and the light enters obliquely from the one surface or the other surface. The specification also discloses a polarizing conversion unit provided with such polarizing element, and a projector provided with such polarizing conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nozomu Kitagishi
  • Patent number: 7175281
    Abstract: A transmissive LCD is placed in optical series with pixels of an image. The transmissive LCD is set to full transmissivity when bright pixels of the image pass through the transmissive LCD. Transmissivity is decreased where pixels darker than a darkening threshold pass through the transmissive LCD. A darkening curve representative of an amount of darkening performed by the transmissive LCD provides an amount of darkening to be performed on each pixel. Preferably, the darkening curve gradually darkens pixels more as the pixels themselves are darker. The darkening curve may be implemented as a formula or a look-up table in software or drive electronics that energize the transmissive LCD. Both the darkening threshold and the darkening curve may be user selectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: LightMaster Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur Berman
  • Patent number: 7173760
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus including: a liquid crystal display element having a liquid crystal layer between a couple of substrates; a backlight apparatus arranged at one side of the couple of substrates; a polarizer arranged between the liquid crystal display element and the backlight apparatus; a luminous intensity distribution control element arranged at the other side of the couple of substrates; an analyzer arranged between the liquid crystal display element and the luminous intensity distribution control element, wherein the luminous intensity distribution control element comprises a transparent base member, a plural lenses arranged on the transparent base member, and a light absorbing layer having small opening portions substantially at focal positions of an individual lens of the plural lenses, and the transparent base member is constituted of a transparent body substantially optically isotropic or a transparent body having uniaxial optical anisotropy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Adachi, Makoto Tsumura, Ikuo Hiyama, Tetsuro Minemura
  • Patent number: 7149033
    Abstract: An improved light beam combiner is disclosed that creates a more uniform light source across the UV, Visual, and NIR range. It is an optical mechanical device made up of a standard high low dielectric thin film which, when placed at a 45 degree angle between a Deuterium lamp and a Halogen or Tungsten lamp, reflects the UV portion of a Deuterium lamp and passes the visual portion while also allowing the visual energy of a Halogen or Tungsten lamp to pass resulting in a more uniform light source for use in spectroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Ocean Optics, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip E. Buchsbaum
  • Patent number: 7136035
    Abstract: A projection type display is provided that can change a quantity of light emitted to a light modulation device without changing the intensity of light emission from a lamp and exhibits superiority in an image expression and adaptability to an operational environment. This includes an illumination device, a liquid crystal light valve modulating light emitted from the illumination device and a projection lens projecting light modulated by the liquid crystal light valve. This illumination device is provided with a light source and a fly-eye lens, making illumination distribution of light incident from the light source uniform and a liquid crystal element for light adjustment, which is disposed on an optical axis of light emitted from the light source and adjusts a quantity of light emitted from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shohei Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7121668
    Abstract: In an image projection device, interferences between the light source and the light modulator leading to visible interferences in the projected image are suppressed by an interference cancellation circuit that pre-corrects the control signal that includes the image data that is to be projected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N. V.
    Inventors: Adrianus Johannes Stephanes Maria De Vaan, Peter Luerkens, Gerardus Johannes Josephus Vanlier, Adrianus Johannes Frensch, Henricus Wilhelmus Johannes Van Den Wildenberg
  • Patent number: 7123311
    Abstract: The present invention is a projector provided with a light source, a color separating optical system for separating the light from the light source into three colored light beams of red, green and blue, a liquid crystal panel for the red color for modulating the red colored light beam, a liquid crystal panel for the green color for modulating the green colored light beam, a liquid crystal panel for the blue color for modulating the blue colored light beam, and a projection lens which projects the light that was modulated by the three liquid crystal panels, wherein only the liquid crystal panel for the red color is provided with a micro lens from among the three liquid crystal panels. In this configuration, the color balance of the color image is improved and the color reproducibility (color matching) as a whole is improved, and the projector of the present invention is suitable for use as a projector for projecting a color image onto a projection surface such as a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hidemasa Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 7097306
    Abstract: A projection device includes on a chassis a liquid crystal panel for irradiation with light from a light source, a polarizing plate opposing the liquid crystal panel, and an optical compensation sheet provided between the liquid crystal panel and the polarizing plate, for compensating a twist angle of polarized light. The optical compensation sheet is attached to a rotational adjusting mechanism provided on the chassis so that it can be rotatively adjusted within a plane perpendicular to an optical axis L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Furuta, Mitsuhiro Nishiguchi, Takafumi Goto
  • Patent number: 7072000
    Abstract: In a projection type color display unit having three optical shutters formed on substrates corresponding to three primary colors, a color separation circuit and a digitalizing circuit are provided on each substrate having the optical shutter, and signals corresponding to the respective colors which are outputted from those three digitalizing circuits are compared with each other and arithmetically operated, to thereby reduce a noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7048380
    Abstract: A projection apparatus including a polarization conversion system to convert light having a first polarization component; a color recycling system, which separates the light into first and second color lights, to transmit and reflect the first and second color lights; an image forming system including a first reflective panel and a second reflective panel, which respectively modulate the first and second color lights, and a third reflective panel, which modulates the third color light; and an optical path conversion system, which splits the optical paths of fourth and fifth color lights incident from the color recycling system such that the first color light in the fourth color light is directed to the first reflective panel, the second color light in the fifth color light is directed to the second reflective panel, and the third color light in the fourth and fifth color light is directed to the third reflective panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kirill Sokolov
  • Patent number: 7040760
    Abstract: In order to provide a liquid crystal projector that prevents the image burn-in phenomenon or image sticking in a liquid crystal projector of ferroelectric liquid crystal, and moreover, that provides a bright projected image, the polarization directions of linearly polarized light beams that are irradiated upon a liquid crystal display device are switched in synchronization with the alternate reversal of the polarity of the liquid crystal display device, whereby a negative image, which could not be displayed in the prior art, can be converted to a positive image and displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Viewtechnology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Nakanishi, Atsushi Kato
  • Patent number: 7042637
    Abstract: This invention is an image display device for performing color display of an image using two spatial light modulators. The image display device has a first spatial light modulator (52) for modulating a first wavelength range component of illuminating light from an illuminating light source (10), dichroic mirrors (40), (41) for separating second and third wavelength range components of the illuminating light and condensing the respective wavelength range components, a second spatial light modulator (50) for modulating the second and third wavelength range components, and a dichroic mirror (60) for combining modulated light emitted from the first and second spatial light modulators (52), (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corproation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mukawa, Yoshinori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7021765
    Abstract: An illumination optical system is disclosed, which provides a luminous flux with a small incident angle on an illumination surface in one axis direction on a section of the luminous flux. The illumination optical system can suppress a reduction in light amount by a mask provided for a polarization conversion element. The illumination optical system has a light source and an optical integrator. The optical integrator uses a lens array to perform splitting of a luminous flux from the light source. The illumination optical system has the polarization conversion element including a polarization beam splitter array, a plurality of ½ wave plates, and a mask. The light source is a discharge gas exciting arc tube of a DC drive type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Koide
  • Patent number: 6895688
    Abstract: A liquid crystal polarization rotator device is able to rotate polarization fast enough to compensate polarization mode dispersion. The amount or degree of rotation is rapidly reconfigurable. The device includes a cavity filled with a nematic liquid crystal material. The cavity has electrodes on a first face, e.g., a first substrate, and electrodes on a second face, e.g., a second substrate, opposite the first face. The electrodes are shaped and positioned to produce an electric field across the cavity capable of rotating the alignment direction of the molecules of the liquid crystal material in the cavity. The electrodes are patterned on the ends of optical fibers. Aligning and positioning of the electrodes on the ends of the optical fibers with a predetermined spacing forms the cavity that is filled with the nematic liquid crystal material. The filled cavity is a so-called liquid crystal microcell wave plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignees: Lucent Technologies Inc., The University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Bharat R. Acharya, Cheng Cher Huang, Christi Kay Madsen, John A. Rogers
  • Patent number: 6863400
    Abstract: A projection apparatus (10) forms a tiled image (12) on a display surface (14), the tiled image (14) having at least two adjacent image tile segments. The projection apparatus (10) includes an illumination system (16) for providing a first illumination beam having a first polarization state and a second illumination beam having a second polarization state, these illumination beams being substantially non-overlapping. First and second spatial light modulators (20) form first and second modulated light beams from their respective illumination beams. A beam aligner (40) directs these first and second modulated light beams along adjacent parallel paths, in the direction of the optical axis of a projection lens (18). The projection lens (18) directs the first and second modulated beams to the display surface (14) to form the first and second tile segments respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Rongguang Liang
  • Patent number: 6831633
    Abstract: In an electro-optical device including a scanning line driving circuit, the scanning line driving circuit includes a transfer direction control circuit for controlling the direction of transfer of a start pulse, a shift register for shifting the start pulse, supplied by the transfer direction control circuit, in response to a clock signal, and an output selection circuit for selecting the output signal of the shift register in accordance with a first enable signal and a second enable signal. A decimation process and a stretching process are performed by controlling the first enable signal and the second enable signal in accordance with the video line count of an input video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Murade
  • Patent number: 6817723
    Abstract: A projection system is configured to activate a backup light source in the event that a primary light source is non-operational. The backup light source provides a light that allows a message to be projected indicating the primary light source has failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Gregory J. May
  • Patent number: 6807319
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for converting an achromatic, higher-resolution image to a lower-resolution image with reduced visible errors. These systems and methods comprise a sub-pixel sampling performed on a higher-resolution image. The sub-pixel sampled image is then converted to an opponent color domain image that is separated into separate luminance and chrominance channels. These chrominance channels are then high-pass filtered and combined with the luminance channel to form a filtered opponent color domain image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh Reddy K. Kovvuri, Scott J. Daly
  • Patent number: 6771233
    Abstract: A projection display device adopting two liquid crystal display panels, by which the maximum brightness, which is the same as that in a exemplary case of adopting three liquid crystal display panels, is obtained by using only two liquid crystal display panels, is provided. Accordingly, red, green, blue and white (R′/G′/B′/W) image data, obtained by converting red, green and blue (R/G/B) data using a predetermined algorithm for a four-color sequence system, is displayed via an optical engine having two liquid crystal display panels, with the same brightness as that when data is displayed using three liquid crystal display panels. Hence, the structure of the optical engine can be simplified, and a convergence adjusting point can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-Sun Kim
  • Patent number: 6747613
    Abstract: A display apparatus for displaying video information by superimposing a plurality of images obtained through a plurality of display systems, each including a light source, a reflection type liquid crystal panel and an optical system. The apparatus includes at least either of a system selector for selecting at least one of the plurality of display systems and a modifier for modifying the attributes of the image obtained through one of the display systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mamoru Miyawaki, Tetsunobu Kochi
  • Patent number: 6742897
    Abstract: A liquid crystal projector device, wherein an s-polarization PBS (4) forms light from a light source (1) a set of s-polarization components; an optical unit (7) reflects a green-region light and rotates by 90° the planes of polarization of a blue-region light and red-region light for outputting as p-polarization lights by reflection; a PBS (8) reflects an s-polarization green-region light and transmits p-polarization blue-region and red-region lights which are then separated from each other by a dichroic prism (9); the s-polarization green-region light is modulated into a p-polarization projected image light and reflected by a reflection type liquid crystal sheet (10G) to transmit the PBS (8); the p-polarization blue-region and red-region lights shine on reflection type liquid crystal sheets (10B, 10R) and are modulated respectively into s-polarization projected image lights, reflected and synthesized by the dichroic prism (9) before being reflected by the PBS (8) for projection by a projection lens (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventor: Shinichiro Tajiri