Beam Combining Patents (Class 348/757)
  • Patent number: 11228741
    Abstract: A seamless large screen image display having multiple tiled projection screens is disclosed. The screens can have a decorative pattern as well as black surface. Images can be presented without noticing the decorative patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Inventors: Fusao Ishii, Victor Stone
  • Patent number: 11126073
    Abstract: An illumination system including a first excitation light source, a transflective element, a wavelength conversion wheel and a filter wheel is provided. The first excitation light source emits a first excitation beam. The transflective element allows a first portion beam of the first excitation beam to pass through, and reflects a second portion beam of the first excitation beam. The wavelength conversion wheel is disposed on a transmission path of the first portion beam and includes a wavelength conversion region, and when the first portion beam irradiates onto the wavelength conversion region, the first portion beam is converted into a converted beam. The filter wheel is disposed on a transmission path of the second portion beam and the converted beam, and includes multiple filter regions, wherein the second portion beam and the converted beam irradiate onto each of the filter regions of the filter wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Kun-Liang Jao, Chun-Hsin Lu, Chun-Li Chen
  • Patent number: 10795138
    Abstract: A fluorescence microscope instrument includes a light source; an objective focusing light from the light source into a sample and collecting fluorescence light emitted out of the sample; a detector detecting the fluorescence light; and a beam path separator arranged in a first beam path between the light source and the objective and in a second beam path between the objective and the detector. Wavelengths of the light to be directed to the sample and of the fluorescence light to be detected by the detector fall into an extended range of wavelengths. The beam path separator separates the two beam paths in that it is transferable between being transparent for any wavelength of the range of wavelengths and coming along the first beam path, and a second state in which it is transparent for any wavelength of the range of wavelengths and coming along the second beam path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: DEUTCHES KREBSFORSCHUNGSZENTRUM
    Inventor: Johann Engelhardt
  • Patent number: 10625497
    Abstract: A three-dimensional printing apparatus includes a container and a projecting structure. The container is configured to contain a liquid photosensitive material. The liquid photosensitive material includes a variety of photoinitiators and a monomer. The projecting structure is configured to provide a variety of molding beams to irradiate the liquid photosensitive material. The variety of molding beams have different wavelengths and are used to actuate a polymerization between one of the variety of photoinitiators and the monomer respectively thereby forming a solidified layer. A three-dimensional printing method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: YOUNG OPTICS INC.
    Inventors: Chao-Shun Chen, Keng-Han Chuang
  • Patent number: 10444611
    Abstract: An illumination system includes an exciting light source, a first lens set, a dichroic element, a wavelength-converting element and a beam splitter. The exciting light source emits an excitation beam. The dichroic element reflects the excitation beam to the first lens set. The first lens set has an optical axis. The excitation beam is incident into the first lens set in a direction parallel to the optical axis and passes through the first lens set. The beam axis of the excitation beam is noncoaxial with the optical axis. The wavelength-converting element has a reflective region and a wavelength-converting region. The wavelength-converting region converts the excitation beam into a converted beam, which passes through the dichroic element and the beam splitter. The reflective region reflects the excitation beam to the first lens set and the beam splitter. The beam splitter splits the excitation beam into two branch excitation beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Haw-Woei Pan, Chih-Hsien Tsai, Chi-Tang Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10401621
    Abstract: A display system for a vehicle includes a head-up display unit operable to display, at a display area at a windshield of the vehicle, information that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle. The head-up display unit includes a Köhler illuminator having a light source and an optical element. A reconfigurable mask is backlit by Köhler illumination generated by the Köhler illuminator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Wierich, Christian Weber, Michael Junglas
  • Patent number: 10386708
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes a first light source module and a second light source module. The first light source module emits first emission light. The second light source module includes a light source unit that generates second emission light, and a switch unit that switches a position of an emission optical axis of the second emission light generated by the light source unit between a first optical axis position for emitting synthetic light of the first emission light and the second emission light and a second optical axis position for separating the first emission light and the second emission light for emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Aikoh
  • Patent number: 9910347
    Abstract: An image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a solid-state light source, an emission unit, and a selection unit. The solid-state light source is capable of emitting first visible light having a predetermined wavelength range. The emission unit includes an illuminant that emits second visible light, the illuminant being excited by the first visible light emitted from the solid-state light source, the second visible light having a wavelength range different from that of the first visible light, the emission unit being capable of emitting combined light including the first and second visible light. The selection unit selects third visible light from the combined light, the third visible light including the first visible light and light in a predetermined part of wavelength range of the second visible light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiki Kashihara
  • Patent number: 9470897
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a fiber array light source with individually controlled multiple-wavelength outputs are disclosed. A single spatial light modulator (SLM) outputs an image light of a first wavelength and an image light of a second wavelength. An overlap image is produced based on the image light of the first and second wavelengths. A fiber array receives light associated with the overlap image so that each individual optical fiber in the fiber array corresponds to multiple pixels on the SLM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: PHOTONEDGE INC.
    Inventor: Song Peng
  • Patent number: 9451223
    Abstract: A system and method for multiplexing multiple images of different colors using only a single spatial light modulator (SLM) are disclosed. In the disclosed system, a first dichroic beam splitter receives an image light of first and second wavelengths from the SLM, and reflects the image light of the first wavelength towards a first mirror and an image light of the second wavelength towards a second mirror. The first mirror reflects the image light of the first wavelength at a first angle, and the second mirror reflects the image light of the second wavelength at a second angle. Further, the system includes a second dichroic beam splitter that receives the image light of the first wavelength from the first mirror and the image light of the second wavelength from the second mirror, and recombines the image light of the first and second wavelengths to produce an overlap image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: PHOTONEDGE INC.
    Inventor: Song Peng
  • Patent number: 8872985
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide for a modular video projector system having a light engine module and an optical engine module. The light engine module can provide narrow-band laser light to the optical engine module which modulates the laser light according to video signals received from a video processing engine. Some embodiments provide for an optical engine module having a sub-pixel generator configured to display video or images at a resolution of at least four times greater than a resolution of modulating elements within the optical engine module. Systems and methods for reducing speckle are presented in conjunction with the modular video projector system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: RED.COM, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Jannard, Stuart J. English, Gregory Alan Prior, Edmund Sandberg, Ryan Newham
  • Patent number: 8602563
    Abstract: A projection image display apparatus includes: a light source; an illumination optical system that uniformly irradiates a surface of an image modulation element serving as a primary image surface with a light beam emitted from the light source; and a projection optical system that enlarges and projects image information on the primary image surface modulated by the image modulation element onto a screen serving as a secondary image surface, and that includes a first optical system that forms an intermediate image from the image information, a single-image second optical system that enlarges and projects the intermediate image to display a single image on the screen, a plural-image second optical system that enlarges and projects the intermediate image to display plural images on the screen, and an optical path switching mechanism that selectively guides a light beam from the first optical system to the single-image or plural-image second optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Nishikawa, Hideki Yamamoto, Junichi Iwai
  • Patent number: 8425043
    Abstract: A projector includes: a first optical device, and a first color combining optical device; a second optical device, and a second color combining optical device; a combining optical device adapted to combine emission light emitted respectively from the first optical device and the second optical device; a first polarization conversion device disposed between the first optical device and the combining optical device, and adapted to align a polarization direction of the emission light from the first optical device into a first polarization direction; and a second polarization conversion device disposed between the second optical device and the combining optical device, and adapted to align a polarization direction of the emission light from the second optical device into a second polarization direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasunaga Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 8334934
    Abstract: Technology for carrying out a luminance range expansion process is provided. In the technology, the luminance range expansion process is carried out in a manner appropriate to the luminance histogram of image data. Using the white peak value WP which represents the maximum value of luminance and the APL which represents the mean value thereof in the luminance histogram of image data, an expansion coefficient for use in the luminance range expansion process is derived by referring to an expansion coefficient lookup table 210. On the basis of the expansion coefficient, the luminance range expansion process is performed on the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Nobori, Fumio Koyama
  • Patent number: 8282216
    Abstract: A single-imager projection engine assembly includes a light source, a reflective polarization modulation imager, a reflective quarter wave composite plate, a projection lens system, and a PBS assembly which includes a first polarization beam splitting film and a second polarization beam splitting film in a V-notch pairing configuration. The first polarization beam splitting film reflects the illumination light in first polarization state to the reflective polarization modulation imager, while the second polarization beam splitting film and the reflective quarter wave composite plate in conjunction convert the illumination light in second polarization state passing through the first polarization beam splitting film to first polarization state and reflects the converted to the reflective polarization modulation imager. Combined illumination is modulated, polarization rotated and reflected by the reflective polarization modulation imager back to the PBS assembly for projection through the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Shanghai Lexvu Opto Microelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Herb He Huang
  • Patent number: 8172402
    Abstract: The invention relates to a projection system for displaying at least one visual image based on three primary colors, comprising a signal processing unit for converting said visual image into at least a visual image based on four primary colors, a frequency band being associated to each color primary, first display means for displaying three first primary colors of said visual image on a screen and second display means for displaying at least the fourth primary color of said visual image on said screen. According to the invention, the system further comprises optical filtering means that are adapted to enhance the separation between the frequency spectrum of the first three primary colors of the first display means and the frequency spectrum of the at least fourth primary color of the second display means. Application to anti-camcorder systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Jean-Ronan Vigouroux, Pascal Bourdon, Didier Doyen, Jean-Jacques Sacre, Patrick Morvan, Sylvain Thiebaud
  • Patent number: 8147070
    Abstract: A projector can form images of illumination system on respective optical paths at positions of corresponding liquid crystal display panels with respect to a light emission surface of a cross dichroic prism without relatively inverting the images and without increasing the number of lenses from the number of lenses included in a relay optical path structure in related art. Moreover, the projector can equalize the magnification of the images formed on the respective liquid crystal display panels by controlling relative image-forming conditions of the first and second optical paths in advance. Thus, deterioration of white balance and color unevenness of light projected by the projector can be reduced even when light emission distribution of a light source varies with elapse of time, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kenshi Sakai
  • Patent number: 8072551
    Abstract: A projector includes a plurality of light modulation elements adapted to modulate a plurality of colored light beams based on image data, a combining optical system adapted to combine the modulated colored light beams to emit image light, and a projection optical system adapted to project the image light emitted from the combining optical system on a projection screen. The light modulation elements are disposed with respect to the combining optical system so that long sides of the respective light modulation elements are adjacent to each other. Signal line cable boards adapted to provide the respective light modulation elements with signals, and coupled to short sides of the respective light modulation elements. A scanning direction of writing the image data to the light modulation elements is set to be parallel to a direction of the short side of an image display area in each of the light modulation elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takafumi Ito
  • Publication number: 20110234923
    Abstract: A lighting device is provided which efficiently achieves a high brightness and a high image quality by using a solid light source which has long service life and does not need mercury. The lighting device includes a first light source section, a second light source section, a second rod integrator for combining lights emitted from the first and second light source sections, and a first rod integrator for guiding the light from the first light source section, to the second rod integrator. On an incident surface of the second rod integrator, a first region on which the light emitted from the first light source section is incident and a second region on which the light emitted from the second light source section is incident do not overlap each other, and the surface area of the first region and the surface area of the second region are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigekazu Yamagishi, Hiroshi Kitano, Yoshimasa Fushimi, Takaaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7993017
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus 101 in which the light quantity adjusting means has a simple and readily interchangeable structure, and which can improve image quality by adjusting the quantity of light received by a light valve continuously, without causing illuminance irregularities, and without having unwanted light radiated onto the screen, the light quantity adjusting means 9 having light blocking members 91L, 91R for blocking light in transit to a second lens array 22, and rotational axes 91LA, 91RA for turnably supporting each of the light blocking members on an xy plane, the light blocking members 91L, 91R and rotational axes 91LA, 91RA being positioned so that the rotational axes 91LA, 91RA are disposed in positions symmetric with respect to the optical axis AX on the xy plane, and the turning range from the light blocking initiation position at which the light blocking members 91L, 91R, by being turned, start to block light in transit toward the second lens array 22 to the maximum light blocking posi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Yamada, Motoo Takahashi, Akira Daijogo, Tomohiro Bessho, Kenji Samejima
  • Patent number: 7956858
    Abstract: An integrated photonics module includes at least one light source and a MEMS scanner coupled to and held in alignment by an optical frame configured for mounting to a host system. According to some embodiments, the integrated photonics module may include a plurality of light sources and a beam combiner coupled to the optical frame. According to some embodiments, the integrated photonics module includes a selective fold mirror configured to direct at least a portion of emitted light toward the MEMS scanner in a normal direction and pass scanned light through to a field of view. The selective fold mirror may use beam polarization to select beam passing and reflection. The integrated photonics module may include a beam rotator such as a quarter-wave plate to convert the polarization of the emitted light to a different polarization adapted for passage through the fold mirror. The integrated photonics module may include one or more light detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall B. Sprague, Joshua O. Miller, Margaret K. Brown, Mark O. Freeman, Maarten Niesten, Bin Xue, Christopher A. Wiklof
  • Patent number: 7911544
    Abstract: Technology for carrying out a luminance range expansion process is provided. In the technology, the luminance range expansion process is carried out in a manner appropriate to the luminance histogram of image data. Using the white peak value WP which represents the maximum value of luminance and the APL which represents the mean value thereof in the luminance histogram of image data, an expansion coefficient for use in the luminance range expansion process is derived by referring to an expansion coefficient lookup table 210. On the basis of the expansion coefficient, the luminance range expansion process is performed on the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Nobori, Fumio Koyama
  • Publication number: 20110025930
    Abstract: An integrated photonics module includes at least one light source and a MEMS scanner coupled to and held in alignment by an optical frame configured for mounting to a host system. According to some embodiments, the integrated photonics module may include a plurality of light sources and a beam combiner coupled to the optical frame. According to some embodiments, the integrated photonics module includes a selective fold mirror configured to direct at least a portion of emitted light toward the MEMS scanner in a normal direction and pass scanned light through to a field of view. The selective fold mirror may use beam polarization to select beam passing and reflection. The integrated photonics module may include a beam rotator such as a quarter-wave plate to convert the polarization of the emitted light to a different polarization adapted for passage through the fold mirror. The integrated photonics module may include one or more light detectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: MICROVISION, INC.
    Inventors: Randall B. Sprague, Joshua O. Miller, Margaret K. Brown, Mark O. Freeman, Maarten Niesten, Bin Xue, Christopher A. Wiklof
  • Publication number: 20100259693
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method, apparatus, and system for a mirror assembly sequentially optically coupling a plurality of light sources to downstream projection components. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: INFOCUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kyrre Tangen
  • Publication number: 20100053478
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus includes: a red imager; a green imager; a blue imager; a polarization adjusting element; a color combining unit; and a controller. A superimposed component light enters the polarization adjusting element together with the fourth color component light. The polarization adjusting element transmits the superimposed component light, whereas transmitting the fourth color component light by adjusting the polarization of the fourth color component light in accordance with switching between a low voltage applied state and a high voltage applied state. The controller controls re-orienting operation of applying a high voltage to the polarization adjusting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto MAEDA, Ken Mashitani
  • Patent number: 7628494
    Abstract: An illuminating apparatus includes a polarized light beam splitter, a first polarized light source device, and a second polarized light source device. The first polarized light source device has a first light source device, a first polarized light separation prism, and a first polarization element. The second polarized light source device has a second light source device, a second polarized light separation prism, and a second polarization element. The illuminating light flux having the first polarized light component emitted from the first polarized light source device and illuminating light flux having the second polarized light component emitted from the second polarized light source device are both linear polarized light components and have different polled light axis from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20090244406
    Abstract: A projection display device includes first to third display panels configured to realize first to third color images and a fourth display panel configured to realize a white image. The first to third color images and the white image may be combined and projected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Chan-Young Park, Hye-Dong Kim
  • Patent number: 7570404
    Abstract: An image presentation device (100) incorporates an optical combiner (130) that utilizes a multi-state optical switch (131, 137) for use with a plurality of colored light sources (122, 124,126). The switch (131,137) includes an electronically switchable holographic optical element HOE (131) having a first and a second mode of operation. Light from first and second light sources (124, 126) passes through HOE (131) in a diffracted manner in at least one of the first and second modes of operation. Light from a third light source (122) is reflected by a reflector (137) in a third mode of operation. The combiner (130) operates to combine light from the various light sources (122, 124, 126) into a common light path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Inventors: Lin Li, Israel J. Morejon, Evan O'Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20090135313
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for projecting a colored video image, characterized in that a color-light generation device for generating and projecting at least two light fluxes having at least two different colors wherein the different colors are controlled to change in a time division manner; at least two spatial light modulators receiving and applying input video image date for modulating the light fluxes for generating modulated lights from each of the spatial light modulators; an optical device for combining the modulated lights from the spatial light modulators into a combined modulated light and projecting the combined modulated light; and a controller for controlling the color-light generation device and the spatial light modulators, wherein the controller controls and adjusts a ratio of a modulation period of each color synchronized with a change of the colors of the light fluxes in the time division manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Taro Endo, Yoshihiro Maeda, Hirotoshi Ichikawa, Fusao Ishii
  • Patent number: 7497577
    Abstract: A projection assembly includes a dichroic beam splitter having first and second crossed dichroic surfaces, at least one interference type light modulator panel optically coupled to the dichroic beam splitter, and at least one filter at least partially between the light modulator panel and the dichroic beam splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Wiatt Kettle, James W. Ring, Scott Lerner
  • Patent number: 7460306
    Abstract: Multi-directional optical elements are disclosed that include a body having a first side having a first curvature, a second side having a second curvature, a third side having a third curvature, and a fourth side having a fourth curvature. The second side is disposed generally opposite the first side along a first direction and a fourth side is disposed generally opposite the third side along a second direction, the second direction being different from the first direction. Also disclosed are optical systems utilizing such multi-directional optical elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Simon Magarill, Todd S. Rutherford
  • Publication number: 20080273123
    Abstract: In a laser picture formation device which forms a vide image by irradiating lights emitted from plural laser light sources (1a, 1b, 1c) which obtains monochromatic lights from laser lights which are outputted from the respective laser light emission parts to spatial light modulators (5a, 5b, 5c), each of the plural laser light sources (1a, 1b, 1c) detect the output of laser light which is emitted from the respective laser light emission parts on the basis of the modulation input signal which for modulating the spatial light modulator. Thereby, it is possible to confirm the deterioration situation of the respective laser light emission parts without deteriorating the video images which are projected onto the screen, as well as without separating the synthesized light respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Morikawa, Ken'ichi Kasazumi, Tetsuro Mizushima, Kazuhisa Yamamoto, Shin-ichi Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 7445345
    Abstract: A projection-type display device 1 including a light source 10, an optical integrator 20, dichroic mirrors 30 and 35, a reflecting mirror 36, a relay optical system 40, parallelizing lenses 50B, 50G and 50R, liquid crystal light valves 60B, 60G and 60R, incident side lenses 70B, 70G and 70R, a light-synthesizing cross dichroic prism 80, a relay lens 90, an emergent side lens 95, a liquid crystal light valve 100 and a projection lens 110, and liquid crystal light valve 100 is provided in the rear stage of liquid crystal light valves 60B, 60G and 60R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Itoh, Shohei Yoshida, Shoichi Uchiyama, Junichi Nakamura, Takashi Nitta, Tsunemori Asahi
  • Publication number: 20080204607
    Abstract: A method of producing an image, comprises the steps of providing a beam of light comprising at least three colours in sequence during a frame period, the beam comprising a pure colour period for each colour and two or more transition periods when the beam of light changes from one colour to the next colour, and of using a modulating device so that temporal subdivisions of the beam of light are either directed to form the image or not used, accepting a image signal input including intensity values ranging from a minimum value to a maximum value for each colour, determining the total intensity of each colour from the summation of the whole of the pure colour period and the respective component from the summation of the transition periods, weighting the range of intensity values of the image signal input to the total intensity for each colour, and causing the modulating device to use the beam of light from all the transition periods when the image signal intensity value corresponds to a value between the whole o
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Paul HOLMES, Calum Dewar
  • Patent number: 7401925
    Abstract: An image projector system includes an LED controller and first and second LEDs, a dichroic mirror. The LED controller controls the first and the second LED to emit first and second color lights, respectively. The second color light is of high luminance and is decomposed by a dichroic mirror into third and forth color lights having luminance close to that of the first color light. Each color light is guided through a light valves to adjust the spectral transmittance of the color light. A light-combining device, such as an x-cube, receives and combines the first color light, the third color light, and the forth color light, to form light images, and transmits the images to a display through a projector lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Chien-feng Lu
  • Patent number: 7396131
    Abstract: Projection assemblies are provided herein for use in a display system. According to one exemplary embodiment, the projection assembly includes an illumination source and a plurality of co-planar modulator panels. A method of modulating light is also provided herein that includes generating multi-component light, splitting the multi-component light into a plurality of component beams, and modulating the component beams with a plurality of co-planar modulator panels to form a plurality of sub-images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott Lerner, Anurag Gupta
  • Patent number: 7390094
    Abstract: An absorptive layer is added to an image display system. The absorptive layer is selected to compensate for tint in a black state of a displayed image. In a Liquid Crystal On Silicon (LCOS) based light engine, blue wavelengths may cause a predominate tint in black portions of an image (or an entirely black image is tinted blue), and the absorptive layer is calculated to absorb an amount of blue equivalent to the tint. The absorptive layer is, for example, an unbalanced magenta dichroic, or a yellow filter. The yellow filter may be placed at any point in the light chain, including input/output of a kernel, input/output of a projection lens, or portions of a light engine or display screen. An unbalanced magenta may be constructed by adding a yellow filter to an existing magenta dichroic in the kernel design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: LightMaster Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Berman, Ying-Moh Liu, Samson Yang
  • Patent number: 7390095
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention can provide a projector that includes three optical modulators which modulate respectively red light, green light, and blue light, a color-synthetic optical system which synthesizes the light modulated by the three optical modulators, and a projection optical system which projects the light synthesized by the color-synthetic optical system. The color-synthetic optical system can include a first reflection film that reflects the green light, and a second reflection film that reflects the blue light, the first reflection film and the second reflection film are arranged in the shape of an X character, and a wavelength in which a reflectance factor of the first reflection film comes to 50% can be longer than a wavelength in which a reflectance factor of the second reflection film comes to 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kanji Yoshida, Hidemasa Yamakawa, Joji Karasawa, Masafumi Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 7387391
    Abstract: An optical device that includes an optical element, an imager, and a prism bracket. The optical element includes an optical element having first and second prisms coupled together. The imager is arranged adjacent to the first prism and configured to receive light from or to transmit light to the optical element, wherein the first prism is spaced between the second prism and the first imager. The prism bracket is coupled between the second prism and the first imager to hold the first imager in a desired positional alignment relative to the optical element. The optical device may further include additional sets of an optical element, imager, and prism bracket, wherein all of the sets are coupled to a color light combiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael K. Domroese, Michael P. Keyes, Jiaying Ma
  • Patent number: 7384153
    Abstract: A light source device is provided comprising: a light-emitting element; a support member having the light-emitting element flip chip mounted thereto; and a thermally conductive filling agent between the light-emitting element and the support member. By injecting the filling agent between the light-emitting element and the support member, the thermal conduction is supplemented by the filling agent. As such, heat generated by the light-emitting element can be efficiently removed outside the light source device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7357516
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lighting optical system, including: a ighting optical system, comprising, a light separating means for separating incident light into three colored lights according to wavelength bands, and progressing the three separate colored lights for the same amount of distance from a light source of the incident light through different optical paths, and emitting the three separate colored lights to a first, a second and a third LCD, a first, a second and a third LCD for respectively receiving the three colored lights from the light separating means, and forming images therefrom; and a light combining means for synthesizing the three colored lights emitted from the first, second and third LCD, and outputting the synthesized light outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Nam Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 7354162
    Abstract: A projector includes: a light source device that emits substantially parallel illumination light; a first lens array having a plurality of first small lenses each of which divides the illumination light coming from the light source device into a plurality of partial light fluxes; a second lens array having a plurality of second small lenses corresponding to the first small lenses; a superposing optical system that superposes the partial light fluxes coming from the second lens array on regions to be illuminated; a color-separating and guiding optical system that separates the lights coming from the second lens array into lights in a plurality of different colors and guides the separated lights to the regions to be illuminated; a plurality of electro-optical modulation devices each of which modulates the light in the corresponding color of the lights in the plural colors separated by the color-separating and guiding optical system in accordance with image information; a color synthesizing optical system that s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • 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: 7234813
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in image display, of projecting a light beam onto a retina of a viewer, to thereby allow the viewer to perceive an image, is disclosed. The apparatus is constructed to include: a light emitter emitting a light beam; a scanner scanning the light beam emitted by the light emitter; an optical system receiving the light beam scanned by the scanner as an incoming light beam, and emitting the received incoming light beam as an outgoing light beam, such that, upon modulation of the light beam with respect to a traveling direction of the light beam, the outgoing light beam is directed to a pupil of the viewer; and a curvature compensator compensating a wavefront curvature of the incoming light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Watanabe, Shoji Yamada
  • Patent number: 7224411
    Abstract: Apparatus and techniques for enhancing characteristics of electronic projection systems are detailed. Included among the techniques are both superimposition of sub-images and tiling of superimposed images, the combination of which can be advantageous in improving resolution of projected images. Pre-modulators and polarizing beam splitters also may be used as parts of the innovative systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Imax Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Gibbon, Samuel Z. Zhou, Graham H. Moss, Dermot J. Quinn, Steven Wilding, Brian Eckersley, Sean Adkins, Sergei G. Anikitchev, Steven Read
  • Patent number: 7220005
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to achieve a high intensity, a compact structure, a cost reduction and a heat radiation of a liquid crystal panel, in a projection type video display apparatus employing a combination of LED light sources and a light pipe. The light pipe is formed in a hollow type so as to be utilized as a cooling wind path. Further, a permeable or reflective baffle plate is provided within the light pipe. Further, the light pipe is formed by coating a mirror on an inner surface of an optical case integrally formed by fixing optical parts. Further, a dichroic mirror is arranged in an LED light source outgoing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Futoshi Yamasaki, Masahiko Yatsu
  • 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: 7210797
    Abstract: In a projection type image display apparatus, a projector optical unit for projecting an image onto a screen while magnifying a size of the image to be projected with respect to an original size of the image displayed by an image forming element, has a group of lenses for magnifying the size of the image with respect to the original size thereof, and an optical path extending from the image forming element to the screen to transmit the image along the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Shuji Kato, Masahiko Yatsu, Tsutomu Nakashima, Hidehiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7210788
    Abstract: A color prism capable of separating incident light into four color beams and synthesizing incident four-color beams, and a projection-type image display apparatus employing the color prism. The color prism includes: first through third triangular prisms each having two boundary surfaces which face the other two triangular prisms, and an outer surface which transmits or reflects incident light according to an incidence angle of the light; and first through third dichroic filters respectively interposed among the first through third triangular prisms and selectively transmits or reflects incident light according to wavelength so as to separate incident light into first through fourth light beams according to wavelength ranges and synthesize incident first through fourth light beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kye-hoon Lee, Young-chol Lee, Won-yong Lee
  • Patent number: 7207676
    Abstract: A reflection type projector apparatus uses polarized beam filters that are resistant to fluctuations in incident angle as the light beam splitting elements and in which are provided for the blue color beam a blue color use liquid crystal reflection panel, a polarized beam filter, a linear polarization plate, and a ½ wavelength plate arranged at one side face of a cross prism, with a blue color beam emitted toward the blue color use liquid crystal reflection panel. The blue color beam passes through the polarized beam filter, striking the blue color use liquid crystal reflection panel, and is modulated when reflected. The blue color modulated beam is reflected toward the cross prism at the polarized beam filter, and then passes through the linear polarization plate and the ½ wavelength plate, strikes the cross prism, and is projected to the screen by a projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hirohisa Ishino