Single Light Modulator Patents (Class 348/759)
  • Patent number: 11630485
    Abstract: An electronic device may have input-output devices such as sensors, displays, wireless circuitry, and other electronic components mounted within a housing. The housing may have opposing front and rear walls. A display may be formed on a front side of the device and may be overlapped by a front housing wall such as a glass layer. Sensors and other components may be formed on a rear side of the device and may be overlapped by a rear housing wall. The rear housing wall may have a glass portion or other transparent structure through which projectors project images onto nearby surfaces and through which image sensors and other optical sensors receive light. The housing may be supported by a stand. An electrical component in the stand may interact with an electronic device on the stand. Wireless circuitry in an external item may wirelessly couple to wireless circuitry within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul X. Wang, Joshua P. Song
  • Patent number: 11297292
    Abstract: A projector includes a light source; a spatial light modulator; a signal processing unit that includes a tone map unit that performs a luminance gradation conversion of an input video data according to a tone map indicating a relationship of an output luminance with respect to an input luminance; a luminance acquiring unit that obtains a maximum luminance of a projection surface of the modulated light; and a control unit that controls an amount of light of the light source and sets the tone map. When the maximum luminance of the projection surface is equal to or greater than a first threshold value indicating a maximum luminance of the input video data, the control unit sets, to the tone map unit, a tone map in which a maximum value of the output luminance is set to be the first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP NEC DISPLAY SOLUTIONS, LTD.
    Inventor: Hisakazu Aoyanagi
  • Patent number: 11169371
    Abstract: A scanning device includes an MEMS mirror mechanism that swings a mirror with respect to a first axial line as a central line and swings the mirror with respect to a second axial line as a central line, and a control unit that generates a first drive signal for swinging the mirror with respect to the first axial line as a central line and a second drive signal for swinging the mirror with respect to the second axial line as a central line. In a lighting-on period in which a light source emits laser light in one swing of the mirror with respect to the second axial line as a central line, the control unit generates the first drive signal and the second drive signal by repeating a process of generating N pieces (N is an integer of two or greater) of second signal elements which respectively constitute the second drive signal with respect to a first signal element in a ½ cycle period in the first drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Naoto Sakurai, Makoto Nozaki
  • Patent number: 11114483
    Abstract: A cavityless chip-scale image-sensor package includes a substrate, a microlens array, and a low-index layer. The substrate includes a plurality of pixels forming a pixel array. The microlens array includes a plurality of microlenses each (i) having a lens refractive index, (ii) being aligned to a respective one of the plurality of pixels and (iii) having a non-planar microlens surfaces facing away from the respective one of the plurality of pixels. The low-index layer has a first refractive index less than the lens refractive index. The low-index layer also includes a bottom surface, at least part of which is conformal to each non-planar microlens surface. The microlens array is between the pixel array and the low-index layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chien-Chan Yeh, Ying-Chih Kuo, Wei-Feng Lin, Chun-Sheng Fan
  • Patent number: 11003065
    Abstract: A filter module having at least one filter region is provided. The filter module is pervious to a first color light with a first waveband in a converted light, and filters a second color light with a second waveband in the converted light. The filter module includes an absorptive filter and a dichroic film. The absorptive filter is located at the at least one filter region, and configured to absorb the second color light with the second waveband. The dichroic film is located on the absorptive filter, and is pervious to the first color light and reflects the second color light. The absorptive filter is configured to absorb the second color light coming from the dichroic film, and is pervious to the first color light. The first waveband is greater than a first wavelength, and the second waveband is smaller than the first wavelength. A projection device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Chang-Hsuan Chen, Chien-Chung Liao
  • Patent number: 10989998
    Abstract: Provided is a light source device, including: a first light source module, a set of lenses, a first light-homogenization component, a first light-combination device, and a wavelength conversion device. The first light source module is configured to emit a first light beam having first wavelength. The set of lenses and the first light-homogenization component are located in propagation path of the first light beam. The set of lenses is configured to converge the first light beam. The first light-homogenization component is configured to homogenize the first light beam. A second light beam formed by homogenization is incident on the first light-combination device, and the first light-combination device is located at a focus position of the set of lenses. The wavelength conversion device is located in propagation path of a third light beam emitted from the first light-combination device and configured to form excited light having second wavelength under excitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Appotronics Corporation Limited
    Inventors: Fei Hu, Haixiong Hou, Yi Li
  • Patent number: 10845578
    Abstract: A light source device 20 includes light source units 200a to 200d, lenses 203a, 203b, and 205, and mirrors 204a and 204b. Light source units 200a, 200b and/or light source units 200c, 200d are placed such that the light from units 200a to 200d either enters lens 203a at a position deviated from the optical axis of lens 203a or enters lens 203b at a position deviated from the optical axis of lens 203b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Okuno, Yohei Katsumata
  • Patent number: 10628020
    Abstract: Provided is a projection type display device capable of performing display of information according to a driver's desire. An HUD includes light sources; a light modulation element that spatially modulates light emitted from the light sources on the basis of projection image data; a projection unit that projects image light that is spatially modulated by the light modulation element onto a projection surface that is a part of a windshield 1 mounted in an automobile; a designation information acquisition unit that acquires designation information for designating at least one of a maximum number of pieces of content included in the projection image data, display sizes of the pieces of content, or arrangement layouts of the pieces of content on the basis of information input through an operation unit; and an image information generation unit that generates the projection image data on the basis of the designation information acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Koudai Fujita
  • Patent number: 10620512
    Abstract: A projector includes: a solid-state light source; a diffractive element that dynamically controls diffraction of light from the solid-state light source; a light modulator that modulates, in response to image information, diffracted light emitted from the diffractive element to generate image light; and a projection optical system that projects the image light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoichi Shishido
  • Patent number: 10602103
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a wavelength conversion wheel including a substrate, a first wavelength conversion layer, and a second wavelength conversion layer. The substrate has a rotation central axis. The first wavelength conversion layer is disposed on the substrate and has a first end. The second wavelength conversion layer is disposed on the substrate and has a second end. The second end is closely adjacent to the first end. An edge of the first end and an edge of the second end are complementary in shape, and a boundary formed between the edge of the first end and the edge of the second end is not parallel to a radial direction of the substrate, wherein the radial direction is perpendicular to an extension direction of the rotation central axis. A projection apparatus using the wavelength conversion wheel is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Pi-Tsung Hsu, Shang-Hsuang Wu
  • Patent number: 10523908
    Abstract: A light projection device includes a plurality of light sources, a transmission component, and a controller. The light sources output light of mutually different wavelengths. The transmission component transmits the light at a transmissivity of the light for each wavelength. The controller controls amount of light of the light sources based on transmissivity information indicating a change in the transmissivity for each wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takao Mizuno
  • Patent number: 10476404
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a device is provided that includes: a plurality of actuators arranged into a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; a plurality of row conductors corresponding to the plurality of rows; a plurality of column conductors corresponding to the plurality of columns; and a controller configured to select at least one of the actuators in a row by raising a voltage on the corresponding row conductor to couple each selected actuator to its corresponding column conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation
    Inventor: Roman C. Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 10469763
    Abstract: A visual privacy system unilaterally blocks rolling shutter cameras by providing a periodically interrupted ambient light source imposing bright and dark bands on the image yet at a frequency imperceptible to human observers in the environment. Communication of the modulation pattern to authorized cameras allows unaffected imaging in these regions by authorized individuals. The system also contemplates operation in a barcoding mode with a light modulation providing embedded barcodes that can be extracted from images taken in the region to indicate that the images were improperly acquired and to block the images in certain applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Xinyu Zhang, Chi Zhang, Shilin Zhu
  • Patent number: 10386710
    Abstract: A projector and an illumination system thereof are provided. The illumination system includes an excitation light source group, a phosphor wheel, a light combiner element and a first lens group. The excitation light source group provides a first beam and has a first optical axis. The phosphor wheel has a reflection region and a wavelength conversion region. The light combiner element is disposed between the excitation light source group and the phosphor wheel and has a dichroic portion and a reflection portion. The first lens group is disposed between the light combiner element and the phosphor wheel. The first lens group has a second optical axis. The illumination system is provided in the projector to reduce the number of optical elements, thereby reducing the cost and volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: De-Sheng Yang, Ming-Tsung Weng, Chien-Chung Liao
  • Patent number: 9930567
    Abstract: A three dimensional digital spectrum modulation spread spectrum technique (DSM-X) that improves channel diversity by providing multiple bands within the available portion of the frequency spectrum increasing the number of available channels. The system also improves the channel immunity through the use of at least three dimensions of pseudo-random data encoding, which adds two levels of pseudo-random frequency allocation to the pseudo-random data encoding used in prior DSM systems. The three dimensions of pseudo-random allocation may include pseudo-random data encoding, pseudo-random frequency pattern allocation among a plurality of bands defined within the assigned frequency spectrum, and pseudo-random frequency sequencing among a plurality of channels defined within each band. Additional levels of pseudo-random encoding may be implemented in direct sequence coding for header data, repeat packet timing, and packet iteration timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: HORIZON HOBBY, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Beard
  • Patent number: 9915418
    Abstract: A disk-shaped substrate made of a heat conductive material is provided with, along an outer periphery of one surface of the substrate, a ring-shaped phosphor that emits light by irradiation with blue laser light that is excitation light. The substrate is provided with, on another surface of the substrate, a plurality of convex portions dotting a region corresponding to a region provided with the phosphor. In a phosphor wheel, the substrate is driven by a motor to rotate about an axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Yamagishi, Manabu Chikayama, Naoya Kitade
  • Patent number: 9915860
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wavelength conversion element including: a base material including a light-reflecting surface; a dichroic film; and a wavelength conversion layer provided between the light-reflecting surface and the dichroic film. The dichroic film reflects portion of light in a wavelength band that the wavelength conversion layer absorbs, and has a reflectance distribution, with respect to the light along a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9843780
    Abstract: A projector includes alight source unit including a light source, a luminescent wheel having light source segments receiving light from the light source to emit different wavelength ranges of light, a color wheel separate from the luminescent wheel that has a first transmission area transmitting light, in visible light, existing in a certain range of wavelengths and a second transmission area transmitting light existing in a range of wavelengths broader than that of the light transmitted through the first transmission area and on to which the different wavelength ranges of light from the luminescent wheel are shone, and a control module controlling not only the luminescent wheel and the color wheel so that they are synchronized with each other but also the light source so that the light emitted from the light source is sequentially shone on to the light source segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masahiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9798134
    Abstract: One or more excitation energy sources emit light in an excitation spectrum and direct the emitted light as an excitation beam to the emitting surface of a wavelength conversion element directly or via reflection. Distinct areas of the emitting surface are coated with one or more distinct fluorescent phosphors. The phosphor-coated areas receive the excitation beam and generate a sequence of fluoresced light beams at a light output, each fluoresced beam of a narrow spectrum determined by the type of phosphor and the excitation spectrum. The fluoresced beams travel parallel to an emitting axis at a non-zero angle to axes associated with the excitation beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Vikrant R. Bhakta, Michael T. Davis
  • Patent number: 9772545
    Abstract: A light control unit includes: a first light-shielding fin and a second light-shielding fin arranged to have a center axis of light passing therethrough interposed therebetween, and a moving device configured to move the first light-shielding fin and the second light-shielding fin so that respective end portions of the first light-shielding fin and the second light-shielding fin move in directions toward and away from each other, and the first light-shielding fin and the second light-shielding fin include: an arm moved by the moving device, and a light-shielding portion provided on the arm and configured to move with the arm to be arranged in a passage area of the light, and at least one of the first light-shielding fin and the second light-shielding fin includes an adjusting portion configured to adjust a mounting position between the arm and the light-shielding portion, the arm and the light-shielding portion being separate members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Takizawa
  • Patent number: 9664984
    Abstract: In an optical unit having a reflective picture display device for displaying pictures by projecting light, the picture display device has a first state in which focused light is reflected in an optical axis equivalent direction of an image to be displayed and a second state in which focused light is reflected so as to have a component in a vertical equivalent direction of an image to be projected, a plane including an entire optical axis of light reflected in the second state differs from a plane formed by the optical axis of light incident on the picture display device and the optical axis of light reflected by the picture display device in the first state, and the opening size of the opening of an illumination lens in a horizontal equivalent direction of the image to be projected is larger than in the vertical equivalent direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi-LG Data Storage, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiteru Nakamura, Satoshi Ouchi
  • Patent number: 9618737
    Abstract: An illuminator for an imaging system using a spatial light modulator has first color laser light directed by a dichroic element to a first annular band on a rotatable member. The first band includes phosphor segments that respond to illumination by the first color light to emit second and third color light along a first path back to the dichroic element for output, and a light transmitting or reflecting segment that transmits or reflects the first color along the same or a second path back to the dichroic element for output. The output light is directed to a second annular band on the same or a different rotatable member. The second band includes filter segments corresponded to respectively selectively filter output light generated by the first band segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sajjad A. Khan, Philip S. King, Gregory S. Pettitt
  • Patent number: 9497442
    Abstract: An imaging device capable of capturing depth information or surface profiles of objects is disclosed herein. The imaging device uses an enclosed flashing unit to project a sequence of structured light patterns onto an object and captures the light patterns reflected from the surfaces of the object by using an image sensor that is enclosed in the imaging device. The imaging device is capable of capturing an image of an object such that the captured image is comprised of one or more color components of a two-dimensional image of the object and a depth component that specifies the depth information of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Andrew Ian Russell, David Foster Lieb, Andrew Gerritt Huibers
  • Patent number: 9348203
    Abstract: A lighting device (1) comprising a pump light source, wherein the spectral composition of the useful light of the lighting device can be controlled by the control of the phase relationship between a rotating phosphor wheel and a filter wheel rotating synchronously therewith. The control of the phase relationship controls the temporal overlap of the conversion light coming from a phosphor element of the phosphor wheel with a filter element of the filter wheel, i.e. the extent of the spectral filtering of the conversion light by the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Mueller
  • Publication number: 20150138446
    Abstract: A compact optical projection apparatus. An apparatus for light projection includes at least one illumination device; a cover prism including a curved surface positioned to receive illumination light rays and a total internal reflection surface positioned to internally reflect the light rays towards an asymmetric reflector surface positioned opposite the total internal reflection surface, the asymmetric reflector surface configured to reflect the received light rays out of the cover prism at an emitter side of the cover prism; a spatial light modulating the illumination light rays with image data to form image light rays; a reverse total internal reflection (RTIR) prism positioned between the spatial light modulator and the emitter side of the cover prism and further comprising a total internal reflection surface configured to totally internally reflect the image light rays out of the RTIR prism into a light projection device. Additional apparatus are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Zhongyan Sheng
  • Publication number: 20150124176
    Abstract: Projector display systems comprising a light dimmer and first modulator are disclosed. The light dimmer may comprise an adjustable iris, adjustable light sources and/or LCD stack that is capable of lowering the luminance of the light source illuminated the first modulator. The first modulator may comprise a plurality of analog mirrors (e.g. MEMS array) and the second modulator may comprise a plurality of mirrors (e.g., DMD array). The display system may further comprise a controller that sends control signals to the light dimmer and first modulator. The display system may render a desired dynamic range for rendering a projected image by a combination of such control signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas J. Gorny, Douglas Jason Darrow, Craig Todd
  • Publication number: 20150124175
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus for two-stage light modulation in high-definition digital projection or cinema can include two light modulators. Each light modulator can include a multi-chip imaging system coupled to a total internal reflection prism (TIR) system, which has a light input face and an on-state face. Relay optics can be positioned between the two light modulators. The relay optics can be configured to defocus light received from the pre-modulator and to provide defocused light to the prime modulator using a substantially Gaussian pixel shaping function. The prime modulator can be oriented to receive defocused light from the relay optics at the light input face of its TIR prism system. The pre-modulator can be oriented backwards, so as to receive source light at the on-state face of its TIR prism system and to output pre-modulated light to the relay optics via the light input face of the TIR prism system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Perkins, Duane Scott Dewald, Nathan Wainwright
  • Publication number: 20150098024
    Abstract: A system including a plurality of pixels disposed on a substrate forming a screen. A signal, such as an image, can be projected on the screen. The pixels of the screen include a sensor configured to sense a portion of the signal, an emitter, and circuitry. In response to information sensed in the signal, the circuitry can be configured to drive the emitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Rowan Nairn, Philipp Schmaelzle
  • Patent number: 8964129
    Abstract: A light engine includes a light source module, an optical assembly, a collimating lens, and a reflecting lens. The optical assembly includes a light inlet and a light outlet communicating with the light inlet. The light source module is connected to the light inlet. The collimating lens is connected to the light outlet. The reflecting lens includes a concave surface, and the concave surface faces the collimating lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Pin Yeh, Tsung-Je Chiu, Kai Huang
  • Patent number: 8960922
    Abstract: A projector that performs light control by varying power level of a light source in response to a video signal, includes a cooling fan that cools the light source, and a control device that averages samples of the power level of the light source based on the video signal or a brightness level of the video signal acquired with respect to each unit time and performs feedback control of a rotational speed of the cooling fan based on the average value, wherein the control device varies the number of samples and calculates the average value between the cases where the power level or the brightness level is rising and falling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shunsuke Hino
  • Publication number: 20140368746
    Abstract: A projector includes a lamp, a ballast, an aperture member including light-blocking plates, a light-blocking plate driving motor, a control section, a light modulation device, and a projection optical system, and the control section controls the ballast and the light-blocking plate driving motor so as to modulate the lamp power based on a luminance of the video signal while fixing the aperture of the aperture member to a constant value in a picture period in accordance with a luminance parameter corresponding to a video signal group in the picture period among a series of the video signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuo SUGIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20140327835
    Abstract: A scanning laser projector drives laser light sources with waveforms for higher efficiency. Optical light power values for pixels are mapped to amplitude/duration pairs. Laser diodes are driven with electrical currents having the amplitude for time period specified by the duration. For increasing optical light power values, amplitude values are increased, and then durations are increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Woltman, Robert James Jackson, Christopher Brian Adkins
  • 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: 8860891
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the effective contrast ratio and brightness yields for digital light valve image projectors using a variable luminance control mechanism (VLCM), associated with the projector optics, for modifying the light output and provide a correction thereto; and an adaptive luminance control module (ALCM) for receiving signals from the video input board, the adaptive luminance control module producing a signal on a VLCM bus connecting the variable luminance control mechanism and the adaptive luminance control module, the signal causing the variable luminance control mechanism to change the luminance of the light output and provide a corrected video signal for the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventors: Eddie E. Allen, Thomas D. Strade, Christopher Coley
  • Publication number: 20140285726
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the effective contrast ratio and brightness yields for digital light valve image projectors using a variable luminance control mechanism (VLCM), associated with the projector optics, for modifying the light output and provide a correction thereto; and an adaptive luminance control module (ALCM) for receiving signals from the video input board, the adaptive luminance control module producing a signal on a VLCM bus connecting the variable luminance control mechanism and the adaptive luminance control module, the signal causing the variable luminance control mechanism to change the luminance of the light output and provide a corrected video signal for the projector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: ALLEN VIDEO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Eddie E. ALLEN, Thomas D. STRADE, Christopher COLEY
  • Publication number: 20140204280
    Abstract: A light engine includes a light source module, an optical assembly, a collimating lens, and a reflecting lens. The optical assembly includes a light inlet and a light outlet communicating with the light inlet. The light source module is connected to the light inlet. The collimating lens is connected to the light outlet. The reflecting lens includes a concave surface, and the concave surface faces the collimating lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: WEN-PIN YEH, TSUNG-JE CHIU, KAI HUANG
  • Publication number: 20140111703
    Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein relate to a scanning controller configured produce a horizontal (H) and vertical (V) scanning control signal that is used to control a bi-axial scanning mirror of a scanning laser projector device, a system including such a scanning controller, and a method for generating such an H and V scanning control signal. In an embodiment, the H and V scanning control signal includes H scanning frequency content that is used to control a H scanning frequency of the bi-axial scanning mirror, and V scanning frequency content that is used to control a V scanning frequency of the bi-axial scanning mirror. To avoid cross talk, the scanning controller is configured to produce the H and V scanning control signal such that the H scanning frequency content has a null at DC, and the V scanning frequency content has a null at the H scanning frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS LLC
    Inventor: Gwilym Luff
  • Patent number: 8665381
    Abstract: One embodiment of a viewing cone adjustment system includes a projection lens that defines a projection lens optical axis adjustably offset from a viewing screen optical axis, and an image source device that defines an image source optical axis adjustably offset from the projection lens optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Brett E. Dahlgren
  • Patent number: 8641209
    Abstract: Described herein are devices that provide projection-type video output in a portable and flexible design. The design includes a projection chamber, a base, and an interface that permits relative positioning between the projection chamber and base. The base maintains the position of the display device. The projection chamber includes components responsible for the production of images based on received video data and components responsible for the projection of those images. Relative pointing between the projection chamber and base allows the projection chamber to be pointed—and an output projected image to be positioned—with minimal effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Transpacific Image, LLC
    Inventor: William J. Plut
  • Publication number: 20140022463
    Abstract: A projector can be easily attached by mounting a connecting unit to a socket for illumination in an ordinary home. Since the projector includes a communication unit configured to receive an electronic mail, the projector updates an image signal and adjusts a diffusion degree of modulated light by a light-diffusion adjusting unit on the basis of contents of the mail received by the communication unit. Therefore, when a user desires to inform family members who will return home that the user suddenly has to go out, if the user transmits in advance, to the projector, a mail including a message for a family member who returns home, the family member who returns home turns on an illumination switch at the entrance, whereby the projector can start up, perform an illuminating function, and clearly project and display the message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Tadashi KINEBUCHI, Kaoru YAMAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 8634649
    Abstract: Systems and methods for backlit scene detection are described. The method includes performing a pre-test on an electronic image to determine that the electronic image does not include a disqualifying characteristic. Next, the method includes performing a type test on the electronic image to determine an image type of the electronic image from a first set of predetermined backlit image types. Next the method includes performing a post test on the electronic image to determine that the image darkness density does not exceed a predetermined density. Finally, the method includes performing a second post test on the electronic image to determine that the electronic image is one of a second set of predetermined backlit image types or that the edge percentage of the electronic image exceeds a predetermined percentage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jonathan Yen, William C. Kress
  • Patent number: 8608329
    Abstract: A phosphor plate includes a glass layer, a wide-angle reflection dichroic filter and a phosphor layer. The wide-angle reflection dichroic filter is disposed on an exit surface of the glass layer. A first blue light and a second blue light of the incident ray are transmissible through the wide-angle reflection dichroic filter. The phosphor layer is disposed beside the wide-angle reflection dichroic filter. By the phosphor layer, the first blue light is excited as a first green light to be outputted and the second blue light is reflected to the wide-angle reflection dichroic filter. The second blue light and a portion of the first green light outputted from the phosphor layer are reflected by the wide-angle reflection dichroic filter, so that the portion of the first green light is transmitted through the phosphor layer and the second blue light is excited as a second green light by the phosphor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: Delta Electronics, Inc., National Central University
    Inventors: Fu-Kuo Sun, Keh-Su Chang, Chien-Cheng Kuo, Cheng-Chung Lee
  • Patent number: 8573781
    Abstract: A projector that includes: a light source; a light-on/off unit that turns on or off the light source; a recording medium reproduction unit that reproduces information recorded on a recording medium, and outputs a video signal; a video signal processing section that converts the video signal provided by the recording medium reproduction unit, and generates a projection-video-use video signal; a light modulation unit that modulates a light coming from the light source based on the video signal generated by the video signal processing section, and emits a resulting video light; a projection system that includes a projection lens, and magnifies and projects the video light coming from the light modulation unit; a lens cover that opens and closes the front of the projection lens; a lens cover open/close detection sensor that detects an open/close state of the lens cover; and a control section that at least controls operation of the light-on/off unit and that of the recording medium reproduction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Koyama
  • Publication number: 20130148037
    Abstract: A locally dimmed display has a spatial light modulator illuminated by a light source. The spatial light modulator is illuminated with a low resolution version of a desired image. The illumination may comprise a series of lighting elements that vary smoothly from one element to another at the spatial light modulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2013
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
  • Patent number: 8441582
    Abstract: An image displaying apparatus, comprising: a first light modulator unit, which is configured to modulate a light incident thereon, responding to a first video signal, thereby to form a first image; one or a plural number of second light modulator units, which is/are configured to modulate a light from a light source, responding to a second video signal; and an enlarged image forming unit, being disposed on a light incidence side of the first light modulator unit, upon which a light modulated within the second light modulator unit is projected, enlargedly, thereby to form a second image thereon, wherein upon the first light modulator unit is incident the light of the second image formed on the enlarged image forming unit, and the first image is formed through modulation of the light of the second image responding to the first video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Hidehiro Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20130010212
    Abstract: A projector that performs light control by varying power level of a light source in response to a video signal, includes a cooling fan that cools the light source, and a control device that averages samples of the power level of the light source based on the video signal or a brightness level of the video signal acquired with respect to each unit time and performs feedback control of a rotational speed of the cooling fan based on the average value, wherein the control device varies the number of samples and calculates the average value between the cases where the power level or the brightness level is rising and falling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunsuke Hino
  • Publication number: 20120242912
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes: an excitation light source including a laser light source; a first wheel that is controlled to rotate, and includes, in a part of a surface thereof to be illuminated by excitation light emitted from the excitation light source, a phosphor layer to be excited by the excitation light; a dichroic mirror that guides fluorescence emitted from the phosphor layer of the first wheel and the excitation light to an illumination optical system; and a second wheel that is controlled to rotate, and includes a dichroic filter that transmits light having a desired wavelength component of each of the fluorescence and the excitation light output from the dichroic mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi KITANO
  • Patent number: 8194192
    Abstract: A projection display uses a light modulating device to modulate, in accordance with image data, light radiated from a light source, project the modulated light onto a screen, and display an image. The projection display separates a unit of time configuring the image data into an effective light time when the light modulating device can express the light as an image on the screen and an ineffective light time when the light modulating device cannot express the light as an image on the screen. The projection display increases the power supplied to the light source during the effective light time over the power supplied to the light source during the ineffective light time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Harada, Takayoshi Nagai, Ikuro Suga, Akihiko Iwata, Yoshiteru Suzuki, Akira Okumura, Jun Someya, Kuniko Kojima
  • Patent number: 8152305
    Abstract: A broadband electromagnetic wave beam is projected from a broadband wave source (301). The wave beam is separated by an element (306) into narrowband wavelength beams. The narrowband beams are directed across a predetermined area (312). A narrowband wavelength beam corresponding to a desired pixel wavelength is selected and displayed on a display surface (318).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Inventors: Kurtis P. Keller, Henry Fuchs, Leonard McMillan, Leandra Vicci
  • Patent number: 8115776
    Abstract: A mechanism for mitigating undesired color image breakup artifacts arising in display systems that exploit the principle of field sequential color generation. By suitably reducing the time interval during which image information strikes the moving retina, such that the differential position for the respective red, green, and blue components of the image falling upon the moving retina does not exceed the diameter of a retinal cone or rod, the cause of the breakup is negated and the image becomes unitary as expected: the eye sees the image as if all the components arrived at the same time. The truncation of light emission into shorter time frames necessitates a compensatory increase in imaging light intensity, such that the net amount of photonic flux striking the retina, averaged over time, remains unchanged. The mechanism can be applied to systems with discrete red, green, and blue sources as well as to color-wheel-based systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Martin G. Selbrede, Rick Zemen