Plural Light Path Projectors Patents (Class 349/8)
  • Patent number: 7699474
    Abstract: A projector includes a lighting device having two light source devices each having an ellipsoidal reflector disposed such that the ellipsoidal reflectors face each other, a reflection system that reflects illumination lights emitted from the two light source devices substantially in the same direction, an electro-optic modulating device that modulates the light released from the lighting device according to image information; and a projection system that projects light modulated by the electro-optic modulating device. The two light source devices are disposed such that the respective light source optical axes of the two light source devices are substantially perpendicular to the projection optical axis of the projection system. The reflection system is constructed such that the center axes of the respective illumination lights emitted from the two light source devices and entering a converging lens are inclined toward the illumination optical axis of the lighting device by a predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kenshi Sakai
  • Publication number: 20100079688
    Abstract: This optical component adjustment mechanism includes support frame 21 for supporting optical compensator 11, optical compensator support 20 having first and second rotary salients 22, 23 projecting outside from support frame 21 in a predetermined axis, holder support frame 31 for rotatably supporting first and second rotary salients 22, 23, setscrew 37 for fixing rotation of optical compensator support 20, and bracket 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventor: Hiroaki Fukunaga
  • Publication number: 20100073585
    Abstract: A projection type display device is provided to display high quality images. In the device, a WB-PBSW 2 is inclined to liquid crystal display devices 1r, 1b, 1g and has wire grids 2a parallel with a first substrate 11. One of directions of projection lines obtained by projecting the wire grids 2a on a second substrate 12 vertically, the one direction being directed to a direction where one extension surface of the polarization spectroscopic surface intersects with another extension surface of the second substrate when the one direction is turned in the counterclockwise direction by 90°, is defined as X-axis. If the liquid crystal display devices 1r, 1b, 1g are a type of first twist (normal twist), device reference line vectors are located at 225°±10° in the counterclockwise direction in view from the first substrate 11. In case of a second twist (reverse twist) type, the device reference line vectors are located at 315°±10° in the counterclockwise direction in view from the first substrate 11.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: VICTOR COMPANY OF JAPAN, LIMITED
    Inventors: Shunsuke Izawa, Takashi Moroboshi, Tetsuji Suzuki, Manabu Endou, Yasuo Ishizaka
  • Publication number: 20100020253
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus is provided with a liquid crystal panel, and first to third polarizing layers are arranged on an optical path of light. The transmission axis of the first polarizing layer and the transmission axis of the second polarizing layer orthogonally intersect with each other. The transmission axis of the second polarizing layer and the transmission axis of the third polarizing layer are parallel to each other. The first compensation layer compensates a phase difference generated due to pre-tilt angle on the entering side of the liquid crystal panel. The second compensation layer compensates a phase difference generated due to a pre-tilt angle on the outgoing side of the liquid crystal panel. The third compensation layer compensates a phase difference generated due to deviation between the polarization axis of the light entering the third polarizing layer and the transmission axis of the third polarizing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Shinichiro Chikahisa, Isao Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20090310042
    Abstract: Light provided by a light-reflective light source (102) in an illumination system having polarization recovery is collimated by a collimator (104) and transmitted through a quarter-wave retardation plate (106) to produce light having orthogonal linearly polarized components of first and second linear polarization types. A light-reflective linear polarizer (108) largely transmits the first-linear-polarization-type component and reflects the second-linear-polarization-type component which is then largely converted by the retardation plate into circularly polarized light of a first handedness and directed by the collimator to the light source to be reflected forward and converted into circularly polarized light of an opposite second handedness. The circularly polarized light of the second handedness is largely collimated by the collimator, converted by the retardation plate into linearly polarized light of the first polarization type, and transmitted through the polarizer to complete the polarization recovery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Marcial Vidal, Haizhang Li, Zhisheng Yun
  • Patent number: 7633563
    Abstract: An optical element is disclosed. The optical element may include a container having a holding chamber; a polarized or conductive and transparent first liquid filled in the holding chamber; a liquid crystal filled in the holding chamber and not mutually mixing with the first liquid; first and second electrodes applying an electric field to the first liquid; and voltage application means for applying voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohishi, Kazuhiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7623188
    Abstract: A directional display device that separates and displays images on an image display surface of a display panel in different viewing directions. The directional display device includes a polarization control unit which is arranged in front of the display panel. A liquid crystal lens is arranged in front of the polarization control unit. A polarization plate is arranged in front of the liquid crystal lens. The polarization control unit has first and second polarization areas which change incident light rays to light rays having different polarization axes. The liquid crystal lens includes a lens layer including having lenses with a predetermined refractive index and a liquid crystal layer. An alignment state of the liquid crystal layer is changed so as to change the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer and change the refractive power of the liquid crystal lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Goro Hamagishi
  • Patent number: 7616266
    Abstract: A liquid crystal projection system has a dichroic mirror, a reflecting prism, a first and a second polarizing component, a dichroic component, a modulating device, and a projection lens. The dichroic mirror splits a polarized light source into dual primary color lights and a single primary color light. The reflecting prism receives the single primary color light and reflects it. The first and second polarizing components polarize the dual primary color lights and the single primary color light, respectively. The dichroic component is disposed beside the first polarizing component, and splits the dual primary color lights. The modulating device is disposed beside the second polarizing component and the dichroic component, and modulates the dual and single primary color lights into the other polarization and then reflects them. The projection lens is disposed beside the first polarizing component, and project the output light beam to a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Cinetron Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Ruey-Yau Tzong, Chien-Chih Hsiung
  • Publication number: 20090244412
    Abstract: An optical compensator handling higher luminance, capable of achieving a higher contrast ratio while suppressing variation of the contrast ratio, and able to achieve higher definition and longer service life, a liquid crystal display system and a projection type liquid crystal display system using this optical compensator, and a production method and an adjustment method of the display systems are provided. The liquid crystal display system has a liquid crystal device optically modulating an emitted light beam by a liquid crystal layer vertically aligning liquid crystal molecules having negative dielectric constant anisotropies and having a pretilt in a direction vertical to a main surface of a substrate, a first polarizer arranged on an incident side of the liquid crystal device, a second polarizer arranged on an emission side of the liquid crystal device, and an optical compensator arranged in a light path between the emission side of the first polarizer and the incident side of the second polarizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomonori Tsukagoshi
  • Patent number: 7595935
    Abstract: A rod lens comprises a tubular body having a first end, a second end, a length and a diameter, a first optically transparent closing element, tightly sealing the first end of the tubular body, a second optical transparent closing element, tightly sealing the second end of the body. The rod lens further comprises n further optical elements being positioned within the tubular body defining n+1 chambers in the tubular body, with n being an integer >0, and n+1 optical fluids being positioned in the n+1 chambers, with each of the n+1 optical fluids being positioned in one of the n+1 chambers, whereby at least one of the n+1 optical fluids having a refractive index different from the other n+1 optical fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Fang Lei, Markus Kupferschmid
  • Publication number: 20090231498
    Abstract: A liquid crystal projection apparatus has an image synthesizing means comprising: a color synthesization prism having an upper surface, a lower surface facing the upper surface, and three light incident faces between the upper and lower surfaces; an upper prism pedestal provided on the upper surface of the color synthesization prism; a lower prism pedestal provided on the lower surface of the color synthesization prism; an upper liquid crystal panel holder provided on the upper prism pedestal and having a multiplicity of first jointing sections, a lower liquid crystal panel holder provided on the lower prism pedestal and having a multiplicity of second jointing sections; three liquid crystal panels; and three liquid crystal panel mounting members securely fixing thereon the three liquid crystal panels, the three mounting members arranged on the respective three incident faces of the color synthesization prism and adapted to joint the first jointing sections located in association with the respective incident
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xianglin ZHANG, Jieyang WU, Tadashi RENBUTSU, Shoji OKAZAKI, Yanshan HUANG
  • Publication number: 20090231499
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device includes a liquid crystal panel, a pair of polarizers and a phase plate. The phase plate is formed by a supply direction of an inorganic material to the substrate surface set such that a ratio of a front phase difference, which is produced when light is incident along a normal direction of the phase plate, and a first phase difference, which is produced when light is incident along a first direction different from the normal direction, falls within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takanori Ninomiya, Hiromi Saito
  • Publication number: 20090195713
    Abstract: An optical module is used in an electronic device to share a light source. The light source can be shared concurrently with an image projection device and a different component, such as a liquid crystal display device. Alternatively, the light source is used for providing illumination to the component only when the light source is not used by the image projection device. When the light source is used for providing illumination to the liquid crystal display device, at least part of the light beam from the light source is coupled to a back-light unit of the display device, for example. In addition to providing illumination to the liquid crystal display device, part of the light beam can also be used to provide illumination to other accessories or components, such as a keyboard of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Chi-Wei Chen, Hai-En Tsai
  • Publication number: 20090185086
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator 100 comprising an array-type liquid crystal panel 115, a polarization beam splitter 120, an oblique wave plate 130 and a converging lens 135. The polarization beam splitter is orientated to direct a source light 125 towards a reflective planar surface 127 of the array-type liquid crystal panel. The oblique wave plate and converging lens are located between the polarization beam splitter and the array-type liquid crystal panel. The converging lens is configured to direct light from the reflective planar surface onto a facing surface 125 of the polarization beam splitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Incorporated
    Inventors: Gang Chen, Mihaela Dinu, Roland Ryf
  • Patent number: 7564509
    Abstract: Apparatus for illuminating an object comprising a first polarizing beamsplitter (2) which produces a first linearly polarized component (3) and an orthogonally polarized component (5). The two components (3, 5) are focused onto a liquid crystal device (7) having an array of electronically controllable pixel elements each of which is bistable in that it is electronically controllable to occupy either a first state in which the plane of polarization of the light incident on the pixel is rotated by up to 90° or a second state in which the plane of polarization is not changed. The two light beams from the device (7) are incident on a second polarizing beamsplitter (13) which recombines the incident beams into two composite beams one of which represents light rotated by the “on” pixels of the device (7), and this combined beam is refocused onto the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Cairn Research Limited
    Inventor: Martin Thomas
  • Publication number: 20090161033
    Abstract: In order to miniaturize a projector as a whole to such a degree that the projector can be included in a small device such as a portable telephone terminal or the like, a red laser light beam (1R) is diffused and shaped by a diffractive optical element (21R) for red, a green laser light beam (1G) is diffused and shaped by a diffractive optical element (21G) for green, and a blue laser light beam (1B) is diffused and shaped by a diffractive optical element (21B) for blue, so as to be each spread over an entire display area of a liquid crystal display panel (40) and be incident on corresponding pixels of a liquid crystal layer (48). The diffused and shaped laser light beams (2R, 2G, and 2B) are made incident on the liquid crystal display panel (40) via a field lens (31). In the liquid crystal display panel (40), red, green, and blue pixels are formed, and a microlens array is formed in an incidence side substrate (41).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kikuo Kaise
  • Publication number: 20090161032
    Abstract: A polarization optical system includes a first polarization plate, arranged at the light incident side of a liquid-crystal light valve, for transmitting first polarized light (s-polarized light) included in light incident on the liquid-crystal light valve from an illumination optical system and a second polarization plate, arranged at the light exit side of the liquid-crystal light valve, for transmitting second polarized light (p-polarized light), different from the first polarized light (s-polarized light), included in imaging light emitted from the liquid-crystal light valve to a projection optical system, in which the second polarization plate is configured in such a way that its light-incident face is concave toward the liquid-crystal light valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Akihiro Yamada, Akira Daijogo, Kenji Samejima
  • Patent number: 7551280
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical element in which a display quality of a projection image is improved is provided. The method is for manufacturing an optical element having a polarization plate of which one side a transmissive member is bonded. The method includes preparing a light source, a polarization plate, a transmissive member, a certificating polarization plate and a spectrophotometer; arranging the polarization plate, the transmissive member, and the certificating polarization plate between the light source and the spectrophotometer; measuring a light transmittance spectrum of a predetermined wavelength at each rotational position of the transmissive member; determining the rotational position of the transmissive member that yields a smallest value for a difference between a maximum value and a minim value of the light transmittance spectrum; and bonding the transmissive member to the polarization plate at the determined rotational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yanai, Toshiaki Hashizume
  • Publication number: 20090147159
    Abstract: A projector includes a plurality of light sources, a liquid crystal display panel, a field lens and a flat mirror. The light sources provide color light beams. The liquid crystal display panel is capable of full color display. The field lens is disposed between the light sources and the liquid crystal display panel. The flat mirror is disposed between the light sources and the field lens. The light beams are reflected by the flat mirror to the field lens, and then pass through the field lens and change in different directions, entering the liquid crystal display panel with different incident angles. The projector further includes a curved mirror. The curved mirror replaces the field lens and the flat mirror. The light beams are reflected by the curved mirror and change in different direction, entering the liquid crystal display panel with different incident angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: YOUNG OPTICS INC.
    Inventor: S-Wei Chen
  • Publication number: 20090128718
    Abstract: A retardation compensation element (32, 32a) has a first optical anisotropic layer (42) that functions as a negative C-plate, and a second and a third optical anisotropic layers (43, 44) that function as positive O-plates. VA mode liquid crystal molecules (37) tilt at an azimuth angle of 45 degrees and a polar angle of 5 degrees when no voltage is applied thereto. The second and third optical anisotropic layers have optical axes respectively at an angle of ?105 degrees and +105 degrees from the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecule. The first optical anisotropic layer (42) compensates the retardation of light that enters a liquid crystal layer (38) at an oblique angle while the second and third optical anisotropic layers (43, 44) compensate the retardation of light that enters the liquid crystal layer at a right angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenichi Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20090128719
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a liquid crystal device, a projector and an optical compensation method of a liquid crystal device. In one embodiment, a liquid crystal device includes a liquid crystal panel having a pair of substrates, each of which has an alignment film. A vertically-aligned liquid crystal, which has liquid crystal molecules pretilted by the alignment films, is interposed between the pair of substrates and modulates light. A pair of polarizing films interposes the liquid crystal panel therebetween. A first retardation film is disposed between the pair of polarizing films and includes (i) a first substrate and (ii) a first deposited film maintaining a first refractive anisotropy and being obliquely deposited on the first substrate so that a first optical axis of the first refractive anisotropy is tilted in a direction in which a variation in characteristic of the light due to the pretilted liquid crystal molecules is canceled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitake Tateno
  • Publication number: 20090128720
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device and a projection type liquid crystal display apparatus are provided. The liquid crystal display device includes two substrates opposed each other, a liquid crystal layer arranged between the two substrates, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged on the opposed surfaces of the substrates to form pixels in a matrix form, and alignment films formed on the two substrates to align liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer in a predetermined direction. The pixels arranged in the matrix form have different spacings between the pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akiko Toriyama, Keisuke Matsui
  • Patent number: 7532407
    Abstract: A projection type image display apparatus is provided which includes a housing to hold an optical system including multi-lenses, a polarized-light conversion element and the color separation portion. The housing operates to provide an optical path between a light source, located outside the housing, and penetration-type image display elements and an optical synthesizing portion also located outside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu
  • Patent number: 7528892
    Abstract: A liquid crystal projector device of the present invention includes a lamp unit, an optical system for separating light emitted from the lamp unit into light of three primary colors, and an image synthesizer for generating image light of three primary colors from the light of three primary colors, and synthesizing the generated image light of three primary colors into color image light. The image synthesizer includes three liquid crystal panels for three primary colors and three incidence polarizing plates arranged at light incidence sides of the liquid crystal panels. Each of the incidence polarizing plates includes a glass base material and a polarizing film joined to a surface thereof. The surface area ratio of the glass base material to the polarizing film is set to 178%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Nakagawa, Toshihiro Saruwatari, Katsumi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20090109354
    Abstract: A projector (100) includes a light source unit (20), a light polarizing module (11), a color light separation optical module (12), a reflection mirror group (13), a liquid crystal panel group (17), a cross dichroic prism (1 8), a projection lens (19), and two automatic dust-removing devices (16) for removing dust from the liquid crystal panel group. The liquid crystal panel group includes three liquid crystal panels (171, 172, 173). Each of the liquid crystal panels includes a mounting frame (179) and a liquid crystal lens (178) attached to the mounting frame. The automatic dust-removing devices are attached to opposite sides of the mounting frames. Each of the automatic dust-removing devices includes a fastening element (161), two vibration elements (163) and an optical lens (164). The fastening element is attached to the mounting frame. The vibration elements and the optical lens are attached to the fastening element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yung-Hsiang Chen
  • Publication number: 20090109355
    Abstract: A polarizer capable of being manufactured in simple steps, and a method of manufacturing the polarizer, as well as a liquid crystal projector are provided. The polarizer includes a substrate having light permeability, and a plurality of linear projections being arranged on the substrate and extending along one direction within a plane thereof. Each of the linear projections having a base layer and a plating layer in the named order from the substrate, the base layer containing a catalyst material for electroless plating process, and the plating layer being deposited by using the base layer as a catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Ishihara, Masanobu Tanaka, Toshiki Shimamura, Takahiro Kamei
  • Publication number: 20090073329
    Abstract: A liquid crystal panel includes a liquid crystal display element, a micro-lens array, an adjustable lens array, and a lens control unit electrically connected to the adjustable lens array. The liquid crystal display element has a light input surface and a light output surface opposite to the light input surface. The micro-lens array has a plurality of micro-lenses disposed on the light input surface of the liquid crystal display element). The adjustable lens array has a plurality of adjustable lenses disposed on the light output surface of the liquid crystal display element. The lens control unit is capable of controlling focal lengths of the plurality of adjustable lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: CHIEN-WEN HSU, PO-LIN WANG, CHING-TE CHU, YU-SHAN CHOU
  • Patent number: 7502078
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus includes: a reflective polarizing plate for each color light which transmits each of R light, G light and B light having a P polarized component subjected to color separation by a color separation optical system therethrough, allows each transmitted light to enter a corresponding reflective liquid crystal panel for each color light, and reflects image light of each color having an S polarized component which has been subjected to light modulation in accordance with an image signal of each corresponding color light by the reflective liquid crystal panel for each color light; a transmission type polarizing plate for each color light which removes an unnecessary polarized component from the image light of each color reflected by the reflective polarizing plate for each color light; a color combination optical system which subjects the image light of each color transmitted through the transmission type polarizing plate for each color light to color combination; and a projection
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Limited
    Inventor: Tetsuji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20090059103
    Abstract: Methods and systems for displaying or projecting images that may be implemented to provide the ability for a user of an information handling system to view a selected image on a display or projection screen privately, while allowing other images to appear on the display or projection screen which are publicly viewable to other users who cannot see the privately-displayed image. With appropriate intervening polarization, a user may be allowed to view the private image as well as any displayed or projected publicly viewable images, and the private image and publicly viewable images may be optionally simultaneously displayed or projected if so desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Frank C. Azor, Mark A. Casparian, Reginald I. Rego
  • Publication number: 20090059104
    Abstract: The problem to be solved is to suppress image quality degradation caused by polarizers and provide improved light fastness. To solve the above problem, the embodiment of the present invention is a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device includes a driving-side substrate 1 on which a drive transistor 5, pixel electrode 6 and orientation film are formed. The liquid crystal display device further includes an opposed-side substrate 2 on which an opposed electrode and orientation film are formed. The liquid crystal display device still further includes liquid crystal 4 filled between the pixel electrode 6 of the driving-side substrate 1 and opposed electrode of the opposed-side substrate 2. The liquid crystal display device still further includes a reflective inorganic polarizer 3 formed between the drive transistor 5 and pixel electrode 6 of the driving-side substrate 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yumiko Tatemori, Hiroyoshi Tsubota, Fumiaki Abe
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20090051833
    Abstract: There is provided a micro lens array (11) in which a plurality of micro lenses (21) is disposed two-dimensionally on a substrate, wherein the focal distance f of the micro lens (21) and distance Ts from the main surface of the micro lens (21) to the substrate surface upon which light is incident meet the following X=Ts/?{square root over (2)}P, Y=f/?{square root over (2)}P where P is a pitch of the micro lenses (21) and (X, Y) is within an X-Y coordinate system surrounded by the following point sets (0.75, 1.00), (0.75, 1.25), (1.00, 1.75), (1.75, 2.50), (2.25, 2.50), (2.25, 2.00), (1.50, 1.25), (1.00, 1.00). The micro lens array can be used to improve the contrast of a liquid crystal display having an optical compensation element provided therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Shinya Watanabe, Shouhei Maezawa, Tomoki Furuya, Shunji Kurita
  • Publication number: 20090002579
    Abstract: Contrast compensation for a liquid crystal display projection system is provided with a trim retarder that includes a single-layer retarder element that has an in-plane retardance that is shifted from a zero-order half-wave at a predetermined wavelength by a predetermined amount. This near half-wave plate provides similar contrast compensation and azimuthal angle sensitivity to conventional relatively low-magnitude trim retarders, yet is readily fabricated with inorganic birefringent crystals with a manageable thickness tolerance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventor: Kim Leong Tan
  • Publication number: 20090002578
    Abstract: A projection system which has a plurality of liquid-crystal displays each includes a display panel having a plurality of OCB-mode liquid-crystal pixels, and a control unit configured to control the display panel, and which synthesizes images of different colors, modulated by the display panels, thereby to display a color image, wherein each of the liquid-crystal displays includes a temperature sensor, and the control unit of each liquid-crystal display controls at least one condition of driving the display panel in accordance with the temperature detected by any one of the temperature sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Shigesumi ARAKI, Kenji NAKAO, Kazuhiro NISHIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20080316376
    Abstract: An LCD projector has LCD panels, each including polarization plates one on the light incidence side and another on the light emitting side of each LCD panel. The LCD panel is provided with a highly transparent auxiliary polarization plate between the LCD panel and the polarization plate on the light emitting side. The LCD panel is further provided with an optically anisotropic transparent substrate for supporting the highly transparent auxiliary polarization plate. The transparent substrate is arranged such that one of its anisotropic optical axes is inclined at an angle not more than 0.5 degrees with respect to the face of the auxiliary polarization plate when the face is parallel to the direction of light propagation. This arrangement ensures longer lives of the polarization plates on the light emitting sides while suppressing color irregularity on a black screen and degradation of picture contrast of the LCD projector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro UCHIYAMA, Yoshihiro FURUTA
  • Publication number: 20080303962
    Abstract: A liquid crystal projector for projecting a three-dimensional image includes: a liquid crystal panel to which a normal voltage and an inversion voltage are alternately applied; and a drive circuit for driving the liquid crystal panel in order of a first state corresponding to a first image signal, the first state corresponding to a second image signal, a second state corresponding to the first image signal, and the second state corresponding to the second image signal, one of the image signals for the left-hand and the right-hand eyes being set as the first image signal, the other thereof being set as the second image signal, one of a normal state of the voltage applied to the liquid crystal panel, and an inversion state of the voltage applied to the liquid crystal panel being set as the first state, the other thereof being set as the second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo TOMITA, Michihiro Tobita
  • Publication number: 20080278639
    Abstract: A directional display device that separates and displays images on an image display surface of a display panel in different viewing directions. The directional display device includes a polarization control unit which is arranged in front of the display panel. A liquid crystal lens is arranged in front of the polarization control unit. A polarization plate is arranged in front of the liquid crystal lens. The polarization control unit has first and second polarization areas which change incident light rays to light rays having different polarization axes. The liquid crystal lens includes a lens layer including having lenses with a predetermined refractive index and a liquid crystal layer. An alignment state of the liquid crystal layer is changed so as to change the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer and change the refractive power of the liquid crystal lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Goro HAMAGISHI
  • Patent number: 7448755
    Abstract: A three-panel projection display apparatus displays a color image by separating light emitted from a light source into lights of three primaries, i.e., red, green, and blue, with dichroic mirrors, by irradiating liquid crystal light valves with the respective separated lights, by combining the lights modulated by the respective liquid crystal light valves with a cross dichroic prism, and by projecting the combined light through a single projection lens onto a screen. The lengths of the light paths for the separated blue and green lights are equal to each other. The distance between a condenser lens and the liquid crystal light valve in the blue light path is shorter than the distance between a condenser lens and the liquid crystal light valve in the green light path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Viewtechnology, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiro Osaka
  • 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: 20080266470
    Abstract: A retardation compensation plate having a birefringent property for compensating residual retardation of a liquid crystal panel includes: a combined unit formed of an optical multi-layered film composed of a plurality of layers having different refractive indices stacked in a regular order and a polymer film. In the retardation compensation plate, the retardation compensation plate and the liquid crystal panel have in-plane retardations that satisfy the relationship: 1<R0c/R0p<10, where R0c is an in-plane retardation of the retardation compensation plate and R0p is an in-plane retardation of the liquid crystal panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yutaka Muramoto
  • Patent number: 7443565
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention can provide an image display apparatus for displaying an image by modulating light from a light source based on display image data. The apparatus can include a first light modulator device can modulate light from the light source, a second light modulator device that can modulate the light from the first light modulator device, and a polarization compensation system disposed between the first light modulator device and the second light modulator device for compensating a polarization state of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shoichi Uchiyama, Junichi Nakamura, Takashi Nitta, Tsunemori Asahi
  • Publication number: 20080259230
    Abstract: A polarizing sheet having a transparent substrate on both surfaces of a polarizing film containing a polarizer, wherein exposed portions of the polarizing film not covered by the transparent substrate are covered with a sealing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hakaru Miyakita, Yumiko Hashimoto, Yingxin He, Atsushi Kanazawa, Takashi Fujii
  • Publication number: 20080259231
    Abstract: A projector includes a lighting device, a first image forming unit including first through third light modulation elements, a second image forming unit including fourth through sixth light modulation elements, a polarization combining optical system, a projection optical system, and an image correction device, wherein the image correction device, based on one of combined transmittance and combined reflectance obtained by combining one of transmittances and reflectances corresponding to gray-scale values of two of the first through sixth light modulation elements for modulating the same colored light beam, outputs the drive value corresponding to the input image data for driving the two light modulation elements corresponding to the predetermined colored light beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasunaga Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 7438421
    Abstract: A two-panel type projection system includes a polarization light source to irradiate a polarized white light, a color selector to sequentially transmit two light components every predetermined time among a plurality of light components having different wavelengths of the white light, a color path separator to separate and output paths of the two light components outputted from the color selector, a first modulating and outputting unit to receive a first light component among the two light components outputted from the color path separator to modulate and output the received first light component depending on its corresponding image signal, a second modulating and outputting unit to receive a second light component among the two light components outputted from the color path selector to modulate the received second light component depending on its corresponding image signal and output the modulated second light component in parallel with the first light component, and a projection lens to magnify and project t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki-hyung Kang
  • Publication number: 20080252800
    Abstract: Contrast compensation for a liquid crystal display projection system including a light source, a first polarizer, a liquid crystal display panel, and a second polarizer is provided using a tilted compensating plate. The compensating plate includes a first birefringent element having an optic axis oriented at a first angle to the plate normal, where the first angle is greater than zero degrees (e.g., an A-plate or O-plate), and a second birefringent element having an optic axis oriented at a second angle to the plate normal, where the second angle is substantially equal to zero degrees (e.g., a C-plate). The compensating plate is tilted relative to a plane of the liquid crystal display panel. The tilted compensating plate has been shown to provide improved contrast compensation for twisted nematic liquid crystal displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Kim Leong Tan, Karen Denise Hendrix
  • Publication number: 20080239173
    Abstract: A projector includes an illumination device that emits an illumination light flux, a color-separating optical system that separates light from the illumination device into plural color lights and directs the color lights to an illuminated area, and a plurality of liquid crystal light valves that have liquid crystal panels. The crystal light valves are configured to maximize light utilization efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20080231766
    Abstract: A projector includes: an optical modulator including a liquid crystal cell, a first optical element formed of an optical material having positive uniaxiality, a second optical element formed of an optical material having positive uniaxiality, a third optical element that includes at least one optical film formed of an optical material having a refractive index anisotropy, and a pair of polarization elements; an adjustment mechanism that makes it possible to adjust an optical azimuth of a first group, which has at least one of the first optical element, the second optical element, and at least one optical film included in the third optical element, with respect to a fixed optical azimuth of a second group as a remainder excluding the element included in the first group among the first to third optical elements; a light source that generates light for illuminating the optical modulator; and a projection optical system that projects the light that has passed through the optical modulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yanai, Takashi Endo
  • Publication number: 20080225188
    Abstract: A liquid crystal projector, a liquid crystal panel, and a liquid cooling apparatus, for obtaining a picture without disturbance due to a liquid coolant passing through a transparent surface of the liquid crystal panel, with achieving cooling effectively with an aid of a liquid cooling cycle, wherein lights from a light source 112 is divided into three (3) parallel light beams,
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Masakazu Hoshino, Rintaro Minamitani, Takashi Naganawa, Shuichi Terakado
  • Publication number: 20080218644
    Abstract: A projection display device comprises: a light source; liquid crystal panels disposed corresponding to R light, G light and B light; a light guiding optical system for guiding R light, G light and B light among light from the light source to respective corresponding liquid crystal panels; a dichroic prism for synthesizing the R light, G light and B light modulated by the liquid crystal panels; a projection optical system having a curved mirror for enlarging and projecting the light synthesized by the dichroic prism; and a bending mirror. A placement plane for optical members is orthogonal to a projection plane (screen surface), and shorter sides of optical members forming the liquid crystal panels and the light guiding optical system are placed on the placement plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Matsumoto, Ryuhei Amano
  • Publication number: 20080204609
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a projector which includes several optical elements, reflective devices and beam splitters, arranged to reduce back reflection effects. At least one exemplary embodiment includes a mirror, two beam splitters, three reflection devices, and two optical elements affecting polarization of incident light upon the optical elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Inoko