Microlenses Patents (Class 349/95)
  • Patent number: 7403242
    Abstract: An LCD module principally has an LCD, a backlight module including an LED section, an optical waveguide, and a light reflector. The side faces of the backlight module are provided with fixing sections to mount and fix the LCD module to a case by fastening screws. Since the LCD's display section has a smaller outward form than the LCD, the LCD module is fixed to the case using the fixing sections on the side faces of the backlight module so as not to affect the LCD display section. This enables a space for packaging any other functions to be secured, the frame to be narrowed, and the device to be miniaturized without the need for any special attaching parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhisa Ide
  • Patent number: 7401926
    Abstract: A space light modulating apparatus includes a modulating unit that modulates incident light based on an image signal including a plurality of pixels and a light-shielding part placed between the pixels, and a refracting unit that refracts modulated light including a group of prisms formed with a prism element that has at least a refracting surface. Light from the pixels is incident on at least a part of the prisms, and a direction of the refracting surface is such that a projection image of the pixels is guided onto a projection image of the light-shielding part on a projection surface at a predetermined distance. The refracting surface and a reference surface formed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis make a predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shunji Kamijima, Masatoshi Yonekubo
  • Publication number: 20080136997
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device has an upper prism sheet and a lower polarizer disposed on the upper prism sheet. The upper prism sheet has a plurality of first parallel ridgelines arranged in a first direction and a light-condensing direction. The first direction of the first parallel ridgelines is substantially perpendicular to the light-condensing direction. The lower polarizer has a first transmissive axis substantially parallel to the light-condensing direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Chih-Li Chang, Cheng-Chia Wu, Hung-Chen Kao
  • Patent number: 7382426
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display unit is characterized by comprising a liquid crystal display panel, a back-light instrument for outputting light to the liquid crystal display panel, and a scattering-anisotropic optical instrument disposed on that side of the liquid crystal display panel which is opposite to the back-light instrument. The scattering-anisotropic optical instrument is so formed that the scattering intensity of light vertically entering the display screen of the liquid crystal panel is maximized. Therefore, the scattering-anisotropic optical instrument can scatter light vertically entering the display screen of the liquid crystal panel to allow a viewer to view a display screen from a wide range of viewing angles. In addition, because the unit does not scatter light entering obliquely, rather than vertically, a display screen but lets the light pass as it is, whitish appearance as is seen in an oblique-direction observation can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Ishizumi, Motohiro Yamahara
  • Patent number: 7374799
    Abstract: A radiation sensitive composition containing inorganic oxide particles; a copolymer of at least one unsaturated compound selected from the group consisting of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and an unsaturated carboxylic anhydride and other unsaturated compound different from the unsaturated compound; a polyfunctional unsaturated compound having at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups in the molecule; and a radiation sensitive polymerization initiator. The composition is useful for making a microlens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: JSR Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Hanamura
  • Patent number: 7374328
    Abstract: In an optical sheet which is used for light control illumination in a backlight unit for a display, in order from an incident side of an illuminating light, there are provided at least a light scattering layer which scatters the illuminating light toward an outgoing surface side, an adhesion layer or an adhesive layer, a light reflection layer which reflects light scattered by the light scattering layer toward the light scattering layer side, and a lens sheet whose flat rear face is fixed to the other side of the light reflection layer, and in which a plurality of unit lenses are disposed on the surface. Opening portions corresponding to the respective unit lenses one-to-one are provided to the light reflection layer, and thickness of the adhesion layer or the adhesive layer is thinner than that of the light reflection layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenjiro Kuroda, Mitsuru Endo, Natsuka Sakai, Godai Fukunaga, Tomohiro Nakagome, Yoshiaki Shiina, Luis Manuel Murillo-Mora
  • Publication number: 20080100778
    Abstract: An exemplary liquid crystal display (2) includes a first substrate (200), a second substrate (210), a liquid crystal layer (220) interposed between the two substrates, a color filter layer (240) disposed between the two substrates, and an optical concentrating layer (260) provided between the two substrates. The liquid crystal display has high light utilization efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Kai Meng, Fei Yin
  • Patent number: 7339638
    Abstract: A liquid crystal panel unit (2) includes, on its side from which light enters, a micro-lens substrate (1) having: a first micro-lens array including a first lens (5) for converging, for converging, on aperture sections (17R•17G•17B) of respective picture elements in a liquid crystal display element, the plurality of the light beams whose respective incident angles are different from one another; and a second micro-lens array having a second lens (7) for collimating principal rays of the respective light beams. The second lens (7) is substantially trapezoid so that the lens includes slanted surfaces (7b•7b) directing its convex parts towards the light incident side. With this configuration, it is possible to realize a single-panel mode color-filterless projection-type liquid crystal display device with high light-using efficiency at a low cost, without deteriorating the light-using efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuya Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7339316
    Abstract: Light-emitting devices and light-emitting displays for realizing bright display by allowing light emitted from an emissive layer to efficiently contribute to a display. Polarization separators are arranged between the emissive layer and a phase plate. In the light of a wavelength range which includes a part or all of a light-emission wavelength range of the emissive layer and is narrower than a visible wavelength range and is directed from the emissive layer side to the polarization separators side, the polarization separators reflect circularly polarized light components which are converted into linearly polarized light that is absorbed by the polarizer due to the operation of the phase plate and transmit the other light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd
    Inventors: Masaya Adachi, Yoshiyuki Kaneko, Sukekazu Aratani, Shingo Ishihara
  • Patent number: 7336326
    Abstract: A 3D image displaying unit in which 2D and 3D images are interchangeable. The 3D image displaying unit includes an image display panel which displays 2D or 3D images, and an optical plate which is provided behind the image display panel and refracts an incident light to the image display panel. Also, the 3D image displaying unit includes a first flat display device which displays a multi-viewpoint image in a case where the 3D image is displayed, and is transparent in a case where the 2D image is displayed, an optical plate which refracts lights that are incident from the first flat display device and provides parallax in a predetermined direction, and a display unit which provides the lights that pass through the optical plate with a parallax in the vertical direction to a parallax provided by the optical plate in the case where the 3D image is displayed, and displays the corresponding 2D image in the case where the 2D image is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-sik Kim, Jung-young Son, Chang-wan Hong, Tac-hong Jeong
  • Publication number: 20080036945
    Abstract: A polarizer includes an optical anisotropic transparent substrate. The substrate includes a light incident surface, a light emitting surface and a plurality of substantially elliptical grooves defined in the light emitting surface. The light emitting surface is opposite to the light incident surface. The elliptical grooves are oriented in an essentially identical direction. Each elliptical groove has a major axis and a minor axis. A length of the major axis is essentially equal to or greater than a wavelength of incident light, and a length of the minor axis is less than the wavelength of the incident light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ga-Lane Chen
  • Patent number: 7327413
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus for changing a pathway of light according to a visual field angle to relax a gray scale inversion and for use in a liquid crystal display device in a twisted nematic mode, and the liquid crystal display device having the same. The light pathway partially changing apparatus is disposed on a liquid crystal display panel changes the pathway of the light partially so that a part of the light is substantially transmitted in the same direction as the light proceeds while the rest of the light is transmitted through a changed pathway, in order to change a brightness of the light according to a visual field angle of a liquid crystal display panel to restrain a gray scale inversion of the images while the light passes through the liquid crystal display panel to make the images on the liquid crystal display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: In-Sun Hwang, Yamamura Nobuyuki, Sang-Il Kim
  • Patent number: 7327519
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator has a modulating unit, a refracting part, and a flat part. The modulating unit includes a matrix of pixels, and a light-shielding portion between each of the pixels. The refracting part is a prism group composed of prism elements, each having at least a refracting surface. The modulated light from one of the pixels is incident on at least a portion of the prism group. The refracting surface is oriented to project an image of the pixel over an image of the light-shielding portion on a screen at a predetermined distance, making an apex with an angle with respect to a reference surface that is orthogonal to an optical axis at the apex. A distance d between the reference surface and the flat part satisfies d<0.95×?/(2×(n?1)) or d>1.05×?/(2×(n?1)), ? being a wavelength of the light, and n being a refractive index of the prism elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shunji Kamijima
  • Patent number: 7322700
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an indicating element which modulates or emits light as a pixel in accordance with image information. A displacement unit optically displaces a position of the pixel for each of two or more sub-fields constituting an image field corresponding to the image information. A projection unit enlarges the pixel and projects an enlarged pixel on a screen. A pixel-profile deformation unit changes an optical intensity profile of the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Miyagaki, Kenji Kameyama, Takanobu Osaka, Ikuo Katoh, Atsushi Takaura, Kenji Namie, Yasuyuki Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 7321349
    Abstract: A display element having a plurality of pixel portions arranged two-dimensionally with a predetermined pixel pitch and a microlens array including a plurality of microlenses arranged two-dimensionally corresponding to the plurality of pixel portions on an incident side or an emission side of light with respect to the pixel portions, wherein, in the microlens array, each microlens has a lens surface of a hyperboloid of revolution, and a lens pitch of the plurality of microlenses is set to a pitch smaller than the lens pitch able to substantially equivalently maintain a converging efficiency of a lens of the hyperboloid of revolution and a lens of an ellipsoid of revolution with respect to the incident light and able to maintain a converging efficiency higher than the converging efficiency of the lens of the ellipsoid of revolution or wherein, in the microlens array, each microlens has a lens surface of a hyperboloid of revolution, and a lens pitch is 20 ?m or less; a display device; and a microlens array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Fukuda, Tomoki Furuya
  • Publication number: 20080002105
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) device including upper and lower substrates facing each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, upper and lower polarization plates positioned on outer surfaces of the upper and lower substrates, respectively, and a beam steering film positioned on the upper polarization plate and including a plurality of curved-lenses formed on a surface of the beam steering film facing the upper polarization plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Chi Hyuck Park, Seung Hee Lee
  • Publication number: 20070285597
    Abstract: A high brightness liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided. In the LCD, plural light-focusing areas are disposed on a first substrate or a first polarizer, near the backlight module, right below the transparent areas on a second substrate to increase brightness of the LCD. Each of the light-focusing areas comprises at least a high-refractive area having higher refractive index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: QUANTA DISPLAY INC.
    Inventors: Pei-Hsun Wu, Ying-Che Lan, Chih-Haw Wang, Szu-Han Li, Keng-Ju Liu
  • Publication number: 20070279552
    Abstract: An optical display system is disclosed. The system has an optical light source, a microstructured optical component, and an optical display. The microstructured optical component has a plurality of microstructures, and a nominal microstructure pitch. The optical display is arranged relative to the microstructured optical component and has a plurality of pixels having a pixel pitch, wherein the microstructure pitch is such that an intensity of a Moiré pattern produced by the display due to interaction of light directed by the microstructured optical component from the light source is substantially zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Eugene Olczak, Dennis J. Coyle
  • Patent number: 7304702
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display with mirror face function, including a liquid crystal display module and a reflective element. A lower polarizing plate and an upper polarizing plate are respectively disposed on two faces of the liquid crystal display module. The reflective element is disposed on one face of the upper polarizing plate distal from the backlight element, whereby the reflective element can reflect part of external light to achieve a mirror-face effect. When the liquid crystal display module display a picture, the light emitted from the liquid crystal display module can pass through the reflective element to enhance the transparence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Wintek Corporation
    Inventor: Po Hsien Wang
  • Patent number: 7301587
    Abstract: In a display panel, a plurality of pixel sections are arranged in the form of a matrix. Each of the pixel sections includes a pixel for displaying an image for the left eye and a pixel for displaying an image for the right eye. Lenticular lens having repeated convex surfaces is disposed in front of the display panel to deflect the light emitted from each pixel in the horizontal direction from the pixel for displaying the image for the left eye to the pixel for displaying the image for the right eye in each pixel section. Reflection plate reflects the exterior light toward the display panel and has surface projections on the surface. In this case, the focal distance f of the lens is different from the distance H between the surface of the reflection plate and the apex of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shin-ichi Uehara, Nobuaki Takanashi
  • Patent number: 7300157
    Abstract: A projection display system includes a projection lens assembly that has multiple projection lens elements that are configured to receive light imparted with display information by a pixelated display device. The projection lens elements project the light toward a display screen. A pixel-shifting element is included within the projection lens assembly to cyclically shift between at least two positions within the projection lens assembly to form at a display screen at least two interlaced arrays of pixels. An electro-mechanical transducer is coupled to the pixel-shifting element to impart on it the cyclic shifting between positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Arlie R. Conner, Gary B. Kingsley
  • Patent number: 7280278
    Abstract: A variety of structures and methods used to adjust the shape, radius and/or height of a microlens for a pixel array. The structures affect volume and surface force parameters during microlens formation. Exemplary microlens structures include a microlens frame, base, material, protrusions or a combination thereof to affect the shape, height and/or radius of the microlens. The frame, base and/or protrusions alter the microlens flow resulting from the heating of the microlens during fabrication such that a height or radius of the microlens can be controlled. The radius can be adjusted by the height differences between the microlens and frame. The bigger the difference, the smaller the radius will be.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ulrich C. Boettiger, Jin Li
  • Publication number: 20070200975
    Abstract: An electro-optic device includes a pair of substrates, and an electro-optic material held between the pair of substrates, wherein one of the pair of substrates includes a condensing unit provided on the electro-optic material-side surface of the substrate in order to condense light incident on the substrate, and a functional layer provided to overlap at least the condensing unit in a plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunji KAMIJIMA
  • Patent number: 7253854
    Abstract: A reflection type semiconductor display device which can make satisfactory display even when external light is not satisfactorily intense is provided. A reflection type semiconductor display device according to the present invention can take in light other than incident light on a liquid crystal panel to be an auxiliary light source using optical fibers, and thus, display of high quality level can be made even indoors or in a place where light is faint. Further, by combining the semiconductor display device with a front light, insufficient amount of light can be supplemented with the front light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7245335
    Abstract: In a display device, a backlight unit emits light forward. Picture elements are arranged in columns and rows to define a picture element plane and each of the picture elements has a transmitting region to transmit light coming from the backlight unit. Collecting elements are arranged in front of the backlight unit to transmit and collect the light on the picture element plane. Each collecting element is associated with the transmitting region of one of the picture elements. The light transmitted through each collecting element forms a beam spot on the picture element plane. The center of the beam spot is located within the transmitting region associated with the collecting element. Two beam spots, formed on two picture elements that are adjacent to each other in a row direction, have their centers of mass shifted from each other in a column direction on the picture element plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hisashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7244476
    Abstract: Adhesive layers are formed on the two opposing surfaces of a transparent support. At least one of the adhesive layers is made of a material of which the cured state may be changed. The adhesive layer is irradiated with light and a lens sheet is then pressed against the adhesive layer. The adhesive layer is cured. In this illustrative way, a laminate film of the lens sheet fixed to the transparent support via the adhesive layer may be obtained. The laminate film may be bonded to a polarizing plate on the viewer's side of a liquid crystal display element via the other adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukihiro Sumida, Takashi Sato, Hidenori Kihara, Noriko Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20070153160
    Abstract: An LCD device and a method of fabricating the same is disclosed, which can prevent transmitting light from being mixed in adjacent pixels, the LCD device including: a plurality of etching patterns formed in an insulation substrate; a plurality of color filter patterns of red, green and blue colors formed in the respective etching patterns; a black matrix pattern formed on the insulation substrate between each of the color filter patterns; and an overcoat layer formed on an entire surface of the insulation substrate including the black matrix pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Hye-Sun Lee, Jae-Young Oh
  • Patent number: 7236217
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a new packaging method in which several optical films are bundled together before insertion into the display frame. This bundling makes handling of the films easier, reduces the number of steps required for assembly of the display device, reduces the chance of damaging the films and increases yields. At least two of the films in the stack are bonded together using a zero-gap bond. The zero-gap bond lies outside the viewing area of the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Keith M. Kotchick, Anthony J. Freking, Satinder K. Nayar
  • Patent number: 7232594
    Abstract: The invention relates to light polarizers and devices for displaying information based on said polarizers, in particular to a liquid crystal indicating (LCI) element, and can be used on flat liquid-crystal displays, including those of the projection type, luminairs, optical modulators, matrix systems of light modulation, etc. The objective of the invention is to provide a highly efficient polarizer providing an improved brightness and color saturation of an LCI element based on such polarizer. This objective is to be attained by using, in manufacture of a polarizer and an LCI element based on such polarizer, at least one birefringent anisotropically absorbing layer having at least one refraction index that grows as the polarized light wavelength increases., i.e., having the abnormal dispersion. The use of said layer allows creation of polarizers of both the dichroic and interference types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignees: Gosudarstvenny Nauchny Tsentr Rossiiskoi Federatsii “Niopik” (GNTS RF “Niopik”)
    Inventors: Alexandr Alexandrovich Miroshin, Sergei Vasilievich Belyaev, Ir Gvon Khan, Igor Nikolaevich Karpov, Nikolai Vladimirovich Malimonenko, Elena Jurievna Shishkina, Georgy Nikolaevich Vorozhtsov
  • Patent number: 7227599
    Abstract: A display device of the invention relates to a display device capable of three-dimensionally representing display on a liquid crystal display element without a hologram. The display device includes a liquid crystal display element and a lens panel. The liquid crystal display element includes a plurality of transparent electrodes on opposed surfaces of a pair of transparent substrates between which a liquid crystal is provided. The lens panel is disposed on the bottom surface side of the liquid crystal display element, and has a plurality of lens portions. The respective lens portions are disposed in regions where the transparent electrodes correspond to each other, and formed in the same shape as that of the respective regions. When displaying information, e.g., a number and a character, on the liquid crystal display element, the information itself can be represented three-dimensionally through the lens portions. Thus, highly decorative display can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sonoda, Shingo Ishizaka
  • Patent number: 7218375
    Abstract: A variable focus liquid crystal lens includes a nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture having a spatially inhomogenous polymer network structure, and an electrode for applying a substantially uniform voltage to the nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture. The lens is created within a cell by applying a substantially uniform electric field to the nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture within the cell, while simultaneously irradiating the nematic liquid crystal/monomer mixture using a laser beam having a shaped intensity distribution, so as to induce formation of a spatially inhomogenous polymer network structure within the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Universite Laval
    Inventors: Tigran Galstian, Vladimir Presniakov, Karen Asatryan, Amir Tork
  • Patent number: 7198831
    Abstract: The curable pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet A of this invention comprises an optically transparent substrate on which the curable pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 2 is layered on and integrated therewith. The curable pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 2 comprises a curable pressure-sensitive adhesive composite comprising a cationically-polymerizable compound, a polymer and a photocationic polymerization initiator. Surface roughness Rt of a surface of the curable pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is 2 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriko Watanabe, Takashi Sato, Yukihiro Sumida, Junichi Shimaoka
  • Patent number: 7198376
    Abstract: A lighting optical unit having an optical system for irradiating light from a light-source lamp on a predetermined object in a uniform and/or convergent manner includes a reflector for reflecting light from the light-source lamp to provide converged light and an optical assembly for collimating this converged light to provide a bundle of approximately parallel rays, wherein the bundle of approximately parallel rays is made to enter the optical systeml. Thus, in a liquid-crystal projector using a transmission type liquid-crystal panel with micro-lens, while a demand for increasing a quantity of light incident on an effective area of pixel of a liquid-crystal panel is being satisfied, the lighting optical unit can be made compact in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Katsumata, Tetsuro Okamura
  • Patent number: 7182463
    Abstract: A projection display system includes a projection lens assembly that has multiple projection lens elements that are configured to receive light imparted with display information by a pixelated display device. The projection lens elements project the light toward a display screen. A pixel-shifting element is included within the projection lens assembly to cyclically shift between at least two positions within the projection lens assembly to form at a display screen at least two interlaced arrays of pixels. An electro-mechanical transducer is coupled to the pixel-shifting element to impart on it the cyclic shifting between positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Arlie R. Conner, Gary B. Kingsley
  • Patent number: 7164454
    Abstract: A color filterless display device performing color display for expressing one pixel by three RGB sub-pixels includes: a light source; a diffraction grating for separating a light irradiated from this light source into lights of a plurality of wavelength regions; a cylindrical lens array for receiving the separated light and condensing the light while corresponding to each of the sub-pixels; and a liquid crystal cell including a structure portion for correcting an angle of the condensed light for all sub-pixels, wherein, in the structure portion of this liquid crystal cell, a side onto which a light from the cylindrical lens array is made incident is made of a high refractive index layer, an emitting side from which the light is emitted is made of a low refractive index layer, and a Fresnel-type microprism structure is formed by the high refractive index layer and the low refractive index layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Incorporated
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Numata, Shinya Ono, Fumiaki Yamada, Yoichi Taira
  • Patent number: 7138161
    Abstract: A polymer particle coated with silica comprising: a polymer particle derived from a polymerizable vinyl-based monomer; and a silica film covering the polymer particle, which makes a surface of the polymer particle expose so that an aperture ratio of 0.1 to 1 is possessed and a height h of the silica film and a diameter D of the polymer particle coated with silica have a relationship of 0.5?h/D<1, wherein the silica film includes a polyalkoxysiloxane oligomer condensate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Sekisui Plastics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuuji Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7128426
    Abstract: A method of producing an image display device used for an LCD projector by providing a periodic structure of pixels arranged in a matrix and a substrate supporting the pixels, modulating light entering from an entrance surface in pixel units, and emitting the same from an exit surface. A phase shift structure for randomly changing the phase of the light is formed on a surface of the substrate. The phase shift structure has a relief structure formed, for example, by etching the surface of the substrate through which light passes to random depths. Therefore, occurrence of high-order diffracted light caused by the periodic structure of very fine pixels is prevented, and accordingly the amount of 0th order light inherently required is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7128459
    Abstract: A light-guide plate (1) arranged at a display face (2a) of a liquid crystal (2) and illuminates radiating light from a light source (3) to the display face (2a) is constructed by a light permeability base portion (10) having a first face (8), a second face (9) of the rear face side of the first face (8), and a third face (5) guiding light from the light source (3) from side face, an adhesive layer (11), and light permeability sheet (12) forming plural prism grooves on a light emission face (6) with the predetermined interval and providing on the adhesive layer (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Nidec Copal Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Igarashi, Koki Kunii, Osamu Kitazawa
  • Patent number: 7125121
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an indicating element which modulates or emits light as a pixel in accordance with image information. A displacement unit optically displaces a position of the pixel for each of two or more sub-fields constituting an image field corresponding to the image information. A projection unit enlarges the pixel and projects an enlarged pixel on a screen. A pixel-profile deformation unit changes an optical intensity profile of the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Miyagaki, Kenji Kameyama, Takanobu Osaka, Ikuo Katoh, Atsushi Takaura, Kenji Namie, Yasuyuki Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 7126653
    Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal picture screen provided with a background lighting system which comprises at least one light source and a collimator formed by hourglass-shaped microprisms. The light of the light source can be effectively collimated within a desired angular range by means of the collimator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Harald Glaeser, Hans-Helmut Bechtel, Dietrich Bertram
  • Patent number: 7123337
    Abstract: A LCD device is provided. On the input side, the collimated-light generator generates collimated light from incident light and then, the first polarizer plate of the first polarized-light controller generates first polarized light from the collimated light. The first quarter wavelength plate of the first polarized-light controller generates second polarized light from the first polarized light. The second polarized light thus generated passes through the liquid crystal layer to reach the output side. On the output side, the second polarized light passes through the second quarter wavelength plate of the second polarized-light controller and the second quarter wavelength plate thereof. Thus, the polarization state of the second polarized light is returned to its original one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Okumura, Masayoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7118229
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for readily changing the design of a projector. A projector comprises: an illumination optical system; a light modulation device; a projection optical system; and a base frame for mounting a plurality of optical components disposed on a light path from the optical illumination system to the projection optical system. The illumination optical system 300 comprises: a light source 20; a lens array 320; and a superimposing lens system 370. The base frame includes a positioning section for positioning the superimposing lens system 370. The superimposing lens system 370 includes at least two lenses 371 and 372. The first lens 371 is provided at a position nearest to the light source and mainly determines an F-number of the illumination optical system. The second lens 372 is provided at a position furthest from the light source and mainly determines a magnification of the illumination optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Iechika, Takeshi Takizawa
  • Patent number: 7113341
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator includes a prism group and satisfies either of the following conditions d<0.95×?/(2×(n?1)), d>1.05×?/(2×(n?1)) where d is a distance between a reference surface and a flat surface, ? is a wavelength of an incident light, and n is a refractive index of the prism group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shunji Kamijima
  • Patent number: 7113333
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a screen or the like that enables a bright, homogeneous projection image to be observed in a wide range across an area where viewers are present. A screen having a micro-lens array formed of a plurality of micro-lens elements each having a first surface having a curvature and a second surface of an almost planar shape through which incident light that comes incident on the first surface can be transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shunji Kamijima
  • Patent number: 7092164
    Abstract: A lens array capable of effectively converging light entering from a light source and constituting a liquid crystal device of a high contrast includes liquid crystal of a twisted nematic type sandwiched between a TFT substrate and a counter substrate. A micro lens array is formed in the counter substrate. Lenses constituting the micro lens array respectively have a shape of a rotational aspheric surface, and an optical center axis F thereof is tilted in a bright vision direction of the liquid crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Sakurai, Daido Uchida, Shigeru Aoyama
  • Patent number: 7084941
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having two parallel substrates and a liquid crystal layer sealed between the substrates, a light source for generating light beams, and a dispersion film positioned between the liquid crystal display panel and the light source having a plurality of bar-like structures arranged along a first direction and facing the light source. The dispersion film is utilized for enabling brightness of the light beams generated from the light source to be increased as a viewing angle is increased, and further utilized for enabling the liquid crystal display device to display an image with uniform brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Te-Hwei Suen, Yang-En Wu
  • Patent number: 7079203
    Abstract: Inhomogeneous concentrated polymer network with approximately 90° twisted nematic liquid crystal (TN-LC) is used for fabricating lens and prisms. For forming a positive lens, the approximately 90° TN-LC polymer network concentration can gradually decrease from the center to the side edges. For forming a negative lens, the approximately 90° TN-LC polymer network concentration can gradually increase from the center to the side edges. The lens can be created by ultra violet (UV) light exposure to patterned photo masks. The lens can be tuned by applying voltage above the threshold voltage to the polymer network. The inhomogeneous 90° TN-LC polymer network can also be used in Fresnel lens and prisms. Applications of the invention can be used for micro lens, array, optical communication, micro-optics, adaptive optics and beam steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Research Foundation of the University of Central Florida, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhua Huang, Hongwen Ren, Xinyu Zhu, Shin-Tson Wu
  • Patent number: 7054066
    Abstract: To provide a micro-lens substrate wherein a higher contrast ratio can be obtained when used in a liquid crystal panel and the like. A micro-lens substrate 1A includes a first substrate 2 with concaves for microlenses having a plurality of first concaves 31 and first aligment marks 71 formed on a first glass substrate 29, a second substrate 8 with concaves for microlenses having a plurality of second concaves 32 and second aligment marks 72 formed on a second glass substrate 89, a resin layer 9, microlenses 4 consisting of doulbe convex lenses formed of a resin filled in between the first and second concaves 31 and 32, and spacers 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuo Shimizu, Shinichi Yotsuya, Hideto Yamashita, Masami Murata, Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7046407
    Abstract: A color display system includes a color light separator that separates incident white illumination light into red, green and blue wavelength bands to be directed to distinct color component sub-pixels (sometimes called dots) that are arranged in a dot-matrix, color triad arrangement (e.g., stripe or delta) to form individual picture elements (pixels) on a pixelated electronic image device (e.g., LCD of DMD). The entire picture is optically shifted from one set of color component sub-pixels to another in a 3-field sequence. As a result, the sets of red, green and blue color component sub-pixels appear to an observer as a single full-color image, thereby providing a dot sequential color display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Arlie R. Conner
  • Patent number: 7042644
    Abstract: An optical substrate is manufactured such that a bright color display can be achieved. The optical substrate can be embodied in a display device. As for the optical substrate, a light transmitting layer is formed by bonding a first master having a plurality of color protrusions and a second master having a plurality of curved surface parts with a light transmitting layer precursor disposed therebetween so that the resulting light transmitting layer has a plurality of color recesses transferred from the shape of the color protrusions and a plurality of lenses transferred from the shape of the curved surface parts. The master is separated from the light transmitting layer. The color recesses in the light transmitting layer are filled with pigment to form a color pattern layer. The second master is separated from the light transmitting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Nishikawa