Methods Patents (Class 353/121)
  • Publication number: 20090310096
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that are related to projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Edward K.Y. Jung, Eric C. Leuthardt, Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, John D. Rinaldo, JR., Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090310038
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that are related to projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Edward K.Y. Jung, Eric C. Leuthardt, Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, John D. Rinaldo, JR., Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090310099
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that are related to projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Edward K.Y. Jung, Eric C. Leuthardt, Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, John D. Rinaldo, JR., Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090310098
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that are related to projection in response to conformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Edward K.Y. Jung, Eric C. Leuthardt, Royce A. Levien, Richard T. Lord, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, John D. Rinaldo, JR., Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Patent number: 7631974
    Abstract: Difference values that are defined as values representing a magnitude of an influence exerted upon an illuminance of an ambient environment according to a brightness component of an input video signal and are set so as to correspond to the brightness component based on a result of measuring the magnitude of the influence previously, a plurality of illuminance ranges set by dividing an extent of the illuminance of the ambient environment, and brightness correction characteristic data for correcting the brightness component according to each of the illuminance ranges are stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Mukai
  • Publication number: 20090303449
    Abstract: A projection device (100), and method for operating the projection device is provided herein. During operation a projection device will determine a current context, and then associate the context and the display parameters. The association is stored so that the projection device will operate using the display parameters the next time the context is realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Francesca Schuler, Krishna Jonnalagadda
  • Publication number: 20090303445
    Abstract: Method for illuminating the surface of an object by using a source beam, in which: said source beam is partitioned into as many illumination sub-beams as there are surface elements to be illuminated, their aperture being modulated as a function of the predetermined luminous intensity to be assigned to said surface element, each surface element is illuminated with the aid of one of said illumination sub-beams. Used for illuminating the imagers of projection devices, this method makes it possible to add a second modulation stage allowing the display contrast of the images to be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Valter Drazic, Khaled Sarayeddine
  • Patent number: 7627630
    Abstract: A system and a method for controlling a multipoint conference are provided by the present invention. The system comprises a plurality of computers, a presentation gateway, and a projector, wherein the computers are stored presentation frames. The method comprises the steps of connecting a first computer to the presentation gateway via a network; downloading a user list on the network from the presentation gateway; submitting a presentation-request signal to a second computer of the user list; and the first computer having a granted authority to access the presentation frames of the second computer while under the condition of the second computer granting the presentation-request signal, and the first computer transmitting the presentation frames of the second computer to the projector through the presentation gateway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Awind Inc.
    Inventors: Kuo-Lung Chang, Po-Wen Cheng, Hsiang-Li Chen
  • Patent number: 7621647
    Abstract: Embodiments include a light engine to generate pixels and a number of lenses positioned to receive pixels from the light engine and to project the pixels on to a field with a higher angular pixel density at an edge of the field than at a center of the field. A method according to embodiments includes generating pixels in a light engine, receiving the pixels from the light engine in a plurality of lenses, and projecting the pixels through the plurality of lenses on to a field with a higher angular pixel density at an edge of the field than at a center of the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: The Elumenati, LLC
    Inventors: D'nardo Colucci, David M. McConville, Clayton C. Hooker
  • Patent number: 7621643
    Abstract: A projection apparatus includes a projector including a cooling fan which cools the inside of a main unit through an air hole provided in the main unit and ceiling hanging hardware including a bracket having an external cooling fan which faces the air hole and whose air-flow direction coincides with that of the air hole. The projector is mounted on the ceiling hanging hardware while hanging from the ceiling hanging hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Hirosawa, Hideaki Masuo
  • Patent number: 7618147
    Abstract: A display system (100, 200, 300, 350, 400, 450) for displaying an image is described. The display system (100, 200, 300, 350, 400, 450) typically comprises one or a plurality of individual light sources (102) and a light collecting stage (110, 210, 310, 410) which comprises a separate light collecting sub-system associated with each light source (102), or group of light sources (102). The display system (100, 200, 300, 350, 400, 450) typically comprises at least one light modulator (120) which is operable to modulate light received from the light collecting stage (110, 210, 310, 410) according to an image which is to be displayed. Finally a projection stage (130) is provided for projecting the image, typically on a projection screen. The present invention also relates to a corresponding method. The present invention is especially useful with light sources having a packaging around the light emitting surface such that the light sources cannot be physically placed adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Barco N.V.
    Inventors: Rik Defever, Bart Maximus
  • Publication number: 20090279053
    Abstract: A method for continuously projecting images by enabling an apparatus including a light source, an image creation unit, and a projection unit includes receiving video signals from a predetermined source; creating a plurality of images from the video signals while being impinged by light emitted by the light source; receiving the images from the image creation unit; and activating the projection unit to project the images on a projection screen in a predetermined rapid succession so as to create a motion picture effect. As such, lighting adjustment and natural beauty simulations in a vivid way can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Ching-cherng SUN, Hsin-Ying Ho, Chang-yu Tsai
  • Publication number: 20090268171
    Abstract: A flat projection television comprising an imagine engine mounted adjacent a top of an enclosure and optically coupled to a collimator mirror, a flat mirror, a mirror assembly comprising a plurality of cylindrical mirrors, and a diffuser screen. The image engine includes a cylindrical lens which expands an outgoing image horizontally. The image engine projects the image downward from the top of the enclosure toward the bottom of the enclosure where the horizontally expanding image encounters the collimator mirror which collimates the expanding beam bringing the horizontal lines back into parallel with one another. The collimator mirror also reflects the collimated image towards the front of the enclosure where it encounters the flat mirror oriented to deflect the image upward into the mirror box location of the enclosure at an appropriate angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventor: Jerry B. Lowe
  • Publication number: 20090268102
    Abstract: A projection apparatus is described, which is provided with a lamp generating a light beam with a plurality of spectral elements. The projection apparatus comprises at least one band-cut filter and moving means which change the position of said band-cut filter dynamically relative to the optical path of the light beam within the projection apparatus. The invention also relates to a method for adjusting the colour components of a light beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: SIM2 MULTIMEDIA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giorgio Barazza
  • Publication number: 20090268016
    Abstract: An image display apparatus for displaying an image of an object on a screen by using a projector includes a three-dimensional image display unit having a plurality of screens overlaid but spaced apart from one another, each of the screens diffusing and reflecting part of the light incident thereon and transmitting the remainder of the light, and an image projection unit having a plurality of projectors, each of the projectors is assigned to the corresponding one of the screens and projects an image of the object on the screen. The image projection unit displays a three-dimensional image of the object in the three-dimensional image display unit by projecting on the screens the shapes of the object in sectioning positions corresponding to the positions of the screens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi HASEGAWA, Akihiko YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20090262307
    Abstract: A system and method for uniform light generation in projection display systems. An illumination source comprises a light source to produce colored light, and a scrolling optics unit optically coupled to the light source, the scrolling optics unit configured to create lines of colored light from the colored light, and to scroll the lines of colored light along a direction orthogonal to a light path of the illumination source. The scrolling optics unit comprises a single light shaping diffuser to transform the colored light into the lines of colored light, an optical filter positioned in the light path after the light shaping diffuser, and a scrolling optics element positioned in the light path after the optical filter. The single light shaping diffuser is capable of simultaneously transforming colored light into lines of colored light having substantially uniform intensity to provide uniform illumination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Terry Alan Bartlett, Paul L. Rancuret
  • Publication number: 20090257030
    Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for microprojection that uses a “reduced-height” imager to sequentially display a series of partial images within one frame time. The partial images visually combine on a projection surface (e.g., a screen or a wall) into one high-resolution projected image. As a result, the microprojector projects an image with a resolution equal to the sum of the resolutions of the individual partial images while avoiding the use of very small imager optics with their lowered efficiency. For example, one embodiment projects exactly two partial images during each frame. During a first state of operation, a “half-height” imager displays the odd-numbered lines of the projected image. During a second state of operation, the imager displays the even-numbered lines of the projected image. By quickly cycling through these two states, no image flickering between phases is visible, and the combined image appears as a seamless whole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: Motorola, INC.
    Inventors: Tomasz L. Klosowiak, Zili Li, Ion V. Nicolaescu, Xiaodong Xun
  • Publication number: 20090244490
    Abstract: A mobile projector apparatus includes a light source, a modulation unit modulating light of the light source using a picture signal, a projection lens magnifying and projecting the modulated light of the light source, a battery supplying electric power to the light source, an acceleration measuring unit measuring an acceleration applied to the mobile projector apparatus, a usage state detecting unit detecting whether or not the mobile projector apparatus is in an unused state, and an extinguishing unit extinguishing the light source based on outputs of the acceleration measuring unit and the usage state detecting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hisashi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20090237617
    Abstract: A projection apparatus comprises a projection unit which forms a picture corresponding to an input image signal and projects the formed picture onto an object, a specifying unit which specifies a region in the picture projected by the projection unit, and a projection control unit which causes the region of the picture projected by the projection unit to be limited according to the region specified by the specifying unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi INOSHITA
  • Patent number: 7585079
    Abstract: An imaging method. A light beam passes through a first lens set, a second lens set, an imaging device and a projection lens set. The light beam is focused in a first position. The focused light beam converges in a first relay position via the first lens set and in a second relay position via the second lens set. The optical path from the first position to the principal plane of the first lens set is defined as a first optical path, and the principal plane of the second lens set to the second relay position as the fourth optical path. The length of the first optical path is longer than twice the focal length of the first lens set, and the length of the fourth optical path is longer than twice the focal length of the second lens set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventors: Lung-Ta Lin, Ming-Kuen Lin, Tsang-Chi Wang
  • Patent number: 7581837
    Abstract: A display has a screen which incorporates a light modulator. The screen may be a front projection screen or a rear-projection screen. Elements of the light modulator may be controlled to adjust the intensity of light emanating from corresponding areas on the screen. The display may provide a high dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Lorne A Whitehead, Gregory John Ward, Wolfgang Stuerzlinger, Helge Seetzen
  • Patent number: 7581841
    Abstract: A luminance correcting apparatus has a sensor for detecting luminances of reflected lights of projected lights individually in each of at least two colors which are reflected from a screen, a first memory for storing information representing luminances of the reflected lights in the respective colors which are detected by the sensor, a second memory for storing information representing predetermined reference luminances of the reflected lights in the respective colors, and a luminance correcting data generator for generating luminance correcting data by comparing the information stored in the first memory and the information stored in the second memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventor: Youichi Tamura
  • Publication number: 20090213335
    Abstract: An image projecting system is provided. The image projecting system includes a plurality of projector apparatuses, an observation apparatus, and a control apparatus. The projector apparatuses project images based on inputted image signals onto a screen so that the images are displaced relative to one another by a predetermined amount and superimposed. The observation apparatus observes luminance of an image region composed of a plurality of images projected onto the screen by the plurality of projector apparatuses. The control apparatus supplies the plurality of projector apparatuses with the image signals having an adjusted luminance value of each pixel for an image projected by each projector apparatus based on an observation result of the observation apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Hitoshi Mukai, Masanori Iwasaki, Kenji Tanaka, Tetsushi Kokubo, Hirofumi Hibi, Kazumasa Tanaka, Hiroyuki Morisaki
  • Publication number: 20090213337
    Abstract: A plurality of projector apparatuses project images based on inputted image signals onto a screen so that the images are displaced relative to one another by a predetermined amount and superimposed. The luminances of an image region composed of a plurality of projected images that have been projected onto the screen are observed. Luminance values of pixels that construct an image to be projected by each projector apparatus are adjusted based on an observation result and are supplied to the plurality of projector apparatuses. The image region composed of the plurality of projected images is presented by superimposing a first projected image and a second projected image that has a higher resolution than the first projected image. Predetermined pixels in the image region are presented by superimposing corresponding pixels in the projected images from n adjacent projector apparatuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Hitoshi Mukai, Masanori Iwasaki, Kenji Tanaka, Tetsushi Kokubo, Hirofumi Hibi, Kazumasa Tanaka, Hiroyuki Morisaki
  • Publication number: 20090213334
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for projecting a panoramic image, according to the method, the steps include generating an image on an image generation surface, and then projecting the generated image on a projection surface to obtain a panoramic projected image, the points of the generated image being projected on the projection surface according to a non uniform distribution determined as a function of at least one parameter of a set comprising the shape of the generated image, the shape of the projection surface, and the position of an observation point of the projected image, in relation to the projection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: 6115187 CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Artonne, Simon Thibault
  • Publication number: 20090207384
    Abstract: A projection apparatus including a projection drive control unit modulating an emitted light from a light source unit for each of a plurality of color components at predetermined time, and a projection distance acquisition unit irradiating light to the projection screen to acquire a distance to the projection screen, wherein the projection distance acquisition unit carries out laser distance measurement during a period the projection drive control unit modulates a color component of the emitted light to color components except one color component of a plurality of modulated color components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taichi Honjo, Keiichi Kobayashi, Hideaki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20090207381
    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: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu
  • Patent number: 7575330
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for increasing the effective contrast ratio and brightness yields for digital light valve image projectors using a variable luminance control mechanism (VLCM), associated with the projector optics, for modifying the light output and provide a correction thereto; and an adaptive luminance control module (ALCM) for receiving signals from the video input board, the adaptive luminance control module producing a signal on a VLCM bus connecting the variable luminance control mechanism and the adaptive luminance control module, the signal causing the variable luminance control mechanism to change the luminance of the light output and provide a corrected video signal for the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Allen Video Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Eddie E Allen, Thomas D Strade, Christopher Coley
  • Publication number: 20090195759
    Abstract: The system contains a purge chamber. A substantially optically transparent wall is formed along the purge chamber. A laser projector is mounted within the purge chamber. The laser projector is positioned to project a laser beam through the substantially optically transparent wall. The system may be used to project images onto objects to assist in manufacturing processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: James C. Van Avery, Kenneth E. Irwin, III, Paul G. Solecki, Reynold R. Panergo
  • Publication number: 20090195753
    Abstract: The system contains a plurality of laser projectors. An image of a marking is projected in a synchronized form by the plurality of laser projectors. A computer network provides communication with the laser projectors. A central workstation communicates with the laser projectors through the computer network. The central workstation coordinates the image projected by the laser projectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: William J. Dill, Paul E. Jennerjohn, Paul G. Solecki, Reynold R. Panergo, James C. Vanavery, Lindsey M. Caton, Pamela J. Manzer, David A. Lindley
  • Patent number: 7566134
    Abstract: A projection-type display device includes a shielding unit and image signal correction units that divide the picture plane of the spatial light modulation element into a plurality of areas and perform correction on the image signal applied to the spatial light modulation element according to the current shielding amount of the shielding unit for each of the plurality of areas. Accordingly, appropriate uniformity correction is performed even when there is a change in the angular distribution of light emitted from the spatial light modulation element and reaching the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Sato
  • Publication number: 20090185147
    Abstract: In a projector image printing system, a projector receives an image, projects the image from the projector, and communicates the image from the projector to a printer. In an embodiment, a projector includes a graphics connectivity to receive an image from an information handling system (IHS), a projection system to project the image away from the projector, a graphics capture system to capture the image as a data file, and a communication system to communicate the data file to a printer. In another embodiment, a method to print an image from a projector includes receiving a print instruction from a user, converting a projected screen by the projector to an image, and sending the image to a printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventors: Ramanathan Alaganchetty, Vivek Chopra, Sandeep Kumar Arya
  • Publication number: 20090180080
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is provided. The system includes a housing. The system also includes a light source coupled to the housing. The system further includes a light transmission modulating element coupled to the housing and arranged to receive light from the light source. The system also includes an image modulating subsystem arranged to receive light form the light transmission modulating element and coupled to the housing. The system further includes Output focusing optics arranged to receive light from the image modulating subsystem and coupled to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: William S. Oakley
  • Publication number: 20090180079
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system is provided. The system includes a visible light projector including a light source, light modulator, and projection optics. The system also includes an infra-red image generator to receive infra-red light from the light source. The system further includes focusing optics coupled to the infra-red image generator to produce an infa-red output beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: Willliam S. Oakley
  • Patent number: 7559660
    Abstract: A board that hides information in a manner that only certain authorized personnel may change the information and other authorized personnel may view the information. This invention accomplishes the foregoing by placing a locked panel of translucent material over certain information written on the board that may only be changed by an authorized individual by opening the lock. A panel of opaque material is placed over the translucent material in a manner that certain information written on the board will be revealed when authorized personnel remove the opaque material or cause the opaque material to be transparent. The translucent material may be removed by activating a switch or entering a code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: G. Jonathan Wolfman, Benjamin D Singer, Ronald P. Sansone
  • Patent number: 7559661
    Abstract: A method comprising analyzing a portion of image data to identify a characteristic of the portion of the image data and determining an algorithm based on the characteristic is provided. The algorithm is configured to generate at least first and second image data subsets with distortion using the image data such that the first and the second image data subsets are configured to cause an image corresponding to the image data to be reproduced without the distortion in response to being simultaneously displayed with first and second projection devices, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Simon Widdowson, Niranjan Damera-Venkata, Nelson Liang An Chang
  • Publication number: 20090174868
    Abstract: A projector is configured of a difference image generation section that generates a difference image between an all-white first calibration image and a second calibration image which includes an image having features at the center and periphery thereof, a center reference position detection section that detects a reference position of a center block area in the difference image, a peripheral reference position detection section that detects a reference position of a peripheral block area, and a projection area information generation section that generates projection area information indicating a position of a projection area, based on those reference positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideki Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20090167966
    Abstract: A see-through display apparatus and a method thereof are provided. The see-through display apparatus includes: a screen which changes its transparency by varying its light scattering properties; a projector which projects an image onto the screen; and a control unit which controls a change of transparency of the screen. Accordingly, an image can be clearly displayed on the screen by controlling light scattering and non-scattering states of the screen, and also a user can monitor the external environment through the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-kyung NAM, Hee-seob RYU, Ho-joon YOO, Chang-yeong KIM
  • Patent number: 7549757
    Abstract: A device and method for adjusting a color wheel index is provided. The method according to an embodiment includes adaptively controlling a color wheel index according to a user's selection of a color temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Kyo Soon Kim
  • Patent number: 7549754
    Abstract: An image processing device for a projector including an image formation section that emits light of an image, and a projection system that projects the emitted light onto a projection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shiki Furui
  • Publication number: 20090153811
    Abstract: A method is described for multiple persons operating lasers to cooperatively project a pointillistic graphical image onto a remote surface. The visibility of the projected image depends on aiming the lasers with accurate relative displacements. Invariant features of the specific remote landscape where the image is to be projected are used as guideposts for maintaining these displacements. A set of transparent images is distributed to the laser operators, designating for each a spot to illuminate, superimposed on a scaled representation of the background landscape. In the preferred embodiment, each transparent image is used as a reticle, mounted into a monocular at its internal focal plane with the designated illumination spot centered on-axis. A laser is also rigidly attached to the monocular, with their optical axes parallel. Each operator aims his/her laser by visually sighting through the monocular so as to align transparent and direct views of the target landscape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Mark Stephen Braiman, Dusten Joseph Blake
  • Publication number: 20090141244
    Abstract: A MEMS-based projector may be included in various user devices. A selective fold mirror, a MEMS-based projector, and a polarization rotator may be oriented to reflect a beam within the device for external projection. Alternatively, a total internal reflection prism may take the place of a selective fold mirror or a polarization rotator and may reduce the number of necessary components in the user device. Various optical components may be placed in the MEMS-based projector and arranged in different positions to reflect a light beam in a desired direction for external projection. The components that make up the MEMS-based projector may depend on the available footprint in the device and the direction in which the light beam is to be projected. Some optical components may provide multiple functionalities which would otherwise require multiple components and may reduce the size of the projector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua O. Miller, Richard A. James, Christian Dean DeJong, Robert A. Sprowl, Maarten Niesten
  • Patent number: 7537350
    Abstract: A projector including: an image projection section for projecting an image onto a rectangular screen through a liquid crystal panel; a position adjustment information generation section for generating position adjustment information based on position adjustment of the image made by a user; a correction information generation section for generating position correction information for correcting positions of four corners of the image on the screen based on the position adjustment information; and a correction section for correcting image information for projecting the image based on the position correction information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masanobu Kobayashi, Osamu Wada
  • Publication number: 20090128786
    Abstract: An imaging system comprises a light valve having an array of light valve pixels. For processing grayscale/color images, each light valve pixel represents a discrete grayscale level. During image processing, desired grayscales can be accomplished by imaging the light valve pixels onto the target such that the perceived grayscale of each target pixel is a sum of grayscales represented by a plurality of light valve pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: David Foster Lieb, Jason Ryan Thompson, Terry Alan Bartlett, Steven Monroe Penn, Andrew Ian Russell
  • Patent number: 7530696
    Abstract: At least first and second narrowband beams of light, respectively of different wavelengths, are concurrently directed onto a modulator respectively at first and second angles of incidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Alexander Govyadinov, Conor D. Kelly, Scott Lerner
  • Publication number: 20090115971
    Abstract: A dual-mode projection apparatus has a projection module for projecting an image onto a projection surface. An image sensor module captures images of the projection surface and determines spatial and temporal characteristics of a visible light spot superimposed on the projection surface. A communications module transmits the spatial and temporal characteristics of the visible light spot to a remote device for remote control of the device based on the spatial and temporal characteristics of the visible light spot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jizhang SHAN, Jin Li
  • Publication number: 20090115970
    Abstract: A compact micro-display engine having improved efficiency for, e.g., projection displays or personal displays. It includes an emissive micro-display without the need for external illumination, a collimation optic plate on top of micro-display and a low F/# projection optics after the collimation optic plate. The collimation optical plate may be a micro-structure lenses array or a collimation prism film, and is used to collimate wide divergent light from the emissive micro-display device into a small cone angle light which will be efficiently collected by the projection optics. A reflective mirror is deposited on the top of substrate and underneath the light emitting layer for recycling the reflected back light from the collimation optic plate. The compact micro-display projection engine controls the divergence angle of the emitted light, and provides the controlled light to the objective plane of a projection optics subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Jabil Circuit, Inc.
    Inventors: Israel J. Morejon, Jinhui Zhai
  • Publication number: 20090115915
    Abstract: A system is provided for projecting a calibrated image. The system includes a projector to project an uncalibrated image. A processor-based digital image acquisition device is in communication with the projector and is disposed to acquire the projected, uncalibrated image. The device is also programmed to compensate for one or more parameters of viewing quality, and to communicate calibration information to the projector to project a first calibrated image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Alexandru Drimbarean
  • Patent number: 7524070
    Abstract: A projector includes a projection angle deriving section which generates projection angle information indicating an angle formed by a projection target area and projection light projected onto the projection target area; a projection distance deriving section which generates projection distance information indicating a distance from an aim area in the projection target area to a projection section which projects the projection light; a control information generation section which generates direction control information for aligning a projection direction of the projection light with a normal direction of the projection target area based on the projection angle information, and generates projection section control information for controlling the projection section so that the projection light is projected onto the aim area based on the projection distance information; a pedestal driver section which drives a pedestal which adjusts the projection direction of the projection light based on the direction control
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Matsuda, Masanobu Kobayashi, Osamu Wada
  • Patent number: 7524069
    Abstract: A projector has a transmission time information reception unit for calculating the distances between a transmitter and first and second ultrasonic receivers based on reception times of ultrasonic and infrared pulses transmitted from a transmitter-equipped pointer rod for pointing to positions on a projection surface. The projector also has an image correcting information calculation unit, which, when a test pattern made up of a plurality of reference points including a plurality of points near the corners of the upper and lower edges of the projection surface is projected onto the projection surface, generates a coordinate transformation table to bring the coordinates of the reference points near the upper edge into conformity with the coordinates of corresponding desired corrective points, from the distance information acquired by the transmission time information reception unit through the transmitter-equipped pointer rod and positional information of the desired corrective points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Viewtechnology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Syuuji Murayama, Keiji Oura