Miscellaneous Patents (Class 353/122)
  • Patent number: 9626042
    Abstract: Techniques are provided to improve interaction between a user and a projection system. In some embodiments, an image of a user in front of a display screen is captured. An inference can then be made as to whether a user is touching a display screen based on an analysis of shadows and/or variation of brightness (i.e., intensities) across pixels in the image. For example, it may be inferred that the object is: (1) approaching the screen when a region surrounding a top of the object is characterized by a relatively small brightness variation; (2) hovering near the screen when the brightness variation is large and the region includes a dark extremum (caused by a shadow); and (3) touching the screen when the brightness variation is large and the region includes a light extremum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Atid Shamaie
  • Patent number: 9621862
    Abstract: A projector that displays an image based on image data, includes a light source; a modulation unit that modulates light which is emitted from the light source based on the image data; and a correction processing unit that controls the modulation unit so as to compensate for an influence of light reflected from the modulation unit to the light source side, based on luminance of the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko Nobori
  • Patent number: 9588347
    Abstract: A device for generating a virtual light image. The device includes a real light source, a curved retroreflector surface, and a semi-transparent mirror. The retroreflector surface is situated so that the light of the real light source transmitted through the semi-transparent mirror does not reach the retroreflector surface. A shape of the retroreflector surface for a given visibility range, at least in a subregion of the area that is essential for the image in the visibility range, is determined by the fact that at each point of the subregion, the pair of a reflection angle A and an optical distance between this point of the subregion of the retroreflector surface and the virtual light image is Pareto-minimal, provided that the subregion of the retroreflector surface does not interrupt primary beams from the real light source to the semi-transparent mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventors: Igor Nikitin, Martin Göbel, Gernot Heisenberg
  • Patent number: 9568815
    Abstract: A light source unit includes a light source, a connecting conductor configured to supply power to the light source, a light source housing configured to accommodate the light source and the connecting conductor. At least part of the connecting conductor is provided on a gripping portion side of the light source housing, and the light source housing includes a lid-side forming portion configured to cover the gripping portion side of the light source and the connecting conductor, and a flow channel configured to guide cooling air to a cover portion of the lid-side forming portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsunori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9560293
    Abstract: An exemplary display device is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), the on-screen imager is referred to as an LCD imager. Without affecting the display functions of an LCD device, an image sensing module is provided behind or within an LCD unit in the LCD device. By controlling the liquid crystals in the LCD unit, the reflected light from an object placed against the LCD device to be imaged is allowed to pass through the LCD unit and projected onto an image sensor in the image sensing module to generate an image of the object. The imager includes an optical assembly having at least one wedge shaped light guide to collect and focus the reflected light from the object onto an image sensor, where the image sensor is disposed at an end of the wedge shaped light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventor: Darwin Hu
  • Patent number: 9521373
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for capturing underwater video images. In a representative embodiment an underwater video system may include a sled, a camera affixed to the sled, a plurality of anchors, one or more sled tethers, the sled tethers affixed to the anchors and configured to confine the sled to a path between the anchors, a viewing station, the viewing station being configured to receive and capture images from the camera, and a motor, the motor configured to move the sled on the path between the anchors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Inventor: Daniel V. Lynch
  • Patent number: 9507987
    Abstract: Interchangeable illumination modules having different optical characteristics illuminate a target to be electro-optically read by image capture. Each module includes an illuminating light source for emitting illuminating light, and a support for supporting the illuminating light source for joint movement as a discrete unit from a removed position away from a reader to a mounted position on the reader. The support is accessible exteriorly of the reader in the mounted position. Electrical contacts mounted on the support are exposed exteriorly of the support for supplying an illumination control signal from the reader to the illuminating light source to energize the illuminating light source in the mounted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Askold Strat
  • Patent number: 9482779
    Abstract: A camera detector device for detecting the presence of an illegal camera inside a room. A camera takes multiple pictures of a room and identifies reflections in each still image. If a reflection with similar properties appears repeatedly overtime than the reflection is identified as an illegal camera positioned towards the camera detector device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: OPTISHELL TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Eliahu Elson, Yossef Gerard Cohen
  • Patent number: 9465480
    Abstract: A position detection apparatus includes: a radiation section that radiates planar light along a target flat surface; a detection section that captures an image of an area irradiated with the light from the radiation section to detect the position of an object that reflects the light radiated from the radiation section; and an adjustment assistance section that transmits, when adjustment of installation of the radiation section is performed, a predetermined output based on a detection result obtained from the detection section when the detection section detects a reference object for the adjustment placed on the target flat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ichieda
  • Patent number: 9436075
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a lens, a light pipe, a cover, and a mounting base. The cover can be coupled to the mounting base. The cover defines a groove and includes a latching plate and a mounting plate. The latching plate and the mounting plate are located at two opposite sides of the groove. The mounting plate defines a mounting hole. The mounting base defines a slot, a limiting slot corresponding to the latching plate, and a plurality of securing holes. When the imaging device is assembled, the latching plate is engaged in the limiting slot, a fastener is inserted into the mounting hole and engaged in the corresponding securing hole. The lens and the light pipe are received in the slot and the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (WuHan) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chin-Wen Yeh, Dun-Jun Zhou
  • Patent number: 9400486
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator includes a variable refractive index layer that has a refractive index which is variable based on one of an optical signal and an electrical signal, a metal layer that is disposed on the refractive index-change layer, and a high refractive index layer on the metal layer. Light incident on the metal layer causes generation of a surface plasmon at an interface between the variable refractive index layer and the metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gae-hwang Lee, Jae-eun Jung, Kyu-young Hwang, Hoon Song, Seung-hoon Han
  • Patent number: 9369634
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a display device and a display method. The display device comprises a display panel and a video stream provider, wherein the display panel comprises a display screen and a separation module; the video stream provider provides one or two video streams, the one or two video streams are coded before entering the display screen to form a video signal source, and the video signal source is input to the display screen in a single-channel form; and when the video stream provider provides two video streams, the separation module separates a picture displayed in the display screen into two pictures respectively specific to the two video streams to realize double-view display. In the present invention, the two video streams are provided by the same video stream provider and may be previously coded, so that the complexity of transmission of the video signal source is greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naifu Wu, Chiachiang Lin, Yanbing Wu
  • Patent number: 9336602
    Abstract: A number of images of an environment may be obtained over time. In some images, a portion of an object included in the environment may be occluded by another object in the environment. In these images, features of the occluded portion of the object may be absent. The absent features may be estimated based on features generated from previous images including the object where the occluded portion of the object was not occluded in the previous images. In some cases, the absent features may be estimated based on data associated with a reference object that corresponds to the occluded object with the reference object being included in a catalog of reference objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Henry Chang, Ning Yao
  • Patent number: 9307127
    Abstract: An image capturing device and an image capturing system are provided. The image capturing device includes an optical system, a first filter provided near a diaphragm position of the optical system, a sensor, and a lens array. The first filter includes a plurality of filters respectively having different spectral characteristics. The sensor includes a plurality of filters respectively having different spectral characteristics. The lights from an object pass through the respective filters of the first sensor and the respective filters of the second sensor to simultaneously form a plurality of types of spectral image of the object on an image plane of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensuke Masuda, Yuji Yamanaka, Go Maruyama
  • Patent number: 9286860
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a light source device, a light source control unit which controls power supplied to the light source device and an image light emission unit which, utilizing a source light emitted from the light source device, emits an image light. A light quantity measurement unit measures a quantity of the source light. A power/light quantity characteristic derivation unit derives a power/light quantity characteristic. A light quantity adjustment unit, based on the power/light quantity characteristic, adjusts the quantity of the source light or the image light. The light source control unit controls the supplied power to gradually change the light quantity of the source light. The light quantity measurement unit measures the light quantity of the gradually changing source light and acquires light quantity data. The power/light quantity characteristic derivation unit, based on the light quantity data and the supplied power, derives the power/light quantity characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kiyoto Sudo
  • Patent number: 9285459
    Abstract: Methods and devices for calculating the position of a movable device are disclosed. The device may include multiple optical detectors (ODs) and the movable device may include light sources. Optics may be above the ODs. A controller may calculate the position of the light source based on data from the ODs and properties of the optics. The device may be a game console, and the light source may be a game controller. The roles of the OD and light sources may be interchanged. The rotation of the movable device may be determined using multiple light sources and/or multiple ODs on the movable device. The movable device may calculate its position and transmit it to a console. The light sources may be modulated by time or frequency to distinguish between the light sources. There may be two or more movable devices. There may be two or more consoles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Shrenik Deliwala
  • Patent number: 9274404
    Abstract: A projector includes a light source; a spatial light modulation device which modulates light from the light source according to an image that is written; a light diffusion device which adjusts a degree of diffusion of the light incident on the spatial light modulation device or the light emitted from the spatial light modulation device; and a light diffusion controller which controls the light diffusion device so that the light diffusion device diffuses the light when the light source starts to light up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kaoru Yamaguchi, Tadashi Kinebuchi, Shuji Narimatsu, Hiroyuki Moteki, Hirofumi Kasuga, Hidehito Iisaka
  • Patent number: 9268143
    Abstract: An image rearranging lens and a projection apparatus are provided. The image rearranging lens is used to rearrange a plurality of sub images provided by an image source and arranged along an arranging direction. The image rearranging lens includes a plurality of lens groups arranged along the arranging direction. Each of the sub images is imaged on a corresponding lens group. Optical axes of the lens groups are not aligned to each other along the arranging direction. The optical axis of each of the lens groups and the optical axis of the neighboring lens groups have an offset along a direction perpendicular to the arranging direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Hsien Tsai, Wei-Hung Tsai, Hung-Chih Chou
  • Patent number: 9270925
    Abstract: Provided are an image output apparatus, an image output system, and an image output control program. Each of the image output apparatus, the image output system, and the image output control program outputs an image based on a video signal generated from data, detects a storage medium having available data stored therein, obtains the data stored in the newly detected storage medium in response to the detection, switches, from an input path of the image to be output to an input path associated with the newly detected storage medium, and outputs a video signal generated from the obtained data after the switching of the input path is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Aritaka Hagiwara, Ryo Iwasaki, Yoko Sugiura
  • Patent number: 9261766
    Abstract: An apparatus for the management of time during a visual presentation such as a talk with slides includes an optical emitter surface and focusing assembly for presentation of a progress plot in circular or linear format onto a presentation display shared by a presentation image. A user interface with policies and rules is operative with a controller for an optical emitter to automatically provide and adjust the brightness and contrast level, select optimal regions for placement of the progress image, and generate the optical image which is displayed in superposition with, or adjacent to, the presentation image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Inventor: Mahadevan Krishnan
  • Patent number: 9195430
    Abstract: An image display terminal includes an image display control unit, a display range setting unit, a display range sending unit and a graph expression receiving unit. The image display control unit displays a background image in a display screen. The display range setting unit sets display range data of a coordinate system to an image display region of the display screen. The display range sending unit sends the display range data to at least one other image display terminal which displays the background image displayed on the image display terminal. After the display range data is set to an image display region of the other image display terminal, the graph expression receiving unit receives, from the other image display terminal, graph expression data for a graph figure displayed on the image display region of the other image display terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuru Okano
  • Patent number: 9197870
    Abstract: Techniques are described for performing automatic focusing of a projected image on a mobile projection surface. Specific regions of the projected image are identified that are likely to be desired to stay in optimal focus, and attributes of those specific regions, such as sharpness and contrast, can be used to determine the need to refocus the image. Advanced knowledge of the image data being projected can be utilized to determine the specific regions of the projected image that require monitoring for optimal focusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Olusanya T. Soyannwo, Samuel Henry Chang, Edward Dietz Crump, Weijian Wang, Renwei Yan, Ning Yao
  • Patent number: 9195069
    Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus has a beam splitting member which splits an incident beam into a first light beam and a second light beam to form a first illumination region and a second illumination region, a first light-guide optical system which guides the first light beam to the first illumination region, and a second light-guide optical system which guides the second light beam to the second illumination region locate apart from the first illumination region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirohisa Tanaka, Hideki Komatsuda
  • Patent number: 9172931
    Abstract: A projection display device including: an image light projecting unit that projects image light on a screen; a distance measurement unit that measures distance to the screen; an obstacle detecting unit that detects an obstacle between the screen and the image light projecting unit on the basis of distance information obtained by the distance measurement unit and, according to a result of this detection, determines an adjustment area where the image light to be projected is to be adjusted; and a projection adjusting unit that adjusts the image light in the adjustment area are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Fumihiro Hasegawa, Toshio Miyazawa, Michiyoshi Tachikawa
  • Patent number: 9151955
    Abstract: The invention provides a projection system and a light-homogenizing device adjustment element for adjusting the position of a light-homogenizing device. The light-homogenizing device adjustment element has an actuator, and the actuator leans against one side of the light-homogenizing device and has a plurality of curved surfaces with different radii of curvature. When the actuator rotates, different curved surfaces push the light-homogenizing device to cause the light-homogenizing device to move in at least one direction from an initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: CORETRONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sheng-Yu Chiu, Chih-Hui Chang
  • Patent number: 9146667
    Abstract: When a touch operation on a touch-panel display module of an electronic device has been detected, a display entity corresponding to the touched object is created. The display entity is superimposed on the touched position on a display screen. A projector, an external display device, projects the display entity onto a screen. Even when the display screen of the electronic device has been moved by a touch operation, the audience looking at a screen page displayed on the screen can see the touch position in the form of the display entity, making it possible to understand the meaning of the operator's touch operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 9148635
    Abstract: Provided is a projection video display device with which precision of location of each component of the optical engine and the projection optical assembly is maintained and display video quality not impaired even if exterior force is sustained. A projection video display device comprises an optical engine (2) which projects light which is emitted from a light source (21) upon a liquid-crystal panel (231) and forms a video, and a projection optical assembly (3) which projects an enlargement of the video which is emitted from the optical engine (2). The projection optical assembly (3) and the optical engine (2) are configured to be anchored to a common base (4) which retains these in an integrated manner, with the common base (4) being attached to the casing of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Ueoka, Shinro Inui, Chohei Ono, Kazuomi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 9140966
    Abstract: A projection device (1; 24), comprising a base (2), a support (3) and a projection head (4; 27), the support (3) being rotatable relative to the base (2) and relative to the projection head (4; 27) wherein a light guide system (10-18) is accommodated in the support, (3) and at least one wavelength-converting luminophore (22) for converting at least part of a light beam (L) generated by the at least one light source (5) is accommodated in the projection head (4; 27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventors: Nico Morgenbrod, Henning Rehn
  • Patent number: 9140965
    Abstract: In one example arrangement, an immersive projection system includes an enclosure, and a number of projectors suspended outside and near the upper portion of the enclosure. The projectors project portions of a scene through openings in the enclosure and onto an inside surface of the enclosure. In some embodiments, light emanating from the projectors reflects from one or more mirrors before being cast onto the enclosure wall. The projectors and one or more mirrors may be mounted to a mounting frame that maintains the projectors and one or more mirrors in fixed spatial relationship, and the mounting frame may be mounted on a movable gantry for lifting the mounting frame to the upper portion of the enclosure. The enclosure may be a collapsible dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Cubic Corporation
    Inventors: James Dennis, Ronald Allen, John Lewis, Robert Hoppenfeld
  • Patent number: 9134593
    Abstract: A display system having a modulated light source is configured to include one or more non-visible wavelengths as part of the display sequence. In one implementation a color wheel, configured to modulate the wavelengths emitted by a projector, includes an infrared (IR) segment, allowing for projection of an IR image. The wavelength modulated non-visible light may be spatially modulated to generate a structured light pattern, for signaling, to synchronization with other devices, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Spencer Worley, III, William Thomas Weatherford, Christopher Coley, Edward Dietz Crump
  • Patent number: 9134598
    Abstract: It is provided an electronic device including an opto-mechanical system and an optical unit; the opto-mechanical system is adapted to form projection light oriented in a first direction in accordance with a display data signal, the housing of the electronic device has a first opening on the emission path of the projection light; the optical unit is adapted to adjust a projection direction of the projection light; specifically, the optical unit has at least a first position and a second position, when the optical unit is in the first position, the projection light forms a projected image in the first direction; and when the optical unit is in the second position, the projection light has its direction adjusted by the optical unit to the second direction, and then forms a projected image along the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Lenovo (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaopan Zheng, Feijun Weng, Yunfeng Pan, Fei Wu
  • Patent number: 9128064
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a system and method for inspecting a sample by illuminating the sample at a plurality of different angles and independently processing the resulting image streams. Illumination is directed through a plurality of pupil apertures to a plurality of respective field apertures so that the sample is imaged by portions of illumination directed at different angles. The corresponding portions of light reflected, scattered, or radiated from the surface of the sample are independently processed. Information associated with the independently processed portions of illumination is utilized to determine a location of at least one defect of the sample. Independently processing multiple image streams associated with different illumination angles allows for retention of frequency content that would otherwise be lost by averaging information from multiple imaging angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel L. Cavan, Grace Hsiu-Ling Chen, Qibiao Chen
  • Patent number: 9121987
    Abstract: A display device includes: a light source configured to generate a coherent light beam; and an optical plate including a plurality of microlenses arranged with a period larger than the diameter of the light beam, the optical plate being configured to control the divergence angle of the light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazuo Horiuchi, Naotada Okada, Haruhiko Okumura, Takashi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9124816
    Abstract: An illumination unit includes one or more light sources each including a solid-state light-emitting device having a light emission region configured of one or more light-emission spots, one or more traveling-direction angle conversion device each converting a traveling-direction-angle of light, and an integrator including a first fly-eye lens having cells which receive light from the traveling-direction angle conversion device and a second fly-eye lens having cells which receive light from the first fly-eye lens, the integrator uniformalizing illumination distribution in a predetermined illumination area. An optical system configured with the traveling-direction angle conversion device and the first and second fly-eye lenses has an optical magnification which allows each of light source images to have a size not exceeding a size of the cell in the second fly-eye lens, the light source images being formed on the second fly-eye lens by the respective cells in the first fly-eye lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Miura, Kazuyuki Takahashi, Tatsuya Oiwa
  • Patent number: 9122060
    Abstract: A scanning image projector includes a laser light source, an MEMS scanner having a reflecting mirror which vibrates around first and second axes that are orthogonal to each other, and an MEMS control unit having a high speed drive circuit which causes resonant vibration of the reflecting mirror at high speed around the first axis, a low speed drive circuit which causes non-resonant vibration of the reflecting mirror at low speed around the second axis, and an offset drive circuit which offsets a position on the second axis in a non-resonant vibration region where the low-speed vibration is caused by a predetermined amount, wherein the MEMS control unit displays an image in a predetermined display region by drive signals from the high and the low speed drive circuits, and moves a position of the display region in the non-resonant vibration region by an offset signal from the offset drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takaaki Nozaki
  • Patent number: 9117415
    Abstract: A display device comprises a display panel composed of a pixel portion in which a plurality of TFTs are arranged in matrix, a source driver, and a gate driver, an image signal processing circuit for processing an image signal input from an external, and a control circuit for controlling the display panel and the image signal processing circuit. The image signal processing circuit corrects the image signal on the basis of a correction table. By feeding the display panel with the corrected image signal, the display device can provide a good quality image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Masaaki Hiroki, Munehiro Azami, Mitsuaki Osame, Yutaka Shionoiri, Shou Nagao
  • Patent number: 9097744
    Abstract: A method for obtaining PWM values for an LED module having n LED chips from various color ranges, wherein n>1, wherein for each LED chip a PWM value for producing a target color value is obtained, is characterized in that a calibration measurement is performed in which the wave lengths (?cal1, ?cal2, ?cal3) and/or the standard color proportion values ((x,y)cal1, (x,y)cal2, (x,y)cal3) and possibly the luminous flux values of the individual LED chips are determined at a calibration temperature (Tcal), PWM control points are obtained, where each PWM control point contains a PWM value for each of the n color ranges of the LED module, during operation of the LED module a value that depends on the present temperature (Ta) of the LED module, in particular the present temperature (Ta) itself, is determined, and a first and a second PWM control point are assigned to this temperature-dependent value, and the PWM values for producing the target color value are obtained through interpolation between the assigned PWM c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Flextronics International Kft.
    Inventors: Tobias Gern, Uwe Burkhardt, Frank Wimbert, Rainer KĂĽmer
  • Patent number: 9039206
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus may include a light source, a power supply unit, a detecting unit, a nonvolatile memory, a capacitor, and a control unit. The power supply unit supplies power from an external power supply to the light source power derived from the received power. The detecting unit detects a cut-off state in which no or no sufficient power is being received by the power supply unit. The capacitor accumulates charges in response to power being received. Following detection of the cut-off state and even after turning off the light source, the control unit is operable to carry out a data storage operation in which at least part of the data is stored in the nonvolatile memory, wherein power to carry out the data storage operation is obtained from the charges previously accumulated by the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 9039207
    Abstract: A method for providing a feedback circuit for a three dimensional projector. First and second input devices and a sensor for determining the rotational speed of the second input device are provided. A control device for controlling the rotational speed of the second input device and a phase locked loop (PLL) are provided. A phase reference signal is created based on the signal rate of the first input device. A phase signal is created based on the rotational speed of the second input device. The PLL compares the phase reference signal and the phase feedback signal to determine whether the first input device and the second input device are synchronized. A signal is sent to the control device for the second input device to change the rotational speed of the second input device in response to determining that the first input device and the second input device are not synchronized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Casimer M. DeCusatis
  • Patent number: 9033523
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel image output apparatus that includes an operation processing unit that processes an operation request from a user, a projecting unit that projects a display image from a video providing apparatus and UIs from the image projector, a determining unit that determines whether or not it is necessary to switch a source of a video signal by using a current input type and a source of a video signal with reference to a data table that associates an input type that indicates a type of a port from which an image to be projected is acquired with a source of a video signal that forms an image to be projected, and a controller that switches a source of a video signal and executes a process indicated by an operation request from a user if it is necessary to switch the source of a video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Takemoto, Ayako Watanabe, Shinichiro Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9033522
    Abstract: This invention concerns a method of filming a subjected to be projected as a Pepper's Ghost image. The method may comprise filming a subject under a lighting arrangement having one or more front lights for illuminating a front of a subject and one or more backlights. The lights may be controlled such that the total brightness of the one or more front lights, as measured of the subject, is less than or approximately the same as the total brightness of the one or more backlights, as measured at the subject. The subject may be located directly above one or more floor lights such the subject is illuminated from below by the one or more floor lights. The lights may comprise one or more LEDs. A drop-off distance of the front lights may be less than a distance between the front lights and a backscreen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: HOLICOM FILM LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen Ley, Ian Christopher O'Connell, Bruce Finn
  • Patent number: 9030538
    Abstract: Disclosed is a three dimensional liquid crystal display device (3D LCD device) which facilitates to improve a picture quality of a three-dimensional image (3D image) by color and luminance corrections, and a method for driving the same, wherein the device comprises an image data analyzer which analyzes a luminance level for each of R, G, and B colors of original image data inputted to display the 3D image; an image data converter which generates color correction data for adjusting a color balance of the R, G, and B colors distorted by the shutter glass, and generates gamma correction data for compensating a luminance reduction, on the basis of luminance analyzing results provided from the image data analyzer; and a timing controller which converts the input image data into image data of a frame unit, reflects the color correction data and the gamma correction data in the image data of the frame unit, and supplies the corrected image data to a data driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ho Young Jung
  • Patent number: 9004700
    Abstract: A projector system that includes a first input device, a second input device, a control device, a sensor and a phase locked loop (PLL). A phase reference signal is created based on a signal rate of the first input device. A phase feedback signal is created based on the rotational speed of the second input device as it is measured by the sensor. The PLL compares the phase reference signal and the phase feedback signal to determine whether the first input device and the second input device are synchronized. A signal is sent to the control device for the second input device to change the rotational speed of the second input device in response to determining that the first input device and the second input device are not synchronized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Casimer M. DeCusatis
  • Patent number: 9001028
    Abstract: A small device for projecting images from a video generating device such as a computer, television receiver, or similar device onto a screen or other surface is described in this invention. The device is the size of the pen, and converts video instructions using a processing unit and memory into light signals that are projected. In the one embodiment, the device uses pulsed laser light from red, green, and blue lasers that are combined into a single light pulse that is transmitted through a rotating disk containing numerous lenses that transmit each light pulse to a specific location on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventor: David James Baker
  • Patent number: 8992030
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus includes a light source, light from which is used to form an image to be projected, a first flow path, a control unit configured to control a light emission from the light source, an electrical power stabilizing unit configured to stabilize an electrical power to be supplied to the light source, and an electrical power source unit configured to supply the electrical power to at least one of the control unit and the electrical power stabilizing unit. One or both of the electrical power source unit and the electrical power stabilizing unit is/are divided into a plurality of boards. The light source is arranged on a normal line of a surface of any of the plurality of boards. The plurality of boards configure surfaces of the first flow path except a surface nearest to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masamichi Yamada, Tetsuya Fujioka, Yasutada Tsukioka, Naoyuki Ishikawa, Hideo Kanai
  • Patent number: 8985777
    Abstract: Wallpaper serving as a screen and display content such as an image to be projected onto the wallpaper are created while maintaining their correlation. The created display content is projected on the wallpaper. The content display system creates a background image, which is a first image serving as a screen, and a second image for a predetermined area on the first image while maintaining their visual relationship, and forms a composite image of the second image on the first image by projecting the second image from a projector onto the predetermined area of the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Tetsuya Akiba
  • Patent number: 8985778
    Abstract: An image projection system whereby a position of a pointer on a projected image can be easily controlled from a location separated from the main control means. The system comprises a projector, a computer for controlling the projector to display a pointer on a projected image in accordance with an operational signal from a terminal, and a remote controller for the projector. The remote controller comprises a pointing device and a transmitter for transmitting an operation signal as an infrared ray operational signal. The projector comprises a receiver which is an infrared (IR) optical receiver having directivity, and receives the infrared ray operational signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Miyashita
  • Patent number: 8979277
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, apparatus and system for digital cinema color management. In one embodiment, a digital cinema color management system includes a projection device configured to project image content and a color meter configured to measure color levels of the projected image content. A control device is also provided including a validation module configured for validating the measured color levels of the color meter for preventing the creation of erroneous correction data. A calibration module determines if calibration of the color levels is required and provides real-time corrective color information to a projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Joshua Pines, Michael Allan Sterling
  • Patent number: 8967811
    Abstract: A solid state illumination system is provided as a replacement for conventional arc light, metal halide and Xenon white-light sources for applications in life sciences including, microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and endoscopy. The solid state illumination system generates high quality white light output from LED light sources. The white light output is continuous in the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 650 nm and is suitable for imaging all the most common fluorophores and fluorescent proteins. In embodiments, an LED light pipe engine is used to generate a portion of the spectral content of the white light output. In alternative embodiments the solid state illumination system produces light output of a selectable color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Lumencor, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Jaffe, Claudia B. Jaffe, George S. Tylinski
  • Patent number: 8960916
    Abstract: A method and system of advertising that involves projection of a logo or advertisement from a drinking glass. The logo or advertisement projecting glassware has a light source that projects the inserted film when the glass is lifted, and wherein the projection is turned off when the glassware is placed on a solid surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventor: Timothy R Boals