Polarizer Or Interference Filter Patents (Class 353/20)
  • Patent number: 8414128
    Abstract: An optical projection device includes a laser engine, a first wave plate and a lens. The laser engine provides light. The first wave plate changes a light phase. The lens focuses light. A projecting method of an optical projection device includes providing a light including a first P polarized light, a first S polarized light, and a second S polarized light, and projecting light through a wave plate on a screen, wherein the wave plate moves in a direction perpendicular to light. A projecting method of an optical projection device includes providing light including a first P polarized light, a first S polarized light, and a second S polarized light, and projecting light through a wave plate on a screen, wherein the wave plate rotates around an axis parallel to a projecting direction of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Asia Optical International Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Chih Hsiung
  • Publication number: 20130083293
    Abstract: An image generating device includes a light source, a light filtering element, a light conversion element, and an image generating element. The light source is for generating visible light. The light filtering element is disposed on a light path of the visible light. The light filtering element includes a plurality of light filtering blocks, and each of the light filtering blocks is for allowing light with wavelength within a predetermined range to pass through. The light conversion element is disposed on the light path. The light conversion element includes a first quantum dot layer for converting light with wavelength below a first wavelength to light with the first wavelength. The image generating element is for generating images according to light passed through the light filtering element and the light conversion element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventor: Chueh-Pin Ko
  • Patent number: 8408708
    Abstract: A polarization switch provides substantially ideal binary polarization switching over a broad range of wavelengths using a polarization modulation wheel having at least one retarder stack that transforms polarization. Using the polarization modulation wheel in a polarization system provides a high throughput polarization switch and operates over a wide range of incidence angles while providing substantially continuous and smooth polarization output for each component for any selected polarization basis set. The polarization modulation wheel is well-suited for stereoscopic polarized projection applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: RealD Inc.
    Inventor: Gary D. Sharp
  • Patent number: 8408709
    Abstract: First and second light sources emit first and second light beams, respectively. A light condensing system condenses the beams, and a polarization separation system separates each of the beams into first and second polarization components. A ½ phase plate converts the polarization state of the first polarization component to one equal to that of the second polarization component, and a rod integrator uniformizes spatial energy distribution of the beams condensed by the light condensing system. A relay system forms an image of an exit face of the rod integrator on a region to be illuminated. The light condensing system condenses the first and second polarization components onto first and second regions, respectively, of an entrance face of the rod integrator; and the ½ phase plate is placed at the first region of the entrance face of the rod integrator or at a position conjugate with the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasumasa Sawai, Iwao Adachi
  • Publication number: 20130076800
    Abstract: In a light beam scanning projection apparatus which scans a light beam emitted from a laser light source, an image display apparatus is configured including a plurality of light beams, a reflection mirror for reflecting the light beams to project them onto a screen or the like, and a mirror driving unit for driving the reflection mirror so that the plurality of light beams are incident on the reflection mirror with different optical axes and projected on different projection areas, thereby displaying a single image with a plurality of images. Further, by forming a single image by causing a plurality of the light beams to have predetermined relative angles thereamong so as to make a plurality of images overlap on each other with slight shifts, a scanning projection apparatus is provided with which the luminance of the image is improved while conforming to safety standards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Michio HATAGI, Takeshi Nakao, Tomoto Kawamura, Kunikazu Ohnishi, Hiromi Kita
  • Publication number: 20130077053
    Abstract: Provided is an optical apparatus including a polarization separation element for separating an incident light beam into a first polarization component and a second polarization component and outputting the first polarization component and the second polarization component, a polarization conversion unit including a waveplate for converting one of the first polarization component and the second polarization component into the other polarization component, the waveplate being held to a holding metal plate, and a housing for holding the polarization separation element and the polarization conversion unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihisa AIKOH
  • Publication number: 20130076995
    Abstract: A projection display device includes a first display panel (23a), a second display panel (23b), a PBS (Polarization Beam Splitter) (22) with a first surface (22a) and a second surface (22b) opposite each other, a light recycling device (25a, 25b and 23b), and a projection lens (24). The PBS (22) transmits a first type parallel polarized light and reflects a second type parallel polarized light. The light recycling device (25a, 25b and 23b) transforms the first type parallel polarized light transmitted by the PBS (22) into the second type parallel polarized light which carries a second image information, then reversely transmits the second type parallel polarized light to the second surface (22b) of the PBS (22).The projection display device improves the light utilization efficiency and can be used for 3D display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Lexvu Opto Microelectronics Technology (Shanghai) Ltd
    Inventors: Cheng Huang, Lei Zhang, Deming Tang
  • Patent number: 8403492
    Abstract: A light source device includes: a first light source configured to emit a first source light in a first wavelength range; a source light generator configured to generate, from the first light, a color-varying source light having time varying color; a second light source configured to emit a second source light in a second wavelength range that is different from the first wavelength range; and a light source controller configured to control driving timing for turning on and off each of the first light source and the second light source so as to cyclically select one of the color-varying source light and the second source light to be output as an output source light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mamoru Shibasaki
  • Patent number: 8403495
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an illumination system. The illumination system comprises a plurality of modules such that each module comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) adapted to emit light. The illumination system further comprises a plurality of lens elements disposed subsequent to the LEDs. Further, a number of the lens elements corresponds to a number of LEDs; such that the plurality of lens elements is adapted to redirect the light emitted by the LEDs on a plurality lenses. The illumination system further comprises a plurality of imagers disposed subsequent to the plurality of lenses, such that each of the imagers forms an image from the light provided by each of the lenses, respectively. Further, the images formed by the plurality of imagers are combined by a device, such as an X-cube, to form a single image that is further provided to a light pipe of a display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Shenzhen TCL New Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Estill Thone Hall, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8403488
    Abstract: Projection systems and methods for providing stereoscopic images viewed through passive polarizing eyewear. The systems relate to projectors that create left and right eye images simultaneously and often as side-by-side images on the image modulator. The systems act to superimpose the spatially separated images on a projection screen with alternate polarization states. The embodiments are best suited to liquid crystal polarization based projection systems and use advanced polarization control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: RealD Inc.
    Inventors: Miller H. Schuck, Michael G. Robinson, Douglas J. McKnight, Gary D. Sharp
  • Patent number: 8398241
    Abstract: A half-wave plate includes a single crystal plate made of an inorganic material having a birefringent property and rotatory power, wherein a polarization plane of linearly polarized light entering from an entrance surface of the crystal plate is rotated and then output from an exit surface of the crystal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Oto
  • Patent number: 8400713
    Abstract: Speckle effect in scanning display systems that employs polarized phase-coherent light is reduced by depolarizing the phase-coherent light using a depolarizer and scanning the depolarized light for producing desired images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Regis Grasser
  • Publication number: 20130063700
    Abstract: A projection-type image display apparatus includes a color separation element including a color separation surface, a light modulation element configured to receive the light divided by the color separation element, a polarizing beam splitter disposed between the color separation element and a projection optical system to separate a light path of a light modulated by the light modulation element according to a polarization direction and guide the resulting light to the projection optical system, and a phase difference plate disposed between the color separation element and the light modulation element. An optic axis of the phase difference plate and the normal of the color separation surface are substantially parallel or perpendicular to each other, in a cross section parallel to a normal of the color separation surface and a normal of the light modulation element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yutaka Yamaguchi, Takehito Kawasumi
  • Publication number: 20130063701
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to an optical element, a light projector that includes the optical element, and an image projector that includes the optical element. In particular, the optical element provides an improved uniformity of light by homogenizing the light with lenslet arrays, such as “fly-eye arrays” (FEA). A first FEA is positioned to intercept and converge an unpolarized combined light before the light is converted to a single polarization state, and a second FEA is positioned to intercept and diverge the converted light having a single polarization state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Zhisheng Yun, Xiaohui Cheng, Kim Leong Tan
  • Publication number: 20130063671
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to an optical element, a light projector that includes the optical element, and an image projector that includes the optical element. In particular, the optical element provides an improved uniformity of light by homogenizing the light with lenslet arrays, such as “fly-eye arrays” (FEA). The FEA is positioned to homogenize an unpolarized combined light before the light is converted to a single polarization state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Zhisheng Yun, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Kim Leong Tan, Andrew T. Tio
  • Patent number: 8393740
    Abstract: Keystone correction for a projector. An uncorrected graphic is displayed on a display unit utilizing pixels. The uncorrected graphic is projected from the display unit onto a projection screen to form an uncorrected image. An orientation of the uncorrected image relative to the projection screen is captured. The uncorrected graphic is transformed into a pre-distorted graphic for projection from the display unit onto the projection screen so as to form a corrected image with an orientation more aligned with the projection screen than the orientation of the uncorrected image and such that the pre-distorted graphic utilizes more pixels in the display unit than a second pre-distorted graphic, wherein if formed, would be formed by transforming the uncorrected graphic such that the second pre-distorted graphic forms a second corrected image with a maximum rectangular area inside the uncorrected image when projected from the display unit onto the projection screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seyed Behzad Sajadi, Yasuhiro Komori, Hung Khei Huang
  • Publication number: 20130057831
    Abstract: There is provided a polarization optical apparatus including a reflection-type polarization element for transmitting a predetermined polarization component light, inputting the light to a reflection-type optical modulation element, and reflecting polarization component light optically modulated by the reflection-type optical modulation element, a polarization element holding member including a sliding support surface for slidably supporting the reflection-type polarization element in a surface direction, and holding the reflection-type polarization element, and an urging portion for urging the reflection-type polarization element toward the sliding support surface while enabling the reflection-type polarization element to be slid along the sliding support surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventor: Yoshihisa AIKOH
  • Publication number: 20130057832
    Abstract: A projector includes an illumination device having a light source device emitting light, and a polarization conversion element adapted to emit light from the light source device as polarized light, a light modulation device adapted to modulate the light from the illumination device in accordance with image information, and a projection optical system adapted to project the light from the light modulation device, and the illumination device further includes a light diffusing unit disposed in at least one of upstream and downstream of the polarization conversion element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi AKIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20130057786
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to an optical element, a light projector that includes the optical element, and an image projector that includes the optical element. In particular, the optical element provides an improved uniformity of light by homogenizing the light with lenslet arrays, such as “fly-eye arrays” (FEA). The FEA is positioned to homogenize a polarized combined light after an unpolarized input light is converted to a single polarization state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Philip E. Watson, Zhisheng Yun, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Xiaohui Cheng, Kim Leong Tan, Andrew T. Tio
  • Patent number: 8388138
    Abstract: A projection apparatus has a first light beam having a first state of polarization and containing a first set of primary colors, a first light modulator arrangement for spatially modulating the polarization state of the first light beam to encode a first image thereon in the first set of primary colors, a second light beam having a second state of polarization and containing a second set of primary colors, and a second light modulator arrangement for spatially modulating the polarization state of the second light beam to encode a second image thereon. A polarizing beam splitter having first and second input ports to admit the first and second encoded light beams. Light of one polarization state incident on the first port is transmitted to the output port and light of another polarization state incident on the second port is reflected to said output port so that said transmitted and reflected light is combined into a common output beam at said output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventor: Simon Andrew Boothroyd
  • Patent number: 8388148
    Abstract: An optical system is provided which includes an illumination system with a light source, a lens member which guides light from the light source, and a mirror member; an image unit on which an image is formed and on which light from the illumination system is incident; a projection system which magnifies and projects the image formed on the image unit; and a blocking unit which is mounted to the mirror member of the illumination system and partially blocks light from the light source that is directed to the mirror member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kee-uk Jeon, Sang-ik Kim, Kyoung-choul Jang, Boing-jo Kang, Wook-jae Jeon
  • Publication number: 20130050593
    Abstract: A beam splitter outputs a light, which includes two polarized light components, when the splitter receives laser lights from laser light sources. The splitter is arranged such that when the light, which is outputted from the splitter and is reflected by or transmitted through a screen, is incident on a projection surface of a windshield, polarization directions of the two polarized light components are different from each other and are not parallel to a plane of incidence, which is formed at a point of incidence of the light on the projection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayuki Fujikawa
  • Publication number: 20130044293
    Abstract: Projection subsystems are described. More, particularly, projection subsystems that include a light source and a polarizing beam splitter are described. The polarizing beam splitters of the presently described projection subsystems are capable of avoiding performance degradation even after exposure to large doses of incident light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: Stephen J. Willett, Craig R. Schardt, David J.W. Aastuen
  • Patent number: 8376548
    Abstract: A near-eye display projects virtual images from an image generator to an eyebox within which the virtual images can be seen by a viewer. A first optical path conveys image-bearing light from the image generator to a selectively reflective powered optic and a second optical path conveys the image-bearing light along a line of sight from the selectively reflective powered optic to the eyebox. First and second selectively reflective surfaces fold the first optical path with respect to the second optical path to locate the image generator out of the line of sight to the eyebox. The image generator is effectively inclined to the line of sight to the eyebox for reducing a thickness of the near-eye display. The selectively reflective powered optic is oriented normal to local overlapping portions of the first and second optical paths at the selectively reflective powered optic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Vuzix Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20130038838
    Abstract: A pixel array display system which has an illumination source with a plurality of emitters in a sparse array, collimators in front of the emitters, a condenser lens downstream of the collimators, an optical homogenizing element downstream from the condenser lens, a relay lens downstream from the optical homogenizing element, a pixel array downstream from the relay lens, a rear group of lens elements of a projection lens downstream from the pixel array, a polarization converter stack downstream from the rear group of lens elements and a front group of lens elements of the projection lens downstream from the polarization converter stack, so that light from the emitters is imaged onto input apertures of the polarization converter stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: John Marshall Ferri
  • Publication number: 20130038839
    Abstract: An optical device includes: a light transmissive first substrate; a light transmissive second substrate; a polarizing layer as a resin layer disposed therebetween; a first bonding film which is an adhesive and bonds the polarizing layer to the first substrate; and a second bonding film which is formed of a plasma-polymerized film and bonds the polarizing layer to the second substrate, wherein the outer shapes of the first substrate and the second substrate are larger than that of the polarizing layer, and a sealing part for sealing with a sealant is provided on a lateral surface of the polarizing layer such that the sealing part is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehiko UEHARA, Akiko KAWASE, Mitsuru MIYABARA
  • Patent number: 8373692
    Abstract: A first linearly polarized bundle of rays of incident rays is converted by optical modulation with an input video signal into a second linearly polarized bundle of rays orthogonal to the first rays in polarization. The first rays pass through a polarizer before optically modulated. A second linearly polarized bundle of rays originally involved in the incident rays is reflected by the polarizer in a first direction. The second rays obtained by the optical modulation are reflected by the polarizer in a second direction. The second rays reflected in the second direction pass through another polarizer. A first linearly polarized bundle of rays involved in the reflected second rays is reflected by the other polarizer. The reflected first rays is detected by an optical sensor that is positioned outside an optical path of the second rays originally involved in the incident rays and reflected in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Uchiyama, Masato Furuya, Tatsuru Kobayashi, Ryo Nishima, Motoshi Tohda, Yoshio Fukuzaki, Takeshi Makabe, Yasuo Ishizaka, Akihiro Hamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20130033678
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical element that includes: carrier generation layer (16) in which carriers are generated by light from light guide body (12) into which light from a light-emitting element enters; plasmon excitation layer (17) that has a plasma frequency higher than the frequency of light generated when carrier generation layer (16) is excited by light from the light-emitting element; and wave vector conversion layer (18) that converts surface plasmon generated by plasmon excitation layer (17) light having a predetermined exit angle to output the light. Plasmon excitation layer (17) is sandwiched between two layers having dielectric properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanao Natsumeda, Masao Imai, Goroh Saitoh, Shin Tominaga
  • Patent number: 8360582
    Abstract: A rear projection type image display apparatus. The apparatus includes a projector that projects an image having a relatively high luminance, and a transmission type screen installed at an image formation plane of a projection light from the projector. The apparatus also includes a first polarizing plate having a first polarization direction disposed in front of an exit pupil of the projector, and a second polarizing plate having a second polarizing direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first polarizing direction disposed near a rear surface side opposite to an irradiation surface of the transmission type screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Tetsushi Kokubo, Hitoshi Mukai, Hirofumi Hibi, Kazumasa Tanaka, Kenji Tanaka, Hiroyuki Morisaki
  • Publication number: 20130016322
    Abstract: A reflective polarizing plate apparatus includes a reflective polarizing plate that transmits first linearly polarized light and reflects second linearly polarized light polarized in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the first linearly polarized light is polarized, a holding member that accommodates and holds the reflective polarizing plate, and a first biasing member that biases a glass surface of the reflective polarizing plate accommodated in the holding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Wakabayashi, Hirohisa Nakano, Satoru Nagarekawa
  • Publication number: 20130016321
    Abstract: A laser-based imaging system (200) is configured to reduce perceived speckle in images (201). The imaging system (200) includes one or more laser sources (207), a light modulator (204) configured to produce the images (201) with light (205) from the laser sources (207), and one or more active polarization switches (206) disposed in an optical path of the imaging system (200). The active polarization switch (206) is configured to alternate a polarization orientation of the light in synchrony with an image refresh cycle of the system. The active polarization switch can be clocked in accordance with a clocking angle to optimize speckle reduction. Additionally, one or more light preconditioners (991,992) may be used to help optimize speckle reduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: MICROVISION, INC.
    Inventors: Markus Duelli, Mark O. Freeman, Christian Dean DeJong, Alban N. Lescure
  • Publication number: 20130010264
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus emits light onto an optical modulation device for forming an image according to a modulation signal and illuminating an object. The illumination apparatus includes a light source; a fluorescent material that emits light of a color different from a color of light emitted by the light source; and a light guiding unit that switches between a state in which the light emitted from the light source is guided to the fluorescent material and a state in which the light emitted from the light source is not guided to the fluorescent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Tatsuya TAKAHASHI, Kazuhiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 8348440
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vision system for representing synthetically generated images for the stimulation of night vision appliances, especially in training simulators for driving or flight training, and lighting and observation operations in night vision conditions. Said system comprises an image generator (17) for generating image signals of a synthetic image, at least one projector (16) which is fed with the image signals and used to project the image onto at least one projection screen (11), and a night vision appliance (15) for visualizing the projected image. The aim of the invention is to create a technically less complex, cost-effective visual system, whereby the projected image is visualized through the night vision appliance (15) in an undisturbed manner when the night vision appliance is stimulated correctly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Burggraf, Wilfried Plass, Michael Paschold, Hans Born
  • Patent number: 8348431
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes multiple liquid crystal panels, a polarization-state adjusting element, and a cross dichroic prism. A green component light includes a central-wavelength component light, a short-wavelength component light, and a long-wavelength component light. The polarization-state adjusting element separately adjusts a polarization state of the central-wavelength component light and each of polarization states of the long-wavelength component light and the short-wavelength component light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Maeda
  • Publication number: 20130003021
    Abstract: A beam combiner has a first coating on a first side capable of imparting a first polarization rotation, and a second coating on a second side capable of imparting a second polarization rotation. A first beam impinging on the first side passes through the first and second coatings as a first beam component. Second and third beams impinging on the second side partially reflect off the second coating as a second beam component, and partially transmit through the second coating to reflect off the first coating and exit through the second coating as a third beam component. The first, second and third beam components are disposed at selected positions and have respective selected polarizations as a combined beam spot. The positions and polarization of the beams components result in a projected image having increased allowable brightness and/or having reduced speckle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelly D. Linden, Joshua O. Miller
  • Publication number: 20130003022
    Abstract: A polarizing prism is shaped in the form of a hexahedron. A polarizing beam splitter film (PBS film) is arranged approximately in a diagonal direction of the hexahedron. The polarizing prism holds a relationship of A<B when the dimension thereof in an outgoing direction (Y direction) of a light beam to a screen is A and the dimension thereof in an incident direction (X direction) of a light beam from a light source is B. For example, the polarizing prism is shaped in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. At a plane on which the light beam is launched from a scanning mirror, one end of the PBS film is placed so as to intersect with the incident plane at an angle of approximately 45° at a position deviated inside by a difference between the dimensions A and B from the end of the incident plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Teppei Tanaka, Takeshi Nakao, Masato Sugiyama, Michio Hatagi, Tomoto Kawamura, Hiromi Kita, Kunikazu Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 8337020
    Abstract: Disclosed are illumination systems especially suitable for very small data projectors, called pico projectors. The disclosed illumination systems provide high optical efficiency for projectors that need polarized light but utilize unpolarized light sources such as light-emitting diodes. Some of the disclosed illumination systems make use of light sources of different colors, and provide polarization conversion in ways based on color-selective elements of a variety of different types to convert substantially all the light emitted by the light sources to a single polarization, without increasing the effective optical extent of the source. Other disclosed illumination system provide compact ways to combine light from differently colored light sources without the use of bulky x-cube or angled dichroic elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Citizen Finetech Miyota Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark A. Handschy, Christopher Joseph Berliner
  • Patent number: 8337022
    Abstract: A rear projection image display apparatus that includes one or more projectors that project an image having a high luminance, a first screen having a fibrous texture and that diffracts light incident from the one or more projectors in accordance with a fiber roughness of the fibrous texture, and a second screen attached to the first screen on a side of the first screen opposite the one or more projectors and that diffuses light incident from the first screen and outputs the diffused light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Tetsushi Kokubo, Hitoshi Mukai, Hirofumi Hibi, Kazumasa Tanaka, Kenji Tanaka, Hiroyuki Morisaki
  • Patent number: 8337021
    Abstract: A projection type image display device using, in a projection optical system thereof, a flat mirror, which is easy to design and manufacture, as a projection mirror is provided. The projection optical system is a diagonal projection optical system and includes plural lenses. Among the plural lenses, the one disposed closest to the flat mirror has an effective area, along the vertical direction of an image, through which a light beam passes and which is off an optical axis of the other plurality of lenses, shared by the most lenses so as not to allow light reflected from the projection mirror to return to the projector body. A polarization converter using, for example, a quarter wavelength plate is provided at an output surface of a crossed prism to decrease reflectance differences between differently colored light and to thereby prevent the occurrence of color unevenness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kimura, Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu
  • Publication number: 20120320341
    Abstract: There is provided an optical apparatus including a reflection panel unit including a reflection-type optical modulation element, a prism unit including a polarization optical apparatus for outputting a light beam modulated by the reflection-type optical modulation element and a color synthesis prism for receiving, synthesizing and outputting the light beams from the polarization optical apparatus, and a first fixing member for fixing the reflection panel unit to the prism unit, wherein the first fixing member includes a first surface and a second surface intersecting the first surface, and wherein the reflection panel unit and the prism unit include a third surface and a fourth surface to which the first surface and the second surface are adhered via adhesion layers, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Aikoh
  • Patent number: 8333476
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus includes light sources 111 to 113 emitting at least two colored lights whose wavelengths are different from each other, a polarization conversion element 2 controlling a polarization direction of the colored light, at least two light modulation elements 41 and 42 modulating incident light, a light guide optical system 31 guiding the at least two colored lights from the polarization conversion element to the at least two light modulation elements in accordance with the polarization direction, and a projection optical system 5. One of the at least two colored light and the other are emitted as lights whose polarization directions are different from each other from the polarization conversion element. A drive unit 6 turns on the light sources so that the one of the colored lights and at least one of the other enter the at least two light modulation elements at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Reona Ushigome, Kazuhiko Momoki
  • Publication number: 20120314188
    Abstract: Optical element 10 according to the present invention comprises light guide body 11, surface plasmon excitation means 14 that is provided on the interface with light guide body 11 and that allows surface plasmon to be excited by a specific polarization component of light whose polarization direction is orthogonal to the first direction y in the surface of light guide body 11, from among light entering from light guide body 11, and a light generation means that includes metal layer 12 and cover layer 13, and that generates light having the same polarization component as the specific polarization component of light, from surface plasmon produced in the interface between metal layer 12 and cover layer 13 in response to surface plasmon excited by the specific polarization component in surface plasmon excitation means 14.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shin Tominaga, Masao Imai, Goroh Saitoh, Masanao Natsumeda
  • Publication number: 20120314189
    Abstract: The present invention includes light source layer (4) and directivity controlling layer (5) into which light emitted from light source layer (4) enters. Light source layer (4) has a pair of hole transport layer (11) and electron transport layer (13) formed on substrate (10). Directivity controlling layer (5) has plasmon excitation layer (15) that is laminated on non-substrate (10) side of light source layer (4) and that has a higher plasma frequency than light emitted from light source layer (4) and wave number vector conversion layer (17) that converts surface plasmons that are generated in plasmon excitation layer (15) into light having a predetermined emission angle and emits the light having the predetermined emission angle. Plasmon excitation layer (15) is sandwiched between two layers having dielectricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanao Natsumeda, Masao Imai, Naofumi Suzuki, Shin Tominaga
  • Patent number: 8330879
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus includes a light source configured to emit light, at least one reflective liquid crystal device configured to generate an image by modulating a polarization of the light emitted from the light source and reflecting the light, an imaging lens configured to form a real image of the image generated by the reflective liquid crystal device, a quarter-wave plate disposed between the reflective liquid crystal device and the imaging lens, an image splitter configured to include at least one reflecting plane and spatially split the real image into at least two split real images by reflecting the real image on the reflecting plane, at least two projection lenses configured to form the split real images again on a screen, and a phase difference corrector configured to correct a phase difference between a p-polarized light and an s-polarized light generated by the reflecting plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Iwai, Hideki Yamamoto, Yuji Manabe
  • Patent number: 8328362
    Abstract: Three dimensional projection systems may be single projector or multiple projector systems. These 3D projection systems may include a polarization conversion system (PCS). The PCS may be designed for relatively small throw ratios and thus, may be designed to accommodate the small throw ratios. The PCS may include a polarizing beam splitter, a first optical stack, a reflector and a second quarter wave retarder. The first optical stack may include a rotator, a polarizer, a polarization switch and a first quarter wave retarder. The PCS may receive light from a projector and the PBS may direct the light toward the first optical stack. The light may be converted to a different polarization state as it passes through the first optical stack. The converted light may then be re-directed by a reflecting element to the second quarter wave retarder. The second quarter wave retarder may convert linearly polarized light to circularly polarized light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: RealD Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Coleman, Miller H. Schuck, Gary D. Sharp, Scott E. Gilman
  • Publication number: 20120307167
    Abstract: A polarization separating element is configured to include a translucent substrate formed of a crystal material having birefringent properties and optically rotatory power and a polarization separating portion formed on the incidence-side surface of the translucent substrate so as to transmit a P-polarized light beam and reflect an S-polarized light beam. A reflecting element that reflects the S-polarized light beam reflected by the polarization separating portion is disposed so as to be separated approximately in parallel to the translucent substrate. A predetermined function is set such that the P-polarized light beam having passed through the polarization separating portion and been incident to the translucent substrate is converted so as to be parallel to the polarization plane of the S-polarized light beam so that the P-polarized light beam is output as the S-polarized light beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuho KOBAYASHI, Mitsuru MIYABARA, Makoto SAKURAI
  • Patent number: 8322859
    Abstract: A projector includes: a light source which emits light; a light modulating device which modulates the light emitted from the light source according to image information; an image forming system which forms an image corresponding to the optical image formed by the light modulating device of modulated light which is modulated by the light modulation device at an image forming position; a polarized light emitting unit disposed at the image forming position of the image forming system to selectively convert the polarization direction of a part of entering light; and a projecting device which projects the light from the polarized light emitting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasunaga Miyazawa
  • Publication number: 20120287406
    Abstract: A projection subsystem includes a light engine that provides a collection lens, a collimator and at least one solid state light emitter. A projection lens assembly receives the image and provides a projection beam having a luminous flux level. The projection subsystem has a portability efficacy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Patrick R. Destain, Jennifer L. Grace, John E. Duncan, Tomasz A. Pol, William E. Phillips, III, Michael W. O'Keefe, Alexander Glinski, Stephen J. Willett
  • Patent number: 8308300
    Abstract: A color separation optical system is disclosed which is effective in improving black color and black unevenness. Linearly polarized light impinging on a dichroic surface at an incident angle smaller than 45 degrees and then impinging on a polarization beam splitting surface at an incident angle larger than 45 degrees is referred to as first incident-angle light. A wavelength which is longer than a wavelength at the maximum transmittance of the dichroic surface for the first incident-angle light and at which the transmittance of the dichroic surface for the first incident-angle light is 10% is referred to as Wa, and a wavelength range shorter than Wa is referred to as W. The polarization beam splitting surface has a characteristic in which its transmittance for the first incident-angle light in the wavelength range W is 5% or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Sudo, Hiroyuki Kodama, Makoto Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8303118
    Abstract: A video projector includes a first discharge port from which a cooling current is sent out of a duct to an optical component. A cooling fan generates the cooling current which flows through the duct. The first discharge port includes first and second wall surfaces opposed to each other in an optical axis direction in which the light is transmitted through the optical component, third and fourth wall surfaces opposed to each other in a lateral direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, a discharge port inlet into which the cooling current from the cooling fan is drawn, and a discharge port outlet from which the cooling current is sent toward the optical component. A gap between the first and second wall surfaces and a gap between the third and fourth wall surfaces become narrower from the discharge port inlet to the discharge port outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuya Minami