Polarizer Or Interference Filter Patents (Class 353/20)
  • Patent number: 8303117
    Abstract: A projection optical system can achieve compactness and improve a state where polarized rays are separated by a polarized light separation section, without a separate optical system which makes the whole system telecentric, by using a reflective light valve. The projection optical system includes, in order, the reflective light valve, a projection lens and the polarized light separation section. The reflective light valve modulates incident illumination light in response to an input image signal and reflects and emits the modulated light. The projection lens transmits the illumination light incident to the reflective light valve and the modulated light emitted from the reflective light valve and is formed to be telecentric on the reduction side. The polarized light separation section separates the optical path of the illumination light incident to the projection lens from the optical path of the modulated light emitted from the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Chikara Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8297758
    Abstract: A multimedia player for providing two projection images is provided. The multimedia player for displaying two projection images includes: a first projection unit displaying a first projection image; and a second projection unit displaying a second projection image. The first projection unit includes: a first driving unit controlling an operation of the first projection unit and providing an image signal on the first projection image to be displayed; a first light source unit; a first light modulation device outputting the first projection image by modulating light provided from the light source in response to the image signal of the first projection image; and a first projection lens unit magnifying and projecting an image that is output from the first light modulation device. The structure of the first projection unit is the same as that of the second projection unit. The multimedia player further includes a screen sensing unit sensing a color of an area in which an image is to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Byeong-Dae Choi, Dae-Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 8297755
    Abstract: A projector with a laser light source projects an image. In order to reduce the risk for a person to be exposed to harmful levels of laser light, the projector also projects a time-variant alerting image into an alerting region. Alerting region is arranged outside of the projection region. The alerting image is of a wave length visible to the human eye, and of an intensity of eye-safe level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Arnd Ritz
  • Publication number: 20120268719
    Abstract: A polarizing beam splitter includes a medium and at least two thin-film layers having different refractive indices arranged in order from a light incidence side, and the medium and the thin-film layers satisfy a predetermined mathematical conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yutaka Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20120268718
    Abstract: In a polarization conversion element including a plurality of light transmitting substrates and an optical element that includes polarization splitting films and reflective films that are alternately disposed between the light transmitting substrates, and a laminated wave plate that is arranged on the light outgoing face of the optical element and rotates the polarization plane of light emitted from the optical element by ?, a laminated wave plate is acquired by stacking a first wave plate of a phase difference ?1 for light of a wavelength ? and a second wave plate of a phase difference of ?2 such that the optical axes thereof intersect each other, the relationship is “|?1??2|=180 (degrees), and the azimuth of the optical axis of the first wave plate and the azimuth of the optical axis of the second wave plate are perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shuho KOBAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20120262674
    Abstract: An optical device includes: a light transmissive first substrate; a light transmissive second substrate; a polarizing layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a first bonding layer which bonds the first substrate to the polarizing layer; and a second bonding layer which bonds the second substrate to the polarizing layer, wherein the first bonding layer is an adhesive layer, and the second bonding layer contains a structure of siloxane (Si—O) and a leaving group. By forming the first bonding layer of an adhesive layer, a necessary strength can be ensured, and also the optical properties can be enhanced by absorbing the irregularities of the polarizing layer formed of a synthetic resin so as to prevent the contamination with air bubbles. Since the time of exposure of the polarizing layer to heat generated by a plasma can be decreased, the polarizing layer is not deteriorated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiko KAWASE, Mitsuru MIYABARA
  • Publication number: 20120262675
    Abstract: In a light source device, that obtains high light usage efficiency by projecting simultaneously two or more of three primary color lights X, Y and Z. Moreover, each color light X, Y and Z is divided into two in terms of time so that p-wave and s-wave linear polarization lights are formed, such that the synthesized light of the p-wave linear polarization lights enters a first spatial modulation element and the synthesized light of the s-wave linear polarization lights enters a second spatial modulation element to permit gradation control of each color light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: USHIO DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyoyuki Kabuki, Akihiko Sugitani, Yoshihiro Horikawa, Yoshio Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20120262676
    Abstract: In a light source device, in each division of an image frame, two or more of the color lights X, Y and Z (e.g., red, green and blue) can be projected simultaneously. Each of the color lights X, Y and Z is divided into two in terms of time so that synthesized light of one group of division color lights enters a first spatial modulation element. Synthesized light of another group of division color lights enters a second spatial modulation element, whereby gradation of each color light in each of the first and second spatial modulation elements is controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Sugitani, Kiyoyuki Kabuki, Yoshihiro Horikawa, Yoshio Okazaki
  • Patent number: 8287128
    Abstract: An imaging system (200), such as a scanned laser projection system, includes one or more laser sources (201) configured to produce one or more light beams (204), and a light modulator (203) configured to produce images (206) from the light beams (204). A polarization diversity element (221), which can be manufactured from a birefringent material or from a polymerized liquid crystal layer, is disposed within the imaging system (200). The polarization diversity element (221) is configured to alter the polarization of an incident beam to create a transmitted beam comprising diverse polarization patterns, thereby reducing speckle in projected images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Alban N. Lescure, Markus Duelli, Mark O. Freeman, Witold R. Teller
  • Patent number: 8287129
    Abstract: An imaging system having reduced susceptibility to thermally induced stress birefringence, comprising; a relay lens, which images the object plane onto an intermediate image plane; a projection lens, which images the intermediate image plane onto the display surface. The lens elements that are immediately adjacent to a relay lens aperture stop and a projection lens aperture stop are fabricated using glasses having a negligible susceptibility to thermal stress birefringence, and the other lens elements are fabricated using glasses having at most a moderate susceptibility to thermal stress birefringence as characterized by the thermal stress birefringence metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Andrew F. Kurtz, Joseph R. Bietry, Barry D. Silverstein
  • Publication number: 20120257168
    Abstract: The polarization beam splitting element is configured to reflect or transmit an entering beam according to its polarization direction. The element includes, in order from a beam entrance side, a base member having a light transmissive property, a first one-dimensional grating structure formed of a dielectric material and having, in a first direction, a first grating period smaller than a wavelength of the entering beam, and a second one-dimensional grating structure formed of a metal and having, in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a second grating period smaller than the wavelength of the entering beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Rie ISHIMATSU
  • Publication number: 20120256879
    Abstract: Multiple image projection apparatus are described. A cubic multi-prism beam splitter is provided having diagonal interfaces with one or more PBS elements and/or reflective elements positioned thereon. At least first and second spatial light modulators, such as LCoS SLMs, are positioned adjacent the beam splitter cube. The first and second LCoS spatial light modulators and first and second projection optics systems are configured to output a first modulated image from the first LCoS SLM to the first projection optics system and a second modulated image from the second LCoS spatial light modulator to the second projection optics system. In other embodiments, additional LCoS spatial light modulators and light sources produce 3-D images. Addition of sensors permits user interaction with a projected image which is fed back to a controller to optionally change current or future images displayed by the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Ying LIU, Kinlung CHAN, Weiping TANG
  • Publication number: 20120257169
    Abstract: A polarization beam splitter includes at least six prisms assembled together to form a single solid components. At least one diagonal interface is formed by a combination of two or more prism surfaces. The solid polarization beam splitter component has at least four light entrance/exit surfaces with at least one of the light entrance/exit surfaces including a step. At least one of the prisms has a non-triangular cross-sectional shape. At least one surface of a prism that forms a portion of the diagonal interface has a polarization beam splitting material disposed thereon resulting in a diagonal interface that includes a polarization beam splitting material. The polarization beam splitter can be incorporated into various image projection apparatus including 2D, multiple image, and 3D projection apparatuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventor: Ying Liu
  • Patent number: 8282215
    Abstract: A spatial light modulation device includes: a light modulation unit which modulates light according to an image signal; and a first electrode and a second electrode provided on a surface of one of an optical element disposed either on the entrance side of the light modulation unit or the exit side of the light modulation unit and the light modulation unit. Voltage is applied to the first electrodes and the second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Egawa
  • Patent number: 8282216
    Abstract: A single-imager projection engine assembly includes a light source, a reflective polarization modulation imager, a reflective quarter wave composite plate, a projection lens system, and a PBS assembly which includes a first polarization beam splitting film and a second polarization beam splitting film in a V-notch pairing configuration. The first polarization beam splitting film reflects the illumination light in first polarization state to the reflective polarization modulation imager, while the second polarization beam splitting film and the reflective quarter wave composite plate in conjunction convert the illumination light in second polarization state passing through the first polarization beam splitting film to first polarization state and reflects the converted to the reflective polarization modulation imager. Combined illumination is modulated, polarization rotated and reflected by the reflective polarization modulation imager back to the PBS assembly for projection through the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Shanghai Lexvu Opto Microelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Herb He Huang
  • Patent number: 8282220
    Abstract: A projector with a color sensor module is provided. The projector includes a light source providing a light, a prism device refracting the light, a reflecting device reflecting the light refracted by the prism device, an optical lens receiving the light reflected by the reflecting device and forming a first light path between the optical lens and the reflecting device, and a color sensor module disposed on a second light path and comprising a light inlet receiving the light reflected toward the second light path by the reflecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Lumens Digital Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tzu-Ming Wei, Wei-Po Hsu
  • Publication number: 20120249969
    Abstract: The polarization beam splitting element splits an entering beam according to polarization directions. The element includes, in order from a beam entrance side, an entrance side multi-layered film layer constituted by laminated multiple dielectric films, and a one-dimensional grating structure having a grating period smaller than a wavelength of the entering beam and formed of a metal. When a medium existing on the beam entrance side further than the entrance side multi-layered film layer is referred to as an entrance medium, the multiple dielectric films constituting the entrance side multi-layered film layer include at least one dielectric film having a higher refractive index than that of the entrance medium and at least one dielectric film having a lower refractive index than that of the entrance medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Rie Ishimatsu
  • Publication number: 20120249970
    Abstract: The polarization beam splitting element includes a one-dimensional grating structure having a grating period smaller than a wavelength of an entering beam and including a metal grating portion, and two light-transmissive members each having a refractive index higher than that of air. The one-dimensional grating structure is disposed between the two light-transmissive members. The grating period of the one-dimensional grating structure is 120 nm or less, a thickness of the one-dimensional grating structure is 100 nm or less and an inter-grating portion of the one-dimensional grating structure is formed as a vacuum space or formed of air or a dielectric material. The grating period ? [nm], a filling factor FF that is a ratio w/? of a width w [nm] of the grating portion to the grating period, a refractive index na of the inter-grating portion and a wavelength ?g of 550 [nm] satisfy (1.4na?2.9)?/?g?0.57na+1.32?FF?(1.4na?2.9)?/?g?0.57na+1.39 and 0.152np?1.375(?/?g)+0.5?FF?0.152np?1.375(?/?g)+0.6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Rie ISHIMATSU
  • Publication number: 20120242959
    Abstract: A color light mixing device, a color light mixing method and a small-sized projecting system using the color light mixing device are provided. The color light mixing device includes a tube structure, a plurality of light-emitting units, a reflective polarizer and a microlens assembly. The light-emitting units are located at an inlet end of the tube structure. The reflective polarizer is located at the other end of the tube structure. The microlens assembly is arranged between the light-emitting units and the reflective polarizer. By the color light mixing device, the light beams with a single polarization state are homogenized and outputted to a microdisplay element of the small-sized projecting system. By an optical projection lens assembly of the small-sized projecting system, an image shown on the microdisplay element is projected onto a screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: ABBE OPTOELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventor: SHI-HWA HUANG
  • Patent number: 8272742
    Abstract: Linearly polarized illumination light that is emitted from a light source unit and then reaches a polarized light separation plane along the optical axis of an illumination optical unit is reflected from the polarized light separation plane at a right angle and reaches a reflection optical unit. The reflection optical unit reverses the phase of the linearly polarized illumination light and reflects the illumination light to the polarized light separation plane. The illumination light passes through the polarized light separation plane and reaches a reflective liquid crystal display device. The reflective liquid crystal display device converts the illumination light into modulated light having image information thereon. In this case, the phase of the linearly polarized light is reversed again and reflected from the polarized light separation plane at a right angle to reach a projection lens. The light is enlarged and projected onto a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Chikara Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8272749
    Abstract: A high resolution 3D projection system having a light source (302) for generating and emitting light, a translucent rotatable drum (308) having differently polarized sections for receiving the light therethrough, a plurality of digital micromirror device imagers (324, 326, 328 and 330) configured to receive and reflect the light transmitted through the drum (308), where a light beam is capable of being passed generally orthogonally through a wall of the drum is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Youngshik Yoon
  • Patent number: 8272751
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes: a light modulator having translucent windows; a light emitter having a light source; a light guide having a tubular reflecting surface guiding light source light to the light modulator; and a light separator having a light separation surface separating guided light into transmitted and reflected light. The tubular reflecting surface narrows from the light modulator toward the light emitter to guide the reflected light to the windows. Denoting a lateral cross-sectional area of an inside area of the tubular reflecting surface at a light source end as S1, a lateral cross-sectional area of the tubular reflecting surface at a light separation surface end as S2, and a maximum incident angle at which light from the light source reflected by the tubular reflecting surface is input to the light separation surface as ?, ?×?(S2/S1)?110.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20120236263
    Abstract: A depolarization element includes high depolarization for light beams having coherence and plural wavelengths and also provides a projection type display device capable of reducing speckle noise. Unit regions, each formed of m regions (m?4) having different phase differences generated for incident light, are disposed, and two regions extracted from the m regions have at least one combination of regions being different in area. When plural light beams having different wavelengths are incident, the composition of the Stokes vectors of the light beams emitted from the respective m regions is made nearly zero by setting the areas of the respective m regions and the generated phase differences, whereby the light beams having coherence and plural wavelengths can be converted so as to have the polarization state of natural light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masahiro MURAKAWA, Atsushi Koyanagi
  • Patent number: 8267532
    Abstract: An optical micro-projection system has at least one light source (401), at least one mirror (200) based on MEMS technology for deviating light from said light source, at least one beam splitter (403), and at least one wave plate (400). Each component has parallelepiped profiles with contact faces (500) on at least one side. Mutual alignment of at least two of the components is provided by mutual direct contact between reference contact faces (500) of the components. The architecture enables avoiding the use of dynamic optical assembly methods and to minimize the light loss within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Lemoptix SA
    Inventors: Faouzi Khechana, Lucio Kilcher
  • Patent number: 8267522
    Abstract: An optical element includes a mirror surface configured to transmit certain part of incident light and to reflect the other part of the incident light. The mirror surface has a first region and a second region. The first region includes a first polarization conversion layer configured to convert a polarization direction of incident light incident on the first region from one linear polarization into a different linear polarization. A region of the optical element from which light transmitted through the first region is emitted includes a second polarization conversion layer configured to convert a polarization direction of the light transmitted through the first region from the different linear polarization into the one linear polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Maeda
  • Patent number: 8267521
    Abstract: An optical element includes a dichroic surface formed by a multilayer dielectric film or the like and a polarized beam splitter surface formed by a multilayer dielectric film or the like. The dichroic surface transmits light (G and R) from a green wavelength band to a red wavelength band irrespective of the polarization directions of light, and reflects light (B) in a blue wavelength band. The polarized beam splitter surface reflects an S-polarized light (Gs) in a green wavelength band. Furthermore, the polarized beam splitter surface transmits an S-polarized light (Bs) and a P-polarized light (Bp) in the blue wavelength band, and also transmits the S-polarized light (Rs) and P-polarized light (Rp) in the red wavelength band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Maeda, Takashi Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20120229772
    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: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD
    Inventor: Makoto MAEDA
  • Patent number: 8262228
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a multimedia system comprising a multimedia reader. The multimedia reader may be configured to read multimedia content and to extract light surround content. The light surround content may represent a light surround control signal. The light surround content may be extracted from the multimedia content. The multimedia reader may also be configured to output the light surround control signal. Further, the multimedia system may also include one or more light emitting devices. Each light emitting device may be in communication with the multimedia reader. Each light emitting device may be configured to receive the light surround control signal and to control a light characteristic based upon, at least in part the light surround control signal. Numerous other embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dominique Picard, Charles Arnaud, Philippe Gregoire, Alexandre Van Gent
  • Patent number: 8262230
    Abstract: A projection system is provided. The projection system comprises a first light source module, a second light source module, a prism module, a projection lens and a digital micromirror device (DMD). The two light source modules provide a first light beam and a second light beam according to the specific timing sequences respectively. The prism module is defined with a first reflection mechanism and a second reflection mechanism. The DMD comprises a plurality of micro mirrors. After traveling into the prism module and being reflected by the first reflection mechanism, the first light beam is emitted onto the micro mirrors. The first light beam is adapted to be reflected onto the projection lens and images onto the screen while the micro mirrors are tilted at a first angle. After traveling into the prism module and being reflected by the second reflection mechanism, the second light beam is emitted onto the micro mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: June-Jei Huang
  • Publication number: 20120224148
    Abstract: Light source layer (4) includes substrate (10) and a pair of layers, namely, hole-transport layer (11) and electron-transport layer (13), formed on substrate (10). Directional control layer (5) includes plasmon excitation layer (15) stacked on a side of light source layer (4), which is opposite to the side of substrate (10) of light source layer (4), and which has a plasma frequency higher than a frequency of light output from light source layer (4), and wave vector conversion layer (17) stacked on plasmon excitation layer (15), which converts light incident from plasmon excitation layer (15) into light having a predetermined exit angle to output the light. Plasmon excitation layer (15) is sandwiched between low dielectric constant layer (14) and high dielectric constant layer (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanao Natsumeda, Shin Tominaga, Goroh Saitoh, Masao Imai
  • Publication number: 20120224146
    Abstract: Illumination device includes a light source (101); an illumination optical system (102, 103, 104, 106, 107) that spatially splits each of the plurality of color light beams emitted from the light source, superimposes the split light beams of each of the plurality of color light beams, and emits the superimposed light beams to a display element (110); a reflective polarization plate (109) that is arranged between the illumination optical system (102, 103, 104, 106, 107) and the display element (110) and that transmits first polarized light and reflects second polarized light whose polarization state is different from that of the first polarized light toward the illumination optical system (102, 103, 104, 106, 107); a reflection element (105) that is arranged at a position where each of the plurality of color light beams is spatially split by the illumination optical system and that transmits the split light beams of each of the color light beams and reflects, of the split light beams of each of the color light
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventor: Atsushi Katou
  • Publication number: 20120224147
    Abstract: Provided is a light-emitting element having high luminance and high directivity and emitting light in a controlled polarization state. The light-emitting element comprises substrate 3 and light emitting part 10 disposed on substrate 3 for emitting light in which light intensity of a polarization component in first direction x parallel to substrate 3 is higher than light intensities of polarization components in other directions. Light emitting part 10 includes active layer 12 for generating light and a plurality of structural bodies 14a disposed on a light-emitting side of light emitting part 10 with respect to active layer 12 and arrayed two-dimensionally along a surface substantially parallel to active layer 12. Each of structural bodies 14a has width w1 along first direction x and width w2 along second direction y perpendicular to first direction x, width w1 along first direction x and width w2 along second direction y being different from each other in a cross section parallel to active layer 12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mizuho Tomiyama, Ryuichi Katayama
  • Publication number: 20120224149
    Abstract: A hologram layer (13) is irradiated by light from an optical element (10). The hologram layer (13) is provided with a first hologram (14) that diffracts in a predetermined direction, from among incident light from the optical element (10), X-polarized light in which the polarization component is in a specific direction and emits the light as X-polarized light of a first phase state (P1), and a second hologram (15) that both diffracts in the same direction as the X-polarized light of the first phase state (P1) and moreover at an equal radiation angle, from among incident light from the optical element (10), Y-polarized light in which the polarization component is in a direction orthogonal to that of the X-polarized light and converts it to X-polarized light, and emits the light as X-polarized light of a second phase state (P2) that differs from the first phase state (P1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shin Tominaga, Masao Imai, Goroh Saitoh, Masanao Natsumeda
  • Patent number: 8251516
    Abstract: An optical system attaining a nearly double resolving power in spite of one projector and also eliminating a convergence device is provided. The system includes an 1:1 relay lens in place of a projector lens of a RGB split-combine projection system, and a quarter-wave plate for P-S polarization separation. In operation, once-modulated RGB composite light is divided into a P-polarized light and a S-polarized light by a PS separation wire grid. The S-polarized light is modulated by a luminance signal Y1 at a Y1 device. The P-polarized light is modulated by a luminance signal Y2 at a Y2 device. The lights modulated by the Y1/Y2 devices are combined with each other at a PS composite wire grid to project a synthetic light on a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20120200830
    Abstract: A projector includes: a light source device; a light modulation device adapted to modulate a light beam emitted from the light source device; a light transmissive substrate adapted to transmit the light beam modulated by the light modulation device; and a projection optical device adapted to project the light beam transmitted through the light transmissive substrate, wherein the light modulation device includes a first light modulation unit having a plurality of pixels arranged, the pixels having colors different from each other, and the light transmissive substrate is disposed so as to be tilted with respect to an imaginary plane perpendicular to a light axis of the light beam modulated by the first light modulation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki YANAI, Eiji MORIKUNI
  • Publication number: 20120200832
    Abstract: An image projection device includes: a variable-focus lens (2) in which focal length can be changed; scanning means (3) that scans a projection surface (12) by means of a light beam that is condensed by the variable-focus lens (2); distance-measuring means (9) that measures the distance from the variable-focus lens (2) to the projection surface (12); and control means (4) that controls the variable-focus lens (2) such that the focal length of the variable-focus lens (2) is greater than the distance measured by means of the distance-measuring means (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Imai
  • Publication number: 20120200831
    Abstract: An optical element is provided with: first polarization-separation layer (13) that is laminated on first surface (12b) of light guide body (12) and that, of the light incident from light guide body (12), transmits X-polarized light and reflects Y-polarized light that is orthogonal to the X-polarized light; polarization hologram layer (14) that is laminated on first polarization-separation layer (13) and that diffracts to a prescribed diffraction angle the X-polarized light that is incident within a prescribed range of angles of incidence and converts the X-polarized light to Y-polarized light; second polarization-separation layer (15) that is laminated on polarization hologram layer (14) and that, of the light incident from polarization hologram layer (14) transmits Y-polarized light and reflects X-polarized light; reflection layer (18) provided on second surface (12c) side of light guide body (12); and phase difference layer (17) that is provided between first surface (12b) of light guide body (12) and refle
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shin Tominaga
  • Patent number: 8231224
    Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, beam position diversity or beam offset diversity in pupil space performs the complement to angular diversity by maintaining angular content of a beam while changing its position and/or polarization properties in pupil space over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Karlton D. Powell, Mark O. Freeman, Alban N. Lescure
  • Publication number: 20120188468
    Abstract: An illuminator includes: a light source that emits light; a first lens array including a plurality of first lenslets; a second lens array including a plurality of second lenslets corresponding to the plurality of first lenslets; a polarization conversion element that converts light fluxes from the second lens array into polarized light fluxes and outputs the polarized light fluxes; and a superimposing lens that superimposes sub-light fluxes from the polarization conversion element, wherein the plurality of first lenslets and the plurality of second lenslets are each arranged in a matrix, the polarization conversion element is formed of a plurality of columns of polarization conversion units that convert the light fluxes from the plurality of second lenslets into the polarized light fluxes on a column basis, and the number of columns of the polarization conversion units is fewer than the number of columns of the first lenslets and the second lenslets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsumi TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20120188458
    Abstract: A first dichroic mirror (2a) and a second dichroic mirror (2b) are formed on the bonding surfaces between four right angle prisms (1a-1d) so as to intersect. The first dichroic mirror (2a) transmits, of visible light of P-polarization, at least the light of a specific wavelength band and reflects, of visible light of S-polarization, at least the light of the specific wavelength band. The second dichroic mirror (2b) transmits, of visible light of P-polarization, at least light of the specific wavelength band and transmits, of visible light of S-polarization, at least light of the specific wavelength band. The cutoff wavelengths with respect to S-polarized light of both dichroic mirrors (2a and 2b) are set within ranges of bands other than those of the three primary colors of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: NEW CORPOATION
    Inventors: Masao Imai, Goroh Saitoh, Fujio Okumura
  • Publication number: 20120188471
    Abstract: A polarization separation device includes a transmissive substrate formed of crystalline material having a birefringent property and an optical rotatory property, and a polarization separation portion that is provided on an incidence-side surface of the transmissive substrate and transmits P-polarized light and reflects S-polarized light. A reflective element, which reflects the S-polarized light reflected by the polarization separation portion, is disposed substantially in parallel with the transmissive substrate. A phase difference plate is disposed at an emission-side of the transmissive substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuho KOBAYASHI, Mitsuru MIYABARA, Makoto SAKURAI
  • Patent number: 8226245
    Abstract: A composite optical element is provided. The composite optical element includes a plurality of optical elements, in which at least one of the optical elements is formed of an element modifying an optical path and the other optical elements are bonded to an incident surface and/or exit surface of the element modifying the optical path with a low refractive index material layer in between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Mitsunori Ueda, Yoshihiro Oshima, Kazutoshi Yamamoto, Kiyoshi Toyota, Atsuhiko Wajiki, Yuji Kato, Olivier Ripoll, Juan Manuel Teijiro
  • Publication number: 20120182487
    Abstract: Provided is a laser projection apparatus which forms each one frame by performing two-dimensional scanning with laser light and projects images on a screen (201) with blanking periods inserted between frames, the laser light having been outputted from a laser light source (110). The laser projection apparatus is provided with a chive controlling device (132) which, in each of the blanking periods, changes the polarization state of the laser light having been outputted from the laser light source. This configuration enables speckle reduction by having the polarization state changed from one frame to another, and also enables favorable image projection since there is no change in luminance within each one of the frames. Thus, it is made possible to obtain image quality more favorable than that obtained conventionally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventor: Kenji Konno
  • Publication number: 20120182525
    Abstract: A light source device includes: a first light source (3a) that emits first polarized light of a plurality of colors including different wavelengths; a second light source (3b) that emits second polarized light whose polarization state differs from that of the first polarized light and that includes light of at least one color from among the plurality of colors; and a first color synthesis optical element (1) that synthesizes the first polarized light emitted from the first light source (3a) and the second polarized light emitted from the second light source (3b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masao Imai, Goroh Saitoh, Fujio Okumura
  • Publication number: 20120182524
    Abstract: Provided is an illumination device that includes: light source (101); light guiding means (102) where light from light source (101) is supplied to one end surface, and light incident from the one end surface is propagated inside to exit from the other end surface; illuminating optical systems (103, 104, 106, and 107) that spatially separate a luminous flux output from the other end surface of light guiding means (102) into a plurality of luminous fluxes and that form, on display element (110), an optical image formed on the other end surface of light guiding means (102); reflective polarizing plate (109) that is located between illuminating optical systems (103, 104, 106, and 107) and display element (110) and that transmits first polarized light while reflecting second polarized light different in polarized state from the first polarized light toward illuminating optical systems (103, 104, 106, and 107); reflecting element (105) that is disposed at a position where the plurality of luminous fluxes are spatia
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventor: Atsushi Katou
  • Patent number: 8220934
    Abstract: A polarization conversion system (PCS) is located in the output light path of a projector. The PCS may include a polarizing beam splitter, a polarization rotating element, a reflecting element, and a polarization switch. Typically, a projector outputs randomly-polarized light. This light is input to the PCS, in which the PCS separates p-polarized light and s-polarized light at the polarizing beam splitter. P-polarized light is directed toward the polarization switch on a first path. The s-polarized light is passed on a second path through the polarization rotating element (e.g., a half-wave plate), thereby transforming it to p-polarized light. A reflecting element directs the transformed polarized light (now p-polarized) along the second path toward the polarization switch. The first and second light paths are ultimately directed toward a projection screen to collectively form a brighter screen image in cinematic applications utilizing polarized light for three-dimensional viewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: RealD Inc.
    Inventors: Miller H. Schuck, Michael G. Robinson, Gary D. Sharp
  • Patent number: 8220931
    Abstract: A stereoscopic digital image projecting system has a light source system energizable to provide polarized illumination having a first polarization state and a beam splitting system alternately generating first and second light beams having different polarization states from the polarized illumination. A combining system has a polarization beam combiner that combines the first and second light beams into a combined light beam. A spatial light modulator is used to modulate the combined light beam in a manner consistent with stereoscopic image data to form a first modulated image from illumination in the combined light beam having the first polarization state and to form a second modulated image from illumination in the combined light beam having the second polarization state. Projection optics are configured to project the first and second modulated images onto a display surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Barry D. Silverstein, James R. Kircher, Joseph R. Bietry
  • Patent number: 8220930
    Abstract: An integrated opto-electronic device, a portable reflective projection system and a method for in situ monitoring and adjusting light illumination are provided. The device includes a reflective polarizing composite film (150) configured to receive a source light (210) at a desired non-normal incident angle (221), polarizes and reflects a first portion (211) of said source light (210) as polarized illumination light (16) at a reciprocal angle (222) to said desired non-normal incident angle (221); and a photovoltaic cell (180), adhered to an opposite side of said reflective polarizing composite film (150) to said source light (210), configured to receive a second portion (212) of said source light (210) that passes through said reflective polarizing composite film (150) and transform said second portion (212) to photogenerated charge. Unused illumination can be collected in order to re-store and reuse recovered energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Shanghai Lexvu Opto Microelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Deming Tang
  • Publication number: 20120170000
    Abstract: A projection optical system (6) comprises a relay optical system (61), a PBS prism (71), and two projection lenses (81). The image light beam from a DMD (5) enters the PBS prism (71) via the relay optical system (61), is polarization-split there, and is directed to a screen by means of the two projection lenses (81). Displaying an image by means of the DMD (5) is controlled while the polarized states of the light beams produced by the polarization split by means of the PBS prism (71) are controlled. Thereby, a three-dimensionally viewable image and a high-resolution image created by pixel-offset can be projected. Since the relay optical system (61) is provided, the lens backs of the projection lenses (81) can be shortened, and the projection lenses (81) and further the projection optical system (6) can be made compact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Masayuki Imaoka, Kohtaro Hayashi, Jun Ishihara, Yasumasa Sawai
  • Publication number: 20120170001
    Abstract: The rotation axis of each mirror of a DMD (4) defines an angle of 45° with respect to long and short sides of a rectangular image display area. A polarization conversion optical system (24) makes a polarization direction of light from a light source (1) arranged in one direction and projects the arranged light, and after total reflection from the critical surface (31b) of a TIR prism (3), the light is guided to the DMD (4). When the incident surface of the critical surface (31b) and the mirror incident surface of the DMD (4) are in parallel with each other, a PBS prism array of the polarization conversion optical system (24) carries out the polarization and separation of the light from the light source (1) in a direction corresponding to the long side direction of the image display area of the DMD (4) in the case of the separation of the light from the light source (1) into two linear polarizations having different polarization directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasumasa Sawai