Polarizer Or Interference Filter Patents (Class 353/20)
  • Publication number: 20110279780
    Abstract: A projection display device includes: first polarization conversion unit (12) that converts light emitted from a first light source lamp into first polarized light; second polarization conversion unit (23) that converts light emitted from a second light source lamp into second polarized light different from the first polarized light; first lens array (13); second lens array (24); optical path conversion unit (30) that matches the traveling directions of the first polarized light and the second polarized light with each other; third polarization conversion unit (70) that matches the polarizing directions of the first polarized light and the second polarized light emitted from optical path conversion unit (30) with each other; and third lens array (40) into which polarized light emitted from third polarization conversion unit (70) enters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Saitou
  • Patent number: 8057045
    Abstract: A projection apparatus for generating a moving star field and a cloud-like effect comprises a means for generating a cloud-like effect using at least one non-coherent light source, a means for generating a moving star field using at least one coherent light source and a means for regulating and supplying electric power. The means for generating cloud-like effect using at least one non-coherent light source comprises at least one pair of condenser lenses and an interferential filter wheel rotated by a motor, disposed between at least one pair of condenser lenses. The means for generating the moving star field using a coherent light source comprises a grating wheel rotated by a motor and a diffractive optical element disposed between the at least one coherent light source and the grating wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Bliss Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Randy E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8057042
    Abstract: A stereo projection optical system includes an image assimilator and a transmission-type light modulator positioned to receive the emergent light of the image assimilator. The image assimilator is configured for superimposing spatial information on the incident light beam and emitting one of a first polarized light component and a second polarized light component. The transmission-type light modulator alternates between a dark state and a bright state. The stereo projection optical systems provide viewers three-dimensional images formed by two alternative polarized lights whose polarizations are perpendicular relative to each other utilizing the transmission-type light modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Wen Hsu, Chia-Hung Kao
  • Patent number: 8057044
    Abstract: In a projection display device, a polarization converting element is provided between an imager and a refracting optical system for converting a polarization direction of light after modulation into a direction radially extending from the center of the optical axis of the refracting optical system. Light transmitted through the polarization converting element is incident onto the refracting optical system in a state of P-polarized light or a state close to the state of P-polarized light. Thereby, the transmittance of light through the refracting optical system is made substantially uniform and increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuhei Amano
  • Publication number: 20110273633
    Abstract: A projection system for alternately outputting different polarized image light sources includes a polarizing beam splitting module, an image display module and a light polarization switch module. The polarizing beam splitting module has at least one polarizing beam splitting element for intermittently receiving a plurality of input light sources according to different time sequences. The image display module has at least one reflective image display panel disposed beside a first side of the polarizing beam splitting element. The light polarization switch module has at least one transmission LCD light valve disposed beside a second side of the polarizing beam splitting element. Therefore, the image light sources with P polarization and the image light sources with S polarization can be intermittently and alternatively projected from the projection lens onto the surface of the object by switching the transmission LCD light valve to ON/OFF state according to different time sequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: JASPER DISPLAY CORP.
    Inventor: Chun-Sheng Fan
  • Publication number: 20110273697
    Abstract: There is disclosed a polarization-modulating element for modulating a polarization state of incident light into a predetermined polarization state, the polarization-modulating element being made of an optical material with optical activity and having a circumferentially varying thickness profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Tanitsu, Koji Shigematsu, Hiroyuki Hirota, Tomoyuki Matsuyama
  • Publication number: 20110267586
    Abstract: A projection apparatus includes a light source emitting an illuminating beam, a light valve receiving the illuminating beam to create an image beam, and a projection lens system arranged on a path of the image beam for receiving and projecting the image beam onto a screen. The projection lens system includes four lens elements arranged along the optical axis in order from the screen toward the light valve, namely, first, second, third and fourth lens elements respectively having positive, negative, positive and positive refractive power. The four-piece projection lens system satisfies the condition of 0.79<BFL/TL<0.99; where, BFL is the back focal length of the projection lens system, and TL is the overall length of the projection lens system on the optical axis from a screen side of the first lens element to a light-valve side of the fourth lens element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: E-PIN OPTICAL INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: SHANG-AN TSAI, SAN-WOEI SHYU
  • Patent number: 8047660
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a projection display system includes a spatial light modulator and a volume illumination hologram. The spatial light modulator comprises a digital micromirror device, and the projection system includes a laser light source to produce a sequence of collimated, colored, light beams for the illumination hologram. Waste light produced by the spatial light modulator is transmitted to the illumination hologram, and the illumination hologram emits waste light from at least one of its edges. Waste light emitted from an edge of the illumination hologram is absorbed by a light sensor to control the intensity of the light beams. A projection focusing element is mounted proximate a side of the illumination hologram to focus the image beam from the spatial light modulator for viewing. A projection hologram is interposed between the side of the illumination hologram and the projection focusing element to manage waste light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven Monroe Penn, Duane Scott Dewald, Ronald Allen Barry
  • Patent number: 8047653
    Abstract: An Si—O containing hydrogenated carbon film as an optical film has a refractive index in a range from at least 1.48 to at most 1.85 for light of 520 nm wavelength and an extinction coefficient of less than 0.15 for light of 248 nm wavelength, wherein the refractive index and the extinction coefficient are decreased with energy beam irradiation. By utilizing such an Si—O containing hydrogenated carbon film, it is possible to provide various types of optical elements and an optical device including the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Akahane, Takahiro Imai, Takashi Matsuura, Tetsuya Katayama, Toshihiko Ushiro
  • Publication number: 20110261325
    Abstract: An optical device includes multiple reflective spatial light modulation devices each of which applies an image signal to each of rays of incident light and rotates a polarization direction of each of the rays of incident light for a modulated output, multiple polarization elements each of which causes each polarization component of the rays of incident light in a specific direction to be transmitted and incident upon each of the spatial light modulation devices and reflects the polarization component in a direction rotated by each of the spatial light modulation devices, a light synthesis device which synthesizes multiple rays of reflected light to be output as one ray of image light, and a securing member which simultaneously secures each of the polarization elements in a position corresponding to each of the spatial light modulation devices. The securing member is secured to the light synthesis device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Sato
  • Patent number: 8042950
    Abstract: A projection apparatus and image display apparatus. The apparatus includes a three-color light source that emits a plurality of color lights having different wavelengths, and a diffraction type optical element that performs diffusion forming of individual color lights. A field lens makes the diffusion-formed individual color lights into parallel lights, and a liquid crystal panel has a microlens array with a plurality of microlenses arranged in a matrix at the incident regions of the individual parallel color lights. A pixel section has three pixel openings arranged oppositely to the individual microlenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Hazama, Kikuo Kaise
  • Publication number: 20110255390
    Abstract: A disclosed optical element includes three or more sub-wavelength convexo-concave structures having pitches less than a wavelength of an incident light incident to the optical element and having groove depths equal to each other and a periodic structure having the three or more sub-wavelength convexo-concave structures, the pitch of the periodic structure greater than the wavelength of the incident light, in which a predetermined polarization direction of the incident light is diffracted mainly into a specific order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventor: Hideaki Hirai
  • Patent number: 8038298
    Abstract: A liquid crystal projector device of the present invention includes an optical system for receiving light from a lamp unit. The optical system is provided with a polarization beam splitter for extracting only an S wave out of P and S waves of the light emitted from the lamp unit, and also provided with a latter stage slit plate in contact with a light incidence surface of the polarization beam splitter. The latter stage slit plate is provided with a plurality of slits for allowing light incidence on the polarization beam splitter. A former stage slit plate is arranged in a position spaced apart from the latter stage slit plate along the optical axis toward the lamp unit. The former stage slit plate is provided with a plurality of slits overlapping in the optical axis direction with the respective slits of the latter stage slit plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Nakagawa, Toshihiro Saruwatari
  • Publication number: 20110249239
    Abstract: A projection system is disclosed, the projection system including: an illumination unit; a PBS (Polarizing Beam Splitter) reflecting the light from the illumination unit, transmitting an image light, having a width larger than that of entrance pupil through which the image light is incident, and having a structure in which a width of an area facing projection lenses is larger than that of an area perpendicular to an area facing the projection lenses; a display device receiving the light reflected from the PBS and outputting the light as an image light; and a projection unit mounted with the projection lenses for projecting the image light outputted from the display device to a screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eunsung Seo, Seungman Jeong, Hyunho Choi, Sanghun Lee
  • Publication number: 20110249238
    Abstract: A projection system for simultaneously outputting image light source with different polarizations includes a polarizing beam splitting module, an image display module and an image projecting module. The polarizing beam splitting module has a first polarizing beam splitting element for receiving light source, a second polarizing beam splitting element, a third polarizing beam splitting element and a fourth polarizing beam splitting element. The image display module has a first reflective image display panel disposed beside the second polarizing beam splitting element and a second reflective image display panel disposed beside the third polarizing beam splitting element. The image projecting module has at least one projection lens disposed beside the fourth polarizing beam splitting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: JASPER DISPLAY CORP.
    Inventor: LIU-LIANG LIAO
  • Publication number: 20110242491
    Abstract: Disclosed is a projector optical system, the system including an illumination unit including illumination lenses illuminating light downwards, a display device receiving light illuminated from the illumination lenses to enable to realize an image, projection lenses downwardly projecting light emitted from the display device to a screen, and a field lens changing an optical angle of the light illuminated from the illumination lenses and emitting the light to the display device, and changing an optical angle by receiving an image light of the display device and emitting the light to the projection lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: EUNSUNG SEO, Seungman Jeong, Hyunho Choi, Sanghun Lee
  • Publication number: 20110241986
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to an interactive projection device. The interactive projection device includes a light source configured to emit an input light beam, wherein the light source comprises a visible light emitting device; a first beam splitter configured to split the input light beam into first and second split light beams; a second beam splitter configured to split a scattered light beam received from a surface into third and fourth split light beams; an image forming device configured to produce an image light beam based on the first split light beam and emit the image light beam onto the surface through the first and second splitters, thereby generating a projection image on the surface; and a detector configured to detect the invisible light of the third split light beam, thereby acquiring a scattering image from the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Yaojun FENG, Weiping TANG, Ying LIU
  • Patent number: 8029142
    Abstract: An illumination source includes a number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) operating at a first wavelength. Light from the LEDs illuminates a phosphor material that generates light at a second wavelength. A reflective polarizer transmits light at the second wavelength in a first polarization state and reflects light at the second wavelength in a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state. The light at the second wavelength reflected by the reflective polarizer is directed back towards the phosphor material without an increase in angular range. In some embodiments the LEDs, having a conformal layer of phosphor material, are attached directly to the first surface of a liquid cooled plate. A liquid coolant contacts a second surface of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Arlie R. Conner, Sean M. Donnelly, Peter R. Oehler
  • Patent number: 8031403
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for reducing speckle in a projection visual display (PVD) system, a method of reducing visible speckle in a PVD system and a PVD system incorporating the method or apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a diffuser interposable in an optical path of a PVD system and a diffuser actuator having a single drive axis configured to cause the diffuser to travel in a lissajous curve at least partially transverse to the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: James C. Dunphy, Stephen W. Marshall
  • Patent number: 8029141
    Abstract: The image display apparatus includes a two-dimensional light modulation device for modulating light emitted from a laser light source, a display surface for displaying the modulated light, an optical pixel aperture enlarging member for distributing the luminance of the laser light while introducing the laser light to apertures of pixels of the modulation device; and a display pixel aperture enlarging portion for optically enlarging the modulated light by the apertures of the pixels of the modulation device corresponding to pixels of an image to be displayed. The luminance of a partial area of each pixel of the image displayed on the display surface is controlled to be below the threefold of an average value of the luminance in the area of the entire pixel by the optical pixel aperture enlarging member and the display pixel aperture enlarging portion, accomplishing speckle noise reduction and improved light utilization efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuro Mizushima, Tatsuo Itoh, Kenichi Kasazumi, Kazuhisa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8031402
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for allowing multiple individuals to view discrete images while remaining in close proximity to each other. It encompasses a split screen polarized lens, with alternate polarization portions, fitting over a viewing monitor and pairs of corresponding polarized glasses. Each pair of polarized glasses matches a portion of the screen lens with the same polarization so that the human viewer wearing vertically polarized glasses may only view the vertically polarized portion of the screen and the human viewer wearing horizontally polarized glasses may only view the horizontally polarized portion of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Inventor: David M. Tripp
  • Publication number: 20110234919
    Abstract: An integrated photonics module may include a selective fold mirror configured to pass at least a portion of emitted light toward the MEMS scanner and reflect scanned light through to a field of view. The selective fold mirror may use beam polarization to select beam passing and reflection. The integrated photonics module may include a beam rotator such as a quarter-wave plate to convert the polarization of the emitted light to a different polarization adapted for passage through the fold mirror. The integrated photonics module may include one or more light detectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: MICROVISION, INC.
    Inventors: Randall B. Sprague, Joshua O. Miller, Margaret K. Brown, Mark O. Freeman, Maarten Niesten, Bin Xue, Christopher A. Wiklof
  • Publication number: 20110234982
    Abstract: A projection type image display apparatus is provided which includes a housing to hold an optical system including multi-lenses, a polarized-light conversion element and a color separation portion. The housing operates to provide an optical path between a light source, located outside the housing, and penetration-type image display elements and an optical synthesizing portion also located outside of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Masahiko Yatsu
  • Patent number: 8027108
    Abstract: A projection system using a sequential color filter is provided. The sequential color filter utilizes various colors, such as red, blue, and green, divided into segments to produce images. Each color may be divided into two or more segments and arranged such that high sequential color rates may be obtained to help reduce the rainbow effect. The colors may be arranged such that the sequential color filter is symmetrical in the sense that the sequential color filter is divided into approximately equal regions wherein each region has approximately an equal amount of respective colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Gregory S. Pettitt
  • Patent number: 8025408
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus captures an object's image and separates the object's image into multiple components. The apparatus includes: a light projecting section 101 for projecting light emitted from a light source toward the object; a color and polarization obtaining section 102 for getting a color polarized image of the object; a polarization information processing section 104 for generating color and polarization information based on an association between the intensity of the light that has been transmitted through a polarizer with three or more polarization principal axis directions and the polarization principal axis directions for each of unit pixels that form the color polarized image; a light source color information collecting section 105 for collecting color information of the light source; and an image component separating section 106 for separating the color image into multiple components based on the polarization information and the color information of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Sato, Katsuhiro Kanamori
  • Publication number: 20110222022
    Abstract: An image display device which displays a three-dimensional image without alternately displaying right and left eye images, and utilizes substantially the same light for both two- and three-dimensional displays. The image display device includes: an LED light source having no polarization characteristics; a collimator lens collimating light from the LED light source; a condenser lens focusing the collimated light; a first polarizing prism separating the light transmitted by the condenser lens into S-polarized light and P-polarized light; a first polarized image former forming a P-polarized image from the S-polarized light reflected from the first polarizing prism; a second polarized image former forming an S-polarized image from the P-polarized light transmitted by the first polarizing prism; a second polarizing prism combining the P-polarized image and the S-polarized image; a projection lens projecting the combined image; and a screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: COLORLINK. JAPAN LIMITED
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Sato
  • Patent number: 8016422
    Abstract: Etendue maintaining polarization switching occurs, according to various embodiments, with a mirror that quickly transitions between two positions. Light having uniform polarization is transmitted to the mirror. Light reflected off of the mirror in one of the two positions has its polarization changed, whereas light reflected off of the mirror in the other of the two positions has its polarization maintained. Thereafter, the polarization-changed light and the polarization-maintained light easily may be recombined in an entendue-maintaining manner. Because the recombined light includes two different polarization states, stereoscopic images may be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Barry D. Silverstein, Joseph R. Bietry, Robert Metzger, Gary E. Nothhard, Richard P. Corey
  • Patent number: 8011791
    Abstract: A light-filtering module includes a light-source module, a dichroic mirror and a first image unit. The light-source module outputs a light beam. The dichroic mirror divides the light beam into a first colored light and a dual colored light. The first image unit provides the first colored light with image information. The light-filtering module includes a light-filtering unit and a driving unit. The light-filtering unit is located between the dichroic mirror and the first image unit is located at a light path of the first colored light. The driving unit includes a coupling element coupled to the light-filtering unit and a driving element utilized to drive the coupling element. The driving element drives the light-filtering unit, switching between a first status and a second status by the coupling element. A wide-wavelength spectrum and a narrow-wavelength spectrum are provided when the light-filtering unit is in the first and second statuses, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Chien-Chih Hsiung, Tzu-Lung Wu, Keng-Hui Lin, Wen-Lang Hung, Wei-Hsiang Peng, Chao-Yang Ke, Yi-Chung Hung
  • Publication number: 20110211166
    Abstract: A projector device including a light source, a plurality of panels for modulating light emitted from the light source in accordance with video information, the panels containing a liquid crystal panel and a plurality of polarizing panels arranged in parallel, an air blower for blowing air to the liquid crystal panel and the plurality of polarizing panels, a housing in which the light source, the liquid crystal panel, the polarizing panels and the air blower are mounted, and a turbulence promoting member for disturbing an air stream flowing between two adjacent panels is provided at an upstream position of the air stream in a gap between the two adjacent panels so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the air stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi KAWANO
  • Publication number: 20110211165
    Abstract: A laser projection system is provided comprising a light source, a phase retarding element, and a beam scanning element. The light source comprises at least one frequency-converted laser source comprising a wavelength-tunable laser diode and a wavelength conversion device. The phase retarding element is configured to resolve the polarization of a frequency-converted laser beam into two orthogonal linearly polarized components such that one component of polarization is phase delayed relative to the other. Frequency-converted laser beam polarization in the 2D image frame is a function of the degree to which the respective components of polarization are delayed relative to each other and varies with wavelength variations in the output of the wavelength-tunable laser diode. Polarization variations of the frequency-converted laser beam in the 2D image frame are sufficient to scramble image speckle patterns across the 2D image frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventor: Anthony Sebastian Bauco
  • Publication number: 20110205495
    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: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: REALD INC.
    Inventors: David A. Coleman, Miller H. Schuck, Gary D. Sharp, Scott E. Gilman
  • Patent number: 8004761
    Abstract: A stereo projection optical system includes a polarization converter, a 2-way wheel, a retarder, and an image engine. The polarization converter is configured for converting an incident light into a polarized light which have single polarization. The 2-way wheel includes a reflective region and a transmissive region. The reflective region is configured for reflecting the polarized light and the transmissive region is configured for transmitting the polarized light. The retarder is positioned to receive an emergent light from one of the reflective region and the transmissive region. The image engine is positioned to receive light output of the 2-way wheel and the retarder and configured for emitting the light output comprising spatial information. The stereo projection optical systems provide viewers three-dimensional images formed by two alternative polarized light beams whose polarizations are perpendicular to each other utilizing the 2-way wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: I-Pen Chien, Yuan-Yu Lin
  • Publication number: 20110194076
    Abstract: Disclosed is a projector, the projector including a light source, an illumination unit illuminating light incident from the light source, and a display device enabling to realize an image by receiving the light irradiated from the illumination unit, and whose center is positioned at an axis different from an optical axis of the illumination unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eunsung Seo, Seungman Jeong, Hyunho Choi, Sanghun Lee
  • Publication number: 20110194078
    Abstract: A projector having a first lens array with a plurality of first lenses in a plane substantially orthogonal to an optical axis of the light beam from a light source that divides the light beam into a plurality of partial light beams, a second lens array having a plurality of second lenses corresponding to the plurality of first lenses, and a polarization converter that is disposed on a light beam emitting-side of the first lens array. A focal position in a first direction of the first lens is set in the vicinity of the second lens array in the optical direction of the light beam irradiated from the first lens. A focal position in the second direction of the first lens is set in the vicinity of the polarization converter in the optical direction of the light beam irradiated from the first lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nishida, Osamu Ishibashi
  • Publication number: 20110194077
    Abstract: An illuminating optical system for a projector including a light source and a plurality of display panels, includes a first integrator that includes a plurality of lens cells that divide a luminous flux emitted by the light source into a plurality of partial luminous fluxes and that condense the respective partial luminous fluxes, a second integrator that includes a plurality of lens cells on which the respective partial luminous fluxes are incident, a polarization converting element that uniformizes polarizing directions of the luminous fluxes having passed through the respective lens cells of the second integrator, and a color separating unit that separates each of the luminous fluxes from the polarization converting element into a plurality of color lights of different wavelengths. A field lens and a condenser lens are arranged between the polarization converting element and the color separating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: NEC DISPLAY SOLUTIONS, LTD.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Iwashita
  • Patent number: 7993004
    Abstract: A projecting device includes a light source, a filtering component, a reflecting mirror, a digital micro-mirror device, a projecting lens, and a panel. The filtering component changes lights emitted from the light source into substantially parallel polarized ultraviolet lights. The reflecting mirror reflects the substantially parallel polarized ultraviolet lights to the digital micro-mirror device. The digital micro-mirror device includes microscopic mirrors arranged in a rectangular array configured to be adjustable to reflect the substantially parallel polarized ultraviolet lights reflected by the reflecting mirror to the projecting lens. The projecting lens diverges the substantially parallel polarized ultraviolet lights. The panel includes a transparent substrate, a first fluorescence material layer, a second fluorescence material layer, and a third fluorescence material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ga-Lane Chen
  • Publication number: 20110187999
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus including a light source, a display element, an illumination optical system and a projection lens to project a magnified image of the optical image. The illumination optical system includes a first array lens and a second array lens, each includes a plurality of lens elements arranged in a matrix, each of the lens elements having a rectangular opening, and a polarization conversion element having polarization conversion function by use of a plurality of polarized beam splitters and a plurality of half-wave phase plates, arranged in an array and opposing to the lens elements of the second array lens, to emit predetermined polarized light. The light source includes a light emitting plane of a rectangle or an ellipse shape, a longitudinal direction of the light emitting plane being parallel to a longitudinal direction of each opening of the polarization conversion element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Nobuyuki Kimura
  • Publication number: 20110187998
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus includes: an illumination optical system which has a first array lens and a second array lens each of which has a plurality of lens elements having a plurality of rectangular shape openings and arranged in a matrix form; an illumination light source device which has one or more light sources having a polarization degree not smaller than 50% and one or more polarizers for transmitting one type polarized light and reflecting other type polarized light. At least one set of the light sources are arranged so that the polarization directions of light fluxes having high polarization degrees may be perpendicular to each other, the light fluxes are combined by the polarizer, condensed to a single region by a light-flux condensing element, and then directed toward another illumination optical system located in a subsequent stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kimura, Koji Hirata
  • Patent number: 7988297
    Abstract: Non-rigidly coupled, overlapping, non-feedback optical systems for spatial filtering of Fourier transform optical patterns and image shape characterization comprises a first optical subsystem that includes a lens for focusing a polarized, coherent beam to a focal point, an image input device that spatially modulates phase positioned between the lens and the focal point, and a spatial filter at the Fourier transform pattern, and a second optical subsystem overlapping the first optical subsystem includes a projection lens and a detector. The second optical subsystem is optically coupled to the first optical subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Look Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Rikk Crill
  • Publication number: 20110181838
    Abstract: A projector includes: a plurality of reflection-type light modulation device which modulate a plurality of color light fluxes according to image information; a plurality of reflection-type polarizing plate; a color combining device; a projection lens that projects the combined color light from the color combining device; and a light-transmissive member that transmits a color light flux incident thereon, wherein the light-transmissive member is disposed only in an optical path between a first reflection-type polarizing plate, which is one of the plurality of reflection-type polarizing plate, and the color combining device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiji YOKOYAMA, Shinichi WAKABAYASHI
  • Patent number: 7980705
    Abstract: A projector includes a light source unit for emitting white light, a color wheel, a display device, a cooling fan, a light source side optical system for guiding light from the light source unit to the display device, a projection side optical system for projecting an image emitted from the display device onto a screen and a projector control unit for controlling the light source and the display device, wherein the color wheel has a plurality of segment areas, and on each segment area, a coating which transmits light of a wavelength band of a complementary color is applied to one side, while a coating which transmits light of a wavelength band of a primary color is applied to part of the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7982954
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are light collectors for use in projection applications. The light collectors gather light from surface emitting sources (e.g., LEDs) of differing color (or same color in some embodiments) using input lightpipes. A light collection system splits the light into orthogonal linear polarization states and efficiently propagates the light by use of a polarizing beamsplitter (PBS) and a reflecting element. Further, the light collection system may efficiently homogenize the light using an output lightpipe in a lightpath from the output of the PBS and the reflecting element. In addition, the light collection system may present a single, linear polarization at the output through the use of a half-wave switch (LC cell) in some embodiments or ColorSelect filter in other embodiments. The light collection system may be integrated into a single, monolithic glass, plastic or combination glass/plastic assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: RealD Inc.
    Inventors: Miller H. Schuck, Michael G. Robinson
  • Patent number: 7980701
    Abstract: A color combining optical system includes a first polarization splitting surface for light in a first wavelength range, and a second polarization splitting surface for light in a second and third wavelength range. The first polarization splitting surface guides illumination light in the first wavelength range to a first liquid crystal display (LCD) element and guides image light reflected from the first LCD element to a direction different from the illumination light. The second polarization splitting surface separates illumination light in the second and third wavelength range from each other, guides them to a second and third LCD element, respectively, and combines image light reflected from the second LCD element with image light reflected from the LCD element to guide combined light to the first polarization splitting surface which combines the image light reflected from the first LCD element with the combined light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kodama, Yu Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 7976168
    Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for microprojection that uses multiple imagers to produce a high resolution output image. Each of a set of imagers produces a portion of the final image. Relay lenses then tile the individual image portions together into a combined image. Because the height of the individual imagers is smaller than the height of a monolithic imager, they can fit into a very thin device. The combined image has a resolution equal to the sum of the resolutions of the individual imagers. The individual images are tiled together within the microprojector itself rather than on a projection screen. This allows the tiling to be adjusted once at the factory and set forever. In some embodiments, the light created for use by the microprojector is split by a polarizing beamsplitter. Each resultant polarized beam is then sent to an imager. Another polarizing beamsplitter combines the individual images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Ion V. Nicolaescu, Tomasz L. Klosowiak, Zili Li, Xiaodong Xun
  • Patent number: 7976165
    Abstract: An image generation unit with a geometry according to which a light input section and a light output section are formed and/or are arranged such that a light incidence axis or direction and an image emission axis or direction are essentially collinear, parallel, or coincident with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: SONY Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Zoltan Facius, Evangelos Zoidis
  • Patent number: 7976166
    Abstract: An optical system for image projection is disclosed which is capable of improving contrast while suppressing reduction of light amount. The optical system includes a converging optical system, and a polarization beam splitting surface transmitting an incoming light flux having a first polarization direction from the converging optical system, to introduce it to the image-forming element and causing light having a second polarization direction, of an outgoing light flux from the image-forming element, to proceed to a projection optical system. In a first cross-section parallel to a normal to the polarization beam splitting surface, the converging optical system has a configuration causing an incident angle on the splitting surface of a light ray passing through a barycenter of intensity distribution of the outgoing light flux to be larger than an incident angle thereon of a light ray passing through a barycenter of intensity distribution of the incoming light flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Okuyama, Yu Yamauchi, Takashi Sudo, Ryota Kadowaki
  • Patent number: 7976167
    Abstract: A light engine has a light source front surface that emits non-collimated light. A collection lens collects the non-collimated light and provides incompletely collimated light. A collimating lens receives the incompletely collimated light and provides a collimated image. A non-orthogonal polarizing filter receives the collimated image and passes a polarized portion of the collimated image as a direct component of the polarized light engine image. The non-orthogonal polarizing filter reflects a recycled image back to the front surface. The non-orthogonal shape of the polarizing filter is selected according to the pattern of light on the light source front surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William E. Phillips, III, Ronald E. English, Jr., Patrick R. Destain
  • Publication number: 20110164221
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a system may include a polarizing beamsplitter for splitting one or more unpolarized rays received from an illumination source into a first polarized component and a second polarized component, the first polarized component and the second polarized component having orthogonal polarizations to each other. The system may also include a half-wave plate for rotating the second polarized component to the same polarization as the first polarized component. The system may further include a lens group for passing the first polarized component to a target plane as a first polarized ray, and further for separately passing the second polarized component to the target plane as a second polarized ray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: Elbit Systems of America, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. Tilleman, Richard S. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 7973750
    Abstract: A projector includes a lighting device, a first image forming unit including first through third light modulation elements, a second image forming unit including fourth through sixth light modulation elements, a polarization combining optical system, a projection optical system, and an image correction device, wherein the image correction device, based on one of combined transmittance and combined reflectance obtained by combining one of transmittances and reflectances corresponding to gray-scale values of two of the first through sixth light modulation elements for modulating the same colored light beam, outputs the drive value corresponding to the input image data for driving the two light modulation elements corresponding to the predetermined colored light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasunaga Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 7972004
    Abstract: A system and method for uniform light generation in projection display systems. An illumination source comprises a light source to produce colored light, and a scrolling optics unit optically coupled to the light source, the scrolling optics unit configured to create lines of colored light from the colored light, and to scroll the lines of colored light along a direction orthogonal to a light path of the illumination source. The scrolling optics unit comprises a single light shaping diffuser to transform the colored light into the lines of colored light, an optical filter positioned in the light path after the light shaping diffuser, and a scrolling optics element positioned in the light path after the optical filter. The single light shaping diffuser is capable of simultaneously transforming colored light into lines of colored light having substantially uniform intensity to provide uniform illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Terry Alan Bartlett, Paul L. Rancuret