Polarizer Or Interference Filter Patents (Class 353/20)
  • Patent number: 10156715
    Abstract: An illumination device for a light modulated projector includes a first and a second color wheel. A first filter surface of the first color wheel comprises at least three first surface sections arranged one behind the other, which protrude into an illumination beam path of the illumination device successively on rotation and in each case convey illumination radiation of a different partial range of the visible wavelength range. At least one of the first surface sections of the first filter surface conveys illumination radiation from the infrared range. A second filter surface of the second color wheel comprises a first surface segment which only conveys illumination radiation from the visible wavelength range and a second surface segment which only conveys illumination radiation from the infrared range. The first and second surface segments protrude into the illumination beam path successively on rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Krause, Enrico Geissler, Juergen Kraenert
  • Patent number: 10151917
    Abstract: A device for homogenizing laser light using a rotating lens is provided. The device comprises: a laser; an integrating rod having an input face; a lens located between the laser and the input face of the integrating rod, the lens having an optical axis, the lens positioned to receive light from the laser, off the optical axis, and focus the light through the input face of the integrating rod; and, an actuator device configured to rotate the lens about an axis of rotation different from the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventors: Darren Pastrik, Daniel Robert Adema, John Domm
  • Patent number: 10146119
    Abstract: A light source device, an illumination device, and a projector which are capable of thinning a bundle of light beams while being low in a focal magnification ratio, and are small in size are to be provided. The light source device includes a first light source unit adapted to emit a first light beam, a second light source unit adapted to emit a bundle of light beams including a second light beam and a third light beam, a reduction optical system adapted to reduce the bundle of light beams, and a combining optical system adapted to combine the first light beam and the reduced bundle of light beams with each other. The combining optical system is provided with a light transmitting area and a light reflecting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Matsubara, Koichi Akiyama, Noriyuki Hirano
  • Patent number: 10139538
    Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) 10 can include a reflective layer 15 sandwiched on each side by a pair of transparent layers (11-12 and 13-14). An index of refraction of each outer transparent layer 11 or 14 can be greater than an index of refraction of the adjacent inner transparent layer 12 or 13, respectively. Material composition of the outer transparent layers 11 and 14 can be the same, material composition of the adjacent inner transparent layers 12 and 13 can be the same. There can be high reflection of one polarization (e.g. Rs1>93% and Rs2>93%) for light incident on either side of the WGP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Wang, Shaun Ogden, R. Stewart Nielson, Hua Li, Brian Bowers
  • Patent number: 10108076
    Abstract: Alight source apparatus includes alight source section having a first area and a second area, a first condensing optical system, a second condensing optical system, a wavelength conversion element, a reflection element, and a wavelength selective polarization element. The first area and the second area respectively emit a first light ray flux and a second light ray flux. The first light ray flux passes through the first condensing optical system to excite the wavelength conversion element. The excited wavelength conversion element emits fluorescence. The second light ray flux passes through the wavelength selective polarization element and the second condensing optical system to enter the reflection element. The wavelength selective polarization element transmits the fluorescence irrespective of the polarization state of the fluorescence to combine the second light ray flux reflected by the reflection element with the fluorescence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 10091478
    Abstract: A first projection display apparatus includes a color separator (41A) that has first and second incident surfaces (S1a and S1b), and allows light in first to third wavelength bands to pass therethrough or reflects the light in the first to third wavelength bands; first to third reflective light modulators (15); a first polarization splitter (12G); a second polarization splitter (12RB); and a projection optical system (19). Light in at least one of the first to third wavelength bands enters the first incident surface of the color separator as first polarized light, and light in the other wavelength bands enters the second incident surface of the color separator as second polarized light orthogonal to the first polarized light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Sato, Hiroyuki Yanagisawa, Masa Tanaka, Ryo Miyao
  • Patent number: 10088677
    Abstract: An illumination unit includes a plurality of sets of illumination modules each having a light source placed at a conjugate position and a plurality of stages of condenser lenses that collect light from the light source toward a display device, a magnifying optical system being between the conjugate position and a viewing area. Each illumination module set includes an initial stage lens closest to the light source and a final stage lens farthest from the light source. In a surrounding illumination module of the illumination module sets, principal points of all stages of condenser lenses are positioned on a surrounding principal ray that passes through a periphery of an angle of view center of the display device to reach the viewing area, and the light source is positioned on the surrounding principal ray by being offset from a light axis of the initial stage lens in the reference direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Nambara
  • Patent number: 10082731
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes an illumination optical system configured to illuminate a light modulation element; a plurality of light source units each including a fluorescent member, at least one light source, and a light-guiding optical system; and an optical-path combining system. A predetermined region in an area where light source images are formed by the illumination optical system using light beams from the optical-path combining system is defined as an effective region, and the number of the light source units is denoted by N. In this case, the light source images and N subregions obtained by dividing the effective region by N along a first side direction of the effective region or a second side direction orthogonal to the first side direction satisfy a predetermined relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehito Kawasumi
  • Patent number: 10079957
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, an addition unit, and a transfer unit. The reading unit reads image data from a document. The addition unit adds attribute information regarding a preset item to the image data read by the reading unit. The transfer unit transfers to a specified destination the image data to which the attribute information is added by the addition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaru Fujii
  • Patent number: 10067401
    Abstract: A beam expander includes a first lens unit including one of an SLM or a VFL, a second lens unit being optically coupled to the first lens unit and including one of an SLM or a VFL, and a control unit controlling focal lengths of the first and second lens units. A distance between the first and second lens units is invariable. The control unit controls the focal lengths of the first and second lens units such that a light diameter D1 of light input to the first lens unit and a light diameter D2 of light output from the second lens unit are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Naoya Matsumoto, Takashi Inoue, Yuu Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 10015456
    Abstract: A projector includes a light-emitting element that outputs light of a first wavelength band which is in a first polarization state; a retardation plate that converts a portion of the light into a second polarization state; a polarization separation element that separates the light into a first flux of light in the first polarization state and a second flux of light in a second polarization state; a phosphor, which outputs a third flux of light of a second wavelength band; an optical modulator that modulates the light in accordance with a video signal; a light-emitting element control unit that controls brightness of the light-emitting element in accordance with brightness information; and a retardation plate control unit that controls a rotation angle of the retardation plate in accordance with the brightness information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Toyooka, Tatsuya Iguchi
  • Patent number: 9989839
    Abstract: A light module includes an excitation radiation source designed to emit an excitation radiation having a polarization, at least one first phosphor, an output, at which an output signal is providable, at least one first polarization beam splitter, a first polarization modulator arranged serially between the radiation source and the first splitter. The first modulator is designed to modify the polarization of the radiation source depending on a control signal. The first splitter is designed to split the radiation incident on it depending on the polarization between a first and a second of two optical partial paths connected in parallel with one another. The first optical partial path includes the at least one first phosphor and ends at the output of the light module. The second optical partial path, whilst bypassing the at least one first phosphor, ends at the output of the light module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: OSRAM GMBH
    Inventor: Martin Schnarrenberger
  • Patent number: 9964838
    Abstract: Provided are: a light source device; first, second, and third color separation elements; first, second, and third reflective members which reflect first, second, and third color light in a third direction; first, second, and third reflective liquid crystal panels which optically modulate the first, second, and third color light; a combining optical system which combines the optically modulated first, second and third color light to generate combined light; a projection optical system which projects the combined light; and a relay optical system which is arranged in an optical path of the first color light between the first color separation element and the first reflective liquid crystal panel and forms an erect image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: JVC KENWOOD Corporation
    Inventors: Takatsugu Aizaki, Shinji Kikuma, Yasuki Arihara
  • Patent number: 9958699
    Abstract: Polarizing beam splitters and systems incorporating such beam splitters are described. More specifically, hybrid polarizing beam splitters and systems with such beam splitters that incorporate polymeric reflective polarizers aligned with MacNeille or wire grid reflective polarizers are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Philip E. Watson, Yarn Chee Poon, Andrew J. Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 9961311
    Abstract: A projector includes a light-emitting element that outputs light of a first wavelength band which is in a first polarization state; a retardation plate that converts a portion of the light into a second polarization state; a polarization separation element that separates the light from the retardation plate into a first flux of light in the first polarization state and a second flux of light in a second polarization state; a phosphor, excited by the first flux of light, which outputs a third flux of light of a second wavelength band; a retardation plate control unit that controls a rotation angle of the retardation plate in accordance with brightness information indicating brightness of the third flux of light; and a light-emitting element control unit that controls brightness of the light-emitting element in accordance with the brightness information and temperature information indicating a temperature of the light-emitting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Toyooka, Tatsuya Iguchi
  • Patent number: 9955129
    Abstract: A light source device according to the invention includes a light source, a light separating/combining element including a dichroic layer, a wavelength conversion layer, and a diffusely reflecting element. A bundle of light beams emitted from the light source includes a first light bundle and a second light bundle. The first light bundle enters the wavelength conversion layer via the dichroic layer. The second light bundle enters the diffusely reflecting element without entering the dichroic layer, and is converted into diffusely reflected light. The dichroic layer combines the third light bundle from the wavelength conversion layer and the diffusely reflected light from the diffusely reflecting element with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiaki Hashizume
  • Patent number: 9953592
    Abstract: The application provides a display component and an electronic device using the display component. The display component comprises: a light source unit configured to emit source light; a polarization unit configured to at least partially convert the source light into a first polarized light with a first polarization direction; a first reflecting unit configured to at least partially convert the first polarized light into a first reflected light on a first reflective surface; and a display unit configured to receive the first reflected light and adjust the first reflected light to become initial light by adding information of an image to be displayed into the first reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: LENOVO (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiaopan Zheng, Chenggang Zou, Ke Shang
  • Patent number: 9952443
    Abstract: Projection subsystems are described. More, particularly, projection subsystems that include a light source and a polarizing beam splitter are described. The polarizing beam splitters of the presently described projection subsystems are capable of avoiding performance degradation even after exposure to large doses of incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Stephen J. Willett, Craig R. Schardt, David J. W. Aastuen
  • Patent number: 9927691
    Abstract: 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: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: RealD Inc.
    Inventors: Miller H. Schuck, Michael G. Robinson, Gary D. Sharp
  • Patent number: 9918055
    Abstract: A polarization conversion element includes: a polarization separation layer which emits first polarized light among incident light and second polarized light which is different from the first polarized light in different directions, respectively; a color separation layer which reflects first colored light among incident light and transmits second colored light which is different from the first colored light, and reflects the first polarized light and one light ray among the second polarized light emitted from the polarization separation layer in substantially the same direction as the direction of the other polarized light emitted from the polarization separation layer; and a retardation layer which is disposed on an optical path of any of the one polarized light and the other polarized light and converts a polarization direction of incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidefumi Sakata
  • Patent number: 9915400
    Abstract: A multi-staged lighting device (1) for generating a polarized multi-colored light beam (25) is disclosed. The multi-staged lighting device (1) comprises two or more light concentrators (5, 15), each light concentrator (5, 15) having a wavelength converter (8, 19) configured to convert light entering the light concentrator (5, 15) to light having a longer wavelength, and at least one polarizing beam splitter (10) configured to split converted light coupled out from a light concentrator (5, 15) into two light beams having different polarizations, one of the light beams being transmitted to a different light concentrator (5, 15) and the other light beam forming a color component of the polarized multi-colored light beam (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Rifat Ata Mustafa Hikmet, Ties Van Bommel
  • Patent number: 9904152
    Abstract: A solid-state light source device, enabling to build up with using solid-state elements, and having the structure suitable to be applied as a light source for a projection-type display apparatus, comprises a solid-state light source unit 10 for emitting excitation light therefrom, a reflection mirror (or reflector) 130 made of a parabolic surface, for condensing the excitation light from the solid-state light source to be point-like, and a disc-like (or wheel) member 140, repeating reflection/scattering or transmission/scattering of the excitation light and conversion of the excitation light, alternately, in vicinity of a focus point of the excitation light, which is condensed to be point-like by the reflection mirror (or reflector), wherein the excitation light (B-color) reflected/or scattered by that disc-like (or wheel) member and fluorescence light (Y-color), wavelength of which is converted, is taken on a same optical path, by means of the reflection mirror (or reflector) 130 or a second reflection mirro
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Hidehiro Ikeda, Nobuyuki Kimura
  • Patent number: 9891434
    Abstract: An image display system includes a projector, a transparent screen, and a polarization adjuster. The projector projects image light. The transparent screen diffuses the image light that has been projected, to display an image. The polarization adjuster adjusts the image light that is to enter the transparent screen so that the image light is p-polarized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Kazuhiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 9885631
    Abstract: An optical instrument includes: a collimation element (30) having a focal distance; a point light source (25-27) with a wavelength of between 700 and 1000 nm and a diameter less than or equal to a fiftieth of the focal distance, placed at a first focus of the collimation element, so that the light becomes a beam (20) of collimated light; a backscatterer (12); a support for receiving an ophthalmic lens (14), with the collimation element, support and backscatterer being placed so that the beam of collimated light encounters the lens location (15) where micro-etching is present; an image analyzing element (32) and an image capture element (31) linked to the analyzing element and including an objective lens (35) placed at a second focus of the collimation element, which objective lens is developed to provide the analyzing element with images of the backscatterer in order to identify and locate the micro-etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: ESSILOR INTERNATIONAL (COMPAGNIE GENERALE D'OPTIQUE)
    Inventor: Guilhem Escalier
  • Patent number: 9880454
    Abstract: A light source device is disclosed. An embodiment of the light source device includes: an excitation light source configured to emit irradiation light of a color component to be used as excitation light and projection light; a fluorescent member disposed in an excitation light path and configured to generate fluorescence of a color component different from the color component of the irradiation light when being irradiated with the irradiation light; a light path merger unit configured to merge a fluorescence light path through which the fluorescence generated with irradiation of the irradiation light is delivered, and a projection light path through which the projection light is delivered; and a light path switch disk configured to switch the irradiation light between the excitation light path and the projection light path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Takahashi, Kazuhiro Fujita, Toshiharu Murai, Takehiro Nishimori
  • Patent number: 9869867
    Abstract: There is provided a light source device including a first light source configured to emit light in a first wavelength region, a second light source configured to emit light in a second wavelength region different from the first wavelength region, a wavelength conversion unit including a fluorescent material and configured to emit fluorescent emission light in a different wavelength region upon irradiation with the light in the first wavelength region, and a combining unit that has wavelength selectivity to a specific wavelength region corresponding to the second wavelength region and combines the light in the first wavelength region from the first light source, the light in the second wavelength region from the second light source, and the fluorescent emission light which are incident on the combining unit with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichiro Tajiri
  • Patent number: 9869898
    Abstract: A selectively-absorptive wire grid polarizer comprising an array of parallel, elongated rods disposed over a surface of a transparent substrate with gaps between adjacent rods, each of the rods including a reflective wire sandwiched between two absorptive ribs. A method of making this wire grid polarizer. A use of this wire grid polarizer in an image projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Stewart Nielson, Bradley R. Williams, Benjamin Downard, D. Brent Willamson
  • Patent number: 9851575
    Abstract: A wafer-level liquid-crystal-on-silicon (LCOS) projection assembly includes a LCOS display for spatially modulating light incident on the LCOS display and a polarizing beam-separating (PBS) layer for directing light to and from the LCOS display. A method for fabricating a LCOS projection system includes disposing a PBS wafer above an active-matrix wafer. The active-matrix wafer includes a plurality of active matrices for addressing liquid crystal display pixels. The method, further includes disposing a lens wafer above the PBS wafer. The lens wafer includes a plurality of lenses. Additionally, a method for fabricating a wafer-level polarizing beam includes bonding a PBS wafer and at least one other wafer to form a stacked wafer. The PBS wafer includes a PBS layer that contains a plurality of PBS film bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Chun-Sheng Fan
  • Patent number: 9837634
    Abstract: A flexible display encapsulation layer may be used to encapsulate and protect organic light-emitting diodes and a thin-film transistor layer on a flexible display. The flexible encapsulation layer may include a lateral dispersion layer that exhibits an anisotropic moisture diffusion characteristic. Lateral diffusion in the lateral dispersion layer is larger than vertical dispersion in a direction that runs perpendicular to the display. An inorganic conformal coating layer may cover the lateral diffusion layer and may serve as a pinhole filling layer. The pinhole filling layer may be covered with a moisture barrier layer that serves to prevent moisture from penetrating the display. A polymer protective layer may cover the moisture barrier layer and may be relatively insensitive to bending induced stress as the display is flexed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jinkwang Kim, Jungmin Lee
  • Patent number: 9829777
    Abstract: A light source unit includes a green light source, a red light source, a blue light source, and a condenser lens system that condenses green light and red light at positions different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Inoko
  • Patent number: 9819919
    Abstract: An illumination device comprises a light source that includes a solid-state light source whose peak wavelength is set in the red wavelength band, a light source that includes a solid-state light source whose peak wavelength is set in the green wavelength band, a light source that includes a solid-state light source whose peak wavelength is set in the blue wavelength band, and a color synthesis optical element that combines P-polarized colored light incident from one light source and S-polarized colored light incident from the other two light sources. One light source includes at least one solid-state light source whose peak wavelength is set in the wavelength band of the color corresponding to one of the other light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masao Imai, Goroh Saitoh, Fujio Okumura
  • Patent number: 9804439
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel includes: a first polarization layer, a second polarization layer, and a liquid crystal layer located between the two polarization layers. Liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are initially aligned along a first direction. At least one first region and at least one second region are defined in the first polarization layer and the second polarization layer. In the first region, the absorption axis of the first polarization layer extends along the first direction while the absorption axis of the second polarization layer is perpendicular to the first direction. In the second region, the absorption axis of the first polarization layer extends along a second direction while the absorption axis of the second polarization layer is perpendicular to the second direction. A first angle formed by the second direction and the first direction is greater than 0 degree but less than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignees: SHANGHAI TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD, TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhaokeng Cao, Zhongshou Huang, Long Zhang
  • Patent number: 9804485
    Abstract: A light source device includes a light source, a fluorescent layer, a diffusive reflector, a first lens unit, a second lens unit, and a light separating and synthesizing unit. The light separating and synthesizing unit divides light coming from the light source into a first light and a second light. The first light passes through the first lens unit to enter the fluorescent layer. The second light passes through the second lens unit to enter the diffusive reflector. The size of a spot of the second light on the diffusive reflector is greater than the size of a spot, of the first light on the fluorescent body layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9798149
    Abstract: Devices and methods are described herein to measure optical power in scanning laser projectors. In general, the devices and methods utilize a filter component and photodiode to measure optical power being generated by at least one laser light source, with the filter component configured to at least partially compensate for the non-uniform electric current response of the photodiode. Such a configuration facilitates accurate optical power measurement using only one photodiode, and thus can facilitate accurate optical power measurement in a relatively compact device and with relatively low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthieu Saracco, James Michael Hansen
  • Patent number: 9759991
    Abstract: An embodiment of an apparatus for image projection includes a laser providing a first color light, a plurality of dichroic polarizing beam splitters (DPBSs), a plurality of switchable half-wave plates paired with a respective DPBS and positioned between the laser and the respective DPBS, a quarter-wave plate backed by a mirror and positioned to receive a first beam from a respective DPBS, and a plurality of static phosphor devices that are each positioned to receive either the first beam or the second beam from a respective DPBS and to emit light in a respective color. The emitted light from the phosphor devices and the beam that is reflected from the mirror are directed towards an output by one or more respective DPBSs. A method switches the switchable half-wave plates as necessary to provide separate images in a plurality of colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Zhongyan Sheng
  • Patent number: 9740014
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus includes: a laser light source which emits a blue light; a wheel which includes a light emitting body provided on a reflection surface of a substrate, the light emitting body emitting an emission light when the emitting body is irradiated with the blue light; a bandpass filter which is disposed on an optical path on which the emission light of the light emitting body travels; a plurality of optical modulating elements which modulate the blue light and the emission light from the light emitting body; and a projection unit which projects the light modulated by the plurality of optical modulating elements. The bandpass filter allows transmission of part of lights whose wavelength bands are 560 nm to 590 nm in the emission light of the light emitting body, and reflects other lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Michihiro Okuda
  • Patent number: 9726966
    Abstract: A light source device including: a light source section which generates any one of blue light, red light, and green light; a phosphor which generates a fluorescence including the two colors other than the color of the light emitted from the light source section; a color-changing section which changes one of the two colors of the fluorescence emitted from the phosphor to another color regularly and irradiates it to the image-forming element; and a light path-switching section which switches a light path in which a fluorescence excited by the color light emitted from the light source section passes towards the color-changing section and a light path in which the color light emitted from the light source section passes towards the image-forming element regularly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ikuo Maeda, Kazuhiro Fujita, Toshiharu Murai, Tatsuya Takahashi, Takehiro Nishimori
  • Patent number: 9726897
    Abstract: The cube polarizer can have modified prism dimensions to satisfy the following equation: ? OPL T - OPL R ? < 0.5 * t * n p 2 , where an optical path length is a distance of light travel through a material times an index of refraction of the material, OPLT is an optical path length of the transmitted beam, OPLR is an optical path length of the reflected beam, t is a thickness of the substrate between the first surface and the second surface of the substrate, and np is an index of refraction of the first prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Motex, Inc.
    Inventors: Austin Huang, Dean Probst, Bin Wang, Hua Li
  • Patent number: 9720163
    Abstract: An optical display system includes a polarizer, an integrated back light unit optically connected to a first face of the polarizer and a display comprising an array of pixels optically connected to a second face of the polarizer. The first face of the polarizer and the second face of the polarizer are not parallel and the polarizer is configured to direct light from the integrated back light unit to the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: GLO AB
    Inventors: Ping Wang, Douglas Harvey, Tyler Kakuda, Ronald Kaneshiro
  • Patent number: 9720227
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a compact optics module for a head mounted display including a DLP image source comprising a polarized light source providing illumination light, a flat reflective polarizer to reflect the illumination light toward the DLP image source and transmit image light, wherein the illumination light is provided at an angle to the DLP, a quarter wave retarder to change the polarization state of the illumination light as it is reflected by the DLP image source thereby providing image light, at least one light trap to absorb a portion of off-state image light, a lens element to provide a viewable field of view of on-state image light in an image displayed by the DLP image source, and a combiner to reflect the on-state image light toward a user's eye and provide a see-through view of a surrounding environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Osterhout Group, Inc.
    Inventors: John N. Border, Joseph Bietry
  • Patent number: 9702513
    Abstract: A lighting device comprising a pump laser matrix (2) and a phosphor arrangement. The pump laser matrix (2) is configured to emit pump radiation (7) having a controllable pump radiation power distribution for the irradiation of the phosphor arrangement (4). The phosphor arrangement (4) comprises at least two different phosphors (R, Y, G) which can be irradiated with the pump radiation (7) and re-emit said pump radiation in a manner such that it is at least partly and in each case differently wavelength-converted. The lighting device (1) is configured to generate, with the aid of the pump laser matrix (2), a controllable distribution of the surface power density of the pump radiation on the phosphors (R, Y, G) of the phosphor arrangement (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Kroell, Ulrich Hartwig, Kai Franz, Klaus Finsterbusch
  • Patent number: 9703124
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for optical communications. One of the apparatuses comprises a birefringent crystal configured to separate an incoming light beam input at a first port into component light beams having orthogonal polarization directions and directing the component light beams on respective paths to exit locations on the birefringent crystal; and a Faraday rotator positioned between the birefringent crystal and a beam folding optic assembly, wherein the Faraday rotator is positioned such that light beams exiting the birefringent crystal along a first path from a first exit location pass through the Faraday rotator before being incident on the beam folding optic assembly and that light beams exiting the birefringent crystal along a second path from a second exit location pass directly to the beam folding optic assembly without being incident on the Faraday rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Oplink Communications, LLC
    Inventors: Hongwei Mao, Daxin Chen, Linhu Li, Jinyuan Qiao, Tanbin He, Zexiong Zhao, Feng Qing Zhou
  • Patent number: 9703026
    Abstract: A polarizing plate having an excellent optical property and a method of manufacturing the same. The polarizing plate includes: a transparent substrate 11 transmitting light in a used bandwidth; an absorbing layer 12 having at least a metal-containing semiconductor layer containing a metal, the absorbing layer being arranged as a one-dimensional lattice shaped wire-grid structure having a pitch smaller than the wavelength of the light in the used bandwidth; a dielectric layer 13 arranged as a one-dimensional lattice shaped wire-grid structure having a pitch smaller than the wavelength of light in the used bandwidth; and a reflective layer 14 arranged as a one-dimensional lattice shaped wire-grid structure having a pitch smaller than the wavelength of light in the used bandwidth, wherein the absorbing layer 12, the dielectric layer 13 and the reflective layer 14 are layered on the transparent substrate 11 in this or reversed order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: DEXERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio Takada, Eiji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9696589
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a light source unit, a first substrate provided on the light source unit, an electrode layer provided on the first substrate, a second substrate separate from the electrode layer, a polarizing plate provided on a surface of the second substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the electrode layer and the second substrate, a reflecting unit provided on a surface of the first substrate; and a wire grid polarizer provided on an opposite surface of the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jaeseung Chung, Dongouk Kim, Joonyong Park, Bongsu Shin, Daeyoung Lee, Sunghoon Lee, Gugrae Jo, Sukgyu Hahm
  • Patent number: 9645481
    Abstract: The light source apparatus of the present disclosure includes a solid-state light source, a dichroic mirror for reflecting blue excitation light emitted from the solid-state light source, a phase difference plate for receiving the excitation light reflected on the dichroic mirror, a fluorescent plate having a fluorescent region irradiated with the excitation light, which is reflected on the dichroic mirror and transmitted through the phase difference plate, to emit fluorescent light and a reflection region for reflecting the excitation light, and a plurality of condenser lenses that are disposed between the phase difference plate and the fluorescent plate and condense the excitation light and the fluorescent light. Among the plurality of condenser lenses, the condenser lens closest to the fluorescent plate is made of a glass material having a linear expansion coefficient of 32.5×10?7 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaaki Tanaka, Michihiro Okuda
  • Patent number: 9645477
    Abstract: Provided is a polarization light emitting diode (LED) module including: a casing comprising an opening; a light source configured to emit light; a reflective polarizer configured to transmit first polarized light of the light emitted from the light source through the opening of the casing toward an external polarization converter, and configured to reflect second polarized light of the light emitted from the light source toward the light source; and a reflector configured to reflect light, which is reflected from the reflective polarizer and traveling toward the light source, toward the reflective polarizer, wherein the light source, the reflective polarizer and the reflector are provided inside the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong-Dok Cha, Sung-tae Kim
  • Patent number: 9638991
    Abstract: A projection device includes a light source module and a light splitter module. The light source module includes a first light source, a second light source, a reflection module and a polarizing module. The first light source emits a first light beam with a first polarization direction. The second light source emits a second light beam with a second polarization direction. The reflection module is disposed corresponding to the first light source along the first axis, and is used to reflect the first light beam to a second axis. The polarization module is disposed corresponding to the second light source along the first axis and corresponding to the reflection module along the second axis. The polarization module is used to direct the first light beam to pass through the polarization module along the second axis and reflect the second light beam to the second axis through the light splitter module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignees: Qisda Optronics (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., Qisda Corporation
    Inventor: Kai-Jing Wang
  • Patent number: 9625745
    Abstract: Display devices with high dynamic ranges approaching the limitations of the human eye are discussed herein. High dynamic range projections systems may be 2D or 3D and devices may or may not be implemented with polarization preserving optics for high efficiency. In one embodiment, 2D HDR projection systems may compensate the modulator for varying transmission and contrast versus field of view. In another embodiment, 3D HDR projection systems may include a global or pixelated/segmented modulator. The global or pixelated/segmented modulator may be included in a stereoscopic polarization switch or in a polarization-preserving stereoscopic projection system. Additionally, a combination of global/global or pixelated/pixelated, or global/pixelated modulators may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: RealD Inc.
    Inventors: Gary D. Sharp, Miller H. Schuck, Douglas J. McKnight
  • Patent number: 9581314
    Abstract: A device for increasing the optical power of a solid state light source in the green and/or yellow bands, is disclosed. The device has an integral body having an ingress surface configured to receive light from an emitting portion of the solid state light source, an egress surface substantially opposite the ingress surface, and a recess formed within the body. The recess has an input opening in the ingress surface, an output opening in the egress surface, and a recess surface within the body extending between the input opening and the output opening. The recess surface is configured to reflect visible light with Lambertian scatter characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Excelites Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Wang, Paul Constantinou, Sola Kuk
  • Patent number: RE47179
    Abstract: The wire grid type polarization device includes a substrate, and a metal layer formed on one face of the substrate in a substantially stripe shape in a plan view, a first dielectric layer provided on two side faces opposite to each other among a plurality of side faces of the metal layer and in a top part of the metal layer, and a second dielectric layer provided on the first dielectric layer. A substrate side end portion of the second dielectric layer is located between the one surface of the substrate and the top part of the first metal layer. The wire grid type polarization device includes a substrate and a plurality of metal layers that includes a first metal layer having a first side face, a second side face opposed to the first side face, and a top part. First and second dielectric layers are provided in the first side face, the second side face, and the top part of the first metal layer. The first dielectric layer is provided between the first metal layer and the second dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitomo Kumai