Composite Projected Image Patents (Class 353/30)
  • Patent number: 8926102
    Abstract: A safety protection method for a laser projection apparatus is provided. The laser scanning apparatus includes a laser source, a laser source driver, a scanning mirror, and a light-outputting port. The laser source driver is configured to drive the laser source to emit a laser beam. The safety protection method includes the following steps. Firstly, after the laser projection apparatus is powered on, an optical path of the laser beam is adjusted, so that the laser beam is not ejected out from the light-outputting port. Then, the laser source driver is disabled. Then, a judging step is performed to judge whether an intensity of the laser beam is higher than a threshold level. If the intensity of the laser beam is higher than the threshold level, the laser source is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Yu-Nan Tsai
  • Publication number: 20150002821
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-projection system with a reflective surface, and the multi-projection system includes an image reproduction unit for visually reproducing image content and a reflective surface for reflecting an image reproduced by the image reproduction unit toward an auditorium, thus providing images to the auditorium in multiple directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: CJ CGV CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hwan Chul KIM, Su Ryeon KANG
  • Publication number: 20150002820
    Abstract: The present invention provides a “multi-projection system” including a plurality of projection surfaces arranged so as not to be parallel to each other and two or more projection devices for projecting images on the plurality of projection surfaces, in which the two or more projection devices include a refraction projection device in which projection light is refracted before it reaches a projection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: CJ CGV CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hwan Chul KIM, Su Ryeon KANG
  • Patent number: 8919969
    Abstract: A system for on-product projection and display of electronic content. The system includes a projector for projecting electronic content, a mirror film stack having a reflective surface facing the projector, and a product having an exterior surface facing the reflective surface of the mirror film stack. A graphic is located on a surface of the mirror film stack opposite the reflective surface. The electronic content from the projector is projected onto the exterior surface of the product via the reflective surface of the mirror film stack. The graphic can be located on a display window and hide the mirror from a viewer without completely blocking a view of the projected electronic content. The product can include a removable projection screen for displaying the electronic content, and the projection screen can include a removable label on its non-viewer side to advertise or promote the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rolf W. Biernath, Matthew C. Robbins, Ellyar Y. Barazesh, David A. Harper
  • Patent number: 8919962
    Abstract: Provided is an optical apparatus including a polarization separation element for separating an incident light beam into a first polarization component and a second polarization component and outputting the first polarization component and the second polarization component, a polarization conversion unit including a waveplate for converting one of the first polarization component and the second polarization component into the other polarization component, the waveplate being held to a holding metal plate, and a housing for holding the polarization separation element and the polarization conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Aikoh
  • Publication number: 20140375958
    Abstract: A light converging optical system (1) includes a surface-emission light source (11) that emits light from a light emitting surface (12), a collimator lens (13) as a collimator optical system that converts the light emitted from the light emitting surface (12) into approximately parallel light, a condenser lens (4) as a converging lens as a light converging element that converges the light converted into the approximately parallel light, and an integrator rod (7) as a light-intensity-distribution equalizing element that has an incident surface (8) on which the light converged by the condenser lens (4) is incident, equalizes light intensity distribution of incident light, and emits the light from an emission surface (9). Among the light converged on the incident surface (7) of the integrator rod (7), a converging angle of the light converged on a center portion of the incident surface (8) is smaller than a converging angle of the light converged on a corner portion of the incident surface (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Muneharu Kuwata, Masashige Suwa, Kuniko Kojima
  • Patent number: 8913183
    Abstract: A video projector, a cluster of video projectors and a method for wirelessly transmitting image data within the cluster of video projectors. The video projector includes a first antenna located at a first side of the projector and a second antenna located at a second side of the projector, opposite to the first side. Image data is divided into sub-parts, and distributed by assigning each image data sub-part to a video projector. A video projector receiving image data sub-parts extracts and stores the image data sub-part assigned to it, and retransmits image data sub-parts assigned to respectively a second and third video projectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Laurent Frouin, Lionel Tocze, Pierre Visa
  • Patent number: 8905555
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus is provided, which includes an illumination unit which generates illumination light, a first prism which receives the illumination light from the illumination unit and performs total reflection of the illumination light, a reflection mirror which receives the illumination light from the first prism and reflects the illumination light, an image forming unit which forms an image from the illumination light that is reflected from the reflection mirror, and a second prism which performs total reflection of the image that is formed by the image forming unit toward a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wook-jae Jeon, Jong-hoi Kim
  • Patent number: 8905551
    Abstract: An augmented reality system may generate an augmented reality environment by projecting images onto various surfaces within a scene. A projection accessory display device (PADD) provides known characteristics for projection, and may be configured to simplify generation and maintenance of the projected image upon the PADD. The PADD may also provide one or more input devices which accept input from a user within the augmented reality environment. The PADD may comprise non-electronic passive components, electronic active components, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Rawles LLC
    Inventor: William Spencer Worley, III
  • Publication number: 20140354957
    Abstract: The present invention relates in part to a print method for an arbitrary grey scale image on a transparent substrate such as glass. The present invention makes use of a printer that can print in continuous grey tones. The printed material should be transparent and resistant to the light which passes through it in a projection system. The present invention also provides a continuous grey scale filter made by a printing techniques using liquid inks or toners. Such a continuous grey scale filter can be used for blending multiple images in a multichannel projector system. The present invention also provides a multichannel projector system using the continuous grey scale filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Barco N.V.
    Inventor: Koenraad Vermeirsch
  • Patent number: 8899757
    Abstract: A portable video production system includes a stand, a prompter portion, a mirror, a piece of glass, and a measuring device. The stand includes a table and a plurality of legs, and is configured to adjust a height of the legs based on a height of a user. The prompter portion includes a plurality of legs and a plurality of supports, and the supports extend between the legs of the prompter portion. The mirror is connected between first and second supports of the plurality of supports, and is configured to reflect a display of a laptop. The piece of glass is connected between third and fourth supports of the plurality of supports, and reflects the reflection of the display from the mirror to provide a reflected image to the user and to enable a video to be filmed through the glass without the reflected image appearing in the video. The measuring component is connected to the table, and extends from the table and being of a first specific length to indicate a first distance for the user to stand from the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Wizards of Ads, SunPop Studios Ltd.
    Inventor: Roy H. Williams, IV
  • Patent number: 8899754
    Abstract: There is provided a projection-type image display apparatus which is capable of solving the problem in which the reduction ratio of speckles is small. Light source emits a light beam that is modulated according to a video signal. Projector projects the light beam emitted from light source to display an image. Changer changes a polarized state of the light beam emitted from the light source to projector or changes a polarized state of the light beam projected by the projector. Controller repeatedly selects a plurality of predetermined particular polarized states according to a predetermined sequence. Controller switches the polarized state changed by the changer to the selected particular polarized states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Imai
  • Patent number: 8894211
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a first layer that generates light by injection of a current and forms a waveguide of the light, and an electrode that injects the current into the first layer, wherein the waveguide of the light has a belt-like first region and a belt-like second region, the first region has a first part with curvature, the second region has a second part with curvature, the first region and the second region are connected in a reflection part provided on a side surface of the first layer, and a first light output from the first region on a side surface of the first layer as an output surface opposed to the side surface on which the reflection part is provided and a second light output from the second region on the output surface are output in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masamitsu Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 8894217
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus includes a light source; a projected image outputting unit having multiple mirrors arranged in a matrix, to which radiating light emitted from the light source while controlling an angle of a light reflection face of each of the mirrors; a control unit controls the angle of light reflection face of the mirrors using the a division half-toning control based on image data of a projected image, and settings of control parameters used for the time division half-toning control; and an image capturing device to capture the projected mage. When the control unit detects a false contour in a projected test pattern image based on image data of the projected test pattern image captured by the image capturing device, the control unit corrects the control parameters for the time division half-toning control based on detection of the false contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Otoichi Nakata
  • Patent number: 8882275
    Abstract: In a light source device, in each division of an image frame, two or more of the color lights X, Y and Z (e.g., red, green and blue) can be projected simultaneously. Each of the color lights X, Y and Z is divided into two in terms of time so that synthesized light of one group of division color lights enters a first spatial modulation element. Synthesized light of another group of division color lights enters a second spatial modulation element, whereby gradation of each color light in each of the first and second spatial modulation elements is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Sugitani, Kiyoyuki Kabuki, Yoshihiro Horikawa, Yoshio Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20140327885
    Abstract: A system for projecting digital images of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared scenes in which two or more digital micromirror devices (DMDs) are employed to create projected images which have greater contrast and bit depth than can be achieved with comparable prior art devices. A source DMD creates an image of the digital scene which is used to illuminate a projector DMD, so that the projector DMD is illuminated to an extent proportionate to the corresponding scene brightness, thereby reducing the amount of undesired radiation which would otherwise illuminate the projected scene via scattering, diffraction, and/or spurious reflections from within the projection system. By including dichroic beam-splitters and additional projector DMDs it is possible to project multi-spectral-band images having enhanced contrast and bit depth relative to prior art digital projection systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventor: David Joseph Mansur
  • Patent number: 8876298
    Abstract: This projector includes a laser beam generation portion outputting a laser beam, an image projection portion, including a scanning portion scanning the laser beam, projecting an image on a projection area, an image correction portion correcting distortion of the projected image on the basis of projection condition information, a photoreceiving portion receiving the laser beam reflected by a detection object, and a position acquisition portion acquiring the position of the detection object on the basis of photoreceiving information of the laser beam received by the photoreceiving portion and the projection condition information employed by the image correction portion for correcting the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsuhiko Chikaoka
  • Publication number: 20140320825
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-projection system for extending a visual element of a main image, the system including a main projection surface on which a main image is reproduced and an auxiliary projection surface arranged around the main projection surface, in which a visual element associated with the main image is displayed on the auxiliary projection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: CJ CGV CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hwan Chul KIM, Su Ryeon KANG
  • Publication number: 20140320824
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-projection system including a plurality of projection surfaces arranged in a single theater so as not to be parallel to each other, wherein the plurality of projection surfaces may comprise a projection surface including a non-solid material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: CJ CGV CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hwan Chul KIM, Su Ryeon KANG
  • Patent number: 8870383
    Abstract: An optical member includes: a total reflection mirror including a reflection surface for reflecting a laser beam; a filter including a partially transmissive surface for passing therethrough a part of the laser beam and reflecting the remaining part of the laser beam, the partially transmissive surface being located so as to be opposed to the reflection surface ; and a diffraction grating into which the laser beam enters, for diffracting the incident laser beam to enter the total reflection mirror or the partially transmissive filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuguhiro Korenaga
  • Patent number: 8870390
    Abstract: A low Z-height projection system includes a display panel for displaying a grating pattern that has gratings extended in a first direction. A projection lens system is also included and projects the grating pattern displayed on the display panel onto a surface. The projection lens system is a truncated circular lens system that has a first lens width in the first direction and a second lens width in a second direction. The first lens width is less than the second lens width. The first and second directions are orthogonal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Iain Davidson
  • Patent number: 8870392
    Abstract: Projector (1) adapted to be installed on a household appliance (26), for projecting visible information onto a projection surface (17) lying outside of said household appliance, the projector comprising a focusing unit (4) that is adapted for focusing a light beam that emanates from a light source (5) onto said projection surface, wherein the focusing unit further comprises at least one fixation element (12) that is adapted to arrange the focusing unit in at least two different focusing positions (13, 13?) within said projector (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Oliver Kleinert, Honghua (Terry) Hu, Franz-Josef Wipperfurth, Werner Braun
  • Patent number: 8870380
    Abstract: A system and a method for time-multiplexed autostereoscopic display are disclosed, wherein the system includes a projector, an optical relaying device and a slit array. The projector can project a plurality of rays of different directions in different time sequences respectively. The optical relaying device is optically coupled with the projector for relaying the rays. The slit array is optically coupled with the optical relaying device for being illuminated by the rays. The slit array further has a plurality of regions which are illuminated by the rays respectively; and each of the regions has a plurality of slits which are turned on sequentially for a part of the rays to pass therethrough. Therefore, the display system can reduce the light loss of the rays each time when a 3D virtual image is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Junejei Huang
  • Patent number: 8864317
    Abstract: A projection display satisfies formulas {(4FR?)/(W?TphR)}?0.015 and W??0.5, where: F is an F-number of a projection lens; W? is a diagonal size (inch number) of a light modulation element; ph is a pixel count in one side direction of the light modulation element; T is a throw ratio of the projection display (=a projection distance s/a distance L in the one side direction of a projected image on a projection plane); R is a radius of an exit pupil of the projection lens; I is an integrated light quantity obtained by, in a light quantity distribution in the exit pupil, radially integrating the light quantity up to the radius R; and I?(=I/2) is an integrated light quantity obtained by, in the light quantity distribution in the exit pupil, radially integrating the light quantity up to a predetermined radius R? about barycenter of the light quantity distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Toshifumi Yasui
  • Patent number: 8864319
    Abstract: An imaging optical system includes a lens unit that includes a plurality of optical elements, and an optical path combining portion that includes a flat plate disposed so as to be inclined with respect to an optical axis of the lens unit, and the lens unit includes a correction portion that has a shape asymmetric with respect to the optical axis in a cross section that is parallel to both a normal of the flat plate and the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Inoko
  • Publication number: 20140307230
    Abstract: Implementations described herein generally relate to scanning beam display systems and more specifically, to systems and methods for improved image alignment of such scanning beam display systems. The method comprises providing a display system comprising a display screen having a plurality of display screen region each with a corresponding light engine module having a servo laser beam and an excitation laser beam, scanning the servo laser beam of a light engine module in an outer scanning region outside of the light engine module's corresponding display screen region, detecting servo laser beam feedback light to measure an alignment error of the light engine module relative to the light engine module's corresponding display screen region, and adjusting alignment of the excitation laser beam based on the measured alignment error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: PRYSM, INC.
    Inventor: Roger A. HAJJAR
  • Patent number: 8857994
    Abstract: A transparent display with a dynamic mask for generating three dimensional (3D) imagery. The display or apparatus includes a display element that is transmissive and that is selectively operable to display an image on the display element. The apparatus includes a dynamic mask element that is transmissive to light and that is positioned adjacent to the display element. The dynamic mask element is selectively operable to provide a mask with a shape and a size corresponding to the displayed image. The mask is positioned on the dynamic mask element so as to be adjacent to the first location, e.g., to be behind the displayed image, and, typically, the mask includes portions that are semi-transparent or opaque to block light from passing from the background through the displayed image and from passing through the display element at the location of the displayed image into the background to avoid double imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Quinn Smithwick
  • Publication number: 20140300869
    Abstract: In exemplary implementations of this invention, light from a light field projector is transmitted through an angle-expanding screen to create a glasses-free, 3D display. The display can be horizontal-only parallax or full parallax. In the former case, a vertical diffuser may positioned in the optical stack. The angle-expanding screen may comprise two planar arrays of optical elements (e.g., lenslets or lenticules) separated from each other by the sum of their focal distances. Alternatively, a light field projector may project light rays through a focusing lens onto a diffuse, transmissive screen. In this alternative approach, the light field projector may comprise two spatial light modulators (SLMs). A focused image of the first SLM, and a slightly blurred image of the second SLM, are optically combined on the diffuser, creating a combined image that has a higher spatial resolution and a higher dynamic range than either of two SLMs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Matthew Hirsch, Gordon Wetzstein, Ramesh Raskar, Vincent Lee
  • Publication number: 20140293233
    Abstract: A projector includes a plurality of light sources, an integrator lens and an overlapping lens, a light guide optical system, a light control device, a light modulation device, and a projection optical system, the light control device includes a pair of light-blocking members opposed to each other across a light path of the light emitted from the light sources in one direction in which the plurality of partial areas is arranged on the integrator lens, and a control device adapted to move the light-blocking members into and out of the light path, and the control device moves the pair of light-blocking members into and out of the light path so that the light entering the overlapping lens has a shape with a symmetric property in accordance with lighting and extinction states of the plurality of light sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoichi SHISHIDO
  • Patent number: 8845111
    Abstract: The lens shifting device includes: first plate through which video light passes; second plate connected to first plate via elastic member and having projection lens attached to a position into which the video light that passed through first plate enters; slider disposed to project from second plate and housed in first plate to be movable in a predetermined direction; and guide shaft attached to first plate in the state of being engaged with slider and rotated to move the second plate. Elastic member is disposed between first plate and second plate to connect first plate and second plate in the state of generating an elastic contraction force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunitaka Furuichi, Takayuki Okada
  • Patent number: 8845107
    Abstract: Objects and their placement within a particular scene may be characterized using structured light with no or minimal manual intervention or calibration to the scene. The structured light pattern may be rendered with visible light, yet imperceptible to users, by generating a set of opposing excursions in one or more image properties for durations which are shorter than the integration time of the human eye. A set of assumptions and ongoing testing of those assumptions against physical objects identified within the environment allows characterization of the scene and the objects therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Rawles LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Coley, Jonathan Betts-LaCroix, William Spencer Worley, III
  • Publication number: 20140285771
    Abstract: A projector that outputs a first image and a second image alternately image image, includes: a discharge lamp driving section that supplies, to a discharge lamp, a drive current that drives the discharge lamp; a state detecting section that detects a deteriorating state of the discharge lamp; and a control section that controls the discharge lamp driving section, wherein the control section controls the discharge lamp driving section so that the absolute value of the drive current becomes relatively small in the first period and relatively large in the second period and, in the second period, the control section controls the discharge lamp driving section so that the discharge lamp driving section supplies an alternating current to the discharge lamp as the drive current and controls the discharge lamp driving section so that at least part of the frequency of the drive current is decreased with the progress of the deteriorating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuo TERASHIMA, Shun SATO
  • Patent number: 8840250
    Abstract: An augmented reality environment allows interaction between virtual and real objects. Various surfaces within the environment such as walls, tables, countertop, chairs, floor, ceiling, and so forth may be used as projection surfaces. Qualified projection surfaces are determined, and an initial projection surface is selected for use from these. This selection may take into account user preferences, user orientation, types of image to be projected, and so forth. Other qualified projection surfaces may have visual indicators projected thereon, indicating relative suitability for use as a projection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Rawles LLC
    Inventors: Ning Yao, William Spencer Worley, III, Edward Dietz Crump
  • Patent number: 8840255
    Abstract: A scanning laser projector includes a scanning mirror that moves in a sinusoidal motion on at least one axis. Pixels are displayed by modulating a laser beam that is reflected by the scanning mirror. Pixels are generated using light pulses of different duty cycles based on the position and/or angular velocity of the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert James Jackson
  • Patent number: 8840249
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for projecting visible and non-visible images is provided. The system and apparatus include: a visible light source and a non-visible light source; at least one light modulator enabled for receiving and modulating the visible light and non-visible light to respectively form visible images and non-visible images, the non-visible images formed independent of the visible images; and projection optics enabled for receiving and co-projecting the visible and non-visible images in alignment. Furthermore, video data for projection is formed by replacing a portion of visible bits with at least a portion of non-visible bits in a data stream, such that the visible images and the non-visible images can be co-projected upon processing the video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Christie Digital Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart Nicholson, Thomas Patrick Pawelko, Lawrence Stewart Paul
  • Patent number: 8842222
    Abstract: A method for producing a first output image and a second output image for being projected by a first projector and a second projector, respectively, is disclosed. The method comprises: providing a source image comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having a source value, providing an inverted threshold value for each pixel of the plurality of pixels, and generating thereof a temporary image comprising a temporary value for each pixel of the plurality of pixels. The method further comprises: generating the first output image comprising a first output value for each pixel of the plurality of pixels, the first output value being generated from the temporary value and the source value for each pixel, and generating the second output image comprising a second output value for each pixel of the plurality of pixels, the second output value being generated from the temporary value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: IMAX Corporation
    Inventor: Steen Svendstorp Iversen
  • Publication number: 20140268065
    Abstract: An image projection system projects a plurality of same images on a plane of projection by superimposition. The image projection system includes a plurality of projectors configured to have mutually different resolutions and project the plurality of same images on the plane of projection, and an image data output device configured to output to the plurality of projectors image data corresponding to the plurality of same images with the resolutions of the plurality of projectors, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Masaaki ISHIKAWA, Satoshi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140268067
    Abstract: A illumination device includes a light source, a diffractive optical element on which light emitted from the light source is made incident, and a superimposing optical system on which diffracted light emitted from the diffractive optical element is made incident. A direction of a principal ray in the center of the diffracted light coincides with an optical axis of the superimposing optical system. Consequently, it is possible to reduce an aberration due to the superimposing optical system and to emit illumination light having a more uniform illuminance distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi AKIYAMA, Akihiro KASHIWAGI
  • Patent number: 8836723
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides augmented reality methods and systems where two or more component optical images are optically overlaid via one or more beam splitters to form composite optical images. In some embodiments a second component optical image is an electronic optical image (an image from an electronically controlled emission source) while the first component optical image is one of a physical optical image (an image of a physical object from which diffuse reflection occurs), an electronic optical image, an emission optical image (an image from a non-electronic source that emits radiation), or a hybrid optical image (composed of at least two of a physical optical image, and electronic optical image, or an emission optical image). In some embodiments the first and second component optical images are used to provide feedback concerning the quality of the overlaying and appropriate correction factors to improve the overlay quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Vantage Surgical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsu-Chin Tsao, Jason T. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8833944
    Abstract: A red image is displayed on liquid crystal panel (111) by lighting red light source (101) for a predetermined period. A green image is displayed on liquid crystal panel (112) by lighting green light source (102) for the predetermined period. A green image is displayed on liquid crystal panel (113) by lighting green light source (103) for the first of first and second periods provided by dividing the predetermined period with a predetermined ratio. A blue image is displayed on liquid crystal panel (113) by lighting blue light source (104) for the second period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Katou
  • Patent number: 8827459
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a light source that emits light to be projected onto a screen, one or a plurality of optical elements that controls a spread of a beam of light from the light source to the screen, a combining element that combines the light emitted from the light source, and a scanning element. The light source outputs an optical beam that will generate an elliptically shaped beam spot on the screen, the beam spot having a major axis substantially perpendicular to a scanning direction, and the light source is driven with pulse width modulation (PWM) so that one driven pulse corresponds to one beam spot on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mayumi Nagayoshi, Satoshi Ouchi, Tadayoshi Kosaka, Tomoki Kobori, Yoshiho Seo
  • Patent number: 8827464
    Abstract: A projection display device includes: a light source unit including light sources emitting light in a plurality of colors, condenser lenses and a color combining optical element; a total reflection prism that totally reflects a combined light flux from the color combining optical element so as to be guided to an image forming unit; and a projection lens. At least one of; an entry surface of the color combining optical element through which substantially parallel light fluxes from the condenser lenses enter, an exit surface of the color combining optical element through which the combined light flux exists, and an entry surface of the total reflection prism through which the combined light flux enters, is formed as a free curved surface where a shape of a section of the combined light flux is altered so as to be matched with a shape of an outline of the display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Aiko Namikawa
  • Patent number: 8820937
    Abstract: An optical polarization state modulator assembly for use in a stereoscopic three-dimensional image projection system includes a spatial light modulator, a light source emitting multiple wavelength components of light for incidence on the spatial light modulator, and a projection lens. A polarization converter system cooperates with the spatial light modulator to produce in alternating sequence polarized light carrying first and second perspective view images of a scene in different ones of first and second subframes. A polarization modulator, in response to first and second drive signals, imparts to, respectively, the image-carrying polarized light a first output polarization state during the first subframe and to the image-carrying polarized light a second output polarization state during the second subframe. The image-carrying polarized light in the first and second output polarization states propagates through the projection lens for transmission to an observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: LC-TEC Displays AB
    Inventors: Jesper Osterman, Terry J. Scheffer
  • Patent number: 8820944
    Abstract: A portable image projection device has a housing with first and second members pivotable between device folded and unfolded positions. First lens optics mounted within the first member are configured for projecting light modulated by a spatial light modulator along an optical axis through a first aperture with a first throw ratio with the device in the folded position. A second lens optics element movably mounted within the first member is configured for selective movement between positions of non-intersection and intersection with the optical axis. The second lens optics element is configured for cooperating with at least part of the first lens optics for projecting the light modulated by the spatial light modulator along the optical axis through a second aperture with a second throw ratio less than the first throw ratio with the device in the unfolded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Jose S. Vasquez
  • Publication number: 20140240677
    Abstract: A light source comprises a light combining device for guiding incident light from a first light emitting source (310) and incident light from a second light emitting source (340) with different incident directions to combine two paths of incident light into one path of emission light emitted from a first optical path. The light combining device comprises a guide part (330), for guiding light from the second light emitting source (340) to converge into the first optical path, and hindering a part of light from the first light emitting source (310) from entering the first optical path, the luminous flux of the hindered part of the light being less than the luminous flux of light from the first light emitting source (310) entering the first optical path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: APPOTRONICS (CHINA) CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fei Hu, Yi Li
  • Patent number: 8817044
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for blending overlapping images are provided. Image areas mapped to a common image space that includes a blend region: fixed image values are assigned to areas outside the blend region. Pixels from the blend region are iteratively sampled in the common image space, and for each respective sampled pixel corresponding to the sampled pixel in a respective image area: a value of the respective sampled pixel is changed to an average of neighbouring pixel values in the respective image area; and, when each respective sampled pixel in each of the at least two image spaces is changed to the average of the neighbouring pixels, each averaged respective sampled pixel value is normalize to a blended value, wherein iterations are repeated until a convergence criteria is met. One or more blend masks is output, each comprising at least normalized blended pixel values in the blend region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventor: David Swart
  • Publication number: 20140232990
    Abstract: A projector that outputs a first picture and a second picture alternately, wherein a control section performs first control and second control, controls a discharge lamp driving section. In the first control and the second control, the absolute value of a drive current is relatively small in a first period and relatively large in a second period. In the first control, the energy provided to a first electrode in the second period is greater than the energy provided to the second electrode in the second period. In the second control, the energy provided to the second electrode in the second period is greater than the energy provided to the first electrode in the second period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuo TERASHIMA
  • Publication number: 20140232992
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes a light source unit, a light diffusion element that is provided so as to be rotated about a predetermined rotation shaft and includes a plurality of diffusion regions which are consecutively formed around the rotation shaft, and a motor that rotates the light diffusion element so that a region on which light from the light source unit is incident in the light diffusion element is moved between the plurality of diffusion regions. The plurality of diffusion regions include a first diffusion region, and a second diffusion region which has diffusion characteristics different from diffusion characteristics of the first diffusion region and is provided so as to be adjacent to the first diffusion region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira EGAWA
  • Patent number: 8807765
    Abstract: A lighting system (100) includes at least one controllable light source (125) configured to provide a light having at least one attribute; an image renderer (135) configured to render at least one image; and a system controller (110) configured to select the image in corresponding to the selected attribute. The system controller (110) may be configured to receive at least one script associated with different light attributes such as different light intensity or brightness levels, and to change the image in response to changes of the light attribute in accordance with the script.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Markus Gerardus Leonardus Maria van Doorn
  • Patent number: RE45258
    Abstract: In a projection optical system for use in an image projection apparatus illuminating an image display panel forming an image in accordance with a modulating signal with illumination light from a light source, the projection optical system includes first and second optical systems arranged along an optical path defining an upstream-downstream direction in the order described from upstream to downstream on the downstream side of the image display panel. The first optical system includes at least one dioptric system and has positive power. The second optical system includes at least one reflecting surface having power and has positive power. The image formed by the image display panel is formed as an intermediate image in the optical path, and the intermediate image is magnified and projected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Takaura, Kazuhiro Fujita, Nobuo Sakuma