Plural Projection Paths With Single Light Source Patents (Class 353/34)
  • Patent number: 11950027
    Abstract: An interactive projection system including a projector and a touch interactive light source device is provided. The projector includes a projection optical engine, a camera module, and a control module. The touch interactive light source device includes at least one infrared light source module and a wireless signal transmission module. The control module is electrically connected to the projection optical engine and the camera module, and controls the touch interactive light source device through the wireless signal transmission module, so that the touch interactive light source device is placed in a recommended installation position and the interactive projection system is in an interactive mode. An operation method of the interactive projection system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: Ching-Feng Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11843723
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus includes a first light source to emit a first excitation light of a specific wavelength, a second light source to emit a second excitation light of a specific wavelength, a first planar wavelength conversion element to convert the first excitation light into a light of a different specific wavelength, and a second planar wavelength conversion element to convert the second excitation light into a light of a specific wavelength different from the specific wavelength of the first excitation light converted by the first planar wavelength conversion element. In the image projection apparatus, the first planar wavelength conversion element and the second planar wavelength conversion element are arranged at positions different from each other, and the first planar wavelength conversion element and the second planar wavelength conversion element have a first plane and a second plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Mashimo, Kasumi Nakamura, Momotaro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11812203
    Abstract: A projection system includes: a projection device that includes a laser scanner and projects one or more drawings individually onto work spots in a work site; and an adjustment unit configured to adjust at least one of (i) a quantity of the one or more drawings to be simultaneously projected by the projection device or (ii) a setting parameter regarding a mode of projection performed by the projection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Hara, Tetsuya Nishi, Yuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11682881
    Abstract: A broad-spectrum laser for use in a MEMS laser scanning display device is provided. In one example, the broad-spectrum laser includes a laser diode emitter with plural quantum wells each having a different spectral peak. In another example, the broad-spectrum laser includes a laser diode emitter with a tunable absorber to achieve a broadened emissions spectrum. In another example, the broad-spectrum laser includes a laser diode emitter array having plural individual emitters with different spectral peaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Shiva Shahin, Dale Eugene Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11662652
    Abstract: A projector, including a body, a light source, a light valve, a projection lens, and a lens adjustment module, is provided. The light source and the light valve are disposed in the body, and the projection lens is movably disposed on the body. The lens adjustment module includes a driven structure connected to the projection lens, a guiding member and a rotating member connected to the guiding member. The guiding member is disposed on the body to be rotatable along an axis of rotation and has a closed ring guiding rail. The driven structure is slidably disposed at the closed ring guiding rail and is configured to move relative to the guiding member along a closed ring path defined by the closed ring guiding rail. A normal direction of a surface where the closed ring path is located is not parallel to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Chun-Hsien Wu, Chih-Hui Chang, Fu-Shun Kao
  • Patent number: 11650491
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a light source system and a projection device. The light source system includes: a laser light source, a supplementary light source, a wavelength conversion device and an imaging subsystem. The laser light source is configured to emit laser light. The supplementary light source is configured to emit supplementary light. The wavelength conversion device is configured to convert the laser light into excited light and output first light including the excited light and the laser light. The imaging subsystem is configured to form a first light imaging beam, a supplementary light imaging beam, and a mixed light imaging beam; the imaging subsystem includes a light combining device and a reflective assembly, the light combining device is placed at an intersection of the first light imaging beam and the supplementary light imaging beam, and the reflective assembly is placed between the wavelength conversion device and the light combining device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: APPOTRONICS CORPORATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Zuqiang Guo, Peng Du, Zeqin Wang, Yi Li
  • Patent number: 11514592
    Abstract: A first image including a first line segment is projected onto a projection surface to acquire first imaging data of a first projected image. A second image including a first mark and a second mark overlapping the first line segment is projected onto the projection surface to acquire second imaging data of a second projected image. Based on a positional relation between a third mark and a fourth mark located on a second line segment corresponding to the first line segment and a positional relation between the first mark and the second mark located on the first line segment, relation data that associates the first mark and the third mark and associates the second mark and the fourth mark is generated. Correction data is generated based on the relation data. Image data is corrected based on the correction data. A corrected image is projected onto the projection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichi Shishido
  • Patent number: 11512945
    Abstract: A projector projects a first image onto a projection surface to thereby display a first projected image on the projection surface, acquires first imaging data obtained by capturing the first projected image, determines, based on the first imaging data, a type of a three-dimensional shape on the projection surface, projects a second image including a plurality of points onto the projection surface to thereby display a second projected image on the projection surface, acquires second imaging data obtained by capturing the second projected image, specifies, based on the second imaging data and the type of the three-dimensional shape on the projection surface, positions of the respective plurality of points on the projection surface, generates, based on the positions of the respective plurality of points, and correction data for correcting distortion of an image projected onto the projection surface, corrects, based on the correction data, image data input to the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoichi Shishido
  • Patent number: 11209739
    Abstract: A method and a device for aligning two lenses, wherein the method is directed to aligning first and second optical partial systems of an optical system, which are arranged so as to be located opposite to one another. The method includes the steps of: projecting alignment marks into a first image plane of the first optical partial system, projecting the alignment marks from the first image plane onto a sensitive surface of the second optical partial system, and aligning the optical partial systems relative to one another, such that projections of the alignment marks in a depth of field of the sensitive surface are imaged at ideal positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: EV Group E. Thallner GmbH
    Inventor: Boris Povazay
  • Patent number: 11178365
    Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes a translucent display positioned such that a first face is a display face and that a second face is a projection face and at least one projector configured to project an image on the second face of the translucent display. The image is displayed on the first face. The system also includes at least one sensor configured to transmit a signal when triggered and a projector controller in communication with the at least one projector and the at least one sensor. The projector controller is programmed to receive a signal from the at least one sensor and instruct the at least one projector to project at least one image on the translucent display in response to the signal from the at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Darren Carl McIntosh
  • Patent number: 11089276
    Abstract: A projection device including an illumination system, a polarization beam splitting component, a first light valve, a second light valve, and a projection lens is provided. The polarization beam splitting component is disposed on a transmission path of the beams of multiple colors that are transmitted from the illumination system in time sequence. The polarization beam splitting component splits each color beam into a first polarization beam and a second polarization beam having polarization states perpendicular to each other. The first light valve is disposed on a transmission path of the first polarization beam and converts the first polarization beam into a first image beam. The second light valve is disposed on a transmission path of the second polarization beam and converts the second polarization beam into a second image beam. The projection lens is disposed on transmission paths of the first image beam and the second image beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: Ken-Teng Peng
  • Patent number: 11054727
    Abstract: A projector includes a first projection unit, a second projection unit, and a coupling part coupling the first projection unit and the second projection unit together. The first projection unit is configured to pivot about a first axis and projects the first image light in a direction intersecting the first axis. The second projection unit is configured to pivot about a second axis and projects the second image light in a direction intersecting the second axis. The coupling part couples the first projection unit and the second projection unit together in such a way that the first axis and the second axis are arranged on a coaxial line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joji Karasawa
  • Patent number: 10996465
    Abstract: A projection device includes at least one projection module and at least one adjusting structure. The projection module has an optical axis and is adapted to emit an image beam. The image beam is transmitted to a projection target to form a projection image. The adjusting structure includes a base and an adjusting component. The adjusting component is rotatably connected to the base along a first axis, and the projection module is rotatably connected to the adjusting component along the optical axis. The adjusting component and the projection module are adapted to rotate along the first axis such that the projection image moves vertically, and the projection module is adapted to rotate along the optical axis such that the projection image rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Chin-Sheng Chao, Chuan-Te Cheng, Chih-Wei Shih, Meng-Hsuan Lin
  • Patent number: 10655955
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a time-space coding method and apparatus for generating a structured light coded pattern. Different coded patterns are outputted in time division by driving different light-emitting points based on a regular light-emitting lattice so as to time-space label a target object or a projection space. This method effectively overcomes the limitations of the fact that in the prior art, a plurality of projectors is needed to project different patterns in time division when it is required to project time-space labels of a plurality of patterns. According to the present method, by driving different light-emitting elements on the light-emitting substrate, different coded patterns are formed, and by using a time-division output technology, time-space labeling of an object may be finalized with only one projector. Moreover, this method may significantly improve the accuracy and robustness of three-dimensional depth measurement through time-space coding with a depth decoding algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: NINGBO YINGXIN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chenyang Ge, Huimin Yao, Yanhui Zhou
  • Patent number: 10652445
    Abstract: A light generator system may include: a light source providing a diverging light beam, a first lens element having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the first lens element having a positive optical power in a first cross section, a second lens element having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the second lens element having a negative optical power in a second cross section different from the first cross section, and a multiplication function on at least one of the second surface of the first lens element, the first surface of the second lens elements, or the second surface of the second lens element, in the first cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Nadav Grossinger
  • Patent number: 10471351
    Abstract: Techniques for distributed determination of scene information are described herein. Scene information may include, for example, information associated with geometries, lighting, colors, texture, shading, shadows, audio, camera attributes, and other information associated with a scene. A first portion of scene information may, for example, be determined by one or more first components, while a second portion of scene information may, for example, be determined by one or more second components. In some cases, at least part of the first portion of scene information may be provided from the one or more first components to the one or more second components. The one or more second components may use the at least part of the first portion of scene information in combination with at least part of the second portion of scene information to generate at least part of a resulting image and/or resulting audio associated with the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Juan Pablo Ferreyra
  • Patent number: 10244217
    Abstract: A projection display unit includes a projection optical system, a polarization separation device, and a detection optical system. The projection optical system includes an illuminator, a projection lens, and a light valve. The light valve modulates illumination light supplied from the illuminator on a basis of an image signal, and outputs the modulated illumination light toward the projection lens. The polarization separation device is disposed between the light valve and the projection lens. The polarization separation device separates entering light into a first polarized component and a second polarized component, and outputs the first polarized component and the second polarized component in respective directions that are different from each other. The detection optical system includes an imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazumasa Kaneda, Toshio Mamiya
  • Patent number: 10222683
    Abstract: A pixel displacing correction section performs a pixel displacing correction adapted to shift a position of the sub-pixel in the display target image on the image signal of the sub-pixel supplied to at least one of the light modulators to thereby compensate position shifts of the display positions of the sub-pixels constituting the images of the respective color components to be displayed on the display surface with respect to a reference position. A boundary correction section decreases the luminance of the image signal of a sub-pixel of another color component than that of the sub-pixel at roughly the same decreasing rate of the display luminance due to the pixel displacing correction of the sub-pixel caused in the pixel, to which the sub-pixel belongs, with respect to the sub-pixel, a part or the whole of which is placed outside the effective display range due to the pixel displacing correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Taku Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 10146118
    Abstract: A first illumination device includes a light source that emits light having directivity, and a uniform illumination optical system including a first fly-eye lens that includes a plurality of lenses two-dimensionally arranged and allows light based on emitted light from the light source to pass through the first fly-eye lens. An illumination target region has a planar shape having a side extending along a direction substantially parallel to a long-axis direction or a short-axis direction of an intensity distribution shape of emitted light from the light source, and a periodic direction of an array of the lenses in the first fly-eye lens is inclined with respect to the long-axis direction or the short-axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Miura
  • Patent number: 10061186
    Abstract: A mounting system is provided. The mounting system includes a plurality of image modules that project an image. A rotation bracket is disposed adjacent to each of the plurality of image modules. The rotation bracket is fixed to a base bracket. The base bracket is configured such that the plurality of image modules is coupled to a control unit and an image drive board. A mounting bracket is disposed adjacent to a position between the rotation bracket and the base bracket. A first reflective mirror is disposed adjacent to each of the image modules and fixed to the rotation bracket. A second reflective mirror is disposed on a lower surface of the base bracket at a position corresponding to the first reflective mirror. The base bracket is configured to be movable upwards or downwards in a height direction to adjust a height of the projected image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Nak Kyoung Kong, Jong Min Park, Joong Ryoul Lee, Ki Hong Lee, Kap Je Sung, Jin Ho Hwang, Keon Soo Jin, Jae Wook Lee, Chang Joon Seok
  • Patent number: 10045012
    Abstract: A display apparatus and a method of controlling a screen thereof are provided. The method includes displaying a rectangular screen including a digital image in a display area, receiving information to modify a shape of the rectangular screen, and modifying and displaying the shape of the rectangular screen based on a coordinate value of a horizontal axis of the display area, and the received information. A height of the modified screen decreases as the height is closer to the coordinate value, and the digital image decreases in size as the digital image is closer to the coordinate value to correspond to the height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji-gwang Kim, Joon-soo Kim
  • Patent number: 9946089
    Abstract: A coded pattern projector apparatus comprises a surface-emitting array of emitters comprising a plurality of emitters where each of the plurality of emitters generates one of a plurality of optical beams in response to an electrical drive signal applied to a respective electrical input of each of the plurality of emitters. A first optical element projects each the plurality of optical beams generated by the surface-emitting array of emitters. A second optical element collimates the plurality of optical beams in a first dimension and diverges the plurality of optical beams in a second dimension such that the plurality of optical beams form at least one stripe patterns. A controller has electrical outputs, each of the electrical outputs is connected to a respective electrical input of each of the plurality of emitters. The controller generates electrical drive signals that produce a coded stripe pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Princeton Optronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tong Chen, Chuni Ghosh, Laurence Watkins
  • Patent number: 9942530
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a projection system and a light screen generating device thereof. The light screen generating device includes a movable carrier module, a first light-emitting module, and a second light-emitting module. The first light-emitting module includes a plurality of first light-emitting structures disposed on the movable carrier module. Each of the first light-emitting structures generates an invisible light screen, and the invisible light screens respectively generated by the first light-emitting structures are mated with each other to form a spliced invisible light screen for increasing light emission uniformity. The second light-emitting module includes a second light-emitting structure that is disposed on the movable carrier module and that generates a visible light screen parallel to and overlapping the spliced invisible light screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: EVEREST DISPLAY INC., SEAN & STEPHEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hei-Tai Hong, Yueh-Hong Shih, Chi-Jung Chen, Gang-Liang Wey, Hsin-Chin Chen
  • Patent number: 9921353
    Abstract: A light emitting device (1) comprising a light source (2) adapted for, in operation, emitting light (13) with a first spectral distribution, a first light guide (3) comprising a first light input surface (31) and a first light exit surface (32) arranged opposite to one another, and further comprising an end surface (35) extending perpendicular with respect to the first light input surface (31), and a second light guide (4) comprising a second light input surface (41) and a second light exit surface (42) extending perpendicular with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: PHILIPS LIGHTING HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Rifat Ata Mustafa Hikmet, Dirk Kornelis Gerhardus De Boer, Ties Van Bommel, Wilhelmina Maria Hardeman, Marcus Antonius Verschuuren
  • Patent number: 9658461
    Abstract: In various embodiments, wavelength beam combining laser systems incorporate fast-axis collimation lenses and slow-axis collimation lenses (either separately or as portions of a single hybrid lens) optically upstream of an optical rotation system to thereby reduce or minimize cross-talk in the combined output beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TERADIODE, INC.
    Inventors: James Zambuto, Parviz Tayebati, Bien Chann, Michael Deutsch, Daqing Wang, Bryan Lochman
  • Patent number: 9218061
    Abstract: A method of audio and video synchronization may include capturing an image by each of a plurality of cameras. The images and audio may be compared with each other for synchronization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Aditi Majumder, Fadi Kurdahi, Kiarash Amiri, Magda El Zarki, Shih-Hsien Yang
  • Patent number: 9201294
    Abstract: A laser module includes a first laser light source, a second laser light source, and a third laser light source. Laser beams of the laser light sources are combinable into an overall laser beam. The laser beam of the first laser light source and the laser beam of the second laser light source have a first polarization, and the laser beam of the third laser light source has a second polarization. The laser beams of the first and the third laser light sources are coupled into the overall laser beam with the aid of mirror devices. The laser beam of the second laser light source is split, the polarization of the laser beam of the second laser light source being changed from the first polarization to the second polarization in a splitting path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Gael Pilard
  • Publication number: 20150116603
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for dynamically distributing light are provided. The apparatus includes a source conduit configured to collect light from a light source and transmit the collected light for emission towards an optical switch. The optical switch is moveable between several discrete resting positions, each corresponding to a different one of a plurality of projector conduits. In each resting position, the optical switch directs light from the source conduit to a corresponding projector conduit. Each projector conduit receives the directed light from the optical switch and transmits the light to a corresponding one of a plurality of projectors. The optical switch is also configured to rest at each of the resting positions for respective portions of a given period of time, to regulate what amount of the light emitted by the source conduit during the period of time is received by each projector conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventor: Simon GUTHRIE
  • Patent number: 9010938
    Abstract: A projector according to an embodiment of the invention includes: an illumination device adapted to generate an illumination light; and a light modulation device adapted to modulate the illumination light in accordance with image information, wherein the illumination device includes a first illumination device including a fluorescence generation section adapted to generate a fluorescence from an excitation light generated by a first solid-state light source, and a second illumination device including a rod integrator optical system adapted to equalize an in-plane light intensity distribution of a colored light generated by a second solid-state light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 8979274
    Abstract: A display device includes: a light source section; an optical modulator modulating light from the light source section based on a picture signal, to emit modulated light as picture light; a direct-view display section performing direct-view display based on the picture light; a projection optical system performing projection display on a projection screen based on the picture light; an optical member allowing the picture light from the optical modulator to travel toward at least one of the direct-view display section and the projection optical system; and a switching section performing control of traveling direction of the picture light on the optical member, to switch between two or more display modes which are selected, to include a two-way display mode, from a group consisting of a direct-view display mode, a projection display mode, and the two-way display mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takakiyo Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 8982265
    Abstract: The image projection and capture apparatus for projecting an image beam to display an image on a screen and sensing a sensing beam from the image on the screen, the image projection and capture apparatus includes a light source, a light valve, a projection lens, an image capture lens, a dichroic unit, and an image sensor. The light source provides an illumination beam. The light valve is capable of converting the illumination beam to the image beam. The projection lens has a first optical axis. The image capture lens has a second optical axis. The first optical axis and the second optical axis are collinear. The dichroic unit is disposed between the projection lens and the image capture lens. The image sensor is disposed on a light path of the sensing beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Zhan-Yu Liu, Yi-Hsueh Chen, Hsin-Hung Lin, Ya-Ling Hsu, Chao-Shun Chen
  • Patent number: 8960915
    Abstract: Optical element 10 according to the present invention comprises light guide body 11, surface plasmon excitation means 14 that is provided on the interface with light guide body 11 and that allows surface plasmon to be excited by a specific polarization component of light whose polarization direction is orthogonal to the first direction y in the surface of light guide body 11, from among light entering from light guide body 11, and a light generation means that includes metal layer 12 and cover layer 13, and that generates light having the same polarization component as the specific polarization component of light, from surface plasmon produced in the interface between metal layer 12 and cover layer 13 in response to surface plasmon excited by the specific polarization component in surface plasmon excitation means 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shin Tominaga, Masao Imai, Goroh Saitoh, Masanao Natsumeda
  • Patent number: 8955977
    Abstract: A projection-type image display apparatus includes a color separation element including a color separation surface, a light modulation element configured to receive the light divided by the color separation element, a polarizing beam splitter disposed between the color separation element and a projection optical system to separate a light path of a light modulated by the light modulation element according to a polarization direction and guide the resulting light to the projection optical system, and a phase difference plate disposed between the color separation element and the light modulation element. An optic axis of the phase difference plate and the normal of the color separation surface are substantially parallel or perpendicular to each other, in a cross section parallel to a normal of the color separation surface and a normal of the light modulation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Yamaguchi, Takehito Kawasumi
  • Patent number: 8950874
    Abstract: A projection optical system for use in an image display apparatus having an illumination optical system applying light from a light source, and an image display device receiving the light from the illumination optical system to form a projection image includes a projector lens composed of plural lenses, a first mirror, and a second mirror formed of a concave mirror. The projection optical system is configured to project the projection image onto a projection surface. A projection luminous flux passing through the projector lens to be incident on the first mirror is a luminous flux exhibiting divergence. The projection luminous flux reflected off the second mirror after having reflected off the first mirror is converged once, and the once converged projection luminous flux is projected onto the projection surface. A lens surface of a lens located closest to the first mirror among the lenses of the projector lens is convex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hibiki Tatsuno
  • Patent number: 8902485
    Abstract: A contrast enhancing system is provided comprising: a digital micromirror device (DMD); a light source; a first integrator that receives light from the light source, comprising lateral long and short dimensions, the lateral short dimension at a non-zero angle to the DMD tilt axis; a second integrator that receives and shapes light from the first integrator; a telecentric lens about midway between the integrators that generates fast and slow f-number directions of the light in angle space, respectively corresponding to the lateral long and short dimensions of the first integrator, the slow f-number direction correspondingly at the non-zero angle to the DMD tilt axis, thereby increasing dead-zones between adjacent ones of a DMD illumination path and DMD reflection paths for each of the on, flat and off-state positions; and, at least one optical component that focuses the light along the illumination path from the second integrator onto the DMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Bird, John Domm
  • Patent number: 8894213
    Abstract: A solid-state light source unit emits excitation light. Fluorescent material layer is formed on each side of a glass substrate of a fluorescent plate so as to interpose a reflective film therebetween. The first optical system optically guides, to a rod integrator, red and blue LED light, and green fluorescence that is generated by excitation occurring when blue laser light emitted from the solid-state light source unit is applied to the fluorescent material layer on one surface of the fluorescent plate, and that is emitted in the ?X direction. The second optical system optically guides, to the rod integrator, red and blue LED light, and green fluorescence that is generated by excitation occurring when blue laser light emitted from the solid-state light source unit is applied to the fluorescent material layer on the other surface of the fluorescent plate, and that is emitted in the +X direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Sugiyama, Hiroshi Kitano
  • Patent number: 8888290
    Abstract: A polarization beam splitter includes at least six prisms assembled together to form a single solid components. At least one diagonal interface is formed by a combination of two or more prism surfaces. The solid polarization beam splitter component has at least four light entrance/exit surfaces with at least one of the light entrance/exit surfaces including a step. At least one of the prisms has a non-triangular cross-sectional shape. At least one surface of a prism that forms a portion of the diagonal interface has a polarization beam splitting material disposed thereon resulting in a diagonal interface that includes a polarization beam splitting material. The polarization beam splitter can be incorporated into various image projection apparatus including 2D, multiple image, and 3D projection apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventor: Ying Liu
  • Patent number: 8888291
    Abstract: A polarization optical apparatus including a reflection-type polarization element for transmitting a predetermined polarization component light. A slidably supported reflection-type optical modulation element is held by a holding member that includes a sliding support surface for slidably supporting the reflection-type polarization element. The reflection-type polarization element is urged toward the sliding support surface while the reflection-type polarization element is enabled to be slid along the sliding support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Aikoh
  • 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: 8872985
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide for a modular video projector system having a light engine module and an optical engine module. The light engine module can provide narrow-band laser light to the optical engine module which modulates the laser light according to video signals received from a video processing engine. Some embodiments provide for an optical engine module having a sub-pixel generator configured to display video or images at a resolution of at least four times greater than a resolution of modulating elements within the optical engine module. Systems and methods for reducing speckle are presented in conjunction with the modular video projector system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: RED.COM, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Jannard, Stuart J. English, Gregory Alan Prior, Edmund Sandberg, Ryan Newham
  • Patent number: 8794770
    Abstract: A projection display includes at least one light source, at least one reflective image generator configured to represent frames in a two-dimensional distribution of subareas of same, a projection optics arrangement having a two-dimensional arrangement of optical projection elements and being configured to image an associated subarea of the at least one image generator onto an image plane in each case, so that images of the frames superimpose within the image plane to form an overall picture, and at least one beam splitter arranged within an optical path between the at least one reflective image generator and the two-dimensional arrangement of optical projection elements, on the one hand, and the optical path between the at least one light source and the at least one reflective image generator, on the other hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Marcel Sieler, Peter Schreiber, Erik Foerster
  • Publication number: 20140211171
    Abstract: The invention provides a projection apparatus having an image source, a projection lens, and a beam-splitting module. The image source provides an image beam, and the image beam includes a first sub image beam and at least one second sub image beam. The projection lens is disposed on a transmission path of the image beam. The beam-splitting module projects the first sub image beam passing through the beam-splitting module onto a first imaging plane, and projects the second sub image beam reflected by the beam-splitting module onto at least one second imaging plane. The first imaging plane is not coplanar with the at least one second imaging plane. The projection lens is disposed on the transmission path of the image beam between the beam-splitting module and the image source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: YOUNG OPTICS INC.
    Inventors: Wei-Hao Huang, Chao-Shun Chen, Haw-Woei Pan
  • Patent number: 8783878
    Abstract: An optical system (100) comprises a coherent light source (101) and optical elements for directing light from the source to a target (1001). The optical elements include at least one diffusing element (141, 161) arranged to reduce a coherence volume of light from the source and a variable optical property element (151). A control system (1021) controls the variable optical property element such that different speckle patterns are formed over time at the target (1001) with a temporal frequency greater than a temporal resolution of an illumination sensor or an eye (1011) of an observer so that speckle contrast ratio in the observed illumination is reduced. The variable optical property element (151) may be a deformable mirror with a vibrating thin plate or film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Optyka Limited
    Inventors: Fergal Patrick Shevlin, Omar Sqalli, Nicolas Descharmes
  • Publication number: 20140198302
    Abstract: An image rearranging lens and a projection apparatus are provided. The image rearranging lens is used to rearrange a plurality of sub images provided by an image source and arranged along an arranging direction. The image rearranging lens includes a plurality of lens groups arranged along the arranging direction. Each of the sub images is imaged on a corresponding lens group. Optical axes of the lens groups are not aligned to each other along the arranging direction. The optical axis of each of the lens groups and the optical axis of the neighboring lens groups have an offset along a direction perpendicular to the arranging direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: YOUNG OPTICS INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Hsien Tsai, Wei-Hung Tsai, Hung-Chih Chou
  • Patent number: 8746891
    Abstract: An illumination device a first light source array a first light source. The first light source can generate a first light beam having a first spectral distribution. The first light beam can propagate primarily in a first direction along an optical axis. A second light source array can be included, having a second light source that generates a second light beam having a second spectral distribution. Also included can be a first dichroic reflector positioned partially in the first and the second light beams. The first dichroic reflector can transmit a part of the first and the second light beams. The second light beam can propagate in a second direction towards a part of the first light source array and opposite the first direction. Further, a part of the second light beam can propagate primarily in first direction after being reflected by the first dichroic reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Martin Professional A/S
    Inventor: Dennis Thykjær Jørgensen
  • Patent number: 8746890
    Abstract: The polarization beam splitting element includes a one-dimensional grating structure having a grating period smaller than a wavelength of an entering beam and including a metal grating portion, and two light-transmissive members each having a refractive index higher than that of air. The one-dimensional grating structure is disposed between the two light-transmissive members. The grating period of the one-dimensional grating structure is 120 nm or less, a thickness of the one-dimensional grating structure is 100 nm or less and an inter-grating portion of the one-dimensional grating structure is formed as a vacuum space or formed of air or a dielectric material. The grating period ? [nm], a filling factor FF that is a ratio w/? of a width w [nm] of the grating portion to the grating period, a refractive index na of the inter-grating portion and a wavelength ?g of 550 [nm] satisfy (1.4na?2.9)?/?g?0.57na+1.32?FF?(1.4na?2.9)?/?g?0.57na+1.39 and 0.152np?1.375(?/?g)+0.5?FF?0.152np?1.375(?/?g)+0.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Rie Ishimatsu
  • Patent number: 8740388
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes: a light source that emits blue component light; a polarization adjuster that adjusts a polarization state of the blue component light emitted from the light source; a separation optical element that separates the blue component light emitted from the light source into a first optical path and a second optical path according to the polarization state adjusted by the polarization adjuster, the first optical path being for using the blue component light as excitation light, the second optical path being for using the blue component light as reference image light; a luminous body provided on the first optical path and that emits reference image light in response to the excitation light; and a combine optical element that combines the first optical path and the second optical path into a single optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michihiro Okuda, Shinya Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8736775
    Abstract: A cooling device for use in an electronic apparatus is capable of achieving a sufficient cooling capability with an effective replacement method in a narrow flow path. The cooling device for the electronic apparatus, which includes a plurality of members juxtaposed such that surfaces thereof confront each other, at least one of the members including a heat radiating surface, includes a first air-cooling member which includes a first outlet port that creates a first air stream, and a second air-cooling member which includes a second outlet port that creates a second air stream to flow in a direction different from the first air stream. The first and second outlet ports have different opening widths, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventor: Motoyasu Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 8721089
    Abstract: The image projection apparatus is disclosed to which plural interchangeable optical units are selectively attachable. The apparatus includes a shift mechanism moving an attached optical unit, which is one of the plural interchangeable optical units that is attached to the apparatus, with respect to a light modulation element in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis, an actuator driving the shift mechanism, and a controller controlling drive of the actuator using a control parameter for moving the attached optical unit by a specific movement amount via the shift mechanism. The controller acquires information on at least one of a weight and an optical characteristic of the attached optical unit from a memory provided in one of the apparatus and the attached optical unit, and to change the control parameter using the acquired information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Hatakeyama, Azusa Sugawara
  • Patent number: RE45504
    Abstract: Micro-electromechanical display device (“MDD”)-based multimedia projectors (90, 120) of this invention employ an arc lamp (32), a color modulator (42), and anamorphic illumination systems (94, 121) for optimally illuminating a MDD (50, 76) to improve projected image brightness. MDDs employ off-axis illumination wherein incident and reflected light bundles are angularly separated about a hinge axis (78, 110) and the MDD is illuminated by the anamorphic illumination systems of this invention having a slow f/# parallel to the hinge axis and a faster f/# perpendicular to the hinge axis. The resulting anamorphic light bundles (86, 88, 112, 114) illuminate and reflect more light into and off the MDD and through a fast f/# projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Peterson