Abstract: An illumination device includes: a light source which has an emission surface forming area where a plurality of emission surfaces are disposed; a plurality of converging lenses disposed in correspondence with the plural emission surfaces to converge emission lights emitted from the emission surfaces; a first fly-eye lens which divides lights converged by the plural converging lenses into a plurality of partial lights; a second fly-eye lens which converges the plural partial lights; and a condenser lens which stacks the plural partial lights converged by the second fly-eye lens on an illumination receiving area, wherein the plural converging lenses stack the emission lights on the first fly-eye lens.

Abstract: A projector includes a light source that emits light including visible light and infrared light, a light separating unit that separates the light from the light source into lights in plural different wavelength regions, at least one light modulation element for visible light that modulates visible light separated by the light separating unit, at least one light modulation element for infrared light that modulates one kind of infrared light or at least two kinds of infrared light in wavelength regions different from each other separated by the light separating unit, a light combining unit that combines the modulated light modulated by the light modulation element for visible light and the modulated light modulated by the light modulation element for infrared light into one to form combined light, and a projecting unit that projects and displays the combined light combined by the light combining unit on a projection surface.

Abstract: In a projection display device which includes a light source for outputting a light and a plurality of light modulating devices for modulating the light from the light source based on an input image signal, the projection display device comprises: a plurality of light quantity adjusting devices disposed on respective incidence sides of the light modulating devices and serving to adjust the quantity of light incident on the respective light modulating devices; and a controller unit for controlling the respective light quantity adjusting devices based on the input image signal.

Abstract: A polarization conversion unit includes a polarization splitting element array including a plurality of polarization splitting films for splitting the incident light beam into two types of linearly-polarized light beams, a plurality of reflecting films for reflecting either one of the linearly-polarized light beams obtained by the polarization splitting films, and a translucent member provided with the polarization splitting films and the reflecting films, a plurality of retardation plates each formed of a quartz crystal member and for converting a polarization axis of either one of the linearly-polarized light beams obtained by the polarization splitting films into a polarization axis of the other of the linearly-polarized light beams, and a spacer member having a predetermined thickness and for bonding end sections of the retardation plates to a light beam exit side of the translucent member.

Abstract: Methods of operating a frequency-converted laser source are disclosed. According to particular disclosed embodiments, a laser diode is driven in a pulsed mode to define pixel intensity values corresponding to desired gray scale values of image pixels in an image plane of the laser source. The pixel intensity values are a function of a laser control signal comprising a discontinuous pulse component, a relatively constant intensity component I, and a continuously variable intensity component I*. The pulse width w of the discontinuous pulse component is selected from a set of discrete available pulse widths according to a desired pixel gray scale value. A low-end pulse width w of the set of available pulse widths is established for a range of low-end pixel gray scale values and progressively larger pulse widths w are established for ranges of progressively higher pixel gray scale values.

Abstract: A method includes generating a plurality of beams that each illuminate a separate portion of a spatial light modulator. The spatial light modulator has a first dimension of a first length and a second dimension of a second length. Each of the beams spans a portion of the first length of the first dimension and a portion of the second length of the second dimension. The method also includes scrolling the plurality of beams along the second dimension of the spatial light modulator while maintaining at least a first gap between each of the plurality of beams.

Abstract: A 3D depth imaging method and system are disclosed. The 3D depth imaging method involves radiating light at a measurement target object using a projection means and imaging the light using an image receiving means, and includes the steps of assigning a unique transmitting side address to a signal corresponding to each pixel of the projection means to encode the signal; projecting multiple light patterns at the projection means to transmit the signal; receiving the encoded signal at the image receiving means; separating the received signal to restore the address; and determining a pixel position of the object using the transmitting side address and the restored address. With the 3D depth imaging method and system, it is possible to exactly separate signals received by the image receiving means even when the signals are overlap and the geometrical structure of the object varies, and it is also possible to obtain a depth image that is robust against ambient environmental noise.

Abstract: The illumination optical system includes an integrator configured to divide light from a light source into plural light fluxes, and a collection optical system configured to collect the plural light fluxes from the integrator toward an illumination surface. A rear principal point of the collection optical system is located closer to the light source than a front principal point of the collection optical system. The configuration provides a compact illumination optical system which brightly illuminates the illumination surface with the light and enables high contrast image projection.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a projection type display apparatus, including: a color separation optical system configured to separate light from a light source into a plurality of light fluxes of different colors; a plurality of reflection type light valve devices provided individually for the color light fluxes; a plurality of polarization beam splitters each configured to polarize and separate a predetermined one of the color light fluxes separated by said color separation optical system and then polarize and separate the light coming in from the reflection type light valve device; and a light reception device provided for one or more of said polarization beam splitters and configured to detect light emitted from a second face from among faces of the predetermined polarization beam splitter which is opposite to a first face to which the predetermined color light flux from said color separation optical system is introduced.

Abstract: A stereo projection optical system includes a first polarizing beam splitter, a transmission-type light modulator positioned to receive the first polarized light component from the first polarizing light splitter and an image assimilator positioned to receive an emergent light of the transmission-type light modulator. The image assimilator includes a second polarized light splitter and first, second reflective spatial light modulators. The stereo projection optical systems provide viewers three-dimensional images formed by two alternative polarization light beams whose polarizations are perpendicular to each other utilizing the transmission-type light modulators to form “3-D” images.

Abstract: A technique, associated system and program code, for retrieving depth information about at least one surface of an object, such as an anatomical feature. Core features include: projecting a composite image comprising a plurality of modulated structured light patterns, at the anatomical feature; capturing an image reflected from the surface; and recovering pattern information from the reflected image, for each of the modulated structured light patterns. Pattern information is preferably recovered for each modulated structured light pattern used to create the composite, by performing a demodulation of the reflected image. Reconstruction of the surface can be accomplished by using depth information from the recovered patterns to produce a depth map/mapping thereof.

Abstract: A projection apparatus includes an illumination system, a projection module and at least a filter. The illumination system is for generating an illumination light beam. The projection module is for receiving the illumination light beam from the illumination system and projecting an image according to the illumination light beam. The filter is disposed in the illumination system and located on a light path defined by the illumination light beam. The filter comprises a first filtering part and a second filtering part. A minimum wavelength of a wavelength range of transmitted light of the second filtering part is larger than a minimum wavelength of a wavelength range of transmitted light of the first filtering part, or a maximum wavelength of a wavelength range of transmitted light of the second filtering part is smaller than a maximum wavelength of a wavelength range of transmitted light of the first filtering part.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a projection system includes a color wheel operable to filter light into a passed component and a reflected component. The projection system also includes a digital micromirror device comprising a plurality of micromirrors each operable to receive the passed component and the reflected component. Each micromirror is selectively positionable to direct, at approximately the same time, the passed component and the reflected component to desired locations. The projection system also includes an optical system operable to direct the passed component and the reflected component from the color wheel to the digital micromirror device at approximately the same time.

Abstract: A color wheel module includes a color wheel having a side face defining a plurality of color regions and a detection region, a light source for emitting light beams toward the side face of the color wheel and a light detection device for detecting the light beams from the color regions and the detection region in order to locate position of the color regions and the detection region.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes: a red light valve configured to modulate red component light according to a red input signal; a green light valve configured to modulate green component light according to a green input signal; a blue light valve configured to modulate blue component light according to a blue input signal; a fourth color light valve configured to modulate a fourth color component light; and a color combiner configured to combine light emitted from the red light valve, the green light valve and the blue light valve. The fourth color component light emitted from the fourth color light valve enters a certain light valve, which is any one of the red light valve, the green light valve and the blue light valve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a projection system comprising: a polychromatic light source and at least one imaging assembly illuminated by an associated polychromatic illumination beam, and comprising: two separate colored wheels, respectively called first and second colored wheel; and three separate imagers, respectively called first, second and third imagers. At least one part of the polychromatic beam, called first source beam, illuminating the first colored wheel which separates said source beam into a first monochromatic beam and into a two-tone beam, said first monochromatic beam illuminating the first imager and said two-tone beam being transmitted toward the second colored wheel. The second colored wheel being illuminated by said two-tone beam and separating said two-tone beam into second and third monochromatic beams, respectively illuminating said second and third imagers respectively.

Abstract: A multipurpose projector 100 is provided with a fiber bundle 6 including a plurality of cores fixedly arranged on an input plane and an output plane, laser beam sources 1r, 1g and 1b for emitting laser beams having directivities, an optical guide unit 2 to 5 for modulating the laser beams emitted from the laser beam sources 1r, 1g and 1b and guiding the modulated laser beams to the input plane of the fiber bundle 6, a projection lens 8 for enlarging and projecting the laser beams emerging from the output plane of the fiber bundle 6 to a display space 12, and a projection angle adjusting mechanism 7 disposed on the side of the output plane of the fiber bundle 6 for adjusting projection angles of the laser beams projected from the projection lens 8. Thus, the projector can have its projection space freely operated and enlarged to extend its application not only to image display, but also to illumination and decoration with colored light.

Abstract: A projector includes first and second optical systems each having a light modulation device that modulates light emitted from a light source device, in accordance with image information input, and forms an optical image. A combining optical system combines the optical images respectively formed by the first and second optical systems. A projection optical system projects the combined optical image. The first or the second optical system includes a transparent parallel plate between the light modulation device and the combining optical system in a rotatable manner, and a tilt angle adjustment mechanism that rotates the transparent parallel plate with respect to a first axis perpendicular to a normal line of an entrance surface of the light modulation device and a second axis perpendicular to the normal line and the first axis to adjust a tilt angle of the transparent parallel plate with respect to the normal line.

Abstract: A projection image display apparatus includes: a light source; an illumination optical system that uniformly irradiates a surface of an image modulation element serving as a primary image surface with a light beam emitted from the light source; and a projection optical system that enlarges and projects image information on the primary image surface modulated by the image modulation element onto a screen serving as a secondary image surface, and that includes a first optical system that forms an intermediate image from the image information, a single-image second optical system that enlarges and projects the intermediate image to display a single image on the screen, a plural-image second optical system that enlarges and projects the intermediate image to display plural images on the screen, and an optical path switching mechanism that selectively guides a light beam from the first optical system to the single-image or plural-image second optical system.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an LD for emitting and modulating visible light, an optical scanning device for two-dimensionally scanning the light from the Ld on a screen in synchronism with the LD, an imaging device for picturizing an image of the image displayed on the screen, and an image processor for judging presence or absence of the pointing element such as a finger or fingers which is/are used to point out an optional position on the image based on temporal change of the image picturized by the imaging device. Even when the finger or fingers of a person is/are used as the pointing element, it is possible to judge the presence or absence of the pointing out of the image by the finger or fingers. Thereby, a number of components can be reduced.

Abstract: A projector that projects an image on a screen, includes: plural image generating units that generate an image lights representing the image; a main body housing that houses the plural image generating units; and plural projection optical units that are provided in the main body housing to respectively correspond to the plural image generating units and project the image lights generated by the image generating units on the screen.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method, apparatus and/or system of producing a color image using four or more primary colors. The apparatus, according to some demonstrative embodiments of the invention, may include an optical arrangement to selectively split polychromatic light into at least four primary-color light beams, and to direct the at least four primary-color light beams towards at least four reflective spatial light modulators, respectively. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The present invention is a 3D/2D convertible color projection display system with two color LCoS panels, which enable the system to project two orthogonal polarized images. When the two images correspond to different view angles, each eye of an observer wearing a pair of polaroid glasses can only see one of the images, creating a 3D stereoscopic effect. When the two images correspond to the same view angle, then the observer, without any special glasses, can watch regular 2D images with multiple primary colors.

Abstract: A method of designing a backlight light guide for an autostereoscopic 3D display includes specifying a backlight having a light guide thickness and extractor angle and a light transmission surface having a predetermined width value and a predetermined length value. Then, the method includes selecting a plurality of design parameter value pairs, where each parameter value pairs includes a light guide thickness value and a prism angle value, and each design parameter value pair is different from each other. Then the method includes executing an ray tracing optical model on the light guide for each parameter value pair to calculate output data for each parameter value pair, the output data including a single pass light extraction efficiency value, an average minimum light angle value emitted from the second surface, and a maximum flux/minimum flux value emitted from the second surface; and selecting a parameter value pair based on the output data to manufacture the light guide for an autostereoscopic 3D display.

Abstract: A DLP projector includes a light source generating white light beams, a color wheel separating the white light beams into three colored light beams, an integration rod rendering the colored light beams uniform, a projection lens, a DMD, a light-shade and a light-absorbing member. When a light beam on a first path is in use, a micro mirror of the DMD reflects the light beam on the first path to follow a second path towards the projection lens. Otherwise, the micro mirror reflects the light beam on the first path to follow a third, fourth and fifth path out of the projection lens. The light-shade is positioned in a light path of the light beam out of the projection lens. The light-absorbing member is under the light-shade and absorbs the light beam on the fifth path, the light beam on a sixth and a seventh path reflected by the light-shade.

Abstract: A display device includes a spatial light modulator and a light generator. The spatial light modulator may have an array of modulating elements with a plurality of image regions. The light generator may be configured to direct a different one of a plurality of substantially stationary light bands onto each of a plurality of the image regions of the array of modulating elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light projection system (10) for use in conjunction with a display device (40). The light projection system comprises a light source for emitting light being modulated by video and/or audio content of the display device (40), and a light guide (20). The longitudinal light guide guides light emitted by the light source substantially along a longitudinal axis (26) and projects the light propagating through the longitudinal light guide on a projection surface (50). The longitudinal light guide comprises: a light input window, and a plurality of light out-coupling elements. The plurality of light out-coupling elements project the light on the projection surface via light out-coupling elements comprising sub-sets (70a, 70d) of light out-coupling elements. A particular sub-set (70a, 70d) is arranged for substantially illuminating a particular area (50a, 50d) of the projection surface (50).

Abstract: There is provided an optical engine of a projection system comprising: a lamp irradiating light; an illumination unit provided with a plurality of lens through which the light is passed; a composition unit separating and composing the light to form an image signal; an engine base provided with the illumination unit and the composition unit on a top portion thereof; a reinforcing part which is made of a high intensity material and which is provided between the composition unit and the engine base to prevent a deformation of the composition unit; and a projection lens projecting light composed in the composition unit to the screen. Therefore, it is possible to stably embody a high definition image in the optical engine of the projection system.

Abstract: To provide a projector capable of increasing F number of an illumination system without enlarging the size of the illumination system or the like. A combining lens 43a operating in cooperation with a superimposing lens 35 is provided only in a first section between a first dichroic mirror 41a and a red light reflection mirror 42a as a bending mirror on a first optical path OP1 extending from the superimposing lens 35 to a first liquid crystal display panel 61r. Thus, the F number of an illumination system 30 associated with blue light can be controlled with high degree of freedom, and the number of lenses constituting a color separation and light guide system 40 and the illumination system 30 does not increase. Moreover, the incident angle of illumination light does not become large around the first liquid crystal display panel 61r, and thus the telecentric characteristics of the illumination system 30 associated with blue light can be secured.

Abstract: An image display device includes an illumination system including a light source that emits light; a polarization separating system which polarizes and separates the light emitted from the illumination system; plural color separation systems which are provided in relation to the illumination system, and each of which separates each of lights generated by the polarization separating system into plural basic color lights; plural spatial light modulators which are provided correspondingly to the color separation systems, and each of which light-modulates the plural basic color lights generated by the color separation system respectively according to image signals; plural color synthesizing systems which are provided correspondingly to the color separation systems, and each of which synthesizes the basic color lights modulated by the spatial light modulator; a polarization synthesizing system which synthesizes the lights generated respectively by the plural color synthesizing systems; and a projection system whic

Abstract: Method for illuminating the surface of an object by using a source beam, in which: said source beam is partitioned into as many illumination sub-beams as there are surface elements to be illuminated, their aperture being modulated as a function of the predetermined luminous intensity to be assigned to said surface element, each surface element is illuminated with the aid of one of said illumination sub-beams. Used for illuminating the imagers of projection devices, this method makes it possible to add a second modulation stage allowing the display contrast of the images to be improved.

Abstract: Provided is a laser display device capable of ensuring the safety of eyes and reducing speckle noise even if a screen is arranged at an arbitrary position. The laser display device includes a laser light source for emitting a laser light, a modulator for modulating the laser light and emitting a modulated light, and a branching unit for branching the modulated light into a plurality of branched lights. At least two of the plurality of branched lights reach substantially the same positions on a screen substantially at the same timings.

Abstract: An electronically adjustable, combinational color filter device is provided for generating color light. Incoming light is split in a polarizing beam splitter/combiner into a first and a second element of light. One or more wave plates operate to modify the polarization state of the first element of light, and one or more dichroic reflective filters reflect portions of the first element of light having a predetermined wavelength. Similarly, one or more wave plates operate to modify the polarization state of the second element of light, and one or more dichroic reflective filters reflect portions of the second element of light having a predetermined wavelength. Reflected portions of the first element and the second elements of light are combined in the polarizing beam splitter/combiner to create color light. A spatial light modulator may be used to create color images.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a raster scanning-type display device using a diffractive light modulator. The diffractive light modulator includes a plurality of light sources, the diffractive light modulator, a plurality of illumination optical units, a combining unit, a Schlieren optical unit, and a scanning optical unit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is provided. The system includes a housing. The system also includes a light source coupled to the housing. The system further includes a light transmission modulating element coupled to the housing and arranged to receive light from the light source. The system also includes an image modulating subsystem arranged to receive light form the light transmission modulating element and coupled to the housing. The system further includes Output focusing optics arranged to receive light from the image modulating subsystem and coupled to the housing.

Abstract: An image display device includes a light source which outputs a first light including a first color light, a second color light and a third color light, a polarity converter which unifies polarities of the first light into a single polarity, a dichroic mirror which separates the first color light from the first light which is output by the polarity converter, and first to third reflective liquid crystal display elements, respectively, installed for the first to third color lights. First to third polarized beam splitters are provided together with first and second wavelength selective polarity rotator elements. A projection lens is provided so as to project a light combined by the third polarized beam splitter, and the first color light, which is reflected by the first reflective liquid crystal display element, permeates the first polarized beam splitter and the third polarized beam splitter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fiber-based light source device, which includes a plurality of first, second or third light-emitting devices for respectively emitting a plurality of first, second or third lights, a plurality of first, second or third directional couplers for respectively coupling the first, second or third lights in their order so as to generate a first, second or third coupled light, a fourth directional coupler for coupling the first coupled light and the second coupled light so as to generate a fourth coupled light, and a fifth directional coupler for coupling the third coupled light and the fourth coupled light so as to generate an output light source. With coupling light beams from light-emitting devices and switching of those light-emitting devices in a sequential manner, the energy loss could be minimized and good heat dissipation could be obtained.

Abstract: A projector includes a light source, an illumination optical system, and a color separating optical system. The color separating optical includes a dichroic mirror which reflects a first color light component of an illumination light through a first optical path by a reflection angle and transmits a second light component through a second optical path; a first mirror which bends the first optical path by a first bent angle; and a second mirror which bends the second optical path by a second bent angle. The reflection angle, the first bent angle, and the second bent angle are arranged to provide a predetermined difference between the length of the first optical path and the length of the second optical path, and the predetermined difference corresponding to a difference between focal distances of a superimposing optical element corresponding to the first and second light components.

Abstract: A projection system is disclosed that has a chromaticity/luminosity module in serial optical communication with a luminosity module. The chromaticity/luminosity module has a pair of chromaticity/luminosity modulators configured to modulate incident light to generate color on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The luminosity module has a pair of luminosity modulators configured to modulate incident light to generate a light image.

Abstract: A projection assembly includes a dichroic beam splitter having first and second crossed dichroic surfaces, at least one interference type light modulator panel optically coupled to the dichroic beam splitter, and at least one filter at least partially between the light modulator panel and the dichroic beam splitter.

Abstract: The invention concerns an image display system comprising: a light source emitting an illuminating laser beam, a spatial light modulator controlled by control video signals corresponding to a succession of image frames; a matrix filter consisting of an array of different elementary color filters, illuminated by said illuminating beam and transmitting a spatially color-filtered beam to the spatial light modulator, an image of said filter being produced on an input surface of the spatial light modulator; means for displacing the filter image on the input of the spatial light modulator; and a control device for controlling at least one sequence of displacements of the filter image upon each image frame display.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide an optical display device that modulates light from a light source in two stages through an optical modulator and a luminance adjusting element to expand the luminance dynamic range and the number of the gradation levels of a display image, that allows the picture quality to be enhanced, and that is suitably applied to display an image according to the resolution of the luminance adjusting element having a higher resolution than the optical modulator. Exemplary embodiments provide a projection type display device that converts RGB pixel values in HDR display data into YCbCr pixel values, selects the maximum Ymax from corresponding YCbCr values on a pixel-basis in a color modulation light valve, and calculates average values Cbave and Crave.

Abstract: A three-panel projection display apparatus displays a color image by separating light emitted from a light source into lights of three primaries, i.e., red, green, and blue, with dichroic mirrors, by irradiating liquid crystal light valves with the respective separated lights, by combining the lights modulated by the respective liquid crystal light valves with a cross dichroic prism, and by projecting the combined light through a single projection lens onto a screen. The lengths of the light paths for the separated blue and green lights are equal to each other. The distance between a condenser lens and the liquid crystal light valve in the blue light path is shorter than the distance between a condenser lens and the liquid crystal light valve in the green light path.

Abstract: A projection-type display device 1 including a light source 10, an optical integrator 20, dichroic mirrors 30 and 35, a reflecting mirror 36, a relay optical system 40, parallelizing lenses 50B, 50G and 50R, liquid crystal light valves 60B, 60G and 60R, incident side lenses 70B, 70G and 70R, a light-synthesizing cross dichroic prism 80, a relay lens 90, an emergent side lens 95, a liquid crystal light valve 100 and a projection lens 110, and liquid crystal light valve 100 is provided in the rear stage of liquid crystal light valves 60B, 60G and 60R.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a display device using a single-panel diffractive light modulator. The display device includes a light source unit, a condensing unit, an illumination unit, a diffractive light modulator, a projection unit, a filter unit, and a distortion correcting means.

Abstract: A technique, associated system and program code, for retrieving depth information about at least one surface of an object. Core features include: projecting a composite image comprising a plurality of modulated structured light patterns, at the object; capturing an image reflected from the surface; and recovering pattern information from the reflected image, for each of the modulated structured light patterns. Pattern information is preferably recovered for each modulated structured light pattern used to create the composite, by performing a demodulation of the reflected image. Reconstruction of the surface can be accomplished by using depth information from the recovered patterns to produce a depth map/mapping thereof.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator is disclosed, along with methods for making such a modulator. The spatial light modulator comprises an array of micromirrors each having a hinge and a micromirror plate held via a hinge on a substrate, the micromirror plate being attached to the hinge such that the micromirror plate can rotate along a rotation axis and the hinge structure is located between the micromirror plate and the light source. The mirror plate is formed between the hinge and the substrate on which the hinge is formed. As a result, the hinge is exposed to the incident light during the operation.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a projector which includes several optical elements, reflective devices and beam splitters, arranged to reduce back reflection effects. At least one exemplary embodiment includes a mirror, two beam splitters, three reflection devices, and two optical elements affecting polarization of incident light upon the optical elements.

Abstract: A projection display including a one-dimensional light modulator includes an optical arrangement for projecting light from a laser onto the modulator in the form of a line of light. Light from the laser is divided to create in effect a two-dimensional array of mutually incoherent light sources. Light from one axis of the array is projected onto the modulator to form the length of the line of light and light from the other axis of the array is projected onto the modulator to form the width of the line of light. Division of the light is accomplished without the use of any moving component.

Abstract: Projected systems (10, 12, 14, 16) include light source apparatuses (20, 24, 26) for programming narrow bands of unpolarized blue, green, and red light to associated reflective imaging devices that reflect selected patterns of the blue, green, and red light into a dichroic cross-combiner assembly (70, 72, 74), which recombines the light into a composite image and directs it into a projection lens (90) The reflective imaging devices are preferably micromirror displays (50, 51) having an array of pivotable micromirrors (52, 53) that direct on-state micromirror light to the projection lens and direct off-state micromirror light to a light absorbing surface (84).