Plural Projection Paths With Single Light Source Patents (Class 353/34)
  • Patent number: 7411722
    Abstract: A line scanned display system includes at least three different colors of illumination provided by one or more light sources, and at least one directional illumination optical system for directing the three different colors of illumination. Also in the system is a bilinear array, having two linear arrays of light modulating devices, situated on a common substrate for receiving and modulating two different colors of illumination at any one time that are obtained from the three different colors of illumination. Finally, a lens for creating line images of the two linear arrays on a screen and a scanning mirror for scanning the line images across the screen to form an area image complete the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Marek W. Kowarz
  • Patent number: 7403335
    Abstract: The present invention provides a screen suitable for reducing the longitudinal dimension of a set. The present invention includes two prism sections. One is a totally reflective prism section (10) provided at the image generation source side of a Fresnel lens sheet (6). The other is a refractive prism section (11) provided at the image-watching side of the Fresnel lens sheet. The refractive prism section (11) includes a refractive face (e) for refracting incident light and making the light exit toward the image-watching side, a plane (f) approximately parallel to the principal plane of the Fresnel lens sheet, and a connection face (g) for continuously forming the face (e) and the plane (f).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Yoshikawa, Tetsu Ohishi, Koji Hirata, Daisuke Imafuku
  • Patent number: 7401925
    Abstract: An image projector system includes an LED controller and first and second LEDs, a dichroic mirror. The LED controller controls the first and the second LED to emit first and second color lights, respectively. The second color light is of high luminance and is decomposed by a dichroic mirror into third and forth color lights having luminance close to that of the first color light. Each color light is guided through a light valves to adjust the spectral transmittance of the color light. A light-combining device, such as an x-cube, receives and combines the first color light, the third color light, and the forth color light, to form light images, and transmits the images to a display through a projector lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Chien-feng Lu
  • Patent number: 7396131
    Abstract: Projection assemblies are provided herein for use in a display system. According to one exemplary embodiment, the projection assembly includes an illumination source and a plurality of co-planar modulator panels. A method of modulating light is also provided herein that includes generating multi-component light, splitting the multi-component light into a plurality of component beams, and modulating the component beams with a plurality of co-planar modulator panels to form a plurality of sub-images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott Lerner, Anurag Gupta
  • Publication number: 20080158516
    Abstract: The display system separates reflected and transmitted light from a color wheel of the display system; and modulates the separated reflected and transmitted light components using separate spatial light modulators so as to achieve high brightness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Gregory S. Pettitt
  • Patent number: 7390094
    Abstract: An absorptive layer is added to an image display system. The absorptive layer is selected to compensate for tint in a black state of a displayed image. In a Liquid Crystal On Silicon (LCOS) based light engine, blue wavelengths may cause a predominate tint in black portions of an image (or an entirely black image is tinted blue), and the absorptive layer is calculated to absorb an amount of blue equivalent to the tint. The absorptive layer is, for example, an unbalanced magenta dichroic, or a yellow filter. The yellow filter may be placed at any point in the light chain, including input/output of a kernel, input/output of a projection lens, or portions of a light engine or display screen. An unbalanced magenta may be constructed by adding a yellow filter to an existing magenta dichroic in the kernel design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: LightMaster Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Berman, Ying-Moh Liu, Samson Yang
  • Patent number: 7390095
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention can provide a projector that includes three optical modulators which modulate respectively red light, green light, and blue light, a color-synthetic optical system which synthesizes the light modulated by the three optical modulators, and a projection optical system which projects the light synthesized by the color-synthetic optical system. The color-synthetic optical system can include a first reflection film that reflects the green light, and a second reflection film that reflects the blue light, the first reflection film and the second reflection film are arranged in the shape of an X character, and a wavelength in which a reflectance factor of the first reflection film comes to 50% can be longer than a wavelength in which a reflectance factor of the second reflection film comes to 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kanji Yoshida, Hidemasa Yamakawa, Joji Karasawa, Masafumi Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 7387391
    Abstract: An optical device that includes an optical element, an imager, and a prism bracket. The optical element includes an optical element having first and second prisms coupled together. The imager is arranged adjacent to the first prism and configured to receive light from or to transmit light to the optical element, wherein the first prism is spaced between the second prism and the first imager. The prism bracket is coupled between the second prism and the first imager to hold the first imager in a desired positional alignment relative to the optical element. The optical device may further include additional sets of an optical element, imager, and prism bracket, wherein all of the sets are coupled to a color light combiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael K. Domroese, Michael P. Keyes, Jiaying Ma
  • Publication number: 20080117386
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Mizouchi, Junichi Iwai
  • Patent number: 7370976
    Abstract: The device has flexure correcting means for operating to rotate a first eccentric cam provided at a central part of a first side of a reflecting mirror, thereby moving up and down the central part of the first side to correct the flexure of the reflecting mirror, torsion correcting means for operating to rotate a second eccentric cam or/and a third eccentric cam provided at the ends of a second side opposed to the first side of the reflecting mirror, thereby moving up and down both ends of the second side of the reflecting mirror to correct the torsion of the reflecting mirror, and a rotation operation portion provided at each of extended ends of camshafts provided at the eccentric cams to correct the flexure and torsion of the reflecting mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuneo Fujinuma
  • Patent number: 7365907
    Abstract: A compact rear projection image display apparatus in which the projection distance in a projection optical system is substantially reduced and no reflection mirror is used, thereby eliminating a major cause of image trapezoidal distortion. The rear projection image display apparatus has a projection lens system which includes a first lens group with positive refractive power and a second lens group which further enlarges an image enlarged by the first lens group. The projection lens system enlarges and projects an image displayed on an image display device, on a transmission screen. No reflection mirror is provided between the second lens group and the transmission screen and the image enlarged by the second lens group is directly projected on the transmission screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Ikeda, Koji Hirata, Shuji Kato, Masahiro Yamamoto, Masahiko Yatsu
  • Patent number: 7364305
    Abstract: A projector which is small in size and excellent in light utilization efficiency while keeping the advantage of a spatially-pixel-arrangement type is provided. The luminous flux emitted from a light source is separated by a color separation system into a plurality of kinds of colors of light different in exit direction. These separated colors of light are modulated by a light valve, to form first optical images. The light valve has a plurality of sub-pixels provided corresponding to the colors of light and micro-lenses to focus the colors of light corresponding to the sub-pixels. The sub-pixels are structured in a size nearly equal to a size of a color of light to be focused on the relevant sub-pixel by micro-lenses. Accordingly, the first optical image is in a form non-analogous with the actual projection image. The first optical images are converted into second optical images having a desired aspect ratio by an anamorphic projection system, and then projected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Itoh
  • Patent number: 7362506
    Abstract: A projector incorporating a prism and a plurality of light valves for modulating light that passes though the prism, wherein the color splitting-converging prism includes a dichroic coating having multiple layers of high and low index of refraction and ¼ wavelength thickness at each desired angle of incidence for reducing dichroic shift and thereby minimizing light loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Christie Digital Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: George P. Pinho
  • Patent number: 7354162
    Abstract: A projector includes: a light source device that emits substantially parallel illumination light; a first lens array having a plurality of first small lenses each of which divides the illumination light coming from the light source device into a plurality of partial light fluxes; a second lens array having a plurality of second small lenses corresponding to the first small lenses; a superposing optical system that superposes the partial light fluxes coming from the second lens array on regions to be illuminated; a color-separating and guiding optical system that separates the lights coming from the second lens array into lights in a plurality of different colors and guides the separated lights to the regions to be illuminated; a plurality of electro-optical modulation devices each of which modulates the light in the corresponding color of the lights in the plural colors separated by the color-separating and guiding optical system in accordance with image information; a color synthesizing optical system that s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7350924
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus comprises a small-plane light source having diffusion radiation characteristics, a columnar light leading member, having an incident end surface, an outgoing radiation end surface and a reflection surface, configured to reflect on the reflection surface, at least a part of a light ray from small-plane light source collected from the incident end surface, thereby leading the light to the outgoing radiation end surface, and an angle position converting member configured to convert an outgoing light angle intensity of the outgoing light from the outgoing radiation end surface of the columnar light leading member into a position intensity in a predetermined irradiation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Kazunari Hanano
  • Patent number: 7347563
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a projection display apparatus configured to project an image on a projection plane, the image being formed using light from a light source by an image-forming element, is provided. The projection display apparatus includes a prism, a first securing member operatively connected to the prism and includes a bonding surface substantially parallel to an optical axis of a light beam entering the image-forming element, a second securing member holding the image-forming element and includes a bonding surface substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the light beam entering the image-forming element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidetomo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7347561
    Abstract: A color management system for use with projection displays includes, for example, two or more analyzers positioned to receive light beams as they are emitted from the panels of a color management system. The analyzers are positioned to receive the light beams directly from the image assimilators before the light has passed through another optical element such as a light combiner. The analyzers are configured for producing filtered light outputs with improved contrast relative to the incoming light beams. By positioning the analyzers to receive the light beams directly from the image assimilators, i.e., prior to passage through other optical elements, the analyzers are able to remove substantially all of the noise before it has become indistinguishable, on the basis of polarization, from the light that comprises the desirable image. Accordingly, this embodiment produces images having dramatically improved levels of contrast relative to prior art systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Clark Pentico, Michael Newell
  • Patent number: 7347559
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for use in image projecting are provided. One apparatus includes a transflective polarizing beam splitter, a plurality of reflective liquid crystal light valves, and a spectrally selective output device. The beam splitter is capable of receiving the wavelength bands of light and transmitting at least one wavelength band of light having a first polarization direction, and reflecting other wavelength bands of light having a second polarization direction. The light valves are capable of selectively reflecting at least portions of respective wavelength bands of lights. The spectrally selective output device is capable of receiving at least one of the portions of the wavelength band of light and changing the polarization of the portion of the first wavelength of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Straight Signals LLC
    Inventors: Kurt Stahl, Jeffrey A. Gohman
  • Patent number: 7345654
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image display apparatus includes an image display configured to output image light which arrays a plurality of pixels and has polarization, a lens array arranged in front of the image display, configured to function as lens at light which has a 1st polarization direction, and not to function as lens at light which has a 2nd polarization direction differed from the 1st polarization direction, and a birefringent phase modulator placed between the image display and the lens array and configured to rotate a polarization plane of the image light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazuki Taira, Yuzo Hirayama, Tatsuo Saishu, Rieko Fukushima, Ayako Takagi
  • Publication number: 20080055559
    Abstract: A rear projection display device (1) includes a screen (10), a projection engine (11) for producing an image light beam, a projection lens (12), and reflectors (13, 14) for projecting the image light beam onto the screen. The projection engine and the projection lens are positioned in rear of the screen within a substantially central portion of the display device. The reflectors are composed of two symmetrically arranged groups of first and second reflectors. The first and second reflectors in each group form a certain angle with each other. The first reflectors divide the image light beam from the projection lens into two image sub-beams, and then reflect them onto the respective second reflectors. The second reflectors reflect the two image sub-beams onto the screen for display a combined single image. By means of the image light beam division and two times of reflection by the reflectors, the depth of the display device is significantly reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Hong Wan
  • Patent number: 7334897
    Abstract: A projection apparatus (10) has an illumination section with a light source (20) providing a substantially unpolarized illumination beam of multiple wavelengths. A multiple wavelength polarizer polarizes the substantially unpolarized illumination beam to provide a substantially polarized illumination beam of multiple wavelengths. A uniformizer conditions the substantially polarized illumination beam of multiple wavelengths to provide a uniformized polarized beam of multiple wavelengths. A color scrolling element provides a repeating, scrolled sequence of colors from a set of colors, thereby providing first, second, and third component wavelength illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Barry D. Silverstein, Joshua M. Cobb, David Kessler
  • Patent number: 7329007
    Abstract: A projector includes an illumination device, a color separation system, a light combining system, a projection system, and an optical adjustment portion. The color separation system separates the light emitted from the illumination device into blue light, red light, and green light. The light combining system can have a first dichroic filter reflecting one of blue light or red light, and a second dichroic filter reflecting green light which are placed in a crossed state and can combine image lights of respective colors exiting from the first through third light modulation devices. The projection system can project a combined light exiting from the light combining system while correcting chromatic aberrations of magnification of blue light and red light with respect to green light. The optical adjustment portion can adjust a size of an image light corresponding to the green light of the combined light exiting from the light combining system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Joji Karasawa, Hidemasa Yamakawa, Kanji Yoshida, Masafumi Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 7329004
    Abstract: A rear projection display device improves the brightness by improving the utilization efficiency of image light projected to a screen from slantly below. At least a green component of the image light is P-polarized to the screen (7). Therefore, reflection of light on the screen (7) is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Arai, Syoichi Yoshii
  • Patent number: 7325956
    Abstract: A light illumination system for projecting a color image to a digital micro-mirror display (DMD) panel includes a light-emitting diode (LED) illumination assembly (101, 102, 103), a dichroic combiner (107) for providing a single light source and a condenser lens system (FIGS. 20-23) for directing light from the single light source to the DMD panel. The invention provides a cost effective and efficient system for providing a non-polarized uniform light source to a DMD panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Jabil Circuit, Inc.
    Inventors: Israel J. Morejon, Jinhui Zhai, Haizhang Li
  • Patent number: 7327508
    Abstract: A display device using a light modulator and having an improved numerical aperture (NA) of an after-edge lens system is disclosed. The display device includes an illumination lens, a diffractive light modulator, an NA improvement unit, a filter system and a projection system. The illumination lens converts light into linear parallel light, and outputs the linear parallel light. The diffractive light modulator produces diffracted light beams having a plurality of diffraction orders by modulating the linear parallel light incident from the illumination lens according to an external control signal. The NA improvement unit causes + and ? diffracted light beams of the diffracted light beams to come close to each other. The filter system passes only some of the diffracted light beams having predetermined orders, therethrough. The projection system focuses the diffracted light beams onto an object and allows the focused diffracted light to scan the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Hyeong Song, Haeng Seok Yang
  • Patent number: 7325957
    Abstract: A polarized light illumination system includes a light emitting diode (LED) (601, 602, 603) for providing a source of light that is directed to a non-polarizing dichroic combiner (607) for combining light from the LEDs into a single light source. A power beam splitter (PBS) (608) is then used for splitting the single light source into polarized light components and an output waveguide (611) operates to provide a source of uniformly illuminated light. A condenser lens (612) then projects the uniformly illuminated light to a microdisplay panel (613) for use with a television receiver or other type of display monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Jabil Circuit, Inc.
    Inventors: Israel J. Morejon, Jinhui Zhai, Haizhang Li, Robert J. Pantalone
  • Patent number: 7320521
    Abstract: An optical engine architecture that operates as either a two-imager or a three-imager optical engine. The optical engine uses a first PBS cube and a second PBS cube having an optical axis between them. In between the first PBS cube and second PBS cube are two quarter wave plates and a dichroic mirror, where the dichroic mirror is disposed between the two quarter wave plates. In the three imager embodiment, a retarder is disposed between the second PBS cube and the quarter wave plate closest to the second PBS cube. In the two imager embodiment, this retarder is not necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Next Wave Optics, Inc.
    Inventor: George M. Mihalakis
  • Patent number: 7317465
    Abstract: A method of displaying an image may include receiving image data for the image, and defining first and second sub-frames of the image. The first and second sub-frames may have corresponding pluralities of image elements, with each image element of the second sub-frame spatially offset an offset distance from a corresponding image element of the first sub-frame. The first sub-frame may be displayed in a first position, and the second sub-frame may be displayed in a second position. Each displayed image element of the second sub-frame may be spatially offset substantially the offset distance from the corresponding displayed image element of the first sub-frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Will Allen, Edward B. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20070291233
    Abstract: A method includes generating a first plurality of meshes configured to map a first domain associated with a display surface having a plurality of fiducial marks to a second domain associated with a image capture device configured to capture a first image of the display surface, generating a second plurality of meshes configured to map the second domain to a third domain associated with a first projector configured to display a second image onto the display surface, and generating a first mesh configured to map the first domain to the third domain in conjunction with a second mesh using the first plurality of meshes and the second plurality of meshes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: W. Bruce Culbertson, Michael Harville, Daniel G. Gelb, Irwin E. Sobel, Andrew E. Fitzhugh, Donald O. Tanguay
  • Publication number: 20070268460
    Abstract: An assembly including a first lens having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being a first convex surface, a second lens having a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface adhered to the second surface, a third lens having a fifth surface and a sixth surface, the fifth surface adhered to the fourth surface, and a beamsplitter having a seventh surface adhered to the sixth surface is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Stephan R. Clark, Scott Lerner, Anurag Gupta
  • Publication number: 20070263174
    Abstract: An optical projection and image sensing apparatus including a light source, a light valve, a first lens set, a sensing module, and a beam splitter is provided. The light valve is used to convert an illumination light from the light source to an image light beam. The first lens set is used to project the image light to display an image on a screen, and the sensing module is used to sense a sensing light from the image on the screen. The beam splitter is disposed on the optical paths of the image light and the sensing light from the image on the screen. One of the sensing module and the light valve is disposed on the optical path of the sensing light passing through the beam splitter, and the other is disposed on optical path of the sensing light reflected by the beam splitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: YOUNG OPTICS INC.
    Inventors: Jyh-Horng Shyu, Chu-Ming Cheng
  • Publication number: 20070258052
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light source, an optical component, and a light-shielding device disposed between the light source and the optical component. The light-shielding device includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a circular element and a frame. The first component has an aperture for allowing light emitted from the light source incident onto the optical component. At least one opening is formed in the frame. The second component is coupled to the first component and covers the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: BENQ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chi-Hung Hsiao, Hsu-Hsin Huang, Chun-Ming Shen
  • Patent number: 7290884
    Abstract: A concept of improving a resolution by using human's visual characteristics is provided. Bu the present invention, an image can be displayed at a more improved resolution than an actual physical resolution, thereby obtaining the same effect that the resolution is physically improved. An image signal corresponding to one frame is split into a first image signal and a second image signal, and a first image and a second image are formed based on the first image signal and the second image signal. Then, the first image and the second image are respectively displayed at a first location and a second location. As a result, a viewer can view the image at an improved resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: In Ho Choi, Sam Nyol Hong, Young Joong Kim, Hee Sool Koo
  • Patent number: 7287858
    Abstract: An image display apparatus which includes at least one light source to generate and radiate a light beam, a color separating unit to separate the light beam emitted from the light source into a plurality of color light beams and make at least one of the separated color light beams and the other color light have different polarizations. Further, a plurality of light valves are used to form an image by controlling at least one of the color light beams separated by the color separating unit and emitted therefrom, in the unit of pixel according to input image signals. Additionally, an image combiner is used to combine images generated by the light valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-sik Kim, Kun-ho Cho, Sung-ha Kim
  • Publication number: 20070242231
    Abstract: An illumination system including a light integration rod, light source modules and a light guide element is provided. The light integration rod has a light incident end and a light exit end. The light source modules are disposed adjacent to the light incident end, and each light source module is suitable for providing a converging light beam. The light guide element is disposed adjacent to the light incident end and between the light source modules for guiding each light beam to be incident to the light integration rod. The optical axes of the light beams are parallel to each other and a distance exists between any two optical axes of the light beams. The light beams are combined inside the light integration rod and emitted from the light exit end to provide an illumination beam. Moreover, a projection apparatus having the illumination system is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: YOUNG OPTICS INC.
    Inventors: Sung-Nan Chen, Keng-Han Chuang
  • Patent number: 7278744
    Abstract: A projector which projects an image on a projection plane includes a projection mechanism having a first projection mode in which the image is projected on the projection plane by giving priority to color reproducibility and a second projection mode in which the image is projected on the projection plane by giving priority to brightness. The projector also includes a central processing unit. The central processing unit has a determination unit which determines a type of the image, a selection unit which selects one of the first projection mode and the second projection mode based on a determination result of the determination unit, and a control unit which controls the projection mechanism in accordance with one of the first projection mode and the second projection mode selected by the selection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Nonaka
  • Patent number: 7277090
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a display configured to display images that includes multiple display elements capable of controlling light within a visible-light spectrum. The display elements are arranged over a display surface of the display. The display also includes one or more receivers arranged with the display elements over the display surface of the display. The receivers are coupled with the display elements and receive transmitted image information. The receivers activate the display elements in response to, and in correspondence with, the image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: William J. Allen, John M. Da Cunha, Paul H. McClelland
  • Patent number: 7273284
    Abstract: A projection system for image representation includes a display, a lamp, and a sensor for generating a sensor signal for monitoring and compensating changes in the luminous flux provided by the lamp. To achieve a monitoring of the light quantity actually incident on the display, an optical component is arranged in a light path between the lamp and the display. The optical component allows a first light component to pass through and reflects a second light component such that one of the light components is directed at the display and the other light component is directed at the sensor arranged outside the light path. A sensor signal generated in this manner renders it possible to compensate for fluctuations in the luminous flux provided by the lamp through the control of a lamp driver in an effective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventors: Carsten Deppe, Holger Mönch
  • Patent number: 7270417
    Abstract: A concept of improving a resolution by using human's visual characteristics is provided. An image can be displayed at a more improved resolution than an actual physical resolution, thereby obtaining the same effect that the resolution is physically improved. An image signal corresponding to one frame is split into a first image signal and a second image signal, and a first image and a second image are formed based on the first image signal and the second image signal. Then, the first image and the second image are respectively displayed at a first location and a second location. As a result, a viewer can view the image at an improved resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: In Ho Choi, Sam Nyol Hong, Young Joong Kim, Kyung Taek Lee
  • Patent number: 7264357
    Abstract: A rear projection display device improves the brightness by improving the utilization efficiency of image light projected to a screen from slantly below. At least a green component of the image light is P-polarized to the screen (7). Therefore, reflection of light on the screen (7) is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Arai, Syoichi Yoshii
  • Patent number: 7261418
    Abstract: A projection engine uses a first polarizing beam splitter (PBS) that substantially reflects light incident along a first input direction in a first polarization state and substantially transmits light incident in the first input direction in a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state. The first PBS demonstrates an angularly dependent reflectivity for light in the second polarization state that is asymmetric about the first input direction. At least two imager devices are positioned to receive light reflected and transmitted by the first PBS respectively. The imager devices modulate the incident light with an image. The image light from the imagers is combined and projected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jiaying Ma, David J. Aastuen, Charles L. Bruzzone, William W. Merrill, Timothy J. Hebrink, Harry E. Johnson, Fuming B. Li
  • Patent number: 7250923
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image display apparatus includes an image display configured to output image light which arrays a plurality of pixels and has polarization, a lens array arranged in front of the image display, configured to function as lens at light which has a 1st polarization direction, and not to function as lens at light which has a 2nd polarization direction differed from the 1st polarization direction, and a birefringent phase modulator placed between the image display and the lens array and configured to rotate a polarization plane of the image light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazuki Taira, Yuzo Hirayama, Tatsuo Saishu, Rieko Fukushima, Ayako Takagi
  • Patent number: 7246907
    Abstract: A compact, light projection type image display apparatus based on reflection image display devices which provide high brightness without contrast deterioration caused by light leakage associated with black image display. The apparatus uses, as polarizers/analyzers for reflection image display devices, reflection polarizing plates which function as polarizing plates by their grating function only in a specific direction. In each light path, the reflection polarizing plate is located just before/after the reflection image display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taro Imahase, Satoshi Ouchi, Tsutomu Nakashima
  • Patent number: 7244030
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rear projection type image display device comprising projection lenses (2, 3) for projecting an image displayed on an image display element onto a transmission type screen (6) on a larger scale, an optical path turn-back mirror (7) for turning back halfway a light beam projected from the projection lenses, and a drive circuit for displaying an image on the image display element, that are fixedly housed within a housing (5). When a diagonal size of the transmission type screen (6), the depth of the housing (5), and the length from a lower end of the screen (6) to a lower end of the housing (5), are assumed to be SS (inch), D (inch), and L (inch), respectively, the following conditions are satisfied: SS >40, D?SS/3.0, L?SS/10.9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Shuji Kato, Hidehiro Ikeda, Masahiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7232227
    Abstract: The image display device is configured to include the light source including a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements, a parallelizing unit including a plurality of cell lenses arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with each of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements, an image display element for forming an optical image, a pair of lens-array groups located between the parallelizing unit and the image display element, and a projection unit for enlarging and projecting the optical image formed on the image display element. Moreover, the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements are located at substantially focal points of the cell lenses of the parallelizing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Futoshi Yamasaki, Nobuo Masuoka, Masahiko Yatsu
  • Patent number: 7222965
    Abstract: The present invention provides a projection image display technology capable of correcting astigmatism due to use of a polarized-beam splitter, thus ensuring high-resolution projection images. A wire-grid polarized-beam splitter (or the like) of a flat-plate-like structure is used as a polarized-beam splitter, and an astigmatism correction element, such as a cylindrical lens, is provided between the polarized-beam splitter and a projection lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Yatsu, Tsutomu Nakashima
  • Patent number: 7213922
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a projector capable of comparatively easily achieving a contrast ratio higher than the original contrast ratio of the liquid-crystal light valve by a simple mechanism. The illumination light modulated by liquid-crystal light valves, i.e., image light, can be combined together in a cross dichroic prism, and then light intensity of suitable pixels is reduced by a proper amount by a liquid-crystal light valve, and then sent to a projection lens. The image light entering the projection lens can be projected to a projection surface. Because the light intensity of the image light formed by the liquid-crystal light valves is appropriately attenuated at suitable pixel areas by the liquid-crystal light valve, image light projection with a contrast ratio exceeding by far the contrast ratio achievable by the liquid-crystal light valves alone is possible due to cumulative light-intensity adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Suzuki, Mamoru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7210797
    Abstract: In a projection type image display apparatus, a projector optical unit for projecting an image onto a screen while magnifying a size of the image to be projected with respect to an original size of the image displayed by an image forming element, has a group of lenses for magnifying the size of the image with respect to the original size thereof, and an optical path extending from the image forming element to the screen to transmit the image along the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Shuji Kato, Masahiko Yatsu, Tsutomu Nakashima, Hidehiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7210788
    Abstract: A color prism capable of separating incident light into four color beams and synthesizing incident four-color beams, and a projection-type image display apparatus employing the color prism. The color prism includes: first through third triangular prisms each having two boundary surfaces which face the other two triangular prisms, and an outer surface which transmits or reflects incident light according to an incidence angle of the light; and first through third dichroic filters respectively interposed among the first through third triangular prisms and selectively transmits or reflects incident light according to wavelength so as to separate incident light into first through fourth light beams according to wavelength ranges and synthesize incident first through fourth light beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kye-hoon Lee, Young-chol Lee, Won-yong Lee
  • Patent number: 7207676
    Abstract: A reflection type projector apparatus uses polarized beam filters that are resistant to fluctuations in incident angle as the light beam splitting elements and in which are provided for the blue color beam a blue color use liquid crystal reflection panel, a polarized beam filter, a linear polarization plate, and a ½ wavelength plate arranged at one side face of a cross prism, with a blue color beam emitted toward the blue color use liquid crystal reflection panel. The blue color beam passes through the polarized beam filter, striking the blue color use liquid crystal reflection panel, and is modulated when reflected. The blue color modulated beam is reflected toward the cross prism at the polarized beam filter, and then passes through the linear polarization plate and the ½ wavelength plate, strikes the cross prism, and is projected to the screen by a projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hirohisa Ishino