Reflector Between Lamp And Screen Patents (Class 353/37)
  • Patent number: 5978136
    Abstract: Two polarization conversion element arrays are disclosed. Each polarization conversion element array is composed of a plurality of polarization conversion elements for converting light incident upon the polarization conversion element array to a linearly polarized light beam with a predetermined polarization direction. The plurality of polarization conversion elements are disposed opposite to each other with a predetermined space provided between at about the center of the light-outgoing surface of a lens array in the direction of arrangement. Of the light beams (s-polarized+p-polarized light beams) gathered by the lens array, light beam that is not incident upon the polarization conversion element and passes through the predetermined space is a light beam including a predetermined polarized light beam (s-polarized light beam) that is primarily made to leave the array 320a and an ineffective polarized light beam (p-polarized light beam).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Ogawa, Akitaka Yajima, Tomiyoshi Ushiyama
  • Patent number: 5971545
    Abstract: A compact and energy efficient projection display can be made by starting with relatively pure red, green, and blue light sources. The output beams of the colored light sources are received by at least one spatial light modulator. The modulated output beams are collimated and combined. A projection lens receives the collimated and combined output beams and directs them towards a projection screen. All of the above may be contained in a housing to provide a compact and lightweight projection display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Roland H Haitz
  • Patent number: 5949503
    Abstract: Reflective spatial light modulators (RSLMs) and projection apparatus employing such RSLMs are disclosed. The RSLM comprises a reflective surface and a superposed light-modulation layer. The reflective surface is configured to have a reflective diffraction optical element or a microfaceted reflective array. Incident light impinging on the RSLM can pass through the light-modulation layer, reflect from the reflective surface, and return through the light-modulation layer to become modulated signal light capable of forming a viewable image if projected onto a screen or other surface. The reflective diffraction optical element or microfaceted reflective array on the reflective surface is operable to cause the signal light to propagate from the RSLM in a different direction than any ghost light reflected from the RSLM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Motoo Koyama, Hideaki Shimomura
  • Patent number: 5883681
    Abstract: The present invention provides a video projector equipped with a projection lens system having only one optical axis for projecting a plurality color images displayed on a plurality of CRTs. The color images displayed on the CRTs 2R, 2B and 2G are respectively focused onto a writing side of respective spatial light modulators 4R, 4G and 4B through a plurality of writing lens 3R, 3G and 3B. On the other hand, a light from a reading light source 5 is divided into 3-color lights of R, G and B by a cross-type 3-color separation member 25. The three color lights are respectively inputted into a reading side of the respective spatial light modulators through a plurality of polarization beam splitter blocks 26R, 26G and 26B each having a pair of dielectric multiple layers 26a, 26b disposed parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Kono, Satoru Moriya, Tatsumi Takahashi, Masao Nozaki
  • Patent number: 5875008
    Abstract: In an optical system phase device such as .lambda./2 plate or a .lambda./4 plate is used to convert S polarization to P polarization and vice versa. In the projection display, a white light emitted from a light source is separated by a color separation optical system, including dichroic mirrors or a dichroic prism, into three primary colors which are modulated by optical modulation elements. Then, the modulated lights are synthesized by a color synthesis optical system and projected by a projection element onto a screen. When appropriate plates are inserted appropriately in the optical system of the projection display, the conversion between S and P polarization occurs and an optical bandwidth becomes narrow, and color purity can be improved. A thick transparent plate is preferably adhered to the optical modulation element. A light absorption film is applied to an ineffective plane of the transparent plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takahara, Hideki Ohmae, Yoshito Miyatake, Mitsuhiro Wada
  • Patent number: 5865521
    Abstract: An output light from an light source lamp unit 8 in a projection-type display apparatus illuminates liquid-crystal light valves 925R, 925G and 925B for three colors via an integrator optical system 923. A superimposing lens 930 that is a component of the integrator optical system 923 as a uniform illumination optical system is arranged such that the mounting position of the superimposing lens 930 is fine-adjustable in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis 1a. By fine-adjusting the mounting position of the superimposing lens 930, the position of an illumination area B is adjusted such that the illumination area includes the image forming area A of the liquid-crystal light valve. It is not necessary to assure a wide margin around the image forming area A to cover the offset of the position of the illumination area B. As a result, the utilization of illumination light is heightened and a bright projected image results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Hashizume, Hisashi Iechika, Yasunori Ogawa, Shinji Haba, Akitaka Yajima
  • Patent number: 5805337
    Abstract: A light gathering apparatus for gathering luminous fluxes incident from two different directions, including a luminous flux gathering optical element which includes an array of continuous first and second emission surfaces alternately and symmetrically arranged with respect to bisectors of the angle defined by and between the luminous fluxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazushi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5786934
    Abstract: An optical system is described consisting of reflection birefringent light valves, polarizing beam splitter, color image combining prisms, illumination system, projection lens, filters for color and contrast control, and screen placed in a configuration offering advantages for a high resolution color display. In particular, the present invention includes a color splitting prism assembly having a plurality of output faces through which a separate color component is directed to be reflected by a respective light valve. Color absorbing filters are disposed at each of the output faces to absorb the color components not corresponding to the color directed through each output face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: George Liang-Tai Chiu, Thomas Mario Cipolla, Fuad Elias Doany, Derek Brian Dove, Alan Edward Rosenbluth, Rama Nand Singh, Janusz Stanislaw Wilczynski
  • Patent number: 5786873
    Abstract: An optical system is described consisting of reflection birefringent light valves, polarizing beam splitter, color image combining prisms, illumination system, projection lens, filters for color and contrast control, and screen placed in a configuration offering advantages for a high resolution color display. The system includes a quarter wave plate positioned to suppress stray reflection from the projection lens. The system also includes a second quarter wave plate disposed on the screen and a polarizing film disposed on the second quarter wave plate to suppress ambient light from illuminating the screen and entering the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: George Liang-Tai Chiu, Thomas Mario Cipolla, Fuad Elias Doany, Derek Brian Dove, Alan Edward Rosenbluth, Rama Nand Singh, Janusz Stanislaw Wilczynski
  • Patent number: 5777789
    Abstract: An optical system is described consisting of reflection birefringent light valves, polarizing beam splitter, color image combining prisms, illumination system, projection lens, filters for color and contrast control, and screen placed in a configuration offering advantages for a high resolution color display. The illumination system includes a light tunnel having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the geometrical shape of the spacial light modulator to optimize the amount of light projected onto the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: George Liang-Tai Chiu, Thomas Mario Cipolla, Fuad Elias Doany, Derek Brian Dove, Alan Edward Rosenbluth, Rama Nand Singh, Janusz Stanislaw Wilczynski
  • Patent number: 5760875
    Abstract: A projection display device comprises: a diaphragm for the illuminating system disposed in the vicinity of a focal point of the light collected by the concave mirror; a collimation lens for rendering parallel the light passing through the aperture of the first diaphragm; a scattering-type liquid crystal light valve for forming forming image on its displaying surface; a field lens for converging the light rendered parallel by the collimation lens; a projection lens having an entrance pupil disposed in the vicinity of a focal point of the light converged by the field lens; and a second diaphragm having an aperture and provided in the projection lens. An aperture varying section of the first diaphragm varies the aperture diameter of the diaphragm of the illuminating system, and the other aperture varying section varies the aperture diameter of the diaphragm of the projection lens, thereby varying the diameter of an entrance pupil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Daijogo, Hiroshi Kida, Shinji Okamori, Shinsuke Shikama
  • Patent number: 5734447
    Abstract: A back projection device comprises an image generator (GI), an onward reflection mirror (MR) and at least one optical component (OM) capable of reflecting certain types of light beams almost entirely and reflecting certain other types of light beams almost entirely, said component being located in the proximity of a screen (E). The selection of optical behavior of the component (OM) may be done as a function of the polarization of the light beam, or else also as a function of its orientation with respect to said component (OM). Application: displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Brigitte Loiseaux, Jean-Pierre Huignard, Erich Spitz, Cecile Joubert
  • Patent number: 5695266
    Abstract: A projection-type display apparatus comprising a lamp, an ellipsoidal mirror, a diaphragm disposed in the vicinity of a secondary focus of the ellipsoidal mirror, a first color separating dichroic mirror for separating the light into a blue color beam and a beam having a wavelength outside the blue wavelength region, a second color separating dichroic mirror for separating the beam having the wavelength outside the blue wavelength region into a red color beam and a green color beam, light valves for displaying images respectively corresponding to the red, green and blue color beams, first lens for making the red, green and blue color beams respectively advancing toward the respective light valves into parallel or convergent beams, color synthesizing dichroic mirrors for synthesizing the red, green and blue color beams which have been transmitted through the respective light valves, and a projection lens for enlarging and projecting a synthesized beam onto a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kida, Shinsuke Shikama, Akira Daijogo, Shinji Okamori
  • Patent number: 5659409
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus comprising a light source apparatus which is provided with an elliptic mirror 12, a light source 11 disposed at the first focal point, a cone-like material disposed at the second focal point, a condenser lens 13, display elements 15R-15B, a color separating and synthesizing optical system, second condenser lenses 16R-16B and a projection lens 19. The cone-like material is one selected from the group of a convex cone lens, a concave cone lens 2, a convex cone-like reflector and a concave cone-like reflector 20. In the projection type display element, light emitted from the light source is introduced into the cone-like material and is emitted as divergent light through the conical surface of the cone-like material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: AG Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Ooi, Tsuneo Wakabayashi, Shigeyuki Serizawa, Yoshiyuki Sonda
  • Patent number: 5651598
    Abstract: A projector has projecting optical systems. The projecting optical systems have image formers and projecting lenses for projecting the images onto a screen. The optical axes of the projecting lenses are intersected with each other on the side of the screen. The image formers are arranged such that an image surface of each image former is coincident with the screen in accordance with Scheimpflug's rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazushi Yoshida, Yasuyuki Tejima, Ryota Ogawa, Satoru Tachihara
  • Patent number: 5626409
    Abstract: A projection-type display apparatus includes a light source, a uniform illumination optical system, a color separating system for separating a white light beam emitted from the uniform illumination optical system into three color beams, three liquid crystal panels for respectively modulating each of the separated color beams, a light guide system located on an optical path of the color beam having the longest optical path among the separated color beams, a dichroic prism for synthesizing the beams modulated through the liquid crystal panels, and a projection lens for projecting the synthesized and modulated beam onto a screen. The uniform illumination optical system is provided with a uniform illumination optical device for converting the white light beam emitted from the light source into a uniform rectangular beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tadaaki Nakayama, Yoshitaka Itoh, Akitaka Yajima
  • Patent number: 5621486
    Abstract: An optical system is described consisting of reflection birefringent light valves, polarizing beam splitter, color image combining prisms, illumination system having a light tunnel, projection lens, filters for color and contrast control, and screen placed in a configuration offering advantages for a high resolution color display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Fuad Doany, Derek B. Dove, Rama Singh, Alan Rosenbluth, George Chiu, Thomas Cipolla, Janusz Wilczynski
  • Patent number: 5605390
    Abstract: An optical projector is described that orients its optics engine preferably vertically within an enclosure that is higher than it is wide or deep. The invented optics engine uses a prismatic cube for color separation or beam splitting, with the prismatic elements within the cube being secured within a durable frame that mounts the three color light valves, e.g. twisted nematic liquid crystal display (LCD)-type shutters, in a predefined position and orientation relative to the prismatic cube. In order to improve image quality and brightness, especially of the notoriously difficult-to-reproduce green color, red ahd blue beams are S polarized, as is conventional, but the green beam is P-polarized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Sarif, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Brice, Gary Kingsley, David Payne
  • Patent number: 5590942
    Abstract: A polarizing conversion unit is disclosed. The unit is provided with a polarizing beam splitter for separating light from a light source into first and second polarized lights differing in polarized state from each other, polarizing conversion means for varying the polarized state of the first polarized light and making it substantially coincident with the polarized state of the second polarized light, and reflecting means for reflecting the first or second polarized light, at least a portion of that surface of the outer peripheral portion of the polarizing conversion unit which is parallel to the optical path of the light functioning as a reflection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazumi Kimura, Hideaki Mitsutake, Shigeru Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 5562334
    Abstract: An optical device for combining at least two sub-beams (b.sub.G, b.sub.R, b.sub.B) of different colours to one colour beam (b.sub.C) is described, which device comprises at least one colour-selective reflector which is arranged on a transparent plate-shaped substrate. By using a correction element composed of a first sub-element chosen from the group of cylindrical lens and obliquely arranged spherical lens, and a second sub-element chosen from the group of plane-parallel plate, wedge and prism, aberrations caused by the substrate in a sub-beam can be corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Franciscus J. M. Wortel
  • Patent number: 5560697
    Abstract: An optical projection system comprises a non-point white light source, a source lens, a source stopper, an optical means, a first, a second and a third arrays of M.times.N actuated mirrors, a beam splitting means including a first and a second dichroic lens, a first, a second and a third field lenses, a projection stopper, a projection lens and a projection screen. Each of the field lenses is located between each of the dichroic mirrors and each of the arrays of actuated mirrors and is used for collimating each of the primary light beams onto the corresponding array of actuated mirrors and refocussing each of the reflected primary light beams from the via the beam splitting means, and the optical means, and eventually onto the projection stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-Young Lim, Jin-Se Yang
  • Patent number: 5557353
    Abstract: A pixel compensated electro-optical display system utilizing a pixel compensator to correct image problems. The pixel compensator comprises pixels having elongated geometric shapes that compensate for distortions normally occurring in optical systems utilizing one or more reflective surfaces. The pixels are configured so that when the image plane is viewed at a particular angle, the image is substantially corrected without complex optical refiguring. The pixel compensated electro-optical display system of the present invention accordingly minimizes the need to correct the reflected image. The optical system of the present invention finds utility in applications that require a reflected image because of spatial and other constrictions. The optical system of the present invention finds particular application in vehicle "heads up" display systems as well as in virtual reality and total immersion display systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Inventor: Thomas D. Stahl
  • Patent number: 5555041
    Abstract: A projection apparatus includes a light source having a light emitting portion having a finite size, a concave reflecting mirror for condensing light from the light source, a condenser lens unit for converting the beam of light from the concave reflecting mirror into a substantially collimated beam of light, a light valve for reflecting the beam of light from the condenser lens unit and spatially modulating the beam of light on the basis of predetermined image information, and a projection optical system for imaging the spatially modulated beam of light on a predetermined surface, a lens unit for condensing the beam of light from the light valve in the inside off-illumination area of the beam of light formed by the concave reflecting mirror and the condenser lens unit being disposed between the light valve and the projection optical system, a light dividing element for directing the beam of light from the condenser lens unit to the light valve and for directing the beam of light condensed by the lens unit to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Manabe
  • Patent number: 5517263
    Abstract: An image projection system includes a bright light source of polarized light, and in one form of the invention, a spatial light modulator, having an alignment layer, to modulate the polarized projection light, wherein the bright polarized light source is aligned with the alignment layer to permit the polarized light to pass therethrough without the need for unwanted light blocking polarizers. The spatial light modulator generates output light representative of the image, which is projected by a projection lens system onto a remote viewing surface to form a bright image thereon. In another form of the invention, three different colored images are each produced by three separate polarized light sources illuminating three individual light valves, and are superimposed to produce a full color image while all three light sources are maintained fully activated to provide a brightly illuminated image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Proxima Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur P. Minich, Leonid Shapiro
  • Patent number: 5499067
    Abstract: A projector has a shortened optical path from a light valve to a screen and a reduction in the depth size of its system, and requires less space to mount. Rays of light emitted from a light valve of the project are refracted by a converging lens and reflected by a plane mirror to converge at the primary focal point of an elliptical mirror, and then travel toward the secondary focal point whereat the focal point of a parabolic mirror also exists and a projection lens is disposed. The light rays pass through the projection lens, are reflected by the parabolic mirror and then are brought to a parallel beam of light that is further collected by a Fresnel lens to finally form an image on a lenticular lens-screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeru Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 5491525
    Abstract: A bulb (4) of lamp (1) has a reflection film (2) or reflection mirror (9) to make light components going outside a reflector (3) direct to the reflector (3) to reflect. If the lamp (1) is a spot light source, a light emission center is positioned at a center of spherical reflection mirror (9). If the lamp (1) is not a spot light source, the reflection mirror (9) is made ellipsoid and at its two focal points, ends of two light emitting electrodes are positioned. Also, the lamp (1) having the reflection mirror (9) is used in the illumination unit for a liquid crystal display apparatus to increase the brightness of the image projected onto the screen (26). Further, the liquid crystal display device (23) has within a liquid crystal display device (23) a microlens array for collecting the incoming light into an area of each picture element electrode (39) to increase the light utilization efficiency of the liquid crystal display device (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Futoshi Yamasaki, Yoshio Ariki, Masaharu Deguchi, Takashi Kakuda, Takanori Hisada, Takesuke Maruyama
  • Patent number: 5486881
    Abstract: An optical projection system comprises a non-point white light source, a source lens, a source stopper, an optical means including a first and a second dichroic mirrors, a first, a second and a third arrays of M.times.N actuated mirrors, a first, a second and a third field lenses, a projection stopper, a projection lens and a projection screen. Each of the field lenses is located between each of the dichroic mirrors and each of the arrays of actuated mirrors and is used for collimating each of the primary light beams onto the corresponding array of actuated mirrors and refocussing each of the reflected primary light beams from the arrays of actuated mirrors onto the optical means and eventually onto the projection stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin Hwang
  • Patent number: 5477394
    Abstract: A projector has a shortened optical path from a light valve to a screen and a reduction in the depth size of its system, and requires less space to mount. Rays of light emitted from a light valve of the projector are refracted by a converging lens and reflected by a plane mirror to converge at the primary focal point of an elliptical mirror, and then travel toward the secondary focal point whereat the focal point of a parabolic mirror also exists and a projection lens is disposed. The light rays pass through the projection lens, are reflected by the parabolic mirror and then are brought to a parallel beam of light that is further collected by a Fresnel lens to finally form an image on a lenticular lens-screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeru Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 5451103
    Abstract: A projector rear is simple in structure uses reflection type liquid crystal plates to project images on a screen. R light emitted by a light source is directed to a first liquid crystal plate via a first dichroic mirror. Light reflected from the first liquid crystal plate is reflected toward a projection axis by the first dichroic mirror. B light transmitted through the first dichroic mirror is reflected by a second dichroic mirror and impinges on a second liquid crystal plate. Light reflected by this second liquid crystal plate is again reflected toward the projection axis by the second dichroic mirror. G light is made to directly enter a third liquid crystal plate. G light reflected by the third liquid crystal plate travels along the projection axis. The angular positional relations among optical elements are so set that the angle of incidence to the normal to each dichroic mirror is close to the angle of reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Hatanaka, Yuji Nagata, Eiji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5421589
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for displaying a virtual image and for providing control over the "alpha channel" or transparency of the virtual image. The present invention uses a beam splitter to provide a virtual image to a viewer. Behind the beam splitter is a liquid crystal region for controlling the transparency of the virtual image. Behind the liquid crystal region is a background image. Control of the liquid crystal region is coordinated with control of the virtual image so as to make transparency and opacity of the liquid crystal region follow the portions of the virtual image that are intended to be transparent and opaque, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: The Walt Disney Company
    Inventor: Marshall M. Monroe
  • Patent number: 5398086
    Abstract: The projection type display device includes a light source tube having electron beam generation means and a light-emitting portion consisting of a fluorescent layer emitting light by means of electron beam excitation, a light valve for forming an optical image corresponding to a picture signal, and an optical system for projecting upon a screen the optical image of the light valve by means of the light irradiated from the light source tube. The convex lens is disposed between the light valve and the light-emitting portion, such that the diffusing light emitted from the light emitting portion is condensed toward the light valve. As a result, the diffusing light from the light-emitting portion having a smaller area than the area of the light valve is supplied to the light valve in a substantially parallel beam. Further, the reflection layer for reflecting and condensing the diffusing light emitted from the light-emitting portion toward the light valve may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Nakano, Syuji Iwata, Naoki Shiramatsu, Kunihumi Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 5394204
    Abstract: A projection type image display device comprises plural light sources, optical converging systems, liquid crystal display elements, a color synthesizing system and a optical projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruaki Shigeta, Takeshi Nishiura
  • Patent number: 5389982
    Abstract: An optical system of a liquid crystal projector includes a metal halide lamp as a light source of a high luminance, a polarized light prism for separating the light from the metal halide lamp into respective light elements of the visible rays in accordance with spectral characteristics of the light, a heat absorption filter for filtering off other rays except for the visible rays from the light in order to remove heat which is generated from the other rays, reflection liquid crystal panels which are each arranged at the front side or at a side of the polarized light prism and having a red, green or blue light reflection mirror mounted on the rear surface thereof, and a projection lens for composing the incident light elements from the liquid crystal panels into a composed color image and then projecting the composed color image on a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Goldstar Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung G. Lee
  • Patent number: 5381197
    Abstract: A reflecting illumination projecting device includes a light source which emits illuminating light and a mirror which reflects the illuminating light emitted from the light source. A transmission type image forming portion is provided between the light source and the mirror to form a pattern to be projected, and a projecting lens is provided between the light source and the image forming portion. An optical path separating element is disposed in the vicinity of an exit pupil of the projection lens. The optical path separating element includes a first portion for introducing substantially all of the illuminating light to the projecting lens and a second portion for introducing light reflected by the mirror onto the image projection plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazushi Yoshida, Ryota Ogawa
  • Patent number: 5379080
    Abstract: Parallel rays of light emitted from a light source are reflected at an angle of approximately 90.degree. by a first reflecting mirror toward a liquid crystal panel. The light reflected from the first reflecting mirror is applied to the pixels of the liquid crystal panel through a light guide lens. An image formed on the liquid crystal panel is projected on a second reflecting mirror through an auxiliary projection lens. The second reflecting mirror has a concave surface formed on the lower end portion thereof such that the concave surface gradually changes into a flat surface toward the upper end thereof. Thus, the second reflecting mirror reflects the image projected by the auxiliary projection lens such that the lower end portion of the image is reduced in size by the concave surface of the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kuniharu Onozuka
  • Patent number: 5321448
    Abstract: A liquid crystal projector comprises a light source, two color-separating dichroic mirrors for separating light from the light source into lights of red, green and blue lights wavebands, three liquid crystal display elements for producing image lights of red, green and blue wavebands using those separated lights of different wavebands, two color-combining dichroic mirrors for combining the image lights of different wavebands to finally provide single image light, three luminous flux reduction lenses provided on an optical path running from the individual color-separating dichroic mirrors to the individual color-combining dichroic mirrors, and a projection lens for projecting the image light combined by the color-combining dichroic mirrors. The color-combining dichroic mirrors are designed in such a way to combine image lights with priority over the image light with an intermediate waveband.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 5317348
    Abstract: This invention uses various solid-state semiconductor lasers along with frequency doublers as needed to achieve the required three-color light beam wavelengths for input to available light combiners and to a state-of-the-art scanner. The scanner projects a color laser beam to a screen or other equipment. A number of alternate solid-state laser means are described, each combination providing the required light output. Use of the described solid-state lasers instead of the commonly used gas lasers results in considerable savings in required electrical power, cooling and system size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Inventor: Randall J. Knize
  • Patent number: 5311226
    Abstract: A toy projector (10) is equipped with a light source (11), a non-light-transmitting member (13) having at least one light-transmitting part (14) which transmits the light from the light source (11), a member (15) having light-transmitting designs provided in a direction other than the direction in which the light-transmitting portion (14) has been placed with respect to the light source (11) , a mirror (19) reflecting the said design, and a lens (17) arranged between the said mirror (19) and the member (15) having the said design. The light from the said at least one light-transmitting part (14) and the design reflected by the said mirror (19) are projected on to the same surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Sente Creations Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyasu Karasawa
  • Patent number: 5311227
    Abstract: A projection display device comprising three projection lenses arranged in a row in a side by side relationship and having respective optical axes extending toward a screen, and three liquid crystal display panels forming images of red, green and blue color lights, the liquid crystal display panels and the projection lenses being arranged to form sets individually. A mirror is arranged between the display element and the projection lens of at least one of the sets. Accordingly, one of the display elements is arranged so as to face in a first direction and the adjacent display element so as to face in a second direction. It is thus possible to reduce the distance between the adjacent projection lenses even if the size of the liquid crystal display panels is enlarged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Fujitsu, Limited
    Inventors: Akio Takayasu, Toshihiro Suzuki, Takeshi Goto, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Tetsuya Hamada, Yoshinori Tanaka, Takashi Kanno, Masaru Ishiwa, Makoto Goshima, Noriyuki Ohashi, Hisashi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5305029
    Abstract: A projector has projecting optical systems which include image formers and projecting lenses for projecting the formed images onto a screen. The optical axes of the projecting lenses are intersected with each other on or very near the surface of the screen. The image formers are arranged such that an image surface of each image former is coincident with the screen in accordance with Scheimpflug's rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazushi Yoshida, Yasuyuki Tejima, Satoru Tachihara, Nobutaka Minefuji
  • Patent number: 5300966
    Abstract: An original image is divided into a plurality of image parts in the forms of image signals which are then given to liquid crystal light valves, respectively so that liquid crystal light valves display the plurality of image parts therein. These liquid crystal light valves allow light from light sources to pass through so as to form image light beams which are intensity-modulated in accordance with the divided image parts. A plurality of mirrors reflect the image light beams and introduce them onto a projecting lens system. In this arrangement, the plurality of mirrors are located in such a way that their reflecting surfaces do not cross the optical axis of the projecting lens system, and the image light beams are synthesized on the screen so as to reproduce an original image. Accordingly, the pixel density of the original image can be multiplied by a multiplier which equal to the number of used liquid crystal light valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutake Uehira, Noboru Hagiwara, Kiyoshi Masuda, Tomoyoshi Nomura, Shigenobu Sakai
  • Patent number: 5291297
    Abstract: An apparatus for creating an illusion in which a setting is superimposed around a real image rather a reflected image being superimposed into the middle of the setting as is traditionally the case. More particularly, rather than images being superimposed into a setting by using a beam splitter in the traditional manner, a real, not a reflected image, is used and the setting is superimposed around the real image. In the apparatus of the invention, there are no dead or hidden areas and set proportions are not dictated by the angle of a beam splitter. Additionally, viewing angles do not dictate audience position and, so long as the audience can see inside the setting, the illusion can be created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Inventor: Jim Steinmeyer
  • Patent number: 5283600
    Abstract: An LCD projector for projecting an image displayed on an LCD of the electrooptic-effect type on a projection screen is disclosed. The LCD projector has a polarization beam-splitting optical system which is disposed in the optical path of a projection beam between a light source and the LCD. The optical system has a plurality of optical subsystems and at least one optical rotator. Each optical subsystem has a reflecting device and a polarization beam splitter arrangement provided with a polarization beam-splitting plane arrangement. The polarization beam splitter arrangement and the beam-splitting plane arrangement are arrangements of one or more polarization beam splitters and of one or more polarization beam-splitting planes, respectively. The beam-splitting plane arrangements provided in the plurality of the optical subsystems are disposed in the optical path of the projection beam and oriented with respect to the projection beam so as to define planes of incidence parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Imai
  • Patent number: 5283599
    Abstract: An image combining and projecting apparatus having a plurality of light transmission type image panels through which light beams are transmitted, condenser lenses corresponding to the light transmission type image panels, a beam combining mechanism which combines beams transmitted through the image panels, and a projection lens through which beams are projected after being combined by the beam combining mechanism, wherein the condenser lenses are provided on the light outgoing side of the corresponding image panels. The apparatus further has a condenser lens adjusting mechanism for adjusting the positions of the condenser lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Tejima, Takashi Iizuka, Yasunori Arai, Nobutaka Minefuji
  • Patent number: 5283602
    Abstract: An optical system for a projector which is capable of compensating the keystoning. The system comprises a light source, a light condensing part, a projected object, an image projecting part for focusing and projecting the image on a screen, and an optical path diversifying mirror. The optical path diversifying mirror is arranged as inclined at 45.degree. angle of inclination with respect to the optical path of the light and also as being capable of parallel moving with the optical path toward or away from the projected object, thereby upwardly and downwardly projecting the image without occurrence of the keystoning on the screen. The present invention is applied for a three panel type of LCD projector comprising a plurality of projected objects, and an image projecting lens part for composing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Goldstar Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soon H. Kwon
  • Patent number: 5276524
    Abstract: A display device is provide with a main screen, first and second CRTs, and holder mechanism. The first CRT is disposed within a housing of the display device and faces in a vertical direction. The second CRT faces in a horizontal direction and is movable between an operative position where it projects from a rear portion of the housing and an accommodated position where it is accommodated within the housing. The second CRT is held in the operative position by the holder mechanism. The first and second CRTs are arranged so that an image from the first CRT is displayed on the main screen in non-overlapping juxtaposition to an image from the second CRT. The display device thus constructed is capable of displaying on the main screen a sound wide picture which provides a dynamic atmosphere, and the depth thereof is substantially reduced, thereby facilitating transportation thereof even through narrow space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Konami Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Inoue, Yuji Tamura
  • Patent number: 5250967
    Abstract: A liquid crystal projector for projecting original images formed on a liquid crystal panel onto a screen comprises optical means 3 between the liquid crystal panel 2 and the screen 4. The optical means 3 has a first refracting portion comprising planar glass plates 3a, 3c having a predetermined angle of inclination with respect to the optical axis of the panel, and a second refracting portion comprising planar glass plates 3b, 3d having an angle of inclination different from that of the first refracting portion. The position where an image is formed by the first refracting portion on the screen is shifted from the image forming position for the second refracting portion by a small amount corresponding to the pitch of picture elements on the screen to form projected images of improved quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Miyashita
  • Patent number: 5249006
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a high power magnifying projector using a liquid crystal light valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soon C. Choi
  • Patent number: 5245369
    Abstract: Optical energy from a broadband source is focused on an aperture in an opaque member. The energy exiting the aperture is received off axis by a parabolic mirror which collimates the energy. The collimated energy is reflected from each planar mirror of an actuated mirror array. The reflected energy from the mirror array is re-reflected to the aperture by the parabolic mirror. The orientation of each planar mirror determines the flux which passes through the aperture or is reflected by a reflective face of the opaque member. The energy reflected from this face which is derived from each mirror corresponds to the flux intensity for a corresponding pixel. This energy may then be focused on a screen to display the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Aura Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Um, Yeon H. Lee
  • Patent number: 5231432
    Abstract: A projection system which produces a color image on a screen corresponding to an applied color signal. In a preferred embodiment, light beams from a source of white light are separated by a dichroic mirror into two beams, one containing green and the other containing blue and red. The beam containing green illuminates a first active matrix liquid crystal panel which contains electrodes which define a diffraction grating having parameters corresponding to green, and the beam containing blue and red illuminates a second active matrix liquid crystal panel which contains electrodes which form two separate diffraction gratings, one having parameters corresponding to red and the other having parameters corresponding to blue. As each beam passes through its respective LC panel its transmittance is modulated in accordance with video information signals applied to the panels, and the red and blue colors are selected by diffraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Florida Atlantic University
    Inventor: William E. Glenn