Unitary Plural Refracting Surfaces Patents (Class 353/38)
  • Patent number: 8231228
    Abstract: A method for illuminating the surface of an object by using a source beam is provided. The source beam is partitioned into as many illumination sub-beams as there are surface elements to be illuminated, and their aperture is modulated as a function of the predetermined luminous intensity to be assigned to the surface element. Each surface element is illuminated with the aid of one of said illumination sub-beams. Used for illuminating the imagers of projection devices, this method makes it possible to add a second modulation stage allowing the display contrast of the images to be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Valter Drazic, Khaled Sarayeddine
  • Publication number: 20120188515
    Abstract: A projector includes at least one laser light source and at least one optical component. Each laser light source is configured to emit light beams. Each optical component includes a magnifying element, a homogenizing element, and a Fresnel lens. The magnifying element is positioned adjacent to a corresponding one of the at least one laser light source and configured to magnify the light beams from the corresponding laser light source. The homogenizing element is configured to homogenize the light beams from the magnifying element. The Fresnel lens is configured to condense the light beams from the homogenizing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: YUNG-LUN HUANG
  • Patent number: 8226247
    Abstract: Red, green, and blue laser light emitted from laser light sources 1-3 is transformed into substantially parallel beams by collimator lenses 4-6, collected by microlens arrays 7-9, and rendered uniform by rod integrators 10-12, whereupon it is used to illuminate spatial light modulation elements 16-18 and subjected to modulation. The modulated laser light exiting from the spatial light modulation elements 16-18 is recombined using a beam-combining prism 19 and subjected to pixel separation using a birefringent plate 20, which is rotationally driven by a birefringent plate rotary drive unit 26, after which it is projected upon a screen 22 using a projection optical system 21. The birefringent plate 20 spatially separates the modulated laser light using birefringence. When pixels are spatially separated by the birefringent plate, the pixel grid region is made smaller, the distribution of brightness on the screen is rendered uniform, and speckle noise is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kitano, Yoshimasa Fushimi
  • Patent number: 8226244
    Abstract: LED modules (1R, 1G, 1B) for respectively emitting red, green and blue colors of light, illumination optical systems (2R, 2G, 2B) for guiding light from the LED modules, and a liquid crystal panel (7) for modulating the light from the LED modules guided by the illumination optical systems on the basis of an image signal are placed. The LED modules are provided with respective cooling units connected to the backside thereof through spreaders (11R, 11G, 11B) as thermal conductive members. Only the cooling device for the red LED module (1R) is formed by using a red Peltier device (12) as a thermoelectric element capable of controlling heating and absorbing heat. Efficient temperature control by appropriately using a Peltier device for cooling the plurality of solid light sources that emit colors of light different from each other becomes possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shigekazu Yamagishi, Kazunori Tanabe, Shuu Nanba
  • Publication number: 20120182526
    Abstract: A projector includes an illumination device including a light source that outputs light from a light emitting part, a first lens array having plural first small lenses, a second lens array having plural second small lenses corresponding to the plural first small lenses, and a superimposing lens that superimposes lights from the second lens array, a light modulation device that modulates light from the illumination device in response to image information, and a projection optical system that projects the light from the light modulation device on a projection target, wherein radii of curvature of the first small lenses are set with respect to each first small lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsumi TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20120182528
    Abstract: Light 63 incident on a first screen 61 is dispersed by the optical properties of the polymer dispersed liquid crystal material associated with the first screen 61 at a given half scatter angle 64 to provide an interim diffused pupil 65, which is incident on the second screen 62. Diffused light incident on the second screen 62 is diffused by the optical properties of the polymer dispersed liquid crystal material associated with the second screen 62 by a given half scatter angle 66 to produce the diffused pupil 60. Conducting material associated with the first and second screens 61, 62 is controlled by a controller 67 to vary the half scatter angles 64 and 66 out of phase with one another, in a manner to maintain a substantially constant diffused pupil 60.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: BAE Systems plc
    Inventor: Jonathan Paul Freeman
  • Publication number: 20120182529
    Abstract: A projector includes: a light source which emits laser light; a first diffusing section which diffuses the laser light emitted from the light source to emit a first diffused light; and a light modulation device which modulates the first diffused light emitted from the first diffusing section. The light modulation device includes a second diffusing section which diffuses the first diffused light emitted from the first diffusing section to emit a second diffused light, and diffusion intensity distribution of the second diffused light emitted from the second diffusing section is distribution which is consecutive around a central axis of the second diffused light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Makoto OTANI
  • Patent number: 8205992
    Abstract: A polarization element includes: a substrate; a plurality of convex line sections on one surface of the substrate and forming stripes in a plan view; and a multilayer thin line provided to each convex line section and extending along the convex line sections, wherein the multilayer thin line has a lower layer on the convex line section, and an upper layer stacked on the lower layer, the lower layer and the upper layer each have a first thin line on one side surface in a direction along a shorter dimension of the convex line section, and a second thin line on the other side surface, the materials of the lower layer first thin line and the upper layer first thin line are different from each other, and the materials of the lower layer second thin line and the upper layer second thin line are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitomo Kumai
  • Publication number: 20120147334
    Abstract: There is provided a laser projector, including: a laser source section for emitting laser beams; a spatial light modulator which modulates the laser beams to generate image light; a projector lens from which the image light is emitted; a beam shaper which shapes the laser beams into a shape of the spatial light modulator; and a pupil uniformizer which makes a light intensity distribution uniform at an exit pupil of the projector lens, wherein the pupil uniformizer is situated between the laser source section and the beam shaper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Tetsuro Mizushima, Tatsuo Itoh, Kenichi Kasazumi, Kenji Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20120147336
    Abstract: A projection-type display apparatus is provided with a light source, an integrator (21), and a first light shielding plate (24) and a second light shielding plate (25). The integrator includes a lens array in which a plurality of lens elements are arranged in matrix form. The first light shielding plate and the second light shielding plate are constructed so as to be able to open and close in cooperation with each other in such a manner as to adjust a quantity of light. Cuts (24a and 25a) are respectively formed in end sides of the first light shielding plate and the second light shielding plate opposed to each other. The cuts in the first light shielding plate and the second light shielding plate are constructed so as to form, in a state of limiting the quantity of light to the minimum, a hexagonal window (41) through which light can pass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: Shinichiro Chikahisa
  • Publication number: 20120140094
    Abstract: A method for projection includes generating a pattern of illumination, and positioning an array of lenses so as to project different, respective parts of the pattern onto a scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: PRIMESENSE LTD.
    Inventors: Alexander Shpunt, Benny Pesach
  • Patent number: 8192030
    Abstract: A laser illuminating device and an image display device are provided to enable a removal of speckle noises in a diffraction field and an image field, to uniformly illuminate an illumination plane, and to realize miniaturization. The laser illuminating device 100 includes a laser light source 3 and a first lens 1 including a plurality of microlenses 10, each having a predetermined numerical aperture in an in-plane direction, and each of the microlenses 10 being adapted to expand laser light emitted from the laser light source 3 to thereby superimpose the laser light transmitted through each of the microlenses 10. The laser illuminating device 100 also includes a second lens 2 having an effective diameter larger than an effective diameter of the first lens 1, and compensating for a divergence angle of the laser light expanded by each of the plurality of the microlenses 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuro Mizushima, Kenichi Kasazumi, Tatsuo Itoh, Shinichi Shikii
  • Publication number: 20120133904
    Abstract: A light source device includes a light source section adapted to emit excitation light, a lens array adapted to divide the excitation light into a plurality of partial light beams, a light collection optical system adapted to collect the excitation light divided into the plurality of partial light beams, and a light emitting element adapted to emit fluorescence by being excited by the excitation light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi AKIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20120127438
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a projection type image display apparatus enables control of a large amount of light masking through a light-masking unit while maintaining a uniform illumination distribution in an area to be illuminated by the illumination light. The apparatus uses two array lenses on which lens cells are arranged in matrix form, where light-masking unit masks the array lens installed on the light source side in their particular area. The light-masking unit adjusts the amount of light emitted from the light source. The light-masking area of lens cells adjacent to lens cells closest to an optical axis is made smaller than the light-masking area of other cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya SHIMIZU, Kentaro KATO
  • Patent number: 8177366
    Abstract: A stereoscopic image projection system using a circular polarization filter module is provided. Even though this system uses a single projector, it allows left and right images to have different polarization directions using the circular polarization filter module, thereby reducing crosstalk compared to an LCD-shutter-based system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Masterimage 3D Asia, LLC
    Inventors: Young Hoon Lee, Yong Bi Jung
  • Publication number: 20120113395
    Abstract: A projection apparatus includes an illumination system, a light valve, a light beam adjusting element, and a light reflective unit. The illumination system is capable of providing an illumination beam. The light valve, the light beam adjusting element, and the light reflective unit are disposed on a transmission path of the illumination beam. The light valve is disposed between the illumination system and the light reflective unit. The light valve has an active surface for being capable of converting the illumination beam into an image beam. The light beam adjusting element is disposed on the transmission path of the illumination beam and between the illumination system and the light valve. The light beam adjusting element includes at least one lens having a first optical axis. The first optical axis and a normal vector of the active surface are not perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Jui-Ping Chang, Hui-Ping Chen, Hsin-Tai Wu, Cheng-Wei Tien
  • Patent number: 8172404
    Abstract: In a coherent light projection system including an image forming system, a relay system, a speckle reduction element, and a projection subsystem, the relay system can have a first f-number, and the projection subsystem can have a second f-number less than the first f-number. The relay system can have a first working distance, and the projection subsystem can have a second working distance less than the first working distance. The image forming system can project an initial image having a first size, and an intermediate image can have a second size greater than or equal to the first size. The speckle reduction element can have a curved surface through which the intermediate image is transferred. The speckle reduction element can include a lenslet arrangement formed on a surface thereof. The speckle reduction element can be moved in a direction parallel to an optical axis of the speckle reduction element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Barry D. Silverstein, Gary E. Nothhard, Joseph R. Bietry, Robert Metzger, Andrew F. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 8172403
    Abstract: In a coherent light projection system including an image forming system, a relay system, a speckle reduction element, and a projection subsystem, the relay system can have a first f-number, and the projection subsystem can have a second f-number less than the first f-number. The relay system can have a first working distance, and the projection subsystem can have a second working distance less than the first working distance. The image forming system can project an initial image having a first size, and an intermediate image can have a second size greater than or equal to the first size. The speckle reduction element can have a curved surface through which the intermediate image is transferred. The speckle reduction element can include a lenslet arrangement formed on a surface thereof. The speckle reduction element can be moved in a direction parallel to an optical axis of the speckle reduction element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Barry D. Silverstein, Joseph R. Bietry, Gary E. Nothhard, Robert Metzger, Andrew F. Kurtz
  • Publication number: 20120105806
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to rear projection and front projection image viewing systems. In one aspect, an image viewing system includes a screen composed of a lens and a reflective diffuser with a microstructured surface. The system also includes an array of projectors. Each projector is to project an image onto the screen with a particular angle of incidence such that each image is to pass through the lens and is to be reflected back though the lens by the reflective diffuser with a horizontal scattering angle determined by the microstructured surface. The lens is to direct each reflected image to a particular viewing area so that a viewer located in at least one viewing area receives a reflected image that enters one or both of the viewer's eyes when the viewer looks at the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Huei Pei Kuo, Alexandre M. Bratkovski
  • Patent number: 8162488
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus includes a light valve, a light source for producing light directed to the light valve, an integrator lens disposed in an optical path extending from the light source to the light valve and including a first lens array and a second lens array, and a light amount adjustment mechanism disposed in the optical path between the first lens array and the second lens array. The light amount adjusting mechanism includes a pair of light shielding elements pivoting in the form of a pair of double doors. The pair of light shielding elements have an opening formed in a region of tip portions thereof which corresponds to lens cells in contact with the optical axis of the second lens array. A region of the opening corresponding to one lens cell in contact with the optical axis of the second lens array is of a triangular configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Yamada, Akira Daijogo, Motoo Takahashi, Kenji Samejima
  • Publication number: 20120092626
    Abstract: A projection apparatus includes a light source, a light valve, a light uniforming device, and a lens module. The light source provides an illumination beam. The light valve on a transmission path of the illumination beam converts the illumination beam into an image beam. The light valve has an active surface with a rectangular shape. The light uniforming device is between the light source and the light value. The lens module is between the light uniforming device and the light value. A refractive power of the lens module along a first direction is different from a refractive power of the lens module along a second direction. An f-number of the illumination beam along a direction parallel to a long side of the active surface of the light valve is greater than an f-number thereof along a direction parallel to a short side of the active surface of the light valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: YOUNG OPTICS INC.
    Inventors: Jui-Ping Chang, S-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 8157398
    Abstract: A projector including a light source unit, a display device and a projector control means, wherein the light source unit includes a fluorescent plate 130 including fluorescent material layers 131 disposed adjacent for emitting light in predetermined wavelength ranges by absorbing light, a diffusion plate 140 including a diffusion layer 141 disposed adjacent to the fluorescent material layers 131 for emitting light in a diffusing fashion, a light source for shining light on the layers 131, 141, a driving device for rotating the plates 130, 140, and a light cut-off plate 160 having a light cut-off portion 161, the light cut-off plate 160 capable of rotating together with the plates 130, 140 and movable so that the light cut-off portion 161 covers an area on the diffusion plate 140 where light is to be shone by the locked state being released when the diffusion plate 140 comes off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyo Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20120086917
    Abstract: Disclosed is a projection display apparatus which is provided with: a light source (110) which emits light having coherency; a light modulation element (500), which modules the light emitted from the light source; and a projection unit (150) which projects, to a projection plane, the light emitted from the light modulation element. The projection display apparatus is also provided with a speckle noise reducing element (600) provided between the light source and the light modulation element, and a control unit which controls first mode and second mode. The control unit controls the speckle noise reducing element so that speckles are reduced in the first mode compared with those in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michihiro Okuda, Azusa Ozaki, Yuki Tanohata
  • Publication number: 20120086916
    Abstract: An illumination unit includes one or more light sources each including a solid-state light-emitting device having a light emission region configured of one or more light-emission spots, one or more traveling-direction angle conversion device each converting a traveling-direction-angle of light, and an integrator including a first fly-eye lens having cells which receive light from the traveling-direction angle conversion device and a second fly-eye lens having cells which receive light from the first fly-eye lens, the integrator uniformalizing illumination distribution in a predetermined illumination area. An optical system configured with the traveling-direction angle conversion device and the first and second fly-eye lenses has an optical magnification which allows each of light source images to have a size not exceeding a size of the cell in the second fly-eye lens, the light source images being formed on the second fly-eye lens by the respective cells in the first fly-eye lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Miura, Kazuyuki Takahashi, Tatsuya Oiwa
  • Patent number: 8152307
    Abstract: A optical apparatus (201) for use in an laser imaging system (200) is provided. The optical apparatus (201) includes one or more optical elements (215) that are configured to create an intermediate image plane (217) in the laser imaging system (200). A diffractive optical element (216) is then disposed at the intermediate image plane (217) to reduce speckle. The diffractive optical element (216) includes a periodically repeating phase mask (218) that can be configured in accordance with steps, vortex functions, Hermite-Gaussian functions, and so forth. Smooth grey-level phase transitional surface (337) can be placed between elements (333,334) to improve brightness and image quality. The periodically repeating phase mask (218) makes manufacture simple by reducing alignment sensitivity, and can be used to make applicable safety standards easier to meet as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Duelli, Alban N. Lescure, Mark O. Freeman, Christian Dean DeJong, Joshua M. Hudman
  • Patent number: 8152309
    Abstract: An image display apparatus which displays an image as a transmitted projection image includes: a tread-board of a step which has a first projection surface and transmits a projection image projected on the first projection surface; and a cross-board of the step which has a second projection surface and transmits a projection image projected on the second projection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20120081676
    Abstract: There is provided a projection image display apparatus which is excellent in quality of a display screen image even if a projection lens using a plastic lens having an asymmetrical shape with respect to an optical axis is used. The apparatus includes a projection lens which obliquely projects video light on a screen, an integrator which aligns a polarization direction of light from a light source, and an image display element (P, PL) which modulates light having the aligned polarization direction by an image signal. The projection lens includes multiple plastic lenses, and each of the multiple plastic lenses is arrayed, respectively, by shifting a gate direction to each other by 180 degrees. When the projection lens includes n sheets (n is a natural number) of plastic lenses, each of the multiple plastic lenses may be arrayed, respectively, by shifting a gate direction to each other by (360/n) degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Koji HIRATA, Masahiko Yatsu, Naoyuki Ogura, Hidehiro Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20120075593
    Abstract: A lens array module includes a light incident surface, a light emitting surface opposite to the light incident surface, and a plurality of first and second lens surfaces. The first lens surfaces are arranged on the light incident surface to form into an array. The second lens surfaces are arranged on the light emitting surface to form into an array. The center of curvature of each of the first lens surfaces located at two opposite sides of a first reference point on the light incident surface deviates away from the first reference point in a direction parallel to a first reference axis, and the center of curvature of each of the second lens surfaces located at two opposite sides of a second reference point on the light emitting surface deviates toward the second reference point in a direction parallel to the first reference axis. A projection apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Young Optics Inc
    Inventors: Yi-Hao Kang, Jiunn-Lih Lin, Chia-Chang Lee, Chi-Tang Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20120075594
    Abstract: A projection apparatus including a light source, a light uniforming and shaping module, and a light valve is provided. The light source has a light-emitting surface and is capable of emitting an illumination beam. The light uniforming and shaping module is disposed on a transmission path of the illumination beam. The light valve is disposed on a projection surface and on the transmission path of the illumination beam from the light uniforming and shaping module, wherein the light valve is capable of converting the illumination beam into an image beam. The light uniforming and shaping module is for projecting a light from each point of the light-emitting surface to a region on the projection surface, and the union of the regions projected from all the points on the light-emitting surface covers an entire active surface of the light valve. An illumination system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: YOUNG OPTICS INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Hsien Tsai, Chien-Jung Huang, Pei-Ching Liu, Yu-Tsung Lee, Yi-Hao Kang, Chi-Tang Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8142025
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a projection type image display apparatus enables control of a large amount of light masking through a light-masking unit while maintaining a uniform illumination distribution in an area to be illuminated by the illumination light. The apparatus uses two array lenses on which lens cells are arranged in matrix form, where light-masking unit masks the array lens installed on the light source side in their particular area. The light-masking unit adjusts the amount of light emitted from the light source. The light-masking area of lens cells adjacent to lens cells closest to an optical axis is made smaller than the light-masking area of other cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Shimizu, Kentaro Kato
  • Patent number: 8128234
    Abstract: A position adjustment device for an integration rod includes a fixed plate, two resilient members, and two adjusting screws. The first resilient member is positioned between the fixed plate and the rod for exerting an elastic force on the rod in a first direction, and the second resilient member is positioned between the fixed plate and the rod for exerting an elastic force on the rod in a second direction different from the first direction. The first adjusting screw is inserted through the part of the housing and has a first end surface that presses against one side surface of the rod opposite the first resilient member. The second adjusting screw is inserted through the part of the housing and has a second end surface that presses against one side surface of the rod opposite the second resilient member. The first and the second end surface are arc surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Chang Huang, Yung-Chuan Tseng
  • Publication number: 20120050694
    Abstract: A light emitting unit array including a plurality of micro-light emitting diodes (?-LEDs) is provided. The micro-light emitting diodes are arranged in an array on a substrate, and each of the micro-light emitting diodes includes a reflection layer, a light emitting structure, and a light collimation structure. The light emitting structure is disposed on the reflection layer, and includes a first type doped semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second type doped semiconductor layer that are stacked sequentially. At least a portion of the first type doped semiconductor layer, the active layer, and the second type doped semiconductor layer are sandwiched between the reflection layer and the light collimation structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Chen-Yang Huang, Chia-Hsin Chao, Wen-Yung Yeh
  • Patent number: 8118432
    Abstract: A lens array element has a rectangular plate-like external shape, and includes plate surfaces that functions as light transmission surfaces; and a plurality of cellular lenses that are formed on at least one of the plate surfaces. Each of end faces 4 of the rectangular plate-like external shape forms an inclined surface that slants inward from a plate surface 6 on one side toward a plate surface 2 on the other side, and a reference surface 5 perpendicular to the plate surface is formed on a part of at least two adjoining end faces among the end faces. A front view shape of the reference surface region arranged side-by-side with the inclined surface of the end face is a trapezoid, an oblique side 7 of the trapezoid is disposed so as to extend from a plate surface on one side toward the plate surface 2 on the other side, and an upper side 9 of the trapezoid is disposed on a side of the other of the plate surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyuki Okuo, Shigeru Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8113662
    Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, a system and method for displaying an image are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a laser through a rotary diffuser. The rotational speed of the rotary diffuser may be continuously varied to reduce the effect of an image artifact in a light pattern. The image artifact may be caused by an imperfection in the rotary diffuser. The light pattern is projected on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephen W. Marshall
  • Patent number: 8109637
    Abstract: The wavelength-selective polarization conversion element includes a plurality of polarization splitting surfaces each of which separates entering light into two polarized light components having polarization directions different from each other, a plurality of phase plates that causes a polarization direction of one polarized light component in the two polarized light components from the polarization splitting surfaces to coincide with a polarization direction of the other polarized light component. The element further includes a plurality of dichroic surfaces that is disposed closer to a light entrance side than the plurality of polarization splitting surfaces or between the plurality of polarization splitting surfaces and the plurality of phase plates, each dichroic surface separating entering light into two wavelength region components different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Okuyama, Yu Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 8104898
    Abstract: A projection apparatus includes a prism set, a light source, a reflective element, a light valve and a projection lens. The prism set includes a first prism having a first surface, a second surface and a third surface, and a second prism having a fourth surface opposite to the second surface, a fifth surface and a sixth surface. The reflective element, light valve and projection lens are respectively disposed adjacent to the third, fifth and sixth surfaces. The light source emits an illumination beam to the first surface. The non polarized illumination beam is reflected by the second surface and the reflective element. The non polarized illumination beam passes through the third, second, fourth and fifth surfaces in sequence. The non polarized illumination beam is converted by the light valve into an image beam which is reflected by the fourth surface and passes through the sixth surface to the projection lens in sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Chung Liao, Chin-Ku Liu
  • Patent number: 8100540
    Abstract: A low cost, light projection and sensing system that projects an image onto a display surface using an array of light emitters. Further, the device has an integral sensing capability of the display surface using light sensors. Both the emitters and sensors are coupled to a control unit. Whereby, the device can modify the light-projected image and sensor view region with its control unit. The device can also project an animated overlaid image or large tiled image of photographic resolution. In operation, the device can determine the position and range of a remote object, along with illuminating its touch sensitive housing with a projected image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Huebner
  • Patent number: 8087785
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus includes a polarization beam splitter, a light source, a polarization changing device, an optical uniformizing element, a light valve module and a projection lens. The light source emits an illumination beam. The polarization beam splitter, the polarization changing device, the optical uniformizing element, and the light valve module are disposed in the optical path of the illumination beam. The polarization beam splitter transmits the illumination beam. The polarization changing device changes the polarization direction of the illumination beam and reflects the illumination beam back to the polarization beam splitter. The optical uniformizing element is between the polarization beam splitter and the polarization changing device for uniformizing the illumination beam. The light valve module converts the illumination beam reflected by the polarization changing device via the polarization beam splitter into an image beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventor: Sung-Nan Chen
  • Publication number: 20110310358
    Abstract: A light control apparatus that controls the amount of light passing therethrough by blocking part of an incident light flux, includes: a pair of pivotal members having pivotal axes extending along a direction substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the light flux; and a pair of light blocking members held by the pair of pivotal members and changing the size of a light blocking area as the pair of pivotal members pivot, the light blocking area blocking part of the light flux, wherein the pivotal axes are located in positions that overlap with an area where the light flux passes, and the pair of light blocking members are located in positions that do not overlap with the pivotal axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi WAKABAYASHI, Kanji YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20110310352
    Abstract: A projector includes: a light source device which emits an illumination light; an aperture disposed with a tilt with respect to a plane perpendicular to a center axis of the illumination light, provided with an opening section which transmits a part of the illumination light, and block a rest of the illumination light; a pair of first and second lens arrays which divides the illumination light from the light source device into a plurality of partial light; and an overlapping lens which overlaps the illumination light transmitted through the first and second lens arrays, wherein the aperture is disposed on a light path between the light source device and the overlapping lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Nakano, Masakazu Kawamura, Tomoharu Masuda
  • Publication number: 20110304826
    Abstract: An illuminating unit and a display apparatus including the illuminating unit are provided. The illuminating unit generates and emits light to a display element of the display apparatus, and includes a light source; a uniformizing unit which uniformizes light from the light source and includes a plurality of uniformizing lenses arranged on an optical path; a condensing unit which condenses light from the uniformizing unit to emit the light to the display element and includes a plurality of condensing lenses sequentially arranged on the optical path, and the uniformizing unit and the condensing unit are arranged based on a width of one of a plurality of cell lenses forming the uniformizing lens and a width of an image displayed in the display element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kee-uk JEON, Sung-tae KIM, Jeong-ho NHO, Won-yong LEE, Kyoung-choul JANG, Seok-chan HONG, Jong-hoi KIM
  • Publication number: 20110299039
    Abstract: A projection type image display apparatus in which shortening of the projection distance (widening of the angle of view) and miniaturization of the projection optic system are realized is provided. It comprises, in a traveling direction of the light, an image display element, a lens group including a plurality of lenses, a first lens, a second lens, and a mirror to reflect light emitted from the second lens to be projected obliquely on a screen in this order. The refractive power of the first lens is positive and the refractive power of the second lens is negative. The first and the second lenses are moved in an interlocked relationship with each other along an optical axis of the lens group and a movement amount of the first lens is made larger than a movement amount of the second lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventor: MASAHIKO YATSU
  • Publication number: 20110285967
    Abstract: A laser projection system includes a light source, an optical scanning component, a focusing component, a speckle reduction diffusing surface, and an optical collimating component. The light source may include at least one laser configured to emit an output beam. The focusing component focuses the output beam at a first focused point. The speckle reduction diffusing surface is selectively introduced into an optical path at the first focused point. The optical collimating component collimates the output beam onto the optical scanning component. At least a portion of a scanned laser image is generated on a projection surface by operating the laser for optical emission of encoded image data and controlling the optical scanning component to scan the output beam. The optical collimating component images the first focused point at a second focused point at the projection surface when the speckle reduction diffusing surface is in the optical path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Jacques Gollier
  • Publication number: 20110273673
    Abstract: Various embodiments related to a rear projection display screen configured to reduce an intensity of light at a viewing angle at which the light is less likely to be viewed by a user are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment provides a diffusing screen comprising a sheet-like structure transparent to one or more wavelengths of light. The sheet-like structure has a viewing surface and comprises a diffusing pattern configured to create destructive interference of a selected wavelength of light traveling in a direction normal to a plane of the viewing surface of the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Prafulla Masalkar
  • Patent number: 8049231
    Abstract: Emissive quantum photonic imagers comprised of a spatial array of digitally addressable multicolor pixels. Each pixel is a vertical stack of multiple semiconductor laser diodes, each of which can generate laser light of a different color. Within each multicolor pixel, the light generated from the stack of diodes is emitted perpendicular to the plane of the imager device via a plurality of vertical waveguides that are coupled to the optical confinement regions of each of the multiple laser diodes comprising the imager device. Each of the laser diodes comprising a single pixel is individually addressable, enabling each pixel to simultaneously emit any combination of the colors associated with the laser diodes at any required on/off duty cycle for each color. Each individual multicolor pixel can simultaneously emit the required colors and brightness values by controlling the on/off duty cycles of their respective laser diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ostendo Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hussein S. El-Ghoroury, Robert G. W. Brown, Dale A. McNeill, Huibert DenBoer, Andrew J. Lanzone
  • Publication number: 20110261327
    Abstract: The transmission type screen includes: a Fresnel lens screen (20); and an image display element (30), in which the Fresnel lens screen includes: a Fresnel optical element (21) including a prism formed on an incident surface side as seen from the emitter; and a first light diffusion unit (22) for diffusing an image light passing through the Fresnel optical element, and the image display element includes: a lens element (40) for spatially dividing the image light from the Fresnel lens screen and changing a direction of the image light; a birefringent layer (90) provided at a subsequent stage of the lens element, for mixing image light obtained by spatial division; and a second light diffusion unit (60) provided at a subsequent stage of the birefringent layer, for diffusing the image light passing through the birefringent layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takao Endo, Yuzo Nakano
  • Patent number: 8042950
    Abstract: A projection apparatus and image display apparatus. The apparatus includes a three-color light source that emits a plurality of color lights having different wavelengths, and a diffraction type optical element that performs diffusion forming of individual color lights. A field lens makes the diffusion-formed individual color lights into parallel lights, and a liquid crystal panel has a microlens array with a plurality of microlenses arranged in a matrix at the incident regions of the individual parallel color lights. A pixel section has three pixel openings arranged oppositely to the individual microlenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Hazama, Kikuo Kaise
  • Publication number: 20110242491
    Abstract: Disclosed is a projector optical system, the system including an illumination unit including illumination lenses illuminating light downwards, a display device receiving light illuminated from the illumination lenses to enable to realize an image, projection lenses downwardly projecting light emitted from the display device to a screen, and a field lens changing an optical angle of the light illuminated from the illumination lenses and emitting the light to the display device, and changing an optical angle by receiving an image light of the display device and emitting the light to the projection lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: EUNSUNG SEO, Seungman Jeong, Hyunho Choi, Sanghun Lee
  • Patent number: 8029141
    Abstract: The image display apparatus includes a two-dimensional light modulation device for modulating light emitted from a laser light source, a display surface for displaying the modulated light, an optical pixel aperture enlarging member for distributing the luminance of the laser light while introducing the laser light to apertures of pixels of the modulation device; and a display pixel aperture enlarging portion for optically enlarging the modulated light by the apertures of the pixels of the modulation device corresponding to pixels of an image to be displayed. The luminance of a partial area of each pixel of the image displayed on the display surface is controlled to be below the threefold of an average value of the luminance in the area of the entire pixel by the optical pixel aperture enlarging member and the display pixel aperture enlarging portion, accomplishing speckle noise reduction and improved light utilization efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuro Mizushima, Tatsuo Itoh, Kenichi Kasazumi, Kazuhisa Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20110234985
    Abstract: An optical device for projecting an image is disclosed. In one embodiment, the optical device includes a configurable optical diffuser adapted to produce a diffuse optical beam having a temporally varying pattern of angular divergence. The optical device further includes a plurality of lenslet pairs to shape the diffuse optical beam and a spatial light modulator to spatially modulate the shaped optical beam to project an image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ALCATEL-LUCENT USA INC.
    Inventors: Roland Ryf, Gang Chen