Plural Patents (Class 353/78)
  • Patent number: 7909471
    Abstract: A rear projection type display apparatus, comprises an output unit that modulates a light from a light source to output a projection light; an image formation unit that has one or more optical elements, and that subjects the projection light that is output from the output unit to form an image; a Fresnel screen that displays the projection light that is subjected to form an image; a light detection unit that is disposed at a position on which a reflected light from the Fresnel screen focuses, and that detects rays; and a control unit that controls an output of the projection light by the output unit based on the rays that are detected at the light detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Minoru Noji
  • Patent number: 7896504
    Abstract: A projection module intended to project an image on a screen defining a specified projection plane is disclosed. The module includes an objective, for emitting an imaging beam; a curved mirror; and at least two deflection surfaces for deflecting the imaging beam, the deflection surfaces being placed in the path of the imaging beam between the objective and the curved mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Sacre, Pascal Benoit
  • Patent number: 7883219
    Abstract: System and method for thin projection display systems. An embodiment comprises a light source, an array of light modulators optically coupled to the light source, a lensed mirror optically coupled to the array, and a controller electronically coupled to the array and to the light source. The array produces images on a display plane by modulating light from the light source based on image data and the controller provides light commands to the light source and load image data into the array. The lensed mirror reflects modulated light from the array onto the display plane, the lensed mirror comprising a refractive portion and a reflective portion. The refractive portion of the lensed mirror helps to increase the light bending capability to help reduce the overall thickness of a projection display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: John David Jackson, Steven Edward Smith, Duane Scott Dewald
  • Patent number: 7857463
    Abstract: A micro-mirror based projection display system in an enclosure with minimum chin and depth measurements is disclosed. A solid-state laser light source generates light of multiple primary colors that is modulated by a digital micro-mirror device. The projection optics of the system include a telecentric rear group of glass lenses with spherical surfaces, followed by a pair of aspheric lenses formed of plastic. A folding mirror is disposed between the aspheric lenses, to reduce the depth of the enclosure, and an aspheric mirror projects the image onto a TIR Fresnel projection screen. The aspheric lenses are magnifying, to reduce the magnification required of the aspheric mirror, and the aspheric lenses and mirror are clipped to reduce enclosure volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Patrick R. Destain
  • Patent number: 7832874
    Abstract: Screens are positioned at front areas of respective placing tables which form placing spaces for placing an article. Each of the screens is a transmission-type screen capable of transmitting projection image light projected on a back side of the screen. A first optical system and a second optical system are arranged inside the display shelf. The first optical system leads first partial image light, which is included in projection image light projected from a projector in the display shelf, to the back sides of the screens. And the second optical system leads second partial image light, which is included in the projection image light, to at least one of the placing spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Ikeda, Hiroki Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7798652
    Abstract: Transmission-type screens are placed corresponding to a display board at a front area of the display board, on which an article is placed. Each of the screens transmits and projects a projector image luminous flux projected from a backside of the screens to a front side of the screens. When the projector image luminous flux is projected from the backside of the screens, each of inner circumferences which defines a space including an image projecting space for leading the projector image luminous flux to the backside of the screens without obstruction. A display shelf might have a projector and a computer. The projector projects the projector image luminous flux. The display shelf might have a reflecting mirror which lead the projector image flux to the screens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Ikeda, Hiroki Mochizuki, Masanori Takeuchi, Makoto Nozawa, Wang Yun
  • Patent number: 7798655
    Abstract: A projection unit 17 effectively corrects out of focus due to a temperature rise. A mirror holding mechanism of a concave mirror 25 has a mirror holder 41 and a mirror holder base 42. The concave mirror 25 is slidably housed in the mirror holder 41. A focus correction member 57, which expands by heat, is disposed between a back face of the concave mirror 25 and reference plane S formed in the mirror holder. The concave mirror 25 and the focus correction element 57 are urged to the reference plane S by a mirror retainer spring 59.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Atsushi Matsuura, Shinichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7748855
    Abstract: A projector includes a plane mirror that is disposed at one end side of an end portion of a screen and a projection optical system that is disposed at a position that is separated from a reflection surface side of the plane mirror. A light shielding plate is provided to at least one of two positions; one is between a fourth mirror and the plane mirror of the projection optical system, and the other is between the plane mirror and the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventor: Masayuki Imaoka
  • Publication number: 20100157256
    Abstract: An image projection device comprising an image projection means (101) for projecting an image by laser light by using a one-dimensional or two-dimensional spatial light modulation element, a first folding mirror (102) for initially folding the laser light emitted from the image projection means (101), and a second folding mirror (103) for reflecting the laser light emitted from the image projection means (101) to a screen (107) through the first folding mirror (102), wherein a distance between the second folding mirror (103) and the image projection means (101) is made larger than a distance L by which a light output power emitted from the projection lens of the image projection means (101) with a solid angle of 38.4/(L×L) is less than 1 mW. Therefore, even when a person observes the image projection device (100) from a position onto which an image is projected, the person is in an area where safety is ensured, thereby enhancing the safety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Tatsuo Itoh, Kazuhisa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7717573
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus has a light source, an image forming device for modulating light emitted from the light source with an image signal supplied thereto, and a reflective optical system for magnifying and projecting an image generated by the image forming device. The reflective optical system has a first reflecting mirror for reflecting light emitted from the image forming device and initially applied thereto, and a plurality of reflecting mirrors for successively reflecting the light reflected by the first reflecting mirror. The first reflecting mirror has a spherical reflecting surface, and a normal line passing through the crest of the spherical reflecting surface and a normal line passing through the image forming device extend nonparallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Viewtechnology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masateru Matsubara, Eiki Matsuo
  • Publication number: 20100103387
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rear project device, comprising a screen, projection optics, and an image module for generating an image, which is projected from the rear onto the screen by means of the projection optics, so that an observer located in front of the screen can perceive the image projected onto the screen. Furthermore, a method for such a rear projection apparatus is described. To this end, a Fresnel mirror, or an aspherical mirror, is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Eberhard Piehler, Gudrun Schroeter, Guenther Benedix, Gertrud Blei, Thomas Maack
  • Patent number: 7699472
    Abstract: A multi-view autostereoscopic projection system using a single projection lens unit. The projection type autostereoscopic system includes: a source of graphic signals representing at least three perspective views of a 3-D object on at least three parts of a frame, the at least three perspective views being directly or reflectively projected vertically or horizontally in a predetermined order, an image projector connected to the source of graphic signals, an image screen disposed across from the image projector, and first and second parallel plane mirrors installed between a projection lens of the image projector and the image screen to be substantially parallel to a projection axis at the same distance from the projection axis such that the first and second parallel plane mirrors are separated from each other by a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sergey Shestak
  • Patent number: 7677738
    Abstract: According to the present invention, an image projector includes a reflecting light valve, a group of refracting lenses forming a projecting optical system that enlarges and projects an optical image given from the light valve, a power mirror having a power and forming the projecting optical system together with the group of refracting lenses, and a transmissive screen for displaying the optical image that is given from the light valve and enlarged by the projecting optical system, wherein the exit pupil position is set such that the minimum angle of view ?min exceeds 40°, and the Petzval partial sum of lenses is set larger than a value determined by the minimum angle of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Muneharu Kuwata, Tomohiro Sasagawa, Kuniko Kojima, Akihiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 7670008
    Abstract: In an oblique projection optical system for performing enlargement projection from a primary image surface on the reduction side to a secondary image surface on the enlargement side, at least one reflective surface having an optical power is provided, and, assuming that of the aforementioned surfaces, the reflective surface located on the most secondary image surface side in the optical path is a first curved reflective surface, the first curved reflective surface has a portion having a positive optical power and a portion having a negative optical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventor: Tomiei Kuwa
  • Patent number: 7651226
    Abstract: A segmented display system in which the display devices are arranged in a N×1 array is described. The segmented display system includes a plurality of projection devices that each project a portion of an image on a corresponding one of the display devices in the N×1 array. Distortion from extra light is minimized using a moveable mask around each projection device lens in the N×1 array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Mark Alan Schultz, Matthew Robert Lamb, Charles Bryan Hunt
  • Publication number: 20090268171
    Abstract: A flat projection television comprising an imagine engine mounted adjacent a top of an enclosure and optically coupled to a collimator mirror, a flat mirror, a mirror assembly comprising a plurality of cylindrical mirrors, and a diffuser screen. The image engine includes a cylindrical lens which expands an outgoing image horizontally. The image engine projects the image downward from the top of the enclosure toward the bottom of the enclosure where the horizontally expanding image encounters the collimator mirror which collimates the expanding beam bringing the horizontal lines back into parallel with one another. The collimator mirror also reflects the collimated image towards the front of the enclosure where it encounters the flat mirror oriented to deflect the image upward into the mirror box location of the enclosure at an appropriate angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventor: Jerry B. Lowe
  • Patent number: 7604354
    Abstract: A projection apparatus comprising a three-dimensional screen, a convex mirror, two or more projectors, and an assemblage of flat mirrored surfaces that share at least one common edge or apex that faces the convex mirror. The flat mirrored surfaces fold the images from separate projectors into a common image that has single optical axis aligned with principal axis of the convex mirror so that the combined image is reflected from the convex mirror onto the three dimensional screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas R. Ligon
  • Patent number: 7568806
    Abstract: A light source unit includes a mirror tunnel which has a prism-like shape and whose external sides are formed to taper, and a light source which includes a light emitting device and which is disposed on a side of the mirror tunnel. A reflecting mirror is provided at a first end face of the mirror tunnel, and a second end face of the mirror tunnel, that lies on an opposite side from the first end face, is an end face from which light is emitted, and has an area wider than that of the first end face. The light emitting device of the light source includes red LED's, blue LED's and green LED's, and the LED's are disposed on the side of the mirror tunnel such that the LED's of the same color do not lie adjacent to each other in a longitudinal direction of the mirror tunnel and a direction which is at right angles to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7562983
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image display device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device uses a curved transmissive screen and reflectors to minimize the space associated with the device when increasing the size of the three-dimensional image. By placing a physically driven background screen over the projected image and screen, excessively diffused reflection of the Fresnel lenses is eliminated. High-resolution real-time video images are provided as three-dimensional images by realizing three-dimensional images with enhanced perspective as if they are floating in space. According to one embodiment of the invention, a distortion of the three-dimensional image is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignees: Kwangwoon University Research Institute for Industry Cooperation
    Inventors: Eun-Soo Kim, Sun-Joo Jang
  • Patent number: 7562987
    Abstract: A rear projection display according to the present disclosure includes a complex mirror as an optical element to simplify the optical design. The mirror may be symmetrical about at least one axis to require optimization of only half the optical system. The mirror may also provide a geometrically distorted image that may be corrected in software of the image generator. This display uses a mathematical formulation which inherently creates a surface which is symmetric about one linear axis but free form in an orthogonal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Fakespace Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian McDowall
  • Patent number: 7542211
    Abstract: A high-performance image-forming optical system made compact and thin by folding an optical path using reflecting surfaces arranged to minimize the number of reflections. The image-forming optical system has a single prism. When image-side three surfaces of the prism are defined as a surface A, a surface B and a surface C in order from the image plane side thereof, at least one of the surfaces B and C has a rotationally asymmetric curved surface configuration that gives a power to a light beam and corrects aberrations due to decentration. The optical system leads light rays from an object to the image plane without forming an image in the prism and has a pupil in the prism. The surface A is a transmitting surface through which rays exit from the prism. The surfaces B and C are internally reflecting surfaces, which are positioned to face each other to form a Z-shaped optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Takayoshi Togino
  • Patent number: 7530694
    Abstract: A flat projection television comprising an imagine engine mounted adjacent a top of an enclosure and optically coupled to a collimator mirror, a flat mirror, a mirror assembly comprising a plurality of cylindrical mirrors, and a diffuser screen. The image engine includes a cylindrical lens which expands an outgoing image horizontally. The image engine projects the image downward from the top of the enclosure toward the bottom of the enclosure where the horizontally expanding image encounters the collimator mirror which collimates the expanding beam bringing the horizontal lines back into parallel with one another. The collimator mirror also reflects the collimated image towards the front of the enclosure where it encounters the flat mirror oriented to deflect the image upward into the mirror box location of the enclosure at an appropriate angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry B. Lowe
  • Patent number: 7520622
    Abstract: An apparatus for a display dock with an integrated display screen are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Infocus Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Gohman
  • Patent number: 7517090
    Abstract: A device using a low-cost plastic curved mirror and several combinations of methods for reducing aberrations to improve a real image projection system is provided, so as to reduce ghost and astigmatism phenomenon. The real image projection system includes a curved mirror having two different optical surfaces of revolution, one on a convex surface and the other on a concave surface. The real image projection system may include at least a curved reflector positioned in a tilted configuration, and an optical axis of the reflector does not coincide with a viewing axis. A beampath between a target source and the curved reflector neither passes through a beamsplitter nor is reflected thereby. The real image projection system may further include a circular polarizer for circularly polarizing a light beam in a primary light path between the mirror and the real image, eliminating ghost image caused by outside light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Provision Interactive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Vrachan, Curtis L. Thornton
  • Patent number: 7488077
    Abstract: The invention relates to a projection objective comprising at least one lens and intended to transmit a divergent light beam onto a flat screen. A hyperbolically shaped mirror is oriented so as to receive, on its convex face, the light emanating from the lens. The invention also relates to a corresponding projection apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Khaled Sarayeddine, Jean-Jacques Sacre, Pascal Benoit
  • Patent number: 7467872
    Abstract: In the image display device, a projection lens including a plurality of lenses for enlarging an image from an image display element is constituted of a front group and a rear group. The rear group includes at least one free-shaped-surface lens including a surface having a rotationally asymmetrical shape. Furthermore, the device includes at least one free-shaped-surface mirror having a rotationally asymmetrical reflection surface. Accordingly, a set can be formed to be compact while correcting trapezoidal distortion and aberration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Hisada, Hiroki Yoshikawa, Tetsu Ohishi, Masahiko Yatsu, Koji Hirata
  • Patent number: 7436572
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator is disclosed, along with methods for making such a modulator. The spatial light modulator comprises an array of micromirrors each having a hinge and a micromirror plate held via a hinge on a substrate, the micromirror plate being attached to the hinge such that the micromirror plate can rotate along a rotation axis and the hinge structure is located between the micromirror plate and the light source. The mirror plate is formed between the hinge and the substrate on which the hinge is formed. As a result, the hinge is exposed to the incident light during the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew Huibers, Satyadev Patel
  • Patent number: 7422332
    Abstract: A wall structure has a first wall and a second wall that faces the first wall. A part of the second wall or the entire second wall is configured as a rear-projection screen. A projector for projecting an image onto the rear-projection screen is arranged between the first and second walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Tetsushi Kokubo, Yasushi Tatehira, Kenji Tanaka, Hitoshi Mukai, Hirofumi Hibi
  • Publication number: 20080204672
    Abstract: A display shelf system includes a display shelf, which includes a plurality of placing tables which are adapted to have an article placed thereon. A plurality of transmission-type screens are arranged with the placing tables, respectively. A projector projects a projector image, and a light guide of the display shelf leads the projector image onto the rear sides of the transmission-type screens. The transmission-type screens have curved surfaces which are inclined to face toward a lateral direction with respect to a front of the display shelf, so that the transmission-type screens are easily viewable by viewers who are in the lateral directions of the display shelf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Ikeda, Hiroki Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7393107
    Abstract: A projector includes a laser beam source that outputs a laser beam and modulates the laser beam in a beam form based on an image signal, a scanning unit that scans the laser beam output by the laser beam source at least in one-dimensional direction, a scan driving unit that drive controls the scanning unit by a first force, a retaining unit that stops and retains the scanning unit at a predetermined position by a second force, and a light shielding unit that shields the laser beam from the scanning unit that is retained by the retaining unit. The scan driving unit releases the scanning unit retained by the retaining unit, and drives it when the first force is larger than the second force. The retaining unit stops and retains the scanning unit at the predetermined position when the second force is larger than the first force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Yonekubo, Daisuke Uchikawa, Shunji Kamijima, Takashi Takeda
  • Patent number: 7384154
    Abstract: A temperature control system and method for projection device lenses. The temperature control system includes a controllable heater for selectively heating one or more lenses pad a controller for adjusting heat from the heat source responsive to an operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Gohman, Don Rhodes
  • Patent number: 7360906
    Abstract: A projection optical system unit has a lower pedestal. The lower pedestal has first and second tubular portions opened to each other. An image formation device holding plate for a DMD is mounted on the first tubular portion at a side where one opening is formed. A mirror holder for a convex mirror is fixed on the second tubular portion at a side where the other opening is formed. A linear heat expansion coefficient in a specific direction of the lower pedestal component is set between 0.8×10?5 (1/K) and 3.0×10?5 (1/K).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Onishi, Atsushi Matsuura, Kohei Wataru
  • Patent number: 7350925
    Abstract: Described is an optical lens having a light-receiving surface facing a light source and a first structured surface opposite a first portion of the light-receiving surface. The first structured surface includes a plurality of first reflecting surfaces and first refractive surfaces. Each of the first refractive surfaces receives light from a corresponding first reflective surface for refractive transmission therethrough. The optical system may further include a second structured surface opposite a second portion of the light-receiving surface. The second structured surface includes a plurality of second refractive surfaces. Each of the second refractive surfaces receives light directly from the light-receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Frederic R. Engstrom
  • Patent number: 7338176
    Abstract: An elevator installation includes an elevator car moved in an elevator shaft between floors in a building. A shaft door for closing the elevator shaft is arranged at each floor. A method for representing information on the shaft doors makes possible a qualitatively high-grade projection of an image on the shaft door. The shaft doors are formed to be at least partly transparent, wherein a projector is arranged in the elevator shaft and projects an image onto the side of the shaft door facing the elevator shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Lennart Svensson-Hilford, Paul Friedli
  • Patent number: 7331679
    Abstract: A projection display system includes a screen, an illumination projecting system to form an image using light radiated by a light source, to magnify the image, and to project the image along a rear side of the screen, and a reflection unit having an array of unit mirrors to reflect the image received from the illumination projecting system onto the screen, each of the unit mirrors having a first sloped reflection surface and a second reflection surface adjacent to the first reflection surface having a predetermined angle therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-ho Cho, Alexei Borodouline, Ji-whan Noh, Kirill Sokolov
  • Patent number: 7331678
    Abstract: A rear projection display device. The display device includes a screen and a base to which the screen is mounted. The base includes a plurality of vents to allow air to flow in and out of the base, a heat source, and an air movement device to move air from near the screen, past the heat source, and out through the vents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Engle
  • Patent number: 7314281
    Abstract: A projection display device having a plurality of transmission screens, each having an image display portion of different dimension, and each having light transmissivity and being provided with a back surface layer having optical directivity on a back surface side; a main body capable of projecting a projection light, and a optical unit that guides the projection light from the projection device main body to the back surface of the transmission screen; and a supporting unit that supports one transmission screen selected from the plural transmission screens and the projection device main body. An image is displayed on the transmission screen by allowing the projection light guided by the optical unit to pass through from the back surface side. One transmission screen is selected, and the selected transmission screen, the projection device main body, the optical unit, and the supporting unit are assembled for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Katase, Junji Ajioka
  • Patent number: 7300158
    Abstract: The invention concerns a display apparatus with an imager illuminated by an illumination system and with an imaging system projecting an image on a viewing screen, wherein the brightness of the image on the imager has a variation over a given direction, and wherein the illumination system has light controlling elements for controlling the light distribution over the given direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Thomsom Licensing
    Inventors: Valter Drazic, Eugene O'Donnell, Pascal Benoit, Arno Schubert
  • Publication number: 20070258056
    Abstract: A rear projection type display apparatus, comprises an output unit that modulates a light from a light source to output a projection light; an image formation unit that has one or more optical elements, and that subjects the projection light that is output from the output unit to form an image; a Fresnel screen that displays the projection light that is subjected to form an image; a light detection unit that is disposed at a position on which a reflected light from the Fresnel screen focuses, and that detects rays; and a control unit that controls an output of the projection light by the output unit based on the rays that are detected at the light detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventor: Minoru NOJI
  • Publication number: 20070229767
    Abstract: Transmission-type screens are placed corresponding to a display board at a front area of the display board, on which an article is placed. Each of the screens transmits and projects a projector image luminous flux projected from a backside of the screens to a front side of the screens. When the projector image luminous flux is projected from the backside of the screens, each of inner circumferences which defines a space including an image projecting space for leading the projector image luminous flux to the backside of the screens without obstruction. A display shelf might have a projector and a computer. The projector projects the projector image luminous flux. The display shelf might have a reflecting mirror which lead the projector image flux to the screens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Ikeda, Hiroki Mochizuki, Masanori Takeuchi, Makoto Nozawa, Yun Wang
  • Patent number: 7259919
    Abstract: A relatively thin-profile projection display device that employs at least two anamorphic components is disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventor: Jeff B. Glickman
  • Publication number: 20070182938
    Abstract: A projector includes a plane mirror that is disposed at one end side of an end portion of a screen and a projection optical system that is disposed at a position that is separated from a reflection surface side of the plane mirror. A light shielding plate is provided to at least one of two positions; one is between a fourth mirror and the plane mirror of the projection optical system, and the other is between the plane mirror and the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventor: Masayuki Imaoka
  • Patent number: 7253954
    Abstract: A Fresnel lens. The Fresnel lens includes an input side configured to receive the image and an output side, opposite the input side, configured to display the image. The input side includes a first facet angled to receive input light constituting at least a portion of the image. The input side also includes a second facet at least partially facing the first facet and a third facet linking the first facet to the second facet, wherein the third facet and the output side are substantially parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Mark David Peterson, Jeffrey Alan Gohman
  • Patent number: 7237908
    Abstract: An image display system includes a light valve 14 for providing image information to light converged by a converging lens 13 and for emitting the light, a projective optical system 20 including a refractive optical lens 21 for projecting the light from the light valve 14 and a convex mirror 22 for reflecting the light from the refractive optical lens 21 by using a reflecting surface thereof having negative power and for enlarging and projecting the reflected light, and a display 30 for receiving the light from the projective optical system 20 by way of a receiving surface 30A, wherein the light valve is placed away from an optical axis 23 of the projective optical system 20 and between a front surface of the display 30 and a rear surface of the projective optical system 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzuki, Kohei Teramoto, Shinsuke Shikama, Shuso Wadaka
  • Patent number: 7239452
    Abstract: A projection optical system for performing enlargement projection from a primary image surface on the reduction side to a secondary image surface on the enlargement side has, from the primary image surface side, a lens optical system including two or more lens elements sharing a common rotation-symmetry axis and each having an optical power, a first reflective optical element having an optical power, and a second reflective optical element having a negative optical power. The projection optical system is non-telecentric toward the reduction side, and a prescribed condition is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventor: Tomiei Kuwa
  • Patent number: 7178921
    Abstract: An oblique projection optical system for leading rays of light from a display surface on which an image is displayed to a projection surface in such a way that the ray of light from the center of the display surface is obliquely incident on the projection surface in order to project a magnified image of the image displayed on the display surface onto the projection surface includes a plurality of reflecting surfaces having a power. At least two of the reflecting surfaces have a free-form curved surface, and, of all the reflecting surfaces, the one closest to the projection surface has a negative power and at least one of the other has a positive power. Alternatively, in a rear projection optical system having a projection optical system for projecting an image displayed on a panel display surface onto a screen surface, the projection optical system includes at least four curved-surface reflecting mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Konno, Soh Ohzawa, Jun Ishihara
  • Patent number: 7163297
    Abstract: An image display system includes a light valve 14 for providing image information to light converged by a converging lens 13 and for emitting the light, a projective optical system 20 including a refractive optical lens 21 for projecting the light from the light valve 14 and a convex mirror 22 for reflecting the light from the refractive optical lens 21 by using a reflecting surface thereof having negative power and for enlarging and projecting the reflected light, and a display 30 for receiving the light from the projective optical system 20 by way of a receiving surface 30A, wherein the light valve is placed away from an optical axis 23 of the projective optical system 20 and between a front surface of the display 30 and a rear surface of the projective optical system 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzuki, Kohei Teramoto, Shinsuke Shikama, Shuso Wadaka
  • Patent number: 7102820
    Abstract: A Fresnel lens for a display device is provided. The Fresnel lens includes a first sloped surface angled to receive input light, a second sloped surface facing the first sloped surface, and a valley floor linking the first sloped surface to the second sloped surface. The valley floor may be configured to scatter stray light reflected from the first sloped surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Peterson, Jeffrey A. Gohman
  • Patent number: 7088509
    Abstract: A rear projection display device is provided. In an embodiment, the display device includes a laminate screen including a Fresnel lens lamina having a non-planar input surface, a substantially planar output surface and a first index of refraction. The laminate screen further may include a diffusion screen lamina having a substantially planar input surface, an output surface and a second index of refraction. The diffusion screen lamina may be in optical communication with the Fresnel lens lamina. Moreover, the planar output surface of the Fresnel lens lamina and the planar input surface of the diffusion screen lamina may be in facing relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Peterson, Jeff Gohman
  • Patent number: 7080910
    Abstract: A method and system for a thermal architecture and user adjustable keystone in a display device is described. The system includes a screen, a lens to project images, and one or more mirrors to reflect the images projected by the lens to the screen. A mirror assembly to adjust the images projected on the screen includes a first frame to pivot about a first axis, a second frame pivotably mounted in the first frame to pivot about a second axis, and a mirror moveably mounted in the second frame to reflect an image on a screen of a display device. The mirror is adapted to pivot about the first axis and the second axis via the first frame and the second frame to adjust the images on the screen. The base to which the screen is mounted has a thermal architecture that includes a plurality of vents to allow air to flow in and out of the base and an air movement device to move air from one or more heat sources away from the screen and toward the vents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Infocus Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy Scott Engle