Prism In Light Path Patents (Class 353/81)
  • Publication number: 20140160444
    Abstract: A projection apparatus and a light condensing module are provided. The light condensing module condenses and deflects an incident beam. The light condensing module includes a curving incident surface, a curving outgoing surface and a reflection surface. The curving incident surface receives the incident beam. The curving outgoing surface is disposed on a transmission path of the incident beam from the curving incident surface. The reflection surface is disposed on the transmission path of the incident beam, and located between the curving incident surface and the curving outgoing surface. A ray of the incident beam propagates through the curving incident surface along the optical axis of the curving incident surface, and emits out from the curving outgoing surface along a direction inclined to the optical axis of the curving outgoing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Hung-You Cheng, Yu-Hsiu Lin, Yu-Po Chen, S-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 8740394
    Abstract: In an illumination optical system for a DMD type projector, the TIR prism is configured such that a projection line, which is a normal to the total reflection surface vertically projected on the DMD surface, forms an angle other than 90° with a micromirror turning axis, an exit light projection line, which is a principal ray of light beam exits from the total reflection surface vertically projected on the DMD surface, forms an angle of 90° with the micromirror turning axis, and an incident light projection line, which is a principal ray of light beam incident on the total reflection surface vertically projected on the DMD surface, is located on the same side as the exit light projection line with respect to a straight line passing through an end point of the incident light projection line and extending parallel to a long side of the DMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Baba
  • Patent number: 8727537
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus guides light from a light source to a first and a second image modulation elements and projects light modulated by the first and second image modulation elements towards an image plane. A first color separation element reflects first linearly polarized light of a first color light so as to guide the first linearly polarized light to the first image modulation element side, transmits second linearly polarized light of the first color light so as to guide the second linearly polarized light to the second image modulation element side, and reflects or transmits both of the first and second linearly polarized light of a second color light so as to guide both of the first and second linearly polarized light of the second color light to the second image modulation element side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuuki Maeda, Yu Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 8714755
    Abstract: A projection lens of an imaging module and the imaging module are provided. The imaging module further has a light modulator to project a first image with a first aspect ratio. The projection lens comprises an anamorphic lens set and a projection lens set. The anamorphic lens set comprises a first cylinder lens, a second cylinder lens, a bi-convex cylinder lens and a bi-concave cylinder lens, which are set after the light modulator in sequence. The first cylinder lens has at least one flat surface, and the second cylinder lens has at least one convex surface. The anamorphic lens set projects the first image with the first aspect ratio into a second image with a second aspect ratio; the second aspect ratio is different from the first aspect ratio. The projection lens set receives and projects the second image with the second aspect ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: June-Jei Huang
  • Patent number: 8696137
    Abstract: A high efficiency projector apparatus comprising an illumination lens set including a first illumination lens and a second illumination lens, and the image is imaged conjugatedly on the image projection lens set, when light traveling distance between the first illumination lens of focal distance f1 and the second illumination lens of focal distance f2 is “d”, light source module produces first multiple virtual light sources on output side of light beam homogenization means, first multiple virtual light sources are located within f1 producing virtual image of second multiple virtual light sources on same side as the first multiple virtual light sources, the second multiple virtual light sources are distanced from the second illumination lens by value of D, the D value has value according to (f2<D<2f2), such that the second multiple virtual light sources are substantially conjugatedly imaged on the image projection lens set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Kuen Lin, Tsung Hsun Wu
  • Patent number: 8657448
    Abstract: A polarization separating element is configured to include a translucent substrate formed of a crystal material having birefringent properties and optically rotatory power and a polarization separating portion formed on the incidence-side surface of the translucent substrate so as to transmit a P-polarized light beam and reflect an S-polarized light beam. A reflecting element that reflects the S-polarized light beam reflected by the polarization separating portion is disposed so as to be separated approximately in parallel to the translucent substrate. A predetermined function is set such that the P-polarized light beam having passed through the polarization separating portion and been incident to the translucent substrate is converted so as to be parallel to the polarization plane of the S-polarized light beam so that the P-polarized light beam is output as the S-polarized light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shuho Kobayashi, Mitsuru Miyabara, Makoto Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8651663
    Abstract: A color stereoscopic digital projection system having a plurality of color channels for projecting a color stereoscopic image, comprising: left-eye and right-eye image forming systems, each including a light sources for each color channel; a spatial light modulator, illumination optics arranged to receive the light beams and provide corresponding substantially uniform bands of light, beam scanning optics arranged to cyclically scroll the bands of light across the spatial light modulator, and a controller system that synchronously modulates the pixels of the spatial light modulator according to image data. The right-eye and left-eye light sources have corresponding spectrally-adjacent, substantially non-overlapping spectral bands falling within the same component color spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Barry David Silverstein
  • Publication number: 20140036239
    Abstract: An image projecting device of the present invention includes an image display section for displaying an image, a projecting optical system for outputting the image along an optical path and projecting the image onto a projection surface, and a lens unit provided on any position on the optical path. The lens unit includes a lens section having a lens movable along at least two or more directions in a plane vertical to an optical axis of the projecting optical system, and a driving section having an actuator section for moving the lens section, and the actuator section is disposed so that a thrust line passes through a centroid of the lens section. The driving section moves the lens so as to tilt an optical axis of light emitted from the image display section, and move a display position of pixels on the projection surface composing the image displayed by the image display section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Ken MASHITANI
  • Publication number: 20140035919
    Abstract: A projector configured to provide higher resolution output without increasing pixel resolution in a light modulator is disclosed. The projector may introduce an optical element between a light modulator and an imaging lens. The optical element may provide pixel sharing of a target image. The pixel sharing may be produced by, for example, making smaller copies of pixels. Selected copies of pixels may be passed to the imaging lens to display an output image with selected areas of higher density pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: ADITI MAJUMDER, BEHZAD SAJADI, GOPI MEENAKSHISUNDARAM
  • Patent number: 8636366
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus of the present invention includes light source (101), rod integrator (105), reflecting mirror (103), diffusion plate (104) disposed adjacently to reflection mirror (103), reflective polarizing plate (107), and wavelength plate (106). The lighting apparatus further includes curved mirror (102) disposed among light source (101), reflecting mirror (103), and diffusion plate (104). Reflecting mirror (103) and curved mirror (102) include apertures (102a and 103a) formed to allow at least light from light source (101) to pass. Curved mirror (102) reflects light leaked from the entrance plane side of rod integrator (105) toward aperture (103a) of reflecting mirror (103).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Kato
  • Patent number: 8638511
    Abstract: A reflector array optical device includes two dihedral corner reflector array optical elements each having a substrate and a plurality of prism bodies arranged regularly on and each protruding from one main surface of the substrate. Each prism body includes at least two sides of orthogonal planes. The two optical elements are adhered so that top faces of the prism bodies are directly confronted respectively so as to make two coplanar planes in which the two orthogonal planes exist respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignees: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Maekawa, Markon Sandor, Takashi Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20130329193
    Abstract: In a projection apparatus, a polygon mirror transforms light from a light source into a two-dimensional luminous flux. A liquid crystal panel performs spatial light modulation of the luminous flux incident from the polygon mirror, based on image data. An image adjusting circuit controls the amount of luminous flux for each predetermined control unit based on the gradation distribution of the image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Eisaku Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 8602563
    Abstract: A projection image display apparatus includes: a light source; an illumination optical system that uniformly irradiates a surface of an image modulation element serving as a primary image surface with a light beam emitted from the light source; and a projection optical system that enlarges and projects image information on the primary image surface modulated by the image modulation element onto a screen serving as a secondary image surface, and that includes a first optical system that forms an intermediate image from the image information, a single-image second optical system that enlarges and projects the intermediate image to display a single image on the screen, a plural-image second optical system that enlarges and projects the intermediate image to display plural images on the screen, and an optical path switching mechanism that selectively guides a light beam from the first optical system to the single-image or plural-image second optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Nishikawa, Hideki Yamamoto, Junichi Iwai
  • Patent number: 8593746
    Abstract: An image display device capable of maintaining continuity of images of adjacent image display elements on a display screen that is composed of a plurality of image display element includes image display elements (1, 2) and a prism (3). The prism (3) is an L-shaped prism having two planar surfaces, and image display elements (1, 2) are arranged on the portion of the prism that corresponds to the rear side as seen from the viewing direction (9). Image display elements (1, 2) are arranged such that the virtual images (5, 6) of the image display portions of each are optically continuously connected in the prism (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Imai
  • Patent number: 8585210
    Abstract: A projection apparatus capable of projecting an image on a screen including a light valve and a projection lens is provided. The light valve is capable of generating an image beam. The projection lens is disposed in a transmission path of the image beam and disposed between the light valve and the screen to project the image beam to form the image on the screen. The projection lens has an optical axis. The light valve deviates an offset of X % from the optical axis in a first direction, and the image deviates an offset of Y % from the optical axis in a second direction. The first direction is opposite to the second direction. The projection lens includes a lens group and an anamorphic device. The anamorphic device is disposed in a transmission path of the image beam and disposed between the lens group and the screen to make X %<Y %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Chu-Ming Cheng, Chih-Hsien Tsai
  • Patent number: 8573779
    Abstract: A lighting device is provided which efficiently achieves a high brightness and a high image quality by using a solid light source which has long service life and does not need mercury. The lighting device includes a first light source section, a second light source section, a second rod integrator for combining lights emitted from the first and second light source sections, and a first rod integrator for guiding the light from the first light source section, to the second rod integrator. On an incident surface of the second rod integrator, a first region on which the light emitted from the first light source section is incident and a second region on which the light emitted from the second light source section is incident do not overlap each other, and the surface area of the first region and the surface area of the second region are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shigekazu Yamagishi, Hiroshi Kitano, Yoshimasa Fushimi, Takaaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8545028
    Abstract: An image animation system having a plurality of individual image projectors focused onto a single focal area on a projection surface or medium. Angled optics, or a prism, may be used to direct the projections onto the single focal area. Individual still images are projected in a sequence to create a projected motion animation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Fishco Innovation LLC
    Inventor: Troy Fischer
  • Publication number: 20130242272
    Abstract: In an illumination optical system for a DMD type projector, the TIR prism is configured such that a projection line, which is a normal to the total reflection surface vertically projected on the DMD surface, forms an angle other than 90° with a micromirror turning axis, an exit light projection line, which is a principal ray of light beam exits from the total reflection surface vertically projected on the DMD surface, forms an angle of 90° with the micromirror turning axis, and an incident light projection line, which is a principal ray of light beam incident on the total reflection surface vertically projected on the DMD surface, is located on the same side as the exit light projection line with respect to a straight line passing through an end point of the incident light projection line and extending parallel to a long side of the DMD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoyuki BABA
  • Patent number: 8529072
    Abstract: An image projecting device, including an image forming element for forming an image, a light source for generating light, and an imaging optical system for imaging an image formed by the image forming element on a screen, a first prism having a first transmission surface for transmitting light generated from the light source therethrough, a reflection curved surface being a curved surface for directly reflecting light having transmitted through the first transmission surface, a reflection-transmission surface for directly reflecting light reflected from the reflection curved surface to the image forming element and transmitting light reflected from the image forming element therethrough, and a second transmission surface for transmitting light reflected from the reflection-transmission surface and light reflected from the image forming element therethrough, and a second prism for directing light having transmitted through the reflection-transmission surface of the first prism to the imaging optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ikuo Maeda
  • Patent number: 8529071
    Abstract: According to particular embodiments, an illumination system includes a light source that generates light for use in illuminating a spatial light modulator and an assembly of two optical elements spatially separated by a gap that receives the light from the light source, changes the shape of the light, and transmits the light onto the spatial light modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Regis Grasser
  • Patent number: 8523361
    Abstract: A projection device with an illumination adjustment function includes a polarization beam splitter (PBS), a display, a light source, a lens module, a power supply unit, a light detection unit and a power controller. The light source emits light to the PBS. The lens module projects the images to be displayed by the display. The power supply unit supplies power for the light source. The light detection unit acquires a digital value of a portion of the light transmitted from the PBS, and compares the digital value with a predetermined digital value to generate a control signal. The power controller adjusts power from the power supply unit to the light source according the control signal until the digital value matches the predetermined digital value of the light from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ying-Chuan Yu, Ying-Xiong Huang, Hsing-Chu Wu
  • Patent number: 8500290
    Abstract: A projection system having a first tilting mirror matrix, a second tilting mirror matrix, and an imaging lens, which projects the first tilting mirror matrix onto the second tilting mirror matrix, wherein each tilting mirror matrix has multiple tilting mirrors, the tilting axes of which are positioned in a modulator surface plane. The imaging lens includes a first lens and an imaging mirror, and the imaging mirror forms an aperture stop of the imaging lens, wherein the aperture diaphragm includes an uneven angle of 90° together with the normal of the modulator surface of the first tilting mirror matrix without taking into account any optical path folds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss AG
    Inventors: Enrico Geissler, Christoph Nieten, Guenter Rudolph, Marco Pretorius
  • Patent number: 8496335
    Abstract: A projector includes an illumination optical system, a light modulation element, and a projection optical system. The illumination optical system includes a first light source section, a plurality of second light source sections, and an optical axis conversion element. The optical axis conversion element emits the light beam, which is input from the first light source section, so that an exit optical axis of the light beam approximately matches with an illumination optical axis, and emits the light beams, which are respectively input from the plurality of second light source sections, so that exit optical axes of the light beams intersect the exit optical axis of the light beam from the first light source section between the optical axis conversion element and the light modulation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Itoh
  • Publication number: 20130188156
    Abstract: This invention concerns an optical system for a projection display device that includes: a first lens which may emit light entering from a light source with a same angle to a single point; a second lens which is positioned in a way that the light collected from the first lens may be transmitted to a digital micromirror device (DMD) with a predetermined angle; a DMD which may reflect the light entering from the second lens; a prism positioned between the second lens and the DMD that transmits and transfers the light emitted from the second lens to the DMD, and transfers the light reflected from the DMD to a projection lens by totally reflecting the light; and a projection lens that is positioned in the optical path of the light totally reflected from the prism, to project the light onto a screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: EPIC OPTIX
    Inventors: Dongha Kim, Mankyum Kim, Byeongsoo Son
  • Patent number: 8491125
    Abstract: A lighting device configured to efficiently combine light beams emitted from a plurality of light sources, and to emit high output light while minimizing light loss, and a projection type display apparatus including the lighting device. The lighting device includes: a first light source and a second light source; two converging lenses for converging light beams emitted from the first and second light sources; two right-angle prisms for bending the light beams emitted from the first and second light sources; and a composite rod integrator for combining the light beams emitted from the first and second light sources. Between an exit surface of each right-angle prism and an incident surface of the composite rod integrator, a predetermined air gap is provided. The focal point of each converging lens is located on an incident surface of each right-angle prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shigekazu Yamagishi, Hiroki Sugiyama, Hiroshi Kitano, Yoshimasa Fushimi, Hirokazu Sakaguchi
  • Publication number: 20130182230
    Abstract: A prism system and method for eliminating color aberration in an illumination system of a micro projector is disclosed. A light beam enters into a first prism through a light incident surface thereof and is further emitted through a light-emitting surface of the first prism. The light beam then enters into a second prism through a first interface thereof, passes through a second interface of the second prism and reaches a digital micromirror device (DMD). The light beam is reflected by the DMD so as to pass through the second interface and reach the first interface. The light beam is totally reflected by the first interface so as to be emitted through a third interface of the second prism. Therefore, the invention eliminates lateral color aberration that occurs in an active area of the DMD, reduces costs of illumination equipment and achieves a preferred projection effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: NATIONAL CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Sheng-Han Lin, Jui-Wen Pan, Hsiang-Hua Wang
  • Patent number: 8485667
    Abstract: Optical elements, color combiners using the optical elements, and image projectors using the color combiners are described. The optical element includes light recycling stacks, a polarizing beam splitter, and a color-selective stacked retardation polarizing filter. The polarizing beam splitter includes a first reflective polarizer aligned to a first polarization direction. Each light recycling stack includes a second reflective polarizer aligned to the first polarization direction, and a retarder aligned at 45 degrees to the first polarization direction. The color combiner includes partially reflective light sources coupled to the optical element. Un-polarized light having different colors can enter the color combiner through the light recycling stacks, and combined light of a desired polarization state can exit the color combiner. Light having an undesired polarization state can be recycled to the desired polarization state within the color combiner, so that light utilization efficiency is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Simon Magarill, Charles L. Bruzzone, Andrew J. Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 8477439
    Abstract: An image display device capable of maintaining continuity of images of adjacent image display elements on a display screen that is composed of a plurality of image display element includes image display elements (1, 2) and a prism (3). The prism (3) is an L-shaped prism having two planar surfaces, and image display elements (1, 2,) are arranged on the portion of the prism that corresponds to the rear side as seen from the viewing direction (9). Image display elements (1, 2) are arranged such that the virtual images (5, 6) of the image display portions of each are optically continuously connected in the prism (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Imai
  • Patent number: 8469516
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes: a polarization conversion element configured to align polarization directions of light emitted from a light source in one polarization direction; a color separation unit configured to separate the light whose polarization directions are aligned in the one polarization direction by the polarization conversion element; and a polarization adjustment element configured to adjust a polarization state of light in a predetermined wavelength band within a wavelength range of the light emitted from the light source. The polarization adjustment element is provided between the polarization conversion element and the color separation unit on an optical path of the light emitted from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Ikeda, Makoto Maeda
  • Publication number: 20130128239
    Abstract: A projecting apparatus is disclosed, which is disposed within a space defined with first, second and third imaginary planes perpendicular to one another and includes a light source, a prism, a reflecting mirror, and a reflective light valve. The light source emits a light beam propagating along a first optical path parallel with the first and second imaginary planes. The prism is disposed in the first optical path, and refracts the light beam to propagate along a second optical path. The reflecting mirror is disposed in the second optical path, and reflects the light beam to propagate along a third optical path. The reflective light valve is disposed in the third optical path, and has an active plane parallel with the second imaginary plane. Therefore, the light source can be placed horizontally with respect to the reflective light valve to reduce the space occupied by the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Huai-Ming TU, Sheng-Wei LIN
  • Patent number: 8434873
    Abstract: An interactive projection device includes a light source configured to emit an input light beam, wherein the light source comprises a visible light emitting device; a first beam splitter configured to split the input light beam into first and second split light beams; a second beam splitter configured to split a scattered light beam received from a surface into third and fourth split light beams; an image forming device configured to produce an image light beam based on the first split light beam and emit the image light beam onto the surface through the first and second splitters, thereby generating a projection image on the surface; and a detector configured to detect the invisible light of the third split light beam, thereby acquiring a scattering image from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
    Inventors: Yaojun Feng, Weiping Tang, Ying Liu
  • Publication number: 20130088691
    Abstract: The present invention provides a projection apparatus including a light source module, an illumination lens module, a light valve, and a projection lens. The light source module is configured to provide a first light beam, and the illumination lens module and the light valve are disposed on a first propagating path of the first light beam. The illumination lens module has a first optic axis. The light valve is configured to transfer the first light beam into a second light beam with an image, and the first light beam propagates through the illumination lens module to the light valve without reflection. The projection lens has a second optic axis substantially perpendicular to the first optic axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: QISDA CORPORATION
    Inventor: QISDA CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8414128
    Abstract: An optical projection device includes a laser engine, a first wave plate and a lens. The laser engine provides light. The first wave plate changes a light phase. The lens focuses light. A projecting method of an optical projection device includes providing a light including a first P polarized light, a first S polarized light, and a second S polarized light, and projecting light through a wave plate on a screen, wherein the wave plate moves in a direction perpendicular to light. A projecting method of an optical projection device includes providing light including a first P polarized light, a first S polarized light, and a second S polarized light, and projecting light through a wave plate on a screen, wherein the wave plate rotates around an axis parallel to a projecting direction of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Asia Optical International Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Chih Hsiung
  • Patent number: 8414131
    Abstract: The eyeglass-mountable image display device is an image display device which includes an image projection part and a clip which is mounted on the image projection part. The image projection part is held on eyeglasses by the clip which clamps a part of a lens portion of the eyeglasses from both surface sides of the lens portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsugi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8398244
    Abstract: A projector includes: a light source that emits light; a first lens array that divides the light emitted from the light source into a plurality of partial light beams; a second lens array that focuses the plurality of partial light beams emitted from the first lens array; condenser lenses that superimpose the plurality of partial light beams emitted from the second lens array on target illumination regions; and liquid crystal panels that modulate the light beams passing through the condenser lenses according to image information, wherein each of the condenser lenses is a single lens that achieves telecentric illumination when superimposing the partial light beams, and only the condenser lenses are arranged as lenses between the second lens array and the liquid crystal panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Shimizu, Katsumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8400713
    Abstract: Speckle effect in scanning display systems that employs polarized phase-coherent light is reduced by depolarizing the phase-coherent light using a depolarizer and scanning the depolarized light for producing desired images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Regis Grasser
  • Patent number: 8393737
    Abstract: A light engine combines light of first, second, and third color ranges using three pentagonal prism elements. Each prism has first and second diagonal surfaces. Each first diagonal surface has a first dichroic treatment and each second diagonal surface has a second dichroic treatment. The prisms are arranged with the first diagonal surface of the first prism juxtaposed with one diagonal surface of the third prism and with the second diagonal surface of the second prism juxtaposed with the other diagonal surface of the third prism. A first light beam of the first color is reflected at a right angle by the first diagonal surfaces, and a second light beam is reflected at a right angle by the second diagonal surfaces. A third light beam of the third color passes unreflected through the surfaces to produce a combined light beam or common output light path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahendra S. Dassanayake, Donald P. Bilger
  • Patent number: 8388150
    Abstract: An image forming system is described that includes a light source that provides a light beam and an anamorphic refractive optical element. A first outer surface of the anamorphic element faces the light source and includes a toric surface. The light beam is incident upon the first outer face and then an incident surface of the anamorphic element. The anamorphic element directs the light beam to an image forming device. An illumination system is also described where an anamorphic element includes a toric surface and a facet surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: William E. Phillips, III
  • Patent number: 8382288
    Abstract: A projector includes: a first solid-state light source device including a first solid-state light source emitting main excitation light, and a fluorescent layer converting the main excitation light to light including a first color light component and a second color light component different from the first color light component, and emitting converted light; a second solid-state light source device including a second solid-state light source emitting a third color light component different from the first and second color light components; a light modulation device modulating the first, second and third color light components in accordance with image information; a projection optical system projecting the modulated light components from the light modulation device as a projection image; and a color light combining optical system combining light emitted from the first solid-state light source device and the third color light component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shuji Narimatsu, Akira Miyamae
  • Patent number: 8376551
    Abstract: A color combining apparatus has first, second, and third color channels, each color channel having a light source that is energizable to direct light of a corresponding first, second, or third wavelength band, respectively, toward a color combining element. The color combining element is a single piece of a solid, transparent material having at least first and second flat coated surfaces that are noncontiguous. The first coated surface is treated to reflect incident light of the first wavelength band onto an optical axis and to transmit incident light of the second and third wavelength bands. The second coated surface is treated to reflect incident light of the second wavelength band and to transmit incident light of the third wavelength band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Joshua Monroe Cobb
  • Patent number: 8371712
    Abstract: A light source module of a projector includes a beam splitter, a red light source, a blue light source, and a blue light source. The beam splitter has a first reflection side, on which a first splitter film is provided, and a second reflection side, on which a second splitter film is provided. An angle between a normal line of the first reflection side, and a normal line of the second reflection side, is in a range between 165 degrees and 180 degrees. Both the first splitter film and the second splitter film permit red rays to pass therethrough. The red light source is separated from the blue and green light sources to obtain a better thermal dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Chien-Chih Hsiung, Yu-Hsiang Huang, Yun-Yi Lin
  • Patent number: 8373692
    Abstract: A first linearly polarized bundle of rays of incident rays is converted by optical modulation with an input video signal into a second linearly polarized bundle of rays orthogonal to the first rays in polarization. The first rays pass through a polarizer before optically modulated. A second linearly polarized bundle of rays originally involved in the incident rays is reflected by the polarizer in a first direction. The second rays obtained by the optical modulation are reflected by the polarizer in a second direction. The second rays reflected in the second direction pass through another polarizer. A first linearly polarized bundle of rays involved in the reflected second rays is reflected by the other polarizer. The reflected first rays is detected by an optical sensor that is positioned outside an optical path of the second rays originally involved in the incident rays and reflected in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Uchiyama, Masato Furuya, Tatsuru Kobayashi, Ryo Nishima, Motoshi Tohda, Yoshio Fukuzaki, Takeshi Makabe, Yasuo Ishizaka, Akihiro Hamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20130021392
    Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for implementing a wide field-of-view virtual image projector. A wide field-of-view virtual image projector may include a spatial light modulator configured to inject light rays into an input wedge. The input wedge acts to output the light rays with an increased fan-out angle into an output light guide positioned proximate the input wedge. The spatial light modulator is controlled to inject light rays into the input wedge effective to diffract the light rays out of the output light guide to generate a virtual image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Adrian Travis
  • Patent number: 8333476
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus includes light sources 111 to 113 emitting at least two colored lights whose wavelengths are different from each other, a polarization conversion element 2 controlling a polarization direction of the colored light, at least two light modulation elements 41 and 42 modulating incident light, a light guide optical system 31 guiding the at least two colored lights from the polarization conversion element to the at least two light modulation elements in accordance with the polarization direction, and a projection optical system 5. One of the at least two colored light and the other are emitted as lights whose polarization directions are different from each other from the polarization conversion element. A drive unit 6 turns on the light sources so that the one of the colored lights and at least one of the other enter the at least two light modulation elements at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Reona Ushigome, Kazuhiko Momoki
  • Publication number: 20120307213
    Abstract: A micro projection system includes a primary prism as a light guide device. The primary prism has a bottom face and two slope faces. A light source module and a collimation lens are arranged at the bottom face of the primary prism to project red, green, and blue lights onto one of the slope faces of the primary prism to be consolidated by a wedge prism group and reflected toward a polarization beam splitting wedge prism arranged at another slope face, where the light is split into two polarized lights that are then emitted out of the primary prism to be processed and combined as light of consistent polarization by a lens array and a polarization conversion film so as to facilitate condensation and projection of the light by a polarization beam splitter and a projection lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Ho Lu, Shih Po Yeh
  • Patent number: 8322864
    Abstract: A projection system incorporating a prism with dual total internal reflection function, to increase the performance of DLP™ projection, by offering a solution to combine 2 light paths to contribute to the brightness on the screen and at the same time rejecting flat-state and off-state light from entering the projection lens thereby enhancing contrast. In one implementation those two light paths can be collecting light from 2 different light sources which are driven in a pulsed manner with a duty cycle of approximately 50% for each of the two light sources at increased power. In a second implementation with a color sequential single DMD™ projector, while one light path passes a primary color the second light path passes the complementary secondary color. A special color transformation algorithm is proposed to transform the image input signals to make optimal use of the capabilities offered by the second implementation, and create maximum brightness and color saturation of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Barco N.V.
    Inventor: Dirk L. A. Maes
  • Publication number: 20120300180
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus is provided, which includes an illumination unit which generates illumination light, a first prism which receives the illumination light from the illumination unit and performs total reflection of the illumination light, a reflection mirror which receives the illumination light from the first prism and reflects the illumination light, an image forming unit which forms an image from the illumination light that is reflected from the reflection mirror, and a second prism which performs total reflection of the image that is formed by the image forming unit toward a screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wook-jae JEON, Jong-hoi KIM
  • Patent number: 8317330
    Abstract: The image display apparatus forms first and second images in mutually different viewing angle areas to display a combined (joined) image. The apparatus includes first and second image-forming elements respectively forming first and second original images, a first optical system reflecting a first light flux from the first image-forming element at least twice to introduce the first light flux to an exit pupil, and a second optical system reflecting a second light flux from the second image-forming element at least twice to introduce the second light flux to the first optical system. The first optical system introduces the first light flux and the second light flux from the second optical system to the exit pupil such that the first and second images respectively corresponding to the first and second original images are formed in the mutually different viewing angle areas in a first cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Yamazaki, Kazutaka Inoguchi, Kenichi Saito, Motomi Tsuyuki, Masakazu Tohara
  • Patent number: 8317331
    Abstract: A recycling system and method for increasing the brightness of light output using at least one recycling light pipe with at least one light source. The output end of the recycling light pipe reflects a first portion of the light back to the light source, a second portion the light to the input end of the recycling light pipe, and transmits the remaining portion of the light as output. The recycling system is incorporated into a projector to provide color projected image with increased brightness. The light source can be white LEDs, color LEDs, and dual paraboloid reflector (DPR) lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Wavien, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Li
  • Patent number: 8308302
    Abstract: An imaging system (200) is configured to reduce perceived speckle (106) in images (201) by introducing angular diversity into consecutively projected images. The imaging system (200) includes one or more laser sources (203) that are configured to produce one or more light beams (215). A light modulator (204) scans these light beams (215) to produce images. A light translation element (206) introduces the angular diversity by physically altering a light reception location (208) on the light modulator (204) between refresh sweeps. To preserve image stability, image data (220) in a memory (218) can be correspondingly shifted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Alban N. Lescure, Markus Duelli, Mark O. Freeman