Lamp Control Patents (Class 353/85)
  • Patent number: 9039187
    Abstract: The present invention seeks to realize a small etendu illumination optical system, a longer operating life and a higher brightness. The illumination optical system comprises: a laser light source that generates an excitation light; a fluorescent substance that generates a fluorescent light in response to the excitation light, a light tunnel that outputs the excitation light input at one end thereof to the fluorescent substance from the other end thereof, and that outputs the fluorescent light generated by the fluorescent substance from the one end thereof; and a mirror that is placed within a light path between the laser light source and the light tunnel, and that reflects the fluorescent light, the mirror having an aperture formed thereon that allows the excitation light to pass through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: NEC DISPLAY SOLUTIONS, LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Katou
  • Publication number: 20150138516
    Abstract: An illumination system including at least one laser light source, a wavelength conversion device, and a two-dimensional (2D) anisotropic diffusion sheet is provided. The laser light source emits a laser beam, and the wavelength conversion device is located on a transmission path of the laser beam. The 2D anisotropic diffusion sheet is located on the transmission path of the laser beam and between the laser light source and the wavelength conversion device. Besides, the 2D anisotropic diffusion sheet allows the laser beam to have an increasing degree of a divergent angle in a first direction greater than an increasing degree of a divergent angle in a second direction. The first direction is substantially parallel to a slow axis of the laser beam. A projection apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: CORETRONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hao-Wei Chiu, Chi-Hsun Wang, Ko-Shun Chen
  • Publication number: 20150138167
    Abstract: A method for reducing a light intensity of a projection device is provided which includes the following steps: projecting information in the form of a visual representation onto a total area; emitting a plurality of electromagnetic signals which are essentially imperceptible to an observer onto the total area, using the projection device; detecting objects situated in the light path between the projection device and the total area with the aid of the electromagnetic signals; and reducing the light intensity of the projection device as long as an object is detected in the light path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel Kreye, Frank Fischer, David Slogsnat, Ming Liu, Gael Pilard
  • Publication number: 20150131063
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a projection arrangement. The projection arrangement may include a discharge lamp; and a ballast for the discharge lamp. The ballast is designed to provide, during operation of the projection arrangement, a lamp current in the form of alternating current and having an average frequency and a preset waveform, which has a preset commutation scheme, to the discharge lamp. The preset commutation scheme is preset by a preset time sequence of commutations of the lamp current. The ballast is designed to provide the lamp current in such a way that the preset commutation scheme of the lamp current is deviated from repeatedly with at least one preset intervening time period by at least one DC phase with a preset time duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Marc Czichy, Norbert Magg
  • Patent number: 9022573
    Abstract: An image display device includes a light source; a power supply section that supplies power to light source; a cooling fan that cools the light source; an input section; a drive section that supplies a voltage to cooling fan; a control section that controls drive section and power supply section. The control section sets a first power value for the output of the power supply section and also a first voltage value for the output of the drive section. The control section measures a time at which the light source has been lighted. If the measured value exceeds a threshold, the control section gradually increases the output of the power supply section up to a second power value that is greater than the first voltage value over a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinori Shioya, Jiro Takami
  • Patent number: 9022578
    Abstract: A projection display device includes light sources having light-emitting elements for emitting lights in R, G, B colors, temperature sensors for the respective colors disposed near the light sources in the respective colors, light sensors for the respective colors disposed near the light sources in the respective colors for detecting light leakages from the light sources in the respective colors, a cooling unit for cooling the light sources in the respective colors, light modulators employing three panels of liquid crystal devices, a projection optical system, an amount-of-light controller for maintaining a predetermined ratio of the amounts of lights emitted from the light sources in the respective colors, and a cooling controller for controlling the cooling unit for the light sources in the respective colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuichi Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 9022579
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting circuit for and a lighting method of a high-pressure discharge lamp whereby remarkable reduction in illuminance maintaining rate can be avoided by reducing variation in inter-electrode distance in the beginning of usage without modulating a lighting frequency. The object can be achieved by a lighting circuit configured to light a high-pressure discharge lamp by supplying an alternating lamp current, which includes at least one pulse current superimposed on the former half of each half period of a base lamp current and at least two pulse currents and superimposed on the latter half of each half period, to the high-pressure discharge lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Phoenix Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Ushijima, Tetsuya Gouda
  • Patent number: 9022577
    Abstract: A light source device includes an excitation light source configured to emit and stop an excitation light with a predetermined timing, a fluorescent wheel configured to rotate, the fluorescent wheel including a fluorescent material applied thereon for emitting a fluorescent light in a predetermined wavelength range when irradiated with the excitation light, and an irradiation spot changing unit configured to change a spot on the fluorescent material irradiated with the excitation light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Toshiharu Murai
  • Publication number: 20150116673
    Abstract: A circuit is provided for generating a modulated laser diode control signal from a laser diode control signal, the circuit having an RF modulator for modulating the laser diode control signal with a modulation signal; the circuit having adjustment means for adjusting the RF modulator; the adjustment means being configured or configurable as a function of at least one laser diode operating information item. Furthermore, a laser diode receptacle is described as having such a circuit, a projector, particularly an image projector having such a laser diode receptacle, an image projector having such a laser diode receptacle and a laser diode, as well as a method for adjusting an RF modulator of such a circuit and a method for producing such a laser diode receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Juergen Seidel, Reinhold Fiess, Juergen Hasch, Annette Frederiksen, Thomas Hilberath
  • Publication number: 20150116672
    Abstract: A scanning laser projector detects obstructions in a projector field of view using a proximity detector that detects infrared light at a photodetector. The photodetector is tested with an additional infrared light source. The additional infrared light source may also be used as proximity detector that can detect a local obstruction blocking the photodetector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Woltman, Robert James Jackson
  • Patent number: 9016867
    Abstract: A projector includes a housing, a light source disposed in the housing, a light projection unit, disposed in the housing, to project light emitted from the light source, a detector to detect a load caused by an object blocking the light projection unit, and a microprocessor to activate a protection operation for the projector when the detector detects that the load caused by the object blocking the light projection unit exceeds a threshold load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Sato
  • Patent number: 9016873
    Abstract: A method for providing a feedback circuit for a three dimensional projector. First and second input devices and a sensor for determining the rotational speed of the second input device are provided. A control device for controlling the rotational speed of the second input device and a phase locked loop (PLL) are provided. A phase reference signal is created based on the signal rate of the first input device. A phase signal is created based on the rotational speed of the second input device. The PLL compares the phase reference signal and the phase feedback signal to determine whether the first input device and the second input device are synchronized. A signal is sent to the control device for the second input device to change the rotational speed of the second input device in response to determining that the first input device and the second input device are not synchronized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Casimer M. DeCusatis
  • Publication number: 20150109582
    Abstract: An electronic unit that include a projector (100) and removable module (102) that communicates data to the projector (100), wherein the projector (100) alters its power consumption in response to data received from the removable module (102).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Ernesto M. Rodriguez, JR., Shuguang Wu, James K. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 9010937
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes a red light emitting device to emit red light; a green light emitting device to emit green light; a blue light emitting device to emit blue light, each of the red light emitting device, the green light emitting device, and the blue light emitting device disposed separately from any other. Among the red light emitting device, the green light emitting device and the blue light emitting device, at least two light emitting devices each includes a first light source and a second light source, the first light source emitting light having a wavelength of a light of a primary color, and the second light source emitting light having a wavelength deviated from the wavelength of the light of the primary color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Sato
  • Publication number: 20150103322
    Abstract: A discharge lamp driving device includes: a discharge lamp driving unit which supplies drive power to a discharge lamp; and a control unit which controls the discharge lamp driving unit according to a waveform of the drive power. The waveform has n launching periods and a low-power mode lighting period. The n launching periods include a first launching period in which the drive power increases toward refresh power that is equal to or above drive power in a low-power mode and equal to or below rated power, and (n?1) launching periods in which the drive power is maintained at the refresh power. The control unit, in an x-th launching period, supplies the discharge lamp with a drive current having a drive frequency equal to or below a drive frequency of a drive current supplied to the discharge lamp in an (x?1)th launching period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Yoichi NAKAGOMI, Junichi SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20150103320
    Abstract: A projector includes a light source apparatus, a light modulator that modulates light outputted from the light source apparatus in accordance with image information, and a projection system that projects light modulated by the light modulator. The light source apparatus outputs light formed of first light of a narrow wavelength band having a first wavelength where the optical intensity peaks and second light of a narrow wavelength band having a second wavelength where the optical intensity peaks, and the separation between the first and the second wavelength is set at a value greater than ¼ of one-cycle wavelength of a ripple among ripples contained in an optical spectrum of light that results from the light incident on the light modulator and is reflected off the light modulator, the ripple located in the wavelength regions of the first light and the second light, but smaller than ¾ of the one-cycle wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Chiyoaki IIJIMA, Masakazu KAWAMURA, Yutaka TSUCHIYA
  • Publication number: 20150103324
    Abstract: A discharge lamp driving device includes: a discharge lamp driving unit which supplies drive power to a discharge lamp having electrodes; a storage unit which stores information with respect to the discharge lamp; and a control unit which controls the discharge lamp driving unit, wherein the control unit is configured to execute a stationary lighting driving in which first drive power is supplied to the discharge lamp and a high-power driving in which second drive power that is higher than the first drive power is supplied to the discharge lamp, and the control unit sets first execution information of the high-power driving on the basis of first information with respect to the high-power driving stored in the storage unit, at a predetermining setting timing, and controls the discharge lamp driving unit according to the first execution information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Yoichi NAKAGOMI, Junichi SUZUKI, Tetsuo TERASHIMA
  • Publication number: 20150103323
    Abstract: A discharge lamp driving device includes: a discharge lamp driving unit which supplies drive power to a discharge lamp; and a control unit which controls the discharge lamp driving unit. The control unit is configured to execute a first driving in which first drive power is supplied to the discharge lamp and a second driving in which second drive power that is equal to or higher than the first drive power and equal to or lower than rated power of the discharge lamp is supplied to the discharge lamp. The control unit executes the second driving in a launching period of the discharge lamp, and adjusts a heat load applied to the discharge lamp in the second driving executed in the launching period, according to a degree of deterioration of the discharge lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Yoichi NAKAGOMI, Junichi SUZUKI, Tetsuo TERASHIMA
  • Patent number: 9004700
    Abstract: A projector system that includes a first input device, a second input device, a control device, a sensor and a phase locked loop (PLL). A phase reference signal is created based on a signal rate of the first input device. A phase feedback signal is created based on the rotational speed of the second input device as it is measured by the sensor. The PLL compares the phase reference signal and the phase feedback signal to determine whether the first input device and the second input device are synchronized. A signal is sent to the control device for the second input device to change the rotational speed of the second input device in response to determining that the first input device and the second input device are not synchronized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Casimer M. DeCusatis
  • Publication number: 20150091799
    Abstract: A projector (100) including a plurality of systems (110, 130) and a port (140) adapted to receive and communicate with a removable module (102). More particularly, the projector (100) is capable of indicating its capabilities to the removable module (102), receiving return information from the removable module (102), and selectively configuring the systems (110, 130) according to the return information when such removable module (102) is inserted into the port (140).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Shuguang Wu, Ernesto M. Rodriguez, JR., James K. Kennedy, Phillip J. Bergeron, Ronald D. Jesme
  • Patent number: 8992030
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus includes a light source, light from which is used to form an image to be projected, a first flow path, a control unit configured to control a light emission from the light source, an electrical power stabilizing unit configured to stabilize an electrical power to be supplied to the light source, and an electrical power source unit configured to supply the electrical power to at least one of the control unit and the electrical power stabilizing unit. One or both of the electrical power source unit and the electrical power stabilizing unit is/are divided into a plurality of boards. The light source is arranged on a normal line of a surface of any of the plurality of boards. The plurality of boards configure surfaces of the first flow path except a surface nearest to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masamichi Yamada, Tetsuya Fujioka, Yasutada Tsukioka, Naoyuki Ishikawa, Hideo Kanai
  • Publication number: 20150085262
    Abstract: There is provided a luminescent light emitting device including a mirror layer, a luminescent material plate that is formed on one surface side of the mirror layer, and a conductive thin wire film in which a conductive thin wire is disposed and that lies on the other surface side of the mirror layer, in that luminescent light that is emitted by the luminescent material plate is emitted to the front that is one surface side of the luminescent material plate by the mirror layer, and damage done to the luminescent material plate is detected by a disconnection of the conductive thin wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naotsugu OGURA
  • Patent number: 8988006
    Abstract: A projector includes: a discharge lamp; a discharge lamp driving unit that drives the discharge lamp by supplying a driving power to the discharge lamp through supply of a driving current thereto; and a control unit that controls the discharge lamp driving unit based on plural operating modes in which maximum values of the driving power are different from one another, wherein the control unit switches the operating mode through a transition period and controls the discharge lamp driving unit so that an average value of a frequency of the driving current in the former half of the transition period becomes larger than an average value of a frequency of the driving current in the latter half of the transition period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuo Terashima, Shun Sato
  • Patent number: 8979277
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, apparatus and system for digital cinema color management. In one embodiment, a digital cinema color management system includes a projection device configured to project image content and a color meter configured to measure color levels of the projected image content. A control device is also provided including a validation module configured for validating the measured color levels of the color meter for preventing the creation of erroneous correction data. A calibration module determines if calibration of the color levels is required and provides real-time corrective color information to a projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Joshua Pines, Michael Allan Sterling
  • Patent number: 8979280
    Abstract: A light source lamp lighting device includes a light source lamp, cooling means for cooling the light source lamp, an extinguishing time measurer that calculates extinguishing time information indicating an extinguishing period when the light source lamp was last switched off to a present time, a storage that stores lighting performance, which is a history of successes and failures of lighting the light source lamp, a plurality of cooling times corresponding to an extinguishing period when the light source lamp is switched off indicated by the extinguishing time information as a cooling time for causing the cooling means to operate, and a first threshold set with respect to the lighting performance, and a controller that reads out, in lighting the light source lamp, the lighting performance, the cooling time stored in the storage based on the extinguishing period when the light source lamp is switched off calculated by the extinguishing time measurer, and the first threshold and, when a number of successes of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuaki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8982286
    Abstract: A chart generation unit generates an adjustment chart, and a projection unit projects the adjustment chart onto a circular cylinder. A parameter acquiring unit acquires 12 parameters in total, relating to the positions of four corners and middle points of a top side and a bottom side of a chart and lateral expansion of the chart, the chart being input by a user through manipulations of an operation unit. A transform function determination unit calculates, from the total of 12 parameters, an accurate transform function for projecting an image onto the circular cylinder. An image conversion unit applies geometric transformation to the image based on the calculated transform function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuro Narikawa
  • Patent number: 8979278
    Abstract: A first light source control section controls the drive timing of each of the first and second light sources, and light-source light generation section such that the light-source light generated from each of the light-source light generation section and second light source is cyclically generated. A detection section detects the light intensity of the light-source light generated from each of the light-source light generation section and second light source. A storage section stores therein the light intensity value of the light-source light generated from each of the light-source light generation section and second light source detected by the detection section. A second light source control section adjusts the light emission state of each of the first and second light sources on the basis of the detection results of the detection section with respect to the light-source light intensity values stored in the storage section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuro Narikawa
  • Publication number: 20150055097
    Abstract: A discharge lamp driving device includes: a direct-current power supply section (a power supply section) that controls a current of power to be supplied to a discharge lamp from input power, and outputs the current; a voltage detecting section that detects a lamp voltage (a drive voltage) of the discharge lamp; and a control section that controls a modulation factor of a lamp current (a drive current) on which amplitude modulation has been performed, the lamp current (the drive current) which is supplied to the discharge lamp from the direct-current power supply section (the power supply section), in accordance with the detected lamp voltage (drive voltage) of the discharge lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventor: Keishi KIMURA
  • Patent number: 8960926
    Abstract: In order to minimize a change in the luminance of a projected image caused by a lamp refreshing process, projector 10 according to the present invention includes lamp refreshing controller 13 which, upon detecting that the lighting power of lamp 15 is lower than rated power thereof for a given period of time, increases the lighting power of lamp 15 to the rated power and, after elapse of a predetermined period of time, reduces the lighting power to an original level thereof, and aperture data generator 16 which controls the aperture of optical diaphragm 18 depending on a change in the lighting power to keep constant the amount of light passing through optical diaphragm 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8960924
    Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, a filtering module, a wavelength conversion unit, and a reflection unit is provided. The light source emits an illumination beam. The filtering module is disposed on a transmission path of the illumination beam and includes a plurality of filtering units having different colors. The filtering units move into the transmission path of the illumination beam in turn. Each filtering unit reflects a part of the illumination beam and allows another part of the illumination beam to pass through. The wavelength conversion unit is disposed on a transmission path of the part of the illumination beam reflected by at least one of the filtering units to convert the part of the illumination beam reflected by the at least one of the filtering units into a converted beam. The wavelength conversion unit is disposed on the reflection unit. A projection apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Chen-Kang Su, Chao-Shih Huang
  • Patent number: 8960919
    Abstract: An image projection device includes a number-of-times measurement section that measures the number of passage times that the scanned laser light has passed through the light radiation members, a time measurement section that is triggered to measure an elapsed time when the number-of-times measurement section measures the number of passage times, an arithmetic section that calculates an initial timing at which the laser light source section starts outputting the laser light based on the measurement results of the number-of-times measurement section and the time measurement section, and a signal generation section that generates the switch signal at the initial timing calculated by the arithmetic section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: So Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8960925
    Abstract: A projector display module and its power saving method are provided. The projector display module includes a signal source, an analog-to-digital converter, a display control unit, a ballast, and a light source. The display control unit retrieves signal from the signal source and outputs a control signal to the ballast to adjust the power of light source. The display control unit includes a comparison module and a control signal generation module. The power saving method includes the following steps: retrieving the first pixel data of a preset position of the first frame and the second pixel data of the preset position of the second frame from the signal source. The display control unit compares the first pixel data and the second data to produce a comparison result. According to the comparison result, the display control unit produces a control signal to adjust the power of light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: BenQ Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Pen Huang
  • Patent number: 8960927
    Abstract: A coherent light source apparatus includes a coherent light source, a first optical system, a light deflection unit, a second optical system and a light mixing unit disposed in that order. The coherent light source forms a first light emission region, and light projected therefrom forms a second light emission region near the light deflection unit, which deflects light flux from the second light emission region. The second optical system forms a third light emission region which is conjugate to the second light emission region near an input end of the light mixing unit, which mixes angle and a position components of incident light. The light deflection unit is configured to continuously changing a direction in which the light flux is deflected, thereby reducing speckling in light emitted from the light mixing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Okamoto, Takahiro Toma, Yuichi Miura, Mikio Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8960911
    Abstract: A projector includes a lamp that emits projection light to project 3D picture, in which a right eye image and a left eye image are represented in a time division manner, to an object, a synchronization signal transmission section which transmits shutter synchronization signal to glasses having a right eye shutter and a left eye shutter to control the opened state or the closed state of the right eye shutter and the left eye shutter, based on the signal indicating a displaying period of the right eye image and the left eye image of 3D picture, and a lamp drive section that supplies AC current having peak overlapping with a period when the right eye shutter of the glasses is in the opened state and peak overlapping with a period when the left eye shutter of the glasses is in the opened state to the lamp, based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hirosada Horiguchi, Hiroshi Yoshimoto, Tadashi Yamada, Keiji Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 8960917
    Abstract: A digital light processing projector includes a light emitting diode (LED), a laser, a rotatable optical element, a reflector, a first filter, a second filter, a digital micro-mirror device (DMD), and a projection lens. The LED and the laser respectively emit a first and second homogeneous lights. The rotatable optical element converts a first portion of the second homogeneous light to a third homogeneous light, reflects the third homogeneous light, and transmits a second portion of the second homogeneous light. The reflector reflects the third homogeneous light. The first filter transmits the first homogeneous light, and reflects the second portion to the second filter. The second filter transmits the second portion and the first homogeneous light, and reflects the third homogeneous light to the DMD. The DMD modulates the first, second and third homogeneous lights to obtain optical images. The projection lens projects the optical images on a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kuo-Fong Tseng
  • Publication number: 20150049372
    Abstract: A free-space dynamic diffractive projection apparatus comprises a laser light source element, a dynamic diffractive element, a control element, and a signal output element. Based on a pattern signal outputted from the signal output element, the control element controls the laser light source element to emit a color beam, and controls the dynamic diffractive element to perform real-time signal modulation so as to generate different dynamic diffractive grating distributions in a specific period. Accordingly, the color beam passes through the dynamic diffractive element to produce the pixels defined by the pattern signal in a specific space. The control element controls the dynamic diffracting element to be quickly switched to display each pixel, so that each pixel is projected on a corresponding position in a specific space to form a two-dimensional geometric image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Forward Electronics Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Wen CHEN, Hsien Chih CHIU
  • Patent number: 8955986
    Abstract: Provided are a projection system, a lighting device, and a method for controlling thereof. The projection system includes: a light source unit including a first light source and a second source for projecting a first color corresponding to that of the first light source; a sensing unit for measuring a temperature of each of the first and second light sources; and a driver IC for driving at least one of the first light source and the second light source according to a temperature value measured by the sensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae Bong Park
  • Patent number: 8955977
    Abstract: A projection-type image display apparatus includes a color separation element including a color separation surface, a light modulation element configured to receive the light divided by the color separation element, a polarizing beam splitter disposed between the color separation element and a projection optical system to separate a light path of a light modulated by the light modulation element according to a polarization direction and guide the resulting light to the projection optical system, and a phase difference plate disposed between the color separation element and the light modulation element. An optic axis of the phase difference plate and the normal of the color separation surface are substantially parallel or perpendicular to each other, in a cross section parallel to a normal of the color separation surface and a normal of the light modulation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Yamaguchi, Takehito Kawasumi
  • Patent number: 8950873
    Abstract: A coherent light source apparatus comprises a first optical system, which has a first light emission region formed by a coherent light source, and which projects light from the first light emission region to form a second light emission region, a light deflection unit which deflects light flux in connection with formation of the second light emission region; a second optical system, which forms a third light emission region in response to the light flux which has been deflected by the light deflection unit, a light mixing unit for mixing a component of an incident light angle and that of a position thereof, and a light deflection unit drive circuit for receiving a periodic optical deflection synchronization signal, thereby driving the light deflection unit, wherein the light deflection unit operates to continuously change a direction in which the light flux is deflected while synchronizing with the optical deflection synchronization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Okamoto, Takanori Samejima, Mikio Shimizu, Yuichi Miura
  • Patent number: 8950869
    Abstract: A method for projecting a three-dimensional image, that includes providing a first light source and a second light source. A polarizing beam splitter (PBS) is disposed adjacent the first light source and the second light source. An imaging device is adjacent the PBS. A polarization flipping element is disposed adjacent the PBS opposite the imaging device, and a mirror is disposed adjacent the polarization flipping element. A first light is emitted from the first light source. The first light is polarized such that it reflects through the PBS to a polarization flipping element. The first light passes through the polarization flipping element twice such that it will reach the surface of the imaging device. The second light is emitted from the second light source after the first light is emitted. The second light is polarized such that the light passes through the PBS to the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Casimer M. DeCusatis
  • Patent number: 8950868
    Abstract: The head-up display device sequentially displays a virtual image (51V) of a guide light from one end of a reflector (30) side, in the back inside of a virtual image (83V) of an opening bezel formed into a square frame displayed along an outer edge of a projection area (71) of a window shield, and further displays a virtual image (20V) of display information in the back thereof. The amount of travel of the virtual images (51V) of the guide light when the reflector provided in the head-up display device rotates is smaller than the amount of travel of the virtual image (20V) of the display information. Therefore, even if the virtual image (20V) of the display information falls outside the projection area, the virtual images (51V) of the guide light remain in the projection area, and are displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Kunimitsu Aoki, Nobuyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8944605
    Abstract: There is disclosed a laser projector and a method of processing a signal thereof. The laser projector includes a plurality of laser sources configured to generate lasers, a controller configured to control each of the generated lasers to be incident on a specific region of a screen with a time difference, and a scanner configured to scan each of the lasers on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jaewook Kwon, Junghwan Choi, Junghoon Seo, Chanyoung Yoon, Yongki Kim, Sangkeun Lee
  • Publication number: 20150029468
    Abstract: An image display apparatus including a light source; a light source control unit configured to control electric power to be supplied to the light source; a light source cooling unit configured to cool the light source; a cooling control unit configured to control the light source cooling unit; an image display device; an illumination optical system configured to introduce light from the light source to the image display device, and a projecting optical system configured to project light modulated by the image display device. When the light source control unit receives a turn-off command, the light source control unit first lowers electric power to be supplied to the light source to a predetermined electric power lower than normal electric power to be supplied when the lamp is on, and then blocks the supply of the electric power to the light source, thereby turning the light source off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Yuya Kurata
  • Publication number: 20150022788
    Abstract: A projector includes a projection section adapted to project light, a human detection section adapted to detect a human existing in a predetermined region, and a mode switching section adapted to switch an operation mode to one of a content mode for projecting light of an image related to a content by the projection section, and an illumination mode for projecting light for illumination by the projection section in accordance with a detection result of the human detection section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroaki SHINHA, Koichi MIYASAKA, Hirofumi KASUGA, Tadashi KINEBUCHI, Shuji NARIMATSU, Hidehito IISAKA
  • Patent number: 8936369
    Abstract: An illuminator includes: a light source section including a laser light source; an optical element through which a laser beam from the laser light source passes; a driving section oscillating the optical element; and a control section controlling, in a driving operation performed by the driving section, the driving operation to allow an oscillating amplitude value of the optical element in a startup period of the optical element to be equal to or less than the oscillating amplitude value of a steady-state operation period of the optical element that is subsequent to the startup period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Isobe
  • Publication number: 20150015853
    Abstract: A detection image generation section generates a detection image, which is an image for detection a state of a projection image, image, and includes a plurality of detection image parts, and background images covering respective peripheries of the detection image parts. Each of the detection image parts includes a plurality of regions with respective luminance values different from each other, and the background images have luminance values lower than the luminance values of the detection image parts. The detection image generation section changes at least one of a luminance distribution of each of the detection image parts of the detection image to be generated and a size of each of the background images so that a luminance distribution of each of the detection image parts of the taken detection image obtained by imaging is approximated to a luminance distribution of corresponding one of the detection image parts of the detection image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Nakashin
  • Publication number: 20150009477
    Abstract: A light source control device and a light source control method each capable of preventing the scroll noise from occurring without being affected by the characteristics of a light modulation device, and a projector equipped with the light source control device are provided. The light source device includes a duty determination section adapted to determine a duty ratio, and a drive control section adapted to perform drive control of a plurality of solid-state light sources by generating a PWM signal having the duty ratio determined by the duty ratio determination section, and adapted to make a phase with which at least one of the solid-state light sources is driven different from a phase with which another of the solid-state light sources is driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Takashi TOYOOKA, Kazuhisa MIZUSAKO
  • Patent number: 8926102
    Abstract: A safety protection method for a laser projection apparatus is provided. The laser scanning apparatus includes a laser source, a laser source driver, a scanning mirror, and a light-outputting port. The laser source driver is configured to drive the laser source to emit a laser beam. The safety protection method includes the following steps. Firstly, after the laser projection apparatus is powered on, an optical path of the laser beam is adjusted, so that the laser beam is not ejected out from the light-outputting port. Then, the laser source driver is disabled. Then, a judging step is performed to judge whether an intensity of the laser beam is higher than a threshold level. If the intensity of the laser beam is higher than the threshold level, the laser source is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Yu-Nan Tsai
  • Publication number: 20140375968
    Abstract: A projector includes a light source that emits excitation light, a fluorescent body that converts the excitation light into fluorescence, a liquid crystal optical modulation device that modulates light output from the fluorescent body, an optical sensor that detects at least one of the excitation light passing through the fluorescent body and the fluorescence converted by the fluorescent body, and a control device that controls at least one of the light source and the liquid crystal optical modulation device based on a detection result of the optical sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Masahide TSUDA, Osamu SAITO, Kenichi SHIOIRI, Shigehiro YANASE
  • Publication number: 20140368798
    Abstract: A semiconductor light source driving apparatus includes a light source unit including plural light source modules connected in series, each light source module including a series circuit including one or more series-connected light source elements and a switching element connected in parallel with the series circuit, a current detection unit for detecting a current flowing into the light source unit, and a controller. The controller identifies a light source module including a light source element which has disconnection failure based on a signal from the current detection unit, and stores information indicating the identified light source module in the memory unit. The controller turns on the switching element of the light source module including the light source element having disconnection failure based on the information stored in the memory unit to solve the disconnection failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Takaaki GYOTEN