Lamp Control Patents (Class 353/85)
  • Patent number: 8585213
    Abstract: A projection display device that includes a set of light source units (e.g., lasers or LEDs) and a control mechanism that monitors performance of each of the units, as well as external factors, e.g., time, ambient temperature, etc. is provided. The control mechanism may dynamically adjust each light source unit, for example, to maximize longevity. In operation, an optical modulator is configured to selectively transmit light produced by a subset of the light source units according to video data included in a video signal provided to the projection-type display device. A projection lens system is configured to project light transmitted by the optical modulator along a projection path. A sensor detects real time readings related to the performance of the set of light source units. In accordance with the readings, a control circuitry dynamically controls the laser set to dynamically vary the luminance of the set of light source units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Transpacific Image, LLC
    Inventor: William J. Plut
  • Patent number: 8585214
    Abstract: A video projector including a plurality of light sources is configured to project and display an image using light emitted from at least one of the light sources so that each light source is replaceable while other light sources are lit. The video projector includes a light source replacement detection unit that detects replacement of one or more light sources, a memory unit that stores information related to a combined lighting state of the light sources, and a control unit that changes the combined lighting state of the light sources when the replacement of at least one light source is detected without displaying, on the projected image, a setting screen used to change the combined lighting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Kotani
  • Publication number: 20130301014
    Abstract: A substrate guided relay includes multiple output couplers and multiple light valves positioned between the substrate and the output couplers. The number of light valves may be equal to the number of output couplers, or may be more or less than the number of output couplers. The light valves may be enabled sequentially, or may be enabled based on the position of a user's eye. The light valves may include liquid crystal material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: MICROVISION, INC.
    Inventors: Christian Dean DeJong, Markus Duelli
  • Publication number: 20130301012
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a substrate, a laminated body formed by stacking a first cladding layer, a first active layer, a second cladding layer, a third cladding layer, a second active layer, and a fourth cladding layer on the substrate in this order, a first electrode connected to the first cladding layer, a second electrode connected to the second cladding layer and the third cladding layer, and a third electrode connected to the fourth cladding layer, the first active layer generates first light using the first electrode and the second electrode, the second active layer generates second light using the second electrode and the third electrode, and a side surface of the first active layer is provided with an emitting section for emitting the first light, and a side surface of the second active layer is provided with an emitting section for emitting the second light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masamitsu MOCHIZUKI
  • Patent number: 8579443
    Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a scanned beam display, comprises a light source to generate a beam to be scanned and a scanning platform to scan the beam into an exit cone. The scanning platform receives the beam at a selected feed angle, and the scanning platform has a surface structure to redirect the exit cone at an exit angle that is less than the feed angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua M. Hudman, Wyatt O. Davis, Mark O. Freeman, Mark P. Helsel, David Roy Bowman, Kelly D. Linden
  • Patent number: 8573782
    Abstract: A discharge lamp drive device for driving a discharge lamp including a first electrode and a second electrode, include: a power supply unit which supplies alternating power to the discharge lamp by inputting alternating current between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the power supply unit includes a power reduction control unit which reduces the alternating power from a first level to a second level lower than the first level, and a duty ratio control unit which steppedly varies duty ratio of the alternating current in a predetermined period at the time of reduction of the alternating power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyasu Soma, Tetsuo Terashima
  • Patent number: 8573784
    Abstract: A projection apparatus is provided. The projection apparatus includes a light-emitting unit array, an optical sensor, and a control unit. The light-emitting unit array is for emitting an image beam. The optical sensor is for detecting electromagnetic waves so as to generate a signal. The control unit is electrically coupled to the light-emitting unit array and the optical sensor for controlling emission of the light-emitting unit array according to the signal from the optical sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Wen-Yung Yeh, Chia-Hsin Chao, Yu-Hung Chuang, Chia-Ling Li, Chun-Feng Lai, Hsi-Hsuan Yen, Sheng-Chieh Tai, Kuang-Yu Tai, Tse-Peng Chen
  • Patent number: 8573781
    Abstract: A projector that includes: a light source; a light-on/off unit that turns on or off the light source; a recording medium reproduction unit that reproduces information recorded on a recording medium, and outputs a video signal; a video signal processing section that converts the video signal provided by the recording medium reproduction unit, and generates a projection-video-use video signal; a light modulation unit that modulates a light coming from the light source based on the video signal generated by the video signal processing section, and emits a resulting video light; a projection system that includes a projection lens, and magnifies and projects the video light coming from the light modulation unit; a lens cover that opens and closes the front of the projection lens; a lens cover open/close detection sensor that detects an open/close state of the lens cover; and a control section that at least controls operation of the light-on/off unit and that of the recording medium reproduction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Koyama
  • Patent number: 8573783
    Abstract: A scanned projector and illumination system includes an energy-emitting source that is disposed in a projector and that emits energy beams out of the projector through an aperture. A scanning mirror is disposed in the projector and redirects energy beams therein. The scanning mirror moves such that the redirected energy beams form a scanning pattern with a scanning rate. A safety feature is disposed in the projector. The safety feature includes a fuse material. The energy beams move along the fuse material at the scanning rate. The safety feature modulates emission of the energy beams out of the projector through the aperture such that the energy beams are only emitted out of the projector through the aperture when the scanning rate of the energy beams is high enough to prevent the fuse material from reaching a threshold energy level at any location along the fuse material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Publication number: 20130286187
    Abstract: A system is provided that includes a laser projection apparatus and a fastener installation apparatus. The laser projection apparatus is configured to project an identifier of an instruction set including one or more instructions for installing a fastener or fastener collar on a structure, with the laser projection apparatus being configured to project the identifier onto the structure about a location at which the respective fastener or fastener collar is to be installed. The fastener installation apparatus is configured to capture an image of the projected identifier from the structure, determine the identifier from the captured image, and retrieve the instruction set based on the determined identifier. The fastener installation apparatus includes a tool for installing the respective fastener or fastener collar, and the fastener installation apparatus is configured to program the tool according to the retrieved instruction set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Raymond J. Slesinski
  • Publication number: 20130286362
    Abstract: A scanning-type image display devices includes: a light source; a scanning unit that scans light beams emitted from light source to display an image on a projection plane; and a control unit that controls the emission time of the light beam from the light source for each pixel of the image, and that also controls the emission time for each pixel depending on the scanning angle of the scanning unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventor: Hiroshi Imai
  • Patent number: 8567960
    Abstract: Emissive quantum photonic imagers comprised of a spatial array of digitally addressable multicolor pixels. Each pixel is a vertical stack of multiple semiconductor laser diodes, each of which can generate laser light of a different color. Within each multicolor pixel, the light generated from the stack of diodes is emitted perpendicular to the plane of the imager device via a plurality of vertical waveguides that are coupled to the optical confinement regions of each of the multiple laser diodes comprising the imager device. Each of the laser diodes comprising a single pixel is individually addressable, enabling each pixel to simultaneously emit any combination of the colors associated with the laser diodes at any required on/off duty cycle for each color. Each individual multicolor pixel can simultaneously emit the required colors and brightness values by controlling the on/off duty cycles of their respective laser diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Ostendo Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hussein S. El-Ghoroury, Robert G. W. Brown, Dale A. McNeill, Huibert DenBoer, Andrew J. Lanzone
  • Publication number: 20130278906
    Abstract: A projector includes a screen having a periodic array of color stripes for producing visible light depending on incident light, a light source that remits a light beam, a projection unit that scans an area of the screen where the color stripes are disposed, with the light beam in a direction across the color stripes, to display an image on the screen, a detector that detects the visible light from each of the color stripes as a feedback light pulse, and a controller that adjusts a start-of-emission timing of the light source based on a start-of-detection timing at which the feedback light pulse is detected by the detector and a detection period during which the feedback light pulse is detected by the detector, and controlling the light source to emit the light beam in order to apply light pulses to the color stripes within boundaries thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Yoshiho Yanagita, Osamu Ishibashi, Kazuhiko Aoki, Masahiko Ohta, So Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8562147
    Abstract: A projector including a lens, an IR emission circuit, an IR reception circuit and a central processing circuit is provided. The projector is controlled by a first infrared ray (IR) signal provided by a remote controller. The IR emission circuit emits a second IR signal to detect whether an obstacle is positioned on an optical path of the projection light. When an obstacle is positioned on the optical path, the second IR signal is reflected to the IR reception circuit via the obstacle. The IR reception circuit provides a first and a second output signal in response to the first and the second IR signal respectively. The central processing circuit determines that an obstacle is positioned on the optical path and accordingly alters an operational mode of the projector in response to the second output signal and controls the operation of the projector in response to the first output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Chun Chang, Hsien-Chun Tsou, Wei-Chun Huang, Hung-Yen Huang
  • Patent number: 8562150
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus in which an inclination and a positional deviation of optical axes among a plurality of light sources can be easily corrected to obtain a high quality projection image. Green, blue and red laser beams emitted from light sources are converted into collimated beams by condenser lenses, and the positions and angles of the optical axes of the beams of the three colors are evaluated by position detection imaging device and angle detection imaging device, respectively. The positions and angles of the light sources are adjusted by respective actuators so that the positions and angles of the optical axes match each other. Consequently, the laser beams emitted from the light sources can be combined with high accuracy to thereby realize a high definition projection type display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jiro Hashizume
  • Patent number: 8562141
    Abstract: A projection apparatus includes a fluorescence plate including a fluorescence layer configured to emit fluorescence light beams upon irradiation of the excitation lights, a first lens array, provided on a light source side of the fluorescence plate and including a plurality of lenses arranged in an array to correspond with the light-emitting elements, and configured to collect the fluorescence light beams and emit the fluorescence light beams to be parallel with one another, and a projection unit configured to form an optical image using the fluorescence light beams obtained via the first lens array and project the optical image on a projection object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ogino
  • Patent number: 8562149
    Abstract: A digital micromirror device module includes a flexible connection device, a digital micromirror device and a connecting interface. The flexible connection device includes a plurality of conducting wires and an external insulation layer, wherein the conducting wires are discretely arranged and encapsulated by the external insulation layer. The digital micromirror device unit is disposed on the external insulation layer of the flexible connection device and electrically connected with the conducting wires of the flexible connection device. The connecting interface is arranged at a lateral end of the flexible connection device and connected with the conducting wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Chen Hu, Yuan-Ming Hsu
  • Patent number: 8562139
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes: a light source emitting light; a spatial light modulator having a display region, and modulating the light emitted from the light source in accordance with an image signal; a projection device projecting the light modulated by the spatial light modulator onto a projection surface including an illumination region; and a deflecting section deflecting the light that is emitted from the light source and is then incident on the spatial light modulator. In this structure, the light emitted from the light source illuminates a part of the display region of the spatial light modulator, the light is deflected by the deflecting section, and the illumination region illuminated by the light moves on the projection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideya Seki
  • Patent number: 8562148
    Abstract: A control device that controls a video signal to be input to a display device and controls the luminance of a light source that causes light to be incident on the display device includes: a light source luminance control section that controls the luminance of the light source by means of a light source luminance control signal; a storage section that stores relationships between light source luminance control signals and video correction amounts; a video correction signal generating section that generates, on the basis of the video correction amount that is stored in the storage section and corresponds to the generated light source luminance control signal, a video correction signal that is used to correct the video signal; and a video signal correcting section that corrects the video signal by means of the video correction signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hirosada Horiguchi, Hiroshi Yoshimoto, Tadashi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8556432
    Abstract: There is provided a light source unit comprising a luminescent plate having a luminescent light emission portion and a diffuse transmission portion, a first light source which emits light of a wavelength band which can excite the luminescent material, a second light source which emits light of a wavelength band which differs from the luminous light and the light emitted from the first light source, a light guiding optical system which guides light of respective wavelength bands in color emitted from the luminescent plate to a predetermined plane, and a light source control part for controlling individually the emission of light from the first light source and the second light source, wherein the luminescent plate is disposed on optical paths of the first light source and the second light source, wherein a light shining position of light from the first light source and a light shining position of light from the second light source are made to differ from each other on the luminescent plate, and wherein the lig
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki Masuda
  • Patent number: 8556433
    Abstract: There is provided a projector comprising, a light source unit having a laser light emitter and a projection light producing device for converting the laser light into projection light, a display unit and a light guiding optical system which forms a projection optical path along which light from the light source unit is guided to the display device, the projector comprising a partial light separation unit which reflects or transmits part of light emitted from the projection light converting device of the light source unit so as to separate the part of the light to an optical path which is different from the projection optical path, a photosensor which is disposed on the optical path which is separated and changed by the partial light separation unit, a light intensity determination unit which detects an light intensity of the laser light which is separated by the partial light separation unit so as to determine whether or not the light intensity exceeds a threshold, and a light source control unit which stops
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Yoshigai
  • Patent number: 8550634
    Abstract: A light source module, a projection apparatus, and a method of controlling the projection apparatus are provided. The projection apparatus has the light source module. The light source module has a first light source, a wavelength transforming unit, and a driver. The first light source generates a first light beam having a first wavelength according to a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. The wavelength transforming unit transforms the first light beam into a second light beam having a second wavelength. The driver drives the wavelength transforming unit, such that the first light beam irradiates a start position on the wavelength transforming unit when a rising edge of the first PWM signal is detected. The start position is determined by a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Neng Tseng
  • Publication number: 20130258296
    Abstract: A projector includes a projection light source, a light-off detector that detects that the projection light source is shut off, and a relighting controller that carries out a relighting process for relighting the projection light source based on the detection performed by the light-off detector as a trigger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazutoshi OKADA
  • Publication number: 20130258297
    Abstract: A projector includes a projection light source, a light-off detector that detects that the projection light source is shut off, and a relighting controller that carries out a relighting process for relighting the projection light source based on the detection performed by the light-off detector as a trigger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazutoshi OKADA
  • Publication number: 20130250254
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting device includes a resonant circuit section connected to a discharge lamp, a power conversion section adapted to convert direct-current power into alternating-current power, and then supply the discharge lamp with the alternating-current power via the resonant circuit section, and a control section adapted to change a frequency of the alternating-current power in a stepwise manner with a frequency, which is different from a frequency causing a resonance of the resonant circuit section, intervening between frequency values of the frequency changed in a lighting start period until the discharge lamp reaches a stationary lighting state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Saito, Yasuaki Morita
  • Publication number: 20130250251
    Abstract: A second projector is configured to be able to connect with a first projector via a USB cable including a VBUS line. The second projector includes an image projecting unit that modulates light emitted from a light source and projects the light, a USB communication unit that detects, in a standby state, the supply of power via a VBUS from the first projector, and a control unit that performs control to switch an operating state of the second projector between the standby state and a normal operating state. When the supply of power of the VBUS is detected by the USB communication unit, the control unit activates the second projector from the standby state to the normal operating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinji Kubota
  • Publication number: 20130250255
    Abstract: A light source device includes first to third light sources, a fluorescent material, and a dichroic mirror. The dichroic mirror is constituted so that excitation light emitted from the first light source is transmitted through the dichroic mirror and applied to the fluorescent material, light of a first wavelength bandwidth emitted from the second light source is transmitted through the dichroic mirror and emitted in a predetermined emitting direction, generated light emitted from the fluorescent material is reflected by the dichroic mirror and emitted in the predetermined emitting direction, and at least a part of light of a second wavelength bandwidth from the third light source passes the outside of the dichroic mirror without entering the dichroic mirror, and is emitted in the predetermined emitting direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideyuki KUROSAKI, Hideki NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20130250253
    Abstract: A light source device includes a first light source, a fluorescent material, a second light source, and a synthesis member. The synthesis member includes a visible light reflecting film, and a transmitting window which is disposed in the visible light reflecting film to transmit the visible light. The second light source, the fluorescent material and the synthesis member are mutually arranged in such positional relations that the transmitting window is positioned along optical axis of light emitted from the second light source and that generated light emitted from the fluorescent material is reflected in an optical axis direction of the light emitted from the second light source by the visible light reflecting film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naotsugu OGURA
  • Patent number: 8541729
    Abstract: The image display system comprises laser light source units (2 to 4) for emitting green, red and blue laser beams, a laser output control unit (52) and a drive control unit (53). Upon detecting an overlapping in the output timing of the laser beams of two or more of the laser light source units, the drive control unit ceases the application of the drive current to at least one of the two or more laser light source units according to the output control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Yoshimoto, Takahisa Shiramizu
  • Patent number: 8540380
    Abstract: A projector is provided with a radiation source adapted to radiate an electromagnetic wave during an operation and an exterior housing adapted to house the radiation source inside, wherein the exterior housing includes a first housing made of synthetic resin, and a second housing including a shield material adapted to block the electromagnetic wave, and disposed at a position for covering the radiation source in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Okoshi
  • Patent number: 8534847
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a projector for projecting an image to a screen, including: a lamp configured to emit light; an elliptic reflecting mirror configured to reflect and condense the light from the lamp; a sensor configured to detect the amount of the light reflected and condensed by the elliptic reflecting mirror; a lamp power supply configured to supply power to the lamp to drive the lamp; and a control circuit configured to successively increase the power to be supplied from the lamp power supply to the lamp until after a variation value of the amount of the reflected light detected by the sensor becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Shirasu, Daizo Oka, Hiroyasu Morikawa
  • Patent number: 8534846
    Abstract: A projection apparatus and a method for adjusting a driving voltage of the projection apparatus are provided. The projection apparatus comprises an illuminant module, an output voltage control module, an illuminant driver module, and an illuminant driver management module. The output voltage control module is configured to output a driving voltage. The illuminant driver module is configured to output an illuminant voltage to the illuminant module after receiving the driving voltage. The illuminant driver management module is configured to receive the illuminant voltage and to detect a variation in the illuminant voltage. Then, the illuminant driver management module outputs a control signal to the output voltage control module according to the variation of the illuminant voltage. Finally, the output voltage control module adjusts the driving voltage according to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yao-Hsien Huang, Chao-Shun Yang
  • Patent number: 8529073
    Abstract: A display module includes a plurality of light sources that emit light toward a display panel having a screen with a first aspect ratio. An image with a second aspect ratio different from the first aspect ratio is displayed in the first region and not in the second region, and one or more light sources corresponding to the second region are selectively turned off so that luminance of the first region is different from luminance of a second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Bupsung Jung, Heewon Kwon, Hoon Hur
  • Patent number: 8523369
    Abstract: A method for compensating light reflection of a projection frame and a projection apparatus is provided. In the method, a preset frame is projected by the projection apparatus. Next, a spectrum of a light reflected by the projected preset frame is detected and compared with an original spectrum of the preset frame. A light characteristic value of the projected preset frame is then adjusted accordingly, so as to compensate a difference between the detected spectrum of the reflected light and the original spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Jian-Wei Lee, Hsin-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 8523403
    Abstract: A reflector spotlight luminaire includes a housing defining an optical axis. The light source is provided that includes one or more white light emitting LEDs, the lights being arranged to direct a beam of white light along the axis of the housing, such as being reflected from an ellipsoidal reflector. An image engine in the form of an LCD panel intercepts the beam of white light traveling along the axis to modify and enhance the beam of white light with image data, such as color, shape, animation, etc. Conventional projection optics accumulates the image emitted by the image engine, projects the optically enhanced light beam through the housing onto a projection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Altman Lighting Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Roger Pujol
  • Patent number: 8525431
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus for a high-pressure discharge lamp that has an electric discharge container made of quartz glass, and containing a pair of counter electrodes and a power supply unit that supplies AC current to the high-pressure discharge lamp. The power supply unit has a stationary power lighting mode and a modulated power lighting mode that supplies current having power less than power in the stationary power lighting mode. The modulated power lighting mode supplies a rectangular AC current having a first term and a second term. A mean high-frequency current value supplied to a first electrode is greater than a mean current value supplied to a second electrode in the first term. A current is supplied to the second electrode for a term longer than the half-cycle period in the second term, the current being lower than the mean high-frequency current value supplied to the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Yamada, Takanori Samejima, Takashi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8523368
    Abstract: A projection image display apparatus including a detachably attachable light source unit includes: a storage means provided to the light source unit and having previously stored therein information that the light source unit is a genuine product; a determination means making a comparison with the information in the storage means to determine whether the light source unit is the genuine product; and a light source control means controlling an output of the light source unit in accordance with a result from the determination means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Fujisaki, Hiromitsu Okuno
  • Publication number: 20130222775
    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: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventor: So Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20130222774
    Abstract: The image display device resolves inconsistency in the brightness of the image while effectively reducing local speckle noise that remains due to the laser scanning of which the scanning speed fluctuates. A waveform pattern (PT2) that includes an on period and an off period within the pixel displaying period (T2) is selected for the center pixel (P512). A waveform pattern (PT1) that includes an on period and an off period within the pixel displaying period (T1) that is longer than the pixel displaying period (T2) is selected for the side pixel (P1) or (P1023) that is scanned at a scanning speed slower than that for the center pixel (P512). Here, the on period in the waveform pattern (PT1) is segmented more than the on period in the waveform pattern (PT1), and the time ratio of the on period accounting for the waveform pattern (PT1) is smaller than the time ratio of the on period accounting for the waveform pattern (PT2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Atsuhiko Chikaoka
  • Patent number: 8517541
    Abstract: A projection image display device has a plurality of light sources, a phosphor layer that emits light through excitation by at least any one of the light sources, an optical section, a temperature detector, a light-source intensity controller, an amplitude controller, a luminance controller. The optical section determines an optical path of light emitted from the light sources and the phosphor layer. The temperature detector directly or indirectly detects temperature of the phosphor layer or of the periphery of the phosphor layer. The light-source intensity controller controls intensity of an excitation light source that excites the phosphor layer. The amplitude controller controls the amplitude of a projection image signal. The luminance controller controls luminance of projection images by switching the light-source intensity controller and the amplitude controller according to a detected temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Kimoto, Takaaki Gyoten, Hiroshi Kitano
  • Patent number: 8520149
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for increasing the effective contrast ratio and brightness yields for digital light valve image projectors using a variable luminance control mechanism (VLCM), associated with the projector optics, for modifying the light output and provide a correction thereto; and an adaptive luminance control module (ALCM) for receiving signals from the video input board, the adaptive luminance control module producing a signal on a VLCM bus connecting the variable luminance control mechanism and the adaptive luminance control module, the signal causing the variable luminance control mechanism to change the luminance of the light output and provide a corrected video signal for the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Allen Video Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Eddie A. Allen, Thomas D. Strade, Christopher Coley
  • Publication number: 20130215399
    Abstract: A driving device includes a switching regulator and a timing controller. The switching regulator includes a switching element, a smoothing circuit including an inductor connected to the switching element, and a controller that turns on/off the switching element. The switching regulator converts input voltage to output voltage as output of the smoothing circuit by turning on/off the switching element. The timing controller controls the controller to operate and stop operating. The controller performs constant current control by feeding back inductor current, generating a PWM signal based on the fed-back current and a target value, and outputting the PWM signal to the switching element so that the inductor current approximates to the target value. When performing the constant current control, the controller sets the target value to a value different from a reference target value for a steady period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8513893
    Abstract: A high-pressure discharge lamp lighting device that suppresses deterioration and the expansion of inter-electrode distance in a pair of electrodes within a high-pressure discharge lamp, more effectively than conventional technology. The frequency of the AC current supplied to a high-pressure discharge lamp alternates between a first frequency and a second, higher frequency, while the magnitude of the AC current alternates between a first value and a second, higher value. The suppressing effect is realized by repeatedly alternating the frequency and repeatedly alternating between a first period at the first frequency and a second period at the second frequency, with the second, higher-magnitude current being used in the latter and the first current being used in the former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Syunsuke Ono, Hiroji Morimoto, Minoru Ozasa, Masahiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8506093
    Abstract: A projector that projects an image to a projection object using light emitted from a light source lamp, including a light adjustment sensor that measures the projection distance to the projection object and the intensity of reflected light from the projection object; a zoom position sensor that detects a zoom ratio; and a control section that adjusts the intensity of light emitted from the light source lamp based on the projection distance and the reflected light intensity measured by the adjustment sensor and the zoom ratio detected by the zoom position sensor so as to keep the luminance of a projection image displayed on the projection object constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kato
  • Patent number: 8506092
    Abstract: A projector includes a discharge lamp, a discharge lamp driver that supplies the discharge lamp with a current, a voltage detector that detects a drive voltage for driving the discharge lamp, and a controller that controls the discharge lamp driver. The controller carries out a first control process in which the discharge lamp driver is so controlled that an absolute magnitude of the drive current in a first period is smaller than that in a second period and that an AC current is supplied to the discharge lamp in a second period. The first control process includes a first electric power control process in which first average drive electric power is determined based on the voltage detected by the voltage detector and a current is supplied to the discharge lamp in such a way that average drive electric power is set at the first average drive electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shun Sato, Tetsuo Terashima
  • Publication number: 20130201458
    Abstract: A wavelength conversion element includes a phosphor layer that includes phosphors and a binder. The thickness of a phosphor region obtained by multiplying the thickness of the phosphor layer by the volume concentration of the phosphor is equal to or larger than 15 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8500289
    Abstract: A projector is provided which can reduce power consumption while preventing the deterioration of a luminescent material by heat by controlling a luminescent wheel to rotate or stop rotating. The projector of the invention includes a light source unit having an excitation light source, a luminescent wheel on which a luminescent material layer is laid circumferentially which becomes luminous using light emitted from the excitation light source as excitation light and a wheel motor for driving the luminescent wheel, a display device, a light guiding optical system which guides light emitted from the light source unit to the display device, a projection side optical system which projects projection light generated in the display device, and a motor control part which determines whether to stop or drive the wheel motor in such a state that excitation light is shone on to the luminescent material layer by the excitation light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mamoru Shibasaki
  • Patent number: 8492999
    Abstract: A method for controlling electrical power of light emission diodes (LED) is provided. The above method comprises steps of providing a supply voltage to the LED driver; providing a driving current to the LED by the LED driver; obtaining an operating voltage of the LED; and adjusting the supply voltage according to the operating voltage of the LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Lumens Digital Optics Inc.
    Inventor: Wen-Chin Cheng
  • Patent number: 8491130
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus 100, 200 includes a plurality of light sources 3a, 3b, a plurality of light source power supplies 2a, 2b configured to supply electric power to the plurality of light sources, and a lighting controller 6 configured to control the plurality of light source power supplies so as to select and light at least one light source of the plurality of light sources in accordance with each lighting history of the plurality of light sources. The lighting controller 6 lights a predetermined light source continuously after the lighting history of one of the plurality of light sources reaches a predetermined value, and the lighting controller 6 lights a light source other than the predetermined light source after the lighting history of the predetermined light source reaches a predetermined lifetime value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Kuratomi
  • Patent number: 8485671
    Abstract: A projector apparatus includes a light source configured to emit light beams of a plurality of color components, emissions of the light beams being controlled individually, a projection unit configured to form images respectively corresponding to the color components using the light beams from the light source for each frame and to sequentially project the images, a driving unit configured to drive the light source so that the light beams are emitted as light pulses having respectively predetermined pulse widths for a period in which the projection unit projects each of the images, a detector configured to detect deterioration levels of the light source respectively for the color components, and a controller configured to control the pulse widths of the light beams emitted from the light source based on the deterioration levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mamoru Shibasaki