Lamp Control Patents (Class 353/85)
  • Patent number: 8480236
    Abstract: A projector includes: an illumination system which has a light source, and a light control unit opened and closed to shield a part of light emitted from the light source; a light modulation device illuminated by illumination light received from the illumination system; an air supply device which supplies air to the light control unit and the light modulation device; and an air supply control unit which decreases an air supply amount to the light modulation device when increasing an air supply amount to the light control unit in accordance with a relatively closed condition of the light control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Tadachi
  • Patent number: 8482217
    Abstract: The high pressure discharge lamp ballast drives a high pressure discharge lamp with a synthesized-waveform alternating current made of multiple frequency components, the high pressure discharge lamp having a pair of electrodes disposed to face each other. The ballast controls a ratio of the multiple frequency components per unit time; applies a synthesized-waveform current in accordance with the ratio to the high pressure discharge lamp; and detects a lamp parameter of the high pressure discharge lamp. The control circuit is configured to shift the ratio to a first ratio when the lamp parameter is in a first state, and shifts the ratio to a second ratio when the lamp parameter is in a second state. The control circuit changes the ratio stepwise when the ratio is shifted from the first ratio to the second ratio, or when the ratio is shifted from the second ratio to the first ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tooru Nagase, Yoshiaki Komatsu, Shinichi Suzuki, Makoto Ohkahara, Hirokazu Harasawa, Yoshiaki Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20130169939
    Abstract: A light source system includes a luminescent wheel, a driving unit for rotating the luminescent wheel, a light source for shining excitation light on to a luminescent material layer of the luminescent wheel, a light shining control unit for controlling an illumination timing of the light source, a light shining time integrating unit for integrating individual excitation light shining times to a plurality of predetermined divided areas of the luminescent wheel, an integrated light shining time storage unit for storing the individual light shining times to the predetermined divided areas, and a light shining range control unit for equalizing times over which excitation light is shone on to the plurality of predetermined divided areas of the luminescent wheel based on the individual excitation light shining times to the predetermined divided areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8474985
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting device includes a lamp current control portion that generates, in synchronization with an input video signal, a control signal for controlling polarity reversal of an AC current with a steady-state lighting frequency and an AC current with a low frequency, and a lamp driving portion that drives the discharge lamp based on the control signal that is output by the lamp current control portion. The lamp current control portion generates a control signal for a brightness reduction waveform with timing corresponding to polarity reversal of the AC current with the steady-state lighting frequency, and the lamp driving portion inserts a current reduction waveform into the AC current with the low frequency by decreasing a voltage applied to the discharge lamp based on the control signal for the brightness reduction waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Ueda
  • Patent number: 8474987
    Abstract: A projector includes: an illuminator that emits an illumination light flux; a light control mechanism that blocks at least part of the illumination light from the illuminator; a light modulator illuminated with the illumination light from the illuminator; a projection system capable of projecting modulated light formed by the light modulator and switching the f number when the modulated light is projected; and a control unit that controls the open/close state of the light control mechanism in accordance with the f number of the projection system so that illumination light having an angular distribution corresponding to the f number of the projection system is incident on the projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nishida, Osamu Fujimaki, Katsumi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20130162960
    Abstract: Provided is an image display device which carries out bi-directional line sequence scanning, and which appropriately corrects positioning misalignment of projection spots while efficaciously minimizing speckle noise. A laser controller unit sets waveform patterns when scanning in the forward direction, reflecting waveform patterns (GPT, BPT) about the time axis. The laser controller unit further sets waveform patterns when scanning in the reverse direction, reflecting the waveform patterns when scanning in the forward direction about the time axis. Waveform patterns (RPT, GPT, BPT) comprise drive start timings and drive end timings of laser sources within a pixel display period. The off period from the start timing of the pixel display period to the drive start timing and the off period from the drive end timing to the end timing of the pixel display period are set to be asymmetrical about the time axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Atsuhiko Chikaoka
  • Publication number: 20130162959
    Abstract: The present invention belongs to the technical field of semiconductor devices and relates to a brightness-adjustable illuminator and an array and the manufacturing methods thereof. The illuminator is comprised of a semiconductor substrate, a MOSFET and a light-emitting diode that are located on the semiconductor substrate. The light-emitting diode (LED) and the control element (MOSFET) thereof are integrated on the same chip, so a single chip is capable of realizing the image transmission. An illuminator array may consist of a plurality of illuminators. Meanwhile, the invention also discloses a method for manufacturing the illuminator. Therefore, the projection equipment manufactured by the technology of the present invention has the advantages of small size, portability, low power consumption, etc. Furthermore, the use of the integrated circuit chip greatly simplifies the system of the projection equipment, reduces the production cost and greatly enhances the pixel quality and brightness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: FUDAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Pengfei Wang, Xi Lin, Xinyan Xiu, Wei Zhang
  • Patent number: 8465159
    Abstract: A projector has a storage unit storing data on a plurality of different light emission patterns each occurring in a period based on a plurality of different-colored lights, wherein each light emission pattern corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of different projection conditions of a color image. An acquiring unit acquires a present projection condition of the color image, and a controller controls a light emission operation of the plurality of different-colored light emitting elements in the period in accordance with data on a light emission pattern corresponding to the present projection condition of the color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masakuni Iwanaga
  • Patent number: 8465158
    Abstract: A plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements separately emits light of each of a plurality of colors. A reference signal output section outputs a reference signal for each of the plurality of colors. A selection section selects a reference signal for each of the plurality of colors output from the reference signal output section in accordance with a light-emission timing of each of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements. An operation control section, provided for each of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements, holds an operation value fitted to a light-emitting characteristic of a corresponding semiconductor light-emitting element and converts the reference signal selected by the selection section by an operation. A drive section drives corresponding one of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements on the basis of a signal which has converted by the operation control section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Mamoru Shibasaki
  • Patent number: 8459802
    Abstract: Constant current control is performed after the completion of starting operation of a high-pressure mercury-vapor lamp 4 and then lighting is shifted to constant power lighting. Except during a modulation forbidden period as a certain period from the completion of the starting operation, the frequency of an alternating current is subjected to frequency modulation control for being modulated to at least a first frequency and a second frequency having higher audibility than the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Syunsuke Ono, Go Yamada, Masahiro Yamamoto, Minoru Ozasa
  • Patent number: 8461772
    Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp ballast performs driving with a synthesized current waveform comprising a combination of first and second sets of current waveforms. The ballast controls content rates of each of the sets per unit time; detects a rotation synchronization signal for a color wheel; applies a synthesized current waveform in accordance with the synchronization signal and the content rates to a high pressure discharge lamp; and detects a lamp voltage. A period of each of the first and second sets equals to one rotation of the color wheel. The number of inversions of the second set is larger than that of the first set. The content rate of the second set is set to RL% when the lamp voltage exceeds a value V, and the content rate of the second set is set to RH% when lamp voltage falls below a value V?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tooru Nagase, Yoshiaki Komatsu, Shinichi Suzuki, Makoto Ohkahara, Hirokazu Harasawa, Yoshiaki Kuroda
  • Patent number: 8454172
    Abstract: A projector device includes: an image generation unit that generates an image; an irradiation unit that irradiates light for projecting the image generated by the image generation unit upon a projection surface; and a change unit that changes luminance of the light irradiated from the irradiation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Fujinawa, Setsu Mitsuhashi, Hirotake Nozaki, Akira Ohmura
  • Publication number: 20130128240
    Abstract: A projector, adapted to project image light while making the image light wide-angle with a reflecting section to thereby display an image, includes a detection section adapted to detect an obstacle, which blocks the image light reflected by the reflecting section, a message display section adapted to display a warning message within the image if the detection section detects the obstacle, and a display position change section adapted to change a display position of the warning message within the image in accordance with passage of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seiko Epson Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130128241
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus includes: a display element that displays an image; a lamp that illuminates the display element to cause the display element to emit an image light; a variable light intensity element that allows the light emitted from the lamp to pass therethrough, the intensity of light passing through the variable light intensity element being variable; and a light intensity controller that determines whether the display element is at an image mute state in which a full-black image is displayed, or at a normal lighting state other than the image mute state, and when the display element is at the image mute state, reduces the amount of power supplied to the lamp to a level that is lower than that of the normal lighting state to decrease the intensity of light emitted from the lamp, and also decreases the intensity of light that passes through the variable light intensity element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Yukinori Shioya, Hiroki Tanaka, Kenji Kanzaka, Michio Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8444275
    Abstract: A color projection display in which at least one color channel includes: a light source assembly including a multiplicity of pulse modulated light sources providing an aggregate light beam; a light modulation control subsystem; illumination optics to direct the aggregate light beam to an image modulation plane; and a spatial light modulator in the image modulation plane. The light modulation control subsystem senses an aggregate light intensity signal for the aggregate light beam and controls the pulse modulation parameters for the multiplicity of pulse-modulated light sources responsive to the sensed aggregate light intensity signal to reduce light intensity fluctuations in the aggregate light beam within the imaging time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Andrew F. Kurtz, Richard P. Corey, Allen D. Bellinger
  • Patent number: 8444273
    Abstract: A light source device includes a first light source configured to emit light in a first wavelength band, a light-source light generation section configured to generate light of each of a plurality of colors by time division by using the first light source, a second light source configured to generate light of a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band, and a light source control section. The light source control section is configured to cause each of the light-source light generation section and the second light source to generate light in one period, and to control a drive timing of each of the first and second light sources to adjust a light-emission timing and a light-emission period of light generated by each of the light-source light generation section and the second light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mamoru Shibasaki
  • Patent number: 8444276
    Abstract: A light source device includes: a light source section which comprises plural laser diodes; a pulse driving section which divides the laser diodes of the light source section into plural groups, each group having the same number of the laser diodes, and drives the laser diodes of the each group by a pulse having a predetermined period and a predetermined duty ratio; and a light source driving section which controls a phase of the pulse for the each group so that the same number of the laser diodes are emitted in succession when the laser diodes of the each group are driven by the pulse driving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mamoru Shibasaki
  • Publication number: 20130120718
    Abstract: Provided is a technique capable of effectively reducing local speckle noise caused by scanning with laser light involving a variation in scanning speed and improving the overall quality of an image. A laser light source emits laser light with an output level Lc corresponding to a display grayscale of a pixel according to a predetermined waveform pattern PT within a pixel display period which is set to increase as a scanning speed Vh is reduced. The waveform pattern PT is set such that a unique relaxation oscillation of the laser light source increases as the scanning speed Vh is reduced. A scanning mirror reflects the laser light emitted from the laser light source in a predetermined scanning order according to its deflection angle so as to be projected onto a projection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Kenji Nagashima
  • Publication number: 20130114050
    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: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Masamichi YAMADA, Tetsuya Fujioka, Yasutada Tsukioka, Naoyuki Ishikawa, Hideo Kanai
  • Publication number: 20130114051
    Abstract: A lighting system (100) includes at least one controllable light source (125) configured to provide a light having at least one attribute; an image renderer (135) configured to render at least one image; and a system controller (110) configured to select the image in corresponding to the selected attribute. The system controller (110) may be configured to receive at least one script associated with different light attributes such as different light intensity or brightness levels, and to change the image in response to changes of the light attribute in accordance with the script.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
  • Patent number: 8434875
    Abstract: A light source unit comprising an optical wheel having a plurality of segment areas and including luminescent light emitting areas where at least two luminescent material layers having different characteristics are provided in a circumferential direction, a wheel motor for driving to rotate the optical wheel, an excitation light source for shining light on to the optical wheel, a light emitting light source and a collective optical system for collecting a light beam from the optical wheel and a light beam from the light emitting light source to the same optical path, wherein the excitation light source is selectively turned on to illuminate the at least two luminescent material layers having different characteristics which are disposed on the luminescent light emitting areas, and wherein the light emitting light source is turned on for a period of time during which the excitation light source does not shine the excitation light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki Masuda
  • Publication number: 20130107231
    Abstract: The fabrication costs is suppressed to a lower level by simplifying fabrication steps, and a high-performance optical device, a fabrication method of this optical device and a projector including the optical device are provided. An optical device is an optical device in which an optical component is fixed to a base member via spacers by screws and the spacers are inserted in at least either of a first space defined between the optical component and the base member and a second space defined between the base member and head portions of the screws, and a total thickness of the spacers is made constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130107230
    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: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventor: Toshiharu MURAI
  • Patent number: 8430512
    Abstract: An image projection device for displaying an image onto a remote surface. The image projection device employs a scanner to project image beams of visible light and tracer beams of light onto a remote surface to form a display of the image. The device also employs a light detector to sense at least the reflections of light from the tracer beam pulses incident on the remote surface. The device employs the sensed tracer beam light pulses to predict the trajectory of subsequent image beam light pulses and tracer beam light pulses that form a display of the image on the remote surface in a pseudo random pattern. The trajectory of the projected image beam light pulses can be predicted so that the image is displayed from a point of view that can be selected by, or automatically adjusted for, a viewer of the displayed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Patent number: 8425053
    Abstract: A projector includes: a light source; a light modulating device; a projection optical device; a lighting control device configured to control lighting of the light source and include a lighting unit; a control unit includes a storage section, a determination section, an information setting section configured to store problem related information regarding the problem in the storage section, a signal transmission section configured to indicate that the problem has occurred, and a detection unit configured to detect a driving state of the lighting control device; a control device configured to connect with the light control device and includes a main body side storage section, and an information acquisition section configured to acquire the problem related information when the problem occurrence signal is received and stores the problem related information in the main body side storage section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Keishi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8427731
    Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a display apparatus comprising a light source is provided, said light source comprising at least one superluminescent light emitting diode (SLED), the apparatus further comprising at least one light modulating device arranged in a beam path of a light beam emitted by said light source and operable to emit influenced light upon incidence of said light beam, the light modulating device being operatively connected to an electronic control, the display apparatus further comprising a projection optics arranged in a beam path of said influenced light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Exalos AG
    Inventors: Valerio Laino, Lorenzo Occhi, Christian Velez
  • Patent number: 8419194
    Abstract: A locally dimmed display has a spatial light modulator illuminated by a light source. The spatial light modulator is illuminated with a low resolution version of a desired image. The illumination may comprise a series of lighting elements that vary smoothly from one element to another at the spatial light modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Gregory John Ward, Wolfgang Stuerzlinger, Helge Seetzen
  • Patent number: 8419193
    Abstract: A projection apparatus including an illumination unit, a brightness detection circuit, a signal conversion circuit, and a control unit is provided. The illumination unit generates a light source according to a plurality of driving signals and provides a temperature sensing signal according to the temperature of the light source. The brightness detection circuit generates a plurality of brightness sensing signals. The signal conversion circuit converts the temperature sensing signal and the brightness sensing signals into temperature information and a plurality of brightness information. The control unit comprises a setting table for storing a predetermined temperature information and a plurality of predetermined brightness information, and the control unit adjusts the driving signals in order to identify the converted temperature information and the converted brightness information conform to the stored information in the setting table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Himax Display, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Chun Kuo, Chia-Cheng Lai, Chih-Hung Yang, Ming-Cheng Chiu
  • Patent number: 8419195
    Abstract: This projector includes a laser beam emitting portion emitting a laser beam and a projecting portion projecting an image on an arbitrary projection region by scanning the projection region with the laser beam. This projector further includes a control portion controlling the laser beam emitting portion not to emit the laser beam by stopping supplying current to the laser beam emitting portion in a previously set partial scanning section within a scanning section for the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nishigaki, Atsuya Hirano, Atsuhiko Chikaoka, Ken Nishioka
  • Publication number: 20130088693
    Abstract: A projector includes: a discharge lamp; a discharge lamp drive section which supplies an electric power to the discharge lamp; and a control section which controls the discharge lamp drive section, wherein a period interposed between the switching timings which are temporally adjacent to each other starts in a first period and ends in a second period, wherein the control section controls, on the basis of a correlation pattern which indicates the correlation between a first electric power and a second electric power, the discharge lamp drive section to supply the first electric power to the discharge lamp in the first period and to supply the second electric power to the discharge lamp in the second period, and wherein the correlation pattern includes a pattern in which as the second electric power is decreased, the ratio of the first electric power to the second electric power is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuo TERASHIMA, Tatsuhiko NOBORI, Shunsuke HINO
  • Publication number: 20130083300
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting device includes: a discharge lamp drive section which supplies electric power to a discharge lamp; a voltage detecting section which detects drive voltage of the discharge lamp; and a control section which controls the discharge lamp drive section, wherein the control section performs a first control process of controlling the discharge lamp drive section so that the electric power supplied to the discharge lamp is a first power based on the drive voltage detected by the voltage detecting section during a period when the first control process is previously performed, and a second control process of controlling the discharge lamp drive section so that the electric power supplied to the discharge lamp is a second power different from the first power based on the drive voltage detected by the voltage detecting section during a period when the second control process is previously performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shun SATO, Yasuaki MORITA
  • Publication number: 20130083299
    Abstract: A projector and a light source controlling method thereof are provided. The light source controlling method includes the following steps. The light source module is controlled to adjust a luminance of a projection light generated by a light source module starting from a low luminance. A power source voltage from an electronic device is detected to be equal to a threshold voltage or not. A power of the power source voltage is detected to be equal to a threshold power or not. When the power source voltage is equal to the threshold voltage and the power of the power source voltage is less than or equal to the threshold power, or when the power source voltage is greater than or equal to the threshold voltage and the power of the power source voltage is equal to the threshold power, the adjustment of the luminance of the projection light is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: CORETRONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shun-Tai Chen, Chih-Neng Tseng
  • Patent number: 8408719
    Abstract: A projection apparatus projecting images of respective color components sequentially includes a light source section having a plurality of light emitting elements (where n is a natural number greater than one), and a driving control section for driving each of the light emitting elements making up the light source section, by a pulse width modulation scheme with a phase difference based on ?/n (where ? is a lighting period unit), in synchronism with a projection period unit of the image of each color component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mamoru Shibasaki
  • Patent number: 8408718
    Abstract: A locally dimmed display has a spatial light modulator illuminated by a light source. The spatial light modulator is illuminated with a low resolution version of a desired image. The illumination may comprise a series of lighting elements that vary smoothly from one element to another at the spatial light modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Gregory John Ward, Wolfgang Stuerzlinger, Helge Seetzen
  • Publication number: 20130077061
    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: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Isobe
  • Patent number: 8403493
    Abstract: A light source controller is configured to control timings of driving the first and second light sources and the light-source light generator, so that the light-source light of two or more colors generated by the light-source light generator and the light-source light emitted from the second light source are cyclically generated, by setting a light-emitting period of at least one light-source light color having a higher luminous efficiency out of the two or more colors generated by the light-source light generator, shorter than those of the other light-source light colors, and setting a drive power of the first light source during generation of the light-source light color whose light-emitting period is set short, greater than a drive power of the first light source during generation of the other light-source light colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ogawa, Mamoru Shibasaki
  • Patent number: 8403492
    Abstract: A light source device includes: a first light source configured to emit a first source light in a first wavelength range; a source light generator configured to generate, from the first light, a color-varying source light having time varying color; a second light source configured to emit a second source light in a second wavelength range that is different from the first wavelength range; and a light source controller configured to control driving timing for turning on and off each of the first light source and the second light source so as to cyclically select one of the color-varying source light and the second source light to be output as an output source light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mamoru Shibasaki
  • Publication number: 20130070214
    Abstract: Miniature projection devices will enable the use of common household objects as the projection screen for still and moving images. This application describes a set of techniques and embodiments for implementing image projection inside a lamp such as a table or wall lamp and provides techniques for dealing with the unique physical attributes of lamps such as the shape of the lamp and the bright source of light that would tend to wash out the projected image. In addition, the invention presents a series of novel embodiments that respond changes in the environment to enable an immersive user experience and operation as a pet entertainment device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventor: Vincent Luciano
  • Publication number: 20130070215
    Abstract: A light source device has a laser light emitting element including a cylinder portion, a flange portion and lead wire terminals, a collimator lens, a collimator lens holder including a collimator lens mounting depressed portion and a hole portion communicating with the depressed portion and accommodating the cylinder portion, and a light source element holder holding the laser light emitting element and including a lead wire outlet hole portion accommodating the lead wire terminals and penetrating from a front surface to a rear surface, and a front surface of the flange portion is fastened by the perimeter of a rear end of the hole portion to press the laser light emitting element against the front surface of the light source element holder to thereby fix the laser light emitting element to the light source element holder, an adhesion fixing member being filled in the lead wire outlet hole portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8398247
    Abstract: A light source device includes a first light source configured to emit light within a first wavelength band, a light-source light production section configured to sequentially produce light-source light of a plurality of colors at predetermined frequency by using light emitted by the first light source, a second light source configured to emit light within a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band, and a light source control section configured to control drive timing for each of the first and second light sources such that a light emission period for light-source light using light emitted by the second light source is positioned between light emission periods for the light-source light of the plurality of colors produced by the light-source light production section and that the light-source light using light emitted by the second light source has a frequency higher than that of the light-source light production section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20130063704
    Abstract: A white balance adjustment method and apparatus for a single DLP projector system is disclosed. The projection system includes a solid state light source device, a sync signal generator, and a controller. The light source device generates an output which is a repeating color sequence of at least two primary color lights. The sync signal generator generates a synchronization signal representing a timing of the color sequence of the output light. The controller calculates drive current values corresponding to each of the two primary colors based on a target white balance and measured color properties of the output light, and supplies a modulated drive current to the light source device. The modulated drive current is synchronized to the sync signal and has the calculated drive current values. As a result, a white light having the target white balance is output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: APPOTRONICS CORPORATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Fei Hu, Yi Li, Liangliang Cao
  • Patent number: 8393741
    Abstract: There are provided a light source system which can suppress the deterioration of a luminescent material and a projector which can project a clear image. The light source system comprises a luminescent wheel, a driving unit for rotating the luminescent wheel, a light source for shining excitation light on to a luminescent material layer of the luminescent wheel, a light shining control unit for controlling an illumination timing of the light source, a light shining time integrating unit for integrating individual excitation light shining times to a plurality of predetermined divided areas of the luminescent wheel, an integrated light shining time storage unit for storing the individual light shining times to the predetermined divided areas, and a light shining range control unit for equalizing times over which excitation light is shone on to the plurality of predetermined divided areas of the luminescent wheel based on the individual excitation light shining times to the predetermined divided areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuyasu Fukano
  • Patent number: 8388145
    Abstract: An image processing device in a projection system that includes a first image generation section adapted to project first image on a projection surface and a second image generation section adapted to project second image on the projection surface so as to overlap the first image is disclosed. The image processing device includes: a pixel shift amount calculation section adapted to calculate a pixel shift amount between the first image and the second image; a modulation transfer function (MTF) obtaining section adapted to obtain MTF at a predetermined frequency, corresponding to the pixel shift amount calculated by the pixel shift amount calculation section; a correction filter generation section adapted to generate a correction filter adapted to correct the MTF so that the image displayed on the projection surface has desired sharpness; and a filter applying section adapted to apply the correction filter to image data corresponding to the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Manabu Saigo
  • Publication number: 20130050661
    Abstract: A light source device includes a discharge lamp that has a first electrode and a second electrode opposed to each other in a hollow portion in which a discharge medium is enclosed and a driving device that supplies a driving voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode. The driving voltage is applied to the discharge medium through the first electrode and the second electrode such that the discharge medium emits light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi SUZUKI, Satoshi KITO
  • Publication number: 20130050662
    Abstract: A light source device includes a discharge lamp, and a discharge lamp driving device that supplies a driving current to a pair of electrodes. The discharge lamp driving device includes an alternating current supply unit that supplies an alternating current with a frequency equal to or higher than 1 kHz and equal to or lower than 10 GHz to the electrodes, and a direct current supply unit that supplies a direct current to the electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi SUZUKI, Satoshi KITO
  • Patent number: 8382295
    Abstract: A electronic device that includes an optical assembly containing a projector, an imager, or both is described. The optical assembly may be disposed in an accessory such as a cover for the electronic device, or the electronic device itself. The optical assembly may be attached by a flexible connector or articulated arm that, when extended, positions the optical assembly generally above a plane of an electronic display of the device. The optical assembly may project images onto the electronic display, portions of the cover, or other surfaces. An imager in the optical assembly detects user gestures or other visual inputs to initiate commands on the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Kim, Joseph J. Hebenstreit
  • Patent number: 8382292
    Abstract: A light source module adapted to be used in a projection apparatus includes a first LED device, a second LED device, and a light switching element. The first LED device emits a first light beam along a first light path during a first time period. The second LED device emits a second light beam along a second light path during a second time period. The light switching element is disposed at an intersection of the first light path and the second light path for permitting one of the first light beam along the first light path and the second light beam along the second light path to be transmitted along a third light path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: Chin-Ku Liu
  • Publication number: 20130044297
    Abstract: A projector which includes a light source, liquid crystal light valves, a dimming mechanism, an illumination optical system, a control circuit which determines an input light amount which is caused to be input to the liquid crystal light valve on the basis of an input image signal, outputs an output image signal which is decompressed according to the input light amount, and generates a first control signal which designates a first dimming rate of a high pressure mercury lamp and a second control signal which designates a second dimming rate of the dimming mechanism based on the input light amount, an illumination driving circuit which drives the light source on the basis of the first control signal, and a douser driving circuit which drives the douser on the basis of the second control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirosada HORIGUCHI, Hiroshi YOSHIMOTO, Tadashi YAMADA
  • Patent number: 8376553
    Abstract: Provided is an image display apparatus, including: a light modulation element; an illumination optical system which includes at least one light source unit including a plurality of light emitting units two-dimensionally arranged and illuminates the light modulation element; and a projection optical system for enlarging and projecting an image of the light modulation element onto a projection surface, in which: an image of the plurality of light emitting units is imaged at a position corresponding to a stop of the projection optical system; the stop has an aperture shape of rotational asymmetry or of two-fold symmetry; and the plurality of light emitting units have illuminance intensities each independently controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chiaki Inoue, Koshi Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: RE44279
    Abstract: A frame sequential color display projection system (110) of this invention includes an arc lamp (112) having a predetermined power rating for providing a source of polychromatic light that propagates through a color wheel (120) that sequentially provides R, G, B, and optionally, W light colors during respective sequential time periods. A display controller (131) is synchronized with the color wheel to generate color image data during the respective time periods. A light valve, such as a DMD (130), receives the color image data for generating the frame sequential color display. A lamp ballast (156) is also synchronized with the color wheel to provide nominal and boosted power levels (212) to the arc lamp during selected ones of the time periods such that the projector provides a brighter, color-adjusted display without requiring the arc lamp to operate at an average power level exceeding its predetermined power rating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. Stark, Henry Frazier Pruett