Lamp Control Patents (Class 353/85)
  • Publication number: 20130038844
    Abstract: A light source device including 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, wherein the driving voltage is applied to the discharge medium through the first electrode and the second electrode such that the discharge medium emits light, wherein the driving device changes a relative potential of the first electrode with respect to the second electrode at a plurality of frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi SUZUKI, Satoshi KITO
  • Publication number: 20130038843
    Abstract: The high pressure discharge lamp ballast of the present invention includes: power supply means for supplying an AC current to a lamp; and control means for cyclically changing a current value of the AC current to be supplied and a time interval between polarity inversions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: IWASAKI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya YAMAZAKI, Tooru NAGASE, Shinichi SUZUKI, Yoshiaki KOMATSU
  • Patent number: 8371702
    Abstract: A method of operating an AC mercury lamp and DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) in a projection system, comprising receiving a periodic video frame pulse signal, switching the DMD between successive on and off states during each period of the frame pulse signal, wherein each off state results in a dark interval, and driving the lamp with a signal that is synchronized to the video frame pulse signal so as to alternate between a maintenance pulse level during at least a portion of the dark interval and a plateau level during the on state of the DMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventor: James B. Macpherson
  • Publication number: 20130033684
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting device according to the invention can reliably light a discharge lamp, and at the same time, prevent output of unnecessary high-voltage pulses with a simple circuit configuration. The discharge lamp lighting device includes a capacitor charged with a current from a direct-current power supply, a transformer adapted to output a starting pulse between electrodes of the discharge lamp in accordance with a discharge current flowing from the capacitor, a discharge control circuit adapted to switch ON/OFF the discharge current from the capacitor to the transformer, and a timing generation section adapted to switch the discharge control circuit to ON after a voltage between both ends of the capacitor has reached a reference voltage. The timing generation section can operate in accordance with a plurality of reference voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Osamu SAITO
  • Publication number: 20130027674
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes a discharge lamp including a light-emitting container having a cavity in which a discharge medium is enclosed, and a pair of electrodes disposed such that respective tip portions thereof oppose each other in the cavity, and a driving unit that supplies a driving current to the pair of electrodes. The driving current is generated by modulating amplitude of alternating current having a frequency not lower than 1 kHz and not higher than 10 GHz, such that a first section and a second section in which the amplitude is smaller than in the first section are alternately repeated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Suzuki, Satoshi Kito
  • Publication number: 20130021580
    Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods emphasize driving LEDs in series and in parallel with the same LED driver chip and a single inductor. For creating overlap, the systems and methods of LED color overlap disclosed herein take advantage of the fact that green and blue LEDs have the same voltage. Thus, green and blue LEDs can be driven in parallel as needed. LED suppliers can screen parts for sufficiently close voltage matching between green and blue LEDs. This is especially true when using green LED die based on a blue die with a green phosphor. Cyan may be produced by driving a green LED and a blue LED in parallel. White may produced by driving a green LED and a blue LED in parallel and a red LED in series with this green and blue parallel pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Dan Morgan, Paulo Pinheiro
  • Publication number: 20130021587
    Abstract: A light source unit includes a light emitting plate which has a plurality of segment areas and in which a luminescent material layer which emits light having a predetermined wavelength band by receiving excitation light and a transmissive portion which transmits light are formed on at least the plurality of segment areas, a primary light source for emitting excitation light on to the luminescent material, a secondary light source for emitting light having a wavelength band which differs from those of luminescent light emitted from the luminescent material layer and excitation light emitted from the primary light source, a light guiding optical system for guiding light emitted from the light emitting plate and light emitted from the secondary light source to the same optical path, and a light source control means for controlling the emission of light from the primary light source and the secondary light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi MIYAZAKI, Masahiro Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20130021618
    Abstract: A laser projection apparatus and method for identifying specified coordinates on varied surfaces. A controller directs two or more laser projectors to intersect laser lines at a specified location. The locations of the modules are identified by calculating a rotational angle and two or more known coordinates. Once the location of the modules is calculated, angle to angle intersection is used to identify additional locations. The user indicates with the controller which location is to be identified. The controller processes the calculations and commands the laser projectors to draw the intersecting laser lines at the specified location. The intersecting laser lines are actuated in a strobe effect to attract the user's attention to the position. This apparatus and method allows users to quickly and easily locate specified locations without needing to take individual measurements for the purposes of alignment, construction, verification and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Kenneth Trent, Brock Taylor Belliston
  • Patent number: 8356904
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Markus Gerardus Leonardus Maria Van Doorn
  • Publication number: 20130016325
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a projecting apparatus. The apparatus includes light emitting diodes, a light guide plate and a projecting component. The light guide plate is mounted between the light emitting diodes and the projecting component. A switching control valve is mounted between the light guide plate and the projecting component. The switching control valve is switched between an on position and an off position between the light guide plate and the projecting component. In the on position, the switching control valve guides lights of the light guide plate to the projecting component as a light source of the projecting component; in the off position, the switching control valve cuts off the lights guided from the light guide plate to the projecting component to further cut off the light source of the light guide plate. The present invention further discloses a projecting equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Gang Yu
  • Publication number: 20130016324
    Abstract: This document describes various techniques for implementing a wide field-of-view projector. A wide field-of-view projector may include a spatial light modulator configured to inject light rays into an input wedge. The input wedge acts to output the light rays with an increased fan-out angle. In an embodiment, the spatial light modulator is controlled to inject light rays into the input wedge effective to project an image from the surface of an output wedge that is positioned proximate, and receives light rays with an increased fan-out angle from, the input wedge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Adrian Travis
  • Publication number: 20130016326
    Abstract: After discharge has begun in a high pressure discharge lamp, constant current control is performed so a lamp current becomes 4 [A]. Then, the current supplied to a pair of electrodes in the lamp is controlled so an electrode tip temperature t [degrees C.] at this time and an electrode tip temperature T [degrees C.] during stable lighting satisfy the relationship t [degrees C.]<=1.1 T [degrees C.]. When a power of the lamp reaches a rated power value, power control is changed to constant power control. This method enables suppressing an excessive rise in the temperature of the electrode tips in an initial lighting interval from lighting commencement until stable lighting, thereby preventing an increase in arc length due to melting of the electrode tips. Accordingly, illuminance does not readily decrease, particularly in a lamp unit including a high pressure discharge lamp mounted to a reflecting mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventor: Masaru Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8354790
    Abstract: A projector comprises a light source unit 63, a display device, a cooling fan, a light source side optical system for guiding light from the light source unit 63 to the display device, a projection side optical system for projecting an image emitted from the display device on to a screen, and a projector control unit for controlling the light source unit 63 and the display device. In addition, this light source unit 63 has a plurality of fan-shaped segment areas on a circular transparent base material 130 which can be controlled to rotate, layers 131 of different phosphors which emit light of predetermined wavelength bands by receiving excitation light being disposed on at least two of the segment areas on the transparent base material 130, and comprises an excitation light source 72 which shines excitation light within a visible light wavelength band on to the phosphors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masakuni Iwanaga
  • Publication number: 20130010269
    Abstract: A projector can be connected in cascade to another projector. Either a first mode for the projector to operate as a leading projector in the cascade connection or a second mode for the projector to operate as a second or subsequent projector in the cascade connection is set. The projector is made available for use on authentication by an authentication unit or on reception of use permission information of the projector by a receiving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20130010211
    Abstract: Disclosed is a display device capable of inhibiting a projected picture from occurrence of brightness unevenness while reducing speckle noise. The display device (100) includes a control portion (15) continuously supplying current to a laser beam generation portion (12, 13, 14) nonstop for a period longer than a first period thereby controlling the laser beam generation portion to output the laser beam and controlling the laser beam generation portion to stop the output of the laser beam at least once in a second period scanning one image forming element (1, 2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Nishioka, Kenji Nagashima, Atsuya Hirano, Atsuhiko Chikaoka
  • Patent number: 8348437
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting device includes: a power converting circuit including a step-down chopper circuit and a polarity inversion circuit configured to convert an output from the step-down chopper circuit to a rectangular-wave alternating-current voltage, and thus to apply the rectangular-wave alternating-current voltage to a discharge lamp; and a memory configured to store a history of an output from the power converting circuit in a previous stable lighting mode. A control circuit controls on and off of each of switching elements in the step-down chopper circuit and the polarity inversion circuit, and thereby changes the output from the power converting circuit in a predetermined time period after the lamp starts lighting until reaching a stable lighting state on the basis of the history stored in the memory, so that a rise of a lamp voltage is suppressed. This enables extension of the lifespan of the lamp and suppression of the occurrence of arc jump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Watanabe, Hirofumi Konishi
  • Patent number: 8348436
    Abstract: A light source device includes: a light source; a driving signal generating unit that supplies a driving signal to the light source; a light amount measuring unit that measures the amount of light of the light source; and a light amount correcting unit that calculates as a light amount error a difference between a target light amount corresponding to a gray-scale value indicated by gray-scale data input from the outside and the amount of light measured by the light amount measuring unit, corrects a differential efficiency by an integrated value of a product of the light amount error and the gray-scale value, corrects a threshold value of the driving signal, and outputs to the driving signal generating unit a command signal for generating a driving signal having a differential efficiency and a threshold value after the correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomio Ikegami
  • Publication number: 20130003026
    Abstract: A scanning projector includes a MEMS device with a scanning mirror that sweeps a light beam in two dimensions. A laser limit comparison circuit determines a metric from measured peak scan angles and measured light output. The metric is compared to a threshold and a light source is shut down when the metric exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: MICROVISION, INC.
    Inventor: Bruce C. Rothaar
  • Patent number: 8342695
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting apparatus comprises a discharge lamp and a power supply the discharge lamp can be switched between a steady power lighting mode, which drives the discharge lamp by an alternating current in which first and second polarities are repeated by turns, and a low power lighting mode, which drives the discharge lamp at 50% or less of the alternating current of the steady power lighting mode, and the alternating current comprises a first time unit, which has a time width t1, and second time unit, which has a time width t2, that are repeated by turns to drive the discharge lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuji Hirao, Masaaki Uehara, Atsushi Imamura, Koji Yamada, Hirohisa Iwabayashi
  • Patent number: 8342693
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a dynamic projection adjusting method for a projection display device to display output images. The projection display device includes a light source driven by a periodic pulse signal. The dynamic projection adjusting method includes the following steps: (a) determining a brightness parameter of the output image; (b) adjusting the periodic pulse signal according to the brightness parameter and (c) driving the light source with the periodic pulse signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventors: Tsung-Hsun Wu, Ching-Shuai Huang
  • Patent number: 8342694
    Abstract: A projection apparatus includes a plurality of light sources individually emitting light in a plurality of colors, a projection section using light from the light sources to generate images corresponding to respective plural color components of the light source light for each period, to sequentially project the images, a measurement section measuring a brightness of the light sources for each of the plurality of colors, an average brightness calculation section calculating, at each image projection term for the same color component, an average brightness of the brightness measured by the measurement section at the image projection term, and a light source control section adjusting the brightness of the light sources so that an average chromaticity based on the average brightness calculated by the average brightness calculation section and indicating the brightness is equal or approximate to a target chromaticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mamoru Shibasaki
  • Patent number: 8342697
    Abstract: To provide a light source unit which can enhance luminance and a projector, a projector of the invention includes a light source unit comprising a luminescent wheel with luminescent light emitting portions to emit blue and green rays, a primary light source shining an excitation light to the luminescent light emitting portions, a secondary light source emitting a red ray, a light guiding optical system guiding the rays from the luminescent wheel and the ray from the secondary light source to the same optical path and a light source control means controlling the emissions from the respective light sources, wherein the light source control means turns on the secondary light source when the ray from the primary light source is shone onto a boundary between the luminescent light emitting portions to synthesize the rays from the luminescent wheel and the ray from the secondary light source to generate white ray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masakuni Iwanaga
  • Patent number: 8337027
    Abstract: A light source unit including an excitation light source for emitting light in a blue wavelength band, a fluorescent wheel, a light emitting device for emitting light in a red wavelength band and a light guiding optical system for guiding light emitted from the fluorescent wheel and the light emitting device to a light guiding device. The fluorescent wheel has a fluorescent area where a green fluorescent material layer for emitting fluorescent light in a green wavelength band is disposed and a diffuse area for converting light emitted from the excitation light source into diffuse light of which directivity is weak are disposed end to end in a circumferential direction. A concentration of weight content of the green fluorescent material and a thickness thereof are such that a luminescent intensity of fluorescent light emitted from the green fluorescent material layer is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignees: Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naotsugu Ogura, Masahiro Ogawa, Hideki Nakamura, Takeshi Miyazaki, Hiroki Masuda, Yasuyuki Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20120320342
    Abstract: Several embodiments of projection systems are disclosed that comprise a plurality of controllable emitters, each said emitter providing light for a light path; a plurality of first optical elements, each said first optical element receiving light from one of said emitters; a controllable modulator receiving light from said plurality of first optical elements; a plurality of conduits, each said conduit disposed over a portion of said controllable modulator; a plurality of second optical elements, each of said second optical elements receiving light from at least one of said plurality of conduits, and a controller for sending control signals to said controllable emitters and said controllable modulator. The illumination from the emitters may form a plurality of overlapping areas of illumination upon a projection screen where the image is intended to be formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin J. Richards, Gerwin Damberg, Gregory John Ward, Kenneth Schindler
  • Publication number: 20120314192
    Abstract: In order to minimize a change in the luminance of a projected image caused by a lamp refreshing process, projector 10 according to the present invention includes lamp refreshing controller 13 which, upon detecting that the lighting power of lamp 15 is lower than rated power thereof for a given period of time, increases the lighting power of lamp 15 to the rated power and, after elapse of a predetermined period of time, reduces the lighting power to an original level thereof, and aperture data generator 16 which controls the aperture of optical diaphragm 18 depending on a change in the lighting power to keep constant the amount of light passing through optical diaphragm 18.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventor: Michio Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8322865
    Abstract: A projection apparatus including an illumination system, a light valve, and a color filtering module is provided. The illumination system is capable of emitting an illumination beam. The light valve is disposed in the transmission path of the illumination beam and capable of converting the illumination beam into an image beam. The color filtering module is disposed in the transmission path of the illumination beam between the illumination system and the light valve and includes a plurality of colored filters and a gray filter. The gray filter is capable of reducing the intensity of the illumination beam passing through the gray filter. An image adjustment method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Optoma Corporation
    Inventors: Tzung-I Lin, Yi-Chun Lu, Justin Halls
  • Patent number: 8317339
    Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting device includes: a discharge lamp driving unit that supplies an AC driving current to a discharge lamp to drive the discharge lamp; a current detecting unit that detects the AC driving current supplied to the discharge lamp; and a control unit that controls the discharge lamp driving unit, wherein the control unit controls the discharge lamp driving unit after a predetermined time from the start of lighting driving operation of the discharge lamp on the basis of the behavior of the AC driving current detected by the current detecting unit at the predetermined time from the start of lighting driving operation of the discharge lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Takezawa
  • Patent number: 8317335
    Abstract: A projection type video display for displaying a video by casting light that is emitted from a lamp (1) serving as a light source and modulated on the basis of a video signal, has lamp cooling means (3) for cooling the lamp 1. The video display comprises: detection means (lamp drive circuit 2) for detecting the startup status (lamp voltage information) of the lamp in a startup operation: and control means (microcomputer 4) for controlling the lamp cooling means (3) in accordance with the startup status detected by the detection means. This arrangement can shorten time required for the execution of the startup operation of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Shiotsu
  • Publication number: 20120293777
    Abstract: A light source device which can prevent the removal of light source elements of a light source device within a projector casing, a projector and a light source fabrication method are provided. An excitation light shining device 70 has a lens holding structure 79 and a light source holding structure 80 which are integrated together with excitation light sources held therebetween. The lens holding structure 79 has through holes 79f which first screw members 84 penetrate, and the light source holding structure 80 has screw holes 80h and screw holes 80k communicating with the screw holes 80h substantially at right angles. With the first screw members 84 penetrating the through holes 79f to be screwed into the screw holes 80h, screw thread portions of the first screw members 84 are pressed to be deformed plastically by distal end portions of the second screw members 85.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshifumi KASE
  • Publication number: 20120293776
    Abstract: A projector and method of controlling a projector, the projector including: a projection unit configured to project an image; first and second sensors which are disposed to be centered about the projection unit and configured to detect a motion of an object; and a control unit configured to control the projector if the motion of the object is detected by at least one of the first and the second sensors, wherein an axis of detection of the first sensor intersects an axis of detection of the second sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kun-ho KEUM, Ju-seok YOON, Kyoung-choul JANG, Sang-jin KIM, Ki-hong PARK
  • Patent number: 8308307
    Abstract: An illuminator includes: a first light source and a second light source that are disposed substantially symmetrically with respect to an illumination optical axis, wherein each of the first and second light sources includes an arc tube, a first reflector disposed to surround part of the entire space around the optical axis of the arc tube, the first reflector reflecting the light emitted from the arc tube toward an object to be illuminated, and a second reflector disposed on the opposite side of the optical axis of the arc tube to the first reflector, the second reflector reflecting the light emitted from the arc tube toward the first reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Itoh
  • Patent number: 8308308
    Abstract: A lamp driving device that drives a discharge lamp, includes: a start-up circuit configured to apply a start-up pulse for starting an operation of the discharge lamp; a non-volatile memory configured to store data therein; and a history recording unit configured to record an operation history of the applying of the start-up pulse that is performed by the start-up circuit in the non-volatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Keishi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8308306
    Abstract: A light source unit includes a light emitting plate which has a plurality of segment areas and in which a luminescent material layer which emits light having a predetermined wavelength band by receiving excitation light and a transmissive portion which transmits light are formed on at least the plurality of segment areas, a primary light source for emitting excitation light on to the luminescent material, a secondary light source for emitting light having a wavelength band which differs from those of luminescent light emitted from the luminescent material layer and excitation light emitted from the primary light source, a light guiding optical system for guiding light emitted from the light emitting plate and light emitted from the secondary light source to the same optical path, and a light source control means for controlling the emission of light from the primary light source and the secondary light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Miyazaki, Masahiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8303121
    Abstract: A projector includes: a speaker adapted to output a sound; a light source; a light modulation device; a projection optical system adapted to project an image modulated by the light modulation device; a cover member, and moving between a blocking position for blocking the light and an transmitting position for transmitting the light; a position detection section adapted to detect the position of the cover member; a microphone input terminal to which a microphone is connected; a microphone connection detection section; a loading section adapted to load a recording medium; a reproduction section adapted to reproduce a content recorded on the recording medium loaded to the loading section; a content identification section adapted to identify a type of the content the reproduction section reproduces; and a control section adapted to switch states of the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Nagaharu
  • Patent number: 8292437
    Abstract: A video projector for displaying a picture based on a video signal. The video projector includes a first LCD panel for red light, a second LCD panel for green light, and a third LCD panel for blue light. A light source emits light toward the first to third LCD panels. A modulated light computer determines a correction coefficient for reducing the amount of light emitted from the light source toward the first to third LCD panels when temperature load of at least one of the first to third LCD panels increases. An emitted light amount control unit corrects the video signal with the correction coefficient and controls the amount of light emitted from the light source toward the first to third LCD panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Fujisaki, Kazunobu Oketani
  • Patent number: 8287137
    Abstract: A projector apparatus with multi-light sources and a light coupling module thereof are disclosed. The projector with multi-light sources comprises a light incident region, a light tunnel, a color wheel, a light coupling module, and a plurality of light sources, all disposed in the light incident region. The light coupling module comprises a light coupling device, a light gathering device, and a reflection device. The light sources provide a plurality of light beams, which are substantially coupled into a single light beam by the light coupling device. The single light beam travels through the color wheel and the light tunnel through the light gathering device and light reflection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Hung-Ying Lin
  • Patent number: 8282222
    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: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Patent number: 8282220
    Abstract: A projector with a color sensor module is provided. The projector includes a light source providing a light, a prism device refracting the light, a reflecting device reflecting the light refracted by the prism device, an optical lens receiving the light reflected by the reflecting device and forming a first light path between the optical lens and the reflecting device, and a color sensor module disposed on a second light path and comprising a light inlet receiving the light reflected toward the second light path by the reflecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Lumens Digital Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tzu-Ming Wei, Wei-Po Hsu
  • Patent number: 8282221
    Abstract: A projection apparatus using a spatial light modulator (SLM), comprising the following: at least one variable light source, at least one spatial light modulator for modulating the illumination light emitted from the variable light source in accordance with the modulation state of arrayed pixel elements, a variable light source controller for controlling modulation of the variable light source, and a spatial light modulator controller for controlling modulation of each pixel element of the spatial light modulator, wherein the variable light source controller controls the variable light source so as to reduce the period in which the modulation states of the pixel element are in transition on a display image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuma Arai, Fusao Ishii
  • Publication number: 20120249410
    Abstract: A projection unit comprises a first light source outputting light that is used to project an image during normal projection unit use, and a second light source outputting light of a different intensity that is used to project an image outside of normal projection unit use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: Douglas Blair Hill, Jackson Chan
  • Patent number: 8277051
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a lamp a power supply for supplying power to lamp, an image processing unit for displaying an image according to any one of a plurality of video signals applied externally, and a control unit for causing the power supply to start supplying power to the lamp when at least one of the plurality of video signals is applied in an initial state, checking whether or not any one of the plurality of video signals is applied within a predetermined period of time from the time when the applied video signal is stopped, making the power supply continue to supply power to the lamp if at least one of the plurality of video signals is applied, and making the power supply stop supplying power to the lamp if any one of the plurality of video signals has not been applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Nec Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Moriwaki, Koichi Ara, Michio Tomizawa
  • Patent number: 8277056
    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: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Gregory John Ward, Wolfgang Stuerzlinger, Helge Seetzen
  • Publication number: 20120242965
    Abstract: A projector includes: a discharge lamp; a discharge lamp driving unit that drives the discharge lamp by supplying a driving power to the discharge lamp through supply of a driving current thereto; and a control unit that controls the discharge lamp driving unit based on plural operating modes in which maximum values of the driving power are different from one another, wherein the control unit switches the operating mode through a transition period and controls the discharge lamp driving unit so that an average value of a frequency of the driving current in the former half of the transition period becomes larger than an average value of a frequency of the driving current in the latter half of the transition period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuo TERASHIMA, Shun SATO
  • Patent number: 8272750
    Abstract: A projection-type image display apparatus that projects an image onto a screen and includes a laser light source, an optical engine, a projection lens, and a control unit. The laser light source includes a plurality of light source units that respectively emit laser beams of different wavelengths. The optical engine combines the laser beams received from the light source and forms an image. An optical sensor is arranged in the optical engine to detect a physical property of a uniformly-scattered laser beam and outputs a physical property signal indicative of the detected physical property to the control unit. The control unit controls output powers of the light source units based on the physical property signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Taisuke Murata
  • Patent number: 8272745
    Abstract: There is provided a light source device including 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 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 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mamoru Shibasaki
  • Publication number: 20120236267
    Abstract: A screen device includes: a screen 102 transmitting and diffusing image light from a back side thereof; a storage section 101 rolling up and storing the screen 102 therein; and a shading member 111 covering over the back of the screen 102 such that a space through the image light toward the screen 102 passes is formed between the shading member 111 and the screen 102. The screen 102 is extendable by moving a second edge thereof, lying opposite to a first edge thereof attached to the storage section 101, upward or downward away from the storage section 101. The shading member 111 is attached at one edge thereof to on object alongside the screen-device storage section 101 side in a state where the shading member covers over the back of the screen 102, and another edge thereof lying opposite to the one edge is connected to the second edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigekazu Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 8269426
    Abstract: A light source apparatus includes an arc tube having a first electrode and a second electrode that carry out an emission of light due to a discharge between them, and a drive that, when supplying energy in an alternating current to the first electrode and the second electrode, carries out a steady operation supplying a steady energy to the first electrode and the second electrode, and an initial operation making a cumulative energy supplied to at least one electrode, of the first electrode and the second electrode, in an anode period of the relevant electrode, prior to the steady period, greater than during the steady period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20120229780
    Abstract: A light source apparatus is provided comprising: a plurality of light sources shining light of different wavelength bands and different luminous intensity distributions; groups of collective lenses collecting light from the light sources; a light guiding device adapted to distribute uniformly the illuminance of the light collected from the light sources; a light guiding optical system collecting the light collected from the light sources to the same optical axis to illuminate the light on to an entrance port of the light guiding device; a diffuse plate wheel disposed at the entrance port of the light guiding device and comprising a plurality of segments of different coefficients of diffusion which are arranged in a circumferential direction; a motor for rotating the diffuse plate wheel; and a light source control device which controls the rotation of the diffuse plate wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto SATO
  • Publication number: 20120229778
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a projecting effect adjusting device containing at least a optical module that can change the LED projecting effects. The projecting effect adjusting device has the function of two-dimensional displacement and fixed-point locating using a displacing control module and a locating module. The said two-dimensional displacement allows at least the linear displacement of the projecting effect adjusting device between the first position and the second position. The fixed-point locating allows at least the projecting effect adjusting device to be located on the first position and the second position. The first position is set to keep a distance between the optical module and the LED matrix light source and the second position is set between the optical module and the light-emitting plane of the LED matrix light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Allan LEE, Ming-Chih HUNG, Ping-Yao CHANG
  • Patent number: 8262228
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a multimedia system comprising a multimedia reader. The multimedia reader may be configured to read multimedia content and to extract light surround content. The light surround content may represent a light surround control signal. The light surround content may be extracted from the multimedia content. The multimedia reader may also be configured to output the light surround control signal. Further, the multimedia system may also include one or more light emitting devices. Each light emitting device may be in communication with the multimedia reader. Each light emitting device may be configured to receive the light surround control signal and to control a light characteristic based upon, at least in part the light surround control signal. Numerous other embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dominique Picard, Charles Arnaud, Philippe Gregoire, Alexandre Van Gent