Plural Patents (Class 353/94)
  • Patent number: 8231230
    Abstract: The invention relates to an image projection device having a light source (1) from which light at a different wavelength originates sequentially, having an image modulation arrangement (4) and a projection surface (6) on which images are perceived visually. The invention also relates to a light source drive circuit (2) for an image projection device such as this. An image projection device of this type is provided, in which the image modulation arrangement (4) comprises a polarization beam splitter (11) and two reflective display areas (12.1, 12.2), each display area (12.1, 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: dilitronics GmbH
    Inventor: Gerrit Wächter
  • Patent number: 8231227
    Abstract: There are provided a light emitting device which can maintain a light emitting efficiency of a fluorescent material in an optimum condition, a light source unit made up of the light emitting device, and a projector which includes the light source unit. The light source unit is made up of the three light emitting devices which emit lights of different colors. The light emitting devices are each made up of a light source, a rotary member on which a fluorescent material layer is disposed which receives light to emit light of a predetermined color, a drive source for driving the rotary member, a rotational speed control device for variably controlling the rotary member so as to maintain the temperature of the rotary member to a predetermined value based on temperature information, and a temperature measuring device for measuring a temperature of the rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Kurosaki
  • Patent number: 8231231
    Abstract: An image display device includes a light source which emits laser light; an optical element which is operable to switch between a first state for reducing a coherence of the laser light and a second state for substantially maintaining the coherence of the laser light; a switching control circuit which controls the optical element; an imager which modulates the laser light transmitted through the optical element; and a modulation control circuit which controls the imager based on an image signal. The modulation control circuit causes the imager to render an image pattern for generating an image by changing alight amount at each pixel position when the optical element is in the first state, and causes the imager to render a hologram pattern for generating an image by diffraction when the optical element is in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michihiro Okuda, Yoshihiro Yokote, Ryoko Kubo, Takaaki Abe, Shinya Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8226241
    Abstract: An image projector having one or more broadband lasers designed to reduce the appearance of speckle in the projected image via wavelength diversification. In one embodiment, a broadband laser has an active optical element and a nonlinear optical element, both located inside a laser cavity. The broadband laser generates an output spectrum characterized by a spectral spread of about 10 nm and having a plurality of spectral lines corresponding to different spatial modes of the cavity. Different individual spectral lines effectively produce independent speckle configurations, which become intensity-superimposed in the projected image, thereby causing a corresponding speckle-contrast reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Gang Chen, Roland Ryf
  • Patent number: 8226247
    Abstract: Red, green, and blue laser light emitted from laser light sources 1-3 is transformed into substantially parallel beams by collimator lenses 4-6, collected by microlens arrays 7-9, and rendered uniform by rod integrators 10-12, whereupon it is used to illuminate spatial light modulation elements 16-18 and subjected to modulation. The modulated laser light exiting from the spatial light modulation elements 16-18 is recombined using a beam-combining prism 19 and subjected to pixel separation using a birefringent plate 20, which is rotationally driven by a birefringent plate rotary drive unit 26, after which it is projected upon a screen 22 using a projection optical system 21. The birefringent plate 20 spatially separates the modulated laser light using birefringence. When pixels are spatially separated by the birefringent plate, the pixel grid region is made smaller, the distribution of brightness on the screen is rendered uniform, and speckle noise is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kitano, Yoshimasa Fushimi
  • Patent number: 8210688
    Abstract: A projector comprises a projection unit, an image pickup unit, a control unit, and a correction unit. The projection unit is configured to project a video based on a video signal. The image pickup unit is configured to pick up an image of a projection video projected by the projection unit and output the picked-up image. The control unit is configured to determine a projection video projected by the other projector based on the picked-up image received from the image pickup unit. The correction unit is configured to carry out correction of the video signal so that the projection video projected by the projection unit is aligned with the projection video projected by the other projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Izumida
  • Publication number: 20120154766
    Abstract: A projection system is characterized by: a first light source unit and a second light source unit selectively driven in response to operation mode; a light transmitting unit transmitting light emitted from the first light source unit or the second light source unit in the form of surface light; an image generator generating an image in response to an image signal using the light transmitted from the light transmitting unit; and a projection lens system projecting the image by enlarging the image generated by the image generator and projecting the enlarged image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyunho Choi, Eunsung Seo, Seungman Jeong
  • Patent number: 8203113
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes; a first solid-state light source, a second solid-state light source, a first arrangement member provided with a first arrangement surface, a second arrangement member provided with a second arrangement surface, an optical unit configured to reduce a dispersion angle of a light beam. The first solid-state light source emits a light beam having a first directivity. The second solid-state light source emits a light beam having a second directivity greater than the first directivity. A distance from the second arrangement surface to the second light-entering surface is longer than a distance from the first arrangement surface to the first light-entering surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Matsumoto, Yoshihiro Yokote, Makoto Maeda
  • Patent number: 8201950
    Abstract: A method having corresponding apparatus and computer-readable media comprises: receiving a first image, wherein the first image includes a plurality of substantially parallel first stripes, wherein the first image conforms to a virtual display space, wherein the virtual display space comprises a first plurality of first pixel locations; projecting the first image from a projector onto a surface, wherein the projector is described by a projector space comprising a second plurality of second pixel locations; capturing a second image of the first image projected onto the surface, wherein the second image conforms to the virtual display space; detecting edges of the first stripes based on the second image; generating second stripes based upon the edges of the first stripes; and determining a correspondence between each second pixel location and one or more of the first pixel locations based upon the second stripes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Steve Nelson
  • Patent number: 8201947
    Abstract: A wavelength converter includes a supporting substrate and a ferroelectric substrate, the ferroelectric substrate includes at least one waveguide facing the supporting substrate and at least one wavelength-filtering pattern positioned between the waveguide and the supporting substrate, the waveguide includes a plurality of inverted domains and non-inverted domains configured to convert an infrared light into a green light, and the infrared light emitted from the semiconductor laser enters the waveguide of the wavelength converter. For example, the wavelength-filtering pattern includes a Bragg grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: HC Photonics Corp.
    Inventors: Yi Zhong Chen, Shang Ling Liu, Ming Hsien Chou
  • Patent number: 8197071
    Abstract: A light source device includes: a light source section adapted to emit a light beam; a first optical element provided with a first entrance surface to which the light beam emitted from the light source section is input, and adapted to transmit the light beam; and a second optical element provided with a second entrance surface to which the light beam transmitted through the first optical element is input, and adapted to transmit the light beam, wherein the first entrance surface is tilted towards a direction rotated around a primary axis with respect to a principal ray of the light beam input to the first entrance surface, and the second entrance surface is tilted towards a direction rotated around a secondary axis substantially perpendicular to the primary axis with respect to the principal ray of the light beam input to the second entrance surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Uchikawa
  • Patent number: 8197070
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods for identifying features using color information in an image. The image may be formed from one or more display images comprising color information and features or feature components. Because color information may be used to identify features, more than one feature or feature component may be displayed in a display image. Because a plurality of features may be identified in a calibration image, an image system, such as a projector-camera system, can reduce the number of display images needed to calibrate the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kar-Han Tan, Jing Xiao, Anoop K. Bhattacharjya
  • Patent number: 8192028
    Abstract: A projector of an information display system in vehicles, in particular in aircraft, for projecting images comprising information for passengers and/or crew onto a projection area which is arranged in the vehicle, with the use of a projection lens that images the image contents onto the projection area, which images are generated by a light source and a projection means. An LED array comprising LEDs that can be switched on and off independently of each other is provided as a light source and as a projection means. To generate composite variable image contents the LEDs can be individually selected. Between the LED array and the projection lens a separation box comprising several chambers is arranged. The chambers of the separation box are associated with an LED such that the chambers associated with the switched-on LEDs are imaged on the projection area by the projection lens as parts of the compound image determined by the switched-on LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Detlef Heym, Carsten Vogel
  • Publication number: 20120133908
    Abstract: An optical projection apparatus includes a first light source, a second light source, and an imaging element, which is illuminated by the first light source and the second light source during operation. The light source includes a light-emitting diode chip that emits red light during operation. The second light source includes a first light-emitting diode chip, which emits green light during operation. A second light-emitting diode chip emits blue light during operation. The second light-emitting diode chip is arranged on the first light-emitting diode chip at a radiation exit surface of the first light-emitting diode chip. Electromagnetic radiation generated in the first light-emitting diode chip during operation passes through the second light-emitting diode chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Grötsch, Simon Kocur, Matthias Sabathil
  • Patent number: 8177369
    Abstract: Laser light beams are diffused and shaped by diffractive optical devices such that they are introduced to corresponding pixels of a liquid crystal layer over an entire area of a display region of a reflective liquid crystal panel. The diffused and shaped laser light beams are introduced to the reflective liquid crystal panel through a field lens and a polarizing beam splitter. Red, green and blue pixels are formed on the reflective liquid crystal panel, and a microlens array is formed on an incoming and outgoing side substrate while reflecting layers corresponding to the pixels are formed on a reflection side substrate. The laser light fluxes of the colors are distributed and condensed by the microlenses and introduced to the corresponding pixels and then reflected by the corresponding reflecting layers. Refractive optical devices may be used in place of the diffractive optical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kikuo Kaise
  • Patent number: 8172402
    Abstract: The invention relates to a projection system for displaying at least one visual image based on three primary colors, comprising a signal processing unit for converting said visual image into at least a visual image based on four primary colors, a frequency band being associated to each color primary, first display means for displaying three first primary colors of said visual image on a screen and second display means for displaying at least the fourth primary color of said visual image on said screen. According to the invention, the system further comprises optical filtering means that are adapted to enhance the separation between the frequency spectrum of the first three primary colors of the first display means and the frequency spectrum of the at least fourth primary color of the second display means. Application to anti-camcorder systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Jean-Ronan Vigouroux, Pascal Bourdon, Didier Doyen, Jean-Jacques Sacre, Patrick Morvan, Sylvain Thiebaud
  • Patent number: 8174626
    Abstract: An image correction apparatus that corrects images displayed by a plurality of image display apparatus, the images arranged contiguously or superimposed is disclosed. The image correction apparatus includes a correction reference value generator that generates a correction reference value common to the plurality of image display apparatus based on display characteristics of each of the image correction apparatus that form the plurality of image display apparatus, and a correction data generator that generates correction data for each of the image display apparatus, the correction data used to correct pixel values with reference to the correction reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Ouchi
  • Publication number: 20120105806
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to rear projection and front projection image viewing systems. In one aspect, an image viewing system includes a screen composed of a lens and a reflective diffuser with a microstructured surface. The system also includes an array of projectors. Each projector is to project an image onto the screen with a particular angle of incidence such that each image is to pass through the lens and is to be reflected back though the lens by the reflective diffuser with a horizontal scattering angle determined by the microstructured surface. The lens is to direct each reflected image to a particular viewing area so that a viewer located in at least one viewing area receives a reflected image that enters one or both of the viewer's eyes when the viewer looks at the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Huei Pei Kuo, Alexandre M. Bratkovski
  • Publication number: 20120105805
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to image viewing systems. In one aspect, an image viewing system includes a curved screen with a concave viewing surface, and an array of projectors. Each projector is positioned to project a different image onto the viewing surface from a different angle and the viewing surface is to reflect each image to a different viewing area with a horizontal scattering angle that defines the size of each viewing area. A viewer located in at least one viewing area is to receive a reflected image that enters one or both of the viewer's eyes when the viewer looks at the viewing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Huei Pei Kuo, Alexandre M. Bratkovski
  • Patent number: 8162483
    Abstract: In a light projection system, potentially hierarchical levels of light intensity control ensure proper laser-light output intensity, color channel intensity, white point, left/right image intensity balancing, or combinations thereof. The light projection system can include a light intensity sensor in an image path, in a light-source subsystem light-dump path, in a light-modulation subsystem light-dump path, in a position to measure light leaked from optical components, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Barry D. Silverstein, Richard P. Corey, David R. Dowe
  • Publication number: 20120092623
    Abstract: A low cost, light projection and sensing system that projects an image onto a display surface using an array of light emitters. The system or device has an integral sensing capability of the display surface using light sensors. Both the emitters and sensors are coupled to a control unit. The device modifies the light-projected image and sensor view region with its control unit. The device projects an animated overlaid image or large tiled image of photographic resolution. In at least one embodiment, a projection device may create smooth animation of its projected image by varying the brightness of one or more illuminated images within its generated video frames. Computer implemented methods are utilized for light emitter activation and brightness control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Huebner
  • Patent number: 8152312
    Abstract: An apparatus that presents a projection image has a screen and plural projectors, each of which projects a section of the projection image onto the screen. The apparatus has a projected-section-determining unit that determines as a projected section the section of the projection image, based on an input image signal, corresponding to a part of the screen onto which each of the projectors projects the section of the projection image. The apparatus has an image-signal-generating unit that generates an image signal corresponding to the section of the projection image which each of the projector projects onto the part of the screen, based on the input image signal and the projected section determined by the projected-section-determining unit, and a projectors-controlling unit that controls the projectors to adjust centers and/or ranges of the projections by the projectors based on the projected section determined by the projected-section-determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Kenji Tanaka, Hitoshi Mukai, Tetsushi Kokubo, Hirofumi Hibi, Kazumasa Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8152309
    Abstract: An image display apparatus which displays an image as a transmitted projection image includes: a tread-board of a step which has a first projection surface and transmits a projection image projected on the first projection surface; and a cross-board of the step which has a second projection surface and transmits a projection image projected on the second projection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8147069
    Abstract: A lighting device, including a first light source emitting light of a first wavelength; a second light source close to the first source, emitting light of a second wavelength in almost a same direction as that of the first source; a third light source located emitting light of a third wavelength in a direction different from that of the first and second sources; a coupling optical system coupling light from the first and second sources; another coupling optical system coupling light from the third source; and a light path synthesizer synthesizing a light path of light from the first, second and third sources, wherein the light path synthesizer includes a first surface reflecting light from the first source and transmitting light from the second and third sources and a second surface unparallel with the first surface, reflecting light from the second source and transmitting light from the third source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Manabu Seo, Hiroshi Akiyama, Shigeru Oouchida, Yukiko Hamano, Goichi Akanuma
  • Patent number: 8142022
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an illumination optical system that includes first and second beam splitting units, a first polarization conversion element, third and fourth beam splitting units, a second polarization conversion element, a first beam combining unit configured to combine a plurality of first polarized light beams with a plurality of second polarized light beams, a third polarization conversion element configured to convert a plurality of combined light beams into a plurality of polarized light beams, and a condensing unit configured to superimpose the plurality of polarized light beams onto the image display element, wherein each of the first and third beam splitting units includes a cylinder lens array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuuki Maeda
  • Patent number: 8142021
    Abstract: In a light projection system, potentially hierarchical levels of light intensity control ensure proper laser-light output intensity, color channel intensity, white point, left/right image intensity balancing, or combinations thereof. The light projection system can include a light intensity sensor in an image path, in a light-source subsystem light-dump path, in a light-modulation subsystem light-dump path, in a position to measure light leaked from optical components, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Barry D. Silverstein, Richard P. Corey
  • Patent number: 8142028
    Abstract: A projection type display device including: a plurality of light sources; a display device; a light-combining unit for combining output light beams from the plurality of light sources; a condensing unit for propagating an output light beam from the light-combining unit to the display device; a projecting unit for projecting an image with the use of an output light beam from the display device; and a cooling unit having a ventilating fan and disposed on each of the plurality of light sources. The projection type display device further includes a flow direction adjusting unit for switching blow-off positions where air from the fan is discharged and a control unit for controlling switching of the blow-off positions operated by the flow direction adjusting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8142020
    Abstract: The invention relates to an autostereoscopic projection arrangement, comprising at least one projector (4) and at least one filter array (F1, F2), which has a multitude of filter elements arranged in columns and rows, in which arrangement bits of partial information from views of a scene or object are projected by the projector/the projectors (4) onto a projection screen (3), where these bits of partial information are rendered on image rendering elements and, having passed one or several of the filter arrays (F1, F2), are made visible to at least one observer (5), and in which, as regards the propagation direction of the bits of partial information, the image rendering elements correspond with correlated filter elements in such a way that an observer (5) will see predominantly bits of partial information from a first selection of views with one eye and predominantly bits of partial information from a second selection of views with the other eye, and thus will have a spatial impression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Phoenix 3D, Inc.
    Inventors: Ingo Relke, Stephan Otte, Markus Klippstein, Thomas Bruggert, Bernd Riemann
  • Patent number: 8142031
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes: a plurality of laser beam sources which emit different color light beams; a plurality of light modulators which modulate the light beams emitted from the laser beam sources; and a projection element which projects the light beams modulated by the light modulators, wherein the light modulators are disposed such that the light beams are incident from different directions, and the laser beam sources are concentrated in a single position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masatoshi Yonekubo
  • Patent number: 8142026
    Abstract: Projector alignment in a multiple-projector projection system is checked by determining a location of at least a portion of a boundary of an image field projected by at least one of the projectors and comparing the determined location of the at least the portion of the image field to a system-calibrated reference location of the at least the portion of the boundary of the image field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Richard Aufranc, Thomas M. Carrico
  • Patent number: 8136951
    Abstract: In a projection type display apparatus using plural light sources, an optical unit including plural light sources, a first collimator lens, an optical coupling lens, an image display element and a projection lens is formed, and in an optical path extending from the light sources to the projection lens, light is condensed only once on the image display element, thereby minimizing the number of optical parts used and shortening the length of the optical path from the plural light sources up to the projection lens to attain the reduction in size of the projection type display apparatus or the optical unit. In this way it is possible to provide a projection type display apparatus or an optical unit each capable of attaining the reduction of cost by minimizing the number of optical parts used and capable of attaining a high luminance by irradiating the image display element with the light emitted from the light sources without leakage of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Murata, Satoshi Ouchi
  • Patent number: 8132919
    Abstract: A beam alignment chamber extending in a length direction comprising a base having a front edge, and two side edges, first and second opposed side walls connected to the base, and extending along the length of the base, a front wall located at the front edge of the base having an output opening. The beam alignment chamber further comprises a plurality of arrays of light sources disposed to direct light beams through the first or second side walls, and a plurality of reflectors mounted on the base, each having independent yaw and pitch adjustments, each reflector being paired with a corresponding array of light sources, the base-mounted reflectors being disposed to direct the light beams along the length of the beam alignment chamber through the output opening forming an aligned two-dimensional array of parallel light beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Harland, Barry D. Silverstein, James R. Kircher
  • Publication number: 20120050698
    Abstract: A projection system includes a plurality of projection apparatuses. Each of the plurality of projection apparatuses includes a projection unit configured to project an image onto a projection surface, and an adjusting unit configured to adjust a state of displaying an image projected onto the projection surface by the projection unit. The projection system further includes a controller configured to cause the projection units of the plurality of projection apparatuses to simultaneously project a test image in different forms. The controller controls the adjusting unit of the plurality of projection apparatuses to adjust a state of displaying an image projected on the projection surface by the projection unit based on each state of displaying of the test images in different forms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junji Kotani
  • Patent number: 8123360
    Abstract: A display device includes: a transmission/reception section that transmits and receives information to/from any other display device connected thereto; a setting input section that enables setting of relative position information about a relative position between the display device and the other display device; and a control device that generates partial image information from original image information, and makes a display section to display thereon a partial image. The control device includes: a related information transmission control section that transmits position-sequence-related information related to the relative position information; a configuration position recognition section that recognizes an absolute position of the partial image in the original image that is supposed to be displayed by the display device; and a partial image information generation section that generates the partial image information by cutting out at least a part of image information from the original image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8126025
    Abstract: A laser light source apparatus includes a first laser array light source that emits first-wavelength light, and a second laser array light source that emits second-wavelength light, the second wavelength being different from the first wavelength. The first laser array light source includes a first fundamental wave laser array that produces first fundamental wave light having a first original wavelength, and a first wavelength conversion element that wavelength-converts the first fundamental wave light into the first-wavelength light. The second laser array light source includes a second fundamental wave laser array that produces second fundamental wave light having a second original wavelength different from the first original wavelength, and a second wavelength conversion element that wavelength-converts the second fundamental wave light into the second-wavelength light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Takeda
  • Patent number: 8118435
    Abstract: A display system for providing enhanced brightness projected images from a micro-projector. The system includes at least two micro-projector display devices, one or more sensors, and a controller. The sensors provide information to the controller indicative of the micro-projector display devices having been placed in proximity to each other to project identical images, the controller further being programmed to determine from information generated by the sensors their alignment and maximize cooperative pixel alignment between multiple images generated by the micro-projector display devices by offsetting a center of an image in one or more of the projector devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Inventor: David W. Carroll
  • Patent number: 8118437
    Abstract: An optical device that includes a light modulation device, a projection optical device, and a retention member that holds the light modulation device and the projection optical device. The retention member includes: a projection optical device attachment section for attach the projection optical device; and a light modulation device attachment section that is provided for attachment of the light modulation device with a protrusion to a side opposite to the projection optical device along an optical-axis direction of the projection optical device, and the projection optical device attachment section includes: a fixing section that fixes the projection optical device substantially at a position of the center of gravity; a support section that is disposed opposing the fixing section in the optical-axis direction, and supports the light modulation device attachment section; and a connection section that connects together the fixing section and the support section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Otsuki
  • Patent number: 8107017
    Abstract: A combination display is provided. The combination display includes a front projector and a direct-view screen having a shared video processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: David Elliott Slobodin, Ross Kruse
  • Patent number: 8102395
    Abstract: A system and method displays a realistic image that allows a user to readily grasp his/her own positional relationship and also to experience a sense of presence. An outer dome screen is disposed so as to surround a user, and an immersion image such as the scenery of the surroundings of an object is displayed thereon. An inner dome screen is disposed inside the outer dome screen, and it displays a bird's-eye image of the object as perceived by the vision of the user when the object is viewed from a viewpoint of the user. In this case, the user is allowed to readily grasp his/her own positional relationship by the bird's-eye image and is allowed to experience a sense of presence by the immersion image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Yuji Okumura, Tsugihiko Haga, Tetsuya Murakami, Kenji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8100540
    Abstract: A low cost, light projection and sensing system that projects an image onto a display surface using an array of light emitters. Further, the device has an integral sensing capability of the display surface using light sensors. Both the emitters and sensors are coupled to a control unit. Whereby, the device can modify the light-projected image and sensor view region with its control unit. The device can also project an animated overlaid image or large tiled image of photographic resolution. In operation, the device can determine the position and range of a remote object, along with illuminating its touch sensitive housing with a projected image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Huebner
  • Patent number: 8096666
    Abstract: An enlarging optical unit receives laser light emitted from a laser light source, enlarges a light flux of the received laser light to have a diverging angle corresponding to a swing angle of a scanning mirror and provides it to the scanning mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Takahashi, Hiroki Matsubara, Seiji Takemoto, Atsuya Hirano
  • Patent number: 8087784
    Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying three-dimensional (3D) images are described. In particular, the systems can include a display block made from a transparent material with optical elements three-dimensionally disposed therein. Each optical element becomes luminous when illuminated by a light ray. The systems can also include a computing device configured to generate two-dimensional (2D) images formatted to create 3D images when projected on the display block, by a video projector coupled to the computing device. The video projector is configured to project the 2D images on the block to create the 3D images by causing a set of the passive optical elements to become luminous. Various other systems and methods are described for displaying 3D images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Shree K Nayar, Vijay Anand Nagarajan
  • Patent number: 8086704
    Abstract: A projector selection system selects one of projectors from a computer which is connected to the projectors through a network. An identifier is displayed on each of the projectors by identifier assigning means and identifier display means. A preview image, which is a scale-down version of an image displayed on the screen by the projector, is acquired by preview image generating means and preview image transmitting means. The preview image is displayed on a dialog display area on the screen of the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: NEC Viewtechnology, Ltd
    Inventor: Kazuya Honma
  • Patent number: 8079718
    Abstract: A projector has a transmissive spatial light modulator backlit by a collimated illuminator that includes a light source that outputs red, green, blue (RGB) light, and a combiner disposed in light-receiving relation to the light source for mixing or combining the RGB light. The combiner has cavity features associated therewith for outputting collimated light, where such light preferably has a divergent cone angle less than plus or minus fifteen degrees (+/?15°).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Jabil Circuit, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinhui Zhai, Israel J. Morejon, Patrick J. Verdon, Lin Li, Robert J. Pantalone, Evan O'Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8075138
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a true 3-D display, where each of a viewer's eyes not only sees a different scene, but the scene changes continuously as the viewer moves his/her head or change his/her position from one angular location to another angular location with respect to the display screen. In one embodiment, a system comprises a set of 2-D image projectors and a display screen. The 2-D image projectors are configured to project individual 2-D images substantially in focus on the display screen. The display screen then diffuses (or reflects) each pixel from each of the 2-D images into a small angular slice. This enables the viewer observing the display screen to see a different one of the 2-D images with each eye. Further, the image seen by each eye varies as the viewer moves his or her head with respect to the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Third Dimension IP LLC
    Inventor: Clarence E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8075139
    Abstract: A light surface display for providing a three-dimensional image including a plurality of particles suspended within a volumetric display. A first projection system projects sequential slices of electromagnetic energy of one or more wavelengths along the length and width of the volumetric display energizing particles to form a two-dimensional image. A second projection system projects translational slices of electromagnetic energy of one or more wavelengths that intersect with the energized particles across the depth of the volumetric display. A control system synchronizes the projection of the image source and the activation source such that the two-dimensional image and the translational slices energize the particles for a pre-determined length of time so that the particles illuminate to form an illuminated three-dimensional image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
    Inventors: Hakki H. Refai, Erik Petrich, James J. Sluss, Jr., Monte P. Tull, Pramode Verma, Gerald K. Newman, Martina Dreyer
  • Patent number: 8070302
    Abstract: A laminate type light emitting diode device having excellent heat radiation performance and high output capability is provided. A plurality of reflection type light emitting diode units 10 each of which includes a light emitting diode 2 and a dichroic mirror 3 in a hollow metal holder case 5 having high thermal conductivity so as to face each other are joined to one another through joint members 4 formed of electrical insulating material, thereby constructing the laminate type light emitting diode device 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuyuki Hatanaka, Takashi Sato, Kazuo Yamamoto, Yukimasa Saito, Koji Uchida, Yasufumi Kawanabe
  • Patent number: 8070298
    Abstract: An imaging system (200) includes a plurality of laser sources (201) configured to produce a plurality of light beams (204). One or more optical alignment devices (220) orient the light beams (204) into a collimated light beam (205). A light modulator (203) modulates the collimated light beam (205) such that images (206) can be presented on a display surface (207). Speckle is reduced with an optical feedback device (221) that causes the laser sources (201) to operate in a coherence collapsed state. Examples of optical feedback devices (221) include partially reflective mirrors and beam splitter-mirror combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventor: Taha Masood
  • Patent number: 8066388
    Abstract: A light source device includes a first light source, a second light source, a reflective assembly, and a condensing lens defining an optical axis. The first light source includes a first lamp and a first reflector reflecting light beams generated by the first lamp as first parallel light beams. The second light source includes a second lamp and a second reflector reflecting light beams generated by the second lamp. The first light source, the reflective assembly and the condensing lens are arranged in order along the optical axis. The second light source corresponds to the reflective assembly deviated from the optical axis. The reflective assembly reflects light beams reflected by the first reflector back to the first reflector, and reflects light beams from the second reflector to the condensing lens. The condensing lens condenses the first parallel light beams and the light beams reflected by the reflective assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsin-Tsung Yeh, Chun-Hsiang Huang, Wei-Hsiu Chang, Kuang-Wei Lin, Kuan-Ting Chen, Mei-Chun Lin
  • Patent number: RE43234
    Abstract: A central controller and a number of image projection lighting devices (“IPLD”), a type of multiparameter light, are interconnected by an enhanced performance communications path that is capable of simultaneously carrying different digital signals on various bidirectional channels, such as various content signals, including continuous video and/or audio, in digital form on respective content transfer channels, a command signal on a control channel, and a control or content signal in digital form on an auxiliary channel. In accordance with commands transmitted from the central controller over the control channel, content signals may be sent from any of the IPLDs to any other of the IPLDs, or from the central controller to any of the IPLDs, or from any of the IPLDs to the central controller. The IPLDs have respective unique device addresses, and the control channel, the auxiliary channel, and the content transfer channels also have respective unique channel addresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Inventor: Richard S. Belliveau