Light Shield, Mask, Hood, Or Diaphragm Patents (Class 353/97)
  • Patent number: 9500939
    Abstract: A projection subsystem includes a projector for projecting an image on a projection surface and a safety feature for tuning the projector when presence of a human is detected in front of the projection surface. This safety feature includes: —an apparatus for computing a depth view corresponding to at least a portion of the projection surface, —a camera for acquiring a captured image, —a computing circuit for detecting an object between the projector and the projection surface from this depth view and determining that the object is a human from the captured image, and a control circuit for tuning the projector accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics international N.V.
    Inventors: Frederique Roffet, Laurent Cuisenier
  • Patent number: 9411217
    Abstract: A projector includes a light source, a light control apparatus having a light shield portion that shields light emitted from the light source, the light control apparatus adjusting the amount of light that passes therethrough, an optical element that is disposed on the light exiting side of the light shield portion and optically converts light incident on the optical element, a cooling fan that sends cooling air, and a duct that guides the cooling air sent from the cooling fan to the light shield portion and the optical element which are the targets to be cooled, wherein the duct has a blowoff port off which the guided cooling air is blown toward each target to be cooled, and the light shield portion changes the amount of covered blowoff port in accordance with the amount of light that the light shield portion shields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Norikazu Kadotani, Masato Kadotani
  • Patent number: 9407961
    Abstract: Systems and methods may determine a visibility state of an application window associated with a media stream, and selectively decode a media stream based on a visibility state. One or more decode operations with respect to media content, such as video content, may be prevented if a visibility state indicates that at least a portion of an application window includes a blocked state. One or more decode operations with respect to media content, such as video content, may be permitted if a visibility state indicates that at least a portion of an application window includes a visible state. The systems and methods result in benefits to resource utilization, such as processor utilization, power consumption, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: John C. Weast
  • Patent number: 9304380
    Abstract: The present invention provides a projection type display apparatus for displaying an image by which reduction of contrast is suppressed, including: a light source; a first lens array and a second lens array having a plurality of lens cell areas; a collecting lens; a display element; a projection lens; and a light shielding unit which light-shields the light fluxes from the first lens array to the second lens array, wherein the light shielding unit light-shields at least parts of all the lens cell areas except for the lens cell area in contact with an optical axis among a plurality of rectangular lens cell areas of the second lens array, and a light shielding area in the lens cell area in contact with the optical axis is smaller than that in any of the lens cell areas except for the lens cell area in contact with the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Kimura
  • Patent number: 9245469
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying data in a portable terminal to control data displayed on a projection beam screen. The apparatus includes a beam projector unit for displaying data on a beam screen, at least one camera unit for capturing the data displayed on the beam screen, and a controller for extracting a differential region between data to be displayed on the beam screen and the displayed data captured by the camera unit and displaying the data on the beam screen according to a display screen region excluding the differential region therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Min Park
  • Patent number: 9236017
    Abstract: A display device and a method for controlling a luminance of the display device are disclosed. The display device includes an average picture level (APL) calculator which calculates an APL of an input image and outputs the APL of the input image and an APL curve data, a luminance adjuster which adjusts the APL curve data and includes at least two luminance adjusting units which are enabled in response to a user input through a user interface, a data modulator for modulating data of the input image using a luminance defined in the APL curve data adjusted by the luminance adjuster, and a display panel driving circuit which writes data from the data modulator on a display panel and reproduces the input image on the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Sungjin Park
  • Patent number: 9229206
    Abstract: Disclosed is a projection optical system, including a first lens group configured to include at least one lens and have a positive refractive power, a second lens group configured to include at least one lens and have a positive refractive power, a third lens group configured to include at least one lens and have a negative refractive power, a fourth lens group configured to include at least one lens configured to have an aspheric surface or a free-form surface, and a concave mirror, wherein the first lens group, the second lens group, the third lens group, the fourth lens group, and the concave mirror are arranged in order and the projection optical system is a non-telecentric optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hibiki Tatsuno
  • Patent number: 9217865
    Abstract: A light projection device capable of irradiating light only onto an object includes: a light projector in which an object and a back surface of the object are taken as a projectable range; a shadow region detector that detects a shadow that occurs on the back surface of the object by projection light; and a controller that corrects a shadow region so that a projection region of the light projector and the shadow region can coincide with each other on the back surface of the object, sets the corrected shadow region as a light projection range and sets, as a non-light projection range, a region other than the shadow region, and sets projection light projected onto the set light projection range, wherein the light projector projects the projection light onto a range where the object is present by projecting the set projection light onto the set light projection range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuyuki Yamamoto, Ryo Kawamura
  • Patent number: 9204518
    Abstract: One aspect relates to combining an at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting with an at least one primary general illumination lighting to at least partially provide an at least one combined general illumination lighting. The aspect further comprises sensing one or more sensed optical characteristics of an at least one alternate general illumination lighting. The aspect further comprises controlling at least one controlled optical characteristics of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the sensing the one or more sensed optical characteristics of an at least one alternate general illumination lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Inventors: Edward K. Y. Jung, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9152030
    Abstract: A light-adjusting unit includes: a light-shielding plate centered an optical axis of an incoming light flux and configured to block the light flux in response to the amount of rotation; a rotation transmitting gear configured to hold and rotate the light-shielding plate; a supporting shaft configured to rotatably support the rotation transmitting gear; and a supporting substrate on which the supporting shaft is provided, and the light-shielding plate is provided on one surface side of the supporting plate, and the rotation transmitting gear is provided on the other surface side of the supporting substrate opposite to the one surface side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Fumio Yuzawa
  • Patent number: 9143630
    Abstract: A photographing device includes a display that displays a screen, a photographing unit that is arranged on the same plane as the display, and a mirror that is arranged so that at least a portion of the display is capable of being photographed by the photographing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hayashi, Shinobu Ozeki, Akira Tateishi, Masaru Kijima, Motoki Taniguchi, Eisaku Hayashi, Kazushige Oi
  • Patent number: 9110360
    Abstract: An image projection apparatus includes a housing unit; a light source unit provided on the housing unit; an outer cover mounted on the housing unit; a second cover provided nearer to the light source unit than the outer cover; a first mounting member formed on the housing unit; a second mounting member formed on the outer cover and fixing the outer cover to the housing unit when mounted on the first mounting member; a displacement member movable to both a position where mounting of the second mounting member to the first mounting member is inhibited and a position where mounting of the second mounting member to the first mounting member is permitted; and a displacement control member that moves the displacement member to the position where the mounting of the second mounting member to the first mounting member is permitted when the second cover is correctly mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasunari Mikutsu, Hideo Namba, Satoshi Tsuchiya, Naoyuki Ishikawa, Hideo Kanai, Motohisa Ikeda, Masamichi Yamada
  • Patent number: 9039200
    Abstract: A projector which modulates light emitted from a light source and projects the light, the projector including: an image acquiring unit for acquiring an image from an image source; a modulating unit for modulating the light emitted from the light sources, based on the image acquired by the image acquiring unit; a light adjustment mechanism for reducing an amount of light incident on the modulating unit from the light source; and a light adjustment control unit for performing light adjustment control by the light adjustment mechanism, based on the image acquired by the image acquiring unit; wherein the light adjustment control unit stops execution of the light adjustment control when at least one of an operating state of the projector and a state of the image acquired by the image acquiring unit meets a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Nobori, Toru Katahira, Katsuhiro Matsuyama, Haruyoshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 9028071
    Abstract: Light source layer (4) includes substrate (10) and a pair of layers, namely, hole-transport layer (11) and electron-transport layer (13), formed on substrate (10). Directional control layer (5) includes plasmon excitation layer (15) stacked on a side of light source layer (4), which is opposite to the side of substrate (10) of light source layer (4), and which has a plasma frequency higher than a frequency of light output from light source layer (4), and wave vector conversion layer (17) stacked on plasmon excitation layer (15), which converts light incident from plasmon excitation layer (15) into light having a predetermined exit angle to output the light. Plasmon excitation layer (15) is sandwiched between low dielectric constant layer (14) and high dielectric constant layer (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Masanao Natsumeda, Shin Tominaga, Goroh Saitoh, Masao Imai
  • Patent number: 9028077
    Abstract: A projector includes a housing, an image projection unit, and a plurality of connection ports including a power connection port. The housing has a top face, and a first face and a second face adjacent to each other, and a light projection port on the top face. The image projection unit includes an optical system to project light corresponding to image data, via the light projection port disposed on the top face, in an upward oblique direction with respect to the first face. The plurality of connection ports is disposed on the second face. The power connection port is disposed at a position in the second face closest to the first face side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Morohoshi
  • Patent number: 9028075
    Abstract: A projector includes: a light source device; an optical modulation device configured to modulate a luminous flux emitted from the light source device in accordance with image information, forming an image; a projection optical device configured to project the image; a shutter device including a light shielding plate which can move into and out of an optical path of the luminous flux ranging from the light source device to the optical modulation device, shields the luminous flux by the light shielding plate moving into the optical path; and a light control device which being disposed on the optical path's upstream side of the shutter device, changes the area of a light passage through which the luminous flux passes, controlling the quantity of the luminous flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Wataru Kitahara
  • Patent number: 9016872
    Abstract: A projector that modulates light emitted from a light source and projects the modulated image light on a projection surface, the projector including: an object detection unit for determining the position of an object that blocks projection of the image light; a distance detection unit for determining the distance to the object; and a projection control unit for determining an avoidance area where the object prevents the image light from reaching the projection surface based on the position of the object determined by the object detection unit and the distance to the object determined by the distance detection unit and projecting the image light in an area other than the avoidance area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tadanori Aruga
  • Patent number: 8979281
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for multiple sided video projection mapping on arbitrarily shaped objects. By using the same shape data to manufacture the object and to configure the projection mapping onto the object, stray light, reflections, and other distortions can be reduced or eliminated. By constructing the object using a non-opaque layer and a projection coating layer, video content projected onto the object can be seen on multiple sides. Thus, the number of projectors required for multi-sided viewing can be reduced, simplifying deployment and reducing costs. The invention may be of particular use for retail spaces or other public venues where display of image or video content for information, entertainment, or atmosphere enhancement is desirable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal Lassila, Jonathan Endicott, Charles D. Petersen, Fred Suffin
  • Patent number: 8960926
    Abstract: In order to minimize a change in the luminance of a projected image caused by a lamp refreshing process, projector 10 according to the present invention includes lamp refreshing controller 13 which, upon detecting that the lighting power of lamp 15 is lower than rated power thereof for a given period of time, increases the lighting power of lamp 15 to the rated power and, after elapse of a predetermined period of time, reduces the lighting power to an original level thereof, and aperture data generator 16 which controls the aperture of optical diaphragm 18 depending on a change in the lighting power to keep constant the amount of light passing through optical diaphragm 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8955990
    Abstract: A projector includes a housing, an image projection unit, and an operation unit. The housing has a base and a side face. The side face has an area greater than an area of the base. A light projection port is disposed in a top face of the housing. The image projection unit, encased within the housing, projects light corresponding to image data via the light projection port. The operation unit, disposed on a top face of the housing, includes a first pressable control moveable in an upward/downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Morohoshi
  • Publication number: 20150042967
    Abstract: A projection head for a laser projector is provided that includes a fiber outcoupling with a relatively large distance between the fibers. The fiber outcoupling represents a possibility for being able to adjust the position of the crossing point between the light beams. Thus it is possible to place the crossing point on the polygonal facets of a polygonal mirror. As a result, only minor light losses occur and edge discolorations are reduced when projecting onto a projection surface. The lateral distance between the fibers is relatively large, amounting to several millimeters. Due to the large distance, it is possible to integrate additional adjustment device and use conventional fiber plugs for the individual fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Wolfram BIEHLIG, Andreas ZINTL
  • Patent number: 8950867
    Abstract: A system may comprise a selectively transparent projection device for projecting an image toward an eye of a viewer from a projection device position in space relative to the eye of the viewer, the projection device being capable of assuming a substantially transparent state when no image is projected; an occlusion mask device coupled to the projection device and configured to selectively block light traveling toward the eye from one or more positions opposite of the projection device from the eye of the viewer in an occluding pattern correlated with the image projected by the projection device; and a zone plate diffraction patterning device interposed between the eye of the viewer and the projection device and configured to cause light from the projection device to pass through a diffraction pattern having a selectable geometry as it travels to the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventor: John Graham Macnamara
  • Publication number: 20150029474
    Abstract: A projective optical system comprises: a lens optical system including lenses; and a transmissive optical element having an anamorphic surface and being provided in an optical path between the lens optical system and a projected surface, wherein the transmissive optical element has a curvature with respect to a direction corresponding to a long side of a display screen of the image display element, and on a cross-sectional surface being perpendicular to the long side of the display screen, and with respect to light being emitted from the lens optical system and being incident to the transmissive optical element, a light intensity of a first light flux being incident to the transmissive optical element at a first incident angle is lower than a light intensity of a second light flux being incident to the transmissive optical element at a second incident angle being larger than the first incident angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Hibiki TATSUNO
  • Patent number: 8915596
    Abstract: A concealing structure to at least partially conceal a sensor, light emitter or other component by at least partially preventing reflection of external light by an underlying structure. In some examples, this function is performed by a two-component masking assembly, the masking assembly including a linear polarizer to cause linear polarization of light which passes from the exterior of the device to an underlying component, and a wave plate to shift the axis of any reflected polarized light. In many cases, a high density optical fluid will further be included within the masking assembly to minimize reflections from the other components of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: David Thomas Amm, James J. Dudley, Peter Henry Mahowald
  • Patent number: 8899760
    Abstract: A light projection apparatus that projects light onto an arbitrary space and an object set in the space, comprising: projection light data generating means for generating projection light data for specifying the projection light; projection range setting means for setting a projection range onto which the light is projected and a non-projection range onto which the light is not projected in accordance with an operation of a user; projection data correcting means for correcting the projection light data so as to project the light onto the projection range set by the projection range setting means; projection light correction data drawing means for performing drawing processing for projection light correction data obtained by correcting the projection light data by the projection data correcting means; and light projecting means for projecting the light by using projection light drawing data generated by the projection light data drawing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Ryo Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8888294
    Abstract: An illumination device having a number of light sources and a number of light collectors. The light collectors collect light generated by the light sources and convert the light into a source light beam propagating primarily along a primary optical axis. The light sources and the light collectors can be part of a light source module. The light source module can include a cooling module comprising a number of interconnected plane mounting surfaces angled in relation to each other, with the light sources arranged on said plane mounting surfaces. The cooling module can include a first side comprising the mounting surfaces and a second side comprising a number of cooling fins defining a number of radial air channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Martin Professional ApS
    Inventors: Lars Kjær, Dennis Jørgensen
  • Publication number: 20140333905
    Abstract: A projector includes a light source, an image forming system adapted to form an image using light from the light source, a projection system adapted to project the image formed by the image forming system, and a dimming device including a light-blocking member adapted to move into and out of a light path between an exit end surface of the projection system and the light source, and adapted to control an intensity of the light emitted from the light source. The light-blocking member includes a first movable section having at least one light-transmitting section and a light-blocking section, and a second movable section adapted to block the light passed through the light-transmitting section. At least one radiator plate is provided to either one or both of the first movable section and the second movable section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuo Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20140313491
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a projection type image display apparatus enables control of a large amount of light masking through a light-masking unit while maintaining a uniform illumination distribution in an area to be illuminated by the illumination light. The apparatus uses two array lenses on which lens cells are arranged in matrix form, where light-masking unit masks the array lens installed on the light source side in their particular area. The light-masking unit adjusts the amount of light emitted from the light source. The light-masking area of lens cells adjacent to lens cells closest to an optical axis is made smaller than the light-masking area of other cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI CONSUMER ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya SHIMIZU, Kentaro KATO
  • Patent number: 8860891
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the effective contrast ratio and brightness yields for digital light valve image projectors using a variable luminance control mechanism (VLCM), associated with the projector optics, for modifying the light output and provide a correction thereto; and an adaptive luminance control module (ALCM) for receiving signals from the video input board, the adaptive luminance control module producing a signal on a VLCM bus connecting the variable luminance control mechanism and the adaptive luminance control module, the signal causing the variable luminance control mechanism to change the luminance of the light output and provide a corrected video signal for the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventors: Eddie E. Allen, Thomas D. Strade, Christopher Coley
  • Publication number: 20140285779
    Abstract: A projector 100 comprising a light source (130), a reflective light bulb (DMD 180), a projection optical system, an illumination optical system (120) that guides light emitted from the light source to the reflective light bulb, a stationary aperture (166), and a movable aperture (167).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Hirokazu SAKAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 8833948
    Abstract: It is a task to provide a mobile electronic device with high operability and high safety. The mobile electronic device includes an image projector that projects an image, a detector that detects a specific change in an irradiation area of light irradiated from the image projector or in a predetermined area including the irradiation area, and a control unit that controls the operation of the image projector. The task is solved in such a manner that when the detector detects the specific change, the control unit causes the image projector to stop emission of light therefrom, or to reduce an amount of light emitted therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Osaka, Yasuhiro Ueno, Yasushi Kitamura, Seiji Horii, Jouji Yoshikawa, Tomoko Asano, Hiroki Itou, Youji Yamada
  • Patent number: 8833947
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a variable aperture stop device, a control circuit and a user interface. The variable aperture stop device is operable to adjust the lens opening size by opening and closing an aperture. The control circuit is operable to control the opening and closing of the aperture based on an aperture ratio for the brightness distribution of an input signal constituting a screen. The user interface permits to set times necessary for the opening and closing of the aperture. The control circuit controls the opening and closing of the aperture based on times set via the user interface so that the response to the opening and closing of the aperture differs between when the signal changes from dark to light levels and when the level changes from light to dark levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Kido, Hideki Onuma
  • Patent number: 8823885
    Abstract: A projector includes: an illuminator that outputs illumination light; a light modulator including a liquid crystal panel and a structural birefringent polarization separation element having a polarization separation surface inclined away from a central axis of the illumination light, the light modulator modulating the illumination light from the illuminator; and a projection system that projects the light modulated by the light modulator, wherein the illumination light outputted from the illuminator has an angular distribution in a first direction, which is perpendicular to the central axis of the illumination light, smaller than the angular distribution in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction and the central axis of the illumination light, and the polarization separation surface of the structural birefringent polarization separation element has a structure that is not periodic along the first direction but is periodic along the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoharu Masuda, Takashi Endo
  • Patent number: 8820944
    Abstract: A portable image projection device has a housing with first and second members pivotable between device folded and unfolded positions. First lens optics mounted within the first member are configured for projecting light modulated by a spatial light modulator along an optical axis through a first aperture with a first throw ratio with the device in the folded position. A second lens optics element movably mounted within the first member is configured for selective movement between positions of non-intersection and intersection with the optical axis. The second lens optics element is configured for cooperating with at least part of the first lens optics for projecting the light modulated by the spatial light modulator along the optical axis through a second aperture with a second throw ratio less than the first throw ratio with the device in the unfolded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Jose S. Vasquez
  • Patent number: 8783877
    Abstract: The present invention provides a projection type display apparatus for displaying an image by which reduction of contrast is suppressed, including: a light source; a first lens array and a second lens array having a plurality of lens cell areas; a collecting lens; a display element; a projection lens; and a light shielding unit which light-shields the light fluxes from the first lens array to the second lens array, wherein the light shielding unit light-shields at least parts of all the lens cell areas except for the lens cell area in contact with an optical axis among a plurality of rectangular lens cell areas of the second lens array, and a light shielding area in the lens cell area in contact with the optical axis is smaller than that in any of the lens cell areas except for the lens cell area in contact with the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Kimura
  • Publication number: 20140185020
    Abstract: A projection unit may include a reflector-lamp arrangement which is designed to emit light during operation, wherein the light radiates toward an aperture, wherein a setting unit is provided, with which a light intensity distribution of the emitted light is adjustable relative to the aperture, wherein the light intensity distribution is adjusted depending on a period of operation of the lamp, and/or a measuring unit is provided, with which at least part of the light intensity distribution is detectable, wherein the light intensity distribution is adjusted relative to the aperture depending on a change in the light intensity distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventor: Norbert Magg
  • Patent number: 8764200
    Abstract: A projector includes a dimming device that moves a light-shielding member for shielding light to adjust the amount of light emitted from a light source, a housing that accommodates the dimming device, a temperature detection section that detects an internal temperature of the housing, and a control section that controls an adjustment state of the amount of light through the dimming device. The control section starts a control of the dimming device when the temperature detected by the temperature detection section is set to equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nara
  • Publication number: 20140176919
    Abstract: A projection system includes: a relay system that focuses light having exited through a first image plane on a second image plane; and an enlarging system that enlarges and projects an image focused on the second image plane on a third image plane, wherein the relay system includes a first lens element on which the light having exited through the first image plane is incident, the first lens element having positive refracting power, a reflective member that reflects a light having passed through the first lens element, the reflective member having positive refracting power, and a second lens element on which a light reflected off the reflective member is incident and which focuses the light reflected off the reflective member on the second image plane, the second lens element having positive refracting power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eiji MORIKUNI
  • Patent number: 8757817
    Abstract: An illumination obscurement device for controlling the obscurement of illumination from a light source which is optimized for use with a rectangular, arrayed, selective reflection device. In a preferred embodiment, a rotatable shutter with three positions is placed between a light source and a DMD. The first position of the shutter is a mask, preferably an out of focus circle. This out of focus circle creates a circular mask and changes any unwanted dim reflection to a circular shape. The second position of the shutter is completely open, allowing substantially all the light to pass. The third position of the shutter is completely closed, blocking substantially all the light from passing. By controlling the penumbra illumination surrounding the desired illumination, DMDs can be used in illumination devices without creating undesirable rectangular penumbras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventors: William Hewlett, Nigel Evans
  • Publication number: 20140160447
    Abstract: An image display device includes a holder and an optical component. The holder has an optical path. The optical component is mounted to the holder such that the optical component is disposed in the optical path of the holder. The holder has a first portion with a first edge part and a second portion with a second edge part. The holder is integrally formed as a one-piece, unitary member. The first and second portions are axially and adjacently arranged relative to each other along an optical axis of the optical path of the holder. The first and second edge parts at least partially define a circumferential edge of an aperture that is arranged with respect to the optical component in the optical path of the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro KOBAYASHI, Yutaka TAKAHASHI, Daisuke SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 8733951
    Abstract: A first image is provided to a projector, which is configured to project the first image on a projection screen. A captured first image is received from a camera configured to capture the projected first image and an occluding object between the projector and the projection screen. A key including a difference between the captured first image and the first image is generated. A second image is modified according to the key to generate a new second image. The new second image is provided to the projector, which is further configured to project the new second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Warren Gruen, Daniel Richard Christen
  • Patent number: 8727542
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a projection type image display apparatus enables control of a large amount of light masking through a light-masking unit while maintaining a uniform illumination distribution in an area to be illuminated by the illumination light. The apparatus uses two array lenses on which lens cells are arranged in matrix form, where light-masking unit masks the array lens installed on the light source side in their particular area. The light-masking unit adjusts the amount of light emitted from the light source. The light-masking area of lens cells adjacent to lens cells closest to an optical axis is made smaller than the light-masking area of other cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Shimizu, Kentaro Kato
  • Patent number: 8721090
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyunho Choi, Eunsung Seo, Seungman Jeong
  • Patent number: 8714749
    Abstract: A projection display device having a projection device projecting an image on a surface, and a position detection function of detecting an object's position between the surface and the projection device, includes: a light source emitting light beams toward the object; a light detector detecting the light beams reflected by the object; and a position detector detecting the object's position in an imaginary plane based on the light detector's result, wherein the light source emits, as the light beams, first through third light beams having first through third intensity distributions, the second intensity distribution having a highest intensity at a position failing to overlap a highest intensity of the first intensity distribution, and the third intensity distribution having a highest intensity portion at a position failing to overlap a straight line connecting the highest intensity portions of the first and second intensity distributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 8714753
    Abstract: A projector includes: a light source device; an optical modulation device configured to modulate a luminous flux emitted from the light source device in accordance with image information, forming an image; projection optical device configured to project the image; a shutter device including a light shielding plate which can move into and out of an optical path of the luminous flux ranging from the light source device to the optical modulation device, shields the luminous flux by the light shielding plate moving into the optical path; and a light control device which being disposed on the optical path's upstream side of the shutter device, changes the area of a light passage through which the luminous flux passes, controlling the quantity of the luminous flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Wataru Kitahara
  • Patent number: 8714752
    Abstract: A projection display device has an illumination optical system that includes a light-intensity equalization element, a first optical system, and an aperture regulation member. The aperture regulation member is disposed at a position that is not optically conjugate with the screen, and the aperture regulation member has at least one of the following, using measured or calculated relative illuminances at each of multiple segments of the image formation region or screen: an aperture expansion part provided at a position corresponding to a segment with a low relative illuminance, the aperture expansion part being a cutout that narrows the light-blocking section and widens the aperture section; an aperture contraction part provided at a position corresponding to a segment with a high relative illuminance, the aperture contraction part being a protrusion that widens the light-blocking section and narrows the aperture section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kuniko Kojima, Hayato Takeuchi, Akihiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 8708500
    Abstract: A projection device capable of effectively performing the light utilization is disclosed, particularly comprising polarized beam components and reflective components regarded for controlling polarizing of light, reducing light missing during light transferring from a light source to a projection lens set, increase light utilization efficiency, wherein the polarizing beam components are regarded for separating the light into two orthogonal polarization waves; the present invention further comprises two modulated diaphragms regarded for controlling the strength of said two orthogonal polarization waves, equaling brightness of the polarization waves at final vision, keeping a good quality in final vision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Cheng-Huan Chen, Sheng-Hsun Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8702240
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an image display element configured to display an image by controlling a polarization state of a polarized light beam. An illumination optical system guides the polarized light beam to the image display element. A polarizing beam splitter disposed between the illumination optical system and the image display element selectively splits polarization of incident light. A projection optical system projects the image displayed by the image display element onto a projection plane. The positional relationship between the polarizing beam splitter and an optical axis of the projection optical system is properly set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehito Kawasumi
  • Patent number: 8702248
    Abstract: A display system able to reduce interpixel intensity gaps caused by the use of pulsed laser sources having relatively short optimum pulse duration. The interpixel intensity gaps are reduced by temporally offsetting multiple laser pulses for a display pixel during a corresponding pixel-scan period. The temporally offset pulses for the display pixel are then scanned to different locations on a viewing surface such that the display pixel has an improved intensity distribution. Additional reduction in the interpixel gaps may be accomplished by de-focusing the temporally offset pulses in a scan direction, increasing the duty cycle of the source lasers, and shifting the location of alternating frames on the viewing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Christensen, Dennis F. Elkins
  • Patent number: RE45258
    Abstract: In a projection optical system for use in an image projection apparatus illuminating an image display panel forming an image in accordance with a modulating signal with illumination light from a light source, the projection optical system includes first and second optical systems arranged along an optical path defining an upstream-downstream direction in the order described from upstream to downstream on the downstream side of the image display panel. The first optical system includes at least one dioptric system and has positive power. The second optical system includes at least one reflecting surface having power and has positive power. The image formed by the image display panel is formed as an intermediate image in the optical path, and the intermediate image is magnified and projected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Takaura, Kazuhiro Fujita, Nobuo Sakuma