Plural Patents (Class 353/99)
  • Patent number: 7360928
    Abstract: A tilting device is disclosed which tilts the light reflected from a Digital Micro-mirror device by a certain angle and projects it to a screen. The tilting device, comprising a first reflector surface, a second reflector surface inclined at a predetermined angle with regard to the first reflector surface, a holder attached to the bottom of the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface, and a driving part that provides rotational force to the holder, wherein the first reflector surface and the second reflector surface are rotated by the driving part to sequentially reflect light emitted from a Digital Micro-mirror device, not only provides a smooth and natural display with invisible grids but also allows more stable and more accurate tilting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yang-Ho Moon, Dong-Won Choi, Jae-Kyung Kim, Chil-Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 7360901
    Abstract: A projection type video display is provided with three LED light sources. A first LED light source emits a light in red, a second LED light source emits a light in green, and a third LED light source emits a light in blue. Lights in respective colors emitted from each LED light source are guided into a light incidence surface of a rod integrator by a cross dichroic mirror. The cross dichroic mirror is formed of a first cross dichroic mirror portion and a second dichroic mirror portion. The first cross dichroic mirror portion is divided into two portions, and the second cross dichroic mirror portion, too, is divided into two portions. The cross dichroic mirror has structure of a cross arrangement in which these four divided portions bring respective corner sides into close contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shouichi Yoshii, Yoshihiro Yokote
  • Patent number: 7360899
    Abstract: Various embodiments involving structures and methods for illumination can be employed, for example, in projectors, head-mounted displays, helmet-mounted displays, back projection TVs, flat panel displays as well as other optical systems. Certain embodiments may include prism elements for illuminating, for example, a spatial light modulator. Light may be coupled to the prism in some cases using fiber optics or lightpipes. The optical system may also include a diffuser having scatter features arranged to scatter light appropriately to produce a desired luminance profile. Other embodiments are possible as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Optical Research Associates
    Inventors: James P. McGuire, Jr., William J. Cassarly, John R. Rogers, Douglas A. Nutter
  • Patent number: 7357519
    Abstract: An optical projection device including a light source, a housing, an imaging unit, a projection lens and a dust protection device is provided. The light source is adopted for providing a light beam. The housing has a projection-lens-assembling opening. The imaging unit is disposed in the housing, and on the transmission path of the light beam. In addition, the projection lens in the housing, and exposed by the projection-lens-assembling opening. The dust protection device is disposed between the projection lens and the projection-lens-assembling opening. The optical projection device is thus protected from dust and displaying quality thereof is excellent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Corentronic Corporation
    Inventors: Sea-Huang Lee, Shou-Chih Cheng
  • Patent number: 7354162
    Abstract: A projector includes: a light source device that emits substantially parallel illumination light; a first lens array having a plurality of first small lenses each of which divides the illumination light coming from the light source device into a plurality of partial light fluxes; a second lens array having a plurality of second small lenses corresponding to the first small lenses; a superposing optical system that superposes the partial light fluxes coming from the second lens array on regions to be illuminated; a color-separating and guiding optical system that separates the lights coming from the second lens array into lights in a plurality of different colors and guides the separated lights to the regions to be illuminated; a plurality of electro-optical modulation devices each of which modulates the light in the corresponding color of the lights in the plural colors separated by the color-separating and guiding optical system in accordance with image information; a color synthesizing optical system that s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7354157
    Abstract: An image display device includes a laser light source, a wavelength conversion element converting a wavelength of a light beam emitted from the laser light source into a predetermined wavelength, and a light modulating device modulating the laser beam output from the wavelength conversion element, wherein the laser beam emitted from the laser light source has a frequency of integral multiplication of the maximum modulation frequency of the light modulating device, and has a pulse width narrower than a time period during which the light modulating device is in a stable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Takeda, Masatoshi Yonekubo
  • Patent number: 7355781
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator (SLM) is disclosed that increases speed and efficiency of an SLM through the use of a perforated hinge. The hinge may take many forms, but generally includes an elongated body having holes therein along its longitudinal direction. One or more electrodes are charged with a predetermined voltage in order rotate a reflecting surface towards the electrodes through electrostatic attraction. The perforations within the hinge results in the hinge being made from less material so that it is less sensitive to hinge thickness variations that can occur during the manufacturing process. Consequently, the perforated hinge allows for more stable, uniform mirror rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Gehode Corporation
    Inventor: Jonathan David Mohn
  • Patent number: 7350928
    Abstract: A projection display system comprises an illumination device, a prism assembly, a projection lens and a reflective light valve. The prism assembly has a first light incident surface, a first light emitting surface and a second light emitting surface. The first light emitting surface is an optical curved surface. An illumination beam is incident on the light valve after it enters the prism assembly from the first light incident surface. A modulated beam is generated after it is processed through the light valve. Finally, the modulated beam is projected into the projection lens through the prism assembly. Because a surface of the prism assembly is set to be an optical curved surface to replace a lens in the projection lens or the illumination device, a back focal length of the system is shortened and the projection lens or the illumination device is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Chen Liao, Yi-Hao Kang, Chu-Ming Cheng
  • Patent number: 7350925
    Abstract: Described is an optical lens having a light-receiving surface facing a light source and a first structured surface opposite a first portion of the light-receiving surface. The first structured surface includes a plurality of first reflecting surfaces and first refractive surfaces. Each of the first refractive surfaces receives light from a corresponding first reflective surface for refractive transmission therethrough. The optical system may further include a second structured surface opposite a second portion of the light-receiving surface. The second structured surface includes a plurality of second refractive surfaces. Each of the second refractive surfaces receives light directly from the light-receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Frederic R. Engstrom
  • Patent number: 7352521
    Abstract: An image display optical system which achieves a small size and display at a wide angle of view as well as maintains a required level of optical performance and allows suppression of occurrence of various aberrations at the same time. The optical system includes a first optical element and a second optical element in order from the side of an exit pupil of the optical system to the side of a display device. A combined negative optical power is provided by an emergent surface of the second optical element and an incident surface of the first optical element, and the optical system forms an intermediate image with the displaying luminous flux in the first optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Motomi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7341357
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus includes an image forming element, and an imaging optical system made up of a plurality of reflectors for projecting an image formed by the image forming element to provide an enlarged version of the image, wherein at least one of the reflectors which make up the imaging optical system is movable for adjusting the focus, and the movable reflector is movable along a straight line non-parallel with the normal line of the image forming element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Viewtechnology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunitaka Furuichi, Masateru Matsubara
  • Publication number: 20080055569
    Abstract: A projector comprises a light source unit, a light guide element, a first focus element, a second focus element, a micromirror element and an image unit. The light source unit provides a light beam. The first focus element comprises a first focal length f1. The second focus element comprises a second focal length f2, wherein 2.0 < f 2 f 1 < 3.6 . The light beam travels from the light source unit, passing the light guide element, the first focus element, the second focus element and the micromirror element to the image unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: Benq Corporation
    Inventor: Ming-Kuen Lin
  • Publication number: 20080055566
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a mobile terminal equipped with an optical modulator-based projector. The mobile terminal includes a control system, a projection control system, and an optical modulation system. The optical modulation system produces light and produces an image by modulating the produced light in response to the drive control signal from the projection control system, and scans the produced image onto an internal display unit while projecting the produced image onto the internal display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sang Kyeong Yun
  • Patent number: 7338176
    Abstract: An elevator installation includes an elevator car moved in an elevator shaft between floors in a building. A shaft door for closing the elevator shaft is arranged at each floor. A method for representing information on the shaft doors makes possible a qualitatively high-grade projection of an image on the shaft door. The shaft doors are formed to be at least partly transparent, wherein a projector is arranged in the elevator shaft and projects an image onto the side of the shaft door facing the elevator shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Lennart Svensson-Hilford, Paul Friedli
  • Publication number: 20080049197
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus includes a light source, a light intensity equalizing element, a reflective light valve, a relay optical system, and a projecting optical system; the light intensity equalizing element being an optical device in which a cross-sectional shape in a direction orthogonal to a central axis of the light has four corners; the cross-sectional shape of the light intensity equalizing element being determined in accordance with a rectangular ideal illumination area determined so as to include the image forming area on the reflective light valve, an illumination area on the reflective light valve when a reference light intensity equalizing element is assumed to be used, the reference light intensity equalizing element being rectangular in a cross-sectional shape in a direction orthogonal to the central light ray, and the cross-sectional shape of the reference light intensity equalizing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Kuniko Kojima, Tomohiro Sasagawa
  • Patent number: 7334900
    Abstract: The invention provides a three-dimensional image projecting apparatus. The three-dimensional image projecting apparatus comprises a light signal generator, a filter device, a focusing device and a reflecting device. The light signal generator is used for generating a projection light signal. The filter device filters the projection light signal for generating a set of polarized light signal. The focusing device receives the set of polarized light signal for generating a set of focusing light signal. The reflecting device receives the set of focusing light signal for generating a set of reflected light signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Chun-Yu Lu, Sze-Ke Wang
  • Patent number: 7331679
    Abstract: A projection display system includes a screen, an illumination projecting system to form an image using light radiated by a light source, to magnify the image, and to project the image along a rear side of the screen, and a reflection unit having an array of unit mirrors to reflect the image received from the illumination projecting system onto the screen, each of the unit mirrors having a first sloped reflection surface and a second reflection surface adjacent to the first reflection surface having a predetermined angle therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-ho Cho, Alexei Borodouline, Ji-whan Noh, Kirill Sokolov
  • Patent number: 7329011
    Abstract: A light source unit including an arc tube having a light emitting section, sealed sections, an elliptic reflector, and a secondary reflecting mirror to cover the front side of the light emitting sections and reflect a luminous flux radiated from the light emitting section toward the elliptic reflector. The center of discharging emission from the arc tube is disposed at a first focal position of the elliptic reflector, and the secondary reflecting mirror is configured as a separate member from the arc tube, so that the outer peripheral portion of the secondary reflecting mirror is accommodated within a circular cone connecting a second focal position of the elliptic reflector and the distal end of the front sealed section of the arc tube when being mounted to the front sealed section of the arc tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Shohei Fujisawa, Yuji Takado, Takeshi Takezawa
  • Patent number: 7325956
    Abstract: A light illumination system for projecting a color image to a digital micro-mirror display (DMD) panel includes a light-emitting diode (LED) illumination assembly (101, 102, 103), a dichroic combiner (107) for providing a single light source and a condenser lens system (FIGS. 20-23) for directing light from the single light source to the DMD panel. The invention provides a cost effective and efficient system for providing a non-polarized uniform light source to a DMD panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Jabil Circuit, Inc.
    Inventors: Israel J. Morejon, Jinhui Zhai, Haizhang Li
  • Patent number: 7325957
    Abstract: A polarized light illumination system includes a light emitting diode (LED) (601, 602, 603) for providing a source of light that is directed to a non-polarizing dichroic combiner (607) for combining light from the LEDs into a single light source. A power beam splitter (PBS) (608) is then used for splitting the single light source into polarized light components and an output waveguide (611) operates to provide a source of uniformly illuminated light. A condenser lens (612) then projects the uniformly illuminated light to a microdisplay panel (613) for use with a television receiver or other type of display monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Jabil Circuit, Inc.
    Inventors: Israel J. Morejon, Jinhui Zhai, Haizhang Li, Robert J. Pantalone
  • Patent number: 7325929
    Abstract: A laser projection device suitable for displaying full color images is disclosed. The LPD includes a variety of techniques for modulating laser beams produced by one or more lasers with image data to controllably produce the image using a modified raster scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitriy Yavid, Paul Dvorkis, Ron Goldman, Joseph Katz, Narayan Nambudiri, Miklos Stern, Chinh Tan, Carl Wittenberg, Frederick F. Wood
  • Patent number: 7322703
    Abstract: An light emitting apparatus which illuminates an illumination area has a first light source which emits a first light, a second light source which emits a second light, a wheel which is provided with a transmission filter area which transmits the first light, and a reflection area which reflects the second light, a wheel driving unit which controls a rotation of the wheel, and drives the wheel, a light emitting optical unit which leads the first light which transmits the transmission filter area, or the second light which is reflected by the reflection area to the illumination area, in which the light which is led to the illumination area by the light emitting optical unit is at least two colors of light which are successively changed over in the time series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Shinzo Matsui
  • Patent number: 7322700
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an indicating element which modulates or emits light as a pixel in accordance with image information. A displacement unit optically displaces a position of the pixel for each of two or more sub-fields constituting an image field corresponding to the image information. A projection unit enlarges the pixel and projects an enlarged pixel on a screen. A pixel-profile deformation unit changes an optical intensity profile of the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Miyagaki, Kenji Kameyama, Takanobu Osaka, Ikuo Katoh, Atsushi Takaura, Kenji Namie, Yasuyuki Takiguchi
  • Publication number: 20080013054
    Abstract: There is provided a projection device provided with an upright screen, an image projection unit configured to emit light carrying an image to be projected. The image projection unit emits the light toward the upright screen. A first mirror, a second mirror and a third mirror are provided. The light emitted by the image projection unit is reflected by the first, second and third mirrors in this order, and is projected on the upright screen from its behind. An optical path, in a cross section taken on a plane which extends vertically, perpendicular to the upright screen and intersecting with the upright screen at the center thereof, between the second mirror and the third mirror, of a light ray that is incident on the lowermost position of the upright screen is substantially parallel to the upright screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: PENTAX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shohei MATSUOKA
  • Patent number: 7311403
    Abstract: A projection type video display is provided with three LED light sources. Lights emitted from each LED light source are guided into a light incidence surface of a rod integrator by a cross dichroic mirror. In a first light incidence area (an area opposite to a LED light source in red) of the cross dichroic mirror, a first dichroic mirror is provided, and in a second light incidence area (an area opposite to a LED light source in blue) of the cross dichroic mirror, a second dichroic mirror is provided. The first dichroic mirror transmits the light in red and reflects lights in other colors, and the second dichroic mirror transmits the light in blue and reflects lights in other colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shouichi Yoshii, Yoshitaka Kurosaka
  • Patent number: 7303291
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes: a group of light source segments; a group of condenser lenses arrayed as opposed to the group of light source segments, and a group of rectangular lens elements arrayed as opposed to the group of condenser lenses for converging a light ray transmitted through the opposing condenser lens; and an illumination optical system for guiding the rays to an illumination plane. The lens elements have a shape of a rectangle and are arrayed in a rectangular effective area in such a way that a longitudinal axis of each lens elements intersects an axis passing a side of the effective area at 45°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Ikeda, Kazuhiro Arai
  • Patent number: 7303286
    Abstract: In a projection display device that is provided with a relay lens for converting flux that is emitted from a light source to a parallel flux for illuminating an image display element (DMD), and a total internal reflection prism for both directing flux that is emitted from the relay lens to the DMD and directing flux that is reflected by the DMD toward a projection lens, the relay lens is unified with the prism as a lens-integral prism by bonding the relay lens to the total internal reflection surface of the prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naofumi Ishikura, Jun Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7301691
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for generating images. There is provided a method comprising directing light through a projecting lens (28) at a first pixel position (60a) on a screen (32), and shifting the projecting lens (28) such that the light is directed on at a second pixel position (66) on the screen (32), wherein the second pixel position (66) is diagonally offset from the first pixel position (60a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: TTE Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene Murphy O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 7300155
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a projection-type display apparatus, which can address or realize a reduction in weight and size, a reduction in power consumption, and a reduction in noise, and address or realize a reduction in price, and a control method for the projection-type display apparatus, as well as a control program for the projection-type display apparatus. The projection-type display apparatus includes a solid-state light source that emits light, a mirror device that controls an emitting direction of the incident light to thereby subject the incident light to temporal modulation, and a projecting device that projects the modulated light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunaga Miyazawa, Hiroshi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7300162
    Abstract: In order to minimize light diffraction along the direction of switching and more particularly light diffraction into the acceptance cone of the collection optics, in the present invention, micromirrors are provided which are not rectangular. Also, in order to minimize the cost of the illumination optics and the size of the display unit of the present invention, the light source is placed orthogonal to the rows (or columns) of the array, and/or the light source is placed orthogonal to a side of the frame defining the active area of the array. The incident light beam, though orthogonal to the sides of the active area, is not however, orthogonal to any substantial portion of sides of the individual micromirrors in the array. Orthogonal sides cause incident light to diffract along the direction of micromirror switching, and result in light ‘leakage’ into the ‘on’ state even if the micromirror is in the ‘off’ state. This light diffraction decreases the contrast ratio of the micromirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Andrew G. Huibers
  • Patent number: 7300158
    Abstract: The invention concerns a display apparatus with an imager illuminated by an illumination system and with an imaging system projecting an image on a viewing screen, wherein the brightness of the image on the imager has a variation over a given direction, and wherein the illumination system has light controlling elements for controlling the light distribution over the given direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Thomsom Licensing
    Inventors: Valter Drazic, Eugene O'Donnell, Pascal Benoit, Arno Schubert
  • Patent number: 7287865
    Abstract: A projection type display optical system is provided to resolve problems of keystone distortion, and to improve illumination efficiency and contrast uniformity of an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Soon Hyung Kwon
  • Patent number: 7287863
    Abstract: A light tunnel with a gradient filter layer includes a light tunnel body and a gradient filter layer. In this case, the gradient filter layer is disposed at a light emerging side. The transmission rate at the central area of the gradient filter layer is smaller than the transmission rate at the edge area of the gradient filter layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Prodisc Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Nai-Yueh Liang, Shu-Ching Chan, Wei-Chung Wang, Chong-Han Tsai, Ta-Kun Kung, Yen-Chun Chou
  • Patent number: 7284865
    Abstract: A scrolling device with color separation and a projection system incorporating same are disclosed. The scrolling device comprises a scrolling shaft and a plurality of dichroic mirrors that are spirally arranged as screw threads on the scrolling shaft. The scrolling device rotates around predetermined axis, and the dichroic-mirror threads can separate an incident light beams into two or more color light beams, thereby scrolling the positions of these color beams. The scrolling color beams are then transmitted to a light modulating panel in the projection system. Therefore, a single-panel projection system with color scrolling function is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Inventor: Tung-Chi Lee
  • Publication number: 20070242235
    Abstract: A projector has a function to suppress unnecessary radiation (EMI) from a digital substrate even in a narrow space. To this end, the projector includes an input/output substrate arranged at the upper portion of the rear side of the digital substrate, being approximately in parallel to the bottom surface of the case by using a metal frame, and a shielding plate having a shielding surface with an approximately rectangular cross section, so as to cover a device mount surface of the digital substrate and at the same time, contact the shielding plate and the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Ohno
  • Publication number: 20070216879
    Abstract: A projection apparatus for inexpensively adjusting the irradiating region of light on an image forming device to irradiate the light to the entire image forming surface of the image forming device is provided. The projector including a light tunnel for passing the light emitted from a lamp and changing the light to condensed uniform light, a mirror for reflecting the light passed through the light tunnel, a DMD for reflecting the light at an image forming surface irradiated with the light reflected by the mirror and forming an image, a lens for projecting the image formed with the DMD, and a frame for attaching these components of an image projection optical system; further includes a rotation adjustment fixing mechanism for fixing the light tunnel to the frame with the rotation angle having the axis of the light tunnel as substantially the center adjusted with an incident port of light of the light tunnel facing the lamp and an exit port facing the mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Yoshikawa, Yusuke Ohta
  • Patent number: 7267441
    Abstract: A projection display including first through third light source units to radiate first through third light beams having different colors, respectively, a light path combining unit to combine paths of the first through third light beams, an optical modulator to sequentially modulate the first through third light beams according to image information, and a projection lens unit to magnify and project the modulated light beams onto a screen. The light path combining unit includes first and second prisms. The first prism includes first and second incidence surfaces, through which the first and second light beams are incident, respectively, a first emission surface, and a first selective reflection surface to transmit the second light beam toward the first emission surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-chol Lee, Won-yong Lee, Kirill Sokolov, Kye-hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 7265892
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a micromirror array device package having a light blocking area for reducing unexpected light scattering from the surfaces of the posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Andrew Huibers
  • Patent number: 7264360
    Abstract: A scan type display optical system is disclosed in which the position and inclination of an image formed by projection light is made variable. The scan type display optical system comprises an optical scanning member for deflecting and scanning light, and a projection optical system which includes a plurality of optical surfaces containing a reflective surface. The projection optical system projects light from the optical scanning member. An incidence range of light from the optical scanning member to a first optical surface on which the light is incident initially out of the plurality of optical surfaces is variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koshi Hatakeyama, Toshihiro Sunaga
  • Patent number: 7261422
    Abstract: A projection display apparatus, including an illumination system, a light integrator, a first mirror module, a second mirror module, a beam condensing module, a total internal reflection (TIR) prism, a light modulator, and a set of projection lenses. The illumination system generates an optical beam propagating along a first beam path in a first direction. The first and second mirror module folds the optical beam, which is imaged onto the light modulator. The modulator selectively reflects the optical beam so as to propagate along a fourth beam path in a fourth direction, where the first beam path and the fourth beam path are substantially perpendicular with respect to each other. The invention provides a compact projection system for easy carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Benq Corporation
    Inventor: Ming-Kuen Lin
  • Publication number: 20070195290
    Abstract: A projector is loaded with a projection optical system unit having a refractive optical system, a curved mirror optical system, and a light travel change mirror optical system. Then, the projector has a first curved mirror and a second curved mirror of the curved mirror optical system arranged so that an optical path of a base ray reaching the first curved mirror and an optical path of a base ray leaving the second curved mirror do not intersect with each other, and also has the first curved mirror located between the second curved mirror and a screen surface. Furthermore, an angle of incidence of the base ray on the screen surface is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventor: Soh Ohzawa
  • Publication number: 20070195289
    Abstract: A projector has a projection optical system unit, which has a positively powered optical system and a curved-mirror optical system. In the projector, a first curved mirror and a second curved mirror of the curved-mirror optical system are so arranged that the optical path that the base ray travels to reach the first curved mirror crosses the optical path that the base ray travels to leave the second curved mirror. Moreover, the second curved mirror has a negative optical power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventor: Soh Ohzawa
  • Publication number: 20070195291
    Abstract: A projector includes a light source and a prism total reflection modulator arranged on an optical path of light from the light source and modulating the light with an image signal. The prism total reflection modulator includes a prism having a plane of incidence arranged to allow entrance of light from the light source, and a total reflection surface arranged to totally reflect the light entering from the plane of incidence to a prescribed direction, a plurality of total reflection control elements arranged on the total reflection surface of the prism, for individually controlling whether light is to be totally reflected on the total reflection surface or not, and a driver for individually driving the plurality of total reflection control elements in accordance with the image signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventor: Toshihiro Tsumura
  • Patent number: 7258451
    Abstract: An optical projection device including an illumination system, a reflective light valve and a projection lens is provided. The adjustable reflection sheet is disposed behind the adjustable rod integrator along the light transmission path of the light beam. In addition, the reflective light valve is disposed behind the adjustable reflection sheet along the light transmission path of the light beam. The adjustable rod integrator can shift the light transmission path of the light beam so as to be incident to the reflective light valve. Moreover, the projection lens is disposed behind the reflective light valve along the light transmission path of the light beam. The adjustable reflection sheet can shift the light transmission path of the light beam so as to pass through the stopper of the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: Sze-Ke Wang
  • Patent number: 7252410
    Abstract: A projector includes an illumination system including a light source having an ellipsoidal reflector and an arc tube having a luminescence center in the vicinity of a first focus of the ellipsoidal reflector, and an integrator rod having a light incidence plane in the vicinity of a second focus of the ellipsoidal reflector and converting light from the light source to light having a more even intensity distribution; a relay optical system that guides the light from the illumination system to a region being illuminated; a micromirror modulator that modulates the light from the relay optical system in accordance with image information; and a projection optical system that projects the light modulated by the micromirror modulator. The arc tube includes an auxiliary mirror that reflects the light radiated from the arc tube toward the region being illuminated into a direction of the ellipsoidal reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7252395
    Abstract: A micromirror array fabricated on a semiconductor substrate. The array is comprised of three operating layers. An addressing layer is fabricated on the substrate. A hinge layer is spaced above the addressing layer by an air gap. A mirror layer is spaced over the hinge layer by a second air gap. The hinge layer has a hinge under and attached to the mirror, the hinge permitting the mirror to tilt. The hinge layer further has spring tips under the mirror, which are attached to the addressing layer. These spring tips provide a stationary landing surface for the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Anthony DiCarlo, Patrick I. Oden, Richard L. Knipe, Rabah Mezenner, James D. Huffman
  • Patent number: 7249856
    Abstract: An electrostatic bimorph actuator includes a cantilevered flexible bimorph arm that is secured and insulated at one end to a planar substrate. In an electrostatically activated state the bimorph arm is generally parallel to the planar substrate. In a relaxed state, residual stress in the bimorph arm causes its free end to extend out-of-plane from the planar substrate. The actuator includes a substrate electrode that is secured to and insulated from the substrate and positioned under and in alignment with the bimorph arm. An electrical potential difference applied between the bimorph arm and the substrate electrode imparts electrostatic attraction between the bimorph arm and the substrate electrode to activate the actuator. As an exemplary application in which such actuators could be used, a microelectrical mechanical optical display system is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Sinclair
  • Publication number: 20070171387
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a projection system that comprises an illumination system providing incident light, a projection lens for directing the incident light onto one or more spatial light modulator from where the incident light is modulated in accordance with a stream of image data derived from the desired image, and a projection lens for projecting the modulated light onto a screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Regis Grasser, Andrew Huibers
  • Patent number: 7246907
    Abstract: A compact, light projection type image display apparatus based on reflection image display devices which provide high brightness without contrast deterioration caused by light leakage associated with black image display. The apparatus uses, as polarizers/analyzers for reflection image display devices, reflection polarizing plates which function as polarizing plates by their grating function only in a specific direction. In each light path, the reflection polarizing plate is located just before/after the reflection image display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taro Imahase, Satoshi Ouchi, Tsutomu Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20070165194
    Abstract: An image display apparatus comprises a plurality of light sources, each of which outputs light having a different color than the other light sources, and a digital micro mirror device (DMD) panel having a plurality of mirror elements. The plurality of mirror elements reflect light output from the light sources in one of a first direction, for displaying an image, and a second direction different from the first direction. The apparatus further includes a detecting part which detects the quantity of light reflected in the second direction by at least one mirror element of the DMD panel, and an adjusting control part which determines the quantity of light output from the respective light sources based on the detection by the detecting part, and which adjusts light output of the light sources based on the determined quantity of light output from the light sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung-min Jung, Jeong-ho Nho, Koichi Sono, Yong-Dok Cha