Plural Patents (Class 353/99)
  • Patent number: 6817717
    Abstract: A display system is provided, the system including an illumination source configured to produce light and direct light along an optical path, a plurality of color filters disposed in the optical path configured to generate a plurality of colored light beams, and a spatial light modulator disposed in the optical path adapted to receive and adjust the colored light beams to produce an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Winthrop D. Childers, Noah Lassar, William Allen, Mohammad M. Samii, Jack H. Schmidt, Mark A. Van Veen
  • Patent number: 6811265
    Abstract: An image projecting system for mounting in a hidden location such as a ceiling or a piece of furniture such as a desk. The system includes an image producing apparatus and a plurality of optical components. At least one of the optical components is a mirror that can move between two positions. In the first position the mirror is flush with the ceiling or the desk so that the system is hidden from view. In the second position the mirror is at an angle to the ceiling or the desk so as to project an image externally of the hidden location and onto a screen or other surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin James Soper, Philip Brendan Banks
  • Patent number: 6811263
    Abstract: A colored lighting separating device and a single-panel color image display apparatus using the same include a colored light separator having a plurality of dichroic filters to separate incident light into a plurality of colored light beams and a driving device which moves the colored light separator to scroll the separated colored light beams. The colored light separating device performs color scrolling by driving the colored light separator itself so that the structure of the colored light separating device enabling color scrolling is simplified, continuity and consistency of the color scrolling are guaranteed, and the scrolling speed of color bars are kept constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-ha Kim, Kun-ho Cho, Dae-sik Kim
  • Patent number: 6808271
    Abstract: In order to achieve a great improvement in light utilizing efficiency, a projection type display apparatus for obliquely projecting an original image onto a screen includes a first projection optical system for projecting light from an original picture and forming an intermediate image having trapezoid distortion caused therein, a second projection optical system for obliquely projecting the light from the intermediate image onto a surface for projection so as to cause converse trapezoid distortion, and re-imaging it, and a light deflecting element for deflecting the optical axis of the first projection optical system so that the optical axis of the first projection optical system deflected by the light deflecting element is made to substantially coincide with the optical axis of the second projection optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsumi Kurematsu
  • Publication number: 20040184012
    Abstract: A light guiding member (40) for reflecting therein light entering through a light entering surface (40a) several times to cause light having a uniform illumination distribution to outgo from a light outgoing surface (40b) is inserted into an optical path between a lamp source (10) and a reflection type display device (80). The light outgoing surface (40b) of the light guiding member (40) is formed in a dissimilar shape with an image display region of the reflection type display device (80), and a region irradiated with light in the image display region of the reflection type display device (80) is formed smaller than the image display region. This prevents a whitening phenomenon in a projected image undisplay region and improves video effects given to viewers as well as effectively utilizing light emitted from a light source for images to be projected to display projected images brightly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventor: Hidehiko Hori
  • Patent number: 6793341
    Abstract: A projection system configured to project a stereographic image onto a viewing surface is provided. The projection system includes a light source configured to produce a beam of light, a beam splitter configured to split the beam of light into a right image beam and a left image beam, an image engine configured to produce the stereographic image, and a projection lens configured to project a left-eye image and a right-eye image onto the viewing surface. The image engine includes a left optical path configured to produce the left-eye image from the left image beam, the left optical path including an upstream left polarizer, a left image-producing element and a downstream left polarizer, and a right optical path configured to produce the right-eye image from the right image beam, the right optical path including an upstream right polarizer, a right image-producing element and a downstream right polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Benny Stale Svardal, Kjell Einar Olsen, Odd Ragnar Andersen
  • Patent number: 6783250
    Abstract: A light collection for an arc lamp includes a parabolic reflector having primary and secondary parabolic reflector sections, the secondary parabolic reflector section divided into subsections, resulting in multiple arc images. The light collection system combines high efficiency and etendue preserving aperture shaping, and is particularly useful in projection display systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Peter J Janssen
  • Patent number: 6779898
    Abstract: An image display apparatus and a method for recapturing off-state light are provided. The image display apparatus includes a spatial light modulator, a reflector, and an integrator element. The spatial light modulator, in response to a light beam, selectively modulates the light beam along a first path to form a first path light beam. The reflector reflects the first path light beam to form a reflected light beam. The integrator element collects and reflects the reflected light beam to form a recapture light beam. Further, the spatial light modulator modulates the recapture light beam along a second path to form an image on a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Benq Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Yuan Wang
  • Patent number: 6779897
    Abstract: An oblique projection optical system for leading rays of light from a display surface on which an image is displayed to a projection surface in such a way that the ray of light from the center of the display surface is obliquely incident on the projection surface in order to project a magnified image of the image displayed on the display surface onto the projection surface includes a plurality of reflecting surfaces having a power. At least two of the reflecting surfaces have a free-form curved surface, and, of all the reflecting surfaces, the one closest to the projection surface has a negative power and at least one of the other has a positive power. Alternatively, in a rear projection optical system having a projection optical system for projecting an image displayed on a panel display surface onto a screen surface, the projection optical system includes at least four curved-surface reflecting mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Konno, Soh Ohzawa, Jun Ishihara
  • Patent number: 6776492
    Abstract: A multiple reflective mirrors module is described. The module is utilized in an optical engine of a business machine, such as a projector, a laser printer, a copy machine, or a scanner. The module has a fixed reflective mirror, a first tilting reflective mirror, and a second tilting reflective mirror. The first tilting reflective mirror receives an incident light and reflects the incident light to the fixed reflective mirror. Subsequently, the light is reflected by the fixed reflective mirror to the second tilting reflective mirror. Therefore, the second tilting reflective mirror generates an output light. When the first tilting reflective mirror rotates within an angle &thgr;1 and the second tilting reflective mirror rotates within an angle &thgr;2, the output light is capable of rotating within an output angle, twice of &thgr;1+&thgr;2. The fixed reflective mirror can be replaced by another tilting reflective mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean Chang
  • Patent number: 6773120
    Abstract: Optical projection system, comprising a projection lens, illumination optics in front of the projection lens showing a well-defined F# number, and at least one light modulator comprising a plurality of reflective elements, wherein this system shows an optical axis and wherein said illumination optics allow to project light onto the light modulator and said light modulator allows to reflect the light in a controllable manner to different directions, such that ON state light cones, in which light is projected onto the projection lens, as well as OFF state light cones can be formed, wherein said projection lens shows an F# number which is smaller than the F# number of said illumination optics, and wherein the chief ray of the incident light at the light modulator is chosen such that the direction of the chief rays of the obtained ON state light cones differ from the corresponding optical axis, so as to obtain an improved contrast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: BARCO, naamloze vennootschap
    Inventor: Chris Colpaert
  • Patent number: 6767100
    Abstract: Projected systems (10, 12, 14, 16) include light source apparatuses (20, 24, 26) for programming narrow bands of unpolarized blue, green, and red light to associated reflective imaging devices that reflect selected patterns of the blue, green, and red light into a dichroic cross-combiner assembly (70, 72, 74), which recombines the light into a composite image and directs it into a projection lens (90) The reflective imaging devices are preferably micromirror displays (50, 51) having an array of pivotable micromirrors (52, 53) that direct on-state micromirror light to the projection lens and direct off-state micromirror light to a light absorbing surface (84).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Paul V. Long, David E. Slobodin
  • Publication number: 20040141161
    Abstract: The illumination optical system for guiding a light emitted from a light source to an object to be illuminated along an optical path includes a first reflecting mirror reflecting a part of a light which is moving in a forward direction along the optical path to move away from the light source and a second reflecting mirror reflecting a part of a light which is reflected from the first reflecting mirror and moving in a reverse direction along the optical path to approach the light source. The first reflecting mirror has an opening facing a light-entering surface of the object to be illuminated, and the second reflecting mirror has a window that allows the light emitted from the light source to pass therethrough, whereby an optical cavity is constituted by the first and second reflecting mirrors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Taketoshi Hibi, Shinji Okamori
  • Publication number: 20040135976
    Abstract: In a projection-type display apparatus that directs light from a light source through the illumination optical system to a display panel so that an image displayed on the display panel illuminated by the light directed thereto is projected through a projection optical system onto a screen, an illumination optical system is used that has a light intensity uniformizing device of which the entrance surface is located at a first conjugate position substantially conjugate with the light source and of which the exit surface has a shape geometrically similar to the panel surface of the display panel and a reflection optical system for forming an image of the exit surface of the light intensity uniformizing device on the panel surface of the display panel. In the reflection optical system, every surface having an optical power is a reflective surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Jun Ishihara, Yasumasa Sawai, Takashi Ohta
  • Patent number: 6761459
    Abstract: The present invention relates to projection systems for displaying visual information in a variety of applications in order to reduce the projection area, the weight and the dimensions thereof. In one embodiment, the projection system for producing an external surface projection on a visualization screen comprises a flat and thin visualization screen for carrying out projection on both sides. Images can be watched on the left side and on the right side of this screen. From the surface of the screen and on the left and right sides thereof, projectors are provided for projecting images simultaneously on both sides of the screen. Light diffusers are provided on both sides of the screen. The projections are converted through the optics of the projectors so as to form reduced-divergence projection beams which are entirely captured by the light diffusers and which are diverted and diffused at wide angles of image observation ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Inventor: Svyatoslav Ivanovich Arsenich
  • Patent number: 6758579
    Abstract: An illuminating-light controller includes a light modulator for projecting light on a corresponding area by tilting a reflecting surface. A first light source emits a first light that is projected on the corresponding area by illuminating the first light to the reflecting surface of the spatial light modulator being tilted at a first angle. A second light source for emits a second light that is projected on the corresponding area by illuminating the second light to the reflecting surface of the light modulator being tilted at a second angle. Still further, included is a control section for controlling the first light emitted from the first light source and the second light emitted from said second light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshimoto Ishikawa, Masayuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6755539
    Abstract: An apparatus for projecting an image includes a light source, a polarization modulator, a projection lens, and a mirror. The mirror is positioned between the light source and the modulator and blocks a cross-sectional portion of the light from the light source from reaching the modulator. Light from the light source that reaches the modulator has its polarization modulated in accordance with a video signal to be displayed to produce a modulated signal corresponding to the video signal. The modulated light signal is reflected from the mirror into a projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Matthew S. Brennesholtz
  • Patent number: 6752500
    Abstract: A rear projection display device capable of reducing the depth of a display device itself, comprising an optical engine, first, second, third reflective mirrors arranged at such positions as to be easily held integrally with each other, a fourth reflective mirror, a plane reflective mirror for turn-back of light flux, and a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., LTD
    Inventors: Syoichi Yoshii, Takahiro Totani, Hideyuki Kanayama, Kenji Tateishi
  • Patent number: 6735015
    Abstract: Display apparatus (50) comprising a front projection screen (60), at least one projector (54) which is for providing a display on the screen (60) and which is positioned outside an enclosed display volume, the screen (60) being optimised to preferentially set the image distance in different regions when viewed by an observer (58) via a collimating mirror (62).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: SEOS Limited
    Inventor: Geoffrey Howard Blackham
  • Patent number: 6733140
    Abstract: A real image projection system includes at least one curved reflector, positioned in a tilted configuration, wherein an optical axis of the reflector is not coincident with a viewing axis, and a beampath between a target source and the curved reflector neither passes through nor reflects off of a beamsplitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Optical Products Development Corp.
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Westort, Douglas L. Robinson, Randolph J. Turner
  • Patent number: 6729734
    Abstract: A system for enhancing the quality of an image on a screen is provided. The system typically includes an illumination source configured to produce light and direct such light along an optical path, and a time-varying focus device disposed in the optical path and configured to periodically alter incident light to enhance the quality of the image on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Winthrop D. Childers, William J. Allen
  • Patent number: 6728020
    Abstract: Platelike first transparent members 321 and platelike second transparent members 322 are prepared. Each first transparent member has substantially parallel first and second surfaces (film forming surfaces). A polarization splitting film 331 is formed on the first film forming surface. A reflecting film 332 is formed on the second film forming surface. The films are not formed on the surfaces of the second transparent members 322. A plurality of the first transparent members 321 and a plurality of the second transparent members 322 are adhered alternately. A block is cut from the so-adhered transparent members at a prescribed angle to the surfaces and the cut surfaces thereof are polished to obtain a polarization beam splitter array 320.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yajima Akitaka
  • Patent number: 6719427
    Abstract: A display device includes a light modulator used as an image forming unit and a projection optical system for projecting and displaying an image. In the display device, gradation is represented by varying the ON-time in the temporal axis during one frame period of the light modulator. The ON-time is used by at least three light components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukihiko Sakashita, Akihiko Ouchi
  • Patent number: 6719432
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a carrier, an optical engine disposed on the carrier, and a hood member coupled to the carrier at the front end of the optical engine. The hood member has an inlet coupled to the optical engine and an outlet sealed with a screen. At least one mirror is placed in an optical path between the optical engine and the screen for reflecting a beam from the optical engine, and is disposed with an adjusting bolt at its backside for adjusting. The hood member wraps the optical path from the optical engine to the screen for keeping the optical engine outside and preventing the external dust, moisture, and temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Kuo-Wen Chen, Fan-Chieh Chang, Chen-Wen Yang
  • Patent number: 6715880
    Abstract: A projector device is provided which is capable of reducing its costs by making it possible to increase luminance of outgoing light from a rod integrator with an output from a light source being remained unchanged and by making it possible to achieve a compact illuminating optical system using a shortened total length of the rod integrator. Notches each having a predetermined angle or a convex portion is formed in a vicinity of a light incident face and in a vicinity of a light outgoing face of a rod integrator. A sloped line produced at an angle formed by one portion of each of the notches on the light incident side relative to a center line is approximately parallel to a light incident line produced at an angle formed by incident light relative to the center line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: NEC Viewtechnology, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eisaku Shouji
  • Patent number: 6712473
    Abstract: In order to provide a noise-free reliable projection type display apparatus which has no movable portion and can display a high quality full-color image, the following arrangement is proposed. In a projection type display apparatus which has an optical modulation device for displaying an image by controlling the reflected state of light, an illumination unit for irradiating the optical modulation device with light, and a projecting optical system for projecting reflected light components of the light components with which the optical modulation device is irradiated, and projects and displays an image formed by the optical modulation device, as the optical modulation device, a mirror array device for modulating light by controlling the tilt amounts of mirrors that form pixels is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsumi Kurematsu
  • Publication number: 20040051852
    Abstract: A projection optical system of an exposure device controls spherical aberrations in optical elements by providing optical elements with an aspherical surface shape corrected in accordance with a non-even function Z=g(h) having a derivative that becomes zero on a rotation axis of the aspheric surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideki Komatsuda
  • Patent number: 6705735
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a projecting device without prisms. The projecting device comprises a light source for generating an incident light beam, a reflective image module comprising a plurality of reflective surfaces which can be separately controlled to generate the image-containing reflected light beam, a first lens set for concentrating the incident light beam, a reflective mirror for reflecting the incident light beam and concentrating the light beam through the first lens set onto the image module, and a second lens set installed between the light source and the reflective mirror for shortening an optical path from the light source to the reflective mirror. The optical path of the incident light beam reflected from the image module intersects a plane formed by the optical paths of the incident light beam from the light source to the reflective mirror and from the reflective mirror to the image module at one point, thus interference of the light beams is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: BenQ Corporation
    Inventors: Chong-Min Chang, Han-Ping D. Shieh, Chen Shih-Pin
  • Patent number: 6702446
    Abstract: The invention relates to a projection display device comprising a illumination system having a light source and an optical bar for providing an illumination beam, an image display system comprising a display panel for modulating the illumination beam with image information and projecting the image on a screen, and a color filter provided on a wheel, rotatably mounted at its hub, for transmitting colored portions of the illumination beam for illuminating the display panel. In order to improve the efficiency of the projection display device, the color filter comprises adjacent spiral-shaped filter portions for simultaneously illuminating portions of the display panel by the colored portions of the illumination beam so that the portions of the display panel are consecutively illuminated by the colored portions of the illumination beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Adrianus Johannes Stephanes Maria De Vaan, Gerardus Johannes Josephus Vanlier
  • Publication number: 20040041988
    Abstract: A DMD stop has a notch through which a light reflected towards other than a projection lens by a mirror unit can pass. This protects the DMD from being heated up and thermally fractured by the light reflected towards other than the projection lens by the mirror unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takatoyo Kitamura
  • Patent number: 6698902
    Abstract: A digital mirror dence chip has a substrate, micro-mirrors disposed on the substrate, and a glass cover plate disposed over the micro-mirrors. Each micro-mirror is inclined by +10 degrees or −10 degrees with respect to the substrate to be set to an on-state or an off-state. Incident light produced in a lighting source system is totally reflected in a total internal reflection prism and is incident on the micro-mirrors through the glass cover plate. Outgoing light reflected by micro-minors in the on-state passes through a projection lens and is projected onto a screen to form an image on the screen. Also, outgoing light reflected by micro-mirrors in the off-state passes out of the projection lens. The glass cover plate is not parallel to the substrate. Therefore, light specularly reflected by a surface of the glass cover plate passes out of the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawano, Junichi Nishimae, Tatsuki Okamoto, Yukio Satou, Atsuhiro Sono
  • Publication number: 20040008326
    Abstract: A projection type image display apparatus which suppresses deterioration in luminous efficiency of an organic EL element and reduces flickering of projected images and an amplitude of a power supply capacity is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an electroluminescence (EL) element, a projection optical system, and a controller which generates drive signals to control the emission amount from the EL element. An EL material used for a luminescent layer of the EL element is a phosphorescent material which emits phosphorescence by priority, which is emitted from an excited triplet state. The controller generates drive signals by superimposing an intermittent turning-on signal on emission amount modulating signals to modulate current values to be injected into pixels according to display image signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventor: Jun Koide
  • Patent number: 6644816
    Abstract: The invention relates to a display device for displaying visual information, comprising: at least one image-forming element; at least one light source for generating a light beam, which in cooperation with the image-forming element produces an illuminated image; optical means for processing the light beam and/or illuminated image; and a projection surface for receiving the illuminated image, wherein the image-forming element is flat and the projection surface forms at least a part of a cylinder wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Evolution Technology N.V.
    Inventors: Antonio Guiseppe Perra, Johannes Quant
  • Patent number: 6634755
    Abstract: In an illuminating device in which a light from a light source is separated into three color lights differing in optical path from one another by a color separating system, and light modulating elements conforming to the respective color lights are illuminated with the color lights, at least one of the optical paths of the three color lights has therein a reflecting system having positive power for reflecting the color light passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Okuyama, Saburo Sugawara, Hiroyuki Kodama
  • Patent number: 6626542
    Abstract: A bright reflection type projection optical system is used for projecting onto a screen under magnification a luminous flux carrying image information from a light valve driven by an image signal, while favorably correcting aberration. The reflection type projection optical system comprises, successively from the enlargement side, a first mirror having a positive power, a second mirror having a negative power, and a third mirror having a positive power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Baba, Chikara Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6626541
    Abstract: A projection optical system is provided to guide a beam from an image display panel onto a screen surface inclined relative to a reference axis, and to form image information on the screen surface. The projection optical system has a reflecting optical system which has a plurality of rotation-asymmetrical reflecting surfaces having curvatures, and in which the beam from the image display panel is reflected by the plurality of rotation-asymmetrical reflecting surfaces and is guided onto the screen surfaces of the reflecting optical system or between the reflecting optical system and the image display panel. The stop is set so as to be imaged at a negative magnification by an optical member disposed more adjacent to the screen than the stop position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiro Sunaga
  • Publication number: 20030179349
    Abstract: A reflecting mirror 4d has a rotation axis 7 which is inserted into a bearing 8 of a case 1. Accordingly, the reflecting mirror 4d is capable of rotating with respect to the case 1 and only the reflecting mirror 4d is capable of adjusting the set up angle &agr; made with the case 1. When the set up angle is changed, the reflecting angle of the projected ray on the reflecting mirror 4d is also changed. Therefore, the launching angle of the projected ray 5 with respect to the case 1 can be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: NEC VIEWTECHNOLOGY, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Fukunaga, Kunitaka Furuichi
  • Patent number: 6623123
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to miniaturize an optical unit and an image display device. The optical unit of the present invention keeps an optical system so as to form an optical path inside a housing. The optical unit has at least one reflecting optical element, and the at least one reflecting optical element is formed in one body with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaharu Eguchi, Hidefumi Notagashira
  • Patent number: 6612704
    Abstract: A reflection type image forming optical system and a projector are compact with wide view angle, in expensive and having uniform illumination intensity. The reflection type image forming optical system includes a first reflection mirror having a rotation symmetric aspheric shape concave reflection surface directed to an image forming surface arranged an image forming element thereon, a second reflection mirror having a rotation symmetric aspheric shape convex reflection surface directed toward a flux of light from the first reflection mirror, a third reflection mirror having a rotation symmetric aspheric shape concave reflection surface directed toward a flux of light from the second reflection mirror and a fourth reflection mirror having a rotation symmetric aspheric shape convex reflection surface directed toward a flux of light from the third reflection mirror. The first, second, third and fourth reflection mirrors form a telecentric optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Viewtechnology, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6609798
    Abstract: A digital light projection system is provided that includes a light pipe for generating and outputting a light beam. An input mirror is provided that is configured to receive a light beam from the light pipe and deflect it onto a digital mirror device (DMD). The DMD is configured to deflect the light beam onto an imaging mirror that is configured to image the light beam onto a flat mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Inventors: Tomislav F. Milinusic, Allan D. Beach
  • Patent number: 6601974
    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: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Light and Sound Design Ltd.
    Inventors: William Hewlett, Nigel Evans
  • Patent number: 6601959
    Abstract: The thickness of the projector device can be reduced by making the direction of irradiation of a digital micromirror device (DMD) with illuminating light by an illuminating optical system variable depending on whether the projector device is used or not used. As an illuminating optical system is provided rotatably around an optical axis of a projecting optical system, the position of the illuminating optical system can be varied depending on whether the projector device is used or not used, and the overall thickness of the projector device can be thereby reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Miyata, Hitoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6595647
    Abstract: A micro-display element used in displaying original images and reflection control module for optical projection display includes a control chip, a driving circuit, a plurality of metallic mirror surface reflection gate elements. The gate element, the driving circuit and the control chip are mounted in sequence from the top to the bottom layer, and the driving circuit is controlled by displaying control signals of the control chip so as to drive the reflection gate elements to cause, the “ON” and “OFF” control and at the outer surrounding of the reflection gate element, along the horizontal axial (X-axis) and the vertical axis (Y-axis) direction, equivalent number of adjustment pixels are provided, such that the micro-displays of R, G, B projected light, during optical module calibration, can be accurately adjusted to superimposed state by means of adjustment pixels which provide sufficient biased calibration in a horizontal axial direction in a vertical axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Taiwan Micro Display Corporation
    Inventor: Ling-Yuan Tseng
  • Patent number: 6588909
    Abstract: An image projection system comprises an image projector, such as a film or television projector and a projection screen. The projection screen is fabricated of a substantially transparent material, such as glass or plastic. The screen of transparent material has one or more areas or portions formed therein which areas or portions may be made to be translucent upon the application of a stimulus. Once in a translucent condition, the projected image can be received and viewed on the translucent portion. A mirror can be positioned behind the projection screen so that a person can view the reflection of themselves in the mirror when the screen is transparent, and an image can be projected when the projection screen is made to be substantially translucent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: SI Diamond Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zvi Yaniv, Michael C. Sweaton, Alexei Tikhonski
  • Patent number: 6578970
    Abstract: A high-intensity arc lamp comprises a glass envelope with a pressurized gas atmosphere. A cathode and an anode structure are disposed within. A pointed tip of the cathode is juxtaposed by a central hole in a face of the anode and a small gap between them. Such central hole is vented away from the arc down inside the anode structure. During operation, heat from the arc at the entrance to the central hole drives a wind of xenon gas down through such vents in the anode structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Radiation Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond E. Paquette
  • Publication number: 20030107716
    Abstract: A reflection type image forming optical system and a projector are compact with wide view angle, in expensive and having uniform illumination intensity. The reflection type image forming optical system includes a first reflection mirror having a rotation symmetric aspheric shape concave reflection surface directed to an image forming surface arranged an image forming element thereon, a second reflection mirror having a rotation symmetric aspheric shape convex reflection surface directed toward a flux of light from the first reflection mirror, a third reflection mirror having a rotation symmetric aspheric shape concave reflection surface directed toward a flux of light from the second reflection mirror and a fourth reflection mirror having a rotation symmetric aspheric shape convex reflection surface directed toward a flux of light from the third reflection mirror. The first, second, third and fourth reflection mirrors form a telecentric optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: NEC VIEWTECHNOLOGY, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6570168
    Abstract: The invention concerns an illumination system for wavelengths<193 nm, especially for EUV-lithography with a plurality of light sources a mirror device for creating secondary light sources comprising several mirrors, said mirrors are comprising raster elements. The invention is characterized in that the plurality of light sources are coupled together in order to illuminate the exit pupil of the illumination system up to a predetermined degree of filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventors: Jörg Schultz, Dirk Rothweiler
  • Patent number: 6560048
    Abstract: A prism (1) has a first inner surface (114A) and a second inner surface (122) in its interior. The first inner surface (114A) performs total reflection of all rays (20) entering from the exterior, and is disposed apart from a variable mirror element (3) disposed in the exterior, such that the reflected rays are irradiated to the variable mirror element (3). The second inner surface (122) is disposed in proximity to the variable mirror element (3), and totally reflects a bundle of OFF rays from the variable mirror element (3), while allowing a bundle of ON rays from the variable mirror element (3) to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Okamori, Shinsuke Shikama
  • Patent number: 6547396
    Abstract: A projection system for projecting a stereographic image onto a viewing surface is provided, the stereographic image including a left-eye image and a right-eye image. The projection system includes a light source for producing a beam, a beam splitter for splitting the beam of light into a right image beam and a left image beam, an image engine for producing the stereographic image, and a projection lens. The image engine includes a left optical path for producing the left-eye image from the left image beam, the left optical path including an upstream left polarizer, a left image-producing element and a downstream left polarizer, and a right optical path configured to produce the right-eye image from the right image beam, the right optical path including an upstream right polarizer, a right image-producing element and a downstream right polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventors: Benny Stale Svardal, Kjell Einar Olsen, Odd Ragnar Andersen
  • Publication number: 20030067590
    Abstract: Provided are a micro mirror device capable of realizing color images without a color wheel by selectively reflecting color beams using a plurality of micro mirrors whose driving axes are positioned in different directions, and a projector employing the same. The micro mirror device can individually control a plurality of micro mirrors, the micro mirror device comprising a plurality of micro mirror units having micro mirrors whose driving axes are positioned at predetermined different angles, the micro mirror units for reflecting light incident in different directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyung-jae Shin