Plural Modulation Cells Patents (Class 359/316)
  • Patent number: 11733516
    Abstract: An augmented reality head mounted display system an eyepiece having a transparent emissive display. The eyepiece and transparent emissive display are positioned in an optical path of a user's eye in order to transmit light into the user's eye to form images. Due to the transparent nature of the display, the user can see an outside environment through the transparent emissive display. The transmissive emissive display comprising a plurality of emitters configured to emit light into the eye of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Lionel Ernest Edwin, Ivan Li Chuen Yeoh
  • Patent number: 11294165
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides optical image acquisition methods and devices for microscopy systems that enhance the field-of-view during image acquisition. According to aspects of the present disclosure, the methods and devices for enhancing the field-of-view of a sample during image acquisition in an optical imaging system include directing an incident electromagnetic field through a plurality of polarization-selective gratings, where each of the polarization-selective gratings is configured to apply a discrete amount of angular displacement to the incident electromagnetic field in a direction transverse or axial to the optical system's electromagnetic axis, resulting in an enhanced field-of-view during image acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Karl A. Deisseroth, Sean Quirin
  • Patent number: 10516003
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a pixel arrangement structure of an organic light-emitting diode display panel, comprises a plurality of pixel groups, each of the pixel groups comprises a plurality of pixel areas, each of the pixel areas comprises any two or three kinds of pixels of first pixels, second pixels and third pixels, wherein the first pixels, the second pixels and the third pixels of each of the pixel groups are configured in an amount ratio of 1:2:1. Each pixel area comprises two kinds of pixels cooperatively used with the adjacent third pixels under the condition of forming different colors, to improve pixel utilization. In order to obtain at least two kinds of pixels in each pixel area, it is to increase area of the aperture during manufacturing the fine metal mask so as to improve aperture ratio of the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: EVERDISPLAY OPTRONICS (SHANGHAI) LIMITED
    Inventor: Wu Jiehuang
  • Patent number: 10429639
    Abstract: A head-mounted light field display device, the device comprising at least one multiplexed light field display module adapted to face an eye of a viewer wearing the device, the multiplexed light field display module comprising a light field view image generator and a waveguide with a set of shutters, the light field view image generator operable to generate, over time, a set of beams of light from a different one of a set of light field view images, the shuttered waveguide operable to transmit the set of beams and to open, over time, a different subset of the set of shutters, the subset corresponding to a position associated with the view image, thereby to emit the set of beams via the subset, thereby to display to the viewer a time-varying optical light field representative of the set of view images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Inventor: Paul Lapstun
  • Patent number: 10345633
    Abstract: A pixel structure including an element region and a viewing angle adjustment region is provided. The pixel structure includes a scan line, a first data line, a second data line, a first active element, a second active element, a planarization layer, and a reflective electrode. The first active element is electrically connected to the scan line and the first data line. The second active element is electrically connected to the scan line and the second data line. The reflective electrode is disposed on the planarization layer and electrically connected to the second active element. The reflective electrode has a fixed portion located in the element region and a cantilever portion located in the viewing angle adjustment region. The cantilever portion is connected to the fixed portion and is suspended. A display panel and an operation method of the display panel are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Jia-Yu Lin, Jin-Ting Kuo
  • Patent number: 10310146
    Abstract: A nanocomposite optical-element comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a nanocomposite between the first and the second surface. The nanocomposite comprising of a plurality of refractive-gradients, the plurality of refractive-gradients comprising one or more nanofillers dispersed in a cured organic-matrix. The nanofillers concentration variation determining the plurality of refractive-gradient profiles such that a profile discontinuity exists between any of the plurality of refractive-gradients that are adjacent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Vadient Optics, LLC
    Inventor: George Williams
  • Patent number: 10197886
    Abstract: Display spectacles and a driving method thereof are disclosed. The display spectacles include a spectacle frame and two display devices provided on the spectacle frame as spectacle lenses. Each of the display devices includes a backlight, a lower substrate on a light exit side of the backlight, an upper substrate arranged opposite to the lower substrate, a liquid crystal layer located between the upper substrate and the lower substrate, a plurality of electrode structures located between the upper substrate and the lower substrate, and a control unit. During displaying, the electrode structure deflects liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer corresponding to the electrode structure to form a microprism structure. The control unit adjusts a voltage on the electrode structure, thereby controlling total internal reflection or refraction of the microprism structure for light emitted from the backlight, and the adjustment for display gray scale can thus be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ming Yang, Qian Wang, Xiaochuan Chen, Wenqing Zhao, Jian Gao, Pengcheng Lu, Xiaochen Niu, Rui Xu, Lei Wang
  • Patent number: 10133083
    Abstract: A non-mechanical beamsteerer can be provided to adjust an angle of a light beam, such as to scan the light beam over a field of regard. The non-mechanical beamsteerer can include a first collection of steering elements that are smaller than a size of a light beam. The first collection of steering elements can adjust the angle of the light beam by diffracting the light beam. The non-mechanical beamsteerer can also include a second collection of steering elements that are larger than a size of the light beam. The second collection of steering elements can adjust an angle of the light beam by refracting the light beam. The non-mechanical beamsteerer can operate without a compensation plate, such as to provide a reduced size of the beamsteerer and an increased acceptance angle of the beamsteerer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ziemkiewicz, Michael Howard Anderson, Scott Robert Davis, Benjamin Luey, Tyler Adam Dunn
  • Patent number: 10008604
    Abstract: [Object] The present invention provides an active device in which the misalignment of a partition relative to electrodes is reduced and a method for manufacturing an active device. [Solution] An active device according to the present invention includes a substrate 2, a first electrode 5 and a second electrode 6 formed adjacent to each other on one main surface of the substrate 2, an organic semiconductor layer 9 formed on the one main surface of the substrate 2 at least over a region between the first electrode 5 and the second electrode 6, and a partition 12 formed on the one main surface of the substrate 2 in a region that is located outside the organic semiconductor layer 9 in a planar direction and that is different from regions where the first electrode 5 and the second electrode 6 are formed. The partition 12 is formed of a conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: NISSHA PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideaki Nada
  • Patent number: 9927606
    Abstract: A display device includes a first support plate and a second support plate. The second support plate has a first refractive index. A pixel region is positioned between the first support plate and the second support plate. A first liquid and a second liquid that is immiscible with the first liquid are disposed in the pixel region. A diffusion layer disposed between the first support plate and the second support plate contacts the second liquid. The diffusion layer includes a first region providing a common electrode associated with the pixel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Toru Sakai
  • Patent number: 9779672
    Abstract: An oil puncture controlled starting system for an EFD apparatus and manufacturing method therefor, wherein the EFD display structure comprises a base arranged below a lower electrode, and the base is provided with a step, such that a first liquid has a first thickness outside the step and a second thickness on the step, which is less than the first thickness, such a thickness difference renders the first liquid on the step to be punctured by a second liquid firstly when a lower voltage is applied between a upper electrode and the lower electrode, and the first liquid is pushed by the second liquid to move from a first area to a second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignees: South China Normal University, Shenzhen Guohua Optoelectronics Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Guohua Optoelectronics Institute
    Inventors: Guofu Zhou, Fahong Li, Robert Andrew Hayes
  • Patent number: 9772484
    Abstract: A light modulating device 103 includes: a selective diffraction device (10, 10?) which generates diffracted light beams of a plurality of orders by diffracting illumination light into one of a plurality of directions, the illumination light being linearly polarized light having a polarization plane oriented in a first polarization direction, and which causes a phase difference between the diffracted light beams of the plurality of orders; and a polarization plane rotating device 14 which rotates the polarization plane of the diffracted light beam of each order so as to be oriented in a direction perpendicular to a direction radiating from an optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Matsumoto, Nobuyuki Hashimoto, Makoto Kurihara, Masafumi Yokoyama, Ayano Tanabe
  • Patent number: 9753274
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a display element, a photosensitive composition and an electrowetting display. The display element includes: a first electrode layer stack; a second electrode layer stack; a housing space formed between the first and second electrode layer stacks; and a partition wall compartmentalizing the housing space, wherein the housing space contains at least a polar liquid and a non-polar liquid that are immiscible with each other, a surface layer in contact with the partition wall exists on the surface of at least one of the first and second electrode layer stacks that is in contact with the housing space, and an absolute value of the difference in linear expansion coefficient between the partition wall and the surface layer is 150 ppm/K or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: JSR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinori Kinoshita, Toshiharu Araki, Kazunari Kudou
  • Patent number: 9625706
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a display element, a photosensitive composition and an electrowetting display. The display element includes: a first electrode layer stack; a second electrode layer stack; a housing space formed between the first and second electrode layer stacks; and a partition wall compartmentalizing the housing space, wherein the housing space contains at least a polar liquid and a non-polar liquid that are immiscible with each other and the partition wall contains Li, Na and K in an amount of 100 ppm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: JSR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinori Kinoshita, Toshiharu Araki, Kazunari Kudou
  • Patent number: 9500771
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a metamaterial for converging electromagnetic waves, which comprises a plurality of cubic metamaterial units arranged in a first array which takes a y direction as a column direction and a z direction perpendicular to the y direction as a row direction. The metamaterial units of each row have the same refractive index, and for the metamaterial units of each column, the refractive indices thereof for the electromagnetic waves decrease gradually from a middle metamaterial unit towards two ends of the column, with variations of the refractive indices between adjacent ones of the metamaterial units increasing gradually from the middle metamaterial unit towards the two ends of the column; and the metamaterial units are anisotropic to the electromagnetic waves. The metamaterial for converging electromagnetic waves of the present disclosure can achieve the function of converging electromagnetic waves, and has a smaller thickness compared to conventional metamaterials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignees: KUANG-CHI INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY LTD., KUANG-CHI INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ruopeng Liu, Chunlin Ji, Jinjin Wang
  • Patent number: 9341855
    Abstract: A polarization converter and polarization conversion systems are provided. The polarization converter and polarization conversion systems include a patterned polarization grating with left hand and right hand polarization grating domains. The polarization grating domains are configured to diffract incident non-polarized light into beams having left and right circular polarization states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Tao Du, Fan Fan, Vladimir Grigorievich Chigrinov, Hoi Sing Kwok
  • Patent number: 9201247
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image display apparatus, including a display device displaying right-eye images and left-eye images. A light-modulating device attached to the display device; and a temperature sensor monitoring the light-modulating device temperature. The light-modulating device deflects the right-eye and left-eye images to an observer's right and left eyes respectively without a temperature variation in the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Yeong-Feng Wang, Ching-Tung Hsu, Yen-I Chou, Chia-Yen Lee, Meng-Han Liu, Ming-Wei Tsai
  • Patent number: 9160077
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an antenna based on a metamaterial and a method for generating an operating wavelength of a metamaterial panel. The antenna comprises a radiation source, and a metamaterial panel capable of converging an electromagnetic wave and operating at a first wavelength. The metamaterial panel is adapted to convert the electromagnetic wave radiated from the radiation source into a plane wave and to enable the antenna to simultaneously operate at a second wavelength and a third wavelength which are smaller than the first wavelength and are different multiples of the first wavelength. The present invention further provides a method for generating an operating wavelength of a metamaterial panel for use in the aforesaid antenna. These improve the convergence performance and reduce the volume and size of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignees: KUANG-CHI INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY LTD., KUANG-CHI INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ruopeng Liu, Chunlin Ji, Yutao Yue
  • Publication number: 20150131142
    Abstract: A beam expander includes a first lens unit including one of an SLM or a VFL, a second lens unit being optically coupled to the first lens unit and including one of an SLM or a VFL, and a control unit controlling focal lengths of the first and second lens units. A distance between the first and second lens units is invariable. The control unit controls the focal lengths of the first and second lens units such that a light diameter D1 of light input to the first lens unit and a light diameter D2 of light output from the second lens unit are different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Naoya Matsumoto, Takashi Inoue, Yuu Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 9025234
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to luminance enhancement structure for reflective display devices. The luminance enhancement structure comprises columns and grooves, wherein said grooves have a triangular cross-section and the pitches of the structure vary. The structure not only can enhance the brightness of a display device, but also can reduce the Moiré effect of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: E Ink California, LLC
    Inventor: Craig Lin
  • Publication number: 20150098027
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system may include a housing, one or more lenses, and a scanning system. The housing has an interior region. A lens is disposed within the interior region and transmits a light beam. The scanning system is disposed within the interior region and comprises a number of scanning cells, where each scanning cell comprises an electro-optical (EO) material. The scanning system performs the following for a number of iterations to yield a spot pattern: receive one or more voltages and electrically steer the light beam with the EO material from a current direction to a next direction in response to the voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Ronald T. Smith
  • Publication number: 20150077732
    Abstract: In a drive method for a spatial light modulator, out of a first boundary region and a second boundary region arranged adjacently in a Y-direction and extending in an X-direction, mirror elements arranged at a first pitch not resolved by a projection optical system, in the X-direction in the first boundary region are set in the phase 0, and the other mirror elements therein are set in the phase ?; mirror elements arranged at a second pitch not resolved by the projection optical system, in the X-direction in the second boundary region are set in the phase ?, and the other mirror elements therein are set in the phase 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Owa, Yoji Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20150062691
    Abstract: A tunable metamaterial has a two dimensional array of resonant annular ring elements; and a plurality of voltage controllable electrical tuning elements disposed in or adjacent openings in each of said ring elements, each of said voltage controllable electrical tuning element ohmically contacting portions of only one of said ring elements. The voltage controllable electrical tuning elements may comprise highly doped semiconductor tunnel diodes, or the charge accumulation layer at the semiconductor/insulator interface of a metal-insulator-semiconductor structure, or nanoelectromechanical (NEMs) capacitors. The tunable metamaterial may be used, for example, in an optical beam steering device using the aforementioned tunable optical metamaterial in which a free-space optical beam is coupled into a receiving portion of a plane of the optical metamaterial and is steered out of a transmitter portion of the plane of the optical metamaterial in controllable azimuthal and elevational directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Keyvan Sayyah, James H. Schaffner, Pamela R. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20150015816
    Abstract: A two-dimensional (2D)/three-dimensional (3D) switchable image display device is provided. The 2D/3D switchable image display device forms gradation of an image in a light modulation panel, provides color to light beams that penetrate a plurality of electro-wetting prisms arranged in correspondence to the plurality of pixels of the image, and adjusts the direction of the light beam such that the light beams of the pixels of the image are directed towards at least two different view zones in a 3D mode and such that the light beams maintain their paths in a 2D mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-mok BAE, Yun-woo NAM, Yong-Kweun MUN, Hoon SONG
  • Patent number: 8913205
    Abstract: Disclosed is a segmented liquid crystal modulator panel apparatus and method for driving the same that overcomes electrical cross-talk associated with capacitive coupling to a common electrode. Each modulator segment may be divided into subsegments and driven substantially synchronously and out-of-phase. The field-polarity insensitive LC materials yield a substantially identical optical response for each subsegment, while allowing current on the common electrode to flow between the subsegments, thereby reducing power consumption and decreasing response times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: RealD Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Robinson, Terry W. Norton
  • Patent number: 8879143
    Abstract: A screen includes a light diffusion layer in which microcapsules, each having therein a light diffusion liquid that scatters light for displaying a video image, are planarly arranged. The light diffusion layer is fixed to a supporting sheet by a binder material. On a surface of the supporting sheet, a Fresnel lens is formed. A light diffusion plate is made up of the light diffusion layer and the supporting sheet. The screen is made up of the light diffusion plate and a light diffusion plate. Scattering distribution of a scattered wave of light that passes through the light diffusion layer temporally changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Okagaki, Eiji Yokoyama, Tomohiro Sasagawa, Jun Kondo, Muneharu Kuwata, Kuniko Kojima, Yuzo Nakano
  • Patent number: 8866000
    Abstract: An ultra-efficient device for converting light into electricity has a dielectric medium for input light propagation, a metallic medium having an array of surface-plasmon-polariton (SPP) resonator cavities formed at nano-scale and distributed in the metallic medium below the dielectric-metal interface, each nano-scale resonator cavity having a hollow interior as a metal cathode in which a metal anode is disposed, another metallic medium electrically coupled to the anode, and another dielectric medium insulating the anode medium from the cathode medium. In each cavity, the cathode is shaped, dimensioned and spaced from the anode so that standing waves of SPP excitations generated by the input light cause quantum field emission of electrons to be rectified as an electrical output. The SPP resonator cavities may be formed in a plurality of diametral sizes corresponding to component light wavelengths to allow full spectrum energy conversion of broadband light input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Leo D. DiDomenico
  • Patent number: 8854596
    Abstract: An active optical device includes a substrate; a plurality of refractive index variable regions formed on the substrate; and a voltage applier which applies an electric field to the plurality of refractive index variable regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sun-il Kim, Jun-hee Choi
  • Patent number: 8830561
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrophoretic display comprising: (a) microcups comprising partition walls and top-openings; (b) an organic-based electrophoretic fluid filled in the microcups, wherein said fluid comprises charged pigment particles dispersed in a solvent; and (c) a top-sealing layer formed from a sealing composition to enclose the electrophoretic fluid within the microcups. The sealing composition comprises: (i) a water soluble polymer, (ii) a water-based suspension, a water-based dispersion, a water-based emulsion, or a water-based latex, each comprising a polymer; and (iii) water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: E Ink California, LLC
    Inventors: HongMei Zang, Hui Chen
  • Patent number: 8797638
    Abstract: A wavelength selective optical switch device includes an incidence and exit part where a signal beam made of light of a multiplicity of wavelengths enters and a signal beam of a selected wavelength exits, a wavelength dispersion element that spatially disperses a signal beam according to the wavelength thereof and multiplexes reflected light, a condensing element that condenses the light dispersed by the wavelength dispersion element onto a two-dimensional plane, and a wavelength selection element that uses a multilevel optical phased array arranged in a position to receive incident light developed on an xy-plane made of an x-axis direction and a y-axis direction perpendicular thereto developed according to a wavelength, having a multiplicity of pixels arrayed in a lattice on the xy-plane, and that cyclically changes the phase shift amount in the y-axis direction to a sawtooth wave pattern for each pixel on the x-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Santec Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Hotta
  • Patent number: 8797633
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a display device assembly which comprises a display device and a luminance enhancement structure. The luminance enhancement structure is directly laminated onto an ITO layer with an adhesive. The assembly of the present invention provides improved performance of the luminance enhancement structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: SiPix Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Sprague, Bryan Hans Chan, Craig Lin
  • Publication number: 20140204455
    Abstract: A transparent wearable data display having a source of collimated light a deflector for deflecting the collimated light into a scanned beam, and a first array including one column and integer N rows of switchable grating elements sandwiched between first and second parallel transparent substrates. The substrates together functioning as a first light guide, and a second array including M columns and N rows of switchable grating elements sandwiched between third and fourth parallel transparent substrates which together function as a second lightguide. Transparent electrodes are applied to opposing substrates. A first coupling for directing the scanned beam into a first TIR light path of the first lightguide along the first array column; and a second coupling for directing the first TIR light into a second TIR path of the second lightguide along a row of elements of the second array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Milan Momcilo Popovich, Jonathan David Waldern
  • Publication number: 20140168562
    Abstract: An optical device comprises: an optical structure including a first set of prisms and a second set of prisms which engage with each other, the second set of prisms are formed from electro-optical effect material or provided with electro-optical effect material, when no electric field is applied to the second set of prisms, the first set and the second set of prisms have the same refractivity; at least one pair of electrodes being provided at two sides of the second set of prisms respectively, for generating an electric field therebetween so as to change the refractivity of the second set of prisms in the direction of the electric field; and a control unit connected to the at least one pair of electrodes and performs control to power on the electrodes or power off the electrodes, and controls the intensity of the electric field when the electrodes are powered on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: Yuanming FENG, Fan Li, Junrui Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140168754
    Abstract: A display including an electrowetting prism array is provided. The display includes: a light source, a 2-dimensional (2D) display for providing an image using light from the light source, a prism array in which a refractive power of one or more prisms of the prism array is adjustablein real time, and an optical element which increases a refraction of light transmitted therethrough. In the display, the optical element may be disposed in front of or behind the prism array. The optical element may be a convex lens, a Fresnel lens, a holographic optical element (HOE), a diffraction optical element (DOE), or a second electrowetting prism array. The convex lens may be a variable focus lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yun-hee KIM, Hoon SONG, Jung-mok BAE, Kyu-hwan CHOI, Yoon-sun CHOI, Yong-joo KWON
  • Publication number: 20140153082
    Abstract: A method of displaying an image includes alternating an active state of each of a plurality of light sources. The light sources each generate a light beam when active. The alternating includes deactivating an active light source before an output of a light beam from the active light sources falls below a first predetermined threshold. The alternating further includes activating a deactivated light source only after an output of the inactive light source reaches a second predetermined threshold. The method further includes receiving each of the light beams at a spatial light modulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: David W. Rekieta, Getzel Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 8643630
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of displaying an image includes alternating an active state of each of a plurality of light sources. The light sources each generate a light beam when active. The alternating includes deactivating an active light source before an output of a light beam from the active light sources falls below a first predetermined threshold. The alternating further includes activating an inactive light source only after an output of the inactive light source reaches a second predetermined threshold. The method further includes receiving each of the light beams at a modulator. The modulator includes an array of micro-mirror devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: David W Rekieta, Getzel Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 8542432
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to autostereoscopic display systems operable to provide increased number of views and related methods. One embodiment of the display systems comprises a light-modulating display panel comprising a first set of colored subpixels and a second set of colored subpixels, and the number of subpixels in the first set of colored subpixels is greater than the number of subpixels in the second set of colored subpixels. The display system further comprises a lenticular sheet disposed in light paths of the colored subpixels of the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: RealD Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Robinson, Douglas J. McKnight
  • Patent number: 8492863
    Abstract: Optical modulator having wide bandwidth based on Fabry-Perot resonant reflection is disclosed. The optical modulator includes: a bottom Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) layer; a top DBR layer including at least one layer, and a modified layer; and an active layer disposed between bottom and top DBR layers, wherein the at least one layer includes at least one pair of a first refractive index layer having a first refractive index and a second refractive index layer having a second refractive index, the modified layer includes at least one pair of a third refractive index layer having a third refractive index and a fourth refractive index layer having a fourth refractive index, the third and the fourth refractive indexes being different, and at least one of the third and the fourth refractive index layers has a second optical thickness that is not ?/4 or that is not an odd multiple thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yong-chul Cho, Yong-tak Lee, Yong-hwa Park, Byung-hoon Na, Kwang-mo Park, Chang-soo Park
  • Patent number: 8477401
    Abstract: A windshield assembly that includes a fluorescent electrowetting cell and an opaque electrowetting cell overlying a windshield and configured so the opaque electrowetting cell cooperates with the fluorescent electrowetting cell to contrast an image displayed by the fluorescent electrowetting cell with respect to a field of view beyond the windshield assembly. The ability to contrast the image makes the image easier to see when bright sunlight is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick F. Kuhlman, David K. Lambert, Dwadasi H. R. Sarma, Kris R. Stark
  • Patent number: 8462412
    Abstract: An optical scanner includes a light source, an optical splitter which splits light from the light source into a plurality of light beams, an input optical element on which the light beams split by the optical splitter are incident, a driver which generates a voltage signal, an optical deflector which comprises at least two deflector portions formed close to each other on a same substrate and individually supplied with an electric action of the driver so as to capture and deflect the incident light beams using the electric action, and an output optical element which emits the deflected light beams to an image plane, wherein the optical scanner is configured to scan the image plane with the light beams by adjusting the voltage signal of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Sakai, Tsuyoshi Hashiguchi, Shuichi Suzuki, Jun Nakagawa, Koichiro Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20130141672
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system may include a housing, one or more lenses, and a scanning system. The housing has an interior region. A lens is disposed within the interior region and transmits a light beam. The scanning system is disposed within the interior region and comprises a number of scanning cells, where each scanning cell comprises an electro-optical (EO) material. The scanning system performs the following for a number of iterations to yield a spot pattern: receive one or more voltages and electrically steer the light beam with the EO material from a current direction to a next direction in response to the voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventor: Ronald T. Smith
  • Patent number: 8456728
    Abstract: An electrowetting display, a pixel array substrate thereof, and an electrowetting display pixel structure thereof are provided. The electrowetting display pixel structure is disposed on a substrate. The electrowetting display pixel structure includes a pixel electrode, an insulating layer and a hydrophobic layer. The pixel electrode is covered with the insulating layer, and the insulating layer is covered with the hydrophobic layer. The hydrophobic layer has at least one flow guiding area, and a flowing path of a fluid medium is determined by a layout of the flow guiding area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Wintek Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Chen, Chih-Yuan Wang
  • Publication number: 20130135709
    Abstract: An active optical device and a display apparatus including the same are provided. The active optical device includes: first to third electrodes that are sequentially disposed spaced apart from one another; a first refractive index change layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and in which a refractive index is changed by an electric field; and a second refractive index change layer disposed between the second electrode and the third electrode and in which a refractive index is changed by an electric field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sun-il KIM, Jun-hee CHOI
  • Patent number: 8437069
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to luminance enhancement structure for reflective display devices. The luminance enhancement structure comprises grooves and columns, wherein said grooves have a triangular cross-section and a top angle, and said grooves and columns are in alternating order and in a continuous form in one direction. The luminance enhancement structure not only can reduce the total internal reflection, but also especially can enhance the on-axis brightness of a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: SiPix Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Lin
  • Patent number: 8427725
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a light modulating device, comprising a SLM and a pixelated optical element, in which a group of at least two adjacent pixels of the SLM in combination with a corresponding group of pixels in the pixelated optical element form a macropixel, the pixelated optical element being of a type such that its pixels comprise a fixed content, each macropixel being used to represent a numerical value which is manifested physically by the states of the pixels of the SLM and the content of the pixels of the pixelated optical element which form the macropixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Seereal Technologies S.A.
    Inventors: Gerald Futterer, Bo Kroll, Steffen Buschbeck
  • Patent number: 8427736
    Abstract: An illumination device is provided and has a light guide plate, a light source and a light modulator, wherein the light modulator has a pair of transparent substrates a pair of electrodes and a light modulator layer. The light modulator layer includes a first region being changed between a transparent state and a scatterable state depending on intensity of an electric field, and a second region being more transparent than the first region in a scatterable state at an electric field having a certain intensity, the electric field being applied when the first region is changed between the transparent state and the scatterable state, and an occupancy rate of the first region in the light modulator layer is increased with increase in distance from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Okuyama, Harumi Sato
  • Publication number: 20130077154
    Abstract: An autostereoscopic display is provided comprising a Spatial Light Modulator (SLM), an illuminator, and first and second light redirecting grids. The light directing grids comprise vertical bar-shaped electrically switchable diffractive elements. The light redirecting grids direct light from the illuminator through the SLM towards left and right eye positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Milan Momcilo Popovich, Jonathan David Waldern
  • Publication number: 20130057821
    Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed towards a laser probe that electrically steers emitted light beam. The laser probe may include a housing, an optical waveguide, and a beam steering cell. The housing has a tubular shape defining an interior region. The optical waveguide is disposed within the interior region and is configured to emit a light beam travelling in a first direction. The beam steering cell is disposed within the housing and comprises an electro-optical (EO) material. The beam steering cell is configured to receive one or more voltages and electrically steer the light beam with the OE material to a second direction. The laser probe may be a directional laser probe or a multi-spot laser probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Jack R. Auld, Ronald T. Smith
  • Publication number: 20130050807
    Abstract: A 3D image display device with high resolution is disclosed. The device may deflect left and right eye images to a left and right eye of a viewer, respectively. As such, the viewer may see 3D images. The 3D image display device includes a plurality of electrically switchable light modulating cells containing two incompatible light modulating mediums. When a voltage is applied to electrodes of the electrically switchable light modulating cell, the interface between the incompatible light modulating mediums non-horizontally deforms corresponding to the electrowetting or electrostatic concept. The geometrical shape, size, and material of partition walls in the electrically switchable light modulating cells may reduce or eliminate misplacement of incompatible light modulating mediums while voltages are applied thereto. In addition, the method of manufacturing the 3D image display device is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Chia-Yen LEE, Ching-Tung HSU, Ming-Wei TSAI, Yeong-Feng WANG, Yen-I CHOU, Rong-Chang LIANG
  • Publication number: 20130050802
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the electrowetting device includes a first medium; a second medium that is not mixed with the first medium and has a refractive index different from a refractive index of the first medium; an upper electrode that adjusts an angle of a boundary surface between the first medium and the second medium; and a barrier wall that has a side surface surrounding the first and second mediums, allows the upper electrode to be disposed on a portion of the side surface, and has irregular widths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ki-deok BAE, Jun-sik HWANG, Chang-youl MOON, Yoon-sun CHOI, Jung-mok BAE, Chang-seung LEE, Eok-su KIM