Rear Projection Screen Patents (Class 359/460)
  • Patent number: 7801426
    Abstract: A display has a screen which incorporates a light modulator. The screen may be a front projection screen or a rear-projection screen. Elements of the light modulator may be controlled to adjust the intensity of light emanating from corresponding areas on the screen. The display may provide a high dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Gregory John Ward, Wolfgang Stuerzlinger, Helge Seetzen
  • Patent number: 7796330
    Abstract: A rear-projection screen structure, and an associated method, for creating on the front, image-viewing side of a rear-projection screen structure an anti-speckled, rear-projected, laser-beam image. Methodologically, and as implemented by the structure of the invention, the invention steps include projecting a source laser-image beam toward the rear side of such a screen structure, and while so projecting, introducing relative-motion optical diffusion in the laser beam path which exists between the source laser-image beam and the screen-structure's image-viewing side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: High Definition Integration, Ltd.
    Inventor: Edmund Sandburg
  • Patent number: 7789516
    Abstract: A thin projection type image display device with a low chin height includes a cabinet, a screen, a projection optical system, an optical path changing unit, and a reflecting unit. The screen is disposed on a front side of the cabinet. The projection optical system enlarges and projects an image formed by a display element, and the optical path changing unit is disposed on the bottom of the cabinet to reflect the image enlarged and projected by the projection optical system. The reflection unit is disposed obliquely to the screen and below the screen to reflect the image reflected by the optical path changing unit toward the screen. The projection optical system is disposed in a space above a horizontal plane perpendicular to the screen, behind the front side of the cabinet, and below an optical path of light incident on a bottom of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-chol Lee, Kun-Ho Cho, Jong-soo Lee, Jae-hyun Park
  • Patent number: 7787180
    Abstract: The present invention relates to projection films and methods of making the same. In particular, the present invention relates to a projection film whereby the microspheres exhibit improved alignment on the light exit surface and have alignment on the light entrance surface that varies according to the individual microsphere diameter. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a projection film that has the attributes of variable gain within the single projection film. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to an exposed microsphere projection film construction that provides modification of the head-on and angular pattern of light transmission (gain).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: Michael E. Hannington
  • Patent number: 7777949
    Abstract: A rear projection display device is provided. In an embodiment, the display device includes a laminate screen including a microstructure lamina having a non-planar input surface, a substantially planar output surface and a first index of refraction. The laminate screen further may include a diffusion screen lamina having a substantially planar input surface, an output surface and a second index of refraction. The diffusion screen lamina may be in optical communication with the microstructure lamina. Moreover, the planar output surface of the microstructure lamina and the planar input surface of the diffusion screen lamina may be in facing relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mark David Peterson, Jeffrey Alan Gohman
  • Patent number: 7777945
    Abstract: A display has a screen which incorporates a light modulator. The screen may be a front projection screen or a rear-projection screen. The screen is illuminated with light from a light source comprising an array of controllable light-emitters. The controllable-emitters and elements of the light modulator may be controlled to adjust the intensity of light emanating from corresponding areas on the screen. The display may provide a high dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Helge Seetzen, Don Graham, Greg Ward, Wolfgang Stuerzlinger
  • Publication number: 20100195202
    Abstract: Various embodiments related to a rear projection display screen configured to reduce an intensity of light at a viewing angle at which the light is less likely to be viewed by a user are disclosed. One disclosed embodiment provides a diffusing screen comprising a sheet-like structure transparent to one or more wavelengths of light. The sheet-like structure has a viewing surface and comprises a diffusing pattern configured to create destructive interference of a selected wavelength of light traveling in a direction normal to a plane of the viewing surface of the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Prafulla Masalkar
  • Patent number: 7753530
    Abstract: A display has a screen which incorporates a light modulator. The screen may be a front projection screen or a rear-projection screen. Elements of the light modulator may be controlled to adjust the intensity of light emanating from corresponding areas on the screen. The display may provide a high dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Gregory John Ward, Wolfgang Stuerzlinger, Helge Seetzen
  • Publication number: 20100158198
    Abstract: An apparatus for prompting a patient includes a structure configured to be mounted to a patient support, a screen coupled to the structure, and a projector located at a distance away from the screen. A method of prompting a patient that is being supported on a patient support includes adjusting a position of a screen relative to a projector, the screen having a surface, placing the screen in front of the patient such that the patient can see the surface, and providing an image on the screen using the projector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew G. JEUNG, Hassan MOSTAFAVI
  • Patent number: 7742230
    Abstract: To realize a diffusion film in which arbitrary control of the diffuse light intensity distribution characteristics, and an angular range of diffusion does not change with respect to an incoming light from a specific angular range and a light-outgoing direction converting element that is high in efficiency of conversion of the outgoing direction, and has no limit in the angle of conversion of the outgoing direction, and to provide a thin-model high-quality projection display using the same as a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Inventors: Tatsuo Uchida, Baku Katagiri, Toru Kawakami, Takahiro Ishinabe
  • Patent number: 7731367
    Abstract: A controller for a display having a screen which incorporates a light modulator. The screen may be a front projection screen or a rear projection screen. Elements of the light modulator may be controlled by the controller to adjust the intensity of light emanating from corresponding areas on the screen. The display may provide a high dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Lorne A Whitehead, Gregory John Ward, Wolfgang Stuerzlinger, Helge Seetzen
  • Patent number: 7729050
    Abstract: In a diffusion sheet, a plurality of approximately trapezoidal columnar unit lens portions are disposed such that the long-axis directions thereof are in parallel with each other, and all the surfaces of the unit lens portions, which correspond to the long bottom segments of the approximately trapezoidal sections of the unit lens portions are disposed on a light-incident-side flat surface. Further, light absorbing portions are disposed in the grooves between adjacent unit lens portions to absorb and/or shield external light incident from a light outgoing side. In the diffusion sheet arranged as described above, light incident on the unit lens portions from a light incident side is totally reflected on the surfaces corresponding to the side segments of the approximately trapezoidal sections vertical to the long-axis direction of the unit lens portions and outgoes from the light outgoing side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Katsura, Masahiro Goto
  • Patent number: 7724432
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a rear-projection screen, a method of rear-projection collimation and a projection video display (PVD) system. In one embodiment, a rear-projection screen includes: (1) a total-internal-reflection (TIR) fresnel lens configured to aim light received at an incidence angle toward a central axis of the TIR fresnel lens at a convergence angle and (2) a refractive fresnel lens configured to refract the light received from the TIR fresnel lens and at least to reduce the convergence angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick R. Destain, Steven E. Smith
  • Patent number: 7722190
    Abstract: A color image is displayed on a screen and a luminance image is projected onto the screen. The luminance image has a greater resolution than the color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jian-gang Weng, Gregory J. May, Ron R. Bendsneyder, William J. Allen
  • Patent number: 7719762
    Abstract: The present invention provides a see-through transmitting-reflecting projection screen excellent in transparency, capable of sharply displaying, on its both sides, identical or different images even under bright environmental light. A transmitting-reflecting projection screen 10 comprises a reflection-type screen 11 and a transmission-type screen 12. The reflection-type screen 11 reflects a specific polarized component of imaging light projected. The reflection-type screen 11 does not reflect a polarized component, different from the specific polarized component, of the imaging light, and this polarized component passes through the reflection-type screen 11 and the transmission-type screen 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoko Kumasawa, Masanori Umeya, Masachika Watanabe, Tsuyoshi Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20100118282
    Abstract: A projection type image display device of the present invention includes: a screen unit with a screen onto which images are projected; a projection unit for projecting images onto the screen from the rear surface of the screen; right and left slide mechanisms as a pair for supporting the screen unit in a manner that allows the screen unit to move in a direction approximately normal to the screen; and a link shaft for linking the right and left slide mechanisms, and for moving the right and left mechanisms in synchronization with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventor: Akihiro KITAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 7697200
    Abstract: A reflective display screen comprises a first component surface responsive to absorb low level ambient light from above the screen and a second surrounding component surface responsive to light of high intensity from an image source. The first component surface is graphically formed to represent a fixed permanent image within the screen viewable only in ambient overhead lighting and without incidence of the high intensity light from the image source. Other embodiments include a method of displaying a permanent, fixed image and a method of making a display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Gregory J. May
  • Patent number: 7697202
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an image generation source, optics for projecting in an enlarged form the image generated by the image generation source, and a transmissive screen for displaying the image projected from said optics. The transmissive screen includes a Fresnel lens sheet disposed at an image generation source side, and a diffusing sheet disposed at an image-watching side in order to diffuse image light at least in a horizontal direction of the screen. The Fresnel lens sheet has a plurality of entrance-side prisms formed at the image generation source side, and a plurality of exit-side prisms formed at the image-watching side, and the Fresnel lens sheet emits lights in a first direction and a second direction. The first direction is almost parallel to a central axis of the Fresnel lens sheet, and the second direction extends toward the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Yoshikawa, Tetsu Ohishi, Koji Hirata, Daisuke Imafuku
  • Patent number: 7688508
    Abstract: In a diffusion sheet, a plurality of approximately trapezoidal columnar unit lens portions are disposed such that the long-axis directions thereof are in parallel with each other, and all the surfaces of the unit lens portions, which correspond to the long bottom segments of the approximately trapezoidal sections of the unit lens portions are disposed on a light-incident-side flat surface. Further, light absorbing portions are disposed in the grooves between adjacent unit lens portions to absorb and/or shield external light incident from a light outgoing side. In the diffusion sheet arranged as described above, light incident on the unit lens portions from a light incident side is totally reflected on the surfaces corresponding to the side segments of the approximately trapezoidal sections vertical to the long-axis direction of the unit lens portions and outgoes from the light outgoing side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Katsura, Masahiro Goto
  • Publication number: 20100073767
    Abstract: A transmission type screen for stereoscopic images having a transmission layer includes an incident surface having a gloss surface, a transmission layer having a refractive index less than 1.55, a transmissivity more than 60%, and an imaging surface having surface particle sizes of 40 to 400 mesh that avoids a hot spot. The imaging surface is formed on the final surface through which images are transmitted, so that the components operate in an organic fashion with respect to each other. The polarization degree of stereoscopic images is maximized thereby increasing the three-dimensional effect and the transmissivity, and enables viewers to view images clearly several times better than with a conventional screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventor: Hae-Yong CHOI
  • Patent number: 7675679
    Abstract: A Fresnel lens sheet used for an image display device is disclosed. The Fresnel lens sheet is provided with a first prism group in an area of a light entrance plane of the Fresnel lens sheet where the incident angle of light is equal to or more than a predetermined incident angle and a second prism group in an area of a light entrance plane of the Fresnel lens sheet where the incident angle of light is less than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Yoshikawa, Takanori Hisada, Tetsu Ohishi, Koji Hirata, Daisuke Imafuku
  • Publication number: 20100053748
    Abstract: Thin high-density fabrics are particularly suitable for super wide-angle rear projections that are accurate in every detail. Based on said recognition, the invention relates to a rear projection fabric (20, 30) that comprises a number of threads (21, 23, 31, 33) and has a density of more than seven threads per millimeter, the maximum diameter of a thread being less than 0.06 mm. The invention further relates to a rear projection screen (10) which comprises such a rear projection fabric (20, 30) and can create a wide-angle rear projection image (41) that is particularly accurate in every detail. More particularly, such a rear projection screen (10) makes it possible to create a relatively inexpensive rear projection system (40) which can be designed by means of the standard power of a projector (43), e.g. in the form of a beamer or laser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: SEFAR AG
    Inventors: Noemi Rohner, Thomas Hirt, Yves Clerc
  • Patent number: 7629041
    Abstract: The present invention relates to diffuser sheets for LCD applications encompassing at least one light-scattering polymethyl methacrylate layer which comprises a polymethyl methacrylate matrix and also from 0.5 to 59.5% by weight, based on the weight of the light-scattering polymethyl methacrylate layer, of spherical scattering particles (A) whose median size V50 is in the range from 0.1 to 40 ?m, and whose refractive index differs from that of the polymethyl methacrylate matrix by a value in the range from 0.02 to 0.2, and from 0.5 to 59.5% by weight, based on the weight of the light-scattering polymethyl methacrylate layer, of spherical particles (B) whose median size V50 is in the range from 10 to 150 ?m and whose refractive index differs from that of the polymethyl methacrylate matrix by a value in the range from 0 to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Evonik Roehm GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Parusel, Jann Schmidt, Herbert Groothues
  • Patent number: 7630130
    Abstract: To provide a directional screen which can efficiently converge light from a projector on an observer and which is hardly affected by external light. That is, multiple transparent protrusion structures are formed on a base material, and a light absorbing layer communicating in the vertical direction of each of the protrusion structures is provided. The formation of a recess structure or a through-hole exerts an effect similar to that of a protrusion structure. Alternatively, fibrous protrusions each having a high light reflectance are used as the protrusion structures, and are densely formed on the base material while they are slanted in the direction of external light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Inventor: Naofumi Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 7609443
    Abstract: The backprojection and/or projection screen comprises at least a first substrate joined to a scattering layer producing a subsurface effect, which offers a resolution of at least 5×103 dpi, the image being able to be displayed without blurring at a viewing angle of 180° on both faces of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Thomas Bertin-Mourot, Yannick Lebail
  • Patent number: 7605978
    Abstract: A transparent screen and a projection display unit capable of reducing the speckle with maintaining the brightness of the image light. A wavefront-dividing phase-modulating component 21, which divides the wavefront of the image light emitted from a Fresnel lens screen 7 and modulates the phases of the wavefronts divided, is disposed before an optical diffusing component 10. Alternatively, a spatial frequency modulating component 22, which modulates the spatial frequency of the image light diffused by the optical diffusing component 10, is disposed on the light-output side (observer side) of the optical diffusing component 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Endo, Akihisa Miyata, Takeshi Utakoji, Yuzo Nakano
  • Patent number: 7602550
    Abstract: The present invention relates to rear-projection screens which have at least one scattering layer encompassing scattering particles and has at least one backing layer, characterized in that the halved-intensity angle of the scattering layer is greater than or equal to 15° and the halved-intensity angle of the backing layer is smaller than or equal to 6.5°, where the gloss R60° of the backing layer is smaller than or equal to 70.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Roehm GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Parusel, Jann Schmidt, Herbert Groothues
  • Patent number: 7599117
    Abstract: A view angle control sheet having a wide view angle, in which diffuse light from a screen image source is effectively utilized to suppress a decrease in screen brightness while a decrease in image contrast caused by an outside light beam is suppressed to prevent generation of a ghost to improve contrast. The lens portions have trapezoidal shapes in section arranged at predetermined intervals. A wedge-shaped portion between the lens portions has a bottom surface on a screen image source side while having a leading end on an observer side, and the following relationships hold: Nx £ Ny and ?0.01<Dn?cos q<0.002, where Nx is a refractive index of a material constituting at least a slope portion of the wedge-shaped portion, Ny is a refractive index of a material constituting the lens portion, and Dn is a ratio (Nx/Ny).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: DAI Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Goto
  • Publication number: 20090231548
    Abstract: A rear projection type image display apparatus having a larger half-power angle and being capable of properly blocking a direct light from a projector for an observer is provided. The rear projection type image display apparatus includes a projector and a transmission type screen installed at an image formation plane of a projection light and made of a texture. The screen made of the texture is a diffusing material having a large half-power angle except for the direct light, and can prevent a gain from being decreased even at an angle of 60 degrees or larger. Also, a first polarizing plate is arranged in front of an exit pupil of the projector, and a second polarizing plate is arranged near a rear surface of the transmission type screen. Polarization axes of these polarizing plates are configured to be substantially orthogonal to each other, to eliminate the direct light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Tetsushi Kokubo, Hitoshi Mukai, Hirofumi Hibi, Kazumasa Tanaka, Kenji Tanaka, Hiroyuki Morisaki
  • Patent number: 7589893
    Abstract: A wall panel has a glass outer face which in turn is provided with a decorative design, for example by painting, mirroring, partial mirroring, coating, printing or else placing an inlay or the like behind it. In addition, this wall panel is designed to cooperate with a flat screen in such a way that the decorative design forms a cut-out adapted to the flat screen, through which cut-out the image display can then be viewed on the user side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Mirror Image AG
    Inventor: Oliver Rottcher
  • Patent number: 7586680
    Abstract: A projection screen using light control layers having high light diffusion and further providing an image with high image quality over a wide angle range without deteriorating light transmittance is provided. A plural number of light control layers in which a haze value of the layer is dependent on an angle and a light scattering angle region showing a haze value of 60% or more is in the range of 30° or more when light is injected on the surface of the layer at an angle of 0 to 180° are laminated to obtain a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Toyokazu Okada, Seiji Muro
  • Patent number: 7583437
    Abstract: A compound curved projection screen having a curvature about at least one region, such as a cylinder cross section curved about an axis or an ellipse about a plurality of axes, is provided. The compound curved screen comprises a plurality of angled planar reflective surfaces oriented to generally provide light energy in a direction of a screen centered axis. Compound curvature exists by the plurality of angled planar reflective surfaces being positioned in a generally curved and stepped manner about a second region different from the first region, such as a second axis orthogonal to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Real D
    Inventors: Lenny Lipton, Matt Cowan
  • Patent number: 7581837
    Abstract: A display has a screen which incorporates a light modulator. The screen may be a front projection screen or a rear-projection screen. Elements of the light modulator may be controlled to adjust the intensity of light emanating from corresponding areas on the screen. The display may provide a high dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Lorne A Whitehead, Gregory John Ward, Wolfgang Stuerzlinger, Helge Seetzen
  • Publication number: 20090213458
    Abstract: A floor mounted rear projection screen structure and display system is provided that includes a rear projection screen disposed in an opening defined in the floor and a projection system for projecting images onto the projection screen from beneath the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventor: Grant W. STEWART
  • Publication number: 20090190211
    Abstract: An optical diffusing sheet is provided, which prevents deterioration in image quality which might result from warping of the sheets due to environmental changes, and is capable of, even if a substrate is broken by an accident, preventing scattering of pieces of the broken substrate. An optical diffusing sheet is used in a transmission type screen that emits imaging light projected from an incident side to an emergent side. The optical diffusing sheet includes a highly rigid substrate layer with a light-transmissibility and a high rigidity, and a plurality of layers laminated on the highly rigid substrate layer. The plurality of layers includes at least a pair of anti-scattering layers disposed on opposite sides of the highly rigid substrate layer for preventing scattering of the highly rigid substrate layer. At least one layer of the two or more layers includes an optical diffusing element that diffuses imaging light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Daijiro Kodama, Tsuyoshi Kashiwagi, Kei Kato
  • Patent number: 7562987
    Abstract: A rear projection display according to the present disclosure includes a complex mirror as an optical element to simplify the optical design. The mirror may be symmetrical about at least one axis to require optimization of only half the optical system. The mirror may also provide a geometrically distorted image that may be corrected in software of the image generator. This display uses a mathematical formulation which inherently creates a surface which is symmetric about one linear axis but free form in an orthogonal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Fakespace Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian McDowall
  • Patent number: 7554729
    Abstract: A rear projection display apparatus is provided which includes a transmission type screen installed on the front face of an apparatus main body, and a video projector disposed inside the apparatus main body and projecting video on the transmission type screen from the rear side thereof. The transmission type screen includes a lens sheet having respective ribs attached to upper and lower sides thereof, the ribs having increased thickness, and an upper bracket and a lower bracket attached to the lens sheet so as to retainably embrace the respective associated ribs. The upper bracket is fixed to a frame on an apparatus main body side, whereby the lens sheet is installed so as to be pulled downward by the weight of the lower bracket. The rib is formed by laminating the same materials as a substrate of the lens sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Sumida, Takaaki Iwaki
  • Patent number: 7551352
    Abstract: To eliminate or otherwise reduce non-uniform brightness of an image of a display apparatus, an image is projected through a projection optical system having a projection lens (2), curved surface reflection mirrors (4 and 5), and a reflection mirror (6) onto a rear surface of the rear-surface projection type screen (3). The rear-surface projection type screen includes a Fresnel lens sheet (8), wherein the prism surfaces of the Fresnel lens are formed in an aspheric configuration, thereby letting the light beams from the screen to exit at an exit angle of about zero (0) degree relative to a line perpendicular to the screen surface, over most of the entire surface thereof. It is possible to obtain a projection image that having uniform brightness in an image display apparatus while maintaining a thin cabinet (7) profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsu Ohishi, Hiroki Yoshikawa, Takanori Hisada, Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Daisuke Imafuku
  • Patent number: 7538943
    Abstract: A screen that transmits light according to an image signal includes: a first surface and a second surface provided at an incident side of the light according to the image signal; a light exiting surface that outputs the light according to the image signal; and an angle conversion part that performs angle conversion on the light according to the image signal and outputs the light, wherein the second surface reflects the light incident from the first surface toward the light exiting surface, and wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface has one of a light divergence function of diverging the incident light and a light convergence function of converging the incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Shinbo
  • Patent number: 7535637
    Abstract: A rear projection type display apparatus is disclosed wherein image light reflected upon entrance thereof into a Fresnel lens sheet of the reflection type provided on a transmission type screen is suppressed from making stray light. A Fresnel lens sheet for converting incident light incoming at an incident angle within a predetermined angular range into parallel light includes a plurality of prisms arrayed on the light entrance face of a substrate. Each prism has a refracting face for refracting the incident light and a reflecting face for reflecting the refracted light from the refracting face toward the emergence face of the substrate. At least some of the prisms are configured such that the angle of a perpendicular to the refracting face with respect to a perpendicular to the emergence face is smaller than the incident angle at the position of the prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasufumi Ogawa, Takaaki Iwaki, Hiroaki Uchino
  • Patent number: 7535638
    Abstract: In a particular embodiment, the fractional coverage louver device includes a transparent layer of material having a first surface and a second surface parallel thereto. A plurality of louver members disposed within the transparent layer of material provide fractional reflective coverage across the width of the transparent material. The louver members are aligned to receive light entering the first surface at a shallow angle relative to the first surface and direct the light out the second surface at a high angle relative to the second surface, thereby increasing the angular viewing range. Transparent areas between louver members allow a portion of incident ambient light to pass through the louver device without being reflected back to a viewer. As such, the louver device has advantageous contrast properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Huei Pei Kuo, Lawrence M. Hubby, Jr., Steven L. Naberhuis
  • Patent number: 7529023
    Abstract: In a Fresnel screen for displaying an image, comprising, a screen surface, and a reverse surface opposite to the screen surface in a thickness direction of the screen to be prevented from facing to the viewer, the Fresnel screen has first prism surfaces extending to have respective longitudinal arc-shapes juxtaposed with each other as seen in the thickness direction to deflect light beams for forming the image in at least one of directions perpendicular to each other as seen in the thickness direction, and second prism surfaces extending to have respective longitudinal shapes juxtaposed with each other as seen in the thickness direction to deflect at least a part of the light beams in at least one of the directions perpendicular to each other as seen in the thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Imafuku, Hiroki Yoshikawa, Tetsu Ohishi
  • Patent number: 7525728
    Abstract: A transmissive screen includes a first board member on a light source side, the first board member including a Fresnel lens on the surface of the light source side and one of a vertical lenticular lens or a horizontal lenticular lens on the surface of a viewer side; and a second board member on the viewer side, the second board member including the other of the vertical lenticular lens or the horizontal lenticular lens. The first board member includes a diffusing layer between the Fresnel lens and the lenticular lens on the surface of the viewer side at a position close to the Fresnel lens, wherein a relation represented by ??tan?1(fp/2L) is obtained, where ? is a diffusion angle at which a distribution characteristic of diffused light passing through the diffusing layer is half the peak gain, fp is a pitch of the Fresnel lens and L is a light path between the diffusing layer and the lenticular lens on the surface of the viewer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasufumi Ogawa, Takaaki Iwaki, Hiroaki Uchino, Minoru Makida
  • Patent number: 7520622
    Abstract: An apparatus for a display dock with an integrated display screen are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Infocus Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Gohman
  • Patent number: 7520623
    Abstract: In a transmission-type screen and a projection-type display device, which are superior in contrast, a transmission-type screen characterized by including a display plane; a front side layer; and a backside layer having a light-directivity to a light projected from a direction slanted at a predetermined angle with respect to the front side layer thereof, an image being displayed on the display plane when a light is projected from a backside of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Katase
  • Patent number: 7522339
    Abstract: In a particular, a high contrast projection system configured for front or rear projection includes a screen having a viewing side and a back side opposite thereto. The screen includes a transparent layer of material having louver members disposed therein to provide fractional reflective coverage across the width of the transparent material. The screen discriminates an image signal light from a source, such as a projector, from ambient light incident upon the viewing surface. The image signal light is redirected over a range of angles relative to a normal to the viewing side, while the majority of ambient light is directed generally toward the back side, for example passing through the transparent material between louver members. A light absorbing back panel adjacent to the back side absorbs the ambient light further improving contrast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Huei Pei Kuo, Lawrence M. Hubby, Jr., Steven L Naberhuis
  • Publication number: 20090073391
    Abstract: An image display apparatus which displays an image as a transmitted projection image includes: a tread-board of a step which has a first projection surface and transmits a projection image projected on the first projection surface; and a cross-board of the step which has a second projection surface and transmits a projection image projected on the second projection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi HASEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20090066858
    Abstract: A display system is provided to surround a user with an out-the window scene. The system includes a screen structure that is a facetted back-projection dome made up of a polygonal polar top facet surrounded by trapezoidal facets angulated downward from it in an upper facet row. A middle row of facets extends angulated downward therefrom, and a lower row of trapezoidal facets extends down from them. Each facet has video projected thereon by a high definition projector, and to maximize resolution and efficiently use the projector output, the vertical height of each facet makes use of the full vertical field of pixels available from the associated projector. The facets are all tangent to a sphere about a design eyepoint of the dome. The projector resolutions and the size, position and material of the facets are such that the imagery visible on the inside of the dome on the facets is at resolution corresponding to a visual acuity of 20/50 or higher, preferably 20/20, and at or near eye-limiting resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: James A. Turner, Jonathan L. Dugdale
  • Patent number: 7499215
    Abstract: A first panel includes an optically transmissive body having a front side and a rear side. The body has a width, a height, and a depth. The depth is substantially less than either of the width or the height. The body includes a first edge on a first side defining a first tongue protruding outwardly from the first edge. The body includes a second edge on a second side defining a first groove recessed within the second edge. The first tongue is adapted to couple to a corresponding groove and the first groove is adapted to couple to a corresponding tongue. A first optical film is coupled to the front side of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Paul S. Levy
  • Patent number: 7499213
    Abstract: A rear projection display apparatus includes a transmission type screen, a video projector, a lens sheet, a plurality of pull portions, and a pulling device. The transmission type screen is installed on a front face of an apparatus main body. The video projector is disposed inside the apparatus main body for projecting a video on the transmission type screen from a rear side. The plurality of pull portions are provided along horizontal and vertical sides of the lens sheet and are pulled by a pulling device which extends along a perimeter of the lens sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Uchino, Takaaki Iwaki, Yasufumi Ogawa