Abstract: The image display apparatus reads image data, which is recorded by a digital camera etc., from a recording medium etc.; sets an in-focus frequency spectrum threshold for in-focus determination according to the resolution (pixel count) and compressibility of the inputted image data; analyzes a frequency spectrum of the image data; and determines whether a location where frequency components whose levels are higher than the threshold exist in an image. The location having the most frequency components whose levels are higher than the threshold is determined as an in-focus location. If an in-focus location exists, a mark showing the in-focus location is displayed on a screen of a display device. If no in-focus location exists in the image, the image display apparatus performs display of warning information and/or a warning by sound, and prompts the user to confirm necessity of printing.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a microlens array and a projection-type liquid crystal display apparatus which can increase the efficiency of use of light, facilitate a method of manufacturing a microlens array and reduce the cost of equipment. By an operation of only irradiating a first lens with parallel light which has an intensity distribution corresponding to the shape of a second lens and irradiating an ultraviolet curing resin layer with transmission light, the first and second lenses are placed with a high alignment accuracy in a mutual positional relation thereof. By irradiating the first lens with the parallel light, it becomes possible to uniformly expose a broad area, and it becomes possible to expose by the wafer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses the structure of the array lens that at least any one of the diagonal size, vertical size and lateral size of lens cell is set to almost 1/(4.5 or more) for each corresponding size of the display elements. The diagonal size of lens cell is set to almost 0.18 inch or less. The total number of lens cells is set to almost 240 or more. Finally, the lens focal distance of lens cell is set to almost 30 mm or less.

Abstract: An image sensor is disclosed that has a concave micro-lens structure. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixels formed in a semiconductor substrate, each pixel including a light sensitive element. Further, a base material having a first index of refraction is formed over the pixels. Micro-lens cavities are formed in the base material over the light sensitive elements, the micro-lens cavity having a concave shape. Finally, color filters are formed into the micro-lens cavities, the color filters having a second index of refraction that is higher than the first index of refraction.

Abstract: An imaging system, especially an imaging system for imaging electromagnetic radiation in the optical spectral range, includes at least one lens element and at least one first and one second optically functional boundary surface through which the electromagnetic radiation can pass. At least the first and at least the second optically functional interface can be located either on one or on two or more lens elements. At least the first and at least the second optically functional interface have, at least in sections, a cylinder lens geometry or a cylinder lens-like geometry so that these optically functional interfaces each have a direction lying in the interfaces and along which at least in sections the curvature of the surface is essentially constant. The direction of essentially constant curvature of at least the first optically functional interface to the direction of essentially constant curvature of at least the second optically functional interface being aligned roughly perpendicular to one another.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transparent polymeric film having a top and bottom surface comprising a plurality of complex lenses on at least one surface thereof. Such a film is useful for diffusing light such as necessary in an LC display device.

Abstract: A projector has an illuminating optical system for irradiating white light, a color switching optical system for dividing the white light irradiated by the illuminating optical system into color lights in a time-division manner, a DMD™ for modulating the respective color lights in accordance with an image signal, a projection optical system for projecting the light beam modulated by the DMD, a light-composite optical system for getting the light beam not incident on the projection optical system to be incident again on the DMD and a device controller for controlling the operation of the projector, where the light beam irradiated by the DMD and not incident on the projection optical system is irradiated as a light beam of uniform illuminance distribution by the light-composite optical system and is again introduced on an illumination optical axis to be incident on the DMD, thus enhancing peak luminance of the projected image and achieving high contrast ratio.

Abstract: A lens array unit includes first and second lens arrays cooperative with each other. The first lens array is provided with a plurality of first convex lenses and a first transparent holder formed integral with the first lenses. Each of the first lenses has first and second lens surfaces. The second lens array is provided with a plurality of second convex lenses and a second transparent holder formed integral with the second lenses Each of the second lenses has third and fourth lens surfaces. The second lens array is attached to the first lens array so that the third lens surfaces face the second lens surfaces. The lens array unit further includes a light shield mounted on the first lens array. The light shield is formed with a plurality of through-holes each facing the relevant one of the first lens surfaces.

Abstract: A method of producing a collimator or collimator array is constituted by the steps of: fixing long-size gradient index rod lens raw materials on a substrate having end surfaces each forming a plane so that the long-size gradient index rod lens raw materials are arranged side by side at intervals of the predetermined pitch while optical axes of the gradient index rod lens raw materials are parallel to one of the end surfaces of the substrate; cutting the substrate provided with the gradient index rod lens raw materials at a predetermined position in a plane perpendicular to the optical axes of the gradient index rod lens raw materials to thereby divide the substrate provided with the gradient index rod lens raw materials into lens array parts; adjusting the divided lens array parts so that each of the gradient index rod lens raw materials in the lens array parts has a defined lens length; and arranging the lens array parts so that the cut end surfaces of the lens array parts are made to face each other while o

Abstract: A scanning angle expander that includes a converting optics for receiving an input beam, the input beam being inclined with respect with an optical axis of the converting optics by an input scan angle, and for converting the input beam to multiple output beamlets, each output beamlet being inclined with respect to the optical axis of the converting optics by an output scan angle; and expanding optics, for converting the multiple output beamlets to an output beam that is substantially parallel to the output beamlets, whereas the output beam and the input beam have substantially a same size.

Abstract: An array of photosensitive devices may be formed with improved fill factors by including a diffractive microlens which may have a stepped configuration. The microlens may be formed of a sol-gel material having a photoinitiator, or other materials that may be defined with low temperature techniques commonly used in connection with photoresist. In particular, a gray scale mask may be used to define a plurality of steps in the resulting microlens which have different diffractive characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lens array unit fabrication process. A lens array forming step produces a first and a second lens arrays each having linearly-arranged first or second lenses. In a lens array connecting step, the first array is connected to the second array so that the first lenses are axially aligned with the second lenses. The connecting step includes providing of ultrasonic vibration by e.g. an ultrasonic horn. In the forming step, a resin casting is used in which lens array regions, each including linearly-arranged first or second lenses, are integrally formed in a direction perpendicular to the rows of lenses. In the forming step, a multiple-blade rotary cutter, provided with rotary blades disposed at a pitch corresponding to the transverse dimension of each lens array region, is used to simultaneously make cuts flanking the lens array regions.

Abstract: The present invention discloses the structure of the array lens that at least any one of the diagonal size, vertical size and lateral size of lens cell is set to almost 1/(4.5 or more) for each corresponding size of the display elements, the structure that the diagonal size of lens cell is set to almost 0.18 inch or less, the structure that the total number of lens cells is set to almost 240 or more and the structure that the lens focal distance of lens cell is set to almost 30 mm or less.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical system for reshaping and spatially homogenizing light beams with variable cross-section output, comprising six optical components, with three components associated to each of two orthogonal transverse directions, wherein the first component operates as a Divider component (D; DO, DV) and is formed by a number n of cylindrical lenses (D1, . . . , Dn), where n is greater than 1, whose total dimension is not greater than the respective dimension of the light beam and whose center point lies upon the optical axis of the light beam, the second component operates as a Condenser component (C; CO, CV) and is formed by a cylindrical lens and the third component operates as a Zoom component (Z; ZO; ZV) and is formed by a cylindrical lens, and wherein, in the case the cylindrical lenses (D1, . . . Dn) have different sizes si (i=1, 2, . . . n), the ratio size/focal length si/fi must be constant for every i=1, 2, . . . n.

Abstract: A sensor array is bonded to or molded together with a micro-lens array to form a sensor cartridge. The micro-lenses of the micro-lens array are configured to focus light incident on the sensors, into the sensors. An alignment structure has a mating profile that receives and engages one or more micro-lenses from the micro-lens array to laterally align the cartridge to enable repeatable precise positioning of the cartridge.

Abstract: Disclosed is a diffusion film comprising a transparent polymeric film base bearing a plurality of integral contiguous layers, each layer having a pattern of complex lenses on a surface thereof, at least two such contiguous layers comprising material having an index of refraction differing by at least 0.1.

Abstract: A device is obtained for converting the intensity distribution of a laser beam in particular into an intensity distribution which falls constantly along an axis from one side to the other in that a homogenizer (10), which mutually superimposes the sub-beams of the laser beam such that when a laser beam with a specific intensity distribution passes through the homogenizer, a homogenization of the intensity distribution of the laser beam is promoted, is combined with at least one inverter (24, 26) which inverts the intensity distribution of a sub-region, in particular a sub-beam or a plurality of adjacent sub-beams, along at least one axis along which the intensity is to be converted. The extent of the fall in intensity from one side to the other can be controlled by means of the number of the inverters.

Abstract: Disclosed is a diffusion film comprising a transparent polymeric film base bearing a plurality of integral contiguous layers, each layer having a pattern of complex lenses on a surface thereof, at least two such contiguous layers comprising material having an index of refraction differing by at least 0.1.

Abstract: The mechanism of and a solution to the problem of vertical banding in projection systems is disclosed. An offset lens array includes a plurality of lens elements arranged in a plurality of rows that are offset with respect to one another. The offset lens array is incorporated in an illuminator for a projection system. The asymmetrical arrangement of the rows of lens elements in the array with respect to a seam in a color separation element of the projection system substantially reduces the vertical banding in the projected image.

Abstract: An image transfer device having: a lens array laminate 14 forming an erecting unit magnification optical system, the lens array laminate including a plurality of lens array sheets 12 of the same specification each of which has convex-convex lens elements 10 arranged in a plurality of rows and which are substantially closely laminated in a direction of each lens optical axis. Typically, two to four lens array sheets of the same specification each of which has convex-convex lens elements each having are fractive index of not lower than 1.45 and arranged in 3 to 9 rows are closely laminated on each other or one another in a direction of each lens optical axis. Each of the lens array sheets is preferably formed so that the lens thickness is in a range of from about 4 mm to about 0.5 mm and the number of lens rows is in a range of from 4 to 6. (FIG.

Abstract: A double-sided microlens array and method has a plurality of first microlenses on a first surface opposite a plurality of second microlenses on a second surface of a transparent medium. At least two optical features are arranged on either of the first or second surfaces to form fiducial marks on the opposing surface in the transparent medium. The fiducial marks enable precise alignment of the microlenses in the first and second plurality of microlens arrays.

Abstract: A lens system which has a first optical boundary with a radius of curvature R, a second optical boundary located substantially a distance R from the first boundary, and a third optical boundary nearer to the second optical boundary than R. Secondly, a lens system providing optical field limitation using total internal reflection. Also, an array of lenses for reproduction, capture and display of three dimensional images discussed.

Abstract: A conventional solid-state imaging device in which a sealing resin is applied onto a microlens has a low condensing efficiency. There are provided a photodiode 14 for receiving light, a microlens 4 made of a resin set on the photodiode 14 and having a refractive index of n3, a thin-film lens 3 formed on the microlens 4 and having a refractive index of n2, a sealing resin 2 formed on the thin-film lens 3 and having a refractive index of n1, and cover glass 1 formed on the sealing resin 2 to seal the sealing resin 2. The refractive index n2 of the thin-film lens 3 is set to a value smaller than n1 and n3. In this case, it is assumed that values of n1 and n3 are substantially equal to each other and the thin-film lens 3 is made of fluoride and/or oxide.

Abstract: Lens systems and an array of lenses for reproduction, capture and display of three dimensional images. The arrays generally fall into two categories. The first type of array uses air as the low-index material. This type of array may be used, for example, in illuminated displays electronic image detection, machine vision, and real-time 3D video capture. A second type of array uses a fluoropolymer as the low-index material, and conveys a great preponderance all incident light to the image plane.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a laser light source for emitting a light beam having a coherence length; a beam expander for expanding the light beam; a spatial light modulator; beam shaping optics for shaping the expanded laser beam to provide uniform illumination of the spatial light modulator, the beam shaping optics including a fly's eye integrator having an array of lenslets; a diffuser located in the light beam between the laser light source and the beam shaping optics; an electrically controllable de-speckling modulator for modifying the temporal and spatial phase of the light beam; and a projection lens for producing an image of the spatial light modulator on a distant screen.

Abstract: Laser annealing is performed by irradiating, while scanning, a semiconductor thin-film with laser light. The laser light that is linear on the irradiation surface is moved in its line-width direction and applied non-continuously. The laser light has, in its line-width direction, an energy density profile that assumes a step-like form in which the energy density varies in a step-like manner. In particular, the scanning pitch D and the step widths Ln are so set as to satisfy a relationship Ln≧D.

Abstract: A lenticular screen component of a rear projection display screen has lenticular elements formed on a viewer surface. Identical lenticular elements cover the entire lenticular screen component and are repeated horizontally at a constant displacement. A given lenticular element includes a pair of reflective side portions and a refractive tip portion interposed between the side portions. One of the pair of side portions forms a sloped region at a joint between the one side portion and a side portion of an adjacent lenticular element. The sloped region is at an angle in a range between 5 and 15 degrees with respect to the first axis. The one side portion is covered with a reflective coating in at least a region of the one side portion that includes the joint. The pair of reflective side portions reflects light rays incoming from a projector towards the refractive tip portion for refracting the reflected light rays via a surface of the refractive tip portion facing a viewer.

Abstract: A backlit display device (118) for the automatic viewing of lenticular image cards (62) comprising an illumination source (56) which by design selectively illuminates individual images formed onto lenticular media. The display's illumination source (56) directs light through the lenticule side of the lenticular image card (62) in conformance to the card's viewing distance (54) and selected viewing angle (72) to sequentially illuminate each image in turn.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lens array unit fabrication process. A lens array forming step produces a first and a second lens arrays each having linearly-arranged first or second lenses. In a lens array connecting step, the first array is connected to the second array so that the first lenses are axially aligned with the second lenses. The connecting step includes providing of ultrasonic vibration by e.g. an ultrasonic horn. In the forming step, a resin casting is used in which lens array regions, each including linearly-arranged first or second lenses, are integrally formed in a direction perpendicular to the rows of lenses. In the forming step, a multiple-blade rotary cutter, provided with rotary blades disposed at a pitch corresponding to the transverse dimension of each lens array region, is used to simultaneously make cuts flanking the lens array regions.

Abstract: The mechanism of and a solution to the problem of vertical banding in projection systems is disclosed. An offset lens array includes a plurality of lens elements arranged in a plurality of rows that are offset with respect to one another. The offset lens array is incorporated in an illuminator for a projection system. The asymmetrical arrangement of the rows of lens elements in the array with respect to a seam in a color separation element of the projection system substantially reduces the vertical banding in the projected image.

Abstract: A lens system which has a first optical boundary with a radius of curvature R, a second optical boundary located substantially a distance R from the first boundary, and a third optical boundary nearer to the second optical boundary than R. Secondly, a lens system providing optical field limitation using total internal reflection. Also, an array of lenses for reproduction, capture and display of three dimensional images discussed.

Abstract: A resin erecting lens array is fabricated by forming a coating of silicon dioxide compound on the surface of each of molded resin lens plates, forming an aperture stop for each micro-lens on the surface of each resin lens plate, applying an adhesive on end portions of each resin lens plate, spreading out the adhesive into the space between the resin lens plates being placed on top of one another, aligning an optical axis of each micro-lens on the resin lens plates, inserting heat-melting resin pins into the pin-insert holes of the resin lens plate, and melting at least one end of each resin pin to secure the resin lens plates together.

Abstract: The claimed invention provides a self-actuating lenticular display assembly that places the lenticular image in intimate contact with the lenticular lens while maintaining the lenticular image separate from the lenticular lens to form the lenticular display. The lenticular display assembly further comprises a rigid back plate placed behind the lenticular display so that the lenticular image moves in a parallel plane between the lenticular lens and the rigid back plate, a motor that accomplishes movement of the lenticular image in relation to the lenticular lens, alignment mechanisms that allow the lenticular image to be incrementally adjusted in relation to the lenticular lens, and different means for maintaining intimacy between the lenticular image and the lenticular lens, thus eliminating undesirable “soft spots” that may occur.

Abstract: Lens systems and an array of lenses for reproduction, capture and display of three dimensional images. The arrays generally fall into two categories. The first type of array uses air as the low-index material. This type of array may be used, for example, in illuminated displays electronic image detection, machine vision, and real-time 3D video capture. A second type of array uses a fluoropolymer as the low-index material, and conveys a great preponderance all incident light to the image plane.

Abstract: The present invention discloses the structure of the array lens that at least any one of the diagonal size, vertical size and lateral size of lens cell is set to almost 1/(4.5 or more) for each corresponding size of the display elements, the structure that the diagonal size of lens cell is set to almost 0.18 inch or less, the structure that the total number of lens cells is set to almost 240 or more and the structure that the lens focal distance of lens cell is set to almost 30 mm or less.

Abstract: An optical illumination apparatus includes an illumination source, a pair of spaced integrator plates each having a plurality of lenslets, a conduit array, having a respective aperture corresponding to a plurality of the lenslets disposed there between, with non-reflective optically absorptive walls, and a relay optical structure for integrating light emitted from said second array of lenslets on a focal plane.

Abstract: A microlens substrate 1 includes a transparent substrate 2 provided with a plurality of concavities 3 having concave surfaces, an outer layer 8 bonded to the transparent substrate 2 at a surface thereof provided with the concavities 3 via a resin layer 9, and spacers 5 for regulating the thickness of the resin layer 9. The resin layer 9 includes microlenses 4 formed with a resin filling the concavities 3. The spacers 5 include globular particles. The standard deviation of particle-size distribution of the spacers 5 is preferably not greater than 20% of an average particle size of the spacers 5. The density of the spacers 5 is preferably in the order of 0.5 to 2.0 g/cm3. A value &rgr;1/&rgr;2 is preferably in the order of 0.6 to 1.4, in which &rgr;1 denotes the density (g/cm3) of the spacers 5, and &rgr;2 denotes the density (g/cm3) of a resin forming the resin layer 9.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a microlens array includes the step of forming second light transmitting layers 36 on a first light transmitting layer 26. The first light transmitting layer 26 has a plurality of recessed parts 28 and partitions 32 for delimiting the recessed parts 28, wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of each recessed part 28 is a lens surface 30. The second light transmitting layers 36 are formed in the respective recessed parts 28 in such a manner that the second light transmitting layers 36 avoid the partitions 32 of the first light transmitting layer 26. The second light transmitting layers 36 are formed in such a manner that the surfaces of the second light transmitting layers 36 form lens surfaces 38 for the respective recessed parts 28.

Abstract: The optical lens pertaining to the present invention comprises two first optical member arrays in which a plurality of columnar optical members that act on the light incident from light emitting components are arrayed in a state of &agr;° inclination, and a second optical member that is columnar in shape and made of a transparent material, and inside of which the two first optical member arrays are embedded in the columnar axial direction thereof, wherein the material of which the columnar optical members are made has a refractive index that is higher than that of the transparent material of the second optical member. Because the first optical member arrays are integrally embedded in the second optical member, they can be disposed all at once in their proper locations.

Abstract: A multi-layered microlens array substrate is disclosed. The substrate includes a first layer having a plurality of microlenses disposed at an object side of the substrate, a second layer having a plurality of microlenses disposed at an image side of the substrate and attached to a liquid crystal device, and a third layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer. A refractive index of the third layer is different from that of the first layer and the second layer. A focal point of a compound lens formed by the second layer and the third layer is positioned proximate to an interface between the third layer and the first layer so that incident beams incidenting on the focal point from the object side of the substrate in different angles are refracted through the substrate in a manner that those incident beams are focused on a pixel of the liquid crystal device that is disposed at a position that corresponds to the microlens of the first and second layers.

Abstract: A directional display comprises a display arrangement such as a spatial light modulator and a rear parallax barrier illuminated by a suitable backlight. The spatial light modulator and the parallax barrier cooperate to produce Fresnel diffraction which results in spatially non-uniform brightness across viewing windows of the display. Also, where the spatial light modulator has pixels of non-constant vertical aperture, further variations in the intensity profile at the windows occurs. In order to compensate for this, a mask is provided, for instance between the parallax barrier and the backlight. The mask cooperates with the parallax barrier to produce an intensity pattern having variations which are the inverse of the variations in intensity pattern produced by the parallax barrier and the spatial light modulator. The variations are superimposed and substantially cancel each other out so as to result in viewing windows which have substantially uniform light intensities.

Abstract: Uniformity errors for a lens array are corrected using corrective measures. The lens array includes a substrate. A plurality of primary lenses are formed from the substrate. A corrective measure is formed for each primary lens having a uniformity error such that the corrective measure corrects the uniformity error. Furthermore, a plurality of primary lenses are formed from a first side of a substrate. A uniformity of the plurality of primary lenses are measured. A corrective measure is formed for each primary lens having a uniformity error based on the measured uniformity such that the corrective measure corrects the uniformity error.

Abstract: There are disposed two homogenizers for controlling an irradiation energy density in the longitudinal direction of a laser light transformed into a linear one which is inputtted into the surface to be irradiated. Also, there is disposed one homogenizer for controlling an irradiation energy density in a width direction of the linear laser light. According to this, the uniformity of laser annealing can be improved by the minimum number of homogenizers.

Abstract: The present invention discloses the structure of the array lens that at least any one of the diagonal size, vertical size and lateral size of lens cell is set to almost 1/(4.5 or more) for each corresponding size of the display elements, the structure that the diagonal size of lens cell is set to almost 0.18 inch or less, the structure that the total number of lens cells is set to almost 240 or more and the structure that the lens focal distance of lens cell is set to almost 30 mm or less.

Abstract: Lens arrays facilitate intermodulation of spatial and angular resolutions. The arrays are configured to have observable spatial resolutions significantly different from (and generally higher than) the pitch of the lens array, and may be used, for example, be used to simulate three-dimensional scenes.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved illumination system for use in imaging systems that may produce a non-overlapped near field image in the slow axis direction, and a far field image of the illumination source in the slow axis direction at a light modulator. In an embodiment, the illumination system produces an area of illumination for a light modulator along a slow axis direction and along a fast axis direction, and includes a plurality of laser diode emitters, a first array of first micro lenses, and a second array of second micro lenses. The plurality of laser diode emitters are arranged in an array, and each of the laser diode emitters produces illumination in a slow axis direction and in a fast axis direction. Each first micro lens in the first array corresponds to one of the laser diode emitters, and collimates illumination in the slow axis direction. Each of the second micro lenses of the second array corresponds to one of the first micro lenses.

Abstract: This specification discloses an illuminating device in which lights emitted from a plurality of light sources are made into substantially parallel lights and are made to enter a lens array system, and illumination is effected by the lights from the lens array system, characterized in that an optical system in which the action of compressing the incident light in the direction of arrangement of the plurality of light sources is greater than the action of compressing the incident light in a direction perpendicular thereto is provided between the light sources and the lens array system. The specification also discloses a projection type display apparatus including such illuminating device.

Abstract: An electro-optical device includes: a dot-like light source array in which a plurality of light-emitting elements for emitting red light, a plurality of light-emitting elements for emitting green light, and a plurality of light-emitting elements for emitting blue light are arranged; a microlens array in which a plurality of microlenses are arranged; and an optical modulation panel having a plurality of pixels for red light, a plurality of pixels for green light, a plurality of pixels for blue light, and a plurality of transmissive windows corresponding to the pixels.

Abstract: An electro-optical device which includes a plurality of point light sources, a micro-lens array in which a plurality of micro-lenses are disposed, and a light modulation device including a plurality of light-transmissive windows. The electro-optical device is constructed so that, by the micro-lens array, light from the plurality of point light sources is focused at the light-transmissive windows.

Abstract: There is provided an improvement on homogeneity of annealing performed utilizing radiation of a laser beam on a silicon film having a large area. In a configuration wherein a linear laser beam is applied to a surface to be irradiated, optimization is carried out on the width and number of cylindrical lenses forming homogenizers 103 and 104 for controlling the distribution of radiation energy density in the longitudinal direction of the linear beam. For example, the width of the cylindrical lenses forming the homogenizers 103 and 104 is set in the range from 0.1 mm to 5 mm, and the number of the lenses is chosen such that one lens is provided for every 5 mm-15 mm along the length of the linear laser beam in the longitudinal direction thereof. This makes it possible to improve homogeneity of the radiation energy density of the linear laser in the longitudinal direction thereof.