Cylindrical Lenslets Patents (Class 359/623)
  • Patent number: 7561335
    Abstract: The optical lens 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises an optically effective part 5, formed as a curved surface in at least one of light-entrance and light-exit faces, for acting in an X-axis direction on light emitted from a light-emitting device; and a pair of protrusions 10, integrally formed in the face on the side provided with the optically effective part 5, projecting in an optical axis direction on both sides of a light-transmitting area; the pair of protrusions 10 projecting beyond a surface of the optically effective part. Such an optical lens 1 can prevent the optically effective part 5 from coming into direct contact with an arrangement surface where the optical lens 1 is placed, side faces of members adjacent to the optical lens 1, and the like in each manufacturing step, during delivery, and so forth, whereby the optically effective part 5 is hard to incur damages and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Yutaka Kusuyama
  • Patent number: 7557991
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser irradiation apparatus which can form a linear beam spot with a short optical path length, form a linear beam spot being long in a long-side direction, and reduce displacement of a condensing point at opposite ends in a direction of its line. In a laser irradiation apparatus having an optical system for shaping a laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator into a linear beam spot having a long-side direction and a short-side direction, the optical system includes a long-side direction condensing cylindrical lens disposed between a first short-side direction condensing cylindrical lens and a second short-side direction condensing cylindrical lens. Displacement of a position of a homogeneous plane is generated by the long-side direction condensing cylindrical lens so that a distance from the homogeneous plane to the second short-side direction condensing cylindrical lens is constant not depending on a field angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichiro Tanaka, Hirotada Ohishi
  • Publication number: 20090168187
    Abstract: A lens element comprising: a rear substrate having a front surface provided with a surface relief having a plurality of zones each capable of providing a lens effect; a front substrate disposed in front of the rear substrate and having a rear surface provided with a surface relief having a plurality of zones each capable of providing a lens effect, the zones of the surface reliefs provided on the rear substrate and the front substrate having the same spatial arrangement over the area of the lens element; and solid or liquid, isotropic, intermediate material disposed between the front surface of the rear substrate and the rear surface of the front substrate, the intermediate material having a refractive index different from the refractive index of each of the rear substrate and the front substrate. This construction reduces the degree of Fresnel reflection which would otherwise degrade the optical performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Graham John Woodgate, Jonathan Harrold
  • Patent number: 7548374
    Abstract: A packaged container for producing a graphical image. The packaged container includes a container having a side wall defining an interior space and a recessed surface. An interlaced image is provided on the recessed surface, and the packaged container includes a lens element positioned on the side wall to extend across the recessed surface proximate to the printed image and to leave a focusing gap between the lens element and the interlaced image. The lens element includes a plurality of lenses each having a focal point on or about the interlaced image. The lenses have a focal length determined by the thickness of the lens element combined with a depth of the recessed surface as measured from a side of the lens element to the interlaced image. The lens element can be provided in a wrap around label attached to the side wall on both sides of the recessed surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Genie Lens Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Raymond, Seth Weiss
  • Patent number: 7545568
    Abstract: A container for producing a graphical image. The container includes a container wall with front and rear portions. A label is included that extends about the circumference of the container with an inner surface contacting an exterior surface of the rear portion of the container wall and contacting an exterior surface of the front portion of the container wall. The label includes a block out grid made up of alternating block out lines and transparent viewing gaps on the outer or inner surface of the label. The view gaps provide a line of sight to subset of the segments of an interlaced image provided on or proximate to the rear portion of the container wall when the block out grid is positioned near the front portion of the container wall. The label may be used to create an air gap between the block out grid and the interlaced image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Genie Lens Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Raymond, Seth Weiss
  • Patent number: 7532406
    Abstract: A device for homogenizing light has at least two cylindrical lens arrays which are placed one behind the other in a direction of diffusion of the light to be homogenized and which each have convex and concave cylindrical lenses disposed next to one another in an alternating manner, the cylinder axes of these cylindrical lenses are aligned parallel to one another. In the direction, in which the cylindrical lenses are disposed next to one another, the concave cylindrical lenses of the first cylindrical lens array have a shaping, in particular, an extension or curvature different from that of the concave cylindrical lenses of the second cylindrical lens arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Hentze-Lissotschenko Patentverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wieland Hill, Mikhail Petrov, Heiko Ganser
  • Patent number: 7527382
    Abstract: An image projection lighting device is provided which includes a variable homogenizing system. The variable homogenizing system may homogenize light projected by a lamp across a light valve. The variable homogenizing system may vary the light across the light valve from an existing state to a first state or from an existing state to a second state. The variable homogenizing system may be comprised of one or more lens arrays, which may be comprised of cylindrical or spherical lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Inventor: Richard S. Belliveau
  • Publication number: 20090059584
    Abstract: An illumination system including at least one coherent light source, a light uniforming device and a lenticular sheet module is provided. The coherent light source is capable of emitting a coherent beam. The light uniforming device is disposed on a transmission path of the coherent beam. The lenticular sheet module disposed on a transmission path of the coherent beam and between the coherent light source and the light uniforming device, includes a first lenticular sheet and a second lenticular sheet. The first lenticular sheet includes a plurality of first rod-like lenticulars disposed side by side extending along a first extending direction. The second lenticular sheet disposed between the first lenticular sheet and the light uniforming device, includes a plurality of second rod-like lenticulars disposed side by side extending along a second extending direction. The first extending direction and the second extending direction make an angle greater than 0 degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: YOUNG OPTICS INC.
    Inventor: S-Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 7457039
    Abstract: A packaged container for producing a graphical image. The packaged container includes a container having a side wall defining an interior space and a recessed surface. An interlaced image is provided on the recessed surface, and the packaged container includes a lens element positioned on the side wall to extend across the recessed surface proximate to the printed image and to leave a focusing gap between the lens element and the interlaced image. The lens element includes a plurality of lenses each having a focal point on or about the interlaced image. The lenses have a focal length determined by the thickness of the lens element combined with a depth of the recessed surface as measured from a side of the lens element to the interlaced image. The lens element can be provided in a wrap around label attached to the side wall on both sides of the recessed surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Genie Lens Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Raymond, Seth Weiss
  • Patent number: 7456371
    Abstract: The present invention provides a laser apparatus including a transmission-variable mirror and a method for forming a semiconductor device using the apparatus. For crystallizing an amorphous semiconductor film by irradiation of laser beams, a top surface and a back surface of the amorphous semiconductor film are irradiated with the laser beams. In this case, the transmission-variable mirror is used for dividing a laser light emitted from a laser source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kasahara, Ritsuko Kawasaki, Hisashi Ohtani, Koichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7450307
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser irradiation apparatus, a laser irradiation method, and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device using the laser irradiation method that can suppress the energy distribution of the laser beam. The present invention provides a laser irradiation apparatus including a laser oscillator oscillating a pulsed laser beam, a lens assembly having a plurality of optical systems, position control means for controlling the position of the lens assembly to select at least two from the plurality of optical systems in synchronization with oscillations of a plurality of pulses of the pulsed laser beam, wherein the selected plurality of optical systems forms a plurality of pulses with spatial energy distribution inverted or rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichiro Tanaka, Tomoaki Moriwaka, Yoshiaki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20080267245
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a beam homogenizer, a laser irradiation apparatus, and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, which can suppress the loss of a laser beam and form a beam spot having homogeneous energy distribution constantly on an irradiation surface without being affected by beam parameters of a laser beam. A deflector is provided at an entrance of an optical waveguide or a light pipe used for homogenizing a laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator. A pair of reflection planes of the deflector is provided so as to have a tilt angle to an optical axis of the laser beam, whereby the entrance of the optical waveguide or the light pipe is expanded. Accordingly, the loss of the laser beam can be suppressed. Moreover, by providing an angle adjusting mechanism to the deflector, a beam spot having homogeneous energy distribution can be formed at an exit of the optical waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichiro Tanaka, Hirotada Oishi
  • Patent number: 7443592
    Abstract: A container for producing a graphical image. The container includes a container wall with front and rear portions. A label is included that extends about the circumference of the container with an inner surface contacting an exterior surface of the rear portion of the container wall and contacting an exterior surface of the front portion of the container wall. The label includes a block out grid made up of alternating block out lines and transparent viewing gaps on the outer or inner surface of the label. The view gaps provide a line of sight to subset of the segments of an interlaced image provided on or proximate to the rear portion of the container wall when the block out grid is positioned near the front portion of the container wall. The label may be used to create an air gap between the block out grid and the interlaced image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Genie Lens Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Raymond, Seth Weiss
  • Patent number: 7438424
    Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus and a projection type display apparatus capable of enhancing an illumination efficiency; having an ellipsoidal mirror, a light source arranged at a first focal point of the ellipsoidal mirror, a stop arranged closer to said light source side by a predetermined distance from a second focal point of said ellipsoidal mirror, and a positive refractive collimator lens for collimating a light flux emitted from the stop to a parallel light flux. A condition (0.01<L2/L1<0.06) is satisfied where, L1 is a distance from an apex of the ellipsoidal mirror to the second focal point thereof and, L2 (the light source side is a positive distance) is a distance from the second focal point of the ellipsoidal mirror to the stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignees: Kyocera Corporation, NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuuji Yamada, Katsuyuki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7427743
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor has a receiving optics and a lighting arrangement in the vicinity of the receiving optics. A plurality of light emitting diodes (LED) are linearly arranged relative to each other, and they illuminate a light receiving area. Anamorphic imaging optics for each LED include an optical condenser element with a planar side facing the LED and an oppositely facing non-planar, e.g. curved, side. A cylindrical lens is associated with the condenser elements. The optical condenser elements of the arrangement are of like construction. The LEDs are axially offset relative to the optical axis of associated condenser elements as a function of the distance between the LEDs and the receiving optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventor: Ralf Ulrich Nuebling
  • Patent number: 7411640
    Abstract: In a display panel, a plurality of pixel sections are arranged in the form of a matrix. Each of the pixel sections includes a pixel for displaying an image for the left eye and a pixel for displaying an image for the right eye. Lenticular lens having repeated convex surfaces is disposed in front of the display panel to deflect the light emitted from each pixel in the horizontal direction from the pixel for displaying the image for the left eye to the pixel for displaying the image for the right eye in each pixel section. Reflection plate reflects the exterior light toward the display panel and has surface projections on the surface. In this case, the focal distance f of the lens is different from the distance H between the surface of the reflection plate and the apex of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shin-ichi Uehara, Nobuaki Takanashi
  • Patent number: 7387389
    Abstract: An image display device includes an image processing unit, a light source assembly, an optical modulator assembly, and a projection lens assembly. The image processing unit is configured to receive a video signal and generate image data and control signals. The light source assembly and optical modulator assembly are each controlled by the control signals such that the light source assembly generates illumination in a spatial distribution pattern that is coupled to optical modular assembly via a homogenizing device. The projection lens assembly is configured to project an image from the optical modulator assembly onto a viewing surface. The optical modular assembly is configured to maximize the amount of illumination coupled from the light source assembly, and includes at least one optical modulator surface configured to have a substantially 1:1 aspect ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Anurag Gupta, David L. Erickson, Scott A Lerner
  • Patent number: 7379160
    Abstract: An optical integrator having characteristics to reduce effects of manufacturing errors of many minute refraction surfaces integrally formed by, for example, etching on an illumination intensity distribution. An optical integrator (8) comprising an integrally formed plurality of first minute refraction surfaces (80a) and an integrally formed plurality of second minute refraction surfaces (80b). A parameter ? satisfies conditions, |?|<0.2 (where ?=(??1)3·NA2/?n2), where a refracting power ratio ?a/?b between ?a, a refracting power of the first minute refraction surfaces and ?b, a refracting power of the second minute refraction surfaces is ?, numerical aperture on an emission side of the optical integrator is NA, and a difference between a refraction index of a medium on a light entrance side of the second minute refraction surfaces and a refraction index of a medium on a light emission side of the second minute refraction surfaces is ?n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsunori Toyoda
  • Patent number: 7375893
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a microlens having a convex shape on a substrate includes: a step of providing a first droplet on the substrate, a step of forming a first convex portion by drying the first droplet so as to solidify the first droplet, a step of providing a second droplet of a lens material in a concave area that is placed at a center of the first convex portion and a step of forming a second convex portion by curing the second droplet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Naoyuki Toyoda
  • Publication number: 20080112057
    Abstract: An optical device comprises a first cylindrical lens array in which a plurality of first lens segments each having a first radius of curvature and a first width so as to divide laser light into a plurality of light components are arranged, and a plurality of second lens segments each having a second radius of curvature and a second width, and provided in at least one position of the first cylindrical lens array so as to be arranged between adjacent first lens segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Takashi Ono, Kazufumi Azuma, Masakiyo Matsumura
  • Patent number: 7354162
    Abstract: A projector includes: a light source device that emits substantially parallel illumination light; a first lens array having a plurality of first small lenses each of which divides the illumination light coming from the light source device into a plurality of partial light fluxes; a second lens array having a plurality of second small lenses corresponding to the first small lenses; a superposing optical system that superposes the partial light fluxes coming from the second lens array on regions to be illuminated; a color-separating and guiding optical system that separates the lights coming from the second lens array into lights in a plurality of different colors and guides the separated lights to the regions to be illuminated; a plurality of electro-optical modulation devices each of which modulates the light in the corresponding color of the lights in the plural colors separated by the color-separating and guiding optical system in accordance with image information; a color synthesizing optical system that s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7322700
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an indicating element which modulates or emits light as a pixel in accordance with image information. A displacement unit optically displaces a position of the pixel for each of two or more sub-fields constituting an image field corresponding to the image information. A projection unit enlarges the pixel and projects an enlarged pixel on a screen. A pixel-profile deformation unit changes an optical intensity profile of the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Miyagaki, Kenji Kameyama, Takanobu Osaka, Ikuo Katoh, Atsushi Takaura, Kenji Namie, Yasuyuki Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 7317577
    Abstract: An opaque matrix that defines transparent apertures may be formed on a lenticular lens by applying an infrared radiation sensitive material to the flat surface of the lenticular lens, projecting infrared radiation through the lenticular lens onto the infrared radiation sensitive material to create exposed and unexposed areas of the infrared radiation sensitive material, and removing the exposed areas of the infrared radiation sensitive material from the flat surface of the lenticular lens. The infrared radiation sensitive material includes an infrared absorbing dye and a colorant. The infrared radiation sensitive material may also include a binder. A barrier layer may be disposed between the flat surface of the lenticular lens and the infrared radiation sensitive material. The barrier layer may include a binder, an infrared absorbing dye, and a crosslinking agent. The resulting lenticular lens may be used in a rear projection television screen or monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: M. Zaki Ali, David E. Brown, Elsie A. Fohrenkamm
  • Patent number: 7304802
    Abstract: A container for producing a graphical image within the container. The container includes a container wall with a front portion and a rear portion. A label is included that extends about the circumference of the container with an inner surface contacting an exterior surface of the rear portion of the container wall and contacting an exterior surface of the front portion of the container wall. The label includes a lenticular lens array integral with the label to include a plurality of lenses formed, such as through embossing, on the outer surface of the label. The lenses have a focal point on or about the rear portion of the container wall with the lenticular lens array positioned near the front portion of the container wall. A printed image is provided and positioned proximal to the focal point on the inner surface of the label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Genie Lens Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Raymond
  • Patent number: 7298556
    Abstract: An illuminating optical system including a lamp light source and a reflecting mirror device. The lamp light source emits light. The reflecting mirror device having double reflecting mirror arrays formed in at least a portion thereof which at least partly adjust a divergent direction of light emitted from the lamp light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-ho Cho, Dae-sik Kim, Sung-ha Kim, Hee-joong Lee
  • Patent number: 7262917
    Abstract: An inexpensive device and method of fabricating microlenses able to be pre-aligned with other optical components (e.g., mirrors, splitters, and prisms, cylindrical lenses, plano-plates and prisms) fabricated on the same substrate to form an integrated optical platform. This integrated optical platform enhances optical systems by reducing coupling losses, cross-talking, and dispersion, and allowing for the simultaneous optical focusing of one or more light beams in a true, three-dimensional arrangement. The novel device comprises an optical lens having an out-of-plane orientated, optical axis (i.e., the optical axial is parallel to the substrate on which the optical bench system is located) with a quasi-parabolic surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College
    Inventors: Ren Yang, Wanjun Wang
  • Patent number: 7259916
    Abstract: A container for producing a graphical image within the container. The container includes a container wall with a front portion and a rear portion. A label is included that extends about the circumference of the container with an inner surface contacting an exterior surface of the rear portion of the container wall and contacting an exterior surface of the front portion of the container wall. The label includes a lenticular lens array integral with the label to include a plurality of lenses formed, such as through embossing, on the outer surface of the label. The lenses have a focal point on or about the rear portion of the container wall with the lenticular lens array positioned near the front portion of the container wall. A printed image is provided and positioned proximal to the focal point on the inner surface of the label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Genie Lens Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mark A. Raymond
  • Patent number: 7259915
    Abstract: Disclosed is a microlens array sheet capable of improving a viewing angle by maintaining a fill factor while reducing a radius of curvature of the microlens of the microlens array sheet. To this end, the microlens array sheet includes: a substrate; a lens arranged on the substrate; and a gap filling layer formed at exposed surfaces of the substrate and the lens, wherein the lens is arranged as high as or at a higher position than a height of the gap filling layer formed at a gap between lenses arranged on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignees: LG Electronics Inc., LG Micron Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyouk Kwon, Chang-Hoon Oh, Young-Joo Yee, Ji-Hyouk Chung, Tae-Sun Lim
  • Patent number: 7242525
    Abstract: A container for producing a graphical image within the container. The container includes a container wall with a front portion and a rear portion. A label is included that extends about the circumference of the container with an inner surface contacting an exterior surface of the rear portion of the container wall and contacting an exterior surface of the front portion of the container wall. The label includes a lenticular lens array integral with the label to include a plurality of lenses formed, such as through embossing, on the outer surface of the label. The lenses have a focal point on or about the rear portion of the container wall with the lenticular lens array positioned near the front portion of the container wall. A printed image is provided and positioned proximal to the focal point on the inner surface of the label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Genie Lens Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mark A. Raymond
  • Patent number: 7241027
    Abstract: An illumination system includes a light source, first and second cylindrical lens arrays, and a relay lens. The first cylindrical lens array includes a plurality of cylindrical lens cells which divide light emitted from the light source into a plurality of beams. The second cylindrical lens array includes a plurality of cylindrical lens cells which combine the beams divided by the cylindrical lens cells in an identical direction. The relay lens relays beams passed through the second cylindrical lens array so that most of the beams are concentrated on an incident light axis to have a Gaussian distribution. Accordingly, light passed through slits for controlling the divergence angle of incident light or the etendue of an optical system has a Gaussian distribution in a color separation direction or a color scrolling direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-ho Cho, Dae-sik Kim, Sung-ha Kim, Hee-joong Lee
  • Patent number: 7232227
    Abstract: The image display device is configured to include the light source including a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements, a parallelizing unit including a plurality of cell lenses arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with each of the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements, an image display element for forming an optical image, a pair of lens-array groups located between the parallelizing unit and the image display element, and a projection unit for enlarging and projecting the optical image formed on the image display element. Moreover, the plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements are located at substantially focal points of the cell lenses of the parallelizing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Futoshi Yamasaki, Nobuo Masuoka, Masahiko Yatsu
  • Patent number: 7213920
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an image display device including a non-luminous reflection type spatial light modulating element, illuminating system to illuminate the reflection type spatial light modulating element and a projection lens and in which light from a light source (2) illuminates the reflection type spatial light modulating elements (14, 15) via first and second fly-eye integrators (9, 10). An unnecessary part, not modulated, of the light reflected by the reflection spatial light modulating elements (14, 15) and further by a reflector (4) for recycling. Since the fly-eye integrators (9, 10) are displaced in relation to their optical axes, it is possible to utilize the light with an improved efficiency and prevent any nonuniform illumination from taking place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Matsui, Tomoya Yano, Yukio Ohmura
  • Patent number: 7212345
    Abstract: A method of randomizing elements into a random pattern on a surface so the random pattern of elements substantially entirely consumes a region of the surface includes choosing an overlap distance and creating an initial pattern of elements that substantially entirely consumes a region of the surface, wherein neighboring elements overlap by the overlap distance. The method also includes choosing a maximum displacement distance, and displacing the elements by random displacement distances from their positions in the initial pattern, the random displacement distances being less than the maximum displacement distance. Moreover, a signed difference in displacement between two neighboring elements is not greater than the overlap distance. An apparatus including the elements is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Randall H. Wilson
  • Patent number: 7164537
    Abstract: A container for producing a graphical image within the container. The container includes a container wall with a front portion and a rear portion. A label is included that extends about the circumference of the container with an inner surface contacting an exterior surface of the rear portion of the container wall and contacting an exterior surface of the front portion of the container wall. The label includes a lenticular lens array integral with the label to include a plurality of lenses formed, such as through embossing, on the outer surface of the label. The lenses have a focal point on or about the rear portion of the container wall with the lenticular lens array positioned near the front portion of the container wall. A printed image is provided and positioned proximal to the focal point on the inner surface of the label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Genie Lens Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mark A. Raymond
  • Patent number: 7145724
    Abstract: The optical lens 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises an optically effective part 5, formed as a curved surface in at least one of light-entrance and light-exit faces, for acting in an X-axis direction on light emitted from a light-emitting device; and a pair of protrusions 10, integrally formed in the face on the side provided with the optically effective part 5, projecting in an optical axis direction on both sides of a light-transmitting area; the pair of protrusions 10 projecting beyond a surface of the optically effective part. Such an optical lens 1 can prevent the optically effective part 5 from coming into direct contact with an arrangement surface where the optical lens 1 is placed, side faces of members adjacent to the optical lens 1, and the like in each manufacturing step, during delivery, and so forth, whereby the optically effective part 5 is hard to incur damages and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Yutaka Kusuyama
  • Patent number: 7139124
    Abstract: A screen having a wide viewing angle and a projection television including the screen are provided. The screen includes a Fresnel lens sheet for converting incident light into near-parallel light, a lenticular lens sheet including a horizontal array of vertical cylindrical lenses for horizontally emitting light, in which vertical black stripes are formed in parallel on connection portions for the cylindrical lenses, and a light diffusion film including a vertical array of horizontal cylindrical lenses for vertically emitting light, in which horizontal black stripes are formed in parallel on connection portions for the cylindrical lenses. In particular, the screen has a wide vertical viewing angle and a high contrast ratio, thereby providing a high definition image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok-Il Yoon, Gyu-hwan Hwang
  • Patent number: 7129508
    Abstract: The invention includes also a sensor tat includes at least one laser, at least one detector, and at least one lens system that includes a sensor surface having three individual surfaces that are virtually the same, and an object surface having two individual surfaces that are virtually the same. The invention also includes a sensor having at least one source that produces radiation, at least one detector; and a lens system that collimates and focuses the radiation onto at least two different regions of a surface of a reflective object, wherein the reflective object reflects the incident radiation, and the lens system collimates and focuses the reflected radiation onto the detector, thereby sensing the reflective object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Bo Su Chen
  • Patent number: 7125121
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an indicating element which modulates or emits light as a pixel in accordance with image information. A displacement unit optically displaces a position of the pixel for each of two or more sub-fields constituting an image field corresponding to the image information. A projection unit enlarges the pixel and projects an enlarged pixel on a screen. A pixel-profile deformation unit changes an optical intensity profile of the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Miyagaki, Kenji Kameyama, Takanobu Osaka, Ikuo Katoh, Atsushi Takaura, Kenji Namie, Yasuyuki Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 7119962
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus (10) to image wise expose desired microcapsules (38) within a photosensitive media (44) with an image exposure device (12) to harden the desired microcapsules applying pressure to the exposed photosensitive media rupturing the unexposed microcapsule (40), releasing the image-forming material (48) encapsulated within to form an image on the photosensitive media, the exposure device having a molded lenslet array (14) with a printed lens mask improving channel cross talk, aberrations, and reducing flair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Roger S. Kerr, Seung-Ho H. Baek
  • Patent number: 7110183
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to an optical symmetrization device for symmetrizing the radiation emitted by laser diodes. The symmetrization device contains a cylindrical lens system (3), a cylindrical lens array (4) and a deflection element (5). The cylindrical lens array (4) contains at least two cylindrical single lenses (4A) that are arranged adjacent to one another in fixed allocation, wherein the distance between two adjacent single lenses (4A) is smaller than the distance between two adjacent linear optical emitters (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: unique-m.o.d.e. AG
    Inventors: Thilo von Freyhold, Jörg Hünkemeier
  • Patent number: 7057823
    Abstract: A container for producing a graphical image within the container. The container includes a container wall with a front portion and a rear portion. A label is included that extends about the circumference of the container with an inner surface contacting an exterior surface of the rear portion of the container wall and contacting an exterior surface of the front portion of the container wall. The label includes a lenticular lens array integral with the label to include a plurality of lenses formed, such as through embossing, on the outer surface of the label. The lenses have a focal point on or about the rear portion of the container wall with the lenticular lens array positioned near the front portion of the container wall. A printed image is provided and positioned proximal to the focal point on the inner surface of the label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Inventor: Mark A. Raymond
  • Patent number: 7038854
    Abstract: A container for producing a graphical image within the container. The container includes a container wall with a front portion and a rear portion. A label is included that extends about the circumference of the container with an inner surface contacting an exterior surface of the rear portion of the container wall and contacting an exterior surface of the front portion of the container wall. The label includes a lenticular lens array integral with the label to include a plurality of lenses formed, such as through embossing, on the outer surface of the label. The lenses have a focal point on or about the rear portion of the container wall with the lenticular lens array positioned near the front portion of the container wall. A printed image is provided and positioned proximal to the focal point on the inner surface of the label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Inventor: Mark A. Raymond
  • Patent number: 7031064
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuya Kitamura, Yukio Kurata, Yoshihiro Sekimoto, Kuniaki Okada, Noboru Fujita, Yukiko Nagasaka, Hiroshi Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 7027228
    Abstract: An arrangement for optical beam transformation, having at least one light source which can emit at least one light beam, with the at least one light beam having a greater divergence in a first direction (Y) than in a second direction (X) at right angles to it, a collimation means, which can at least reduce the divergence of the at least one light beam in the first direction (Y), an apparatus for optical beam transformation, which is arranged downstream from the collimation means in the propagation direction (Z) of the at least one light beam, with the apparatus being such that the divergence of the at least one light beam passing through the apparatus in the first direction (Y) is interchanged with the divergence in the second direction (X) at right angles to it, and such that the cross-sectional area of the at least one light beam is reduced in the apparatus for optical beam transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Hentze-Lissotschenko Patentverwaltungs GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Aleksei Mikhailov
  • Patent number: 7015450
    Abstract: Detection apparatus for the optical detection of an object including detection means, which can detect the light emerging from the object, and also at least one imaging unit comprising first lens means having a plurality of lens elements arranged in the form of an array, through which light emerging from the object can pass; and second lens means, which are arranged between the first lens means and the detection means and can feed the light that has passed through the lens elements to the detection means, the second lens means having a plurality of lens elements arranged in the form of an array. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for operating a detection apparatus of this type and to a scanning apparatus and to a confocal microscope having a detection apparatus of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Hentze-Lissotschenko Patentverwaltungs GmbH Co. KG
    Inventors: Aleksei Mikhailov, Vitalij Lissotschenko, Maxim Darscht
  • Patent number: 7011414
    Abstract: A highly efficient projection system and a color scrolling method are provided. In the color scrolling method, first, an optical splitter splits a beam emitted from a light source into individual color beams. Next, a rectangular light valve is disposed such that its long axis is along the direction into which the optical splitter splits the beam. Thereafter, the individual color beams are scrolled in the long axial direction of the light valve. The color scrolling in the long axial direction can increase light efficiency much more than a color scrolling performed in a short axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-sik Kim, Kun-ho Cho, Sung-ha Kim
  • Patent number: 6992831
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lens sheet applicable to a screen for a pixel type projection TV characterized in high quality and definition and a simple producing method thereof. The inventive lens sheet has a shielding layer without any axial misalignment at front and rear sides. The lens sheet comprises a lens portion with a plurality of lens elements arranged in at least one side and a shielding layer provided in a non-transmitting portion of a light radiation plane, in which the shielding layer is provided on a layer made of a cured photo-curing composition (A). The photo-curing composition (A) is composed of 100 weight parts of photo-curing resin composition (a) having a surface free energy of 30 mN/m or more and 0.01 to 10 weight parts of compound (b) having a surface free energy of 25 mN/m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nagasawa, Takahiro Kitano, Katsuya Fujisawa, Junichi Tanaka, Tatsufumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6985296
    Abstract: A neutralizing sheet for an autostereoscopic image viewing system. The image viewing system includes a lenticular sheet covering a display screen. The neutralizing sheet including a pliable portion and is movable between a first position and a second position. The pliable portion has a refractive index similar to the lenticular sheet. When pressed into the lenticular sheet to define the first position, the pliable portion deforms to assume the shape of the lenticular sheet. Thus, refraction through the lenticular sheet is neutralized and viewing of planar images is enabled. In the second position, the neutralizing sheet is separated from the lenticular sheet and viewing of stereoscopic images is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: StereoGraphics Corporation
    Inventors: Lenny Lipton, William James McKee, Jr., Bruce A. Dorworth
  • Patent number: 6950238
    Abstract: An optical leveling module (1) includes a sensitive element (10) with a plurality of sensitive areas (11) thereon, and an optical leveling layer (20) mounted on the sensitive element and including a plurality of lenslets (21) wherein a refractive index of the lenslets progressively increases from a center of the optical leveling layer to a periphery of the optical leveling layer. The optical leveling module further includes an adjusting lens (30) and a filter (40) above the optical leveling layer. The intensity of image is essentially uniform after being adjusted by the optical leveling module. A method for manufacturing an optical leveling layer of the optical leveling module is provided. At first, enhance an optically resistant block's refractive index by doping. Second, cut it into slices. Third, each slice is etched to form a plurality of columns. Finally, each column is fused to form a lenslet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Chiang Tsai, Ga-Lane Chen, Chun-Yu Le, Tsung-Wei Chiang
  • Patent number: 6943953
    Abstract: A container for producing a graphical image within the container. The container includes a container wall with a front portion and a rear portion. A label is included that extends about the circumference of the container with an inner surface contacting an exterior surface of the rear portion of the container wall and contacting an exterior surface of the front portion of the container wall. The label includes a lenticular lens array integral with the label to include a plurality of lenses formed, such as through embossing, on the outer surface of the label. The lenses have a focal point on or about the rear portion of the container wall with the lenticular lens array positioned near the front portion of the container wall. A printed image is provided and positioned proximal to the focal point on the inner surface of the label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Inventor: Mark A. Raymond