Reflective Patents (Class 359/627)
  • Publication number: 20140353959
    Abstract: A security element for manufacturing value documents, such as banknotes, checks or the like, has an upper side making available several micro images, in particular for a lens magnification arrangement. Each micro image is formed by a micro cavity structure having a multitude of micro cavities disposed side by side, the micro cavities have an extension of 0.5 to 3 ?m respectively in a spatial direction disposed parallel to the upper side. The micro cavity structure is optically reflective or highly refractive on its surface, so that on the surface at least partial reflection takes place, and for each micro image micro cavities of at least a first and a second type are present, which differ by an aspect ratio of the micro cavities, whereby each micro image is structured by the at least two different types of micro cavities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: Hans Lochbihler
  • Patent number: 8867136
    Abstract: A floating image display device includes an object, and a light reflecting optical member for reflecting displayed light from the object to a viewer. The light reflecting optical member comprises a structure in which micro mirror units each having first and second light reflecting sides are arranged in matrix. The light reflecting optical member reflects the displayed light by the first and second light reflecting sides at two times to form a mirror image. The light reflecting optical member comprises a first assembly and a second assembly. Each of the first and second assemblies is constructed by arranging a plurality of longitudinal members each having one light reflecting side such that all of the light reflecting sides are oriented in a same direction. The first assembly and the second assembly are laminated onto each other with the light reflecting sides of the first assembly and the light reflecting surfaces of the second assembly intersecting with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Hirokazu Hashikawa
  • Publication number: 20140261683
    Abstract: Optics are provided for use in solar concentrators, the optics having a light guide, a redirecting layer including a plurality of lenses, and a plurality of reflector elements. Sunlight is received by the redirecting lenses, which focus the sunlight onto reflective surfaces of the reflector elements. The reflective surface of each reflector element redirects the light into the light guide, which guides the light toward a solar energy collector, such as a photovoltaic cell. The light from the light guide may be directed onto the solar energy collector by a light conditioning element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Morgan Solar Inc.
    Inventors: John Paul MORGAN, Michael SINCLAIR, Nigel MORRIS, Pascal DUFOUR
  • Publication number: 20140247499
    Abstract: A security element for integration into documents for authentication thereof. The security element comprises a substrate. A reflective optical structure and a reference pattern are disposed on the same side of the substrate. The reflective optical structure is made up of an array of Fresnel lenses. The reference pattern appears in the foreground when observed by an observer. A virtual image of the observer appears in the background behind the foreground pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: ARJOWIGGINS SECURITY
    Inventors: Pierre Doublet, Michel Camus
  • Publication number: 20140198368
    Abstract: A transparent screen includes a microlens array. The microlens array includes microlenses that are individually rotated to reflect a projected image to a common eyebox. The microlenses may have a dichroic coating to reflect narrowband light. An automotive windshield may include an embedded microlens array as part of a head up display. Eyewear includes an eyepiece with a rotated microlens array and a projector to project content on the microlens array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicants: KOC UNIVERSITY, MICROVISION, INC.
    Inventors: Hakan Urey, Mehmet Kivanc Hedili, Joshua O. Miller
  • Patent number: 8773615
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal device, a liquid crystal layer is interposed between first and second substrates. The liquid crystal device includes a light-shielding layer formed in a lattice shape and a condensing lens condensing light incident on the side of the first substrate into the inside of an opening portion of a light-shielding section. In the second substrate, a prism element condensing the light which has been incident from the side of the first substrate and has passed and spread through the condensing lens, the liquid crystal layer, and the opening portion is disposed at a position overlapping the light-shielding layer in a plan view. The prism element includes a groove formed in the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Norihiko Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20140160575
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical surface which is able to mix different wavelengths into a light pattern which contains all wavelengths evenly distributed across the pattern. The novel optical surface extends in at least two Cartesian base dimensions (X, Y), whereby a cross-section of the surface taken in either of said two Cartesian base dimensions (X, Y) features a first plurality of protuberances which extend to the same direction in a third Cartesian dimension (Z). The cross-section of the optical surface also features a second plurality of protuberances which extend to the opposite direction as the first plurality of protuberances in the third Cartesian dimension (Z). The pluralities of protuberances form converging and diverging optical shapes for mixing different wavelengths scattering from the optical surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: LEDIL OY
    Inventor: Hannu Hukkanen
  • Patent number: 8724224
    Abstract: A display device includes a dihedral corner reflector array optical element composed of a substrate and a plurality of dihedral corner reflectors arranged regularly on one main surface of the substrate, the dihedral corner reflectors including orthogonal mirror planes perpendicular to each other and being perpendicular to the main surface of the substrate; and an object existing by the one surface of the substrate, the optical element forming a real image of the object by the other main surface of the substrate. The optical element includes a plurality of protrudent bodies integrally formed of a transparent material of the substrate, each of the protrudent bodies including two sides of orthogonal mirror planes perpendicular to each other as the dihedral corner reflector perpendicular to the main surface of the substrate. The optical element is disposed so that the protrudent bodies face toward a space in which the object exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignees: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd., National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
    Inventors: Takashi Sugiyama, Satoshi Maekawa
  • Patent number: 8724082
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser driver includes a light detection circuit to detect a quantity of light as a detected light emission intensity and output the detected light emission intensity to the control circuit, and a control circuit to control a light emission intensity for the semiconductor laser based on the detected light emission intensity and on a predetermined light emission intensity setting value. The light detection circuit includes a photoelectric conversion element to convert the quantity of light emitted from the semiconductor laser into an electrical current and output the converted electrical current, a current magnification setting circuit to amplify the electrical current output from the photoelectric conversion element to a predetermined amplified current at one of multiple different predetermined magnifications, a detection resistor to convert the amplified current output from the current magnification setting circuit into a voltage and output the voltage as the detected light emission intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kyogoku
  • Publication number: 20140049830
    Abstract: An arrangement for shaping laser radiation with mutually spaced-apart parallel sub-beams in a first direction perpendicular to a propagation direction of laser radiation, including a first substrate with several reflective surfaces on which the sub-beams reflects, and a second substrate with several reflective surfaces and being offset relative to the first substrate, so that the sub-beams reflected by the reflective surfaces of the first substrate reflects by the reflective surfaces of the second substrate, wherein the reflective surfaces of the first substrate and the reflective surfaces of the second substrate are arranged and configured such that the sub-beams of the laser radiation to be shaped can be reflected in such a way that they have after the reflection on the reflective surfaces of the second substrate in the first direction a smaller spacing from one another than before the reflection on the reflective surfaces of the first substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: LIMO Patentverwaltung GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Detlef STOEHR
  • Patent number: 8649111
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical element, comprising: a side surface where incident light undergoes diffuse reflection inside the optical element, between the outline of a top optical surface and a bottom optical surface; and an inclined surface for total reflection of diffuse reflection from the side surface, formed at least between the side surface and the bottom optical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Yano, Hideyuki Kurimoto, Shohgo Hirooka
  • Patent number: 8641239
    Abstract: A lighting assembly utilizing a reflective body for use with a light source to uniformly disperse the light from the light source. The reflective body includes a lower array of first reflectors arranged about a central axis. Each of the first reflectors form an obtuse angle with the next adjacent first reflector. The reflective body also includes an upper array of second reflectors arranged about the central axis. Each of said second reflectors include a left face and a right face. The upper array defines obtuse angles between next adjacent second reflectors. Additionally, reflex angles are defined between the left and right faces of the second reflectors. The combination of angles evenly disperse the light supplied from the light source to provide a pleasant glow for illuminating an area below the lighting assembly without causing hot spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Best Lights, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary D. Yurich
  • Patent number: 8638511
    Abstract: A reflector array optical device includes two dihedral corner reflector array optical elements each having a substrate and a plurality of prism bodies arranged regularly on and each protruding from one main surface of the substrate. Each prism body includes at least two sides of orthogonal planes. The two optical elements are adhered so that top faces of the prism bodies are directly confronted respectively so as to make two coplanar planes in which the two orthogonal planes exist respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignees: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Maekawa, Markon Sandor, Takashi Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20140022327
    Abstract: An imaging system includes an incidence face having a plurality of optical faces formed along a first axis with a first pitch; a prism face having a plurality of grooves formed along the first axis with a second pitch; and an exit face having a plurality of optical faces formed along the first axis with a third pitch. A virtual plane extends from an end of the one optical face of the incidence face to an end of the one optical face of the exit face. Among light flux emitting from a spot light source and entering the one optical face of the incidence face, a light beam that passes over the virtual plane is reflected at the prism face, and passes over the virtual plane again and goes to the one optical face of the exit face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventor: Shigeaki IMAI
  • Publication number: 20130335827
    Abstract: An optics arrangement includes a multi-channel imaging system for optical sampling of an object plane in visual fields, abutting or overlapping in the object plane, of a plurality of optical channels of the multi-channel imaging system, and a waveguide arranged between the object plane and the multi-channel imaging system so as to guide light in the waveguide laterally, the waveguide having a plurality of redirecting structures arranged on a side of the waveguide facing the object plane and/or a side of the waveguide facing the multi-channel imaging system, the redirecting structures being arranged in dead zones between the visual fields of the optical channels, and the redirecting structures being configured to deflect the guided light in the direction of the object plane such that the object plane is illuminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Andreas BRUECKNER, Rene BERLICH, Andreas BRAEUER
  • Patent number: 8605046
    Abstract: A touch panel method and system detects one or more touch objects placed on a surface of a touch panel and assigns consistent ID, position, size and convex contour to each touch object. The method and system allows multiple simultaneous touch objects on the touch panel to be distinguished. The touch panel includes on its periphery at least one light transmitter and at least one light sensor, each positioned around at least a portion of a perimeter of the touch panel. A processor in communication with the at least one light sensor acquires light intensity data from the sensor(s), wherein any one or more touch objects placed within a touch detectable region of the panel interrupts at least a subset of light paths between transmitter and sensor. Based on the interrupted light paths, the processor generates a touch input vector (assigned ID and spatial properties) that represents the placement of each touch object on the touch panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: PQ Labs, Inc.
    Inventor: Fei Lu
  • Publication number: 20130314797
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the imaging device array in an embodiment has plural imaging devices formed integrally, imaging the light that is output from the exit surface imaged at the image point including an incidence surface for the incidence of light, plural reflective surfaces including four reflective surfaces for reflecting the light from the incidence surface, and an exit surface that outputs light that has gone through the plural reflective surfaces, in which the plural imaging devices are arranged as an array, and a surface for ameliorating the propagation of light other than the light reflected from the reflective surfaces to the exit surface is formed on the periphery of at least one reflective surface among the plural reflective surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi SHIRAISHI
  • Publication number: 20130250427
    Abstract: An autostereoscopic three-dimensional image display device including a first light guide plate having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface being provided with a first prism changing a path of light input from a first light source on a side of the first light guide plate toward the first surface; a second light guide plate having a third surface and a fourth surface, the fourth surface being provided with a second prism changing a path of light from a second light source on a side of the second light guide plate toward the third surface; a barrier film between the first and second light guide plates and interrupting part of light from the first light guide plate; and a lenticular film above the third surface of the second light guide plate and refracting a path of light input from the second light guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Eun Gon LEE, Dong Ho WEE
  • Publication number: 20130242401
    Abstract: As a result of a fourth surface being a surface on a gate side, a merging position of a molten resin material during molding of a lens array main body is placed away from formation positions of lens faces, and as a result of the three dimensional shape of a third recessing section, during molding of the lens array main body, the flow of molten resin material from a surface side that opposes the fourth surface into a flow path corresponding with an area between a first recessing section and a second recessing section can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: ENPLAS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazutaka Shibuya, Tadanobu NIIMI
  • Patent number: 8514260
    Abstract: A video-conferencing system includes a display panel configured to form a display image for viewing by a local video conferencer, a camera configured to acquire a facial image of the local video conferencer and having an aperture oriented toward the display panel, and an array of partly reflective facets aligned in parallel against a plane disposed parallel to and forward of the display panel, each facet positioned to transmit a portion of the display image from the display panel through that facet to the local video conferencer, and to reflect a portion of the facial image of the local video conferencer to the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Andrew Large, Daniel Rosenfeld, Neil Emerton
  • Patent number: 8503760
    Abstract: Provided are a system and method for real-time object recognition and pose estimation using in-situ monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Sungkyunkwan University Foundation for Corporate Collaboration
    Inventors: Sukhan Lee, Seung-Min Baek, Jeihun Lee, Jangwon Lee
  • Publication number: 20130188257
    Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a micro lens and a method of manufacturing the micro lens. The micro lens may include a substrate and an internal lens region existing in the substrate. The internal lens region may have a refractive index that is different from a refractive index of the substrate. The internal lens region may include at least one boundary contacting the substrate and formed as a curve. As a result, light incident in the substrate through a surface of the substrate is converged or diverged by the curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seong-ho Cho, Young-soo Park
  • Publication number: 20130120849
    Abstract: An optical component called the Phase Space Combiner (PSC) is designed to join several bundles of rays. The bundles of rays, when represented in ray phase-space, occupy non-connected regions before passing through the PSC, while their representation in ray phase space occupies a single simply connected region (without holes) after passing through the PSC. Obviously, when used in reverse way it splits one bundle in several parts. We present herein the idea of using Multiple Individual Optics, MIO, not for collimating the light from the LEDs but as a PSC. Then a Single Common Optics, SCO, which can be an optical train, is used to get the desired intensity pattern. This hybrid SCO and MIO strategy combines most of the advantages of both approaches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: LIGHT PRESCRIPTIONS INNOVATORS, LLC
    Inventor: LIGHT PRESCRIPTIONS INNOVATORS, LLC
  • Patent number: 8427749
    Abstract: The invention relates to sources of optical radiation wherein polarized radiation from first and second rows of light emitters is first collimated and combined into two combined beam using first and second rows of collimating and beam re-directing elements, respectively, and then polarization multiplexed to form a polarization-multiplexed output beam. In order to reduce the footprint, emitters of the first and second emitter rows are disposed in an interleaved, staggered arrangement, and the second row of collimating and beam re-directing elements is disposed in a space between the first emitter row and the first row of collimating and beam re-directing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Jihua Du, James Yonghong Guo, Lei Xu, Richard L. Duesterberg, Jay A. Skidmore
  • Patent number: 8400714
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include reflector systems, methods, and apparatus for providing a light reflector. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for manufacturing a multi-layer light reflector. The method can include attaching a rear reflective layer to a lenticular lens optical film layer. The lenticular lens optical film layer includes a smooth surface and a structured surface. The rear reflective layer is disposed adjacent to or in contact with the smooth surface of the lenticular optical film. The method also includes attaching a diffusion layer to the lenticular lens optical film layer. The diffusion layer includes a smooth film surface and a structured diffusing surface. The smooth film surface of the diffusion film is disposed adjacent to or in contact with the structured surface of the lenticular lens optical film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc., Trustee of the LDH Trust
    Inventor: Leslie D. Howe
  • Publication number: 20130048839
    Abstract: A reflective minor includes a reflective film, a light-transmitting base and a light-transmitting adhesive layer. The reflective film includes a first connection surface and a plurality of reflection structures opposite to the first connection surface. Each reflection structure protrudes away from the first connection surface. The light-transmitting base includes a light penetration surface and a second connection surface opposite to the light penetration surface. The light-transmitting adhesive layer is disposed between the reflective film and the light-transmitting base and connected to the first connection surface and the second connection surface. An optical touch device is also provided in the present invention. Thus, the reflective minor as well as the optical touch device are easy to be manufactured and accordingly have a lower production cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Hui-Hsuan Chen, Hung-Ching Lai
  • Publication number: 20130050819
    Abstract: A moire magnification device is disclosed, including a transparent substrate carrying: a regular array of micro-focusing elements on a first surface, the focusing elements defining a focal plane; and a corresponding first array of microimage elements located in a plane substantially coincident with the focal plane of the focusing elements. The pitches of the micro-focusing elements and the array of microimage elements and their relative locations are such that the array of micro-focusing elements cooperates with the array of microimage elements to generate magnified version of the microimage elements due to the moire effect. Along at least one axis across at least a first region of the device, the pitch between the microimage elements and/or between the micro-focusing elements continuously varies across the respective array(s), whereby the moire effect causes different degrees of magnification of the image elements to occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Brian William Holmes
  • Publication number: 20130050818
    Abstract: A moiré magnification device includes a transparent substrate, the transparent substrate carrying a regular array of micro-focusing elements on a first surface, where the focusing elements define a focal plane, and a corresponding array of microimage element unit cells located in a plane substantially coincident with the focal plane of the focusing elements, where each unit cell includes at least two microimage components. The pitches of the micro-focusing elements and the array of microimage element unit cells and their relative locations are such that the array of micro-focusing elements cooperates with the array of microimage element unit cells to generate magnified versions of the microimage components due to the moiré effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: DE LA RUE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Brian William Holmes
  • Patent number: 8384896
    Abstract: An optical slicer for generating an output spot comprising an image compressor which receives a substantially collimated input beam and compresses the beam, wherein the input beam, if passed through a focusing lens, produces an input spot; an image reformatter which receives the compressed beam to reformat the beam into a plurality of sliced portions of the compressed beam and vertically stacks the portions substantially parallel to each other; and an image expander which expands the reformatted beam to produce a collimated output beam which, if passed through the focusing lens, produces the output spot that is expanded in a first dimension and compressed in a second dimension relative to the input spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Tornado Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Meade, Arsen R. Hajian, Bradford B. Behr, Andrew T. Cenko
  • Patent number: 8358468
    Abstract: A reflecting sheet of the invention includes at least a surface layer portion and an inner layer portion, where the surface layer portion contains at least 0.3 g/m2 to 20 g/m2 of an inorganic powder and a polyolefin resin (C), the inner layer portion contains a polyolefin resin (A) and at least one kind of resins (B) incompatible with the polyolefin resin (A) at temperatures enabling stretching of the polyolefin resin(A), the surface layer portion meets (n1?n2)/n2?0.20 (n1: refractive index of the inorganic powder, n2: refractive index of the polyolefin resin (C)), and the inner layer portion has voids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Hamasaki, Yuuichi Arito, Kenji Takasa, Tsumoru Kuwabara
  • Publication number: 20120320322
    Abstract: A reflective imaging element includes: a plurality of holes penetrating through the plate-like substrate along a thickness direction thereof; two orthogonally-disposed specular elements on inner walls of the plurality of holes; a first principal face on which light from an object is received; a second principal face parallel to the first principal face; and two taper elements opposing the two specular elements. The two taper elements each have a first side parallel to the first principal face, a second side orthogonal to the first principal face and to the first side, and a hypotenuse meeting the first and second sides and constituting an angle ? with the second side. An angle constituted by a normal direction of the first principal face and an incident direction of light striking the first principal face defines an incident angle ?, such that, in a range of 0°<?<90°, the angle ? satisfies (90°??)/4??.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kentarou Imamura, Shigeto Yoshida, Takafumi Shimatani
  • Publication number: 20120319998
    Abstract: A reflecting sheet includes a base, a plurality of protruding structure and a plurality of reflecting micro structures. The base has a first surface. The protruding structures are disposed on the first surface of the base. The reflecting micro structures are disposed on the protruding structures. An optical touch device using the reflecting sheet is also provided. The reflecting sheet can effectively reflect incident light rays with different incident angles. The optical touch device has simple structure and is easily assembled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Hung-Ching Lai, Cheng-Nan Tsai
  • Publication number: 20120300310
    Abstract: A reflector array optical device includes two dihedral corner reflector array optical elements each having a substrate and a plurality of prism bodies arranged regularly on and each protruding from one main surface of the substrate. Each prism body includes at least two sides of orthogonal planes. The two optical elements are adhered so that top faces of the prism bodies are directly confronted respectively so as to make two coplanar planes in which the two orthogonal planes exist respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Satoshi Maekawa, Markon Sandor, Takashi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8310760
    Abstract: A film material utilizing a regular two-dimensional array of non-cylindrical lenses to enlarge micro-images, called icons, to form a synthetically magnified image through the united performance of a multiplicity of individual lens/icon image systems. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system includes one or more optical spacers (5), a micro-image formed of a periodic planar array of a plurality of image icons (4) having an axis of symmetry about at least one of its planar axes and positioned on or next to the optical spacer (5), and a periodic planar array of image icon focusing elements (1) having an axis of symmetry about at least one of its planar axes, the axis of symmetry being the same planar axis as that of the micro-image planar array (4). A number of distinctive visual effects, such as three-dimensional and motion effects, can be provided by the present system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Visual Physics, LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Steenblik, Mark J. Hurt, Gregory R. Jordan
  • Publication number: 20120194794
    Abstract: An illumination system comprising an array of controllable mirrors configured to direct radiation towards a pupil plane and an array of lenses configured to direct radiation sub-beams towards the array of controllable mirrors, wherein a first lens of the array of lenses and a controllable mirror of the array of controllable mirrors forms a first optical channel having a first optical power and a second lens of the array of lenses and a controllable mirror of the array of controllable mirrors forms a second optical channel having a second optical power, such that a radiation sub-beam formed by the first optical channel has a first cross-sectional area and shape at the pupil plane and a radiation sub-beam formed by the second optical channel has a second different cross-sectional area and/or shape at the pupil plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Andrey Sergeevich TYCHKOV
  • Publication number: 20120188613
    Abstract: An image forming optical element is provided, in which a first lens, a second lens, and a light guiding unit that leads the light input from the first lens, to the second lens, the light guiding unit has a curved shape of a first curve portion and a second curve portion from the first lens to the second lens, a first reflection face that reflects the light input from the first lens, to the second curve portion, is formed on an outer peripheral face of the first curve portion, a second reflection face that reflects the reflected light to the second lens is formed on an outer peripheral face of the second curve portion, the light input to the first lens travels in the transparent medium until reading the second lens, is output from the second lens, and then forms an image at magnification of erection equal-magnification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Takeda
  • Publication number: 20120188615
    Abstract: An image forming optical element is provided, in which an incident unit having a first lens face to which a light beam output from an original document (object) is input, an output unit having a second lens face outputting the light beam, and a bent unit connecting the incident unit and the output unit at an angle are integrally formed into a transparent medium. The bent unit has a reflection face reflecting the incident light beam input to the first lens face and guiding the light beam to the second lens face. The incident light beam is collected at any of the incident unit, the bent unit, and the output unit to form an intermediate image of the object, and the intermediate image is formed on the output side of the second lens face to form an erection image of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Takeda
  • Patent number: 8213087
    Abstract: A device, system and method integrating forward and panoramic fields is disclosed, comprising: a primary reflector, comprising a convex surface in relation to the forward field, reflective on at least part of the convex surface; a secondary reflector, forward of the primary reflector relative to the forward field, reflective on at least part a surface thereof facing rearward toward the primary reflector; a primary reflector hole in the primary reflector, substantially centered about an optical axis of the apparatus; and a secondary reflector hole in the secondary reflector, substantially centered about the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: InterScience, Inc.
    Inventors: Michelle D. Simkulet, Jiayin Ma, Jason E. Smith
  • Patent number: 8199405
    Abstract: A tactical radiating device for directed energy includes at least two generators of high energy directed beams. At least one beam combining system combines high energy directed beams emitted by the generators into a combined high energy beam. A focusing device focuses the combined high energy beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: LFK-Lenkflugkoerpersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Geidek, Norbert Nissl, Rudolf Protz, Juergen Zoz
  • Patent number: 8189262
    Abstract: A three-dimensional optical sheet is arranged between optical elements and a substrate for optically connecting the optical elements and the substrate and includes a sheet section, convex lens sections, and reflecting sections. The sheet section has first and second main surfaces. The convex lens sections are provided on the first main surface for collecting light. The reflecting sections are provided on the second main surface and change the direction of light traveling along the second main surface such that the light enters the convex lens sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Fine Polymer, Inc.
    Inventor: Jun Yorita
  • Publication number: 20120105928
    Abstract: Security element comprising: an adhesive, a reflecting optical structure comprising at least one elementary reflecting optical structure having a non-plane reflecting surface giving an image of a pattern in at least one direction of observation of the security element, or comprising at least two elementary reflecting optical structures (9a, 9b) of different types, in particular at least one of which is designed to create a luminous dot which is the image of a luminous source for observation of the security element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: ARJOWIGGINS SECURITY
    Inventors: Michel Camus, Stephane Mallol
  • Patent number: 8134780
    Abstract: A prism includes a light incident portion that has first and second convex portions, the first and second convex portions each are a convex portion that refracts rays of light incident to a prism body and reduces a spread angle after incidence to the prism body via the convex portion to be smaller than that before the incidence, the spread angle is an angle between a given two of the rays, a first reflecting surface, provided on the prism body, that can reflect a first ray of light that has entered the prism body via the first convex portion, a first emitting portion, provided on the prism body, that emits, to the outside, the first ray reflected by the first reflecting surface, and a second emitting portion that emits, to the outside, a second ray of light that has entered the prism body via the second convex portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ominato, Takeshi Kitakata, Shunsuke Ichizawa
  • Patent number: 8123370
    Abstract: A multiple viewing-point floating imaging device is comprised of a plurality of dihedral corner reflectors 1 arranged along an optical device plane S and rotated around an axis of rotation perpendicular to said plane, to point in a plurality of directions along said plane, whereby light rays from an object O near to said plane are reflected once each by the two mirrors of said dihedral corner reflectors while passing through said plane, forming a real image P in a plane-symmetric position, visible from multiple viewing points V1 and V2 by multiple observers simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
    Inventor: Satoshi Maekawa
  • Patent number: 8120855
    Abstract: A film material utilizing a regular two-dimensional array of non-cylindrical lenses to enlarge micro-images, called icons, to form a synthetically magnified image through the united performance of a multiplicity of individual lens/icon image systems. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system includes one or more optical spacers (5), a micro-image formed of a periodic planar array of a plurality of image icons (4) having an axis of symmetry about at least one of its planar axes and positioned on or next to the optical spacer (5), and a periodic planar array of image icon focusing elements (1) having an axis of symmetry about at least one of its planar axes, the axis of symmetry being the same planar axis as that of the micro-image planar array (4). A number of distinctive visual effects, such as three-dimensional and motion effects, can be provided by the present system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Visual Physics, LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Steenblik, Mark J. Hurt, Gregory R. Jordan
  • Publication number: 20120033302
    Abstract: An optical element includes a first surface, a second surface positioned to face the first surface, and a plurality of reflecting surfaces arrayed in a first region defined by the first surface and the second surface, wherein the reflecting surfaces have a first length in a first direction vertical to the first surface and are arrayed at a pitch in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, light incident on one of the first surface and the second surface is reflected by the reflecting surfaces toward the other surface, and predetermined parameters satisfy predetermined relational formulae representing conditions for ensuring total reflection at the reflecting surfaces and for avoiding total reflection at a light emergent surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Suzuki, Hayato Hasegawa, Masashi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 8111462
    Abstract: A film material utilizing a regular two-dimensional array of non-cylindrical lenses to enlarge micro-images, called icons, to form a synthetically magnified image through the united performance of a multiplicity of individual lens/icon image systems. The synthetic magnification micro-optic system includes one or more optical spacers (5), a micro-image formed of a periodic planar array of a plurality of image icons (4) having an axis of symmetry about at least one of its planar axes and positioned on or next to the optical spacer (5), and a periodic planar array of image icon focusing elements (1) having an axis of symmetry about at least one of its planar axes, the axis of symmetry being the same planar axis as that of the micro-image planar array (4). A number of distinctive visual effects, such as three-dimensional and motion effects, can be provided by the present system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Visual Physics, LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Steenblik, Mark J. Hurt, Gregory R. Jordan
  • Publication number: 20110299172
    Abstract: A device for homogenizing laser radiation contains a plurality of mirror elements which are arranged offset with respect to one another and at which the laser radiation to be homogenized can be reflected in such a way that it is split into a plurality of partial beams corresponding to the number of mirror elements. The partial beams have a path difference with respect to one another as a result of the reflection. The device further has a plurality of lens elements, each of which is respectively assigned to one of the mirror elements in such a way that a respective one of the partial beams can pass through one of the lens elements. A distance between each of the mirror elements and the lens elements assigned thereto is equal to the focal length of the respective lens element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: LIMO PATENTVERWALTUNG GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Aleksei Mikhailov, Yury Kolotushkin
  • Publication number: 20110286101
    Abstract: A device forms laser radiation which has partial beams interspaced in a first direction that is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the laser radiation, especially for forming laser radiation which is emitted by a laser diode bar. The device contains a plurality of reflective surfaces on which at least one of the interspaced partial beams can be reflected in such a manner that the distances of the partial beams are smaller relative to each other after reflection than before reflection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: LIMO PATENTVERWALTUNG GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Udo Fornahl
  • Patent number: 8049961
    Abstract: A lens unit and a projection screen made of the same are disclosed. The lens unit includes a micro lens having a light incident surface and a light emergent surface opposing to the light incident surface; a light absorbing layer formed on the light emergent surface of the micro lens and having a cavity formed therein; a scattering layer formed in the cavity of the light absorbing layer and including a transparent resin blended with scattering particles; and a reflective layer formed on the light absorbing layer and the scattering layer. The projection screen includes a plurality of the lens units, thereby achieving high contrast and high energy utilization efficiency of incident light with a large viewing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Ding-Zheng Lin, Yaw-Ting Wu, You-Chia Chang, Chun-Hsiang Wen, Jyi-Tyan Yeh
  • Patent number: RE43464
    Abstract: A high intensity lighting apparatus (400) includes an outer housing (402); a curved support disk (414) having an array of diode or laser-based integrated light sources (410) attached thereto disposed within the housing. Each of the light sources (110) include a tube (112) having a laser or diode chip (111) at one end of the tube. The tubes each have at least one concave shaped exit surface (113) on an end opposite the chip, wherein the concave exit surface converges light emitted from each of the light sources to focal points within the housing (402). A shape of the curved support disk (414) converges the respective focal points into a light beam having a common focal plane (441). Adjustable secondary optics (431) are disposed in the housing after the focal plane (441) for creating various angles of transmission of the light beam. The laser can be a diode laser, while the diode can be a light-emitting diode (LED).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated
    Inventors: Martin A. Gold, Stanley Kaye