Abstract: There is provided a lighting device that lights a liquid crystal panel, including a substrate (51) on which red, green and blue light separating plates (52R, 52G, 52B) are alternately disposed with a pitch of w in array. Red LEDs (53R) are disposed one at every other center between the green and blue light separating plates (52G, 52B), green LEDs 53G are disposed one at every other center between the blue and red light separating plates (52B, 52R), and blue LEDs (53B) are disposed one at every other center between the red and green light separating plates (52R, 52G).

Abstract: A compact and efficient optical illumination system featuring planar multi-layered LED light source arrays concentrating their polarized or un-polarized output within a limited angular range. The optical system manipulates light emitted by a planar light emitters such as electrically-interconnected LED chips. Each light emitting region in the array is surrounded by reflecting sidewalls whose output is processed by elevated prismatic films, polarization converting films, or both. The optical interaction between light emitters, reflecting sidewalls, and the elevated prismatic films create overlapping virtual images between emitting regions that contribute to the greater optical uniformity. Practical illumination applications of such uniform light source arrays include compact LCD or DMD video image projectors, as well as general lighting, automotive lighting, and LCD backlighting.

Abstract: A meniscus combiner for a head up display (HUD) system. The meniscus combiner includes a meniscus lens; a multi-layer dichroic coating formed on a first surface of the meniscus lens; and, an anti-reflection coating formed on a second, opposite surface of the meniscus lens. The meniscus combiner preferably utilizes a non-symmetric aspheric meniscus lens which simplifies the optical system of the image source (overhead or in-dash unit) minimizing aberrations and minimizing costs. The meniscus combiner may be fabricated utilizing a number of lens sections which may be bonded together and blended. Use of multiple lens sections provides the ability to easily optimize the lens design. Alternatively, the meniscus combiner can be fabricated from a single lens.

Abstract: An image projection apparatus. The image projection apparatus comprises a light source and LCD panel. The LCD panel comprises a plurality of pixels and color filters thereon. Light from the light source is projected to the pixels along an irradiative path and the LCD panel selectively reflects the projected light in accordance with an image signal along a projective path, wherein an angle between the irradiative and projective paths exceeds 0°.

Abstract: Projection assemblies are provided herein for use in a display system. According to one exemplary embodiment, the projection assembly includes an illumination source and a plurality of co-planar modulator panels. A method of modulating light is also provided herein that includes generating multi-component light, splitting the multi-component light into a plurality of component beams, and modulating the component beams with a plurality of co-planar modulator panels to form a plurality of sub-images.

Abstract: The addition of DMD illumination modulator(s) 702 in series with projection SLM(s) 706/709 to produce high-performance projection displays with improved optical efficiency, reliability, and lower maintenance requirements. This approach eliminates the vibration, audible noise, and safety problems associated with high speed rotating color filter wheels 203 commonly used in SLM projectors and controls the light applied to individual areas of the projection SLM(s).

Abstract: The invention relates to wavelength-selective optical filters for allowing light of a narrow optical spectral band, centered around a wavelength (?c) to pass through them, while reflecting the wavelengths lying outside this band. According to the invention, the transfer function (T1,2(?)) of the component is defined by multiplying two transfer functions of spectrally offset Fabry-Perot filters.

Abstract: A spectral splitting-based radiation concentration photovoltaic system is described, comprising one or more spectral splitting reflector elements, a photovoltaic concentrator, and a photovoltaic receiver.

Abstract: An absorptive layer is added to an image display system. The absorptive layer is selected to compensate for tint in a black state of a displayed image. In a Liquid Crystal On Silicon (LCOS) based light engine, blue wavelengths may cause a predominate tint in black portions of an image (or an entirely black image is tinted blue), and the absorptive layer is calculated to absorb an amount of blue equivalent to the tint. The absorptive layer is, for example, an unbalanced magenta dichroic, or a yellow filter. The yellow filter may be placed at any point in the light chain, including input/output of a kernel, input/output of a projection lens, or portions of a light engine or display screen. An unbalanced magenta may be constructed by adding a yellow filter to an existing magenta dichroic in the kernel design.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention can provide a projector that includes three optical modulators which modulate respectively red light, green light, and blue light, a color-synthetic optical system which synthesizes the light modulated by the three optical modulators, and a projection optical system which projects the light synthesized by the color-synthetic optical system. The color-synthetic optical system can include a first reflection film that reflects the green light, and a second reflection film that reflects the blue light, the first reflection film and the second reflection film are arranged in the shape of an X character, and a wavelength in which a reflectance factor of the first reflection film comes to 50% can be longer than a wavelength in which a reflectance factor of the second reflection film comes to 50%.

Abstract: There is provided an optical device, having a light-transmitting substrate having at least two major surfaces (26) parallel to each other and edges; optical means (16) for coupling light waves located in a field-of-view into the substrate by internal reflection, and at least one partially reflecting surface (22) located in the substrate which is non-parallel to the major surfaces of the substrate, characterized in that at least one of the major surfaces is coated with a dichroic coating.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device (100), e.g., cellular telephone handset, is provided with a color laser projector system (300) that includes an optics module (112) includes a large green laser module (316) and smaller red (314) and blue (318) laser modules in a compact arrangement in which the red (314) and blue (318) laser module are arrange within a dimensional extent D1 of the green laser module (316) in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction in which a green laser beam (426) is emitted. The optics module (112) uses a single photo-detector 328 to sense the intensity of laser beams emitted by the three laser modules (314, 316, 318). A prism can be used to direct light to a bare chip (804) photo-detector (328). Alternatively, a right angle mounted surface mount photo-detector (328) can be used.

Abstract: A multiple-axis imaging system having optical elements whose optimal image positions can be individually adjusted, comprising a plurality of optical array elements having respective optical axes and being individually disposed with respect to one another to image respective sections of an object; and a plurality of image position shifting devices corresponding to respective optical elements for separately establishing the image positions for a plurality of the optical array elements. The multi-axis imaging system preferably comprises a miniaturized microscope array. The shifting devices may comprise wavelength filters or optical-path-length-altering elements, such as a plane parallel plates. The devices may also comprise a pair of wedges that adjustably overlap one another, the wedges having apexes that point in opposite directions and respective corresponding planar surfaces that are parallel to one another.

Abstract: An optical element for reflecting light has a substrate and a thin film formed on the substrate. The thin film reflects light in a predetermined reflection wavelength band so that the thin film adjusts a difference in phase differences between a P-polarized light component and S-polarized light component of an incident light to the thin film and between P-polarized light component and S-polarized light component of the reflected light to 180°±10° at an absolute value.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus includes a hollow tubular body with a polygonal cross-section and a highly reflective interior surface, a first filter, and a second filter. The body includes an input end portion configured to receive and reflect white light having a Gaussian profile to produce a homogenized input beam, a first output leg portion configured to receive and reflect a first reflected beam to produce a first homogenized output beam having a first wavelength characteristic and a top hat profile, and a second output leg portion configured to receive and reflect a second reflected beam to produce a second homogenized output beam having a second wavelength characteristic and a top hat profile. The first filter is configured to receive the homogenized input beam and produce the first reflected beam and a first transmitted beam. The second filter is configured to receive the first transmitted beam and produce the second reflected beam.

Abstract: A digital light-processing projection apparatus includes a light source, a beam splitter module and an optical combiner module. The beam splitter module is used in conjunction with an optical combiner module that includes combiners and a plurality of prisms. The beam splitter module comprises a beam splitter element for splitting the beam into a plurality of color lights that pass through the respective prisms separately. The polarization direction of each color light when separated in the beam splitter module is equal to the polarization direction of each respective color light when colour combination in the combiner module.

Abstract: A color contrast enhancing lens made from adhering two different lenses and a membrane together. It includes a color enhancing lens whose specific component will selectively absorb the yellow light in the visible spectrum, which enhances the user vision by enhancing the distinction between red and green. It also includes an ultraviolet blocking lens whose special compounds will absorb the majority of violet light and a part of blue light. It also includes a light polarization membrane whose special structure can reduce strong light. It can also absorb the majority of violet light and keep a low transmission rate of blue light, thus reduced the retina injury caused by overexposure to blue light. It can also block the invisible ultraviolet and reduce strong light. So while the users' eyes are protected, they can also enjoy their view.

Abstract: A light-separation apparatus is provided in this invention. The apparatus includes a light source, an output device, a first optical filter, a first circulator, a second optical filter, and a second circulator. The light source provides a primary light including a first, a second, and a third colored light. The first optical filter filters the first colored light from the primary light and generates a first filtered light. The first circulator receives the primary light from the light source and outputs the primary light to the first optical filter. The second optical filter filters the second colored light from the first filtered light and generates a second filtered light. The second circulator receives the first filtered light from the first optical filter and outputs the first filtered light to the second optical filter. The first and second circulators respectively direct the first and second colored lights to the output device.

Abstract: A projector incorporating a prism and a plurality of light valves for modulating light that passes though the prism, wherein the color splitting-converging prism includes a dichroic coating having multiple layers of high and low index of refraction and ¼ wavelength thickness at each desired angle of incidence for reducing dichroic shift and thereby minimizing light loss.

Abstract: A projection optical system unit has a lower pedestal. The lower pedestal has first and second tubular portions opened to each other. An image formation device holding plate for a DMD is mounted on the first tubular portion at a side where one opening is formed. A mirror holder for a convex mirror is fixed on the second tubular portion at a side where the other opening is formed. A linear heat expansion coefficient in a specific direction of the lower pedestal component is set between 0.8×10?5 (1/K) and 3.0×10?5 (1/K).

Abstract: A polarizing beam splitter is disclosed that includes a first prism, a second prism, and a reflective polarizing film disposed between the first prism and the second prism. The first prism comprises a first polymeric material, and has a first outer curved surface and an additional outer surface. The second prism comprises a second polymeric material, which in some embodiments may be the same as the first polymeric material, and has a second outer curved surface.

Abstract: A prism assembly includes a first prism having a first front face, a first side face, and a first rear face, a second prism having a second front face parallel to the first rear face, a second side face, and a second rear face. The second prism is configured to direct a first component beam through the second side face. The prism assembly also includes a third prism having a third front face parallel to the second rear face, a third side face, and a third rear face. The third prism is configured to direct a second component beam through the third side face. The prism assembly also includes a fourth prism having a fourth front face parallel to the third rear face and a fourth rear face, the rear face being parallel to the first front face. The fourth rear face is configured to transmit a third component beam there through.

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

Abstract: A method for controlling a lighting device that consists of at least a lighting source, a color sequential device and a single light valve consisting of an array of light processing elements that are controlled by bits, the method comprising the steps of emitting a light beam with said light source, filtering said light beam by said color sequential device to achieve a colored light beam and processing said colored light beam with a bit depth of less than 16.

Abstract: Kernels are designed in different configurations based on design properties of an enclosure or other requirements. A prism assembly having various types of filters, waveplates, beam splitters (e.g., path length matched beam splitters) and/or other optical components are provided to selectively direct light beams to each of red, green, and blue microdisplays that manipulate the light and then combine the manipulated lights into an output image. The prism assembly includes an input face, an output face, and other faces on which the microdisplays are attached in a number of different configurations. Requirements and exact placement of optical components varies depending on which microdisplay is attached to which face. The components of the prism assembly may be arranged in path length matched positions.

Abstract: An optical system is disclosed, including: an optical deflecting array including a plurality of optical deflecting devices arranged in a two-dimensional array, each of optical deflecting devices displacing a member having an optical reflection area and deflecting light, so that an incoming light flux entering the optical reflection area is deflected to a reflection direction being changed, a light source illuminating the optical deflecting array, and a projection lens projecting reflected light from the optical deflecting array based on color information. Each of the optical deflecting devices deflects light to two-axis directions, incoming light fluxes having different colors enter each of the optical deflecting devices from two directions respectively corresponding to two deflection axes, and are reflected by each of the optical deflecting devices based on the color information; and each of reflected light fluxes is led to the projection lens for a respective arbitrary time.

Abstract: The invention provides a three-dimensional image projecting apparatus. The three-dimensional image projecting apparatus comprises a light signal generator, a filter device, a focusing device and a reflecting device. The light signal generator is used for generating a projection light signal. The filter device filters the projection light signal for generating a set of polarized light signal. The focusing device receives the set of polarized light signal for generating a set of focusing light signal. The reflecting device receives the set of focusing light signal for generating a set of reflected light signal.

Abstract: A night vision device provides both an amplified visible light image and an infrared image, overlayed upon each other so that they appear to be a single image. A user may select to utilize either an intensified visual image only, an infrared image only, or ratios of both images simultaneously. Dichroic surfaces within the night vision device are utilized first to separate light into visible and infrared portions, and then to recombine the visible and infrared images to a single image.

Abstract: An optical system having at least one dichroic Mangin mirror. The optical system has a front-end optical sub-system or a light source operative to emit an optical beam. The optical beam is dispersed into at least a first color beam and a second color beam and has certain degree of monochromatic aberration. The dichroic Mangin mirror is disposed along the optical paths of both the first and second color beams. The dichroic Mangin mirror includes a first surface operative to transmit the first color beam only, but reflects the second color beam. Therefore, upon incident on the dichroic Mangin mirror, the second color beam is reflected, while the first color beam transmits through the first surface and is then reflected off from the second surface. Thereby, the first and second color beams can be focused at the same position, which is referred as an achromatic system focus. Thereby, the chromatic aberration caused by the dispersion can be eliminated.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus has first and second optical condenser systems sharing a common aperture. The first optical condenser system has a first solid-state light source having a first spectral band and a first curved surface spaced apart from the first solid-state light source and treated to reflect the first spectral band along a first optical path to exit at the common aperture and to pass light outside the first spectral band. The second optical condenser system has a second solid-state light source having a second spectral band and a second curved surface disposed behind the first curved surface with respect to the first and second light sources and treated to reflect the second spectral band along a second optical path to exit at the common aperture.

Abstract: The invention provides a confocal microscope or endoscope, having a source of coherent light for illuminating a sample, and an imaging optical fibre bundle (82) for receiving return light, whereby the fibre bundle (82) provides a return channel for fluorescent return light (78). The optical fibre bundle (82) preferably preserves, between entry and exit ends of the bundle, the relative spatial coordinates of the cores of individual fibres constituting the bundle.

Abstract: Laser Scanning Microscope with an illumination beam path for illumination of a sample and a detection beam path for wavelength-dependent recording of the light from the sample, whereby filters for selection of the detection wavelengths are provided, characterized in that at least one graduated filter spatially variable in regard to the threshold wavelength between the transmission and reflection is provided in several partial beam paths for the selection of the wavelengths.

Abstract: An light emitting apparatus which illuminates an illumination area has a first light source which emits a first light, a second light source which emits a second light, a wheel which is provided with a transmission filter area which transmits the first light, and a reflection area which reflects the second light, a wheel driving unit which controls a rotation of the wheel, and drives the wheel, a light emitting optical unit which leads the first light which transmits the transmission filter area, or the second light which is reflected by the reflection area to the illumination area, in which the light which is led to the illumination area by the light emitting optical unit is at least two colors of light which are successively changed over in the time series.

Abstract: Non-mechanical optical beam steering and switching is produced by optically controlled liquid crystal spatial light modulator with angular magnification by high efficiency volume Bragg gratings recorded in a photosensitive PTR glass. Small angle beam deflection in a photoactive liquid crystal cell is produced by exposing it to a controlling beam from an external source of radiation with predetermined distribution of power density which causes predetermined spatial gradients of a refractive index in a liquid crystal cell and, therefore, refraction of a controlled beam which is made to propagate in the region with spatial gradient of the refractive index. Large angle beam deflection is produced by a volume Bragg grating with angular selectivity adjusted in such way that small angle scanning produced by optically controlled liquid crystal spatial light modulator results in change of diffraction efficiency from zero to 100% for switching the beam for two Bragg angles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a display device at a low cost which enhances the color purity of light to be projected, and which resists deterioration due to ambient light such as infrared ray. This display device includes an LED, an optical member for selectively outputting light components, of which wavelength is a predetermined minimum-limit wavelength or longer, from incident light, and a mirror for selectively reflecting light components, of which wavelength is a predetermined maximum-limit wavelength or shorter, from irradiated light. One of the optical member or the mirror receives light directly from the LED, and outputs it to the other. Subsequently, the other receives the light from one of the optical member and the mirror, and outputs it.

Abstract: A first prism 11a and a second prism 12a are joined together on a face-to-face basis. A dichroic mirror 13a is interposed into the junction plane to reflect only G-light. A first imaging device 111a receives the reflected light (G-light) with high sensitivity. In this manner, there is constructed an inexpensive light receiving unit 10a having the same visual sensitivity characteristic as eyes of a person. The light receiving unit 10a is disposed in an image taking apparatus.

Abstract: A fusion night vision system having image intensification and thermal imaging capabilities includes an edge detection filter circuit to aid in acquiring and identifying targets. An outline of the thermal image is generated and combined with the image intensification image without obscuration of the image intensification image. The fusion night vision system may also include a parallax compensation circuit to overcome parallax problems as a result of the image intensification channel being spaced from the thermal channel. The fusion night vision system may also include a control circuit configured to maintain a perceived brightness through an eyepiece over a mix of image intensification information and thermal information. The fusion night vision system may incorporate a targeting mode that allows an operator to acquire a target without having the scene saturated by a laser pointer.

Abstract: In order to obtain a beam splitting prism which a beam can be split with simpler configuration in a state in which an optical path length is precisely controlled, there is provided a beam splitting prism having an incident and an outgoing faces orthogonal or parallel to each other, wherein transparent mediums, at least one beam splitter, and at least one reflector are combined so that the beam splitter and the reflector are located between the transparent mediums, the beam splitter and the reflector are arranged whose normal directions are orthogonal to each other, whereby a beam incident from an incident end face is outputted from an outgoing end face in the form of a plurality of split output beams.

Abstract: A prism assembly is provided. The prism assembly comprises a first prism component having a triangular cross-section along an optical path, a second prism component having a first quadrilateral cross-section along the optical path, a third prism component having a second quadrilateral cross-section along the optical path, a first dichroic interface between the first and second prism components and along the third prism component and configured to reflect a first range of wavelengths of the light, and a second dichroic interface between the first and third prism components and along the second prism component and configured to reflect a second range of wavelengths of the light.

Abstract: An electronically adjustable, combinational color filter device is provided for generating color light. Incoming light is split in a polarizing beam splitter/combiner into a first and a second element of light. One or more wave plates operate to modify the polarization state of the first element of light, and one or more dichroic reflective filters reflect portions of the first element of light having a predetermined wavelength. Similarly, one or more wave plates operate to modify the polarization state of the second element of light, and one or more dichroic reflective filters reflect portions of the second element of light having a predetermined wavelength. Reflected portions of the first element and the second elements of light are combined in the polarizing beam splitter/combiner to create color light. A spatial light modulator may be used to create color images.

Abstract: The invention provides a dichroic mirror having a transmission characteristic in which a step due to splitting of P-polarized and S-polarized light can be reduced and having a fluorescence-transmitting band extending to long wavelengths. The invention also provides a fluorescence filter set that can be constructed of environmentally conscious glass materials that do no use harmful substances, such as lead, and a fluoroscopy apparatus including such a fluorescence filter set. The dichroic mirror comprises a transparent substrate and a dielectric multilayer film formed by alternately laminating high-refractive-index layers and low-refractive-index layers on the transparent substrate. The dielectric multilayer film includes from 50 to 150 alternately laminated high-refractive-index layers and low-refractive-index layers each having an optical film thickness from 1.5?0/4 to 2.

Abstract: An image display apparatus which includes at least one light source to generate and radiate a light beam, a color separating unit to separate the light beam emitted from the light source into a plurality of color light beams and make at least one of the separated color light beams and the other color light have different polarizations. Further, a plurality of light valves are used to form an image by controlling at least one of the color light beams separated by the color separating unit and emitted therefrom, in the unit of pixel according to input image signals. Additionally, an image combiner is used to combine images generated by the light valves.

Abstract: A confocal optical scanner of Nipkow disk type for measuring a sample, in which each component of two or more color pigments, has a high reflection mirror for separating an excited light to be radiated onto the sample and a fluorescence emitted from the sample, wherein a reflectance of the high reflection mirror is from 80% to 100% in a measured wavelength region including at least an excited light wavelength region and a fluorescence wavelength region. Thereby, the confocal optical scanner capable of measuring a polychromatic fluorescent image at the same time is realized with the enhanced light receiving efficiency of fluorescence, using one high reflection mirror without using a plurality of dichroic mirrors by exchange.

Abstract: A prism assembly is provided. The prism assembly comprises a first prism component having a triangular cross-section along an optical path, a second prism component having a first quadrilateral cross-section along the optical path, a third prism component having a second quadrilateral cross-section along the optical path, a fourth prism component having a pentagon cross-section along the optical path, a first dichroic interface between the first and second prism components and between the third and fourth prism components and configured to reflect a first range of wavelengths of the light, and a second dichroic interface between the first and third prism components and between the second and fourth prism components and configured to reflect a second range of wavelengths of the light.

Abstract: An optical device comprises a dichroic beamsplitter for splitting an object beam into a reflected beam having a first waveband and a transmitted beam having a second waveband; an astigmatism-correcting lens element, disposed in the optical path of the transmitted beam; and a coma-correcting lens element, disposed in the optical path of the transmitted beam.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for projecting video onto a screen. A video unit (10) comprising a first component (30) configured to create a first beam of light with a first polarity, a second component (40) configured to create a second beam of light with a second polarity subsequent to the creation of the first beam of light, and a third component (42) configured to allow the first beam of light pass through it without a change of polarity and to change the polarity of the second beam of light to the first polarity.

Abstract: The present invention provides an illumination system and projection system using the same. The present invention can eliminate the reflective light on the internal optical surface of the optical system, using the phase plate and linear polarizer, in the color sequential driving of illuminating at least two colors on the single display panel at a random moment. The phase plate converts the incident light from a linearly polarized light to a circularly polarized light, and vice versa. And, the linear polarizer transmits the linearly polarized light of the incident light in the specific direction. Therefore, the present invention prevents the degradation of color purity generated from the mutual intrusion of light of at least two colors, thereby enhancing quality of color image.

Abstract: A dichroic is positioned to separate color beams of polarized input light. The color beams are directed to microdisplays that contain correspondingly colored content in a kernel of a Light Management System (LMS). Adjustment of a voltage amplitude of the microdisplays is set to produce a maximum black state of the LMS. In one embodiment, a passive nematic liquid crystal device is utilized as a quarter waveplate. A thickness of a liquid crystal layer (d) is matched to a birefringence (?n) of the nematic such that retardation d?n =¼?.

Abstract: A color separation/combination prism is disclosed which has an optical film arrangement capable of performing color separation, light analysis and color combination. The prism includes four prism members and at least five optical surfaces as outer surfaces thereof. Each of the prism members has at least three optical surfaces including two optical surfaces which intersect orthogonally with each other at a first side thereof. The four prism members are joined together such that the first sides of the prism members are adjacent to or contact each other. Joining portions of the four prism members are provided with wavelength-selective polarizing films.

Abstract: At least one of four rectangular prisms in a dichroic prism is made longer than the other rectangular prisms. Parts of the rectangular surfaces of the long rectangular prisms partially protrude from the rectangular surfaces of the other rectangular prisms in the longitudinal direction. The protruding parts of the rectangular surfaces of the long rectangular prisms are not provided with a dichroic film. Such a construction makes it possible to prevent return light, which returns from the light emitting surface side of the dichroic prism and the dichroic prism, from emitting again from the light emitting surface.