Variable Magnification Anamorphoser Patents (Class 359/670)
  • Patent number: 10983313
    Abstract: An anamorphic lens, which includes a cylindrical lens and a spherical lens arranged in sequence from the object side to the image side. The first lens, the second lens, and the third lens are arranged in sequence from the object side to the image side, the first lens and the second lens are cylindrical lenses with negative refractive power, and the third lens has positive refractive power Cylindrical lens. Using the optical characteristics of the cylindrical lens, the incoming horizontal light is “compressed”, while the light entering the vertical field of view remains unchanged. After the comprehensive aberration correction of the light, the horizontal field of view angle is increased by 33%. Achieve 1.33× anamorphic shooting. At the same time, because the lens of this solution is smaller in size, lighter in weight, and relatively low in cost, it can better meet the needs of most ordinary users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: ZHONGSHAN AZU OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jie Li, Wei Wu, Yu Mai
  • Patent number: 10289939
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image classification method, comprising: an analyzing step of analyzing the quality of any image; and a determining step of determining a quality category to which the any image belongs according to the analyzing result, wherein the quality categories include a first quality category recommended to be saved and a second quality category recommended to be deleted. Correspondingly, the present invention further provides an image classification apparatus. Through the technical scheme of the present invention, images can be classified according to the quality of the images, so that the user experience is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: YULONG COMPUTER TELECOMMUNICATION SCIENTIFIC (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Changning Li, Yanyan Zhang, Yuezhong Mu
  • Patent number: 10078201
    Abstract: An anamorphic objective lens comprising, along an optical axis and in order from an object space to an image space: at least a negative (?) spherical first lens group; an anamorphic second lens group and a positive (+) spherical third lens group wherein an aperture stop is located before, after or preferably within the spherical third lens group such that the anamorphic objective lens creates a traditional elliptical bokeh of out of focus objects. Both spherical lens groups contain spherical refractive optical surfaces and the anamorphic lens group contains cylindrical and plano optical surfaces with at least one cylindrical surface oriented at substantially 90 degrees about at least one other cylindrical surface. The negative spherical first lens group may provide focusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: COOKE OPTICS LTD.
    Inventor: Iain A. Neil
  • Patent number: 9961222
    Abstract: When a first image is designated in an image output instruction, a first determination portion in an image processing apparatus determines whether or not an operator is a restricted subject who is restricted from outputting through an output portion, on the basis of restriction information. A restriction process portion executes a restriction process of restricting output of first image data of the first image through the output portion when the operator is determined to be the restricted subject by the first determination portion, and approves output of the first image data of the first image through the output portion when the operator is determined not to be the restricted subject by the first determination portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Keita Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 9841538
    Abstract: The anamorphic objective zoom lens includes, along an optical axis and in order from an object space to an image space: at least a negative (?) power spherical first lens group; an anamorphic second lens group, spherical third lens group preferably having positive (+) power, a variable power spherical fourth lens group and a positive (+) power spherical fifth lens group. The aperture stop is located before, after or preferably within the spherical fifth lens group. All spherical lens groups contain spherical and piano refractive optical surfaces. The anamorphic second lens group contains cylindrical and plano optical surfaces with at least one cylindrical surface oriented at substantially 90 degrees about at least one other cylindrical surface. The spherical first lens group may provide focusing. The variable power spherical fourth lens group provides zooming. The spherical third and fifth lens groups may provide compensation for thermal defocus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: COOKE OPTICS LTD.
    Inventor: Iain A. Neil
  • Patent number: 9448390
    Abstract: A second group has different power in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the liquid crystal panel. Therefore, the horizontal-to-vertical ratio of the image of the liquid crystal panel and the horizontal-to-vertical ratio of the image projected on the screen can be set to be different. That is, the projection optical system is able to convert the aspect ratio which is a ratio of width and height. At this time, at the time of converting the aspect ratio, that is, at the time of switching the projection state, it is possible to adjust the position of the image on the screen through a zoom operation or a shift operation of the first driving mechanism or the fourth driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Otani, Eiji Morikuni
  • Patent number: 9239449
    Abstract: The anamorphic objective zoom lens includes, along an optical axis and in order from an object space to an image space: at least a negative (?) power spherical first lens group; an anamorphic second lens group, spherical third lens group preferably having positive (+) power, a variable power spherical fourth lens group and a positive (+) power spherical fifth lens group. The aperture stop is located before, after or preferably within the spherical fifth lens group. All spherical lens groups contain spherical and plano refractive optical surfaces. The anamorphic second lens group contains cylindrical and plano optical surfaces with at least one cylindrical surface oriented at substantially 90 degrees about at least one other cylindrical surface. The spherical first lens group may provide focusing. The variable power spherical fourth lens group provides zooming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: COOKE OPTICS LTD.
    Inventor: Iain A. Neil
  • Patent number: 9223121
    Abstract: An optical structure for acquiring a fingerprint image with high resolution and minimum distortion is provided. The optical structure includes a prism configured to comprise an input surface to which light is irradiated, a contact surface formed horizontally to be in contact with a finger, and an output surface through which the light that has been irradiated to the input surface and reflected from the finger in contact with the contact surface passes; a lighting unit configured to emit a beam to the input surface of the prism; a reflector unit configured to reflect a fingerprint image passing through the output surface of the prism; a lens unit configured to comprise two or more lenses, each being configured to receive the fingerprint image reflected from the reflector unit; and an image sensor on which the fingerprint image passing through the lens unit is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Suprema Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Mok Shin, Jae Hyeon Park, Jae Won Lee
  • Patent number: 8922750
    Abstract: In a lithographic projection system, a corrective optic in the form of one or more deformable plates is mounted within telecentric image or object space for making one-dimensional or two-dimensional adjustments to magnification. The deformable plate, which can be initially bent under the influence of a preload, contributes weak magnification power that influences the magnification of the projection system by changing the effective focal length in object or image space. An actuator adjusts the amount of curvature through which the deformable plate is bent for regulating the amount of magnification imparted by the deformable plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert D. Grejda, Paul Francis Michaloski
  • Patent number: 8885239
    Abstract: An anamorphic optical element and an adjustment mechanism for selectively rotating the optical element either around an axis substantially in a vertical direction, an axis substantially in an optical axis direction, an axis substantially in a plane formed by the vertical direction and the optical axis direction, or combination of axes thereof is used to vary a vertical separation between two or more spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael Plotkin, David Towner, Haim Livne, Peter Gysling, Craig Breen, Dale Wolin
  • Patent number: 8717680
    Abstract: A coating including a liquid-phobic and/or liquid-philic material, the coating configured to control the shape of a corresponding liquid to form a liquid lens of specific focal length on the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Zoran Radivojevic, Chris Bower
  • Patent number: 8580372
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical film comprising a substrate having a first optical surface and a second surface and a micro structure layer on the first optical surface of the substrate, wherein the micro structure layer comprises a plurality of first light-adjusting structures selected from the group consisting of prism columnar structures, conical columnar structures, solid angle structures and orange-segment like structures and a combination thereof and a plurality of second light-adjusting structures selected from the group consisting of arc columnar structures, lens-like structures, and capsule-like structures and a combination thereof, wherein at least a portion of the second light-adjusting structures has a height greater than those of all the first light-adjusting structures. The optical film of the present invention will not suffer the damage caused on the microstructure layers while achieving a light-gathering effect and effectively reducing optical interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Eternal Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ting-Yuang Wu, Hsung-Hsing Wang, Yi-Chia Wang
  • Patent number: 8451403
    Abstract: A transflective display device includes a display panel and a light-gathering unit. The display panel includes a plurality of transmission regions and reflection regions, and has an upper surface and a lower surface. The light-gathering unit is directly disposed and positioned on the upper surface of the display panel, and includes a plurality of light-gathering elements, which are corresponding to the reflection regions respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Hannstar Display Corp.
    Inventors: Cheng Yeh Tsai, Mu Kai Kang, Heng Cheng Tseng
  • Publication number: 20130107229
    Abstract: A second group has different power in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the liquid crystal panel. Therefore, the horizontal-to-vertical ratio of the image of the liquid crystal panel and the horizontal-to-vertical ratio of the image projected on the screen can be set to be different. That is, the projection optical system is able to convert the aspect ratio which is a ratio of width and height. At this time, at the time of converting the aspect ratio, that is, at the time of switching the projection state, it is possible to adjust the position of the image on the screen through a zoom operation or a shift operation of the first driving mechanism or the fourth driving mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seiko Epson Corporation
  • Patent number: 8132920
    Abstract: A video projector includes a reduced size spatial light modulator (400) that spatially modulates light from a light source (502) according to only a portion (e.g., ½) of a video frame at a time. A beam steerer (508, 600, 1600) steers spatially modulated light from the spatial light modulator to a correspond region (e.g., upper half, lower half) of a projection screen/surface (512) and one or more lenses (506, 510, 702, 802, 1002, 1008, 1100, 1300, 1502) insure that the spatially light modulator (400) is imaged onto the projection screen/surface (512).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Zili Li, Xiaodong Xun
  • Patent number: 7995282
    Abstract: A pair of optical prisms arranged in a complementary relationship provides for anamorphic magnification and cooperates with a refractive or diffractive cylindrical lens element, the later of which generates an aberration that at least partially compensates an aberration generated by the pair of optical prisms. The refractive or diffractive cylindrical lens element is rotated out of normal with respect to the optic axis of the system so as to provide for reflecting stray light away from the optic axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Panamorph, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 7817344
    Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to focus light. An exemplary embodiment has a MEMS substrate, a first cylindrical lens having a first cylindrical surface, and a second cylindrical lens having a second cylindrical surface that is oriented perpendicular to the first cylindrical surface. Light passing through the first and second cylindrical lenses is focused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Detry, Robert J. Carlson
  • Publication number: 20080242056
    Abstract: A variable astigmatic focal beam spot is formed using lasers with an anamorphic beam delivery system. The variable astigmatic focal beam spot can be used for cutting applications, for example, to scribe semiconductor wafers such as light emitting diode (LED) wafers. The exemplary anamorphic beam delivery system comprises a series of optical components, which deliberately introduce astigmatism to produce focal points separated into two principal meridians, i.e. vertical and horizontal. The astigmatic focal points result in an asymmetric, yet sharply focused, beam spot that consists of sharpened leading and trailing edges. Adjusting the astigmatic focal points changes the aspect ratio of the compressed focal beam spot, allowing adjustment of energy density at the target without affecting laser output power. Scribing wafers with properly optimized energy and power density increases scribing speeds while minimizing excessive heating and collateral material damage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: J.P. SERCEL ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Sercel, Jeffrey P. Sercel, Jongkook Park
  • Patent number: 7388714
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: DMetrix, inc.
    Inventors: Chen Liang, Artur G. Olszak
  • Patent number: 7289272
    Abstract: An optical system includes a primary lens group having a central beam path therethrough and including a front lens group and a rear lens group. An anamorphic lens group lies on the central beam path and is positioned between the front lens group and the rear lens group. The anamorphic lens group includes at least one optically powered anamorphic lens that has different enlargements of a light beam along different axes perpendicular to the central beam path. The anamorphic lens group may be mounted on structure that allows it to be removed from the central beam path. An image transceiver is either an image source that directs a light beam through the primary lens group and the anamorphic lens group, or is an image receiver that receives a light beam through the primary lens group and the anamorphic lens group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: John W. Bowron, Reginald Peter Jonas
  • Patent number: 7167321
    Abstract: An optical system includes a pair of adjacent cylindrical lenses and a target positioned in a round-spot plane following the pair of cylindrical lenses. At least one of the cylindrical lenses is rotatable about the optical axis, relative to the other cylindrical lens. A collimated light beam is incident on the pair of cylindrical lenses. Rotating the cylindrical lenses relative to each other allows changing the size of a round spot (or symmetrically scaling an image) at a given target location. Additional optical elements, for example a spherical lens, may be placed after the pair of cylindrical lenses. In various embodiments, the pair of cylindrical lenses may include two positive lenses, or a positive and a negative lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Inventor: George Nemes
  • Patent number: 7095563
    Abstract: An anamorphic converter, which is disposed at an image side of an image-forming optical system, includes a first lens unit having one of positive and negative optical power, a second lens unit including an anamorphic lens, and a third lens unit having positive optical power, positioned in order from an object side to the image side. The second lens unit is removable from the position between the first lens unit and the third lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuji Nurishi
  • Patent number: 6995920
    Abstract: To obtain an anamorphic converter of the rear converter system which is especially most suitable for a converter for the cinema and excellent in optical performance, and in which an effective image surface of an imaging optical system can be sufficiently utilized. The anamorphic converter includes at least an anamorphic lens disposed on an image side of an imaging optical system, and in the anamorphic converter, when a focal length conversion magnification in an arbitrary cross section X containing an optical axis of the anamorphic converter is assigned ?x, a focal length conversion magnification in a cross section Y containing an optical axis and being perpendicular to the cross section X is assigned ?y, an aspect ratio of an image pickup range in an image surface of the imaging optical system is assigned AR1, and an aspect ratio of an effective area of image pickup means is assigned AR2, the following relationship is established: 0.9<(AR1×?x)/(AR2×?y)<1.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuji Nurishi
  • Patent number: 6717745
    Abstract: An optical system includes a first cylindrical optical element (lens or mirror), and a second cylindrical optical element positioned in a round-spot plane following the first cylindrical optical element. At least one of the cylindrical optical elements is rotatable about the optical axis, relative to the other cylindrical optical element. A collimated light beam is incident on the first cylindrical optical element. Rotating the cylindrical optical elements relative to each other allows changing the size of a round spot or scaling an image at a given output location. In one implementation, two positive-magnification cylindrical lenses of focal length f are separated by a distance 2f. Rotating one of the lenses about the optical axis changes the diameter of a round spot (or symmetrically scales an image) at a fixed position away from the second lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: George Nemes
  • Patent number: 6661393
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a scanning assembly that scans about two or more axes, typically in a raster pattern. A light source emits light toward the scanning assembly such that the scanning assembly simultaneously scans more than one of the beams. The light source is positioned such that its beam illuminates a discrete region of the image field. The image may be formed from a set of “tiles” where a single sweep of the scanning assembly scans a plurality of beams simultaneously. Various approaches to controlling the intensity of the light to compensate for variations in light source response or optical system response, or to balance the response of a tiles system are described. Among these approaches are scaling data in a buffer, active multiplication, or control of a D/A converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence T. Tegreene, John R. Lewis
  • Patent number: 6535636
    Abstract: A method for automatically classifying a digital image as a dud, the method comprises the steps of receiving the digital image; determining individually or any combination of sharpness,;contrast, noise, and exposure of the digital image; determining a threshold individually for sharpness, contrast, noise, and exposure, or a threshold for any combination of sharpness, contrast, noise, and exposure which determined threshold or thresholds determines if the image is classified as a dud; and classifying the image as a dud based on the determination of the previous step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Andreas E. Savakis, Alexander C. Loui
  • Patent number: 6512636
    Abstract: An anamorphic lens for a digital projection display system comprising a projection lens and an optical axis has an anamorphic factor between 1.3 and 2.0. The anamorphic lens includes a first afocal part placed in front of the projection lens and a second part placed behind the projection lens. The first part comprises a plurality of lens elements configured for magnification in a first direction transverse to the optical axis. The second part comprises at least one element configured for magnification in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Josef Schneider Optische Werke GmbH
    Inventor: Udo Schauss
  • Patent number: 6504652
    Abstract: A CO2 laser beam 12 is converted into a beam of uniform intensity at the position of a phase matching element 15 by an intensity converting element 14 and the phase matching element 15. Then, the uniform intensity beam irradiates a mask 17 containing an aperture variable in size via a variable-magnification projecting optical system 16. At the time of irradiation, the laser beam at the position of the phase matching element 15 is projected onto the mask 17 at a magnification factor most suited to the size of the aperture formed in the mask 17. Further, the pattern of the mask 17 is projected onto a workpiece 19. Thus, a uniform intensity distribution of the laser beam is obtained on the workpiece and high quality laser processing becomes possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koki Ichihashi, Hidehiko Karasaki, Nobuaki Furuya
  • Patent number: 6317171
    Abstract: A television receiver (10) that has a spatial light modulator (15) and a projection lens (17a) and that projects images to a screen (18). If the aspect ratio of the image to be displayed does not match that of the spatial light modulator (15), an anamorphic lens (17b) is positioned in the optical path of the image, between the projection lens (17b) and the screen (18). In this case and in typical applications, the spatial light modulator (15) generates an image that is anamorphically squeezed in the horizontal dimension, and the anamorphic lens (17b) widens the image so that the viewer perceives a normal wide-screen image on the screen (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Duane S. Dewald
  • Patent number: 6301059
    Abstract: A lens system defined along an X-Y-Z coordinate system transforms an elliptical optical beam defined as exhibiting a first, fast axis component and a second, slow axis component, into an essentially circular optical beam. A first and a second lens intercepts the elliptical beam and a cruciform cylindrical lens is disposed to intercept the output from the second lens. The cruciform cylindrical lens has a fast lens and a slow lens, the fast lens having a first, front cylindrical surface oriented along the X axis of the coordinate system for magnifying the first, fast axis component, the slow lens having a second, rear cylindrical surface oriented along the Y-axis of the coordinate system for magnifying the second, slow axis component, wherein the magnifications are determined to provide an essentially circular output beam, the cruciform cylindrical lens disposed such that the optical beam exiting the second lens impinges the first, front cylindrical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Sun-Yuan Huang, Carl Gaebe
  • Patent number: 6259567
    Abstract: A structure and method for circularizing and collimating incident light involves a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces, a first anamorphic surface positioned on the first surface and a second anamorphic microlens positioned on the second surface, the first and second surfaces being separated by a distance defined by the distance required for the first anamorphic microlens to circularize the incident light. A single microlens structure used to circularize and collimate incident light is manufactured by identifying aligned portions on opposing surfaces of a substrate, and forming microlenses on each of the aligned portions of the opposing substrate surfaces identified. The microlenses formed on the opposing substrate surfaces are fabricated from a high-index material such as GaP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Mems Optical Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremiah D. Brown, Daniel M. Brown
  • Patent number: 6219186
    Abstract: Low-cost plastic optics allow biocular viewing of video images with a single electro-optic display device. Folded and unfolded dual off-axis configurations use collimated illumination and intermediate imaging optics to fill both eyepieces from a single display device without requiring beamsplitters. Multiple illumination schemes provide either monochrome or color, either two-dimensional or time-sequential true stereographic presentation. Light from multicolor sources is superimposed using dichroic mirrors. A display field lens proximate to the display surface collimates the illumination beam. A shaping lens provides substantially uniform illumination of the display surface. An aperture stop improves image quality by blending sub-pixel higher order spatial harmonics from the display device. Offsetting color over- and under-correction of individual optical elements provides overall chromatic correction with minimal optical complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Optimize Incorporated
    Inventor: Raymond T. Hebert
  • Patent number: 6181482
    Abstract: An anamorphic lens attachment to be used in conjunction with a basic lens. The attachment provides a variable anamorphic ratio. The attachment comprises a first lens group having positive refractive power in a first direction, a second lens group having negative refractive power in the first direction, and a third lens group having positive refractive power in the first direction. The second lens group is movably located between the first lens group and the basic lens. The third lens group is located between the second lens group and the basic lens at a fixed distance from the first lens group. The lens groups of the attachment have neutral refractive power in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: News America Incorporated
    Inventor: David A. Grafton
  • Patent number: 5930050
    Abstract: An anamorphic lens (11) for use in a display system (10) that has a spatial light modulator (12) and a projection lens (13) and that projects images to a screen (14). The anamorphic lens (11) is placed between the projection lens (13) and the screen (14). The spatial light modulator (12) generates an image that is anamorphically squeezed in the horizontal dimension, and the anamorphic lens (11) widens the image so that the viewer perceives a normal wide-screen image on the screen (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Duane S. Dewald
  • Patent number: 5825555
    Abstract: A beam projecting apparatus has a light source and a reflecting device for reflecting and rotating a bundle of light emitted from the light source for forming a reference plane. A shape converting optical system is provided in an optical path from the light source to the reflecting device for converting the bundle of light from an elliptical sectional shape to a circular sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Oono, Tunehiko Sonoda, Satoru Tachihara, Koichi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 5757544
    Abstract: A head-mounted image display apparatus having an exit pupil that is enlarged without causing an increase in the size of a relay optical system or a reduction in the size of a projected image. The head-mounted image display apparatus has an image display device (1) having a display surface for displaying an image, a relay optical system (2) for transmitting the image displayed on the display surface of the image display device (1) to form an image of the display surface, and an ocular optical system (4) for projecting the image transmitted by the relay optical system inside an observer's eyeball as an enlarged image. A numerical aperture (NA) enlarging element is disposed at a position conjugated with the display surface with respect to the relay optical system (2). Thus, pupil alignment is facilitated without causing an increase in the size of the relay optical system (2) or a reduction in the size of the projected image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichiro Tabata, Yoichi Iba, Satoshi Imai, Takayoshi Togino
  • Patent number: 5596456
    Abstract: An achromatic anamorphic prism pair for the conversion of the elliptical output beam of a tunable diode laser to a circular beam. The achromatic design prevents a directional shift in the output beam with respect to the optical axis of the system laser wavelength is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: New Focus, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis C. Luecke
  • Patent number: 5541774
    Abstract: A segmented axial gradient lens and a lens system using such lenses are provided. The lens has an optical axis and is composed of a plurality of segments. The interfaces between the segments are either planes inclined at an angle to the optical axis, wedges or cones. At least one segment has a predetermined axial index of refraction profile while other segments may have either a predetermined homogeneous index of refraction or a predetermined axial index of refraction profile. The interface geometry and the index of refraction profiles are chosen to provide lenses with desirable optical properties from segments having only simple interfaces. Spherical and cylindrical aberrations can be reduced or eliminated by appropriate choice of the index of refraction profile even for a lens fabricated entirely from segments with flat surfaces. The front and rear surfaces of the lens assembly can also be ground and polished into spherical or cylindrical shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Inventor: Richard Blankenbecler
  • Patent number: 5499061
    Abstract: A projection system for pictures and a projection display apparatus which are designed to improve the luminance and contrast of a magnified picture on a projection screen by increasing the luminous flux projected within the effective size of projection optical systems. The projection display apparatus has a picture compressions device for compressing the aspect ratio of the source picture formed on the face plate panel (PNL) of a projection cathode-ray tube (PRT) or a liquid crystal panel (LCP) to make it substantially 1 and an optical system for extending a picture (EXT) for extending the source picture having the same aspect ratio as that of the original picture. With this construction, the whole luminous flux passing the effective size of the projection optical system is maximized with the effect of improving the luminance and contrast of the magnified pictured projected onto the projection screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kentaro Oku
  • Patent number: 5465178
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a focusing optical system for semiconductor lasers, which is regulated in terms of magnification power in both its directions normal to the optical axis, so that the back focus of sufficient magnitude can be made equal in both the directions and the magnitude of aberration can be regulated to achieve an improvement in focusing efficiency, and in which a light beam from a semiconductor laser having varying exit angles in the horizontal and vertical directions is focused on a spot having substantially equal diameters in the horizontal and vertical directions. This focusing optical system comprises first lens unit L1 including a rotation asymmetric lens having positive power in the direction defined by a large exit angle at which a laser beam emanates from the laser, a second lens unit L2 including at least one lens of negative power, and a third lens unit L3 that is a rotation asymmetric lens unit having positive power in the directions defined by both large and small exit angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignees: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., Sadao Nakai, Kimnon Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadao Nakai, Masanobu Yamanaka, Koji Ishikawa, Tsuyoshi Sato, Kimiaki Yamamoto, Mikihiko Terashima
  • Patent number: 5386252
    Abstract: A projection system for pictures and a projection display apparatus which are designed to improve the luminance and contrast of a magnified picture on a projection screen by increasing the luminous flux projected within the effective size of projection optical systems. The projection display apparatus has a picture compression device for compressing the aspect ratio of the source picture formed on the face plate panel (PNL) of a projection cathode-ray tube (PRT) or a liquid crystal panel (LCP) to make it substantially 1 and an optical system for extending a picture (EXT) for extending the source picture having the same aspect ratio as that of the original picture. With this construction, the whole luminous flux passing the effective size of the projection optical system is maximized with the effect of improving the luminance and contrast of the magnified pictured projected onto the projection screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kentaro Oku
  • Patent number: 5373395
    Abstract: The diode laser having an elliptic beam and a Gaussian intensity distribution is transformed by graded index lenses and beam shaping prisms to a circular beam of small diameter and then focused to a point. The focused beam is then magnified by a compound meniscus lens and a collimating lens, producing a collimated flat beam of uniform intensity having negligible loss of the energy of the diode laser radiation. The design is easily implementable using all spherical surface lenses and industry standard glass types, producing a collimated, diffraction limited output beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Inventor: Yoshi Adachi
  • Patent number: 5184223
    Abstract: The electronic imaging apparatus comprises an imaging lens system for forming an image of an object at magnifications different between an x-z section and y-z section when the object is placed on a z-axis, an imaging optical system, an image sensor having a photoelectric converting surface substantially perpendicular to the z-axis for receiving the image of the object, and a video signal processing circuit capable of changing a difference in expansion/contraction ratio between a scanning direction and the direction perpendicular thereto for reproducing an image of object on the basis of output signals from the image sensor and is capable of generating video signals for displaying an image substantially similar to the object. This electronic imaging apparatus permits obtaining a very clear reproduced image which is substantially similar to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Mihara