With Refracting Surface Patents (Class 359/837)
  • Publication number: 20090097245
    Abstract: An exemplary prism sheet includes a transparent main body. The main body includes a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, a plurality of micro-depressions formed in the first surface, a plurality of spherical micro-protrusions formed in the second surface. Each micro-depression is defined by four connecting inner sidewalls. A transverse width of each inner sidewall of each micro-depression progressively decreases with increasing distance from its bottom surface that is coplanar with the first surface of the transparent main body. A backlight module using the present prism sheet is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: TUNG-MING HSU, SHAO-HAN CHANG
  • Publication number: 20090080095
    Abstract: An exemplary prism sheet includes a transparent main body. The main body includes a first surface, a second surface and a plurality of conical frustum micro-depressions and a plurality of triangular pyramidal micro-depressions. The first surface and the second surface are on opposite sides of the main body. The conical frustum micro-depressions are formed in the first surface and the triangular pyramidal micro-depressions are formed in the second surfaces. A backlight module using the present prism sheet is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tung-Ming Hsu, Shao-Han Chang
  • Publication number: 20090080192
    Abstract: An exemplary prism sheet includes a transparent main body. The main body includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is opposite to the second surface. A plurality of elongated arc-shaped depressions are defined in the first surface. A plurality of micro-depressions are defined in the second surface. Each micro-depression is defined by at least three connecting sidewalls. A transverse width of each sidewall of each micro-depression progressively decreases with increasing distance from the second surface. A backlight module using the present prism sheet is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: TUNG-MING HSU, SHAO-HAN CHANG
  • Publication number: 20090067051
    Abstract: A system and method of correcting a light pathway is provided. A system for correcting a light pathway, the system including: a light pathway change amount measurement unit to measure a light pathway change amount using a movement amount of an image when a light pathway of incident light is changed due to shaking of a camera; and a curved prism driving unit to drive a curved prism, composed of a refraction surface, based on a light pathway correction amount determined by the light pathway change amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo Jong CHO, Sung Mun Cho, Seong Deok Lee
  • Publication number: 20090059366
    Abstract: An image display device capable of maintaining continuity of images of adjacent image display elements on a display screen that is composed of a plurality of image display element includes image display elements (1, 2) and a prism (3). The prism (3) is an L-shaped prism having two planar surfaces, and image display elements (1, 2,) are arranged on the portion of the prism that corresponds to the rear side as seen from the viewing direction (9). Image display elements (1, 2) are arranged such that the virtual images (5, 6) of the image display portions of each are optically continuously connected in the prism (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Imai
  • Publication number: 20090052159
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a support substrate which includes a light-emitting layer and a light extraction surface, and a light transmission layer, formed on the light extraction surface of the support substrate, having a periodic refractive index distribution structure in an in-plane direction and a thickness direction, the light transmission layer including a plurality of projections formed of a having a refractive index lower than that of the support substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Saori Abe, Toshiyuki Oka, Shinya Nunoue
  • Publication number: 20090051850
    Abstract: An exemplary prism sheet includes a main body having a surface. The surface defines a plurality of first V-shaped micro-protrusions and second V-shaped micro-protrusions thereon. Each of the first V-shaped micro-protrusions extends along a first curved direction. Each of the second V-shaped micro-protrusions extends along a second curved direction. The first V-shaped micro-protrusions intersect with the second V-shaped micro-protrusions. The present prism sheet and the liquid crystal display device using the same can efficiently decrease moire pattern interference between the prism sheet and the pixel pitch of LCD panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SHAO-HAN CHANG
  • Patent number: 7488095
    Abstract: Disclosed is a prism sheet structure that can control optical coupling between contact surfaces of two prism sheets in a backlight unit. The prism sheet includes: a structural surface (14) having non-planar peaks (11) with maximum height and minimum height along a length direction thereof; and a curved layer (17) having the same cycle as a cycle of height variation of the peak. The curved layer is formed at a boundary surface (16) between the structural surface 14 and the flat surface to maintain the right-angled isosceles triangular prisms formed due to a difference between the highest point and the lowest point of each of the peaks to have a predetermined size, so that distance between the valleys (12) is uniform along the length direction. Although shapes of prisms are identical, the cycle of the peak height variation allows the moiré´ patterns to be suppressed or removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: LMS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Shig Shim, Sung-Min Cho, Soon-Ryong Park, Eun-Mi Lee
  • Publication number: 20090033829
    Abstract: An exemplary prism sheet according to a preferred embodiment includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A plurality of micro-protrusions are formed on the first surface. A plurality of curved elongated V-shaped protrusions are formed on the second surface. A liquid crystal display device using the prism sheet is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SHAO-HAN CHANG
  • Patent number: 7483224
    Abstract: A lens film with small warpage even when a transparent base is thin is provided. Pole prisms made of a hardening resin are arranged along the extending direction on a transparent base made of a flexible material. The transparent base has a depression according to a valley between the pole prisms adjacent to each other. The pole prism has a sloping face extending to an inner wall of the depression. The transparent base is in contact with the valley. A layer not functioning as a prism, that is, a so-called skirt layer does not exist between the transparent base and the pole prisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyohiro Kimura, Jun Sasaki, Makoto Aoki, Yasuyuki Kudo, Mariko Fukuda, Yu Andrew Chakchung
  • Publication number: 20080266895
    Abstract: An exemplary optical plate includes at least one transparent plate unit. The transparent plate unit includes a first surface, a second surface, a plurality of microstructures, a plurality of elongated V-shaped protrusions and a lamp-receiving portion. The second surface is opposite to the first surface. The microstructures are formed at the first surface. Each microstructure includes at least three side surfaces connected with each other, a transverse width of each side surface decreasing along a direction away from the first surface. The elongated V-shaped protrusions are formed at the second surface. The lamp-receiving portion is defined in at least one of the first surface and the second surface. A backlight module using the present optical plate is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SHAO-HAN CHANG
  • Publication number: 20080253005
    Abstract: An illumination system including at least one coherent light source, a light uniforming element, and a prism is provided. The coherent light source is capable of emitting a coherent beam. The light uniforming element is disposed on a transmission path of the coherent beam. The prism is disposed on the transmission path of the coherent beam and between the coherent light source and the light uniforming element. The prism has a light incident end and a light exit end. The light incident end has at least one incident polygonal pyramid portion protruding away from the light exit end. The prism is capable of rotating about an axis, and the axis extends from the light incident end to the light exit end. The illumination system effectively reduces the degree of the speckle phenomenon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: YOUNG OPTICS INC.
    Inventor: S-Wei Chen
  • Publication number: 20080186553
    Abstract: A light-beam-scanning system includes two counter-rotating prism wheels. Each prism wheel has a set of prisms at its periphery, selected so that prisms of equal half-angle deflections are sequentially aligned. A light transceiver structure directs a light beam parallel to the rotational axes of the prism wheels and at a distance from the rotational axes so that the light beam passes through the aligned prisms. A prism-wheel drive is operable to drive the prism wheels in opposite rotational directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventor: Conrad Stenton
  • Publication number: 20080188717
    Abstract: A prism module for a laryngoscope is disclosed. Said prism module mainly comprises a substantially cylinder-shaped first main part extending along a first axis; and a first refractive surface and a second refractive surface located at two ends of the first main part, respectively. Said first main part extends along a first axis and defines a first angle and a second angle with the first refractive surface and the second refractive surface respectively, wherein the first angle and the second angle are both less than 90 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Tien-Sheng Chen, Hui-Bih Yuan
  • Patent number: 7387391
    Abstract: An optical device that includes an optical element, an imager, and a prism bracket. The optical element includes an optical element having first and second prisms coupled together. The imager is arranged adjacent to the first prism and configured to receive light from or to transmit light to the optical element, wherein the first prism is spaced between the second prism and the first imager. The prism bracket is coupled between the second prism and the first imager to hold the first imager in a desired positional alignment relative to the optical element. The optical device may further include additional sets of an optical element, imager, and prism bracket, wherein all of the sets are coupled to a color light combiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael K. Domroese, Michael P. Keyes, Jiaying Ma
  • Publication number: 20080137220
    Abstract: A light refracting device includes: a mounting seat adapted for mounting at least one LED thereon; and at least one transparent cap mounted on the mounting seat and adapted to be capped on the LED. The cap defines an inner space and has a dome-shaped end portion that has a curved inner surface formed with a plurality of refracting protrusions protruding into the inner space for refracting light therethrough into the environment, and a plurality of recesses disposed alternately with the protrusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventor: Yar-Chang Chiang
  • Patent number: 7373044
    Abstract: An optical link module of the present invention for connecting light beams by deflection and including light-emitting devices arranged in a planar manner; an optical fiber bundle that is an optical waveguide for receiving the light beams from the light-emitting devices, and an optical turn which includes a plurality of aspherical lenses which are disposed between the light-emitting devices and the optical fiber bundle and are formed while corresponding to the number of the light-emitting devices and the number of optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Sekiya, Tadashi Fukuzawa
  • Patent number: 7372079
    Abstract: To improve the front brightness of the light emitted from a surface light emitter having a surface light emitting device. In the surface light emitter to which a light control sheet having depressions is provided, the surface of the light control sheet having the depressions is adhered to a light emitting side surface of a surface light emitting device, and the transparent material whose refractive index is lower than the refractive index of the light control sheet is arranged in the spaces formed between the depressions and the light emitting side surface of the surface light emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Manami Kuiseko, Akira Sato, Shigeto Ohmori
  • Patent number: 7364341
    Abstract: The light redirecting films include a thin optically transparent substrate having a pattern of non-interlocking individual optical elements oriented and placed to produce a desired surface coverage of at least one of the surfaces of the transparent substrate of the transparent substrate occupied by the optical elements. At least some of the optical elements may have at least one flat surface and at least one curved surface that may intersect each other to a greater extent on the curved surface than on the flat surface to increase the relative percentage of flat surface area to curved surface area of the intersecting optical elements to increase the on axis gain of light passing through the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited
    Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker, Timothy A. McCollum
  • Patent number: 7362503
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technology that makes it possible to display high-quality images by reducing a reflection loss of the image light entering the upper left and right ends of a transmissive screen. At the image generation source side of the Fresnel lens sheet, a totally reflective prism section (10) is provided that totally reflects incident rays of light and causes the light to exit toward the image-watching side. At the image-watching side of the Fresnel lens sheet (6), a refractive prism section (11) is also provided that refracts the light entering from the totally reflective prism section (10) and causes the light to exit toward the image-watching side. The refractive prism section (11) has a roughed refractive face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Yoshikawa, Tetsu Ohishi, Koji Hirata, Daisuke Imafuku
  • Patent number: 7350928
    Abstract: A projection display system comprises an illumination device, a prism assembly, a projection lens and a reflective light valve. The prism assembly has a first light incident surface, a first light emitting surface and a second light emitting surface. The first light emitting surface is an optical curved surface. An illumination beam is incident on the light valve after it enters the prism assembly from the first light incident surface. A modulated beam is generated after it is processed through the light valve. Finally, the modulated beam is projected into the projection lens through the prism assembly. Because a surface of the prism assembly is set to be an optical curved surface to replace a lens in the projection lens or the illumination device, a back focal length of the system is shortened and the projection lens or the illumination device is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Chen Liao, Yi-Hao Kang, Chu-Ming Cheng
  • Patent number: 7352521
    Abstract: An image display optical system which achieves a small size and display at a wide angle of view as well as maintains a required level of optical performance and allows suppression of occurrence of various aberrations at the same time. The optical system includes a first optical element and a second optical element in order from the side of an exit pupil of the optical system to the side of a display device. A combined negative optical power is provided by an emergent surface of the second optical element and an incident surface of the first optical element, and the optical system forms an intermediate image with the displaying luminous flux in the first optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Motomi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7347558
    Abstract: A Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS kernel for a light engine is configured in a kernel having light paths in three dimensions (3D kernel). The 3D kernel allows for designs that do not require Wavelength Dependent Waveplates (WDWs) (or Wavelength Specific Retarders) for managing light polarizations within the 3D kernel. In one embodiment, the 3D kernel includes a Polarizing Beam Splitter (PBS) that is positioned to direct lightpaths within the 3D kernel in the 3rd dimension (e.g., light path planes perpendicular to planes of input light provided to the 3D kernel). The 3rd dimension is, for example, an output light path perpendicular to an input light plane. The 3D kernel allows for designs that incorporate reflective LCOS microdisplays and management of light paths without WDWs. The kernel is suitable for use in High Definition (HD) LCOS Rear Projection Televisions (RPTVs) and other projector applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: LightMaster Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur Berman
  • Publication number: 20080062541
    Abstract: In an illumination optical system arranged to illuminate an illumination target plane by using light from a light source, the illumination optical system includes a prism unit arranged to refract the light, an optical integrator arranged to form a plurality of light sources with light emerging from the prism unit, and an optical system arranged to introduce light emerging from the optical integrator to the illumination target plane. The prism unit includes a pair of conical refractive surface having a conical concave refractive surface and a conical convex refractive surface, and a pair of pyramidal refractive surface having a pyramidal concave refractive surface and a pyramidal convex refractive surface. At least one of the concave refractive surface and the convex refractive surface of the one pair is disposed between the concave refractive surface of the other pair and the convex refractive surface of the other pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takanori Uemura
  • Patent number: 7333083
    Abstract: A system, method, and method of manufacturing directed to an optical device with an efficient optical illumination. The optical illumination can be provided by tilting a light source and using a refractive lens to direct the light onto a surface. Alternatively, the optical illumination can be provided using total internal reflection with a conical light pipe and a curvatured entrance and exit surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventors: Olivier Theytaz, Francis Pilloud, Pascal Eichenberger
  • Patent number: 7329007
    Abstract: A projector includes an illumination device, a color separation system, a light combining system, a projection system, and an optical adjustment portion. The color separation system separates the light emitted from the illumination device into blue light, red light, and green light. The light combining system can have a first dichroic filter reflecting one of blue light or red light, and a second dichroic filter reflecting green light which are placed in a crossed state and can combine image lights of respective colors exiting from the first through third light modulation devices. The projection system can project a combined light exiting from the light combining system while correcting chromatic aberrations of magnification of blue light and red light with respect to green light. The optical adjustment portion can adjust a size of an image light corresponding to the green light of the combined light exiting from the light combining system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Joji Karasawa, Hidemasa Yamakawa, Kanji Yoshida, Masafumi Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 7322703
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Shinzo Matsui
  • Patent number: 7321542
    Abstract: A beam shaping prism used in an optical pickup, the beam shaping prism includes a first prism having an incident surface and a second prism having an inclined surface. Since a beam entering the beam shaping prism makes right angles with a beam emerging therefrom, it is easy to optically arrange and assemble elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-chul Choi, Tae-kyung Kim
  • Publication number: 20070296909
    Abstract: A display device includes a prism layer including a plurality of prisms on a surface thereof, a support layer facing with the prisms on the prism layer: a medium layer placed between the prism layer and the support layer, and including a first medium having a first refractive index and a second medium having a second refractive index, the first and second media being freely movable in the medium layer, and electrodes supplying a potential difference between the prism layer and the support layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hitoshi Nagato, Rei Hasegawa, Yasushi Shinjo
  • Patent number: 7307804
    Abstract: Thermally stable GRISMs comprise a substrate and cover plate composed of a first material keeps the spatial frequency of the grating stable with temperature, and a prism composed of a second material having lower thermal coefficient of refractive index than that of the first material. In the preferred embodiment, the first material is fused silica, and the second material is BK7 glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Kaiser Optical Systems
    Inventors: James M. Tedesco, Joseph B. Slater
  • Patent number: 7304815
    Abstract: A laser system and interferometer are disclosed comprising a laser source for generating a laser beam, and first and second adjustable elements wherein the first and second adjustable elements have limited rotational motion so rotation of the first adjustable element causes deviation of a laser beam in one plane and rotation of the second adjustable element causes deviation in a second plane, and a laser beam from the laser source is oblique to a required beam direction whereby rotation of the adjustable elements deviates the laser beam enabling alignment of the laser beam to the required beam direction. The adjustable elements may be rotatable through 90°. The first and second planes may be perpendicular to the required beam direction and to each other. At least one mirror may be provided which can be angularly offset to the required beam direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Renishaw, PLC
    Inventors: Mark Adrian Vincent Chapman, William Ernest Lee, Tingdi Liao
  • Patent number: 7278771
    Abstract: A film for use with a backlit display has prismatic structure on one surface. The structures have a serpentine shape. The average periods and amplitudes of the serpentine shapes may be optimized to minimize moiré interference with the pixels of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Alan B. Campbell
  • Patent number: 7261687
    Abstract: Probes, and systems and methods for optically scanning a conical volume in front of a probe, for use with an imaging modality, such as Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). A probe includes an optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end and defining an axis, with the proximal end of the optical fiber being proximate a light source, and the distal end having a first angled surface. A refractive lens element is positioned proximate the distal end of the optical fiber. The lens element and the fiber end are both configured to separately rotate about the axis so as to image a conical scan volume when light is provided by the source. Reflected light from a sample under investigation is collected by the fiber and analyzed by an imaging system. Such probes may be very compact, e.g., having a diameter 1 mm or less, and are advantageous for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Changhuei Yang
  • Patent number: 7253960
    Abstract: A display device for displaying information is provided with an optical system for guiding the light of the display device to the eye, the optical system having, in the order in the proceeding direction of the light, an entrance face for receiving the light, a curved face for totally reflecting the light and a reflecting face concave to the eye side and adapted to reflect the light toward the eye. The reflected light is transmitted by the curved face and reaches the eye. Thus there is obtained a compact display device with satisfactorily suppressed aberrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Yamazaki, Takeshi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7248415
    Abstract: Provided is an optical deflector for deflecting radiation beams. The optical deflector includes: a peripheral region having a first effective refractive index; and a deflection pattern region having a predetermined shape and a second effective refractive index, wherein the second effective refractive index differs from the first effective refractive index. Here, due to the deflection pattern region having the predetermined shape, the radiation beams are deflected in a direction starting from a certain point. By using the optical deflector, the locus of a light source can be designed in one of various forms, such as a straight line, a circle, an ellipse, or a parabola.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Oh Kee Kwon, Kang Ho Kim, Hyun Soo Kim, Jong Hoi Kim, Kwang Ryong Oh
  • Patent number: 7239463
    Abstract: A prism device includes: a prism material having substantially the same index of refraction at first and second wavelengths; a first anti-reflection coating for reducing reflection of a first signal beam at the first wavelength; and a second anti-reflection coating for reducing reflection of a second signal beam at the second wavelength. The prism material can be silicon, which has substantially the same index of refraction at IR and RF wavelengths. In this case, the RF anti-reflection coating can be a layer of silicon dioxide (fused silica), which can be sandwiched between two IR anti-reflection coatings designed to minimize IR reflections between the surrounding air and the RF anti-reflection coating and between the RF anti-reflection coating and the prism material, respectively. Two or more of the prism devices can be used in a beam steering system to simultaneous direct the first and second signal beams in substantially the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Leroy Braun, Robert S. Winsor
  • Patent number: 7230761
    Abstract: A grism based upon a grating with a given line frequency is configured such that a design wavelength will undergo either a specific total bend angle, a zero-degree total bend without lateral displacement, or a zero-degree total bend with a lateral displacement. Each configuration exhibits the same dispersion characteristics. Other design wavelengths, bend angles and displacements are possible through appropriate adjustment of grating frequency, prism geometry, and/or material(s). A specific design is disclosed using light with a +/?delta wavelength around a design wavelength of 795 nm. The invention may be used to disperse light at different wavelengths, including wavelengths associated with optical communications bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Kaiser Optical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Arns
  • Patent number: 7206492
    Abstract: A light guide plate (120) includes an incidence surfaces (121), an emission surface (123) adjoining the incidence surface, and a bottom surface (122) adjoining the incidence surface and being opposite to the emission surface. The light guide plate further includes a refractive-diffractive hybrid lens array (124) formed on the emission surface. The refractive-diffractive hybrid lens array has a plurality of refractive-diffractive hybrid lenses (125). The refractive-diffractive hybrid lenses can reduce or even avoid chromatic aberration along axes thereof. This can converge emitted light beams, thereby enhancing a brightness of the emitted light beams. Thus, the light guide plate can provide good display quality. Therefore, the light guide plate can be advantageously applied in backlight modules (210) of liquid crystal display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tai-cherng Yu, Charles Leu
  • Patent number: 7201503
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp including a translucent member 14 and a light-emitting element 12 with its front being covered by the translucent member 14; a plurality of lens elements 14s1 and 14s2 being formed on the front surface 14b of the translucent member 14 so that the lens elements are located on a hemispherical surface which is centered upon the light-emitting element 12 and serves as a reference plane B. The front surface 14b of the translucent member 14 is divided in a radial pattern to form a plurality of fan-shaped zones SA and SB, which are further divided into concentric circular shapes to form a plurality of fan-shaped zone bands SA1, SA2, SA3 and SA4, and SB1, SB2 and SB3, respectively, which are provided with the lens elements 14s1 and 14s2 therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Amano, Kazunori Natsume, Hiroya Koizumi
  • Patent number: 7196854
    Abstract: A lens-laminated composite optical element composed of a vitreous optical element having a plane surface to perform inherent optical functions, and a thin and filmy transparent plastic lens portion molded in a curved lens profile and laminated on the plane surface of the vitreous optical element by the use of a mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Fujinon Sano Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Komiya, Hatsuo Hirose, Iwao Yokoyama, Hajime Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 7181855
    Abstract: Given a situation where a projected laser line appears to have terminated or faded as it intersects with a work-surface (e.g., a wall), a fan-out redirecting means is used to capture and redirect energy radiating above and parallel to, or radiating away from the given work-surface area, where the captured energy is from a line projector mounted to the surface. The radiation capturing and redirecting means aims the captured energy at a greater angle towards the work-surface so that the redirected light is thereafter reflected back to a user to give the perception that a line of enhanced intensity or reborn existence is being created on the work-surface or on a reflective overlayer placed against the work-surface. The radiation capturing and redirecting means may include one or both of optically refractive means and optically reflective means (e.g., lens and mirrors) for performing the capturing and/or redirecting functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Zircon Corporation
    Inventors: Norman L. Krantz, Larry Miller
  • Patent number: 7180690
    Abstract: A light condensing filter has plural prisms formed on a surface of a flat substrate and on the opposite surface to the surface, and light from a light source is condensed by the plural prisms, wherein the plural prisms formed on the surface are designed in a linear shape extending in a specific direction on the surface and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the specific direction, the plural prisms formed on the opposite surface are designed in a linear shape extending in the direction perpendicular to the specific direction on the opposite surface and arranged in the specific direction, and the plural prisms formed on the surface and the plural prisms formed on the opposite surface are irregularly arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kimitoshi Nagao
  • Patent number: 7170696
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for the depth-resolved optical detection of a specimen with an illumination light distribution of at least one wavelength generated on or in a specimen and detection particularly of the light that is influenced due to interaction with the specimen, particularly fluorescent light and/or reflected light and/or luminescent light and/or scattered and/or transmitted light, wherein the illumination light has a modulation in at least one spatial direction and the detection light which is modulated like the illumination light is spatially split into two components having a phase shift relative to one another, the components are measured separately and an optical section image of the specimen and/or of part of the specimen is calculated from them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Wolleschensky
  • Patent number: 7167584
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for acquiring the three-dimensional shape of an object (10) by opto-electronic process, comprising a chromatic system (18) for illuminating the object (10) and for picking up the light reflected or backscattered by the object (10), and a reflecting mirror (26) placed on the optical axis between the optical system (18) and an illumination slot (16) for deflecting the light reflected by the object towards a spectral analysis means (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Cynovad Inc.
    Inventor: Yves Guern
  • Patent number: 7167312
    Abstract: A beam shaping optical arrangement combines three incoming laser beams that are mutually laterally offset in two orthogonal directions (X and Y), including an incoming first central laser beam and second and third incoming beams laterally offset in the X direction on either side of the central beam, into one outgoing combined laser beam. The arrangement includes two lateral displacement optical units though which the laterally offset incoming beams are transmitted and that laterally displace the two laterally offset incoming beams along the X direction towards the incoming central beam but which do not laterally offset the incoming central beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Trumpf Laser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Voss, Martin Huonker, Martin Liermann, Klaus Wallmeroth, Malte Kumkar, Friedheim Dorsch, Christian Schmitz
  • Patent number: 7130122
    Abstract: A waveguide polarization recovery system both polarizes the input light energy for use with an LCD imager and converts the polarity of unusable light energy to add to the illumination of the LCD imager. The compact polarization recovery waveguide system generally includes: (1) an input waveguide that provides non-polarized light energy into the system; (2) an output waveguide that receives polarized light energy from the system; (3) a polarized beam splitter that received the light energy from the input waveguide and transmits lights energy of a first polarization type and reflects light energy of a second polarization type, and (4) a wave plate that modifies the polarization of either the transmitted or reflected light energy. The polarization recovery system also generally includes one or more mirrors that are positioned as need to direct the transmitted and the reflected light energy to the output waveguide. The input and output waveguides may be shaped as needed by the projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Wavien, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth K. Li
  • Patent number: 7123394
    Abstract: A system for the laser beam deflection for optical measuring systems includes an optical element for the deflection of an incident laser beam and a driving unit for generating a rotational movement between the optical element and the incident laser beam in order to deflect the laser beam in different successive directions. The optical element includes at least two segments for the deflection of the incident laser beam by one fixed deflection angle respectively. During the rotational movement, the laser beam successively impinges on the different segments. The optical element has a disk-shaped or ring-shaped design, and the segments are wedge-shaped with inclined surfaces. In the case of a method for the laser beam deflection, a laser beam impinging in an offset manner with respect to the axis of rotation is deflected during a time period by each segment into precisely one defined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Rehm, Guenter Reithmeier, Paul Zeller
  • Patent number: 7119972
    Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating a path of a beam includes a first wedge and a second wedge. The first wedge includes a first refractive surface and a second refractive surface. The second wedge includes a third refractive surface adjacent to the second refractive surface, and a reflective surface. The beam refracts at the first refractive surface, refracts at the second refractive surface, refracts at the third refractive surface, reflects from reflective surface, refracts at the third refractive surface, refracts at the second refractive surface, refracts at the first refractive surface. At least one of the first wedge and the second wedge can be rotated so that the beam exiting the apparatus can be oriented substantially orthogonal to the beam entering the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James B. Prince
  • Patent number: 7092159
    Abstract: A waveguide polarization recovery system both polarizes the input light energy for use with an LCD imager and converts the polarity of unusable light energy to add to the illumination of the LCD imager. The compact polarization recovery waveguide system generally includes: (1) an input waveguide that provides non-polarized light energy into the system; (2) an output waveguide that receives polarized light energy from the system; (3) a polarized beam splitter that received the light energy from the input waveguide and transmits lights energy of a first polarization type and reflects light energy of a second polarization type, and (4) a wave plate that modifies the polarization of either the transmitted or reflected light energy. The polarization recovery system also generally includes one or more mirrors that are positioned as need to direct the transmitted and the reflected light energy to the output waveguide. The input and output waveguides may be shaped as needed by the projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Wavien, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth K. Li
  • Patent number: 7075739
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly for correcting laser illumination emitted from a laser light source, comprising a laser light source, which has linear emission sources that are arranged in a row in a first direction (X), whereby in addition, the emission sources that are arranged essentially in a row are at least partially offset relative to the row in a perpendicular direction (Y) in relation to the first direction (X). The assembly also comprises corrective elements, which can correct the laser illumination emitted from the laser light source in such a way that the spatial distortion of the laser illumination, caused by the offset position of the emission sources relative to the row, is compensated. According to the invention, the corrective elements are configured as a plate array that comprises a number of plate elements consisting of substantially plane-parallel plates that are transparent to the laser illumination used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Hentze-Lissotschenko Patentverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexei Mikhailov, Vitalij Lissotschenko