Duke University

Riake Corporation

Other

3m Innovative Properties Company

Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Quantum Vision, Inc.

Compaq Computer Corportion

Biljana Tadic-Galeb

Robert E Fischer

David W Kappel

Neil L Condra

Sean M Donnelly

Ann M Muscato

Robert M Merritt

Hung Thien Tran

Dale S Walker

Robert Charles Fitzer

Paul W Lang

Kevin Joseph Hathaway

Sherman L Bartz

Larry D Owen

Donald Charles Grillo

Richard M Knox

Franklin C Gribschaw

Systems and methods for providing illumination suitable for imaging devices such as laser projection systems, wherein the illumination pattern is adjustable by modifying one or more characteristics of a controlled angle diffuser. In one embodiment, a highly collimated (e.g., laser light) beam is passed through a holographic diffuser to create a well defined cone angle for the light emanating from each point on the diffuser. This light is focused into an illumination image that is controlled by the prescription of the diffuser. In one embodiment, the diffuser can be positioned to alternately place different regions having different prescriptions in the optical path corresponding to the illumination image. In one embodiment, the diffuser can be continually moved to eliminate speckling and 'worminess' in the illumination image.

Illumination device and method using adaptable source and output format

A projection lens system which includes a telecentric lens assembly. The lens may be used to form an image from a light source, including for example a resonant microcavity phosphororcathode ray tube, onto a screen or display, such as in a television or a projection device. In accordance with one embodiment, a planar cooling gap or cavity (which may or may not contain a cooling liquid) is included between the imaging surface and the matching planar surface of the field lens. The use of a planar gap alleviates any temperature differentials across the cooling liquid and the lens surfaces, as compared with alternate designs that may have a non-planar gap between the faceplate and the field lens, or that use liquid lenses.

System and method for telecentric projection lenses

Systems and methods for providing illumination suitable for imaging devices such as laser projection systems. In one embodiment, a highly collimated (e.g., laser light) beam is passed through a holographic diffuser to create a well defined cone angle for the light emanating from each point on the diffuser. This light is focused into an illumination image that is controlled by the prescription of the diffuser. In one embodiment, the image is a uniformly intense rectangle having a 4:3 aspect ratio to match an imager for a projection display. The diffuser prescription and resulting illumination image can be selected to match any desired imager. The present systems and methods may provide the advantages of high level of light efficiency, reduction or elimination of speckle and 'worminess' and reduction or elimination of cosineand gaussian intensity falloff, all of which are common in prior art designs.

Illumination device and method for laser projector

Systems and methods for providing illumination suitable for imaging devices such as laser projection systems. In one embodiment, a highly collimated (e.g., laser light) beam is passed through a holographic diffuser to create a well defined cone angle for the light emanating from each point on the diffuser. This light is focused into an illumination image that is controlled by the prescription of the diffuser. In one embodiment, the image is a uniformly intense rectangle having a 4:3 aspect ratio to match an imager for a projection display. The diffuser prescription and resulting illumination image can be selected to match any desired imager. The present systems and methods may provide the advantages of high level of light efficiency, reduction or elimination of speckle and worminess and reduction or elimination of cosine and gaussian intensity falloff, all of which are common in prior art designs.

Projection lenses and projection lens systems are telecentric between an illumination subsystem and a set of imagers. The lenses and systems can exhibit color fringing correction, uniform imager illumination, athermalization, and component articulation for improved imaging. The lenses and systems may be employed in display apparatuses, such as folded display apparatuses that have decreased footprint size, but long effective projection lengths.

Projection lens and system

A laser imaging system for direct imaging with high optical power density a series of pixels forming an image on a media surface, The laser imaging system includes a laser light source, wherein the laser light source emits a laser beam representative of the image on the media surface. An optical path is defined between the laser light source and the media surface. A scanner is provided having a mirrored surface positioned along the optical path. An optical assembly is positioned along the optical path for shaping and focusing the laser beam at the media surface, including an F-Theta lens assembly positioned along the optical path between the scanner and the media surface. The F-Theta lens assembly includes a spheric lens, an aspheric lens and a toric lens, providing an increase in optical power density at the media surface.

Direct laser imaging system

Projection lenses and projection lens systems are telecentric between an illumination subsystem and a set of imagers. The lenses and systems can exhibit color fringing correction, uniform imager illumination, athermalization, and component articulation for improved imaging. The lenses and systems may be employed in displays, such as folded displays that have decreased footprint size, but long effective projection lengths.

Lens design to eliminate color fringing

Thermalization using optical components in a lens system

Optical component adjustment for mitigating tolerance sensitivities

Projection lens and system including a reflecting linear polarizer

An image rotating apparatus presents a projected video image upon a rear projection screen that is rotated extremely rapidly about a vertical axis which exactly bisects the picture in the vertical plane. The rotational rate is such that an entire audience, regardless of their position about the apparatus, can view the projected video image simultaneously. The video image rotating apparatus utilizes light valve technology to create red, green and blue images from an analog composite video signal, and a Phillips prism that aligns the images produced by the light valves for projection through an optical system. The image produced by the light valves is rotated, either mechanically or electronically, in synchronization with rotation of the projection screen. The projection screen itself eliminates the need for a separate shutter by both expanding the projected image generally parallel to the screen's axis of rotation, and constricting the width of the projected image generally perpendicularly to the screen's axis of rotation.

Video image rotating apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Thousand Oaks, CA, United States of America

Biljana Tadic-Galeb