Proxima Corporation

Other

Riake Corporation

Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc.

Johnson and Johnson Vision Care, Inc.

Packard Instrument Company, Inc.

Compaq Computer Corportion

David W Kappel

Robert E Fischer

Biljana Tadic-Galeb

Arthur P Minich

David E Hargis

Leonid A Shapiro

Neil L Condra

Sean M Donnelly

Ann M Muscato

Ture Kindt-Larsen

Lane Thomas Hauck

Craig William Walker

Denwood F Ross, Iii

Chih-Li Chuang

Michael P Newell

Ranganath Ramakrishnan Raja

Mary L Dolan

Shlomo Assa

Kevin Joseph Hathaway

Greg Moeller

Brian G Rice

Richard M Knox

Arnold Daniels

Arash Ghorbani

Jerome E Oleksy

Scott Moritz

David Dickson Booker

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

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

A universal microplate analyzer capable of carrying out measurements on samples contained in the wells of microplates by fluorescence, absorbance, luminescence employs at least two light sources and optical fiber channels for directing excitation light to the sample wells. Flexibility of operation is provided by arrays of mirrors, apertures, and polarizers which can be positioned as required for the analysis to be carried out.

Universal microplate analyzer

A flashlight that generates a flashlight beam to illuminate an object at a selectable distance from the flashlight by imaging a uniformly bright pattern of light onto the object. A light modifying component can be used to manipulate the pattern of light into particular shapes and images. In one embodiment, light from a light source is coupled into a light pipe. The light is homogenized as it travels along the light pipe. The light exits the light pipe with a more uniform intensity than when it entered. The light exiting the light pipe is then reimaged by an imaging lens onto an object. Yet in other embodiments, one or more lens arrays having two or more lenlets are used to homogenize the light originating from the light source.

Flashlight producing uniform high brightness

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.

A method and system for inspecting ophthalmic lenses using absorption where an ophthalmic lens is illuminated with light comprising wavelengths that are substantially absorptive to said lens, the image subsequently detected being created using only light at said absorptive wavelengths. Variations in transmitted light intensity translate into thickness changes in the lens caused by cosmetic flaws. The invention is also directed to imaging lens assemblies employing highly positive-powered field flattening lens elements to image a curved object, such as an ophthalmic lens, onto a flat image plane.

Inspection of ophthalmic lenses using absorption

An automatic testing illumination system has advantages of speed, quick calibration ability and therefore high accuracy over conventional illuminators. An spherical light source/concentrator exit port is rapidly and sequentially covered by at least one automated device for affecting the light leaving the exit port. Automation enables a very rapid sequencing of light onto a two or three dimensional array to cut the time for test and evaluation, and to permit very accurate calibration of the illuminator system.

Automated system for testing two dimensional detector arrays and optical systems using sequential filters

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

An imaging system and method directs white light to a reflecting polarizing surface at an angle of incidence substantially equal to the Brewster angle to help maximize or greatly increase the reflected S polarized light and minimize or greatly decrease the reflected P polarized light. A contrast enhancing device also helps to reduce the reflected P polarized light. Color splitter and combining optics devices separate the reflected polarized light into a plurality of different color light components. Light modulating devices modulate each one of the color light components and rotate selectively the S polarized light and direct P polarized light toward a viewing surface. Thus, the output transmitted contrast ratio of the transmittal P polarized light to the transmitted S polarized light is enhanced.

System and method for producing an enhanced image

The laser illuminated image projection system includes a microlaser array coupled with a beam shaper to produce an exceptionally bright projection light beam. In one embodiment, the beam shaper includes a binary phase plate to modify the shape and intensity profile of the projection light beam. In another embodiment, the beam shaper includes a microlens array arrangement. In yet another embodiment, the beam shaper includes a diffuser arrangement. A light valve modifies the projection light beam to generate an output light beam indicative of an image. A projection lens arrangement focuses the output light beam onto a remote surface to reproduce the image thereon.

Laser illuminated image projection system and method of using same

The laser illuminated image producing system includes in one form of the invention, a single light valve which not only serves to form an image, but also to increase the number of its colors. In another form of the invention, the lasers are sequenced at high input energy for short intervals of time to provide high average output luminosity at lower average energy costs.

Laser illuminated image producing system and method of using same

A compact projection illumination system includes a display controller, a condenser lens assembly including a light source, and a pair of finely faceted mirrors angularly disposed relative to one another to spread projection light emitted from the high intensity projection light source in two directions, and direct the reflected light to an image forming display device where an image is formed for projection purposes. The light is spread to illuminate precisely the light impinging surface of the image forming display device. To reduce image distortion caused by the faceted mirrors forming beam segments, the condenser lens assembly and the light source are arranged and constructed to permit the reflected beam segments to converge sufficiently to fill in dark or shadow areas between the beam segments prior to the segments impinging on the image forming display device, so that the resulting image is formed uniformly and substantially distortion free in a narrowly defined, compact space.

Compact projector and method of using same

A new and improved projector lens arrangement which can automatically adjusted for focusing purposes in an easily and convenient manner according to a novel focusing method of the present invention. The projection lens arrangement generally includes three groups of optical elements aligned along a common optical axis with a variable vertex length and wide field coverage angle. One element group near the object is a doublet having a negative element with a concave surface and a positive element being bi-convex having one surface near the image complementarily shaped to the concave surface of the negative element.

Projection lens and method of using same

A low profile liquid crystal projector unit, and a novel method of using it to project a liquid crystal image with substantially no keystoning effects. An optics arrangement directs high intensity light within the housing along an irregularly shaped light path extending angularly through an angularly inclined liquid crystal display panel offset by an angle .lambda. relative to the normal axis plane of the display panel to help reduce image keystoning. An output mirror mounted above the housing is inclined angularly opposite to the liquid crystal display panel and cooperates with a lens set for projecting reflectively a liquid crystal image, formed by the display panel, onto a remote surface. The output mirror is mounted to reflect the liquid crystal image upwardly at an angle .theta. to the normal axis plane of the remote viewing surface, where the angle .lambda. and the angle .theta. are substantially equal to help reduce image keystoning. The inventive method of using the liquid crystal projector includes passing light along an irregularly shaped light path extending angularly through the liquid crystal panel offset by an angle .lambda. relative to the normal axis plane of the display panel and projecting reflectively upwardly at an angle .theta. relative to the normal axis plane of the remote viewing surface, where the angle .lambda. and the angle .theta. are substantially equal.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

David W Kappel