Imax Corporation

Imax Theatres International Limited

Other

John W Bowron

Steven Charles Read

Andrew Frederick Kurtz

Anton Leonard Baljet

Barry David Silverstein

Steen Svendstorp Iversen

Jesse Donald McMullen-Crummey

Arthur Edward Dixon

Savvas Damaskinos

Denis Gilles Tremblay

Paul Constantinou

Denis Tremblay

Systems for displaying images in a cinema setting can include components to reduce screen-door effect. The systems can include an array of light emitting sources or other active sources of light. In one example, the light emitting source emit pixels of light to a projection lens to project an image represented by the projection lens and a baffle and an aperture stop can block part of the light from the sources that exceeds an allowable cone angle of acceptable of the system. In another example, a display includes the array of light emitting sources and additional elements, such as diffuser elements, positioned in front of the array of light emitting sources.

Light conditioning of direct view display for cinema

A system may include a projector subsystem in a theatre projecting fight toward a screen, a sensor measuring light levels of the projected light, and a processing device. The projector subsystem may project light such that there is a hazardous light area and a non-hazardous light area of an audience seating area. The processing device may receive a measured light level of projected light from the sensor. The processing device may determine a second light level between the hazardous light area and the non-hazardous light area based on the measured light level and the position of the light projected over the audience seating area. The processing device may compare the second light level to an unsafe threshold light level. The processing device may determine a configuration for the system such that the light level of projected light in the non-hazardous light area is less than the unsafe threshold light level.

Methods and systems for controlling light output based on a light level threshold at a boundary

Systems for displaying images in a cinema setting can include components to reduce screen-door effect. The systems can include an array of light emitting sources () or other active sources of light. In one example, the light emitting source emit pixels of light to a projection lens () to project an image represented by the projection lens and a baffle () and an aperture stop () can block part of the light from the sources that exceeds an allowable cone angle of acceptable of the system. In another example, a display includes the array of light emitting sources and additional elements, such as diffuser elements, positioned in front of the array of light emitting sources.

Chromatic aberration can be reduced and extreme projection angles can be allowed in a projection system by modifying one color channel of light having a wavelength bandwidth with image data to produce imaged light, causing the imaged light to spread angularly when displaying the imaged light through an optical distorting element onto a screen, and reducing angular spread of the imaged light exiting the optical distorting element by adjusting the wavelength bandwidth.

Reducing angular spread in digital image projection

A theatre system is described that includes a screen and a projection system. The projection system includes a first mirror and a second mirror that are positionable within axes for imaged light and between projection lenses of projectors and the screen. The axes include a first axis and a second axis. The first mirror and the second mirror are configured for causing the first axis and the second axis to be parallel to each other and to have a displacement between the first axis and second axis along a dimension by which the screen is curved.

Dual projection in short screen distance

Optical systems are provided that include illumination sources, micro-mirror array optical modulators, and an optical element. The micro-mirror array optical modulators can selectively modulate light beams, redirect light by diffraction and reflection, and provide an output modulated light beam that exhibits a diffraction handedness dependent on the spectral bandwidth of the light incident thereupon. The optical element has a color dependent aperture that defines portions of output modulated light beams that are transmitted and remaining portions that are blocked. An efficiency and contrast of each the output modulated light beams acquired by the optical element can be independently determined by a narrow spectral bandwidth of each of the light beams, the spectral characteristics of the color dependent aperture, and the diffraction handedness of the micro-mirror array optical modulators for the associated spectral bandwidth.

Color dependent aperture stop

Systems and methods configured for outputting light having a polarization state distribution that is spatially uniform by applying a correction to, for example, a beam of light with a spatially uniform polarization state distribution that has been altered (unintentionally or otherwise) to become spatially non-uniform are described. A projection system can include an optical element and a polarization-altering device (PAD). The optical element can cause a polarization of light in the projection system to be spatially non-uniform. The PAD can change the polarization state distribution of the light spatially based on an amount of spatial non-uniformity on the light caused by the optical element and before the light enters the optical element. The projection system can output the light having a spatially uniform polarization state distribution.

Spatially modifying polarization state of light

A scanning optical microscope or mapping system for spectrally-resolved measurement of light reflected, emitted or scatttered from a specimen is disclosed, in which the spectrally-resolving element is integrated into the detection arm of the microscope or mapping system to result in good photon collection efficiency as well as good spectral and spatial resolution. A confocal version of the microscope is disclosed which will be of particular interest in fluorescence microscopy, and the non-confocal mapping system will be of particular interest in photoluminescence mapping of semiconductor wafers.

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Oakville, Canada

John W Bowron