US4930849A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser scanning apparatus and method of scanning using same
Assignee: Pioneer Corp
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Filing: 1989-04-12
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Granted: 1990-06-05
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Expires: 2009-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A laser scanning apparatus, and related method, comprising a plurality of optical fiber bundle elements each corresponding to a respective one of three primary colors and having an emitting end, each emitting end being disposed at a constant pitch with respect to the other and aligned in a horizontal scanning direction and emitting a light beam of the respective color, an array of light switches disposed adjacent to the emitting ends of the optical fiber bundle elements, each light switch disposed with respect to the other at a pitch equal to the pitch between adjacent emitting ends. Each light switch independently opens or closes in response to information corresponding to a horizontal scanning period of an input video signal corresponding to a video image. A device for polarizing a light beam passing through the array of light switches at each horizontal scanning period and scans the polarized light beam in a vertical scanning direction to project a video image on the screen.
Inventors
- 👤 Satoru Tanaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:02
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N9/00; H04N9/12; H04N9/31; H04N9/3129; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/04; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A laser scanning apparatus, comprising: a plurality of optical fiber bundle elements, each corresponding to a respective one of three primary colors and having an emitting end, each emitting end disposed adjacent to the other and aligned on at least one line in a horizontal scanning direction at a first pitch with respect to the other, each emitting end emitting a light beam of the respective color; an array of spaced light switches disposed adjacent to the emitting ends of the optical fiber bundle elements, each light switch disposed adjacent to the other and aligned in the longitudinal direction of the array at a second pitch, the second pitch being equal to the first pitch, each light switch being independently opened or closed; means for opening or closing each light switch in response to information corresponding to a horizontal scanning period of an input video signal corresponding to a video image; and means for polarizing the light beams passing through the array of light switches at each horizontal scanning period and scanning the polarized light beams in a vertical scanning direction for projecting the video image on a screen, the vertical scanning direction being substantially perpendicular to the horizontal scanning direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
A laser scanning apparatus, comprising: a plurality of optical fiber bundle elements, each corresponding to a respective one of three primary colors and having an emitting end, each emitting end disposed adjacent to the other and aligned on at least one line in a horizontal scanning direction at a first pitch with respect to the other, each emitting end emitting a light beam of the respective color; an array of spaced light switches disposed adjacent to the emitting ends of the optical fiber bundle elements, each light switch disposed adjacent to the other and aligned in the longitudinal direction of the array at a second pitch, the second pitch being equal to the first pitch, each light switch being independently opened or closed; means for opening or closing each light switch in response to information corresponding to a horizontal scanning period of an input video signal corresponding to a video image; and means for polarizing the light beams passing through the array of light switches at each horizontal scanning period and scanning the polarized light beams in a vertical scanning direction for projecting the video image on a screen, the vertical scanning direction being substantially perpendicular to the horizontal scanning direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The laser scanning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for sequentially storing said information corresponding to a horizontal scanning period of an input video signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laser scanning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said polarizing means includes a galvano mirror rotatable in the vertical scanning direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The laser scanning apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the array of spaced light switches is opened or closed simultaneously during said horizontal scanning period of an input video signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The laser scanning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one line includes a single line wherein said emitting end corresponding to a respective one of the three primary colors is sequentially disposed with respect to the other on the single line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The laser scanning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one line includes three lines, each line disposed adjacent to the other and aligned parallel to the other, each line corresponding to a respective one of the three primary colors and each having at least one of the emitting ends corresponding to the respective primary color aligned thereon.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of scanning a video image on a screen, comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of light beams, each comprising at least one of three primary colors corresponding to an input video signal corresponding to the video image; passing the light beams through an array of light switches, each light switch being disposed adjacent to the other at a constant pitch and aligned in a horizontal scanning direction and independently closed or opened in response to information corresponding to a horizontal scanning period of the input video signal; polarizing the light beams passing through the array of light switches at each horizontal scanning period; and scanning the polarized light beams in a vertical scanning direction for projecting the video image on a screen, the vertical scanning direction being substantially perpendicular to the horizontal scanning direction.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of scanning a video image on a screen, comprising the steps of: generating a plurality of light beams, each comprising at least one of three primary colors corresponding to an input video signal corresponding to the video image; passing the light beams through an array of light switches, each light switch being disposed adjacent to the other at a constant pitch and aligned in a horizontal scanning direction and independently closed or opened in response to information corresponding to a horizontal scanning period of the input video signal; polarizing the light beams passing through the array of light switches at each horizontal scanning period; and scanning the polarized light beams in a vertical scanning direction for projecting the video image on a screen, the vertical scanning direction being substantially perpendicular to the horizontal scanning direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of sequentially storing said information corresponding to a horizontal scanning period of an input video signal in storage means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the step of polarizing includes rotating a galvano mirror in the vertical scanning direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 7, wherein each of the array of light switches is opened or closed simultaneously during said horizontal scanning period of the input video signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-06-04 | 1993-12-04 | 1994-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-04 | 1997-12-04 | 1998-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-04 | 2001-12-04 | 2002-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |