US5108172A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Active matrix reflective image plane module and projection system
Assignee: RAF Electronics Corp
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Filing: 1990-09-24
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Granted: 1992-04-28
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Expires: 2010-09-24
Abstract
Abstract An improved active matrix reflective projection system utilizing a conventional wafer includes a reflective image plane module forming two focal images. The image plane module includes light directing and reflecting structures and a wafer based active matrix. A source of light is directed to the image plane module active matrix from a first image plane. The active matrix imparts information onto a light beam reflected therefrom. The image plane module projects the reflected beam for viewing, such as through one or more lens. The active matrix reflective projection system can be a monochrome projector including a single reflective image plane module or can be a full color system including three reflective image plane modules. Each color image plane module operates on a single color component, red, green or blue, which then are combined on a screen or before projecting on the screen to form the full color projection image. The active matrix includes a specular reflective back surface and an LC or similar type material formed thereon which is electronically altered to impart the information to the light beam reflected therefrom. The image plane module includes a mirror or mirror portion which directs the light or light component to the wafer based active matrix which reflects an encoded light beam therefrom and which projects the reflected light to be viewed.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A. Flasck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:49
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N9/00; H04N9/12; H04N9/31; H04N9/3141; H04N9/315; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/136; G02F1/1362; G02F1/136277
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A projector system, comprising: at least one source of light; means for directing light from said light source and forming a first image at a first image plane; means for reflecting said light from said first image plane to at least one reflective imaging means including a wafer based active matrix for forming a reflected light beam and means for directing said reflected light beam and forming a second image at a second image plane adjacent said first image plane; at least one means for projecting said reflected light beam for viewing; and said first image plane reflecting means include a mirror and said second image plane is formed adjacent said mirror, substantially perpendicular to said first image plane and said mirror includes an aperture therein and said light beam second image plane if formed in or adjacent said aperture and passes therethrough to said projecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A projector system, comprising: at least one source of light; means for directing light from said light source and forming a first image at a first image plane; means for reflecting said light from said first image plane to at least one reflective imaging means including a wafer based active matrix for forming a reflected light beam and means for directing said reflected light beam and forming a second image at a second image plane adjacent said first image plane; at least one means for projecting said reflected light beam for viewing; and said first image plane reflecting means include a mirror and said second image plane is formed adjacent said mirror, substantially perpendicular to said first image plane and said mirror includes an aperture therein and said light beam second image plane if formed in or adjacent said aperture and passes therethrough to said projecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The projector system as defined in claim 1 wherein said light directing means include a condensing lens for focusing said light onto said reflecting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The projector system as defined in claim 2 wherein said light directing means include color filter means for forming a single color light beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The projector system as defined in claim 2 including means adjacent said light source for passing said light therethrough while absorbing heat from said light beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The projector system as defined in claim 2 further including a mirror for directing said light from said condensing lens onto said reflecting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The projector system as defined in claim 1 wherein said reflective imaging means include a convex lens system for directing said light to said wafer based active matrix and said reflected light beam directing means include said convex lens system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The projector system as defined in claim 1 including columnating light beam means located beyond said second image plane to columnate said reflected light beam and directing said reflected light beam to said projecting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The projector system as defined in claim 1 wherein said projecting means further include projecting lens means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The projector system as defined in claim 1 including on reflective imaging means for each of a blue, green and red light component and means for forming and directing said components to said respective reflective imaging means for encoding and means for combining said encoded components and directing said combined components to said projecting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The projector system as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for combining include dichroic mirror means for at least two of said blue, green and red light components.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The projector system as defined in claim 1 including an LCD material formed on said active matrix, said LCD material formed from a solid light modulating material having bodies of LC material suspended therein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
133 words
A projector system, comprising: a source of light; means for forming separate blue, green and red light components from said source of light; separate reflective imaging means for each said light component, each reflective imaging means including a wafer based active matrix for forming a reflected component light beam and for imparting information onto said reflected component light beam; means for directing each of said light components to a first respective image plane and forming a first image at said image plane and means for reflecting said light component to its respective reflective imaging means; means for directing each reflected light component and forming a second image at a second image plane adjacent said first image plane; and at least one means for projecting each of said reflected component light beams for viewing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
133 words
A projector system, comprising: a source of light; means for forming separate blue, green and red light components from said source of light; separate reflective imaging means for each said light component, each reflective imaging means including a wafer based active matrix for forming a reflected component light beam and for imparting information onto said reflected component light beam; means for directing each of said light components to a first respective image plane and forming a first image at said image plane and means for reflecting said light component to its respective reflective imaging means; means for directing each reflected light component and forming a second image at a second image plane adjacent said first image plane; and at least one means for projecting each of said reflected component light beams for viewing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The projector system as defined in claim 12 wherein said first image plane reflecting means include a mirror and said second image plane is formed adjacent said mirror, substantially perpendicular to said, first image plane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The projector system as defined in claim 13 wherein said mirror includes an aperture therein and said light beam second image plane is formed in or adjacent said aperture and passes therethrough to said projecting means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The projector system as defined in claim 12 wherein said light directing means include a condensing lens for focusing said light onto said reflecting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The projector system as defined in claim 15 wherein said light directing means include color filter means for forming a single color light beam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The projector system as defined in claim 15 including means adjacent said light source for passing said light therethrough while absorbing heat from said light beam.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The projector system as defined in claim 15 further including a mirror for directing said light from said condensing lens onto said reflecting means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The projector system as defined in claim 12 wherein said reflective imaging means include a convex lens system for directing said light to said wafer based active matrix and said reflected light beam directing means include said convex lens system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The projector system as defined in claim 12 including columnating light beam means located beyond said second image plane to columnate said reflected light beam and directing said reflected light beam to said projecting means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The projector system as defined in claim 12 wherein said projecting means further include projecting lens means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The projector system as defined in claim 14 including an LCD material formed on said active matrix, said LCD material formed from a solid light modulating material having bodies of LC material suspended therein.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The projector system as defined in claim 14 including means for combining each encoded component into a single beam prior to projecting for viewing.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
115 words
A reflective image plane module, comprising: means for directing light directed thereto and forming a first image at a first image plane; means for reflecting said light from said first image plane to at least one reflective imaging means including a wafer based active matrix for forming a reflected light beam and for imparting information onto said reflecting light beam and means for directing said reflected light beam and forming a second image at a second image plane adjacent said first image plane; and said reflective imaging means include a convex lens system for directing said light to said wafer based active matrix and said reflected light beam directing means include said convex lens system.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
115 words
A reflective image plane module, comprising: means for directing light directed thereto and forming a first image at a first image plane; means for reflecting said light from said first image plane to at least one reflective imaging means including a wafer based active matrix for forming a reflected light beam and for imparting information onto said reflecting light beam and means for directing said reflected light beam and forming a second image at a second image plane adjacent said first image plane; and said reflective imaging means include a convex lens system for directing said light to said wafer based active matrix and said reflected light beam directing means include said convex lens system.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The module as defined in claim 24 wherein said first image plane reflecting means include a mirror and said second image plane is formed adjacent said mirror, substantially perpendicular to said first image plane.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The module as defined in claim 25 wherein said mirror includes an aperture therein and said light beam second image plane is formed in or adjacent said aperture and passes therethrough.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The module as defined in claim 24 wherein said light directing means include a condensing lens for focusing said light onto said reflecting means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The module as defined in claim 27 wherein said light directing means include color filter means for forming a single color light beam.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The module as defined in claim 27 including means adjacent said light source for passing said light therethrough while absorbing heat from said light beam.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The module as defined in claim 27 further including a mirror for directing said light from said condensing lens onto said reflecting means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
The module as defined in claim 24 including columnating light beam means located beyond said second image plane to columnate said reflected light beam and directing said reflected light beam to said projecting means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
The module as defined in claim 24 including an LCD material formed on said active matrix, said LCD material formed from a solid light modulating material having bodies of LC material suspended therein.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The module as defined in claim 24 including at least one means for projecting said reflected light beam for viewing.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The module as defined in claim 33 wherein said projecting means further include projecting lens means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-04-28 | 1995-10-28 | 1996-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-28 | 1999-10-28 | 2000-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-28 | 2003-10-28 | 2004-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |