US5111337A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Enhanced contrast, maximum gain front and rear projection screens
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-01-04
•
Granted: 1992-05-05
•
Expires: 2011-01-04
Abstract
Abstract A method of printing a translucent coating onto the film backing portion of front or rear projection screens to provide an economical and efficient process of obtaining sharper definition and maximized gain, both of which can be varied in form and substitutent content depending on the amount of ambient light present in the environment in which these screens will be used. Additionally, front and rear projection screens are disclosed which have enhanced optical contrast provided by unique patterns printed onto a film backing.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene Martinez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:53
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B21/00; G03B21/54; G03B21/56; G03B21/60; G03B21/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 65
Claim 1
Independent Claim
38 words
A method for making projection screens, comprising: providing a thin plastic film; printing onto said thin plastic film, a translucent coating; and further printing dark patterns onto said film to enhance the contrast of an image projected thereon.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
38 words
A method for making projection screens, comprising: providing a thin plastic film; printing onto said thin plastic film, a translucent coating; and further printing dark patterns onto said film to enhance the contrast of an image projected thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said translucent coating is a pigment which adds a milky-white translucent quality to said film.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of printing dark patterns comprises printing evenly distributed, uniform, continuous dark patterns onto said film.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of printing dark patterns comprises printing an irregularly distributed, uniform, continuous dark patterns onto said film.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
29 words
A method for making projection screens, comprising: providing a thin plastic film; printing onto said thin plastic film, a translucent coating; and attaching said film to a transparent substrate.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
29 words
A method for making projection screens, comprising: providing a thin plastic film; printing onto said thin plastic film, a translucent coating; and attaching said film to a transparent substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said translucent coating is a pigment which adds a milky-white translucent quality to said screen.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of making rear-projection screens comprising: providing a thin translucent plastic film; printing pigments on a firs side of said film that add a milky-white translucent quality to said film to provide a printed pigment layer; printing uniform, continuous dark patterns onto said first side of said film; and adhesively attaching a transparent substrate layer to said film.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of making rear-projection screens comprising: providing a thin translucent plastic film; printing pigments on a firs side of said film that add a milky-white translucent quality to said film to provide a printed pigment layer; printing uniform, continuous dark patterns onto said first side of said film; and adhesively attaching a transparent substrate layer to said film.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said step of printing dark patterns comprises printing evenly distributed, uniform, continuous dark patterns onto said film.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said step of printing dark patterns comprises printing an irregularly distributed, uniform, continuous dark patterns onto said film.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said substrate is selected from the group comprising flexible substrates and rigid substrates.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said printed pigment layer on said film form an optical diffusion coating on said first surface of said film.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising an additional protective coating applied over both said printed dark pattern and said printed pigment layer on said film.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for making front-projection screens, comprising: providing a thin plastic film; printing pigments that add a milky-white translucent quality to the thin plastic film on a first side of said film; printing uniform, continuous dark patterns onto said first side of said film; attaching a layer of reflective material to said film; and adhesively attaching a support substrate layer to said film.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for making front-projection screens, comprising: providing a thin plastic film; printing pigments that add a milky-white translucent quality to the thin plastic film on a first side of said film; printing uniform, continuous dark patterns onto said first side of said film; attaching a layer of reflective material to said film; and adhesively attaching a support substrate layer to said film.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said printed pigments on said film form an optical diffusion coating on said first surface of said film.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said step of printing dark patterns comprises printing evenly distributed, uniform, continuous dark patterns onto said film.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said step of printing dark patterns comprises printing an irregularly distributed, uniform, continuous dark patterns onto said film.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of providing a protective coating over both said printed dark pattern and said printed pigment layer on said film.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13., wherein said substrate is selected from the group comprising flexible substrates and rigid substrates.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said layer of reflective material is vacuum deposited aluminum.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said layer of reflective material is sputtered silver.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
36 words
A method of making a contrast enhancing element for a projection screen comprising: providing a plastic film, and printing on said film a dark pattern to enhance the contrast of an image projected on said film.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
36 words
A method of making a contrast enhancing element for a projection screen comprising: providing a plastic film, and printing on said film a dark pattern to enhance the contrast of an image projected on said film.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 21, in which said pattern comprises a plurality of spaced dark lines.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 22, in which the spacing between said lines is even.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 23, in which the pattern is uneven to compensate for variations in contrast in the projected image.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 24, including the step of printing an optical diffusion coating on said film.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 25, including the step of attaching said film to a substrate.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
A projection screen, comprising: (a) a thin plastic film; (b) a translucent coating printed on at least one surface of said plastic film; and (c) an uniform dark pattern printed on at least one surface of said plastic film.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
A projection screen, comprising: (a) a thin plastic film; (b) a translucent coating printed on at least one surface of said plastic film; and (c) an uniform dark pattern printed on at least one surface of said plastic film.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
49 words
A projection screen, comprising: a thin plastic film having a first surface; a layer of printed, uniform patterns disposed on said first surface of said film; a layer of printed pigments additionally disposed on said first surface of said film; and a substrate layer adhesively attached to said film.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
49 words
A projection screen, comprising: a thin plastic film having a first surface; a layer of printed, uniform patterns disposed on said first surface of said film; a layer of printed pigments additionally disposed on said first surface of said film; and a substrate layer adhesively attached to said film.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said printed, uniform patterns are evenly distributed over said film.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said printed, uniform patterns are irregularly distributed over said film.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said substrate is selected from the group comprising flexible substrates and rigid substrates.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said printed pigments form an optical diffusion coating layer on said first surface of said film.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a layer of protective coating applied over both said printed dark pattern and said printed pigment layer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
44 words
A rear-projection screen, comprising: a thin plastic film having a first surface, said first surface having a milky-white, translucent pigment layer printed thereon, said first surface further having printed thereon uniform, continuous dark patterns; and a transparent substrate layer adhesively attached to said film.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
44 words
A rear-projection screen, comprising: a thin plastic film having a first surface, said first surface having a milky-white, translucent pigment layer printed thereon, said first surface further having printed thereon uniform, continuous dark patterns; and a transparent substrate layer adhesively attached to said film.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said patterns are evenly distributed over said film.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said patterns are irregularly distributed over said film.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
52 words
A front-projection screen, comprising: a thin film having a first surface; a milky-white translucent pigment layer printed on said first surface; uniform, continuous dark patterns printed on said first surface of said film; a layer of reflective material attached to said film; and a support substrate layer adhesively attached to said film.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
52 words
A front-projection screen, comprising: a thin film having a first surface; a milky-white translucent pigment layer printed on said first surface; uniform, continuous dark patterns printed on said first surface of said film; a layer of reflective material attached to said film; and a support substrate layer adhesively attached to said film.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said patterns are evenly distributed over said film.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 37: wherein said patterns are irregularly distributed over said film.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said pigment layer forms an optical diffusion coating layer on said first surface of said film.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising an additional protective coating layer applied over both said patterns and said pigment layer.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said substrate is selected from the group comprising flexible substrates and rigid substrates.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said layer of reflective material is vacuum deposited aluminum.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein said layer of reflective material is sputtered silver.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
43 words
A method of making a contrast enhancing element for a projection screen comprising: providing a support material, and printing on said support material a dark pattern of spaced uniform elemental segments to enhance the contrast of an image projected on said support material.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
43 words
A method of making a contrast enhancing element for a projection screen comprising: providing a support material, and printing on said support material a dark pattern of spaced uniform elemental segments to enhance the contrast of an image projected on said support material.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 45, in which said pattern comprises a plurality of spaced dark lines.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 45, in which the distance between adjacent lines is different.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 45, including the step of printing an optical diffusion coating on said support material.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 45, in which said support material is a film.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 49, including the step of attaching said film to a substrate.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
32 words
A projection screen comprising a support upon which an image may be projected, and a pattern of dark lines printed on said support to enhance the contrast of the image projected thereon.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
32 words
A projection screen comprising a support upon which an image may be projected, and a pattern of dark lines printed on said support to enhance the contrast of the image projected thereon.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
22 words
A projection screen as in claim 51, in which the spacing between adjacent lines is different for different pairs of adjacent lines.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
15 words
A projection screen as in claim 51, and a diffusion coating printed on said support.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
14 words
A projection screen as in claim 51, and a substrate connected to said support.
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) | 1995-05-05 | 1995-11-04 | 1996-05-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-05 | 1999-11-04 | 2000-05-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-05 | 2003-11-04 | 2004-05-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |