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US5250968A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Image projecting unit

Assignee: Sony Corp
•
Filing: 1992-05-27
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Granted: 1993-10-05
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Expires: 2012-05-27
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Abstract

Abstract An image projecting unit is shown which comprises a structure having a display surface on which a visual image is displayed, and a lens assembly movably arranged in front of the display surface of the structure. The lens assembly has a rearmost lens which faces the display surface. A bellows is disposed between the display surface and the rearmost lens to define therebetween a sealed space, and a liquid is contained in the sealed space to optically connect the display surface and the rearmost lens.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kiyoshi Numata
  • 👤 Toshio Maruyama
  • 👤 Ryuichi Okumura

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 20:24
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/74; H04N5/7408

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 116 words
An image projecting unit comprising: a structure having a display surface on which a visual image is displayed; a lens assembly movably arranged in front of said display surface of said structure, said lens assembly having a rearmost lens which faces said display surface; a bellows disposed between said display surface and said rearmost lens to define therebetween a sealed space; liquid contained in said sealed space to optically connect said display surface and said rearmost lens; and universal mounting means for pivotably mounting said lens assembly to said structure and having said bellows disposed therebetween, said universal mounting means including adjusting screw means for pivoting said lens assembly in universal directions relative to said structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 116 words
An image projecting unit comprising: a structure having a display surface on which a visual image is displayed; a lens assembly movably arranged in front of said display surface of said structure, said lens assembly having a rearmost lens which faces said display surface; a bellows disposed between said display surface and said rearmost lens to define therebetween a sealed space; liquid contained in said sealed space to optically connect said display surface and said rearmost lens; and universal mounting means for pivotably mounting said lens assembly to said structure and having said bellows disposed therebetween, said universal mounting means including adjusting screw means for pivoting said lens assembly in universal directions relative to said structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 168 words
An image projecting unit comprising: a first structure having a display surface on which a visual image is displayed; a second structure having an opening formed therethrough, said second structure being secured to said first structure in such a manner that the display surface is exposed through said opening; a third structure positioned in front of said second structure and being movable in a fore-and-aft direction relative to said second structure; a fourth structure universally pivotally connected to said third structure; a lens assembly mounted to said fourth structure in such a manner that a rearmost lens thereof faces the display surface through said opening of the second structure; a bellows assembly disposed between said second and fourth structures to defined a sealed space to which said display surface and said rearmost lens are exposed; a liquid contained in said sealed space to optically connecting said display surface and said rearmost lens; and driving means for pivoting said fourth structure in universal directions relative to said third structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 168 words
An image projecting unit comprising: a first structure having a display surface on which a visual image is displayed; a second structure having an opening formed therethrough, said second structure being secured to said first structure in such a manner that the display surface is exposed through said opening; a third structure positioned in front of said second structure and being movable in a fore-and-aft direction relative to said second structure; a fourth structure universally pivotally connected to said third structure; a lens assembly mounted to said fourth structure in such a manner that a rearmost lens thereof faces the display surface through said opening of the second structure; a bellows assembly disposed between said second and fourth structures to defined a sealed space to which said display surface and said rearmost lens are exposed; a liquid contained in said sealed space to optically connecting said display surface and said rearmost lens; and driving means for pivoting said fourth structure in universal directions relative to said third structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 77 words
An image projecting unit as claimed in claim 2, in which said drive means comprises: a bolt extending between first given portions of said second and fourth structures, the distance between said first given portions being varied upon rotation of said bolt about its axis; and another bolt extending between second given portions of said second and fourth structures, the distance between said second given portions being varied upon rotation of said another bolt about its axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 55 words
An image projecting unit as claimed in claim 3, in which said first given portions and said second given portions are spaced by 90 degree in angle with respect to an axis which passes through a center of the opening of said second structure and a center of the rearmost lens of said lens assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 58 words
An image projecting unit as claimed in claim 4, in which each of said bolts of said drive means has a rear end portion rotatably held by said second structure and a front end portion rotatably held by said fourth structure, and in which each of said bolts has a nut operatively engaged with the front end portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
An image projecting unit as claimed in claim 5, in which said fourth structure is circular in shape and universally pivotally received in a substantially circular opening formed in said third structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
An image projecting unit as claimed in claim 6, in which said fourth structure is divided into upper and lower parts by and between which the substantially circular opening is defined.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 42 words
An image projecting unit as claimed in claim 7, in which outer peripheral surfaces of the circular fourth structure constitute convex surfaces which are slidably mated with concave recesses which are possessed by said upper and lower parts of said third structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 49 words
An image projecting unit as claimed in claim 8, in which the circular fourth structure has a circular opening formed therethrough, said lens assembly being connected to said fourth structure in such a manner that the rearmost lens thereof is mated with said circular opening of said fourth structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 30 words
An image projecting unit as claimed in claim 9, further comprising position adjusting means which positions said upper and lower parts of said third structure relative to said second structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 90 words
An image projecting unit as claimed in claim 10, in which said position adjusting means comprises: a bolt extending between third given portions of said second structure and the upper part of said third structure, the distance between said third given portions being varied upon rotation of said bolt about its axis; and another bolt extending between fourth given portions of said second structure and the lower part of said third structure, the distance between said fourth given portions being varied upon rotation of said another bolt about its axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 49 words
An image projecting unit as claimed in claim 11, in which said second structure has forwardly extending upper and lower plate portions, said plate portions being formed at their inside surfaces with respective guide grooves with which said upper and lower parts of said third structure are slidably engaged.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 45 words
An image projecting unit as claimed in claim 2, in which said bellows assembly comprises: a bellows proper having front and rear ends; two mounting rings through which said front and rear ends of said bellows proper are connected to said fourth and second structures.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 21 words
An image projecting unit as claimed in claim 13, in which said bellows proper is constructed of a resiliently deformable metal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 23 words
An image projecting unit as claimed in claim 14, in which said bellows is constructed of steel, stainless steel, phosphor bronze or berylium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 21 words
An image projecting unit as claimed in claim 13, in which said bellows is constructed of rubber, polyethylene terephthalate or polypropylene.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 1996-10-04 1997-04-05 1997-10-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-10-04 2001-04-05 2001-10-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-10-04 2005-04-05 2005-10-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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