US5566367A — Plate-like polarizing element, a polarizing conve…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 333 words

A projector comprising: illuminating means for emitting light; a plate-like polarizing element for converting the light from said illuminating means into polarized light, said plate-like polarizing element comprising a plurality of units arranged along a common plane across the light from said illuminating means; each of said units comprising: dividing means for dividing the light from said illuminating means into reflected light and transmitted light whose planes of polarization are orthogonal to each other, wherein said dividing means comprises a pair of polarization separation acting surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path from said illuminating means so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being in contact with one end of the other; varying means for varying the plane of polarization of at least one of said reflected light and said transmitted light to thereby make the planes of polarization of said two lights coincident with each other, wherein said varying means comprises a half wavelength plate installed between said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces; reflecting means for reflecting one of said reflected light and said transmitted light and directing it substantially in the same direction as the direction of travel of the other, wherein said reflecting means comprises a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces through said half wavelength plate and the other polarization separation acting surface; converting means provided on the light incidence side of said plate-like polarizing element for dividing said light into a plurality of partial lights, condensing each of said partial lights and converting it into light of a lattice-like pattern, each of said partial lights of a lattice-like pattern corresponding to each of said units; an image generator for modulating said polarized light in conformity with a video signal to thereby generate an image; and a projecting optical system for projecting said image.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 333 words

A projector comprising: illuminating means for emitting light; a plate-like polarizing element for converting the light from said illuminating means into polarized light, said plate-like polarizing element comprising a plurality of units arranged along a common plane across the light from said illuminating means; each of said units comprising: dividing means for dividing the light from said illuminating means into reflected light and transmitted light whose planes of polarization are orthogonal to each other, wherein said dividing means comprises a pair of polarization separation acting surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path from said illuminating means so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being in contact with one end of the other; varying means for varying the plane of polarization of at least one of said reflected light and said transmitted light to thereby make the planes of polarization of said two lights coincident with each other, wherein said varying means comprises a half wavelength plate installed between said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces; reflecting means for reflecting one of said reflected light and said transmitted light and directing it substantially in the same direction as the direction of travel of the other, wherein said reflecting means comprises a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces through said half wavelength plate and the other polarization separation acting surface; converting means provided on the light incidence side of said plate-like polarizing element for dividing said light into a plurality of partial lights, condensing each of said partial lights and converting it into light of a lattice-like pattern, each of said partial lights of a lattice-like pattern corresponding to each of said units; an image generator for modulating said polarized light in conformity with a video signal to thereby generate an image; and a projecting optical system for projecting said image.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

A projector according to claim 1, wherein said half wavelength plate is disposed intermediately of the optical path between said pair of polarization separation acting surfaces.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 51 words

A projector according to claim 1 wherein said plate-like polarizing element is disposed so as to be substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of said light of a lattice-like pattern emerging from said converting means, transmits said light of a lattice-like pattern therethrough and converts it into substantially dense polarized light.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 15 words

A projector according to claim 3 wherein said converting means is a both-surface fly-eye lens.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

A projector according to claim 3 wherein said converting means is a both-surface lenticular lens.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 330 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: means for providing light; a plate-like polarizing element for converting the light from said providing means into polarized light, said plate-light polarizing element comprising a plurality of units arranged along a plane across the light from said providing means; each of said units comprising: dividing means for dividing the light from said providing means into reflected light and transmitted light whose planes of polarization are orthogonal to each other, wherein said dividing means comprises a pair of polarization separation surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path from providing means so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being contact with one end of the other; varying means for varying the plane of polarization of at least one of said reflected light and said transmitted light to thereby make the planes of polarization of said two lights coincident with each other, wherein said varying means comprises a half wavelength plate disposed between said pair of polarization separation surfaces; reflecting means for reflecting one of said reflected light and said transmitted light and directing it substantially in the same direction as the direction of travel of the other, wherein said reflecting means comprises a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation surfaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation surfaces through said half wavelength plate and the other polarization separation surface; and an image generator for modulating said polarized light to thereby generate an image; said image from apparatus further comprising: an optical system for projecting said image; and changing means disposed at a light incident side of said plate-like polarizing element, wherein said changing means divide the light from said providing means into a plurality of partial light beams to converge each of said plurality of partial light beams to make the converged each thereof incident on a corresponding unit of said plurality of units.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 330 words

An image forming apparatus comprising: means for providing light; a plate-like polarizing element for converting the light from said providing means into polarized light, said plate-light polarizing element comprising a plurality of units arranged along a plane across the light from said providing means; each of said units comprising: dividing means for dividing the light from said providing means into reflected light and transmitted light whose planes of polarization are orthogonal to each other, wherein said dividing means comprises a pair of polarization separation surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path from providing means so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being contact with one end of the other; varying means for varying the plane of polarization of at least one of said reflected light and said transmitted light to thereby make the planes of polarization of said two lights coincident with each other, wherein said varying means comprises a half wavelength plate disposed between said pair of polarization separation surfaces; reflecting means for reflecting one of said reflected light and said transmitted light and directing it substantially in the same direction as the direction of travel of the other, wherein said reflecting means comprises a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation surfaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation surfaces through said half wavelength plate and the other polarization separation surface; and an image generator for modulating said polarized light to thereby generate an image; said image from apparatus further comprising: an optical system for projecting said image; and changing means disposed at a light incident side of said plate-like polarizing element, wherein said changing means divide the light from said providing means into a plurality of partial light beams to converge each of said plurality of partial light beams to make the converged each thereof incident on a corresponding unit of said plurality of units.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said each of said plurality of partial light beams becomes a parallel light beam to be incident on said corresponding unit.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 323 words

An image forming apparatus comprising; means for providing light; a plate-like polarizing element for converting the light from said providing means into polarized light, said plate-like polarizing element comprising a plurality of units arranged along a plane across the light from said providing means; each of said units comprising: dividing means for dividing the light from said providing means into reflected light and transmitted light whose planes of polarization are orthogonal to each other, wherein said dividing means comprises a pair of polarization separation surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path from said providing means so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being contact with one end of the other; varying means for varying the plane of polarization of at least one of said reflected light and said transmitted light to thereby make the planes of polarization of said two lights coincident with each other, wherein said varying means comprises a half wavelength plate disposed between said pair of polarization separation surfaces; reflecting means for reflecting one of said reflected light and said transmitted light and directing it substantially in the same direction as the direction of travel of the other, wherein said reflecting means comprises a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation surfaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation surfaces through said half wavelength plate and the other polarization separation surface; and an image generator for modulating said polarized light to thereby generate an image; said image forming apparatus further comprising: changing means disposed at a light incident side of said plate-like polarizing element, wherein said changing means divide the light from said providing means into a plurality of partial light beams to converge each of said plurality of partial light beams to make the converged each thereof incident on a corresponding unit of said plurality of units.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 323 words

An image forming apparatus comprising; means for providing light; a plate-like polarizing element for converting the light from said providing means into polarized light, said plate-like polarizing element comprising a plurality of units arranged along a plane across the light from said providing means; each of said units comprising: dividing means for dividing the light from said providing means into reflected light and transmitted light whose planes of polarization are orthogonal to each other, wherein said dividing means comprises a pair of polarization separation surfaces obliquely provided in the optical path from said providing means so as to face each other and disposed with one end of one of them being contact with one end of the other; varying means for varying the plane of polarization of at least one of said reflected light and said transmitted light to thereby make the planes of polarization of said two lights coincident with each other, wherein said varying means comprises a half wavelength plate disposed between said pair of polarization separation surfaces; reflecting means for reflecting one of said reflected light and said transmitted light and directing it substantially in the same direction as the direction of travel of the other, wherein said reflecting means comprises a pair of reflecting surfaces disposed so as to interpose said pair of polarization separation surfaces therebetween and reflecting said reflected light from one of said pair of polarization separation surfaces through said half wavelength plate and the other polarization separation surface; and an image generator for modulating said polarized light to thereby generate an image; said image forming apparatus further comprising: changing means disposed at a light incident side of said plate-like polarizing element, wherein said changing means divide the light from said providing means into a plurality of partial light beams to converge each of said plurality of partial light beams to make the converged each thereof incident on a corresponding unit of said plurality of units.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 28 words

An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said each of said plurality of partial light beams becomes a parallel light beam to be incident on said corresponding unit.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-10-15	2000-04-15	2000-10-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-10-15	2004-04-15	2004-10-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-10-15	2008-04-15	2008-10-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Plate-like polarizing element, a polarizing conversion unit provided with the element, and a projector provided with the unit

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