US5666226A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical apparatus
Assignee: Sharp Corp
•
Filing: 1994-05-24
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Granted: 1997-09-09
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Expires: 2014-05-24
Abstract
Abstract An optical apparatus of this invention comprises a first spatial light modulator, an array of imaging elements, and a plurality of light sources, and an image surface. Each of the imaging elements of the array is arranged to form an image of the plurality of light sources via the spatial light modulator at a respective position on the image surface.
Inventors
- 👤 David Ezra
- 👤 Graham J. Woodgate
- 👤 Paul May
- 👤 Michael G. Robinson
- 👤 Jonathan Harrold
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:17
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/34; G09G3/3406; G09G3/342; G09G3/3426; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/133526; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/12; G06K15/1238; G06K15/1257; H; H04; H04N; H04N3/00; H04N3/10; H04N3/12; H04N3/127; H04N5/00; H04N5/66; G02F2203/00; G02F2203/12; G09G2310/00; G09G2310/02; G09G2310/024; G09G2340/00; G09G2340/04; G09G2340/0407; G09G3/2007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
An optical apparatus comprising a first spatial light modulator having a plurality of individually controllable pixels, an array of imaging elements, a plurality of light sources, and an image surface, wherein each of the imaging elements of the array is arranged to form an image of each of the plurality of light sources through a corresponding pixel of the spatial light modulator at a respective position on the image surface, and optical paths of each of the images of the plurality of light sources are overlapping through the respective pixels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
An optical apparatus comprising a first spatial light modulator having a plurality of individually controllable pixels, an array of imaging elements, a plurality of light sources, and an image surface, wherein each of the imaging elements of the array is arranged to form an image of each of the plurality of light sources through a corresponding pixel of the spatial light modulator at a respective position on the image surface, and optical paths of each of the images of the plurality of light sources are overlapping through the respective pixels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising collimating means for collimating light from the light sources onto the array of imaging elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the collimating means comprises a converging lens with the plurality of light sources disposed substantially in the focal plane thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the light sources are monochromatic and the converging lens is a diffractive element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first spatial light modulator comprises a plurality of picture elements, each of which corresponds to and is substantially aligned with a respective imaging element of the array.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources are arranged as an array of light sources extending substantially perpendicularly to an optical axis of the apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the array of light sources is a one dimensional array.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the array of light sources is a two dimensional array.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of the light sources is contiguous with the adjacent light source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the array of light sources comprises a further spatial light modulator having a plurality of elements and continuous illumination means disposed behind the further spatial light modulator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the further spatial light modulator is a liquid crystal device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the light sources include at least one light source of a first color and at least one light source of a second color.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image surface is a plane surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the array of imaging elements comprises a one dimensional array.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the array of imaging elements comprises a two dimensional array.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the array of imaging elements is an array of lenses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the lenses of the array are converging lenses.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the array of lenses comprises a microlens array.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the lenses of the microlens array are spherically converging.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the array of lenses comprises a lenticular screen.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the lenticules of the lenticular screen are cylindrically converging.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the light sources are monochromatic and the array of lenses comprises an array of diffractive elements.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the array of imaging elements is a parallax barrier defining an array of apertures.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first spatial light modulator comprises a liquid crystal device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image surface comprises a diffuser.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for supporting a light-sensitive film at the image surface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
92 words
An optical apparatus comprising a first spatial light modulator, an array of imaging elements, a light source for illuminating the first spatial light modulator, imaging means, a second spatial light modulator, and an image surface, wherein the imaging means is arranged to form an image of the first spatial light modulator on the array of imaging elements via the second spatial light modulator and each of the imaging elements of the array is arranged to form an image of the second spatial light modulator at a respective position on the image surface.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
92 words
An optical apparatus comprising a first spatial light modulator, an array of imaging elements, a light source for illuminating the first spatial light modulator, imaging means, a second spatial light modulator, and an image surface, wherein the imaging means is arranged to form an image of the first spatial light modulator on the array of imaging elements via the second spatial light modulator and each of the imaging elements of the array is arranged to form an image of the second spatial light modulator at a respective position on the image surface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first spatial light modulator comprises a plurality of picture elements and the imaging means is arranged to form an image of each of the picture elements on a respective imaging element of the array.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the second spatial light modulator comprises a liquid crystal device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the image surface is a plane surface.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the array of imaging elements comprises a one dimensional array.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claims 27, wherein the array of imaging elements comprises a two dimensional array.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the array of imaging elements is an array of lenses.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein the lenses of the array are converging lenses.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein the array of lenses comprises a microlens array.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the lenses of the microlens array are spherically converging.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein the array of lenses comprises a lenticular screen.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein the lenticules of the lenticular screen are cylindrically converging.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein the light sources are monochromatic and the array of lenses comprises an array of diffractive elements.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the array of imaging elements is a parallax barrier defining an array of apertures.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first spatial light modulator comprises a liquid crystal device.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the image surface comprises a diffuser.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 27, further comprising means for supporting a light-sensitive film at the image surface.
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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) | 2000-09-08 | 2001-03-10 | 2001-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-09-08 | 2005-03-10 | 2005-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-09-08 | 2009-03-10 | 2009-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |