US6076931A — De-centered lens group for use in an off-axis pro…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 64 words

A projection system comprising: a display device disposed to receive an illumination beam along a first optical path for modulating the illumination beam to form an imaging beam, and reflecting the imaging beam along a second optical path; and a collimating lens group disposed in said second optical path and being de-centered with respect to said second optical path, for collimating said imaging beam.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 64 words

A projection system comprising: a display device disposed to receive an illumination beam along a first optical path for modulating the illumination beam to form an imaging beam, and reflecting the imaging beam along a second optical path; and a collimating lens group disposed in said second optical path and being de-centered with respect to said second optical path, for collimating said imaging beam.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

A projection system according to claim 1, wherein said collimating lens group has an optical axis that forms a non-zero angle with respect to said second optical path.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

A projection system according to claim 2 having a system axis, wherein said optical axis of said collimating lens group is parallel to said system axis.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

A projection system according to claim 2 having a system axis, wherein said collimating lens group is de-centered with respect to said system axis.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

A projection system according to claim 2 having a system axis, wherein said display device is de-centered with respect to said system axis.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 37 words

A projection system according to claim 2 having a system axis, further comprising a field lens disposed between said display device and said collimating lens group, said field lens being de-centered with respect to said system axis.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 41 words

A projection system according to claim 2, further comprising a projection lens group disposed to receive said collimated beam, said projection lens group having an optical axis and being de-centered with respect to said optical axis of said collimating lens group.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

A projection system according to claim 7, wherein said optical axis of said projection lens group forms a non-zero angle with respect to said optical axis of said collimating lens group.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

A projection system according to claim 8 having a system axis, wherein said collimating lens group is de-centered with respect to said system axis.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

A projection system according to claim 9, wherein said display device is de-centered with respect to said system axis.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 33 words

A projection system according to claim 10, further comprising a field lens disposed between said display device and said collimating lens group, said field lens being de-centered with respect to said system axis.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

A projection system according to claim 1, wherein said collimating lens group comprises a sectioned wide-field-of-view lens.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 30 words

A projection system according to claim 12, wherein said collimating lens group further comprises an aberration compensating element to correct aberrations induced in said imaging beam by said projection system.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 77 words

A projection system comprising: an illumination source for emitting an illumination beam along a first optical path; a display device disposed in said first optical path for modulating the illumination beam to form an imaging beam, and reflecting the imaging beam along a second optical path; and a collimating lens group disposed in said second optical path and having an optical axis that forms a non-zero angle with said second optical path, for collimating said imaging beam.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 77 words

A projection system comprising: an illumination source for emitting an illumination beam along a first optical path; a display device disposed in said first optical path for modulating the illumination beam to form an imaging beam, and reflecting the imaging beam along a second optical path; and a collimating lens group disposed in said second optical path and having an optical axis that forms a non-zero angle with said second optical path, for collimating said imaging beam.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

A projection system according to claim 14, wherein said collimating lens group is de-centered with respect to said second optical path.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 35 words

A projection system according to claim 15, wherein said optical axis of said collimating lens group is parallel to a bisector of an angle formed between said first optical path and said second optical path.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 33 words

A projection system according to claim 15, wherein said collimating lens group is de-centered with respect to a bisector of an angle formed between said first optical path and said second optical path.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 32 words

A projection system according to claim 15, wherein said display device is de-centered with respect to a bisector of an angle formed between said first optical path and said second optical path.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 51 words

A projection system according to claim 15, further comprising a field lens disposed adjacent said display device in said first optical path and said second optical path, said field lens being de-centered with respect to a bisector of an angle formed between said first optical path and said second optical path.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 42 words

A projection system according to claim 15, further comprising a projection lens group disposed to receive said collimated imaging beam, said projection lens group having an optical axis and being de-centered with respect to said optical axis of said collimating lens group.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 29 words

A projection system according to claim 20, wherein said optical axis of said projection lens group forms a non-zero angle with the optical axis of said collimating lens group.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 35 words

A projection system according to claim 21, wherein said optical axis of said collimating lens group is parallel to a bisector of an angle formed between said first optical path and said second optical path.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 18 words

A projection system according to claim 22, wherein said display device is de-centered with respect to said bisector.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 37 words

A projection system according to claim 23, further comprising a field lens disposed adjacent said display device in said first optical path and said second optical path, said field lens being de-centered with respect to said bisector.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 65 words

A method of projecting a display image, said method comprising: modulating an illumination beam received along a first optical path with a reflective display device to form an imaging beam; reflecting said imaging beam along a second optical path; and collimating said imaging beam with a collimating lens group having an optical axis that forms a non-zero angle with respect to said second optical path.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 65 words

A method of projecting a display image, said method comprising: modulating an illumination beam received along a first optical path with a reflective display device to form an imaging beam; reflecting said imaging beam along a second optical path; and collimating said imaging beam with a collimating lens group having an optical axis that forms a non-zero angle with respect to said second optical path.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method of projecting a display image in accordance with claim 25, wherein said collimating lens group comprises a sectioned wide-field-of-view lens.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method of projecting a display image in accordance with claim 25, wherein said collimating lens group is de-centered with respect to said second optical path.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 50 words

A method of projecting a display image in accordance with claim 27, further comprising the step of projecting said display image by passing said collimated imaging beam through a projection lens group having an optical axis and being de-centered with respect to said optical axis of said collimating lens group.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 49 words

A method of projecting a display image in accordance with claim 27, further comprising the step of projecting said display image by passing said collimated imaging beam through a projection lens group having an optical axis forming a non-zero angle with said optical axis of said collimating lens group.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 35 words

In a projection system having a system axis, a method of projecting a display image in accordance with claim 27, wherein said optical axis of said collimating lens group is parallel to said system axis.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 53 words

In a projection system having a system axis, a method of projecting a display image in accordance with claim 27, further comprising the step of projecting said display image by passing said collimated imaging beam through a projection lens group having an optical axis which forms a non-zero angle with said system axis.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 32 words

In a projection system having a system axis, a method of projecting a display image in accordance with claim 27, wherein said display device is de-centered with respect to said system axis.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 40 words

In a projection system having a system axis, a method of projecting a display image in accordance with claim 27, further comprising the step of passing said imaging beam through a field lens de-centered with respect to said system axis.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method of projecting a display image in accordance with claim 27, wherein said collimating lens group comprises a sectioned wide-field-of-view lens.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 120 words

A projection system comprising: an illumination source for emitting an illumination beam along a first optical path; a display device disposed in said first optical path for modulating the illumination beam to form an imaging beam, and reflecting the imaging beam along a second optical path forming a non-zero angle with said first optical path; a collimating lens group disposed in said second optical path and having an optical axis that forms a non-zero angle with said second optical path, for collimating said imaging beam along a third optical path, said third optical path forming a non-zero angle with said second optical path; and a projection lens group having an optical axis centered with respect to said third optical path.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 120 words

A projection system comprising: an illumination source for emitting an illumination beam along a first optical path; a display device disposed in said first optical path for modulating the illumination beam to form an imaging beam, and reflecting the imaging beam along a second optical path forming a non-zero angle with said first optical path; a collimating lens group disposed in said second optical path and having an optical axis that forms a non-zero angle with said second optical path, for collimating said imaging beam along a third optical path, said third optical path forming a non-zero angle with said second optical path; and a projection lens group having an optical axis centered with respect to said third optical path.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 53 words

A projection system according to claim 35, further comprising: a polarizer disposed in said first optical path between said illumination source and said display device, to polarize said illumination beam; and an analyzer disposed in said second optical path between said display device and said collimating lens group, to analyze said imaging beam.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 76 words

A projection system according to claim 36, further comprising: a color separator disposed between said polarizer and said illumination source to separate said illumination beam into a plurality of colored illumination beams; a plurality of display devices, each associated with a respective one of said colored illumination beams, for modulating the associated colored illumination beam to form associated colored imaging beams; and a color combiner for combining the colored imaging beams to form said imaging beam.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 63 words

A projection system according claim 37, further comprising: a plurality of polarizers, each associated with one of said plurality of display devices and being disposed between said associated display device and said color separation means; and a plurality of analyzers, each associated with one of said plurality of display devices and being disposed between said associated display device and said color combining means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-06-20	2003-12-20	2004-06-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-06-20	2007-12-20	2008-06-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-06-20	2011-12-20	2012-06-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

De-centered lens group for use in an off-axis projector

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