US6104446A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Color separation optical plate for use with LCD panels
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-12-18
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Granted: 2000-08-15
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Expires: 2016-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A color separation optical plate is described which is superimposed onto a transmissive LCD panel. The color separation plate separates incident white light into its red/green/blue (RGB) components and guides each component through the appropriate sub-pixel (dot) of the LCD panel. The color separation plate utilizes a microprism array of direct vision microprisms each having a combination of refractive and gradient index optics to concentrate the light onto the appropriate dot and to separate the colors. This combination has the theoretical capability of increasing color LCD panel transmissivity by as much as a factor of six.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Blankenbecler
- 👤 Maurice Levis
- 👤 Helen Gourley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:04
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/1336; G02F1/133621
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A color image projection system comprising, in named sequence, means to generate white light, a color separation plate, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel, a projection lens and a screen, characterized in that the color separation plate is an array of transmissive direct vision microprisms, each microprism comprising at least a first prism of one index of refraction and a second prism of a different index of refraction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A color image projection system comprising, in named sequence, means to generate white light, a color separation plate, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel, a projection lens and a screen, characterized in that the color separation plate is an array of transmissive direct vision microprisms, each microprism comprising at least a first prism of one index of refraction and a second prism of a different index of refraction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A color image projection system as in claim 1 wherein the microprisms are GRIN (Gradient Index) Wernicke prisms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A color image projection system as in claim 1 wherein the LCD panel has three proximate sub-pixels which form each pixel, the LCD panel has at least ten thousand pixels, and each microprism separates the white light into Red, Green and Blue (RGB) spectral components and the system includes means to direct each RGB component through a respective sub-pixel of each pixel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A color image projection system as in claim 1 wherein the array comprises at least three hundred microprisms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A color image projection system as in claim 1 wherein the color separation plate comprises three superimposed sheets each sheet having at least one face of microgrooves to form the microprisms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) having at least ten thousand TFT (Thin Film Transistor) light valves and a color separation plate to direct light on the LCD, the separation plate comprising an array of at least three hundred transmissive direct vision microprisms, each microprism comprising a first prism of one index of refraction and a second prism of a different index of refraction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) having at least ten thousand TFT (Thin Film Transistor) light valves and a color separation plate to direct light on the LCD, the separation plate comprising an array of at least three hundred transmissive direct vision microprisms, each microprism comprising a first prism of one index of refraction and a second prism of a different index of refraction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination as in claim 6 wherein the microprisms are GRIN (Gradient Index) Wernicke prisms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination as in claim 6 wherein the LCD panel has three proximate sub-pixels to form each pixel and each microprism separates the white light into Red, Green and Blue (RGB) spectral components and the system includes means to direct each RGB component through a respective sub-pixel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination as in claim 6 wherein the microprisms are Wernicke prisms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination as in claim 6 wherein the color separation plate comprises three superimposed sheets, each sheet having at least one face of microgrooves thereon to form the microprisms.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination as in claim 6 wherein the color separation plate comprises three superimposed sheets, at least one of the sheets being a GRIN (Gradient Index) element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination as in claim 6 and further comprising a microlens array positioned between the LCD panel and the color separation panel and proximate the color separation panel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
A color image direct view system, comprising, in the named sequence, means to generate white light, a color separation plate and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel, characterized in that the color separation plate is an array of transmissive direct vision microprisms, each microprism comprising a first prism of one index of refraction and a second prism of a different index of refraction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
A color image direct view system, comprising, in the named sequence, means to generate white light, a color separation plate and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel, characterized in that the color separation plate is an array of transmissive direct vision microprisms, each microprism comprising a first prism of one index of refraction and a second prism of a different index of refraction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A color system as in claim 13 wherein the microprisms are GRIN (Gradient Index) Wernicke prisms.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
A color system as in claim 13 wherein the LCD panel has three proximate sub-pixels to form each pixel and each microprism separates the white light into Red, Green and Blue (RGB) spectral components and the system includes means to direct each RGB component through a respective sub-pixel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A color system as in claim 13 wherein the array comprises at least three hundred microprisms.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A color system as in claim 13 wherein the color separation plate comprises three superimposed sheets, each sheet having at least one face of microgrooves thereon to form the microprisms.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A color system as in claim 13 wherein the color separation plate comprises three superimposed sheets, at least one of the sheets being a GRIN (Gradient Index) element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A color system as in claim 13 and further comprising a microlens array positioned between the LCD panel and the color separation panel and proximate the color separation panel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A color system as in claim 13 and further comprising a microlens array positioned between the means to generate white light and the color separation plate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
A direct view system as in claim 13 wherein the means to generate white light is an illuminator panel comprising at least nine side-by-side light pipes, each light pipe having an entry and exit face, and RGB (Red,Green,Blue) LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) positioned at each entry face to illuminate each light pipe with RGB light.
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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) | 2003-08-15 | 2004-02-14 | 2004-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-15 | 2008-02-14 | 2008-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-15 | 2012-02-14 | 2012-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |