US6120152A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Projection-type display apparatus
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
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Filing: 1997-01-14
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Granted: 2000-09-19
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Expires: 2017-01-14
Abstract
Abstract A projection-type display apparatus includes a light source, a uniform illumination optical system, a color separating system for separating a white light beam emitted from the uniform illumination optical system into three color beams, three liquid crystal panels for respectively modulating each of the separated color beams, a light guide system located on an optical path of the color beam having the longest optical path among the separated color beams, a dichroic prism for synthesizing the beams modulated through the liquid crystal panels, and a projection lens for projecting the synthesized and modulated beam onto a screen. The uniform illumination optical system is provided with a uniform illumination optical device for converting the white light beam emitted from the light source into a uniform beam. Since the dichroic prism, which is an optical element that is rotationally symmetrical about the chief axis of a projection optical system, is employed as a color synthesizing system, and the uniform illumination optical device for restricting unevenness in color and luminous intensity is incorporated in the system, it is possible to realize a display apparatus which causes little unevenness in color and luminous intensity and which has a high illumination efficiency.
Inventors
- 👤 Tadaaki Nakayama
- 👤 Yoshitaka Itoh
- 👤 Akitaka Yajima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:55
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B3/00; G02B3/0006; G02B3/0037; G02B3/0043; G02B3/005; G02B3/0056; G02B3/0062; G03; G03B; G03B21/00; G03B21/14; G03B21/20; G03B21/208; G03B33/00; G03B33/10; G03B33/12; H; H04; H04N; H04N9/00; H04N9/12; H04N9/31; H04N9/3102; H04N9/3105; H04N9/3141; H04N9/315; H04N9/3167; H04N5/00; H04N5/74; H04N5/7416; H04N5/7441
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source; color separating means for separating a light beam emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams; a plurality of light valves for modulating said separated color beams; light guide means located on an optical path of a color beam having a longest optical path length, the color beams being separated by said color separating means and respectively incident on said light valves; color synthesizing means for synthesizing a projection beam from said color beams modulated through said light valves; a projection lens for projecting said projection beam into a screen; uniform illumination optical means interposed on an optical path between said light source and said color separating means for converting said light beam emitted from said light source into a uniform beam; and a plurality of condenser lenses located respectively in outputting portions of said color separating means for outputting said color beams, the condenser lenses converting said color beams separated by said color separating means into almost collimated beams, said light guide means having one intermediate lens, and a focal length of said intermediate lens is within a range of approximately 0.9 to 1.1 times the optical path length of said light guide means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source; color separating means for separating a light beam emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams; a plurality of light valves for modulating said separated color beams; light guide means located on an optical path of a color beam having a longest optical path length, the color beams being separated by said color separating means and respectively incident on said light valves; color synthesizing means for synthesizing a projection beam from said color beams modulated through said light valves; a projection lens for projecting said projection beam into a screen; uniform illumination optical means interposed on an optical path between said light source and said color separating means for converting said light beam emitted from said light source into a uniform beam; and a plurality of condenser lenses located respectively in outputting portions of said color separating means for outputting said color beams, the condenser lenses converting said color beams separated by said color separating means into almost collimated beams, said light guide means having one intermediate lens, and a focal length of said intermediate lens is within a range of approximately 0.9 to 1.1 times the optical path length of said light guide means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
272 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source; color separating means for separating a light beam emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams; a plurality of light valves for modulating said separated color beams; light guide means located on an optical path of a color beam having a longest optical path length, the color beams being separated by said color separating means and respectively incident on said light valves; color synthesizing means for synthesizing a projection beam from said color beams modulated through said light valves; a projection lens for projecting said projection beam into a screen; uniform illumination optical means interposed on an optical path between said light source and said color separating means for converting said light beam emitted from said light source into a uniform beam; and a plurality of condenser lenses located respectively in outputting portions of said color separating means for outputting said color beams, the condenser lenses converting said color beams separated by said color separating means into almost collimated beams, said light guide means including an incident lens located on an incident side of an incident side reflecting mirror, an output lens located on an output side of an output side reflecting mirror, and an intermediate lens located between said incident and output side reflecting mirrors, focal lengths of said incident and output side lenses being within a range of approximately 0.5 to 0.7 times the optical path length of said light guide means, and the focal length of said intermediate lens being within a range of approximately 0.25 to 0.4 times the optical path length of said light guide means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
272 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source; color separating means for separating a light beam emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams; a plurality of light valves for modulating said separated color beams; light guide means located on an optical path of a color beam having a longest optical path length, the color beams being separated by said color separating means and respectively incident on said light valves; color synthesizing means for synthesizing a projection beam from said color beams modulated through said light valves; a projection lens for projecting said projection beam into a screen; uniform illumination optical means interposed on an optical path between said light source and said color separating means for converting said light beam emitted from said light source into a uniform beam; and a plurality of condenser lenses located respectively in outputting portions of said color separating means for outputting said color beams, the condenser lenses converting said color beams separated by said color separating means into almost collimated beams, said light guide means including an incident lens located on an incident side of an incident side reflecting mirror, an output lens located on an output side of an output side reflecting mirror, and an intermediate lens located between said incident and output side reflecting mirrors, focal lengths of said incident and output side lenses being within a range of approximately 0.5 to 0.7 times the optical path length of said light guide means, and the focal length of said intermediate lens being within a range of approximately 0.25 to 0.4 times the optical path length of said light guide means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A projection-type display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said incident lens of said light guide means and one of said condenser lenses are combined into a single lens.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A projection-type display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said single lens is an aspherical lens.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
174 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source color separating means for separating a light beam emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams, at least one of the color beams having an optical path that is longer than optical paths of other color beams; a plurality of light valves for modulating said separated color beams; light guide means located on an optical path of a color beam having a longest optical path length, said color beams being separated by said color separating means and respectively incident on said light valves; color synthesizing means for synthesizing a projection beam from said color beams modulated through said light valves; a projection lens for projecting said projection beam onto a screen; and uniform illumination optical means interposed on an optical path between said light source and said color separating means for converting said light beam emitted from said light source into a uniform beam, said uniform illumination optical means further including a reflecting mirror interposed between said first and said second lens plates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
174 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source color separating means for separating a light beam emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams, at least one of the color beams having an optical path that is longer than optical paths of other color beams; a plurality of light valves for modulating said separated color beams; light guide means located on an optical path of a color beam having a longest optical path length, said color beams being separated by said color separating means and respectively incident on said light valves; color synthesizing means for synthesizing a projection beam from said color beams modulated through said light valves; a projection lens for projecting said projection beam onto a screen; and uniform illumination optical means interposed on an optical path between said light source and said color separating means for converting said light beam emitted from said light source into a uniform beam, said uniform illumination optical means further including a reflecting mirror interposed between said first and said second lens plates.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
174 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source color separating means for separating a light beam emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams, at least one of the color beams having an optical path that is longer than optical paths of other color beams; a plurality of light valves for modulating said separated color beams; light guide means located on an optical path of a color beam having a longest optical path length, said color beams being separated by said color separating means and respectively incident on said light valves; color synthesizing means for synthesizing a projection beam from said color beams modulated through said light valves; a projection lens for projecting said projection beam onto a screen; and uniform illumination optical means interposed on an optical path between said light source and said color separating means for converting said light beam emitted from said light source into a uniform beam, said uniform illumination optical means further including a reflecting mirror interposed between said first and said second lens plates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
174 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source color separating means for separating a light beam emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams, at least one of the color beams having an optical path that is longer than optical paths of other color beams; a plurality of light valves for modulating said separated color beams; light guide means located on an optical path of a color beam having a longest optical path length, said color beams being separated by said color separating means and respectively incident on said light valves; color synthesizing means for synthesizing a projection beam from said color beams modulated through said light valves; a projection lens for projecting said projection beam onto a screen; and uniform illumination optical means interposed on an optical path between said light source and said color separating means for converting said light beam emitted from said light source into a uniform beam, said uniform illumination optical means further including a reflecting mirror interposed between said first and said second lens plates.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
157 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source emitting a light beam; a uniform illumination optical device that converts said light beam emitted from said light source into a uniform beam; a color separating optical system that separates the beam emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams; a plurality of condenser lenses located respectively in outputting portions of said color separating optical system, the condenser lenses converting said color beams into almost collimated beams; a plurality of light valves that modulate said separated color beams; a light guide system located on an optical path of a color beam having a longest optical path length; and a color synthesizing system that synthesizes said color beams into a projection beam, said light guide system including an intermediate lens, and a focal length of said intermediate lens being within a range of approximately 0.9 to 1.1 times an optical path length of said light guide system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
157 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source emitting a light beam; a uniform illumination optical device that converts said light beam emitted from said light source into a uniform beam; a color separating optical system that separates the beam emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams; a plurality of condenser lenses located respectively in outputting portions of said color separating optical system, the condenser lenses converting said color beams into almost collimated beams; a plurality of light valves that modulate said separated color beams; a light guide system located on an optical path of a color beam having a longest optical path length; and a color synthesizing system that synthesizes said color beams into a projection beam, said light guide system including an intermediate lens, and a focal length of said intermediate lens being within a range of approximately 0.9 to 1.1 times an optical path length of said light guide system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
223 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source emitting a light beam; a uniform illumination optical device that converts said light beam emitted from said light source into a uniform beam; a color separating optical system that separates the beam emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams; a plurality of condenser lenses located respectively in outputting portions of said color separating optical system, the condenser lenses converting said color beams into almost collimated beams; a plurality of light valves that modulate said separated color beams; a light guide system located on an optical path of a color beam having a longest optical path length; and a color synthesizing system that synthesizes said color beams into a projection beam, said light guide system including an incident lens located on an incident side of an incident side reflecting mirror, an output lens located on an output side of an output side reflecting mirror, and an intermediate lens located between said incident and output side reflecting mirrors, focal lengths of said incident and output side lenses being within a range of approximately 0.5 to 0.7 times an optical path length of said light guide system, and a focal length of said intermediate lens being within a range of approximately 0.25 to 0.4 times the optical path length of said light guide system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
223 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source emitting a light beam; a uniform illumination optical device that converts said light beam emitted from said light source into a uniform beam; a color separating optical system that separates the beam emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams; a plurality of condenser lenses located respectively in outputting portions of said color separating optical system, the condenser lenses converting said color beams into almost collimated beams; a plurality of light valves that modulate said separated color beams; a light guide system located on an optical path of a color beam having a longest optical path length; and a color synthesizing system that synthesizes said color beams into a projection beam, said light guide system including an incident lens located on an incident side of an incident side reflecting mirror, an output lens located on an output side of an output side reflecting mirror, and an intermediate lens located between said incident and output side reflecting mirrors, focal lengths of said incident and output side lenses being within a range of approximately 0.5 to 0.7 times an optical path length of said light guide system, and a focal length of said intermediate lens being within a range of approximately 0.25 to 0.4 times the optical path length of said light guide system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The projection-type display apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said incident lens of said light guide system and one of said condenser lenses are combined into a single lens.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A projection-type display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said single lens is an aspherical lens.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
140 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source emitting a light beam; a uniform illumination optical device that converts said light beam emitted from said light source into a uniform beam; a color separating optical system that separates the beam emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams; a plurality of condenser lenses located respectively in outputting portions of said color separating optical system, the condenser lenses converting said color beams into almost collimated beams; a plurality of light valves that modulate said separated color beams; a light guide system located on an optical path of a color beam having a longest optical path length; and a color synthesizing system that synthesizes said color beams into a projection beam, said uniform illumination optical device further including a reflecting mirror interposed between first and said second lens plates.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
140 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source emitting a light beam; a uniform illumination optical device that converts said light beam emitted from said light source into a uniform beam; a color separating optical system that separates the beam emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams; a plurality of condenser lenses located respectively in outputting portions of said color separating optical system, the condenser lenses converting said color beams into almost collimated beams; a plurality of light valves that modulate said separated color beams; a light guide system located on an optical path of a color beam having a longest optical path length; and a color synthesizing system that synthesizes said color beams into a projection beam, said uniform illumination optical device further including a reflecting mirror interposed between first and said second lens plates.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
134 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source emitting a light beam; a uniform illumination optical device that converts said light beam emitted from said light source into a uniform beam; a color separating optical system that separates the beam emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams, at least one of the color beams having an optical path that is longer than optical paths of other color beams; a plurality of light valves that modulate said separated color beams; a light guide system located on an optical path of the color beam having a longest optical path length; and a color synthesizing system that synthesizes said color beams into a projection beam, said uniform illumination optical device further including a reflecting mirror interposed between first and said second lens plates.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
134 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source emitting a light beam; a uniform illumination optical device that converts said light beam emitted from said light source into a uniform beam; a color separating optical system that separates the beam emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams, at least one of the color beams having an optical path that is longer than optical paths of other color beams; a plurality of light valves that modulate said separated color beams; a light guide system located on an optical path of the color beam having a longest optical path length; and a color synthesizing system that synthesizes said color beams into a projection beam, said uniform illumination optical device further including a reflecting mirror interposed between first and said second lens plates.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
111 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source emitting a light beam; a color separating optical system that separates the light bean emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams; a plurality of light valves that modulate said separated color beams; a light guide system located on an optical path of the color beam having a longest optical path length, the light guide system including an intermediate lens, a focal length of said intermediate lens being within a range of approximately 0.9 to 1.1 times an optical path length of said light guide system; and a color synthesizing system that synthesizes said color beams into a projection beam.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
111 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source emitting a light beam; a color separating optical system that separates the light bean emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams; a plurality of light valves that modulate said separated color beams; a light guide system located on an optical path of the color beam having a longest optical path length, the light guide system including an intermediate lens, a focal length of said intermediate lens being within a range of approximately 0.9 to 1.1 times an optical path length of said light guide system; and a color synthesizing system that synthesizes said color beams into a projection beam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The projection-type display apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a projection lens that projects said projection beam.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
178 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source emitting a light beam; a color separating optical system that separates the light beam emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams; a plurality of light valves that modulate said separated color beams; a light guide system located on an optical path of the color beam having a longest optical path length, the light guide system including an incident lens located on an incident side of an incident side reflecting mirror, an output lens located on an output side of an output side reflecting mirror, and an intermediate lens located between said incident and output side reflecting mirrors, focal lengths of said incident and output side lenses being within a range of approximately 0.5 to 0.7 times an optical path length of said light guide system, and a focal length of said intermediate lens being within a range of approximately 0.25 to 0.4 times the optical path length of said light guide system; and a color synthesizing system that synthesizes said color beams into a projection beam.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
178 words
A projection-type display apparatus, comprising: a light source emitting a light beam; a color separating optical system that separates the light beam emitted from said light source into a plurality of color beams; a plurality of light valves that modulate said separated color beams; a light guide system located on an optical path of the color beam having a longest optical path length, the light guide system including an incident lens located on an incident side of an incident side reflecting mirror, an output lens located on an output side of an output side reflecting mirror, and an intermediate lens located between said incident and output side reflecting mirrors, focal lengths of said incident and output side lenses being within a range of approximately 0.5 to 0.7 times an optical path length of said light guide system, and a focal length of said intermediate lens being within a range of approximately 0.25 to 0.4 times the optical path length of said light guide system; and a color synthesizing system that synthesizes said color beams into a projection beam.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The projection-type display apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a projection lens that projects said projection beam.
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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) | 2003-09-19 | 2004-03-20 | 2004-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-19 | 2008-03-20 | 2008-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-19 | 2012-03-20 | 2012-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |