US6882379B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light source device including a planar light source having a single, substantially continuous light emission area and display device incorporating the light source device
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
•
Filing: 1999-06-04
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Granted: 2005-04-19
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Expires: 2019-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A red light source comprising an array of LEDs 102 R that emit light of a red color, a green light source comprising an array of LEDs 102 G that emit light of a green color, and a blue light source comprising an array of LEDs 102 B that emit light of a blue color are deployed about the periphery of a dichroic prism 101 . A liquid crystal display element is illuminated by a light source device configured such that the light from the respective light sources is synthesized into white light by the dichroic prism, and projection type liquid crystal display devices and the like are configured.
Inventors
- 👤 Osamu Yokoyama
- 👤 Tatsuya Shimoda
- 👤 Satoru Miyashita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:49
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/10; G02B27/14; G02B27/149; G02B27/1006; G02B27/102; G02B27/1026; G02B27/1033; G02B27/1046; G02B27/1053; G02B27/1066; G02B27/144; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/1336; G02F1/133602; G02F1/133609; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/34; G09G3/3406; G09G3/3413; G02F1/133606; G02F1/133607; G02F1/133621; G02F1/133622; G09G2310/00; G09G2310/02; G09G2310/0235
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
303 words
A light source device, comprising: a first light source for emitting first light of a first color; a second light source for emitting second light of a second color; a third light source for emitting third light of a third color; a first polarization converter for aligning a polarization direction of said first light by converting one polarization component to the other polarization component; a second polarization converter for aligning a polarization direction of said second light by converting one polarization component to the other polarization component; a third polarization converter for aligning a polarization direction of said third light by converting one polarization component to the other polarization component; and a color synthesizing optical system for synthesizing said first, second and third light of which the polarization directions are respectively aligned by said first, second, and third polarization converters, wherein the first polarization converter comprises a first reflecting polarizer positioned between the first light source and the color synthesizing optical system, and a first reflector provided inside the first light source so that polarized light that is returned to the first light source is reflected by the first reflector toward the first reflecting polarizer, the second polarization converter comprises a second reflecting polarizer positioned between the second light source and the color synthesizing optical system, and a second reflector provided inside the second light source so that polarized light that is returned to the second light source is reflected by the second reflector toward the second reflecting polarizer, the third polarization converter comprises a third reflecting polarizer positioned between the third light source and the color synthesizing optical system, and a third reflector provided inside the third light source so that polarized light that is returned to the third light source is reflected by the third reflector toward the third reflecting polarizer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
303 words
A light source device, comprising: a first light source for emitting first light of a first color; a second light source for emitting second light of a second color; a third light source for emitting third light of a third color; a first polarization converter for aligning a polarization direction of said first light by converting one polarization component to the other polarization component; a second polarization converter for aligning a polarization direction of said second light by converting one polarization component to the other polarization component; a third polarization converter for aligning a polarization direction of said third light by converting one polarization component to the other polarization component; and a color synthesizing optical system for synthesizing said first, second and third light of which the polarization directions are respectively aligned by said first, second, and third polarization converters, wherein the first polarization converter comprises a first reflecting polarizer positioned between the first light source and the color synthesizing optical system, and a first reflector provided inside the first light source so that polarized light that is returned to the first light source is reflected by the first reflector toward the first reflecting polarizer, the second polarization converter comprises a second reflecting polarizer positioned between the second light source and the color synthesizing optical system, and a second reflector provided inside the second light source so that polarized light that is returned to the second light source is reflected by the second reflector toward the second reflecting polarizer, the third polarization converter comprises a third reflecting polarizer positioned between the third light source and the color synthesizing optical system, and a third reflector provided inside the third light source so that polarized light that is returned to the third light source is reflected by the third reflector toward the third reflecting polarizer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The light source device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said first color is a color in a region from orange to red, said second color is a color in a region from green to yellow-green, and said third color is a color in a blue region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The light source device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said color synthesizing optical system is a dichroic prism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The light source device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said first, second, and third light sources are light emitting diodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The light source device according to claim 4 , characterized in that lenses are deployed between said first, second, and third light sources and said color synthesizing optical system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The light source device according to claim 4 , characterized in that lens array elements are deployed between said first, second, and third light sources and said color synthesizing optical system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The light source device according to claim 4 , characterized in that a plurality of said light emitting diodes are deployed two-dimensionally in said first, second, and third light sources, respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The light source device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said first, second, and third light sources are flat-panel fluorescent tubes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The light source device according to claim 8 , characterized in that prism array elements are deployed between said flat-panel fluorescent tubes and said color synthesizing optical system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The light source device according to claim 8 , characterized in that said prism array elements are each configured from two mutually perpendicular prism arrays.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The light source device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said first, second, and third light sources are flat-panel electroluminescent elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The light source device according to claim 11 , characterized in that said electroluminescent elements are organic electroluminescent elements having organic thin films as light emitting layers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The light source device according to claim 11 , characterized in that said organic electroluminescent elements comprise optical resonators in light emitting layer structures thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The light source device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said first, second, and third light sources light simultaneously.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The light source device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said first, second, and third light sources repeatedly light in order.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
A display device having: a light modulating element; and a light source device according to claim 1 ; characterized in that: light from said light source device is modulated in said light modulating element; and light so modulated is magnified by a projection lens and displayed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
The display device according to claim 16 , characterized in that: said light modulating element is a transmissive type liquid crystal element; said light source device is deployed opposite one face of said liquid crystal element; and images formed on said liquid crystal element are magnified by said projection lens and displayed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The display device according to claim 17 , characterized in that magnified virtual images of images displayed by a liquid crystal display element are viewed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The display device according to claim 17 , characterized in that color filters are formed in pixels configuring said liquid crystal display element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The display device according to claim 16 , characterized in that said light modulating element is a reflecting type light modulating element, and said light source device is deployed opposite reflecting surface of said light modulating element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
146 words
The display device according to claim 16 , characterized in that: said light modulating element forms, with time division, a first color component image, a second color component image, and a third color component image; said first light source in said light source device is lit during time interval wherein said first color component image is being formed, said second light source in said light source device is lit next during time interval wherein said second color component image is being formed, and said third light source in said light source device is lit next during time interval wherein said third color component image is being formed; and a color image is displayed by sequential display of said first, second, and third color components in said light modulating element, and by sequential lighting of said first, second, and third light sources corresponding to those sequential displays.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The display device according to claim 16 , characterized in that said first color is a color in a region from orange to red, said second color is a color in a region from green to yellow-green, and said third color is a color in a blue region.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The display device according to claim 16 , characterized in that said color synthesizing optical system is a dichroic prism.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The display device according to claim 16 , characterized in that said first, second, and third light sources are light emitting diodes.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The display device according to claim 24 , characterized in that a plurality of said light emitting diodes are deployed two-dimensionally in said first, second, and third light sources, respectively.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The display device according to claim 24 , characterized in that lenses are deployed between said first, second, and third light sources and said color synthesizing optical system.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The display device according to claim 24 , characterized in that lens array elements are deployed between said first, second, and third light sources and said color synthesizing optical system.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The display device according to claim 16 , characterized in that each of said first, second, third light sources is a planar light source.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The display device according to claim 16 , characterized in that said first, second, and third light source are flat-panel fluorescent tubes.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The display device according to claim 29 , characterized in that prism array elements are deployed between said flat-panel fluorescent tubes and said color synthesizing optical system.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The display device according to claim 29 , characterized in that said prism array elements are each configured from two mutually perpendicular prism arrays.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The display device according to claim 16 , characterized in that said first, second, and third light sources are flat-panel electroluminescent elements.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The display device according to claim 32 , characterized in that said electroluminescent elements are organic electroluminescent elements having organic thin films as light emitting layers.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The display device according to claim 32 , characterized in that said organic electroluminescent elements comprise optical resonators in light emitting layer structures thereof.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
45 words
The display device according to claim 16 , characterized in that said polarization converter further comprises a quarter-wave film, said quarter-wave film being deployed on sides toward said light sources; and said reflecting polarizer is deployed on sides toward said color synthesizing optical system element.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The display device according to claim 16 , characterized in that said first, second and third light sources light simultaneously.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The display device according to claim 16 , characterized in that said first, second, and third light sources repeatedly light in order.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The display device according to claim 16 , wherein polarization directions of the polarization components are perpendicular to each other.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The display device according to claim 16 , wherein rotational directions of the polarization components are opposite to each other.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The light source device according to claim 1 , wherein polarization directions of the polarization components are perpendicular to each other.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
The light source device according to claim 1 , wherein rotational directions of the polarization components are opposite to each other.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
26 words
The light source device according to claim 1 , characterized in that each of said first, second, and third light sources is a planar light source.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
46 words
The light source device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said polarization converter further comprises a quarter-wave film, said quarter-wave film being deployed on sides toward said light sources; and said reflecting polarizer is deployed on sides toward said color synthesizing optical system element.
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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) | 2008-04-18 | 2008-10-18 | 2009-04-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-04-18 | 2012-10-18 | 2013-04-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-04-18 | 2016-10-18 | 2017-04-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |