Patent US6953252B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6953252B2
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US
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Projector having a plurality of retro-reflectors
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 2003-08-28
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Granted: 2005-10-11
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Expires: 2023-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A projector having a plurality of retro-reflectors. In one embodiment of the present invention, a projector includes a light source, an image forming device, a concave reflector, and a plurality of retro-reflectors. The concave reflector is positioned adjacent to the light source to reflect light emitted by the light source toward the image forming device. The plurality of retro-reflectors is configured to reflect light emitted from the light source toward the concave reflector and is positioned as sets at different respective distances from the light source.
Inventors
- 👤 Olan Way
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:46
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4298; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0011; G02B6/0013; G02B6/0023; G03; G03B; G03B21/00; G03B21/14; G03B21/20; G03B21/2066; G02B6/0031
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A projector comprising: a light source; an image forming device; a concave reflector to reflect light emitted by the light source toward the image forming device; and a plurality of retro-reflectors to reflect light emitted from the light source toward the concave reflector including sets of one or more retro-reflectors wherein each said of retro-reflectors is positioned at different respective distances from the light source; and wherein at least two sets of retro-reflectors are spaced apart from the concave reflector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A projector comprising: a light source; an image forming device; a concave reflector to reflect light emitted by the light source toward the image forming device; and a plurality of retro-reflectors to reflect light emitted from the light source toward the concave reflector including sets of one or more retro-reflectors wherein each said of retro-reflectors is positioned at different respective distances from the light source; and wherein at least two sets of retro-reflectors are spaced apart from the concave reflector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A projector as described in claim 1 , wherein: the concave reflector is ellipsoidal; and each of the plurality of retro-reflectors is spherical such that light emitted by the light source toward the plurality of retro-reflectors is reflected toward the light source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A projector as described in claim 2 , wherein the concave reflector includes first and second focal points; and the light source and the image forming device are positioned at the first and second focal points, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A projector as described in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of retro-reflectors are configured to reflect light emitted from the light source toward the concave reflector such that light reflected by the plurality of retro-reflectors is reflected by the concave reflector toward the image forming device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A projector as described in claim 1 , wherein the light source is positioned: between the concave reflector and the plurality of retro-reflectors; and between the concave reflector and the image forming device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A projector as described in claim 1 , wherein the image forming device includes a component selected from the group consisting of: a digital micromirror device (DMD); a grating light valve (GLV); a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) device; and a liquid crystal display (LCD).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A projector as described in claim 1 , wherein the retro-reflectors in each set are concave and have different respective curvatures, one set to another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A projector as described in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of retro-reflectors are configured to reflect light that is emitted by the light source toward the concave surface that is not first reflected by the concave surface toward the image forming device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A projector as described in claim 1 , wherein the image forming device further comprises an integrating rod into which light is directed by the concave reflector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A projector as described in claim 1 , further comprising an interface that is communicatively coupled to the image forming device to provide an input to initiate image formation by the image forming device.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
123 words
A method comprising: in a projector including a light source, an image forming device, a concave reflector that is positioned adjacent to the light source, and a plurality of retro-reflectors including at least two sets of one or more retro-reflectors that are positioned at different respective distances from the light source, wherein the at least two sets are spaced apart from the concave reflector, emitting light from the light source; reflecting a first portion of the emitted light by the concave reflector toward the image forming device; reflecting a second portion of the emitted light by the plurality of retro-reflectors toward the concave reflector; and reflecting the reflected second portion of the emitted light by the concave reflector toward the image forming device.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
123 words
A method comprising: in a projector including a light source, an image forming device, a concave reflector that is positioned adjacent to the light source, and a plurality of retro-reflectors including at least two sets of one or more retro-reflectors that are positioned at different respective distances from the light source, wherein the at least two sets are spaced apart from the concave reflector, emitting light from the light source; reflecting a first portion of the emitted light by the concave reflector toward the image forming device; reflecting a second portion of the emitted light by the plurality of retro-reflectors toward the concave reflector; and reflecting the reflected second portion of the emitted light by the concave reflector toward the image forming device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as described in claim 11 , wherein the reflecting of the second portion of the emitted light is directed at or near the light source.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as described in claim 11 , further comprising forming an image by the image forming device from light that is selected from the group consisting of: light emitted from the light source; the first portion of the emitted light; the reflected second portion of the emitted light; and a combination thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as described in claim 11 , further comprising forming an image by the image forming device in response to an input that is received from a device selected from the group consisting of: a computer; a DVD player; and a set-top box.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
85 words
A method comprising: forming a reflector assembly that includes: a concave reflector to reflect light emitted by a light source toward an image forming device; and a plurality of retro-reflector to reflect light emitted from the light source toward the concave reflector including set of one or more retro-reflectors, wherein the sets of retro-reflectors are positioned at different respective distances from the light source and at least two sets are spaced apart from the concave reflector, and positioning the reflector assembly adjacent to the light.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
85 words
A method comprising: forming a reflector assembly that includes: a concave reflector to reflect light emitted by a light source toward an image forming device; and a plurality of retro-reflector to reflect light emitted from the light source toward the concave reflector including set of one or more retro-reflectors, wherein the sets of retro-reflectors are positioned at different respective distances from the light source and at least two sets are spaced apart from the concave reflector, and positioning the reflector assembly adjacent to the light.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as described in claim 15 , wherein the concave reflector is ellipsoidal and includes first and second focal points; and the light source and the image forming device are positioned at the first and second focal points, respectively.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as described in claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of retro-reflectors is spherical such that light emitted by the light source toward the plurality of retro-reflectors is reflected toward the light source.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as described in claim 15 , wherein each of the sets of retro-reflectors is formed such that air flow is provided by spaces between the sets of retro-reflectors that are positioned at the different respective distances.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method as described in claim 15 , wherein at least two said retro-reflectors are: formed to overlap such that at least two portions of the at least two said retro-reflectors are positioned at substantially similar distances from an axis defined by light that is output by the light source toward the image forming device; and positioned at the different respective distances from the light source.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as described in claim 15 , wherein the light source is positioned: between the concave reflector and the plurality of retro-reflectors; and between the concave reflector and the image forming device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as described in claim 15 , wherein the image forming device is selected from the group consisting of: a digital micromirror device (DMD); a grating light valve (GLV); a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) device; and a liquid crystal display (LCD).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as described in claim 15 , wherein the retro-reflectors in each set are concave and have respectively different curvatures, one set to another.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as described in claim 15 , wherein the plurality of retro-reflectors reflect light emitted by the light source toward the concave reflector that is not first reflected by the concave reflector toward the image forming device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
10 words
A projector formed by the method of claim 15 .
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
79 words
A projector comprising: means for emitting light; means for forming an image; first means for reflecting that is: concave; and positioned to reflect light emitted by the light emitting means toward the image forming means; and second and third means for reflecting that are: configured to reflect light emitted from the light emitting means toward the first reflecting means; and positioned spaced apart from the first means for reflecting and at different respective distances from the light emitting means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
79 words
A projector comprising: means for emitting light; means for forming an image; first means for reflecting that is: concave; and positioned to reflect light emitted by the light emitting means toward the image forming means; and second and third means for reflecting that are: configured to reflect light emitted from the light emitting means toward the first reflecting means; and positioned spaced apart from the first means for reflecting and at different respective distances from the light emitting means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-10-10 | 2009-04-11 | 2009-10-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-10-10 | 2013-04-11 | 2013-10-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-10-10 | 2017-04-11 | 2017-10-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |