IP Library Granted Patent US 7,796,339
Granted Patent B2
US 7,796,339 · App. 12/357,738 · Granted Sep 14, 2010

Image display apparatus and projector

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,796,339
App. No.
12/357,738
Granted
Sep 14, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image display apparatus includes a light source that emits light-source light, an illumination system that makes the light-source light uniform, a color separation system that separates illumination light outputted from the illumination system into color light fluxes, color optical modulators illuminated with the color light fluxes separated by the color separation system, and an optical element having an element surface the film thickness distribution of which is configured in such a way that the film thickness changes in a non-uniform manner.

Claims (37)

1. An image display apparatus comprising:

a light source that emits light-source light;

an illumination system that makes the light-source light uniform;

a color separation system that separates illumination light outputted from the illumination system into color light fluxes;

color optical modulators illuminated with the color light fluxes separated by the color separation system; and

an optical element having an element surface the film thickness distribution of which is configured in such a way that the film thickness changes in a non-uniform manner,

wherein the film thickness distribution is configured in such a way that:

a rate of change in the optical characteristic changes with the position on the element surface in a first direction parallel to the element surface, and

a rate of change in the optical characteristic changes with the position on the element surface in a second direction parallel to the element surface but inclined to the first direction by a predetermined angle.

2. The image display apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the film thickness distribution causes a transmission and reflection optical characteristic that corresponds to the angle of incidence of the illumination light to change in a non-uniform manner in the plane of the optical element.

3. The image display apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the optical characteristic of the optical element is a cutoff half-height wavelength that depends on the film thickness configuration of a multilayer film.

4. The image display apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

5. The image display apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the film thickness distribution has a portion where the magnitude of the gradient of the rate of change in the optical characteristic changes.

6. The image display apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the optical element is a dichroic mirror.

7. The image display apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the optical element is a dichroic film.

8. A projector comprising:

the image display apparatus according to claim 1 ;

a combining system that combines the color image light fluxes outputted from the color optical modulators; and

a projection system that projects the image light that has passed through the combining system.

9. The projector according to claim 8 ,

wherein the film thickness distribution causes a transmission and reflection optical characteristic that corresponds to the angle of incidence of the illumination light to change in a non-uniform manner in the plane of the optical element.

10. The projector according to claim 9 ,

wherein the optical characteristic of the optical element is a cutoff half-height wavelength that depends on the film thickness configuration of a multilayer film.

11. The projector according to claim 8 ,

wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

12. The projector according to claim 8 ,

wherein the film thickness distribution has a portion where the magnitude of the gradient of the rate of change in the optical characteristic changes.

13. The projector according to claim 8 ,

wherein the optical element is a dichroic mirror.

14. The projector according to claim 8 ,

wherein the optical element is a dichroic film.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: SEIKO EPSON CORP.
To: COLUMBIA PEAK VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 058952/0475 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2009
From: FUSE, MAKOTO
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022154/0001 →