IP Library Granted Patent US 8,477,421
Granted Patent B2
US 8,477,421 · App. 13/535,057 · Granted Jul 2, 2013

Screen

Inventor: Ryoji Katsuma (Matsumoto, JP)
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,477,421
App. No.
13/535,057
Granted
Jul 2, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A screen allows an image according to light incident in an oblique direction from a predetermined light exiting position to be displayed. The screen includes a screen body having a reflection surface with a plurality of lens elements formed thereon, each of the lens elements reflecting the light incident thereon, a first layer (substrate) disposed on the side of the reflection surface on which the light is incident, and a second layer (air layer) interposed between the screen body and the first layer. The first layer has a refractive index greater than the refractive index of the second layer. The first layer has an angle changing portion formed in at least part of a region through which the light incident thereon passes, the angle changing portion so formed that the thickness thereof continuously increases with distance from the light exiting position.

Claims (27)

1. A screen on which an image according to light incident in an oblique direction from a predetermined light exiting position is displayed, the screen comprising:

a screen body having a reflection surface with a plurality of lens elements formed thereon, each of the lens elements reflecting the light incident thereon;

a first layer disposed on the side of the reflection surface on which the light is incident; and

a second layer interposed between the screen body and the first layer, wherein the first layer has a refractive index greater than the refractive index of the second layer, and

the first layer has an angle changing portion formed in at least part of a region through which the light incident thereon passes, the angle changing portion so formed that the thickness thereof continuously increases with distance from the light exiting position,

wherein the angle changing portion has:

a flat first surface located on the light exiting position side,

a flat second surface located on the screen body side, and

a third surface that extends along a plane connecting the ends of the first surface and the second surface that face away from the light exiting position,

the first layer has a configuration in which the angle changing portion is formed as a single unit shape at a plurality of locations,

the first surfaces of the angle changing portions form a surface of the first layer on the light exiting position side, and

the second surfaces of the angle changing portions form a surface of the first layer on the screen body side.

2. The screen according to claim 1 ,

wherein the angle changing portions have concentric perfect circular shapes around a first reference point set on a front surface of the first layer, a rear surface of the first layer, or an extension plane of the front or rear surface and are arranged along a radial direction from the first reference point.

3. The screen according to claim 2 ,

wherein the lens elements are arranged along substantially arcuate reference lines around a second reference point set on the reflection surface or an extension plane of the reflection surface.

4. The screen according to claim 3 ,

wherein the period at which the angle changing portions are arranged differs from the period at which the lens elements are arranged, and

the dimension of each of the lens elements in a radial direction from the second reference point is not equal to an integral multiple of the dimension of the angle changing portion corresponding to the lens element in the radial direction from the first reference point.

5. The screen according to claim 1 ,

wherein the surface of the first layer on the light exiting position side or the surface of the first layer on the screen body side has an antireflection layer.

6. The screen according to claim 1 ,

wherein the surface of the first layer on the light exiting position side is a flat surface.

7. The screen according to claim 1 , wherein an inclination angle between the flat second surface and a plane parallel to the flat first surface is set in accordance with the position where the angle changing portion is formed.

8. The screen according to claim 7 , wherein the inclination angle decreases with distance from the light exiting position.

9. The screen according to claim 1 , wherein a distance between centers of the lens elements increase with distance from the light exiting position.

10. The screen according to claim 1 , wherein dimensions of the lens elements increase with distance from the light exiting position.

Assignments (2)
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 13, 2021
From: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; ORGANIZATION - WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
To: ORGANIZATION - WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Reel/Frame 056844/0223 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2012
From: KATSUMA, RYOJI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028455/0574 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2011-143026 · Jun 28, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130003174A1 · Jan 3, 2013