Troyer Patent Portfolio update: Canadian patent granted January 15, 2013 that contains combination claims of Troyer’s US patents 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2012. The Canadian patent office is very thorough, especially with the upgraded global search engines. This is an important validation for Troyer, declaring that there is no prior art for her innovation.
Basic patent: laser projector apparatus with expanded laser beam directed to a reflective light valve with the 635 nm red or over. Cyan can be added to the blue green. Great blacks and whites are created and colors in the full spectrum (like nature). The spatially modulated laser beams keeps their inherent quality of polarization, collimation and coherence to the screen. The images have IF IT IS—infinite focus, instant transformation and innate sharpness automatically adjusting to any irregular surfaces such as domes and curved screens. The laser apparatus is the linchpin for the HIVE: holographic immersive virtual environments (holodeck playpen space); edutainment (content); edutainer (performance).
Each spatially modulated pixel has an infinite depth of focus attribute that provides sharp 3D depth and sharp focused dimensional images (domes, simulation, irregular surfaces, water screens, etc.). The laser apparatus includes a camera/ sensor as part of the projector. The laser apparatus is like an overhead projector. Film, slides, microscopic organisms, live action etc. can be captured by the camera and amplified without pixels to a curved screen or dome image. Live action gestures can be sensor evaluated (Kinect camera) and integrated. Small dimensional high resolution pictures from an OLED or other device can be captured. A hologram or 3D laser modulated image is captured and amplified.
The laser apparatus can be an advanced telecine copying film; also video and still images (slides). The telecine images are captured on a small curved screen, the video feed transformed to full color Z depth dimensional moving pictures. The capture is real time and is agnostic to the frame rate. The laser apparatus is a digital intermediary tool that provides instant transformation to images (full color, curved space, Z depth factor, 2D to 3D).
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Troyer patent portfolio 2013 with new Canadian patent claims Jan. 15, 2013
1. January 2013 Troyer Patent Portfolio Report
Inventor: Diane Troyer
No licensing or assignments or promises
No ownership claims or lawsuits (clean)
Process: Making deals and negotiating
Information on Request: 818-795-2407
Troyer Patent Portfolio update: Canadian patent granted January 15, 2013 that contains
combination claims of Troyer’s US patents 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2012. The Canadian patent office is
very thorough, especially with the upgraded global search engines. This is an important validation for
Troyer, declaring that there is no prior art for her innovation.
Basic patent: laser projector apparatus with expanded laser beam directed to a reflective light valve with
the 635 nm red or over. Cyan can be added to the blue green. Great blacks and whites are created and
colors in the full spectrum (like nature). The spatially modulated laser beams keeps their inherent
quality of polarization, collimation and coherence to the screen. The images have IF IT IS—infinite focus,
instant transformation and innate sharpness automatically adjusting to any irregular surfaces such as
domes and curved screens. The laser apparatus is the linchpin for the HIVE: holographic immersive
virtual environments (holodeck playpen space); edutainment (content); edutainer (performance).
Each spatially modulated pixel has an infinite depth of focus attribute that provides sharp 3D depth and
sharp focused dimensional images (domes, simulation, irregular surfaces, water screens, etc.). The laser
2. apparatus includes a camera/ sensor as part of the projector. The laser apparatus is like an overhead
projector. Film, slides, microscopic organisms, live action etc. can be captured by the camera and
amplified without pixels to a curved screen or dome image. Live action gestures can be sensor evaluated
(Kinect camera) and integrated. Small dimensional high resolution pictures from an OLED or other
device can be captured. A hologram or 3D laser modulated image is captured and amplified.
The laser apparatus can be an advanced telecine copying film; also video and still images (slides). The
telecine images are captured on a small curved screen, the video feed transformed to full color Z depth
dimensional moving pictures. The capture is real time and is agnostic to the frame rate. The laser
apparatus is a digital intermediary tool that provides instant transformation to images (full color, curved
space, Z depth factor, 2D to 3D).
Troyer Patent Portfolio
Canadian Patent: 2,372,833 January 15, 2013 Diane Troyer
United States Patent: 8113660 February 14, 2012, Diane Troyer
Laser Projection Apparatus with camera and dimensional full spectrum colored sharp images
United States Patent: US 7,055,957 B2 Jun. 6, 2006; Diane Troyer
United States Patent: US 6,910,774 B2 June 28, 2005; Diane Troyer
Laser Projection Apparatus with Liquid-Crystal Light Valves and Scanning Reading Beam
Mexican Patent: PCT/US99/09501 November 18, 2004; Diane Troyer Mexican patent number: 224274
Indian Patent: IN/PCT/2000/00676/MUM; August 25, 2004, Diane Troyer
United States Patent: US 6,183,092 B1; February 5, 2001; Diane Troyer
Laser Projection Apparatus with Liquid-Crystal Light Valves & Scanning Reading Beam
*United States Patent: US 5,317,348 May 31, 1994; Dr. Randall J. Knize (owned by Diane Troyer)
Full color solid state laser projection system
(Troyer’s concept; Knize, solid-state laser expert, wrote patent)
Additional patent pending; submitted March 2006 Telecine and digital intermediate
• Provisional: new patent pending--- 2010 (important breakthrough that adds value).
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3. INDEX Laser Projector Apparatus
1. List of Troyer Patents Page 2
2. Attorneys Page 4
3. Troyer notes on patent claims Page 4
4. Troyer Patent US 6183092 February 6, 2001 Page 9
5. Troyer Patent US 6910774 June 28, 2005 Page 16
6. Troyer Patent US 7055957 June 6, 2006 Page 20
7. Troyer Patent US 8113660 February 14, 2012 Page 23
(Camera and Projector with sharp full spectrum color dimensional images)
8. Troyer Canadian Patent 2,372,833 February 28, 2011 Page 26
9. First Patent: Dr. Knize wrote patent (Troyer’s white paper)
Assigned to Troyer (Dec. 1992). Many patents refer to this patent,
including the Troyer 2001 patent (plus).
Information about studio theme park support. Page 42
10. Patents Citations referred to main Troyer patent; Patent copy (the international
copy is on line that was accepted in India and Mexico). Page 55
Available on request: Patent Pending: Telecine and Digital Intermediary process;
Provisional: Box optic 2D to 3D real time imaging
3
Page
4. Legal Representative and Intellectual Property
John Shors: John.Shors@lawiowa.com
• http://www.davisbrownlaw.com/attorneys/view/index.cfm/john_shors
• 515-246-7983 (John’s office) 515-288-2500 (Main Office) johnshors@davisbrownlaw.com
• The Davis Brown Tower, 215 10th Street, Suite 1300, Des Moines, IA 50309
PATENTS – CANADA: Smart & Biggar http://www.smart-biggar.ca/About/
• Smart & Biggar/Fetherstonhaugh Canada’s leading intellectual property firm
• Oliver Stone: 613-232-2486
• http://www.smart-
biggar.ca/SB/index.cfm?RedirectPage=/professionals/professionals.cfm?ThisID=108
INDIAN PATENT OFFICE
• Chandrakantjoshi (chandrakantmjoshi@vsnl.net)
• Chandrakant M. Joshi 5yh & 6th Floor; Vishwa Nanak, Chakala Road
• Andherei (East) Mumbai- 400 099, India
MEXICAN PATENT OFFICE
• Javier Uhthoff-Orive j.uhthoff@uhthoff.com.mx
Troyer Laser Projector Patent Portfolio Notes:
Purpose: The Troyer patent portfolio with notes is provided for the professional or layperson to do an
organized survey of the Troyer patents and the claims. This will help the reader understand how the
most streamlined process works to create the best laser projector images with full spectrum color, good
blacks (contrast) and images with sharp depth of focus. If a comparison of patent claims from other laser
projectors is demanded, this will be under other copy. Examples: Microvision (Pico MEMS), Light Blue
Optics (LCoS), and Kodak (grated light valve - GLV).
Troyer Main Claims: Full spectrum color with lasers addressed to a reflective light valve. The spatially
4
modulated image retains the laser inherent quality of coherence, collimation and polarization allowing
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infinite sharp focused images on irregular surfaces (dome, Cinerama, simulation, HIVE, Immersion, etc.)
5. Explanation Full Color Spectrum Claim: Troyer proved that the previous laser projection art was wrong.
It stated that the red had to be orange red (610 nm. orange) for brightness and to combine colors to
match NTSC TV color standard. Troyer’s invention uses deeper red for full spectrum film like colors.
Explanation of Infinite Sharp Focus: Troyer’s claims state that the laser beam attributes are retained
when they are addressed to a reflective light valve (if the optic path is set up correctly). Troyer
discovered this advanced improvement after working for months attempting to upgrade the TRW
projector that used the standard Acoustic Optic Modulation (AOM) which is a radio frequency method
that places the image into the laser beam. The AOM reduces brightness and is not user friendly, many
optics needed in the optic train. Troyer also wanted to have a more eye safe method of delivering
infinite focused sharp images. The TRW method with AOM shot the modulated laser beams directly out
of the lens, so was dangerous for the eyes. Troyer’s patented approach is more eye safe. The laser
beam is expanded, eliminating the sharp beam. Troyer’s main criterion was to maintain the laser’s
attribute for infinite depth of focus. She proved this possible, even though engineers and physicists
informed her it was not possible to retain the laser’s infinite focus attributes by addressing an expanded
laser beam to a reflective light valve.
How Troyer Invented Process: Troyer became representative for TRW laser projector to the Studio
theme park executives and designers in 1990. Main support was Al Mirabella (Disney Imagineering). She
purchased the 8 TRW laser projectors in Jan. 1992 after they were mothballed before Desert Storm (no
battery backup power 6 floors under in case of attack). The TRW laser projectors were developed for
the Air Force War rooms and ran 3 years 24/7 (only large laser projectors installed globally). SAC, MAC
and NORAD war room walls needed “best picture” for generals to view the satellite and air craft images
in case of attack. Troyer spent from 1992 – 1996 upgrading the TRW projector and discovered a new
more streamlined way to deliver best film like laser images with infinite focus and patented the process.
Troyer Proof of Concept and Patent Attorney: Peter Lippmann had a physics background and had done
work for Hewlett Packard (HP) for laser printers, so understood Troyer’s claims that she presented.
Lippmann was a stickler for a prototype being built that proved concept. He did not want to patent
vaporware so paid close attention to Troyer’s proof of concept laser projector model. Troyer knew that
her expanded beam laser approach would work with all reflective light valves. Her first tests were with a
reflective mirror device (like a DLP). The DLP digital mirror device was still in R&D phase. The only high-
end off the shelf reflective light valve that Troyer could locate for the prototype was the Hughes liquid
crystal light valve. The Troyer February 2001 patent uses liquid crystal light valve as the example. The
2006, 2012 and Canadian patents broaden to any reflective light valve, including DLP, LCoS, MEMS.
Grated Light Valve (GLV) Method for Laser Projectors: Troyer and team worked out of their lab at Lexel
Lasers in Fremont (Silicon Valley). Another type of modulator (grated light valve—GLV) for laser imaging
was being developed down the road in a Stanford lab (2000) called the Silicon Light Machine (SLM). Sony
paid $30 million for the entertainment licensing rights for the Silicon Light Machine (SLM) grated light
valve. Evans & Sutherland paid $10 million for the rights for simulation and domes (planetariums).
5
Kodak was developing patents on another type of grated light valve (GLV) approach. All spent millions
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on R & D attempting to develop product.
6. Evans & Sutherland: Sony and Kodak experts and many others attended the Metatron Laser Projector
demonstrations at Lexel Lasers, including the VP of Evans & Sutherland (E&S) business development and
their head engineer. They very sincerely told Troyer that the Metatron was the best video image they
had seen. They informed their CEO that E&S should work with the Troyer patented pending process and
stop investing in the GLV approach. They were not heeded. Too much money had been invested.
Sony and Kodak: After viewing the Metatron Laser Projector film like images with no artifacts and
adjusting to curved screens, Sony and Kodak technologists attempted to get infinite focus with their
grated light valves (GLV). An expert for a high end company evaluated the Metatron and patented
process and saw the prototypes in Germany (Kodak) and Japan (Sony). He states that they were unable
to duplicate the streamlined approach with best images that the Troyer patented process produced.
Reflective Light Valves: In 2001 IMAX, BARCO and Christies paid $10 million each ($30 M) to Texas
Instrument for the license of the digital mirror device light valve (DLP) rights for digital cinema. IMAX
transferred their rights to Digital Projection and NEC. These companies went in a different modulation
direction than Sony, Kodak and Evans & Sutherland. The DLP reflective light valve licensing rights still
holds true today and is used as a base to build the laser projectors by these companies.
Mothballed Grating Light Valves: After spending millions in R&D and attempting to build a laser
projector, Sony and Evans & Sutherland & Kodak ultimately mothballed their laser GLV projects finally
realizing the architecture was faulty. The GLV did not work (limited brightness, breaks inherent laser
quality, does not automatically adjust to curves). Only flat screens could be used because the GLV
corrupted the coherence and polarization of the laser beam. The GLV process thus did not produce
focused sharp images on irregular surfaces such as Cinerama, dome, simulation and immersive mediums
Kodak used Troyer patented process for their demonstration: Most of the Kodak laser projection
patents are based on the grating light valve. Kodak wanted the best 3D filmic images in their laser
projector demonstration in Dec, 2011. Thus Kodak followed the Troyer patented approach. IMAX got the
mothballed grated light valve (GLV) patents when they purchased Kodak’s laser patents. The IMAX CEO
provides misinformation when he stated they have patents for dome laser projection.
IMAX CEO states they have big screen patents from Kodak:
http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/1222364361001/imax-ceo-on-laser-projection-patents-deal-with-kodak/
Kodak Demonstration: Kodak demonstrated the Troyer patented method using the stereo two channel
approach: laser addressed and modulated by a RLV; full color spectrum using red over 635 nm. reducing
speckle by combining full spectrum color, optical displacement, spatial modulation, and retaining the
integrity of the laser beams throughout the optical channel. Different polarization is used with the two
channel stereo to create 3D with glasses as discussed in the Troyer 2003 white paper.
IMAX Licenses Kodak Patents: IMAX licensed the Kodak patents for projectors. The KODAK patents are
based on the grated light valve device. There are some “leapfrog” patents written after the Kodak
6
experts saw the Troyer Metatron laser demonstration and received Troyer’s white papers in 2000.
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7. No Laser Projector On Market: For the last 10 years since the first Troyer patented prototype was
demonstrated, no group has been able to develop another method to create “best” picture with
streamlined approach with real time polarized bright images with full color spectrum. No digital cinema
company has taken advantage of the added caveat of images that adjust to domes and Cinerama. Light
Blue Optics, Microvision, and AAXA are promoting the infinite focus for small images. It is believed that
when audiences see the Metatron attributes they will want Z*Tron Vision for their homes and gaming.
LIPA Consortium: This industry consortium made up of Sony, Kodak, IMAX, Christies, BARCO, Dolby,
NEC, etc. promotes full color spectrum laser images with a reflective light valve modulator (Troyer’s
patents). The Troyer patented process creates the most streamlined approach that is more eye safe and
delivers better sharp 3D depth images with no ghosting. IMAX, Kodak, Christies, BARCO, Sony and RED
are infringing on the Troyer patents with their prototype models. They are, however, showing stereo
images with glasses on flat screens, not taking advantage of the Z depth factor that can create auto
dimensional images without glasses.
Rockwell Collins was purchasing simulation companies in 2005 and beyond. They paid Evans &
Sutherland $71.5 million for their simulation rights to the SLM laser projector. With the purchase,
Rockwell also purchased buildings and engineers in Utah. Rockwell Collins mothballed the SLM laser
projector soon after they purchased the license. Rockwell Collins is now stressing simulation, but does
not have a projector that automatically adjusts to the curved screen and shows full color realistic high
resolution dimensional images in curved space with best deep blacks (contrast). Rockwell Collins does
sell a projector for star fields for Planetariums, but the optic train design to get blacks (high contrast)
with ambient light is very complex and expensive – not streamlined.
Note: Kodak Patents –Two patents that are considered important for IMAX/ BARCO portfolio
Kodak US Patent: 6648476—Nov. 2003: Broad Band Color: states that 4 laser colors are needed for full
spectrum: Blue Green (cyan) – 488 -490 nm is claimed the best added color with Red, Green, and Blue.
Diagrams describe why. The claims do not specify colors but suggest different areas of modulation.
Troyer claims 2001: 635 nm red and above mixed with blue and green with additional cyan -488 nm.
IMAX/ Barco/Kodak represent they are delivering blasts of light, flooding like the arc lamp. Kodak
patent Oct. 2011. Beam Alignment System: 2D arrays of parallel light beams. This approach combines
stacked parallel laser expanded lines into a “static” flood. This process produces heat and artifacts in
the image. Contrast is considerably reduced as with the flood with arc lamp projectors (light bleeds into
the black). The Troyer patent claims method is KISS: keep it simple streamline. The Troyer claims are
broad and cover all ways of addressing laser light to a spatial light modulator (reflective light valve).
Metatron Inc. (California Company from 1992 – 2001): Paul Holliman was assisting Roy Disney in
preparing the Disney release of the classic reissues of early animation features, the first being Fantasia
for dome presentation. Holliman had helped arrange for the Troyer team to demonstrate at the San Jose
Tech Museum on Hackworth IMAX dome where Fantasia was playing (2000). Roy Disney was quite
7
excited about the Troyer invention and the ability to automatically adjust to dome screens. He had
Page
8. attended an earlier Metatron showing and felt that the laser video images were as good as film. Also
the Metatron would eliminate the costly film prints ($30,000 each) and the films ready for domes.
The Metatron large frame gas lasers fit into the same infrastructure same electricity and water cooling
as IMAX arc lamps. The IMAX bulky film projectors need constant technologist support. It is estimated
replacing and changing arc lamps costs the theater at least $30,000 a year. The expensive arc lamp has
to be changed every 500 hours and might blow up so the technician has to wear protective clothing.
http://www.thetech.org/imax/about-imax
Film adjusted for domes: The film is transferred to digital with a telecine; then each frame is software
adjusted so the image is in focus on the 185 degree screen; The digital is transferred to the 75 mm
master and IMAX film prints (costs near 6 million). Today the same process is followed for IMAX dome
films (Avatar). It is called projection mapping. Yes the price has come down, but it is still cost prohibitive.
The Museum and Science Centers dome model is not sustainable (pay IMAX half the ticket sales and
costly monthly lease). The community has to raise money to keep the IMAX dome screens open. The
planetariums and other big film screens such as IWERKS are presented with the same problem.
Why IMAX Needs a Digital Solution for Big Screens: IMAX needs to have a solution or their stock will
crash. So the IMAX CEO states they have laser digital dome patent rights from Kodak. Maybe IMAX
should have made a deal with Metatron Inc. in 2000 (Troyer’s California Company)? Gas lasers would
have been much less expensive and more user friendly than the big IMAX arc lamps. Using interactive
laser produced video instead of film would have saved a fortune and provided a new revenue stream.
Best IMAX theater venues would not have had exorbitant film costs – for domes and flat big screens.
Famous Players (Canada) attended the dome demonstration. Famous Players ordered 8 laser projectors
for their big screens (they owned their theaters and did not lease from IMAX). There were 46 theater
owners waiting from their European sister company. Barry Blackburn from Famous Players and his
invited guests jumped up screaming, excited at what they saw. The Las Vegas boxing match played in
the video player through the Metatron Laser projector automatically adjusted to the dome screen, the
boxers hovering in space, the red blood flying. Also views were shown of a DVD of Fifth Element. What
was most surprising is that the infinite sharp images automatically had depth on the dome, the
foreground and background separating. Thus the images appeared dimensional (3D) without glasses.
The real time adjusted dome images had edges crisper than the Fantasia film print. The IMAX operative
(uninvited) watched for five minutes and then had the water and power turned off and the theaters
doors locked, not letting the waiting and very disappointed Disney, Lucas and Technicolor
representatives into the theater.
Metatron Z*TV Hackworth IMAX Dome (San Jose). The Review of IMAX Metatron Image: The video
images are filmic (sharp. high contrast, vivid saturated colors). The images are in focus on the dome
curve and have depth. There is no ghosting in fast moving images. The Troyer preferred approach is
resolution agnostic. The vivid sharp images have no enlarged pixels. Even on the 85 ft. wide dome.
http://www.slideshare.net/metatroy/metaztron-holographic-z-depth-factor
http://www.slideshare.net/metatroy/hive-zelf-holograph-immersive-virtual-laser-meta-ztron-troyer
Metatron (Z*Tron Vision): Page 43. Notes about the mentoring of Roy Disney and Al Mirabella from
8
Disney theme parks and Imagineering and receiving the first laser projector patent in 1994.
Page
9. 1. Troyer Patent US 6183092 February 6, 2001
http://www.everypatent.com/comp/pat6183092.html
Inventor: Troyer
Date Issued: February 6, 2001
Application: 09/071,398
Filed: May 1, 1998
Inventors: Troyer; Diane (Sherman Oaks, CA)
Assignee:
Primary
Dowling; William
Examiner:
Assistant
Examiner:
Attorney Or
Ashen & Lippman
Agent:
U.S. Class: 349/22; 353/31; 359/197
Field Of Search: 353/31; 353/33; 353/34; 353/37; 353/122; 349/22; 349/5; 348/751; 348/761; 348/766; 348/790; 359/197; 359/212;
359/215; 359/221; 359/223
U.S Patent 5255082; 5317348; 5465174; 5506597; 5517263; 5537258; 5700076; 5729374
Documents:
Abstract
Laser lines at 635 nm or longer (ideally 647 nm) are preferred for red, giving energy-efficient, bright,
rapid-motion images with rich, full film-comparable colors. Green and blue lines are used too--and cyan
retained for best color mixing, an extra light-power boost, and aid in speckle suppression. Speckle is
suppressed through beam-path displacement--by deflecting the beam during projection, thereby
avoiding both absorption and diffusion of the beam while preserving pseudo collimation (non-crossing
rays). The latter in turn is important to infinite sharpness. Path displacement is achieved by scanning the
beam on the liquid-crystal valves (LCLVs), which also provides several enhancements--in energy
efficiency, brightness, contrast, beam uniformity (by suppressing both laser- mode ripple and artifacts),
and convenient beam-turning to transfer the beam between apparatus tiers. Preferably deflection is
performed by a mirror mounted on a galvanometer or motor for rotary oscillation; images are written
incrementally on successive portions of the LCLV control stage (either optical or electronic) while the
laser "reading beam" is synchronized on the output stage. The beam is shaped, with very little energy
loss to masking, into a shallow cross-section which is shifted on the viewing screen as well as the LCLVs.
Beam-splitter/analyzer cubes are preferred over polarizing sheets. Spatial modulation provided by an
LCLV and maintained by pseudo collimation enables imaging on irregular projection media.
34 Claims
I claim:
1. A laser projector comprising: a laser apparatus for projecting a picture beam that includes visible
9
laser light of wavelength about six hundred thirty-five (635) nanometers or longer;
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10. a reflective liquid-crystal light valve for modulating the beam with a desired image; and
further laser apparatus for projecting one or more picture beams that include green and blue light; and
wherein the laser light of wavelength of about 635 nanometers or longer mixes with the green and blue
laser light to provide substantially pure neutral colors including pure white and pure black;
wherein the further laser apparatus projects substantially cyan light with the blue and green light;
wherein the laser light of wavelength about 635 nanometers or longer sometimes generates visible
speckle when used to form a picture on a projection medium; and further comprising means for at least
partly suppressing visible speckle when present in such a picture;
said suppressing means comprising the combination of: means for displacing the beam substantially as a
unit, during its projection; said light of wavelength about 635 nanometers or longer; and said cyan light.
TROYER NOTE: This claim covers full spectrum color (using deeper red—635 nm. red- than the art was
previously). Also Cyan is added which suggests also using the secondary colors of yellow, magenta, and
cyan (488 nm.) Thus great blacks and whites can be created and speckle is reduced with the broad
spectrum colors. Full color spectrum is created with lasers that are addressed to a reflective light valve
(RLV). The claim was broadened to all RLV in US 2006 and Canadian patent Feb. 28, 2011. The art before
stated that orange red (610 nm.) had to be used for more brightness and to match the NTSC (TV) analog
color chart. This orange red caused more speckle because of the shimmer. The claim with 635 nm red or
above thus covers full spectrum filmic color with speckle repression with a reflective light valve (RLV). All
digital cinema projectors use RLV--- DLP. LCoS, LED, or any to be invented.
2. A laser projector comprising:
laser apparatus for projecting a picture beam that includes visible laser light of wavelength about six
hundred thirty-five (635) nanometers or longer;
a reflective liquid-crystal light valve for modulating the beam with a desired image; and
further laser apparatus for projecting one or more picture beams that include green and blue laser light;
wherein the laser light of wavelength about 635 nanometers or longer mixes with the green and blue
laser light to provide substantially pure neutral colors including pure white and pure black; and
wherein the laser light of wavelength about 635 nanometers or longer sometimes generates visible
speckle when used to form a picture on a projection medium; and
further comprising means for at least partly suppressing visible speckle when present in such a picture;
said suppressing means comprising the combination of:
means for displacing the beam substantially as a unit during its projection; and
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said light of wavelength about 635 nanometers or longer.
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11. 3. A laser projector comprising:
laser apparatus for projecting a picture beam that includes visible laser light of wavelength about six
hundred thirty-five (635) nanometers or longer;
a reflective liquid-crystal light valve for modulating the beam with a desired image; and
further laser apparatus for projecting one or more picture beams that include green and blue laser light;
wherein the laser light of wavelength about 635 nanometers or longer mixes with the green and blue
laser light to provide substantially pure neutral colors including pure white and pure black; and
the liquid-crystal light valve is controlled by light generated substantially in response to a type of
traditional broadcast video signals;
and substantially no color correction or gamma adjustment is applied to remove any color-balance
effect of using 635-nanometer or longer-wavelength laser light instead of broadcast video standard red.
4. A laser projector comprising: laser apparatus for protecting a picture beam that includes visible laser
light of wavelength about six hundred thirty-five (635) nanometers or longer; and a reflective liquid-
crystal light valve for modulating the beam with a desired image;
wherein the laser light sometimes generates visible speckle when used to form a picture on a projection
medium;
and further comprising means for at least partly suppressing visible speckle when present in such a
picture; said suppressing means comprising means for displacing the beam substantially as a unit during
its projection.
5. The projector of claim 4, wherein: said suppressing means further comprise said light of wavelength
about 635 nanometers or longer, in combination with the displacing means.
6. The projector of claim 5: wherein the liquid-crystal light valve has a beam-modulation stage for
impressing the desired image onto the beam, and a control stage to control said impressing;
and further comprising: means for writing an image incrementally onto successive portions of the
control stage; and means for directing the beam onto successive selected portions of the modulation
stage, and for generally synchronizing the directing means with the image-writing means.
7. A laser projector comprising: laser apparatus for protecting a picture beam that includes visible laser
light of wavelength about six hundred thirty-five (635) nanometers or longer;
a reflective liquid-crystal light valve for modulating the beam with a desired image;
11
wherein the liquid-crystal light valve has a beam-modulation stage for impressing the desired image
Page
onto the beam, and a control stage to control said impressing;
12. means for writing an image incrementally onto successive portions of the control stage; and
means for directing the beam onto successive selected portions of the modulation stage, and for
generally synchronizing the directing means with the image-writing means.
8. A laser projector for use in forming an image on an irregular projection medium having portions at
distinctly different distances from the projectors said projector comprising:
TROYER NOTE: This would be domes, Cinerama, simulation, immersion, etc.
laser apparatus for projecting a picture beam that includes visible laser light of wavelength about six
hundred thirty-five (635) nanometers or longer;
a reflective liquid-crystal light valve for modulating the beam with a desired image;
wherein the liquid-crystal light valve operates by introducing at least partial disruption of the laser-light
coherence; and
means for projecting the picture beam onto such irregular projection medium to form an image that
appears substantially sharp on said portions of distinctly different distances, notwithstanding said at
least partial disruption of coherence.
9. A laser projector comprising:
laser apparatus for projecting along a path a picture beam that includes laser light which sometimes
generates visible speckle when used to form a picture on a projection medium, said path having an axis;
and
means for at least partly suppressing visible speckle when in such a picture; and
the suppressing means comprising means for displacing the axis of the path during projection of beam.
10. A laser projector comprising:
laser apparatus for protecting along a path a picture beam that includes laser light which sometimes
generates visible speckle when used to form a picture on a projection medium;
means for at least Partly suppressing visible speckle when in such a picture;
the suppressing means comprising means for displacing the path during projection of the beam; and
a liquid-crystal light valve having a beam-modulation stage for impressing an image onto the beam; and
wherein:
the displacing means scan the beam over the beam-modulation stage during said projection.
11. The projector of claim 10, wherein:
the displacing means comprise an optical deflecting element mounted for mechanical rotation.
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12. The projector of claim 11, wherein:
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the deflecting means comprise an optical deflecting element mounted for mechanical rotation.
13. 13. The projector of claim 12, wherein:
the deflecting element comprises a mirror mounted on a galvanometer or motor.
14. The projector of claim 13, wherein:
the mirror is mounted for rotation about an axis substantially in a reflective surface of the mirror.
15. The projector of claim 10:
the light valve also having a control stage to control said impressing; and further comprising:
means for writing an image incrementally onto successive portions of the control stage; and
means for controlling the displacing means to direct the beam onto successive selected portions of the
modulation stage, and to generally synchronize the beam with the image-writing means.
16. The projector of claim 15, wherein:
the control stage is a photosensitive stage that receives an incrementally written optical image.
17. The projector of claim 15, wherein:
the control stage comprises an electrode matrix that receives incrementally written electrical voltages.
18. The projector of claim 10, for use in forming an image on an irregular projection medium having
portions at distinctly different distances from the projector, wherein:
the displacing means are substantially nondiffusing; and
the liquid-crystal light valve operates by introducing at least partial disruption of the laser-light
coherence; and further comprising:
means for projecting the picture beam onto such irregular projection medium to form an image that
appears substantially sharp on said portions of distinctly different distances, notwithstanding said at
least partial disruption of coherence.
19. The projector of claim 9, wherein:
the displacing means are substantially lossless, to within one percent of beam intensity.
20. A laser projector comprising:
laser apparatus for projecting along a Path a picture beam that includes laser light which sometimes
generates visible speckle when used to form a picture on a projection medium;
means for at least partly suppressing visible speckle when in such a picture;
the suppressing means comprising means for displacing the path during projection of the beam; and
13
beam-expansion means; and
wherein the displacing means and beam-expansion means cooperate to achieve a net gain in light-
Page
energy efficiency.
14. 21. The projector of claim 20, wherein:
the gain in efficiency approaches approximately fifty-six percent, in comparison with masking off original
circular edges of the laser beam.
22. The projector of claim 20, wherein:
for a projection-surface aspect ratio of four to three, the gain in efficiency approaches approximately
sixty-four percent, in comparison with masking off original circular edges of the laser beam.
23. The projector of claim 20, wherein:
for a projection-surface aspect ratio of sixteen to nine, the gain in efficiency approaches approximately
eighty-five percent, in comparison with masking off original circular edges of the laser beam.
24. The projector of claim 20, wherein:
the displacing means and beam-expansion means also cooperate to substantially eliminate initial
nonuniformity of brightness in the beam.
25. The projector of claim 9, wherein:
the laser apparatus comprises one or more lasers; and
every laser in the laser apparatus is exclusively a solid-state laser.
26. The projector of claim 9, wherein:
said projection medium has a shape;
the laser apparatus comprises optical means for shaping the picture beam to a cross-sectional shape
shallower than the shape of said projection medium; and
the displacing means also shift the picture beam on the projection medium, during said projection.
27. The projector of claim 26, wherein the optical means are selected from the group consisting of:
plural lenses in series for adjusting the beam dimension in two substantially perpendicular directions;
and a curved mirror that forms part of the displacing means.
28. The projector of claim 26, further comprising:
a liquid-crystal light valve having a beam-modulation stage for impressing an image onto the beam, said
modulation stage having a cross-sectional shape; and wherein:
the displacing means comprise a curved mirror that shapes the picture beam to a cross-sectional shape
shallower than the cross-sectional shape of said modulation stage; and
said curved mirror is mounted in a galvanometer movement or motor, to scan the shaped beam over
said modulation stage.
14
29. A laser projector comprising:
Page
laser apparatus for forming a picture beam that includes laser light;
15. said laser apparatus producing an initially substantially circular laser-light beam subject to nonuniform
illumination;
means for transmitting a beam out of the projector for viewing by an audience as images on a
substantially rectangular viewing screen that has a shape; and
means for forming an illuminated image on the substantially rectangular viewing screen by using the
circular laser-light beam without masking off significant fractions of the laser-light beam;
said illuminated-image-forming means comprising:
means for reshaping the initially circular laser light beam to a laser-light beam of shallower shape than
said shape of the substantially rectangular viewing screen, and
means for scanning the reshaped laser-light beam over the screen.
30. The projector of claim 29, further comprising:
means for minimizing the influence of nonuniformity of illumination in the initially substantially circular
laser-light beam;
said minimizing means comprising said reshaping and scanning means;
wherein the reshaping and scanning means cause said nonuniformity to at least partially average out.
31. The projector of claim 29, wherein:
the reshaping means introduce additional illumination nonuniformity along the width of the shallow,
wide laser-light beam; and
the illuminated-image-forming means further comprise means for compensating for the additional
illumination nonuniformity.
32. A laser projection system for forming an image on an irregular Projection medium having portions at
distinctly differing distances from the projector; said system comprising:
laser apparatus for protecting a picture beam that includes laser light;
a liquid-crystal light valve for impressing an image onto the beam; and
means for protecting the beam from the light valve, with said impressed image, onto such irregular
projection medium;
wherein the liquid-crystal light valve operates by partial disruption of laser-light coherence in the beam;
and further comprising means for, notwithstanding said partial disruption of coherence, causing the
image to appear sharp on said projection-medium portions of differing distances.
15
33. The system of claim 32, wherein:
Page
the image appears substantially evenly illuminated, except when light is distributed on receding surface.
16. 34. A laser projection system for forming an image on an irregular projection medium which comprises a
curved screen or dome having an image-receiving area that has a shape and that has portions at
distinctly differing distances from the projector; said system comprising:
laser apparatus for projecting a picture beam that includes laser light;
a liquid-crystal light valve for impressing an image onto the beam; and
means for projecting the beam from the light valve, with said impressed image, onto such irregular
projection medium; and wherein
the laser apparatus comprises means for shaping the beam to have a cross-sectional shape shallower
than the shape of such image-receiving area, and means for scanning the beam on such irregular
projection medium; and
the beam at such irregular projection medium is substantially uniform in distribution across its cross-
section.
Troyer Patent US 6910774 June 28, 2005
TROYER NOTE: The main patent 2005 claims cover full color spectrum images with reflective light
valves. One light valve or many can be used. Troyer wanted to broaden reflective light valve – instead of
liquid crystal light valve. The patent typist did not remove the liquid crystal part. Claims cover full color
spectrum (635 nm. red and over with a reflective light valve (RLV) that modulates the beam). The sub
claims cover mixing with green and blue all in one RLV or with multiple light valves.
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6910774.html
http://www.patentgenius.com/patent/6910774.html
Inventor: Troyer
Date Issued: June 28, 2005
Application: 09/778,940
Filed: February 5, 2001
Inventors: Troyer; Diane (Sherman Oaks, CA)
Assignee:
Primary Examiner: Dowling; William C.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney Or Agent: Carter; Ryan N.
U.S. Class:
349/22; 353/31; 353/79
16
Dowling, William C.
Page
17. Claims
1. A laser projector comprising: laser apparatus for projecting a picture beam that includes visible laser
light of wavelength equal to six hundred thirty-five (635) nanometers or longer; and a reflective liquid-
crystal light valve for modulating the beam with a desired image.
TROYER NOTE: June 6, 2006 patent claims (divisional) and Canadian patent claims (Feb. 29, 2011)
broaden the claims to reflective light valve (RLV): LCOS, DLP. MEMS, LED, OLED or any to be invented.
2. The projector of claim 1, wherein: light that appears red in the beam comprises substantially only said
laser light of wavelength equal to 635 nanometers or longer.
3. The projector of claim 2, further comprising: means for also incorporating blue and green laser light
into the picture beam; and separate, additional reflective liquid-crystal light valves for modulating the
blue and green light respectively.
4. The projector of claim 2, wherein: said light valve also receives blue and green laser light for
modulation, within the same light valve.
5. The projector of claim 2, further comprising: means for scanning the beam across a face of the light
valve during projection of each image, rather than flooding the entire face substantially simultaneously.
6. The projector of claim 5, further comprising: means for also incorporating blue and green laser light
into the picture beam; and separate, additional reflective liquid-crystal light valves for modulating the
blue and green light respectively.
7. The projector of claim 2, wherein: said light light also receives blue and green laser light for
modulation, within the same light valve.
8. The projector of claim 5, wherein: the laser apparatus comprises no solid-state lasers, but rather
exclusively lasers of gas type.
9. The projector of claim 2, wherein: the laser apparatus comprises no solid-state lasers, but rather
exclusively lasers of gas type.
10. The projector of claim 1, further comprising: further laser apparatus for projecting one or more
beams that include green and blue laser light; and wherein the laser light of wavelength equal to 635
nanometers or longer mixes with the green and blue laser light to provide substantially pure neutral
colors including pure white and pure black.
11. The projector of claim 10, further comprising: means for receiving high-bandwidth red, green and
blue computer-monitor signals from a computer; wherein the projector serves as a high-color-fidelity
computer monitor.
12. The projector of claim 10, wherein: the liquid-crystal light valve is not controlled by light derived
from traditional broadcast video signals.
17
13. The projector of claim 12, wherein the liquid-crystal light valve is controlled by light or control signals
Page
applied to the valve by writing onto a control stage of the valve: a vector, bitmap or other computer file
18. scanned from an image or generated in a computer, or amplitude-modulated laser-diode illumination
swept two-dimensionally across the control stage, or images from a small transmissive liquid-crystal
display modulator, in turn written by signals not derived from traditional broadcast video signals, or
other entire frames without interlace, or motion-picture film color separations, or a still image from a
slide or overhead-projection transparency, or a color separation made therefrom, or a live image
optically coupled, without electronic intermediary, to the control stage.
14. A laser projector comprising: laser apparatus for projecting a picture beam that includes visible laser
light of wavelength about six hundred thirty-five (635) nanometers or longer; and a reflective liquid-
crystal light valve for modulating the beam with a desired image; and wherein: light that appears red in
the beam comprises substantially only said laser light of wavelength about 635 nanometers or longer:
the laser apparatus comprises no solid-state lasers, but rather exclusively lasers of gas type; and said
apparatus projects a beam in which light that appears red is of wavelength between about 635 and 650
nanometers.
15. A laser projector comprising: laser apparatus for projecting a picture beam that includes visible laser
light of wavelength about six hundred thirty-five (635) nanometers or longer; and a reflective liquid-
crystal light valve for modulating the beam with a desired image; and wherein: said apparatus projects a
beam in which light that appears red is of wavelength substantially 647 nanometers.
16. The projector of claim 15, wherein: the image is a moving picture.
17. A laser projector comprising: laser apparatus for projecting a picture beam that includes visible laser
light of wavelength about six hundred thirty-five (635) nanometers or longer; a reflective liquid-crystal
light valve for modulating the beam with a desired image; and further laser apparatus for projecting one
or more beams that include green and blue laser light; wherein the laser light of wavelength about 635
nanometers or longer mixes with the green and blue laser light to provide substantially pure neutral
colors including pure white and pure black; and the further laser apparatus projects substantially cyan
native laser light with the blue or green light, or both.
18. The projector of claim 10, wherein: the first-mentioned laser apparatus and the further laser
apparatus, considered together, comprise one or more lasers; and every laser in the first-mentioned
laser apparatus and the further laser apparatus is exclusively a solid-state laser.
19. The projector of claim 10, wherein: the first-mentioned laser apparatus and the further laser
apparatus, considered together, comprise one or more lasers; and every laser in the first-mentioned
laser apparatus and the further laser apparatus is exclusively a gas laser.
20. A laser projector comprising: laser apparatus for projecting a picture beam that includes visible laser
light of wavelength about six hundred thirty-five (635) nanometers or longer; a reflective liquid-crystal
light valve for modulating the beam with a desired image; and further laser apparatus for projecting one
or more picture beams that include green and blue laser light; wherein the proportions of light power of
the about 635-nanometers or longer-wavelength laser light, the green laser light and the blue laser light
are roughly eight to six to five (8:6:5).
18
21. The projector of claim 10, further comprising: means for also incorporating the blue and green laser
light into said picture beam; and separate, additional reflective liquid-crystal light valves for modulating
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the blue and green light respectively.
19. 22. The projector of claim 10, wherein: said light valve also receives the blue and green laser light for
modulation, within the same light valve.
23. A laser projection system for forming a sharp image on an irregular projection medium having
portions at distinctly differing distances from the projector; said system comprising: laser apparatus for
projecting a picture beam that includes laser light; a liquid-crystal light valve for impressing a sharp
image onto the beam; and means for projecting the beam from the light valve, with said impressed
image being displayed sharply on substantially all such portions, at distinctly different distances, of such
irregular projection medium as a show for an audience.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein: the irregular projection medium comprises one or more projection
media selected from the group consisting of: an interior of a dome, or other building having internal
surfaces that are not generally normal to a projection direction, an exterior of a dome, sculpture,
monument, or other structure having external surfaces that are not generally normal to a projection
direction, a waterfall, a water fountain, fog or a cloud, ice, a scrim in front of a curtain or screen, a
plurality of scrims in optical series, one or more trees, grass, vines or other foliage, a hillside or other
landscape, or other receding surface, and an array of people or other animals or other discrete objects,
or combinations thereof, at diverse distances from the projecting means; and the projecting means
display a protracted show on the one or more projection media, for the audience.
25. The system of claim 24, further comprising: such irregular projection medium.
26. The system of claim 23, further comprising: such irregular projection medium.
27. The system of claim 23, wherein: the laser apparatus comprises one or more lasers; and every laser
in the laser apparatus is exclusively a solid-state laser.
28. The projector of claim 24: wherein the laser apparatus projects red laser light in the picture beam;
and the light valve impresses red components of an image onto the red laser light; and further
comprising: means for also incorporating blue and green laser light into the picture beam, and separate,
additional liquid-crystal light valves for respectively impressing blue and green components of the image
onto the blue and green light.
29. The projector of claim 24, wherein: said light valve receives laser light components of three
respective colors and impresses corresponding color components of the image onto the three respective
light components, respectively, all within the same light valve.
30. A laser projection system for forming an image on an irregular projection medium having portions at
distinctly differing distances from the projector; said system comprising: laser apparatus for projecting a
picture beam that includes laser light; a liquid-crystal light valve for impressing an image onto the beam;
and means for projecting the beam from the light valve, with said impressed image, onto such irregular
projection medium to form a substantially sharp image on such medium at such distinctly differing
distances.
31. The system of claim 30, wherein: the irregular projection medium comprises one or more projection
media selected from the group consisting of: an interior of a dome, or other building having internal
19
surfaces that are not generally normal to a projection direction, an exterior of a dome, sculpture,
monument, or other structure having external surfaces that are not generally normal to a projection
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direction, a waterfall, a water fountain, fog or a cloud, ice, a scrim in front of a curtain or screen, a
20. plurality of scrims in optical series, one or more trees, grass, vines or other foliage, a hillside or other
landscape, or other receding surface, and an array of people or other animals or other discrete objects,
or combinations thereof, at diverse distances from the projecting means; and the projection means
form the substantially sharp image on substantially each element of the selected one or more media.
32. A laser projector comprising: laser apparatus for projecting a picture beam that includes visible laser
light of wavelength longer than 640 nanometers; and a reflective liquid-crystal light valve for modulating
the beam with a desired image.
33. The projector of claim 32, wherein: beam is of wavelength substantially 647 nanometers.
34. The projector of claim 32: wherein the light valve impresses red components of an image onto the
laser light of wavelength near 640 nanometers; and further comprising: means for also incorporating
blue and green laser light into the picture beam, and separate, additional liquid-crystal light valves for
respectively impressing blue and green components of the image onto the blue and green light.
35. The projector of claim 32, wherein: said light valve receives laser light components of three
respective colors and impresses corresponding color components of the image onto the three respective
light components, respectively, all within the same light valve.
Troyer Patent June 6, 2006 US 7055957
This patent can be licensed separately. The claims broadens to all reflective light valves
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7055957.html
http://www.google.com/patents/US7055957
Inventor: Troyer
Date Issued: June 6, 2006
Application: 10/946,081
Filed: September 21, 2004
Inventors: Troyer; Diane (Kalona, IA)
Assignee:
Primary
Dowling; William C.
Examiner:
Assistant
Examiner:
Attorney Or
Carter; Ryan N.
Agent:
U.S. Class: 349/25; 349/5; 353/31; 359/197
Field Of Search: 353/31; 353/33; 353/34; 353/37; 353/122; 359/197; 359/212; 359/215; 359/216; 359/221; 359/223; 348/751;
348/761; 348/766; 349/2; 349/4; 349/25; 349/5
International
20
G03B 21/14
Class:
Claim:
Page
21. 1. A laser projector comprising: laser apparatus for projecting a picture beam that includes exclusively
laser light of wavelength about six hundred thirty-five (635) nanometers or longer; a reflective light
valve having a beam-modulation stage for impressing an image onto the exclusively laser- light beam
and having a control stage, distinct from the beam-modulation stage, to control said impressing; means
for writing an image incrementally onto successive generally slot-shaped portions of the control stage;
and means for directing the exclusively laser-light beam onto successive selected generally slot-shaped
portions of the modulation stage, and for generally synchronizing the exclusively laser-light beam with
the image-writing means; wherein the laser apparatus initially projects the exclusively laser-light picture
beam having substantially all rays substantially parallel to a common optical axis, with substantially no
ray crossing the optical axis or otherwise passing through the center of any aperture stop; wherein the
projector therefore has no telecentric zone; and the exclusively laser-light picture beam is not focused at
or near the directing means or the modulation stage, or elsewhere within the laser projector.
2. The projector of claim 1, wherein: the reflective light valve includes a substantially distinct spatial
portion for modulation of each distinct spatial portion of the exclusively laser-light beam, respectively.
3. The projector of claim 2, wherein: the projected beam has a cross-section that is substantially uniform
in intensity rather than having a Gaussian intensity distribution.
4. The projector of claim 3, wherein: substantially the entire cross-section of the exclusively laser-light
beam, with negligible masking, is directed onto said successive selected portions of modulation stage.
5. The projector of claim 1, wherein: substantially each control-stage portion has a substantially
corresponding modulation-stage portion; and the directing-and-synchronizing means generally
synchronize selection of modulation-stage portions with writing at corresponding successive control-
stage portions, subject to a delay generally equal to rise time in the modulation stage.
6. The projector of claim 1, wherein: the directing means comprise a curved mirror that shapes the
picture beam to a shallow cross-section; and said curved mirror is mounted in a galvanometer
movement or motor, to scan the shaped beam across said modulation stage.
7. The projector of claim 1, wherein: the directing means comprise a curved mirror that shapes the
picture beam to a shallow cross-section; and said curved mirror is mounted to a rotating disc for
scanning the shaped beam across said modulation stage.
8. The projector of claim 1, further comprising: means for reflecting the beam from the directing means
into the beam-modulation stage and for transmitting the beam, after return from the beam-modulation
stage, to form a picture on a projection medium; and wherein: the laser apparatus is generally disposed
on a first level; the light valve, writing means, and reflecting-and-transmitting means are generally
disposed on a second level above or below the first level; and the directing means also transfer the
beam from the first level to the second level.
9. The projector of claim 8, wherein: the directing means turn the beam from a path generally
associated with the first level to propagate in a direction generally perpendicular to that path, toward
the second level.
21
10. The laser projector of claim 1 wherein the laser light is a substantially white laser beam comprised of
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amplitude-modulated color imaging information; wherein the substantially white laser light is formed by
22. the combination of a red laser beam having a laser light of wavelength of about 635 nanometers or
longer, and laser beam of blue and green wavelengths so that the white light contains a full color
spectrum.
11. The laser projector of claim 10 wherein the substantially white laser light further comprises at least
one additional laser beam; said additional laser beam having a wavelength of about 488 nanometers
Troyer Note: This claim suggests that the secondary colors are included with the Red. Blue and
green. Secondary colors are yellow, magenta, and cyan (488 nm).
12. The projector of claim 1, further comprising: means for reflecting the laser light beam from the
directing means into the beam-modulation stage and for transmitting the beam, after return from the
beam-modulation stage; means of to form a sharp in focus picture on an irregular projection medium;;
wherein the laser apparatus is generally disposed on a first level and the light valve, writing means, and
reflecting-and-transmitting means are generally disposed on a second level.
.
Troyer Note: means dome, simulation, curved screen or irregular screen like water screen, balloon,
sculpture having portions at distinctly different distances from the projector
13. The projector of claim 1, further comprising: means for reflecting the beam from the directing means
into the beam-modulation stage and for transmitting the beam after return from the beam-modulation
stage, means to form a sharp in focus picture on an irregular projection medium; having portions at
distinctly different distances from the projector; and wherein the laser apparatus generally retains the
collimation and the spatial modulation is preserved in the propagating laser beam.
Troyer Note: This is the magic that makes possible always in focus sharp images on domes, simulation—
also this makes possible the 2D to 3D in the fact that the sharp spatially modulated images that are
always in focus create automatic depth in curved space or with volume flat screens).
14. The laser projector of claim 1, further comprising a means of preserving the pseudo collimation
(non-crossing rays) of the laser beams to form a sharp image on an irregular projection medium having
portions at distinctly differing distance from the laser apparatus.
Troyer Note: Dome half screen, Cinerama, Simulation, CAVE/ HIVE—holographic immersive virtual
environments.
22
Page
23. Troyer US Patent February 14, 2012 8113660
Projector and Camera with Dimensional Sharp Full Spectrum Color Dimensional Images
IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
Applicant: Diane Troyer
Invention: Laser Projection Apparatus with LIQUID-CRYSTAL LIGHT VALVES
AND SCANNING READING BEAM
February 14, 2012
Serial No: 8113660
Filed: 04/20/2006
Group Art Unit: 2878
Examiner: WILLIAM C. DOWLING
Claims
1. A laser apparatus (projector) comprising:
a camera having an image sensor for gathering an image;
a laser modulator for receiving a signal from the image sensor then projecting the
image as a picture beam, wherein the beam that is projected includes visible laser light
having a wavelength of 635 nanometers red or longer;
a reflective light valve for modulating the beam; and
means for addressing the laser beam on the face of the light valve during projection
of said desired image;
wherein the projector produces collimated spatially modulated laser beams that
produce sharp images with depth.
2. The laser apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the camera has a means for providing depth enhancement scalability and means
to separate the visible light into red, green and blue color information.
3. The laser apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
means for incorporating blue and green laser light into the picture beam and separate
additional reflective light valves for modulating the blue and green light
respectively.
4. The laser apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
said reflective light valve also receives blue and green laser light for modulation.
5. The laser apparatus claim 1, wherein said reflective light valve is a liquid-crystal reflective light valve.
6. The 1aser apparatus for claim 1, wherein:
the beams also include green and blue laser light and
wherein the laser light of wavelength equal to 635 nanometers or longer mixes
23
with the green and blue laser light to provide substantially pure neutral colors
including pure white and pure black.
Page
24. 7. The laser apparatus for claim 6, wherein:
the laser projector is adapted to project substantially
cyan colored light with the blue light and the green light.
8. The 1aser apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the laser projector projects purple, magenta, and deep honey.
9. The laser apparatus of claim 8, wherein:
collimation is retained in the laser beams, thus the spatial modulation is preserved in the
propagating laser beam producing infinite sharp dimensional colored images.
10. The1aser apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:
means for at least partly suppressing visible speckle in a picture formed by said
laser light on a projection medium.
11. The1aser apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
means for providing sharp high-bandwidth depth red,
green and blue computer-monitor signals from a computer;
wherein the projector serves as a high-color-fidelity computer monitor.
12. The1aser apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the reflective light valve is controlled by light and control signals applied to the
reflective light valve from the camera captured images
wherein the reflective light valve is controlled by light and control signals from
film, slide images. transparencies. electronically based media and video, direct live
images, LCOS, OLED, DLP, and LED.
13. The1aser apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
reflective light valve is controlled by light and control signals of a multi-phase or multi-field imaging
system.
14. The laser apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
reflective light valve is controlled by light and control signals from camera capture of a live image of
a stage performer and is amplified on a big screen.
15. The laser apparatus of claim 1, wherein the
reflective light valve is controlled by signals from a live image or hologram optically
coupled, without electronic intermediary.
16. A laser apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflective light valve is controlled by signals sent from one
or more of the following devices: microscope, telescope, MRI, endoscope.
17. The laser apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the light valve has a beam-modulation stage for impressing the desired image
onto the beam, and a control stage to control said impressing; and
24
the projector further comprises:
means for writing an image incrementally onto successive portions of the
Page
control stage; and
25. means for directing the beam onto successive selected portions of the
modulation stage, and means for generally synchronizing the directing
means with the image-writing means.
18. The laser apparatus of claim 1, for wherein:
forming an image on an irregular projection medium having portions at distinctly
different distances from the projector wherein:
the light valve operates by introducing
at least partial disruption of the laser light coherence; and comprising
means for amplifying the camera picture onto such irregular projection
medium to form a dimensional image that appears substantially sharp on said portions
of distinctly different distances.
19. The laser apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the beam delivers full spectrum colored dimension
images that amplify and correlate to the camera information,
and form moving pictures that automatically adjust to a shaped screen.
20. A laser projector system for forming amplified enhanced imagines with infinite sharp depth for laser
projection in curved space, said system comprising:
a camera having image enhancement capabilities;
a laser projector in communication with the camera for projecting a
spatial modulated full color picture beam that includes laser light;
the laser projector having a reflective light valve for impressing a sharp
image onto the beam;
means for scanning the beam across a face of the light valve during
projection of a spatial modulated picture beam.
21. A laser projector system of 20, wherein the laser projector is adapted to project the spatial
modulated full color dimensional picture beam on convex or concave screens and CAVE;
at diverse distances from the projecting means; and the projecting means
displays a protracted show with sharp dimensional images on the one or more
projection media including interior or exterior staging scrims for opera, performance, TV stages,
CAVE, HIVE- holographic immersive virtual environments
22. The laser projector system of claim 20 wherein: the image is delivered to the camera through
optically switched images or optically multi-dimensional imaging.
23. The laser projector system of claim 20 wherein: the camera is adapted to receive images from a
microscope,
telescope, endoscope, MIR, testing instrument.
24. The laser projector system of claim 20 wherein a direct image is transmitted to the laser projector
by CID, CCD, MEMS, LED, DLP, LCOS, OLED,
or other device that provides imaging information.
25
25. A laser projector comprising:
Page
a laser apparatus for projecting a picture beam;
26. a reflective light valve having a camera control stage that is addressed by low
power amplified-modulated lasers;
means to scan modulated lasers with multiple axis;
said laser projector has a beam- modulation stage for imprinting images onto
colored lasers, the laser color including having a wavelength of 635 nanometers or longer;
means to scan the colored beams retaining the infinite depth of sharpness of the
projected image;
wherein the laser beams are substantially parallel rays, and retain the inherent
polarization and collimation of the laser beam.
26. The laser projector of claim 25 further comprising means for scanning
collimated reading beams in sync with the writing information.
27. The laser projector of claim 25 having increased resolution:
wherein the reflective light valve has a writing control stage;
means to deliver multiple imaging defining devices; and
mean for combining the imaging defining devices to deliver imaging information.
Troyer Canadian Patent 2,372, 833 issued January 15, 2013
The Canadian patent office is very thorough – and looks at all prior art. The global patent data bases are
much more up to date in 2012 with great search engines. Receiving a Canadian patent provides strong
validation for the India and Mexican patents and also the 4 USA patents. The Canada claims are broad
covering all reflective light valves. The patent claims have been edited to be simple and very clear, so
there is no question of what is covered in the patents.
Canadian Patents Database
Patent Summary
(12) Patent: (11) CA 2372833
(54) English LASER PROJECTION APPARATUS WITH LIGHT VALVE AND SCANNING
Title: READING BEAM
(54) French APPAREIL DE PROJECTION LASER AVEC SOUPAPE D'ECLAIRAGE ET FAISCEAU
Title: DE LECTURE/BALAYAGE
Representative Drawing
26
Page
27. Abstracts
English Abstract
A laser projection system wherein speckle is suppressed through beam-path
displacement, by deflecting the beam during projection, thereby avoiding both
absorption and diffusion of the beam while preserving pseudocollimation
(noncrossing rays). Path displacement is achieved by scanning the beam on
liquid crystal light valves (LCLV's) (30), which also provide enhancements -
in energy efficiency, brightness, contrast, beam uniformity (by suppressing
both laser-mode ripple and artifacts). Preferably deflection is performed by a
mirror (20) mounted on a galvanometer or motor (21) for oscillation; images
are written incrementally on successive portions of an LCLV control stage
while the laser "reading beam" is synchronized on an output stage. Beam
splitter analyzer cubes (25) are preferred over polarizing sheets.
French Abstract
Les lignes laser à 635 nm ou plus (idéalement 647 nm) sont préférées pour le rouge, donnant
des images, satisfaisantes du point de vue énergétiques, brillantes et à mouvement rapide aux
couleurs riches et pleines comparables à un film. Les lignes vertes et bleues sont également
utilisées et le cyan retenu pour un bon mélange de couleurs, un survoltage supplémentaire
lumière couleur et sa contribution à la suppression du chatoiement. Ce chatoiement est supprimé
par le déplacement du parcours faisceau - par déviation du faisceau durant la projection, ce qui
supprime tant son absorption que sa diffusion tout en conservant la pseudo-collimation (rayons
non croisés), ce qui est important pour la netteté illimitée. Le déplacement du parcours est
obtenu par balayage du faisceau sur les valves à cristaux liquides (LCLV), ce qui donne lieu à
plusieurs améliorations en matière d'efficacité énergétique, de brillance, de contraste et
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d'homogénéité du faisceau (par suppression à la fois des ondulations mode laser et des
artefacts) et une rotation de faisceau pratique pour le transfert de faisceau entre les étages de
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l'appareil. C'est, de préférence, un miroir, monté sur un galvanomètre ou un moteur aux fins
28. d'une oscillation rotative, qui assure la déviation. Les images sont écrites de manière
incrémentielle sur des parties successives de l'étage de commande des LCLV (optique ou
électronique) tandis que le faisceau laser est synchronisé sur l'étage de sortie. Le faisceau est
façonné, avec très peu de pertes d'énergie, aux fins d'un masquage, en un profil transversal peu
profond qui est décalé sur l'écran de visualisation ainsi que sur les LCLV. Des cubes
analyseurs/diviseurs de faisceau sont préférés au-dessus de feuilles polarisantes. La modulation
spatiale assurée par une LCLV et maintenue par pseudo-collimation permet la formation
d'images sur des supports de projection irréguliers avec des parties à des distances différentes
du projecteur- y compris des dômes, des sculptures des monuments, des bâtiments, des chutes
d'eau, des embruns, du brouillard, des nuages, de la glace, des mousselines et autres structures
à étage, des arbres et autres frondaisons, des terres et des surfaces rocheuses et même des
assemblages de créatures vivantes, des personnes y compris.
Patent Details
G03B 21/28 (2006.01)
(51) International Patent Classification G03B 21/00 (2006.01)
(IPC): H04N 9/31 (2006.01)
TROYER, DIANE (United States of
(72) Inventors (Country): America)
TROYER, DIANE (United States of
(73) Owners (Country): America)
TROYER, DIANE (United States of
(71) Applicants (Country): America)
(74) Agent: SMART & BIGGAR
(45) Issued: 2013-01-15
(86) PCT Filing Date: 1999-04-30
(87) PCT Publication Date: 1999-11-25
Examination requested: 2005-04-27
(30) Availability of licence: N/A
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Page
(30) Language of filing: English
29. Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): Yes
(86) PCT Filing Number: PCT/US1999/009501
(87) International Publication
WO1999/060443
Number:
(85) National Entry: 2001-11-01
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Cover Page Cover Page 60 2
Abstract Abstract 63 1
Claims Claims 612 18
Description Description 5,276 100
Drawings Drawings 461 19
Representative Drawing Representative Drawing 19 1
Canadian Intellectual Property Office
http://brevets-patents.ic.gc.ca/opic-cipo/cpd/eng/patent/2372833/claims.html?type=
Canadian Patents Database
Claims page
Patent Document Number: 2372833
(54) English Title: LASER PROJECTION APPARATUS WITH LIGHT VALVE AND SCANNING
READING BEAM
29
Page
30. CLAIMS:
1. A laser projector comprising:
laser apparatus for projecting a picture beam that includes visible laser
light of wavelength equal to six hundred thirty-five nanometers or longer;
a reflective light valve for modulating the beam with a desired image;
and
means for directing the beam onto a face of the light valve to modulate
the beam with said desired image,
wherein the laser projector is adapted to project the beam with non-
crossing rays and to preserve spatial modulation in the projected beam.
2. The projector of claim 1, wherein:
light that appears red in the beam comprises substantially only said
laser light of wavelength equal to 635 nanometers or longer.
3. The projector of claim 1 or 2, wherein:
said apparatus is adapted for projecting a beam of wavelength between
635 and 650 nanometers.
4. The projector of claim 1 or 2, wherein:
said apparatus projects a beam of wavelength equal to 647 nanometers.
5. The projector of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:
the image is a moving picture.
6. The projector of any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising:
means for also incorporating blue and green laser light into the picture
beam; and
separate, additional reflective light valves for modulating the blue and
green light respectively.
7. The projector of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:
said light valve also receives blue and green laser light for modulation,
within the same light valve.
8. The projector of claim 6, wherein said separate, additional reflective
light valves comprise liquid-crystal light valves.
30
9. The projector of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said reflective light
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valve comprises a liquid-crystal reflective light valve.
31. 10. The projector of any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising:
further laser apparatus for projecting one or more beams that include
green and blue laser light; and
wherein the laser light of wavelength equal to 635 nanometers or longer
mixes with the green and blue laser light to provide substantially pure
neutral colors including pure white and pure black.
11. The projector of claim 10, wherein:
the further laser apparatus is adapted for projecting substantially cyan
light with the blue light or the green light, or both the blue light and the
green light.
12. The projector of claim 11, wherein the combination of said means for
scanning the beam, said light of wavelength equal to 635 nanometers or longer,
and
said cyan light, and the preservation of spatial modulation in the projected
beam, provides a suppression means for at least partly suppressing visible speckle
in a picture formed by said laser light on a projection medium.
13. The projector of claim 10, wherein one or both of (1) said means for
scanning the beam, and (2) said light of wavelength equal to 635 nanometers or
longer and (3) the preservation of spatial modulation in the projected beam,
provides a suppression means for at least partly suppressing visible speckle in a
picture formed by said laser light on a projection medium.
14. The projector of any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising:
means for receiving high-bandwidth red, green and blue computer-
monitor signals from a computer;
wherein the projector serves as a high-color-fidelity computer monitor.
15. The projector of claim 14, wherein the reflective light valve is
controlled by light or control signals applied to the valve by writing onto a control
stage of the valve a vector, bitmap or other computer file scanned from an image or
generated in a computer.
16. The projector of claim 14, wherein the reflective light valve is
controlled by light or control signals applied to the valve by writing onto a control
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stage of the valve amplitude-modulated laser-diode illumination swept two-dimensionally
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across the control stage.
32. 17. The projector of claim 14, wherein the reflective light valve is
controlled by light or control signals applied to the valve by writing onto a control
stage of the valve images from a small transmissive liquid-crystal display modulator, in
turn written by signals derived from a source other than traditional broadcast
video signals.
18. The projector of claim 14, wherein the reflective light valve is
controlled by light or control signals applied to the valve by writing onto a control
stage of the valve entire frames without interlace.
19. The projector of claim 14, wherein the reflective light valve is
controlled by light or control signals applied to the valve by writing onto a control
stage of the valve a motion-picture film.
20. The projector of claim 14, wherein the reflective light valve is
controlled by light or control signals applied to the valve by writing onto a control
stage of the valve a still image from a slide or overhead-projection transparency, or a
color separation made therefrom.
21. The projector of claim 14, wherein the reflective light valve is
controlled by light or control signals applied to the valve by writing onto a control
stage of the valve a live image optically coupled, without electronic intermediary, to the
control stage.
22. The projector of any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein:
the light valve is controlled by light substantially derived from a type of
traditional broadcast video signals; and
substantially no color correction or gamma adjustment is applied to
remove effects of using said 635-nanometer or longer-wavelength laser light
instead of broadcast video standard red.
23. The projector of any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein:
the first-mentioned laser apparatus and the further laser apparatus,
considered together, comprise one or more lasers; and
each laser in the first-mentioned laser apparatus and the further laser
apparatus is exclusively a solid-state laser.
24. The projector of any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein:
the first-mentioned laser apparatus and the further laser apparatus,
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considered together, comprise one or more lasers; and
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33. each laser in the first-mentioned laser apparatus and the further laser
apparatus is exclusively a gas laser.
25. The projector of any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising:
further laser apparatus for projecting one or more beams that include
green and blue laser light; wherein:
the proportions of light power of the 635 nanometer or longer-
wavelength laser light, the green laser light and the blue laser light are
eight to six to five.
26. The projector of any one of claims 1 to 14:
wherein the light valve has a beam-modulation stage for impressing the
desired image onto the beam, and a control stage to control said impressing;
and the projector further comprises:
means for writing an image incrementally onto successive portions of
the control stage; and
means for directing the beam onto successive selected portions of the
modulation stage and means for generally synchronizing the directing means
with the image-writing means.
27. The projector of any one of claims 1 to 14, for use in forming an image
on an irregular projection medium having portions at distinctly different
distances from the projector:
wherein the light valve operates by introducing at least partial disruption
of the laser-light coherence; and comprising:
means for projecting the picture beam onto such irregular projection
medium to form an image that appears substantially sharp on said portions of
distinctly different distances, notwithstanding said at least partial
disruption of coherence.
28. A laser projection system for forming a sharp image on an irregular
projection medium having portions at distinctly differing distances from the
projector; said system comprising:
laser apparatus for projecting a picture beam that includes laser light of
wavelength equal to six hundred thirty-five nanometers or longer;
a reflective light valve for impressing a sharp image onto the beam; and
33
means for projecting the beam from the light valve with non-crossing
rays and with preservation of spatial modulation in the projected beam, with
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said impressed image being displayed sharply on substantially all such portions, at
34. distinctly different distances, of such irregular projection medium as a show
for an audience.
29. The system of claim 28, wherein:
the irregular projection medium comprises one or more projection
media comprising any of:
an interior or exterior of a dome structure, or
a building; or a building or structure having internal surfaces that are not generally
normal to a projection direction, or
a sculpture, monument, or other structure having external surfaces that
are not generally normal to a projection direction,
a waterfall, or a water fountain, or fog or a cloud, or ice,
a scrim in front of a curtain or screen, or a plurality of scrims in optical series, or
one or more trees, or grass, vines or other foliage, or
a hillside or other landscape, or other receding surface, or
an array of people or other animals or other discrete objects, or
combinations thereof, at diverse distances from the projecting means; and
the projecting means displays a protracted show on the one or more
projection media, for the audience.
30. The system of claim 28 or 29, further comprising: such irregular
projection medium.
31. The system of any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein:
the laser apparatus comprises one or more lasers; and
each laser in the laser apparatus is exclusively a solid-state laser.
32. The system of any one of claims 28 to 31:
wherein the laser apparatus projects red laser light in the picture beam;
and the light valve impresses red components of an image onto the red
laser light; and further comprising:
means for also incorporating blue and green laser light into the picture
beam, and separate, additional light valves for respectively impressing blue and
green components of the image onto the blue and green light.
33. The system of any one of claims 28 to 31, wherein:
said light valve receives laser light components of three respective
34
colors and impresses corresponding color components of the image onto the
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three respective light components, respectively, all within the same light valve.
35. 34. A laser projection system for forming an image on an irregular
projection medium having portions at distinctly differing distances from the
projector; said system comprising:
laser apparatus for projecting a picture beam that includes laser light of
wavelength equal to six hundred thirty-five nanometers or longer;
a light valve for impressing an image onto the beam;
means for directing the beam onto a face of the light valve to impress
said image onto said beam; and
means for projecting the beam from the light valve with non-crossing
rays and with preservation of spatial modulation in the projected beam, with
said impressed image, onto such irregular projection medium to form a substantially
sharp image on such medium at such distinctly differing distances.
35. The system of claim 34, wherein:
the irregular projection medium comprises one or more projection
media comprising any of:
an interior or exterior of a dome structure, or
a building; or a building or structure having internal surfaces that are not generally
normal to a projection direction, or
a sculpture, monument, or other structure having external surfaces that
are not generally normal to a projection direction,
a waterfall, or a water fountain, or fog or a cloud, or ice,
a scrim in front of a curtain or screen, or a plurality of scrims in optical series, or
one or more trees, or grass, vines or other foliage, or
a hillside or other landscape, or other receding surface, or
an array of people or other animals or other discrete objects, or
combinations thereof, at diverse distances from the projecting means; and
the projection means form the substantially sharp image on
substantially each element of the selected one or more media.
36. A laser projector comprising:
laser apparatus for projecting a picture beam that includes visible laser
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light of wavelength longer than 640 nanometers;
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a reflective light valve for modulating the beam with a desired image,
36. and means for directing the beam onto a face of the light valve to modulate
the beam with the image,
wherein the laser projector is adapted to project the beam with non-
crossing rays and to preserve spatial modulation in the projected beam.
37. The projector of claim 36, wherein:
said apparatus projects a beam of wavelength substantially equal to
647 nanometers.
38. The projector of claim 36:
wherein the light valve impresses red components of an image onto the
laser light of wavelength longer than 640 nanometers; and
further comprising:
means for also incorporating blue and green laser light into the picture
beam, and separate, additional light valves for respectively impressing blue and
green components of the image onto the blue and green light.
39. The projector of claim 36 or 37, wherein:
said light valve receives laser light components of three respective
colors and impresses corresponding color components of the image onto the
three respective light components, respectively, all within the same light valve.
40. The projector of claims 32 or 38, wherein the separate additional light
valves comprise reflective liquid-crystal light valves.
41. The projector of any one of claims 10 to 40, wherein said reflective light
valve comprises a liquid-crystal light valve.
42. A laser projector comprising:
laser apparatus for projecting along a path a picture beam that includes
laser light of wavelength equal to six hundred thirty-five nanometers or
longer, a reflective light valve having a beam-modulation stage for impressing an image
onto the beam; and
means for at least partly suppressing visible speckle in a picture formed
on a projection medium by said laser light; wherein the suppressing means
comprises displacing means for scanning the beam over the beam-modulation
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stage during projection of the beam,
and wherein the laser projector is adapted to project the beam with non-
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crossing rays and to preserve spatial modulation in the projected beam.
37. 43. The projector of claim 42, wherein:
the displacing means scans the beam over the beam-modulation stage
by mechanically or electrooptically deflecting the beam path rotationally.
44. The projector of claim 43, wherein:
the displacing means comprises an optical deflecting element mounted
for mechanical rotation.
45. The projector of claim 44, wherein:
the deflecting element comprises a mirror mounted on a galvanometer
or motor.
46. The projector of claim 45, wherein:
the mirror is mounted for rotation about an axis substantially in a
reflective surface of the mirror.
47. The projector of any one of claims 42 to 46, wherein:
the light valve also has a control stage to control said impressing; and
further comprising:
means for writing an image incrementally onto successive portions of
the control stage; and
means for controlling the displacing means to direct the beam onto
successive selected portions of the modulation stage, and to generally
synchronize the beam with the image-writing means.
48. The projector of claim 47, wherein:
the control stage is a photosensitive stage that receives an
incrementally written optical image.
49. The projector of claim 47, wherein:
the control stage comprises an electrode matrix that receives
incrementally written electrical voltages.
50. The projector of any one of claims 42 to 49,
further comprising beam-expansion means; and
wherein the displacing means and beam-expansion means cooperate
to achieve a net gain in light-energy efficiency.
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51. The projector of any one of claims 42 to 50, wherein:
the displacing means and beam-expansion means also cooperate to
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substantially eliminate initial nonuniformity of brightness in the beam.
38. 52. The projector of any one of claims 42 to 51, wherein:
said projection medium has a shape;
the laser apparatus comprises optical means for shaping the picture
beam to a cross-sectional shape shallower than the shape of the projection
medium; and
the displacing means also shifts the picture beam on the projection
medium, during said projection.
53. The projector of claim 52, wherein the optical means is selected from
the group consisting of:
plural lenses in series for adjusting the beam dimension in two
substantially perpendicular directions; and
a curved mirror that forms part of the displacing means.
54. A laser projector comprising:
laser apparatus for forming a picture beam that includes laser light of
wavelength equal to six hundred thirty-five nanometers or longer;
said laser apparatus producing an initially substantially circular laser-
light beam subject to non-uniform illumination;
means for transmitting a beam out of the projector for viewing by an
audience as images on a substantially rectangular viewing screen that has a
shape; and
means for forming an illuminated image on the substantially rectangular
viewing screen by using the circular laser-light beam without masking off
significant fractions of the laser-light beam;
said illuminated-image-forming means comprising:
means for reshaping the initially circular laser-light beam to a laser-light
beam of shallower shape than said shape of the substantially rectangular viewing screen;
a reflective light valve for modulating the beam with an image; and
means for directing the reshaped laser-light beam onto a face of the
light valve,
wherein said laser projector is adapted to project the beam with non-
crossing rays and to preserve spatial modulation in the projected beam.
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55. A laser projection system for forming an image on an irregular
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projection medium which comprises a curved screen or dome having an image-