Front-projection screen with subsurface diffusion targets

• US 20060103930A1
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: InFocus Corporation (Lap-Shun Hui, MBA)
• Inventors: Peterson, Mark D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,433,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/454
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/602 Lenticular screens G03B21/625 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for a front-projection screen having a subsurface diffusion target are disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A front-projection screen comprising:

a first layer having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface having a first refractive element;

a first diffusion target at the second surface, adapted to provide diffuse reflection to at least a portion of first radiation that is incident upon the first refractive element within a range of incident angles; and

a first absorption target, adapted to absorb at least a portion of second radiation incident upon the first refractive element outside of the range of incident angles.

2. The front-projection screen of claim 1, wherein the first diffusion target and the first absorption target are coplanar.

3. The front-projection screen of claim 1, wherein the first refractive element is selected from a group consisting of a lenslet, a lenticule, and a prism.

4. The front-projection screen of claim 1, wherein the first refractive element has a focal distance, and the first diffusion target is disposed at a distance from the first refractive element that is approximately equal to the focal distance.

5. The front-projection screen of claim 1, wherein the first absorption target comprises a portion of an absorption layer.

6. The front-projection screen of claim 5, further comprising:

a transparent substrate coupled between the first layer and the absorption layer.

7. The front-projection screen of claim 6, wherein the first diffusion target is printed on either the transparent substrate or the second surface.

8. The front-projection screen of claim 6, wherein the first diffusion target is printed on either the absorption layer or the second surface.

9. The front-projection screen of claim 1, wherein the first layer includes the first absorption target and the screen further comprises:

a diffusion layer, including the first diffusion target, coupled to the second surface.

10. The front-projection screen of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the first layer further comprises:

a first surface pattern including the first refractive element and one or more additional refractive elements.

11. The front-projection screen of claim 10, further comprising:

a diffusion target pattern including the first diffusion target and one or more additional diffusion targets; and

the refractive elements of the first surface pattern being adapted to receive the first radiation and to transmit portions of the first radiation to corresponding ones of the diffusion targets of the diffusion target pattern.

12. The front-projection screen of claim 11, further comprising:

an absorption target pattern including the first absorption target and one or more additional absorption targets; and

the refractive elements of the first surface pattern being adapted to receive the second radiation and to transmit portions of the second radiation to corresponding ones of the absorption targets of the absorption target pattern.

13. The front-projection screen of claim 12, further comprising:

a substrate;

the absorption target pattern coupled between the second surface and the substrate; and

the diffusing target pattern coupled between the second surface and the substrate, with the diffusing target pattern complementing the absorption target pattern.

14. The front-projection screen of claim 10, wherein the first surface pattern is either a lenticular pattern or a rectangular array pattern.

15. The front-projection screen of claim 1, wherein the first diffusion target is white in color.

16. The front-projection screen of claim 1, wherein the first diffusion target is adapted to receive radiation having an emission energy imbalance, and to reflect radiation having at least a reduced emission energy imbalance.

17. A method comprising:

projecting first radiation onto a refractive element on a first surface of a first layer within a range of incident angles;

transmitting the first radiation through the refractive element to a diffusion target at the second surface; and

diffusely reflecting, at least a portion of the first radiation.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

transmitting second radiation, which is received at the refractive outside of the range of incident angles, through the refractive element to an absorption target.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said transmitting of the first radiation comprises:

substantially focusing the first radiation onto the diffusion target.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

emitting, with the refractive element, the diffusely reflected first portion within a range of emittance angles that is greater than the range of incident angles.

21. A method comprising:

forming a refractive element on a first surface of a first layer; and

coupling a reflective diffusion target to a location on a second surface of the first layer to receive radiation incident upon the refractive element within a first range of angles.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

coupling a third surface of an absorption layer to the second surface, the absorption layer adapted to receive radiation incident upon the refractive element outside of the first range of angles.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the coupling of the reflective diffusion target further comprises:

printing the diffusion target on either the second surface or the third surface.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the first layer comprises a photo-plastic material having absorptive properties and the method further comprises:

irradiating the refractive element with radiation adapted to affect the irradiated photo-plastic material in a manner to provide a transmissive aperture through the photo-plastic material having absorptive properties.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the irradiating of the refractive element is done within a third range of angles that approximate angles of anticipated use, the third range of angles being the substantial equivalent of the first range of angles.

26. A system comprising:

a refractive element forming device adapted to form a refractive element on a first surface of a lens layer; and

a printing mechanism adapted to print a diffusing target to receive radiation incident upon the refractive element within a first range of angles, the printed diffusion target being positioned at a second surface of the first layer.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a laminating device to couple a third surface of a diffusing layer to the second surface; and

the printing mechanism further adapted to print the diffusing target on either the second surface or the third surface.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein at least a portion of the first layer comprises a photo-plastic material having absorptive properties and the system further comprises:

an illumination device adapted to irradiate the refractive element with radiation adapted to affect the irradiated photo-plastic material in a manner to provide a transmissive aperture through the photo-plastic material having absorptive properties.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the illumination device is further adapted to irradiate the refractive element within a second range of angles that approximates angles of anticipated use, the second range of angles being the substantial equivalent of the first range of angles.