Projection screen using dispersing lens array for asymmetric viewing angle

• US 6,317,263 B1
• Filed: 06/18/1999
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Fleming, Patrick R., Nelson, John C., Chou, Hsin-Hsin, Moshrefzadeh, Robert S., Thomas, Patrick A., Hodapp, Theodore W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mahoney, Christopher E.
• Application Number:
  US09/335,995
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 359/443, 359/449, 359/460, 359/458, 359/455, 359/456, 359/457
• US Class Current: 359/443
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/625 Lenticular translucent screens

Abstract

Rear projection screens include a film layer having a plurality of lenses for diverging light horizontally and vertically. The horizontal viewing angle created by the lenses may be different from the vertical viewing angle. The light may be directed by the lenses in a particular direction, so that the direction of the maximum intensity light does not lie parallel to an axis normal to the screen surface. The lens film may be combined with an isotropic light disperser, such as a bulk diffuser.

Claims

1. A light dispersing screen, comprising:

a first film having a first surface, a portion of the first surface defining a plurality of non-lenticular lenses;

wherein light passing through at least one of the non-lenticular lenses is formed into an image and is asymmetrically diverged so that light entering the first film in a direction substantially parallel to a film axis has a downward viewing angle different from an upward viewing angle relative to the film axis or has a leftward viewing angle different from a rightward viewing angle relative to the film axis.

2. A screen as recited in claim 1, wherein the light passing through the non-lenticular lenses is formed into virtual images.

3. A screen as recited in claim 1, wherein the light passing through the non-lenticular lenses is formed into real images.

4. A screen as recited in claim 1, wherein light diverges in a first plane formed by a z-axis parallel to one of the optical axes and an x-axis orthogonal to the z-axis, and in a second plane formed by the z-axis and a y-axis orthogonal to both the x-axis and the z-axis, and an angle of light divergence in the first plane is larger than an angle of divergence in the second plane.

5. A screen as recited in claim 1, at least one of the non-lenticular lenses has a substantially non-circular outer perimeter.

6. A screen as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-lenticular lenses are contiguously arranged in a periodic array.

7. A screen as recited in claim 6, wherein at least one of the non-lenticular lenses has a first optical axis, a first lens dimension in a first direction orthogonal to the first optical axis being larger than a second lens dimension in a second direction orthogonal to the first optical axis and the first direction.

8. A screen as recited in claim 1, wherein an optical axis of one of the plurality of non-lenticular lenses is offset from a center point of the one of the plurality of non-lenticular lenses.

9. A screen as recited in claim 8, wherein the non-lenticular lenses are contiguously arranged in an array relative to first and second, mutually perpendicular, directions, and the optical axis of the one of the plurality of lenses is offset from the center point of the lens relative to both the first and second directions.

10. A screen as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of non-lenticular lenses is an astigmatic lens.

11. A screen as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the non-lenticular lenses is a positive lens.

12. A screen as recited in claim 1, wherein one of the non-lenticular lenses is a negative lens.

13. A screen as recited in claim 1, further comprising a light dispersing film disposed with the first film to disperse light transmitted by the first film.

14. A screen as recited in claim 13, wherein the light dispersing film includes a bulk diffuser film.

15. A screen as recited in claim 1, further comprising light diffusing particles disposed within the first film.

16. A screen as recited in claim 1, wherein the first film further comprises a light dispersing surface.

17. A screen as recited in claim 1, further comprising a focusing element disposed relative to an input side of the first film so as to redirect light passing into the first film.

18. A screen as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of lenses are arranged contiguously in a non-periodic pattern.

19. A screen as recited in claim 1, further comprising an image light projector disposed to project an image onto a surface of the first film.

20. A rear projection screen assembly, comprising:

a first layer having a first surface, a portion of the first surface defining a plurality of non-lenticular lenses; and

a symmetric light disperser optically coupled to the first surface to disperse light transmitted by the first layer;

wherein light passing through at least one of the non-lenticular lenses is formed into an image and is asymmetrically diverged, so that light entering the first film in a direction substantially parallel to a film axis has a downward viewing angle different from an upward viewing angle relative to the film axis or has a leftward viewing angle different from a rightward viewing angle relative to the film axis.

21. A screen assembly as recited in claim 20, wherein the disperser includes a bulk diffuser layer.

22. A screen assembly as recited in claim 20, wherein the symmetric light disperser includes a plurality of light dispersing particles disposed within the first layer.

23. A screen assembly as recited in claim 20, wherein the symmetric light disperser includes a dispersing surface on the first layer.

24. A screen assembly as recited in claim 20, wherein the non-lenticular lenses are elongated relative to a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of one of the non-lenticular lenses.

25. A screen assembly as recited in claim 20, wherein one of the non-lenticular lenses has an optical axis offset from a center point of the one of the non-lenticular lenses.

26. A screen assembly as recited in claim 20, wherein at least one of the non-lenticular lenses is astigmatic.

27. A screen assembly as recited in claim 20, further comprising a polarizer layer disposed to transmit light transmitted by the first layer having a first polarization.

28. A screen assembly as recited in claim 20, further comprising an image light source disposed to illuminate a surface of the first layer with image light.

29. A screen assembly as recited in claim 28, wherein the image light source transmits light polarized in a first polarization direction and further comprising a polarizing layer disposed to transmit light having the first polarization direction and transmitted by the first layer.

30. A screen assembly as recited in claim 28, further comprising a focusing element disposed to redirect light passing from the image light source to the first layer.

31. A light dispersing screen, comprising:

a first film having a first surface defining light imaging and diverging means for forming an image and for asymmetrically diverging light passing through the first film, so that light entering the first film in a direction substantially parallel to a film axis has a downward viewing angle different from an upward viewing angle relative to the film axis or has a leftward viewing angle different from a rightward viewing angle relative to the film axis.

32. A screen as recited in claim 31, wherein the light imaging and diverging means has an outer perimeter elongated in one direction orthogonal to the first optical axis and shortened in another direction orthogonal to the one direction and to the first optical axis.

33. A screen as recited in claim 31, wherein the first optical axis is offset from a center point of the light imaging and diverging means.

34. A screen as recited in claim 31, wherein the light imaging and diverging means is an astigmatic lens.

35. A light dispersing film, comprising:

a first film having a first surface, a portion of the first surface defining a plurality of lenses, all of the lenses having dimensions less than one twentieth of a selected dimension of the first film;

wherein light passing through at least one of the lenses is formed into an image and is asymmetrically diverged, and the selected dimension is selected from film length and film width, so that light entering the first film in a direction substantially parallel to a film axis has a downward viewing angle different from an upward viewing angle relative to the film axis or has a leftward viewing angle different from a rightward viewing angle relative to the film axis.

36. A film as recited in claim 35, wherein light diverges in a first plane formed by a z-axis parallel to one of the optical axes and an x-axis orthogonal to the z-axis, and in a second plane formed by the z-axis and a y-axis orthogonal to both the x-axis and the z-axis, an angle of light divergence in the first plane being larger than an angle of divergence in the second plane.

37. A film as recited in claim 35, wherein a dimension of at least one of the lenses is elongated along a first axis parallel to the film.

38. A film as recited in claim 35, wherein an optical axis of one of the lenses is offset from a center point of the one of the lenses.

39. A film as recited in claim 35, wherein one of the plurality of non-lenticular lenses is an astigmatic lens.

40. A film as recited in claim 35, wherein one of the lenses is a positive lens.

41. A film as recited in claim 35, wherein one of the lenses is a negative lens.

42. A film as recited in claim 35, further comprising a light dispersing film disposed with the first film to disperse light transmitted by the first film.

43. A film as recited in claim 42, wherein the light dispersing film includes a bulk diffuser film.

44. A film as recited in claim 35, further comprising light diffusing particles disposed within the first film.

45. A film as recited in claim 35, wherein the first film further comprises a light dispersing surface.

46. A film as recited in claim 35, further comprising a focusing element disposed relative to an input side of the first film so as to redirect light passing into the first film.

47. A film as recited in claim 35, further comprising an image light projector disposed to project an image onto a surface of the first film.