Screen and projector with spherical lens array

• US 7,382,534 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2005
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Mizusako, Kazuhisa, Shinbo, Akira, Kamijima, Shunji, Shimizu, Nobuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Diane I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cruz; Magda
• Application Number:
  US11/177,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20060012877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 359/456, 359/443, 359/455, 359/454, 359/460, 353/38, 349/30
• US Class Current: 359/456
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/625 Lenticular translucent screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

A screen includes a lens array having a plurality of spherical lens elements. A first length of the spherical lens elements, along a first direction at substantially a center of each of respective spherical lens elements, and a second length of the spherical lens elements, along a second direction at substantially the center of each of the respective lens elements and substantially orthogonal to the first direction, are set such that the second length is larger than the first length. A curvature center position of any one of the plurality of spherical lens elements is arranged to be at substantially a half of the first length along the first direction, with respect to a curvature center position of another spherical lens element adjacent to the lens element in the second direction.

Claims

1. A screen, comprising:

a lens array having a plurality of spherical lens elements,

a vertical length of each of the plurality of spherical lens elements, along a vertical direction, extending substantially through centers of respective spherical lens elements, and a horizontal length of each of the plurality of spherical lens elements, along a horizontal direction, extending substantially through centers of respective spherical lens elements, being set such that the horizontal length is larger than the vertical length, the horizontal direction being substantially orthogonal to the vertical direction; and

a curvature center position of any one of the plurality of spherical lens elements being arranged to be positioned at substantially a half of the first length along the first direction with respect to a second curvature center position of an other of the plurality of spherical lens elements, the other of the plurality of spherical lens elements being adjacent to the one of the plurality of spherical lens elements in the second direction.

2. The screen according to claim 1, a ratio obtained by dividing the second length by the first length being 1 to 4.

3. The screen according to claim 1, a curvature radius ratio of the lens elements being 50 to 150% when a curvature radius at a time when lens forming surfaces of the plurality of spherical lens elements are entirely covered by curvature surfaces of lenses is 100%.

4. The screen according to claim 1, further comprising:

flat portions formed near vertexes of the lens elements so as to be substantially vertical to an optical axis direction.

5. The screen according to claim 1, the plurality of spherical lens elements having slopes provided in peripheral parts of the lenses.

6. The screen according to claim 1, a haze value of the plurality of spherical lens elements being 0 to 90%.

7. The screen according to claim 1, the plurality of spherical lens elements having substantially a hexagonal external appearance.

8. A projector, comprising:

a light source that supplies light;

a spatial light modulator that modulates the light from the light source based on an image signal;

a projection optical system that projects the modulated light; and

the screen according to claim 1, on which the projected light from the projection optical system is projected.