Screen, projection system, front projection television receiver, and screen manufacturing method

• US 8,067,081 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2010
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Mikoshiba, Toshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe; Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Butler; Kevin
• Application Number:
  US12/791,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20100321592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 359/443, 359/449, 359/451, 359454-456, 359459-460, 349/256, 372/24
• US Class Current: 428/156
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/60 characterised by the nature of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 including variation in thickness

Abstract

A screen includes: a reflection surface which reflects projection light, wherein a plurality of convexes are disposed on the reflection surface, and each of the convexes contains a spherical surface having a ¼ spherical shape, a curved surface having curvature larger than curvature of the spherical surface and disposed along an end of the spherical surface, and a cover surface having a flat surface shape and disposed at an end of the curved surface.

Claims

1. A screen comprising:

a reflection surface which reflects projection light, the reflection surface including a plurality of convexes disposed thereon that each include a spherical surface having a ¼

spherical shape, a curved surface having curvature larger than curvature of the spherical surface and disposed along an end of the spherical surface, and a cover surface having a flat surface shape and disposed at an end of the curved surface,

wherein the convexes project from a flat surface extending along the reflection surface; and

when a point A as a cross point of the spherical surface and the flat surface, a point B as a cross point of the spherical surface and the curved surface, a point C as a cross point of the curved surface and the cover surface, a point D as a cross point of the cover surface and the flat surface, and a point O as the center point of the spherical surface are provided in a cross-sectional shape extending in a first direction where the spherical surface, the curved surface, and the cover surface of each of the convexes are disposed, crossing the flat surface at a right angle, and passing the center of the convex in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a circular arc having a radius R between the points A and B, a circular arc having a radius R1 shorter than the radius R between the points B and C, a straight line between the points C and D, and a straight line passing the point O between the points D and A are formed.

2. The screen according to claim 1, wherein a reflection film having higher light reflection characteristics than light reflection characteristics of the spherical surface is provided on each of the spherical surfaces.

3. The screen according to claim 1, wherein

when the distance between the points D and O is a distance L1, the distance L1 lies in the range from ¼

of the radius R to ½

of the radius R.

4. The screen according to claim 3, wherein

when the distance between each adjoining pair of the plural convexes disposed in the first direction is a distance L2, the distance L2 lies in the range from 0 to the distance L1.

5. The screen according to claim 4, wherein

when the first direction extends from the spherical surface of each of the convexes as the upstream side to the curved surface as the downstream side, the distance between each adjoining pair of the convexes disposed on the upstream side in the first direction is smaller than the distance between each adjoining pair of the convexes disposed on the downstream side in the first direction.

6. A projection system comprising:

the screen according to claim 1; and

a projector which projects light on the spherical surfaces of the convexes of the screen.

7. A front projection television receiver comprising:

the screen according to claim 1;

a projection unit which projects light on the spherical surfaces of the convexes of the screen; and

a housing which accommodates the screen and the projection unit.

8. A method for manufacturing a screen which reflects projection light by a reflection surface, comprising:

forming a substrate which includes a plurality of convexes each including a spherical surface having a ¼

spherical shape, a curved surface having curvature larger than curvature of the spherical surface and disposed along an end of the spherical surface, and a cover surface having a flat surface shape and disposed at an end of the curved surface; and

forming a reflection film on the spherical surface of each of the convexes to manufacture the screen,

wherein the convexes project from a flat surface extending along the substrate; and

when a point A as a cross point of the spherical surface and the flat surface, a point B as a cross point of the spherical surface and the curved surface, a point C as a cross point of the curved surface and the cover surface, a point D as a cross point of the cover surface and the flat surface, and a point O as the center point of the spherical surface are provided in a cross-sectional shape extending in a first direction where the spherical surface, the curved surface, and the cover surface of each of the convexes are disposed, crossing the flat surface at a right angle, and passing the center of the convex in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a circular arc having a radius R between the points A and B, a circular arc having a radius R1 shorter than the radius R between the points B and C, a straight line between the points C and D, and a straight line passing the point O between the points D and A are formed.