Gary Michael Sharp

US Patent:

6380997, Apr 30, 2002

Filed:

Dec 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/466053

Inventors:

Gary D. Sharp - Boulder CO
Kristina M. Johnson - Longmont CO
Michael G. Robinson - Boulder CO
Jianmin Chen - Boulder CO

Assignee:

ColorLink, Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G02F 11335

US Classification:

349119, 349117, 349113, 349100, 25229901

Abstract:

This invention provides achromatic compound retarders, achromatic polarization switches, and achromatic shutters using the liquid crystal compound retarders. It further provides achromatic variable retardance smectic and nematic liquid crystal retarders. The achromatic compound retarders according to the invention are used to create achromatic inverters for display applications. The display comprises one or more retarders having in-plane retardance and in-plane orientation, at least one of the retarders being an actively controlled liquid crystal retarder, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal display, wherein the one or more retarders work in combination with the ferroelectric liquid crystal display to provide four states of brightness.

US Patent:

6417892, Jul 9, 2002

Filed:

Jul 30, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/362497

Inventors:

Gary D. Sharp - Boulder CO
Kristina M. Johnson - Longmont CO

Assignee:

ColorLink, Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

H04N 912

US Classification:

348742, 348750, 348752, 348758, 348762, 348767, 349 18, 349117, 349121

Abstract:

The present invention provides a high brightness color selective light modulator (CSLM) formed by a polarization modulator positioned between two retarder stacks. The modulator changes the apparent orientation of one retarder stack relative to the other so that, in a first switching state of the modulator the two retarder stacks cooperate in filtering the spectrum of input light, and in a second switching state the two retarder stacks complement each other, yielding a neutral transmission spectrum. Two or more CSLM stages can be used in series, each stage providing independent control of a primary color. One preferred embodiment eliminates internal polarizers between CSLM stages, thereby providing an additive common-path full-color display with only two neutral polarizers. Hybrid filters can be made using the CSLMs of this invention, in combination with other active or passive filters. The CSLMs of this invention can be used in many applications, particularly in the areas of recording and displaying color images.

US Patent:

6452646, Sep 17, 2002

Filed:

Feb 2, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/241400

Inventors:

Gary D. Sharp - Boulder CO
Kristina M. Johnson - Boulder CO

Assignee:

ColorLink, Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G02F 113

US Classification:

349 18, 349119

Abstract:

A retarder stack for transforming at least partially polarized light includes a first retarder and a second retarder. The first retarder has a first retardance and a first orientation and the second retarder has a second retardance and a second orientation both orientations with respect to the partially polarized light. The first retardance, first orientation, second retardance, and second orientation can be arranged to yield the desired polarization transformed light which includes a first spectrum and a second spectrum. The polarization of the first spectrum and the polarization of the second spectrum can be made orthogonal to each other. The polarizations can be linear or elliptical. If the polarization transformed light is linear, the directions of polarizations are different and in one case can be made perpendicular. If the polarization of the polarization transformed light is elliptical, then the polarizations are different and in one case can be made orthogonal in the general sense of orthogonality of polarization states.

US Patent:

6638583, Oct 28, 2003

Filed:

Apr 27, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/559267

Inventors:

Gary D. Sharp - Boulder CO
Warren D. Slafer - Arlington MA

Assignee:

ColorLink, Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

C09K 1900

US Classification:

428 15, 428 162, 428412, 428414, 428415, 428426

Abstract:

A film welding apparatus is provided for solvent welding a first film to a second film. The apparatus has a movable backing surface adapted to support the first film, a pressing roller adapted to press the second film against the first film, and a solvent dispenser adapted to dispense a solvent between the first and second films.

US Patent:

6650377, Nov 18, 2003

Filed:

Feb 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/779443

Inventors:

Michael G. Robinson - Boulder CO
Gary D. Sharp - Boulder CO

Assignee:

ColorLink, Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G02F 11335

US Classification:

349 9, 349 8, 353 34

Abstract:

An apparatus that includes a first panel that receives image information for a first color, a second panel that receives image information for a second color and a third color, a temporal modulator and polarizing unit that receives light that includes a first color light, a second color light, and a third color light, and passes either said first color light and said second color light or said first color light and said third color light, and a single beamsplitting and combining device for directing said first color light to said first panel and said second or third color light to said second panel.

US Patent:

6667784, Dec 23, 2003

Filed:

Mar 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/100023

Inventors:

Gary D. Sharp - Boulder CO
Kristina M. Johnson - Longmont CO

Assignee:

Colorlink, Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G02F 11347

US Classification:

349 78

Abstract:

The present invention provides a high brightness color selective light modulator (CSLM) formed by apolarization modulator positioned between two retarder stacks. The modulator changes the apparent orientation of one retarder stack relative to the other so that, in a first switching state of the modulator the two retarder stacks cooperate in filtering the spectrum of input light, and in a second switching state the two retarder stacks complement each other, yielding a neutral transmission spectrum. Two or more CSLM stages can be used in series, each stage providing independent control of a primary color. One preferred embodiment eliminates internal polarizers between CSLM stages, thereby providing an additive common-path full-color display with only two neutral polarizers. Hybrid filters can be made using the CSLMs of this invention, in combination with other active or passive filters. The CSLMs of this invention can be used in many applications, particularly in the areas of recording and displaying color images.

US Patent:

6704065, Mar 9, 2004

Filed:

May 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/570548

Inventors:

Gary D. Sharp - Boulder CO
Michael G. Robinson - Boulder CO
Jonathan R. Birge - Boulder CO

Assignee:

Colorlink, Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G02F 11335

US Classification:

349 5, 359497

Abstract:

An optical system divides a light source into its component color bands red, green and blue by making the light travel different physical paths, at least two of these paths use stack retardation films and a polarization beamsplitter. By creating distinct paths, each code can be independently processed and combined to form a single path using a polarization splitter and retarder stack. The system preferably includes an input retarder that aligns a first spectrum of a light from a light source, along a first polarization state, and aligns a second spectrum of the light from the light source, along a second polarization state different than the first polarization state, and a beam splitting unit, optically coupled to the input retarder, and including a first beamsplitter that transmits the first spectrum, as a transmitted spectrum, and that reflects the second spectrum, as a reflected spectrum. The system also includes a first spatial light modulator optically coupled to the beam splitting unit, that alters and reflects the transmitted spectrum, as a modulated transmitted spectrum, towards the beam splitting unit, and a second spatial light modulator optically coupled to the beam splitting unit, that alters and reflects the reflected spectrum, as a modulated reflected spectrum, towards the beam splitting unit. The beam splitting unit combines the modulated transmitted spectrum and the modulated reflected spectrum into a combined spectrum.

US Patent:

6707516, Mar 16, 2004

Filed:

Oct 2, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/165127

Inventors:

Kristina M. Johnson - Longmont CO
Gary D. Sharp - Boulder CO

Assignee:

Colorlink, Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

G02F 11335

US Classification:

349 78, 349 5

Abstract:

The present invention provides a single-panel field-sequential full color display systems that are less complex, smaller in size and less costly than prior additive split-path color systems, while exhibiting higher light output, greater flexibility and greater reliability than prior single-panel field-sequential systems. In the first preferred embodiment, the display system includes a âframe bufferâ style spatial light modulator, in which a frame buffer pixel circuit is integrated into the spatial light modulator. The display system of the present invention also preferably includes on opto-electronic color sequencer which allows for the electronic control of the transmission of additive primary colors.