A Fresnel lens has a plurality of pitch areas in which a plurality of hybrid type prism portions are arranged. Each hybrid type prism portion has a refraction type prism portion and a total reflection type prism portion. In the refraction type prism portion, a ray of incident light Li1 of an incident angle xe2x80x9canxe2x80x9d is refracted twice and goes out as a ray of outgoing light Lo1 of an outgoing angle xe2x80x9cfxe2x80x9d. In the total reflection type prism portion, a ray of incident light Li2 of the incident angle xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d is refracted, totally reflected and refracted in that order and goes out as a ray of outgoing light Lo2 parallel to the ray of outgoing light Lo1.

The present invention relates to a Fresnel lens having the same function as a convex lens almost without requiring a distance between alight incident point and alight out going point. Also, the present invention relates to a rear projection type screen, to which the Fresnel lens is applied, and an image displaying device to which the screen is applied. In addition, the present invention relates to a lens forming mold manufacturing method and a lens manufacturing method.
In an image displaying device represented by a rear projection type projection television, a screen is used, and image light emitted from an image light source is projected on the screen. In general, the screen of the image displaying device is formed by combining a lenticular and a Fresnel lens. The lenticular functions as a light diffusion plate in which the image light is scattered to form an image. In the Fresnel lens, the image light emitted from the image light source is refracted, and rays of refracted light go out to the lenticular almost in parallel to each other.
FIG. 1 is a view showing an external appearance of a conventional Fresnel lens.
In FIG. 1, 101 indicates a Fresnel lens seen on a slant. 102 indicates a sectional shape of the Fresnel lens 101. 103 indicates an optical axis of the Fresnel lens 101. 104 indicates a prism portion formed for each pitch area corresponding to one pitch length in the Fresnel lens 101.
In the manufacturing of the Fresnel lens 101, a metal mold (or a lens forming mold) is formed by rotating the mold on the optical axis 103, synthetic resin is poured into the metal mold, the synthetic resin is hardened, the metal mold is taken off from the synthetic resin, and the manufacturing of the Fresnel lens 101 is completed. On a surface of the manufactured Fresnel lens 101, a plurality of ring bands are formed in a concentric circular shape around the optical axis 103. As is realized by looking at the sectional shape 102 of the Fresnel lens 101, the ring bands formed in a concentric circular shape denote the plurality of prism portions 104.
That is, the prism portions 104 of the sectional shape 102 formed in a saw-tooth shape are equally spaced at pitch intervals respectively corresponding to one pitch width. One pitch width of the Fresnel lens 101 actually used is almost equal to 0.1 mm, and the pitch width is very small even though the pitch width is compared with each of minimum pixels on which an image is projected through the Fresnel lens 101. The whole Fresnel lens 101 functions as one convex lens. Because the prism portions 104 can be thinned, rays of light incident on the Fresnel lens 101 can be changed or refracted almost without requiring a distance between an incident point of the ray of incident light and an outgoing point of a ray of outgoing light.
In the image displaying device, to shorten the depth of the image displaying device, image light is often injected on the Fresnel lens 101 of the screen from a direction inclined with respect to an incident normal of the Fresnel lens 101 as much as possible. Therefore, a thinned type image displaying device can be obtained.
FIG. 2 is a view showing the configuration of an image displaying device in which a conventional Fresnel lens is applied to a screen.
A plurality of arrows indicate a plurality of rays of light. 111 indicates a light emitting source (or illumination light source means) for emitting a plurality of rays of light. 112 indicates a parabolic mirror (or illumination light source means). The light emitting source 111 is disposed on a focal point of the parabolic mirror 112. 113 indicates a convergin glens (or converging optics means) for converging a plurality of rays of light reflected on the parabolic mirror 112. 114 indicates a light bulb (or optical modulating means) formed of liquid crystal. An intensity of each ray of light converged by the converging lens 113 is spatially changed in the light bulb 114 to modulate the converged rays of light according to display contents written on the light bulb 114.
115 indicates a projection optics lens (or projection optics means) for forming an image from the rays of light of which the intensities are changed by the light bulb 114. 116 indicates a rear projection type screen for receiving the image of the rays of light formed by the projection optics lens 115 from the rear side and displaying the image. The rays of light spreading in the projection optics lens 115 are changed in the screen 116 to a plurality of rays of light parallel to each other, the image formed from the rays of light is displayed on the screen 116, and the rays of light are diffused from the screen 116 to a wide area. Therefore, the screen 116 has a function for widening a view field.
In the screen 116, 117 indicates a Fresnel lens described before, and 118 indicates a lenticular.
In the Fresnel lens 117, the spreading rays of light sent from the projection optics lens 115 are received on an incident plane 117A, and the rays of light go out at a prescribed outgoing angle through a prism portion 117B arranged for each pitch area corresponding one pitch. In short, the Fresnel lens 117 is used to almost collimate the rays of light spreading in the projection optics lens 115. An image is formed on the lenticular 118 from the rays of light going out from the Fresnel lens 117, and the rays of light are diffused. 119 indicates an optical axis. The optical axis 119 exists for the parabolic mirror 112, the converging lens 113, the light bulb 114, the projection optics lens 115, the Fresnel lens 117 and the lenticular 118, and the optical axis 119 is perpendicular to the incident plane 117A of the Fresnel lens 117.
Next, an operation will be described below.
The light emitting source 111 disposed on a focal point of the parabolic mirror 112 can be almost regarded as a point source. Therefore, rays of light emitted from the light emitting source 111 are reflected on the parabolic mirror 112 and goes out to the converging lens 113 as almost parallel rays of light. When the parallel rays of light are converged by the converging lens 113 onto the light bulb 114, intensities of the converged rays of light are spatially changed by the light bulb 114 to modulate the converged rays of light according to display contents of the light bulb 114.
The rays of light intensity-modulated are projected on the rear surface of the screen 116 at a wide angle by the projection optics lens 115, and an image is formed from the rays of projected light. An angle between each ray of light and the optical axis 119 is called a projection angle. As shown in FIG. 2, the projection angle in each pitch area differs from those in the other pitch areas. However, because the pitch between each pair of prism portions 117B is considerably shorter than the lengths of the projection optics lens 115 and the screen 116, a plurality of rays of light incident on each prism portion 117B can be almost regarded as a plurality of parallel rays.
An angle between a normal m11 of the incident plane 117A and each ray of incident light denotes an incident angle. Because the incident angle of each ray of incident light is equal to the projection angle of the ray of incident light according to the relationship of alternate-interior angles obtained from a straight line (the incident ray) intersecting two parallel lines (the optical axis 119 and the normal m11), the more a pitch area receiving a ray of light approaches the optical axis 119, the smaller the incident angle of the ray of light is. Also, the more a pitch area receiving a ray of light is far away from the optical axis 119, the larger the incident angle of the ray of light is. In particular, the ray of light going out to the prism portion 117B placed at each end of the screen 116 is incident on the incident plane 117A at the maximum incident angle.
A size of the screen 116 is determined according to this maximum incident angle, or the maximum projection angle of the projection optics lens 115, and a projection distance from the projection optics lens 115 to the screen 116. In contrast, in a case where the size of the screen 116 is predetermined, the larger the maximum projection angle is, the more the projection distance can be shortened. Therefore, an optical system having a shortened distance in the direction of the optical axis 119 can be obtained, and the image displaying device can be thinned.
In the Fresnel lens 117, a plurality of rays of light are received on the incident plane 117A at the incident angles respectively, and the ray of light goes out to the lenticular 118 at a prescribed outgoing angle through the prism portion 117B arranged for each pitch area. The outgoing angle is defined as an angle between a straight line parallel to the optical axis 119 on the Fresnel lens 117 and the ray of light going out from the Fresnel lens 117. The outgoing angle is normally set to a small angle ranging from 0 degree to several degrees. In short, the rays of light going out from the Fresnel lens 117 are almost parallel to the optical axis 119 (the outgoing angle for the rays of light is set to 0 degree in FIG. 2). In this case, the higher the transmissivity (a ratio in power of the outgoing light to the incident light) of the Fresnel lens 117 for the rays of light, the better the Fresnel lens 117. Also, the higher the transmissivity, the more the image displayed on the screen 116 is bright.
In the lenticular 118, the rays of light are received from the prism portions 117B of the Fresnel lens 117. Also, though an image of the display contents of the light bulb 114 is formed by the projection optics lens 115, the rays of light indicating the image are diffused from the lenticular 118 in a direction (the right direction of the screen 116 in FIG. 2) directed toward a user. The user of the image displaying device views the rays of light diffused from each of a plurality of image forming points as an image. Because the rays of light are diffused by the lenticular 118, the user can view the image which has the brightness required in a certain view field.
As is described above, the larger the maximum projection angle of the projection optics lens 115, in other words, the larger the maximum incident angle of light to the Fresnel lens 117, the more the projection distance is shortened. Therefore, a thin type image displaying device having a shortened projection distance can be provided for the user.
In cases where a size of the screen 116 is predetermined by the specification of the screen 116, even though a large maximum projection angle is obtained by the function of the projection optics lens 115 or another optical unit, unless the Fresnel lens 117 receives a ray of light corresponding to the maximum projection angle, the projection distance cannot be shortened. In conclusion, it is an important point that the Fresnel lens 117 is designed so as to set the incident angle of a ray of light as large as possible on condition that the ray of light go out from the Fresnel lens 117 at high transmissivity.
Next, various principles of the conventional Fresnel lens will be described below.
FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are respectively an enlarged view showing the sectional shape of a plurality of prism portions arranged in a plurality of pitch areas of the conventional Fresnel lens, FIG. 3A shows the sectional shape in case of a small incident angle, and FIG. 3B shows the sectional shape in case of a large incident angle. Each arrow in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B indicates a ray of light.
In FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, 121 indicates a Fresnel lens. 121A indicates are fraction type prism portion formed for each pitch area of the Fresnel lens 121.
121B indicates an incident plane of each refraction type prism portion 121A. The incident plane 121B is formed in a flat surface shape and is perpendicular to an optical axis (not shown) of the Fresnel lens 121. 121C indicates an outgoing plane of each refraction type prism portion 121A. 121Z indicates an ineffective plane of each refraction type prism portion 121A. Each refraction type prism portion 121A is shaped by the incident plane 121B, the outgoing plane 121C and the ineffective plane 121Z. Here, the ineffective plane 121Z does not participate with a ray of incident light or a ray of outgoing light. Also, Li indicates a ray of light incident on the incident plane 121B. Lr indicates a ray of light reflected on the incident plane 121B. Lt indicates a ray of transmitted light refracted on the incident plane 121B and transmitted through the internal of the refraction type prism portion 121A. Lo indicates a ray of outgoing light refracted on the outgoing plane 121C and going out to the air m12 indicates a normal of the incident plane 121B, and m13 indicates a normal of the outgoing plane 121C.
Next, an operation will be described below.
In FIG. 3A, when a ray of incident light Li transmitted through the air having a refractive index of unity comes on the Fresnel lens 121 having a refractive index of n (n greater than 1) at a real incident angle xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d to the normal m14, the ray of incident light Li is divided on the incident plane 121B into a ray of transmitted light Lt transmitted a tare fraction angle of and a ray of reflected light Lr transmitted at a reflection angle of xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d. The ray of reflected light Lr causes a loss to the Fresnel lens 121.
The ray of transmitted light Lt refracted on the incident plane 121B and transmitted through the internal of the refraction type prism portion 121A makes an angle of to the normal m13 and reaches the outgoing plane 121C. A part of the ray of transmitted light Lt is changed to a ray of reflected light (not shown), and the remaining part of the ray of transmitted light Lt crosses the outgoing plane 121C and goes out as a ray of outgoing light Lo at an outgoing angle of xe2x80x9cfxe2x80x9d.
As is described above, the ray of incident light Li incident on the Fresnel lens 121 at the incident angle of xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d makes a turn in the Fresnel lens 121 to a direction of an outgoing angle of xe2x80x9cfxe2x80x9d. Because the ray of incident light Li is received on the incident plane 121B formed in a flat surface shape, the Fresnel lens 121 has a special feature in that the ray of incident light Li is received in the Fresnel lens 121 at a high light-receiving efficiency.
In cases where the incident angle of a ray of incident light becomes smaller, the transmissivity of the incident plane is heightened, and the reflectivity of the incident plane is lowered. In contrast, in cases where the incident angle of a ray of light becomes larger, the transmissivity of the incident plane is lowered, and the reflectivity of the incident plane is heightened. This phenomenon is well-known as an optical theory. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the incident angle xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d of a ray of light becomes larger, a ratio of the ray of transmitted light Lt to the ray of incident light Li is decreased, and a ratio of the ray of reflected light Lr to the ray of incident light Li is increased. Therefore, the transmissivity of the Fresnel lens 121 is undesirably lowered.
In short, the transmissivity of the Fresnel lens 121 depends on the incident angle. The larger the incident angle xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d, the more the transmissivity is lowered. Also, in cases where the Fresnel lens 121 is applied to a screen of which the size is predetermined, the thinning of the image displaying device is undesirably restricted due to the limitation of the maximum incident angle.
In another type of Fresnel lens having there fraction type prism portion, as is described below, the structure on the incident side of there fraction type prism portion 121A shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B is changed to that on an outgoing side, and the structure on the outgoing side of the refraction type prism portion 121A shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B is changed to that on an incident side.
FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are en larged views respectively showing the sectional shape of a plurality of prism portions arranged in a plurality of pitch areas of another type conventional Fresnel lens, FIG. 4A shows the sectional shape in case of a small incident angle, and FIG. 4B shows the sectional shape in case of a large incident angle. An arrow in each of FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B indicates a ray of light.
In FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, 131 indicates a Fresnel lens. 131A indicates are fraction type prism portion formed for each pitch area of the Fresnel lens 131.
131B indicates an incident plane of each refraction type prism portion 131A. 131C indicates an outgoing plane of each refraction type prism portion 131A. 131Z indicates an ineffective plane of each refraction type prism portion 131A. Each refraction type prism portion 131A is shaped by the incident plane 131B, the outgoing plane 131C and the ineffective plane 131Z. The incident plane 131B is formed in a flat surface shape and is perpendicular to an optical axis (not shown) of the Fresnel lens 131. Though rays of light are received on the ineffective plane 131Z, the ineffective plane 131Z does not participate in the going-out of a ray of light from the outgoing plane 131C. Also, Li indicates a ray of light incident on the incident plane 131B. Lr indicates a ray of light reflected on the incident plane 131B. Lt indicates a ray of transmitted light refracted on the incident plane 131B and transmitted through the internal of the refraction type prism portion 131A. Lo indicates a ray of outgoing light refracted on the outgoing plane 131C and going out to the air. Le indicates a ray of ineffective light received on the ineffective plane 131Z. m14 indicates a normal of the outgoing plane 131C, and m15 indicates a normal of the incident plane 131B.
Next, an operation will be described below.
In FIG. 4A, when a ray of incident light Li transmitted through the air having a refractive index of unity comes on the Fresnel lens 131 having a refractive index of n (n greater than 1) at an incident angle of xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d to the normal m14, the ray of incident light Li is incident on the incident plane 131B at a real incident angle of xe2x80x9cbxe2x80x9d to the normal m15, and the ray of incident light Li is divided on the incident plane 131B into a ray of transmitted light Lt transmitted at a refraction angle of and a ray of reflected light Lr transmitted at a reflection angle of xe2x80x9cbxe2x80x9d. The ray of reflected light Lr causes a loss to the Fresnel lens 131.
The ray of transmitted light Lt refracted on the incident plane 131B and transmitted through the refraction type prism portion 131A makes an angle of to the normal m14 and reaches the outgoing plane 131C. Apart of the ray of transmitted light Lt is changed to a ray of reflected light (not shown), and the remaining part of the ray of transmitted light Lt crosses the outgoing plane 131C and goes out as a ray of outgoing light Lo at an outgoing angle of xe2x80x9cfxe2x80x9d.
Also, because the ray of ineffective light Le received on the ineffective plane 131Z goes out from the outgoing plane 131C at an angle different from the outgoing angle of xe2x80x9cfxe2x80x9d, the ray of ineffective light Le causes a loss to the Fresnel lens 131.
As is described above, the ray of incident light Li incident on the Fresnel lens 131 at the incident angle of xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d makes a turn in the Fresnel lens 131 to a direction of the outgoing angle of xe2x80x9cfxe2x80x9d. Because the Fresnel lens 131 has the outgoing plane 131C formed in a flat surface shape, in cases where the Fresnel lens 131 is applied to a screen, the Fresnel lens 131 has a special feature in that a lenticular can be integrally formed with the outgoing plane 131C.
However, for the same reason as that in the Fresnel lens 121, as shown in FIG. 4B, in cases where the incident angle of xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d becomes larger, a ratio of the ray of reflected light Lr to the ray of incident light Li is undesirably increased, and an area (an area of slash marks in each of FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B) of the ray of ineffective light received on the ineffective plane 131Z is undesirably enlarged.
Therefore, in the same manner as in the Fresnel lens 121, the transmissivity of the Fresnel lens 131 depends on the incident angle. And, the larger the incident angle, the more the transmissivity is lowered.
As is described above, in cases where the incident angle in the Fresnel lens 131 having the refraction type prism portions is increased, the transmissivity of the Fresnel lens 131 is undesirably lowered. Also, in cases where the Fresnel lens 131 is applied to a screen of which the size is predetermined, the thinning of the image displaying device is undesirably restricted due to the lowering of the transmissivity of the Fresnel lens 131.
To remedy the above-described defects in the conventional Fresnel lens having the refraction type prism portions and to obtain a high transmissivity of the Fresnel lens in case of a large incident angle, another conventional Fresnel lens will be described below.
FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are enlarged views respectively showing the sectional shape of a plurality of prism portions arranged in a plurality of pitch areas of another type conventional Fresnel lens, FIG. 5A shows the sectional shape in case of a large incident angle, and FIG. 5B shows the sectional shape in case of a small incident angle. Each arrow in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B indicates a ray of light.
In FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, 141 indicates a Fresnel lens. 141A indicates a total reflection type prism portion formed for each pitch area of the Fresnel lens 141.
141B indicates an incident plane of each total reflection type prism portion 141A, 141C indicates a total reflection plane of each total reflection type prism portion 141A, 141D indicates an outgoing plane of each total reflection type prism portion 141A. Each total reflection type prism portion 141A is shaped by the incident plane 141B, the total reflection plane 141C and the outgoing plane 141D. The outgoing plane 141D is formed in a flat surf ace shape and is perpendicular to an optical axis (not shown) of the Fresnel lens 141. In a case where a ray of light transmitted through a high refractive index type medium is incident on a plane between the high refractive index type medium and a low refractive index type medium at a large incident angle larger than a critical angle, the ray of light is totally reflected on the plane. This phenomenon is used in the reflection performed on the total reflection plane 141C.
Also, Li indicates a ray of light incident on the incident plane 141B. Lt1 indicates a ray of transmitted light refracted on the incident plane 141B and transmitted through the total reflection plane 141C. Lt2 indicates a ray of transmitted light totally reflected on the total reflection plane 141C and transmitted to the outgoing plane 141D. Lo indicates a ray of outgoing light refracted on the outgoing plane 141D and going out to the air. Le indicates a ray of ineffective light received on the incident plane 141B. m16 indicates a normal of the outgoing plane 141D, m17 indicates a normal of the incident plane 141B, and m18 indicates a normal of the total reflection plane 141C.
Next, an operation will be described below.
In FIG. 5A, when a ray of incident light Li transmitted through the air having a refractive index of unity comes on the Fresnel lens 141 having a refractive index of n (n greater than 1) at an incident angle of xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d to the normal m16, the ray of incident light Li is incident on the incident plane 141B at a real incident angle of xe2x80x9cbxe2x80x9d to the normal m17, and the ray of incident light Li is divided on the incident plane 141B into a ray of transmitted light Lt1 transmitted at a refraction angle of and a ray of reflected light (not shown). The ray of reflected light generated on the incident plane 141B causes a loss to the Fresnel lens 141.
The ray of transmitted light Lt1 refracted on the incident plane 141B and transmitted through the total reflection type prism portion 141A reaches the total reflection plane 141C at an angle which is made to the normal m18 and is larger than the critical angle, the ray of transmitted light Lt1 is totally reflected on the total reflection plane 141C, and the ray of transmitted light Lt1 totally reflected is transmitted as the ray of transmitted light Lt2. Because an optical path of the ray of transmitted light Lt1 is bent by using the phenomenon of the total reflection, no ray of light is transmitted through or goes out from the total reflection plane 141C. Therefore, loss in the transmitted light Lt1 is hardly generated on the total reflection plane 141C.
The ray of transmitted light Lt2 to tally reflected on the total reflection plane 141C is transmitted at an angle of to the normal m16 and reaches the outgoing plane 141D. A part of the ray of transmitted light Lt2 is changed to a ray of reflected light (not shown), and the remaining part of the ray of transmitted light Lt2 is transmitted through the outgoing plane 141D and goes out as a ray of outgoing light Lo at an outgoing angle of xe2x80x9cfxe2x80x9d (0 degree in FIG. SA).
Because an optical path is bent in each of the Fresnel lens 121 having the refraction type prism portions 121A and the Fresnel lens 131 having the refraction type prism portions 131A according to the refraction phenomenon, it is required that the ray of incident light Li is received in each of the Fresnel lenses 121 and 131 at a large real incident angle of xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cbxe2x80x9d to bend the optical path to a considerable degree. Therefore, a ratio of the ray of reflected light Lr to the ray of incident light Li on each of the incident planes 121B and 131B is increased, and the transmissivity of each of the Fresnel lenses 121 and 131 for the ray of incident light Li is undesirably decreased.
In contrast, in the Fresnel lens 141 having the total reflection type prism portions 141A, because the optical path is bent according to the total reflection phenomenon, a degree of the bending of the optical path based on the refraction phenomenon can be reduced. Therefore, the ray of incident light Li can be incident on the incident plane 141 Bat a small real incident angle of xe2x80x9cbxe2x80x9d, the increase of there flectivity of the Fresnel lens 141 can be suppressed, and high transmissivity of the Fresnel lens 141 can be obtained.
As is described above, differently from the Fresnel lenses 121 and 131, high transmissivity can be obtained for the large incident angle in the Fresnel lens 141 having the total reflection type prism portions 141A.
However, as shown in FIG. 5B, in cases where the incident angle of xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d is decreased in the Fresnel lens 141, the ray of incident light Li received on the incident plane 141B is decreased, a ratio of the rays of transmitted light Lt2 totally reflected on the total reflection plane 141C to the rays of incident light Li is decreased, and rays of ineffective light Le (placed in an area of slash marks in FIG. 5B) are inevitably generated.
Though each ray of ineffective light Le is transmitted through the inside of the total reflection type prism portion 141A, the total reflection of the ray of ineffective light Le on the total reflection plane 141C is not performed. Therefore, the rays of ineffective light Le cause a loss to the Fresnel lens 141. In other words, the transmissivity of the Fresnel lens 141 for the rays of incident light Li depends on the incident angle. Therefore, though the transmissivity of the Fresnel lens 141 for the high incident angle of xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d can be heightened, the transmissivity of the Fresnel lens 141 for the low incident angle of xe2x80x9caxe2x80x9d is undesirably decreased.
Because each conventional Fresnel lens has the above-described configuration, a problem has arisen that the transmissivity of the conventional Fresnel lens for the rays of incident light Li considerably depends on the incident angle.
Therefore, in each conventional Fresnel lens, a part of image light projected on a screen on a slant at an angle larger than a maximum projection angle cannot be deflected to a desired direction, and the transmissivity of the conventional Fresnel lens for the rays of incident light Li is low.
Here, a conventional Fresnel lens will be briefly described below once more.
FIG. 6 is a view, partially in cross-section, of a conventional Fresnel lens on which image light is projected on a slant.
In FIG. 6, 100 indicates a conventional Fresnel lens in which a plurality of refraction type prism portions are arranged in a plurality of pitch areas. 100a indicates an incident plane disposed on a light incident side of the Fresnel lens 100. 100b indicates an in effective plane disposed on a light incident side of the Fresnel lens 100. 100c indicates an outgoing plane disposed on a light outgoing side of the Fresnel lens 100. R1 in indicates a light flux incident on the incident plane 100a. R2 in indicates a light flux incident on the ineffective plane 100b.
The Fresnel lens 100 shown in FIG. 6 has a plurality of very small refraction type prism portions each of which denotes a unit of prism portion. In each refraction type prism portion, alight flux R1 in incident on the incident plane 100a on a slant is deflected and goes out as a light flux R1 out through the outgoing plane 100c.
However, alight flux R2i incident on the ineffective plane 100b different from the incident plane 100a does not go out in a desired direction but goes out as stray light. Therefore, the light flux R2i cannot be effectively used, and the transmissivity of the Fresnel lens 100 is low.
A Fresnel lens having a plurality of total reflection type prism portions is proposed as a means for solving the above-described problem, and rays of light are deflected in the Fresnel lens according to the total reflection.
For example, a Fresnel lens having a plurality of refraction type prism portions and a plurality of total reflection type prism portions alternately disposed is proposed in Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 52601 of 1986. Also, a Fresnel lens having a plurality of prism portions is proposed in Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 19837 of 1987, and a refraction using portion and a total reflection using portion are disposed in each prism portion. However, in the Fresnel lens disclosed in the Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 52601 of 1986, a refraction type prism portion additionally exists in an area in which the refraction type prism portion does not effectively function, and a total reflection type prism portion additionally exists in an area in which the total reflection type prism portion does not effectively function. Therefore, a problem has arisen that a large amount of light does not still go out in a desired direction.
In contrast, in the Fresnel lens disclosed in the Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 19837 of 1987, the shape of the Fresnel lens in section is formed in a polygonal shape. Therefore, in cases where a lens forming mold used to form the Fresnel lens is manufactured, a cutting tool having a specific shape is required, and it is difficult to manufacture the lens forming mold. In its turn, it is difficult to manufacture the Fresnel lens.
Also, in cases where each conventional Fresnel lens is applied to a rear projection type screen, a problem has arisen that the brightness of an image displayed on the screen is not uniformly set.
In detail, in cases where a Fresnel lens having refraction type prism portions is applied to the screen, the Fresnel lens cannot effectively function in case of a large projection angle. Therefore, the brightness of an image displayed in a peripheral area of the screen is undesirably lowered, and the thinning of the image displaying device is restricted.
Also, in cases where a Fresnel lens having total reflection type prism portions is applied to the screen, the Fresnel lens cannot effectively function in case of a small projection angle. Therefore, the brightness of an image in an area of the screen placed in the neighborhood of an optical axis is undesirably lowered.
The present invention is provided to solve the above-described problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide a Fresnel lens in which the dependence of transmissivity on an incident angle is lowered.
Also, the present invention is to provide a screen, in which unevenness of the brightness of an image is suppressed in a range from a small projection angle to a large projection angle, and to provide an image displaying device to which the screen is applied.
In addition, the present invention is to provide a lens forming mold manufacturing method, in which a lens forming mold of the Fresnel lens is manufactured, and a lens manufacturing method using the lens forming old manufacturing method.
A Fresnel lens according to the present invention includes a pitch area having a hybrid type prism portion which has both a refraction type prism portion for making a ray of first incident light having a prescribed incident angle go out according to a first refraction phenomenon and a second refraction phenomenon as a ray of first outgoing light having a prescribed outgoing angle and a total reflection prism portion for making a ray of second incident light having the prescribed incident angle go out according to a third refraction phenomenon, a total reflection phenomenon and a fourth refraction phenomenon as a ray of second outgoing light parallel to the ray of first outgoing light.
Therefore, a Fresnel lens having high transmissivity can be obtained while lowering the dependence of transmissivity on an incident angle.
A Fresnel lens according to the present invention further includes another pitch area having the hybrid type prism portion or a plurality of other pitch areas having the hybrid type prism portions respectively, and a ratio of an area occupied by the refraction type prism portion to an area occupied by the hybrid type prism portion in each pitch area differs from ratios in the other pitch areas.
Therefore, the transmissivity in the Fresnel lens can be improved. A Fresnel lens according to the present invention includes a plurality of pitch areas respectively having a hybrid type prism portion which has both a refraction type prism portion and a total reflection prism portion integrally formed with each other. The refraction type prism portion of each pitch area has a sectional shape formed by a first incident plane for changing a ray of first incident light incident at a prescribed incident angle to a ray of first transmitted light according to a first refraction phenomenon, a plane-shaped outgoing plane for changing the ray of first transmitted light obtained on the first incident plane to a ray of first outgoing light having a prescribed outgoing angle according to a second refraction phenomenon, and an ineffective plane connecting with the first incident plane and an adjacent pitch area. The total reflection type prism portion of each pitch area has a sectional shape formed by a second incident plane for changing a ray of second incident light incident at the prescribed incident angle to a ray of second transmitted light according to a third refraction phenomenon, a total reflection plane for changing the ray of second transmitted light obtained on the second incident plane to a ray of third transmitted light parallel to the ray of first transmitted light according to a total reflection phenomenon, and the outgoing plane of the refraction type prism portion. The ray of third transmitted light obtained in the total reflection plane is changed to a ray of second outgoing light having the prescribed outgoing angle according to a fourth refraction phenomenon on the outgoing plane, and a portion of the ray of second incident light not changed to the ray of third transmitted light is received as the ray of first incident light. Therefore, a Fresnel lens having high transmissivity can be obtained while lowering the dependence of transmissivity on an incident angle.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, the second incident plane of each pitch area is formed in a sectional shape so as to make the second incident plane conceal the ineffective plane of the hybrid type prism portion arranged in an adjacent pitch from a view seen in a direction of a ray of ineffective light incident on the ineffective plane, and the total reflection plane of each pitch area is formed in a second incident plane compensating shape so as to compensate for the sectional shape of the second incident plane.
Therefore, a light receiving efficiency of the Fresnel lens can be heightened while decreasing an ineffective area.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, a small incident angle region is determined according to a characteristic changing angle at which transmissivity of the hybrid type prism portion is equal to that of the refraction type prism portion, and the refraction type prism portion is arranged in each of pitch areas placed in the small incident angle region.
Therefore, characteristics of transmissivity in the small incident angle region can be improved.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, a small incident angle region is determined according to a characteristic changing angle at which transmissivity of the hybrid type prism portion is equal to that of the refraction type prism portion, and the refraction type prism portion is arranged in each of pitch areas placed in the small incident angle region.
Therefore, characteristics of transmissivity in the small incident angle region can be improved.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, a mixing ratio of the refraction type prism portion to the hybrid type prism portion is increased with the decrease of the incident angle in each of pitch areas corresponding to a characteristic changing region neighboring to the characteristic changing angle.
Therefore, characteristics of transmissivity in the small incident angle region can be improved, and the transmissivity in the characteristic changing region neighboring to the characteristic changing angle can be smoothly changed.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, a mixing ratio of the refraction type prism portion to the hybrid type prism portion is increased with the decrease of the incident angle in each of pitch areas corresponding to a characteristic changing region neighboring to the characteristic changing angle.
Therefore, characteristics of transmissivity in the small incident angle region can be improved, and the transmissivity in the characteristic changing region neighboring to the characteristic changing angle can be smoothly changed.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, an intermediary prism portion is arranged as one hybrid type prism portion in each of pitch areas corresponding to a characteristic changing region neighboring to the characteristic changing angle, an area of the second incident plane of the intermediary prism portion is slightly decreased with the decrease of the incident angle, and an area of the first incident plane of the intermediary prism portion is slightly increased with the decrease of the incident angle.
Therefore, characteristics of transmissivity in the small incident angle region can be improved, and a change of the transmissivity at the characteristic changing angle can be smoothed.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, an intermediary prism portion is arranged as one hybrid type prism portion in each of pitch areas corresponding to a characteristic changing region neighboring to the characteristic changing angle, an area of the second incident plane of the intermediary prism portion is slightly decreased with the decrease of the incident angle, and an area of the first incident plane of the intermediary prism portion is slightly increased with the decrease of the incident angle.
Therefore, characteristics of transmissivity in the small incident angle region can be improved, and a change of the transmissivity at the characteristic changing angle can be smoothed.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, a top blade angle between the second incident plane and the total reflection plane is set to a most-acute angle in a range in which an angle between the second incident plane and the outgoing plane is not obtuse.
Therefore, transmissivity of the Fresnel lens can be further improved.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, the top blade angle is set to an angle larger than the most-acute angle in a small incident angle region corresponding to incident angles smaller than a specific incident angle at which transmissivity corresponding to the top blade angle set to the most-acute angle is equal to transmissivity corresponding to the top blade angle different from the most-acute angle.
Therefore, a Fresnel lens having high transmissivity at all incident angles can be obtained.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, the prescribed outgoing angle is set to a value larger than zero degree in each of pitch areas corresponding to incident angles at which transmissivity of the hybrid type prism portions is decreased.
Therefore, transmissivity of the Fresnel lens can be further improved.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, the Fresnel lens is cut in a rectangular shape so as to have four sides, a boundary ring band of the Fresnel lens intersects only one side nearest to an optical axis among the four sides of the Fresnel lens, the outgoing angle is set so as to make the ray of first outgoing light and the ray of second outgoing light going out on a lens periphery side of the boundary ring band be parallel to the optical axis, and the outgoing angle of the ray of first outgoing light and the ray of second outgoing light going out on an optical axis side of the boundary ring band is set to a value larger than that corresponding to the ray of first outgoing light and the ray of second outgoing light going out in parallel to the optical axis.
Therefore, in cases where the Fresnel lens is applied to a screen of an image displaying device having a multiple-structure,the uniformity of luminance on the screen can be improved.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, each refraction type prism portion has a thin-film light absorbing layer on the ineffective layer, and the thin-film light absorbing layer absorbs light.
Therefore, a ray of ineffective light expected to be received on the ineffective plane and be changed to stray light in the inside of the Fresnel lens can be absorbed in the thin-film light absorbing layer, and ghosts generated on the screen can be reduced.
The Fresnel lens according to the present invention further includes a stray light absorbing plate which is arranged on the outgoing plane and has a plurality of light transmitting layers and a plurality of light absorbing layers alternately layered almost in parallel to an optical axis of the Fresnel lens. A ray of light is transmitted through each light transmitting layer, and light is absorbed in each light absorbing layer.
Therefore, stray light generated in the inside of the Fresnel lens can be absorbed, and ghosts generated on the screen can be reduced.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, the stray light absorbing plate arranged on the outgoing plane is integrally formed with the Fresnel lens.
Therefore, the ghosts can be reduced by using a small number of constituent parts.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, the light transmitting layers and the light absorbing layers are layered in a concentric circular shape while centering around the optical axis of the Fresnel lens.
Therefore, a reduction efficiency of the ghosts can be maximized.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, the light transmitting layers and the light absorbing layers are layered in a direction almost in parallel to each other.
Therefore, the stray light absorbing plate can be easily manufactured, and a manufacturing cost can be reduced.
The Fresnel lens according to the present invention further includes a light absorbing plate, arranged on the outgoing layer, for absorbing light.
Therefore, stray light can be absorbed by using a simple structure, and ghosts generated on a screen can be reduced.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, the hybrid type prism portions are formed while having a pitch margin between each pair of pitch areas adjacent to each other.
Therefore, the total reflection plane can be formed in a shape determined in the designing, and the optical performance of the Fresnel lens can be guaranteed.
The Fresnel lens according to the present invention further includes a group of pitch areas in which a plurality of dummy prism portions are successively arranged. A height of each dummy prism portion in an optical axis direction is set not to have relation to the reception of light.
Therefore, a rapid disappearance and occurrence of a manufacturing error occurring by the change of the shape of the prism portion can be suppressed, and a rapid change of the optical performance such as transmissivity can be relieved.
A screen according to the present invention, includes the Fresnel lens, and an image forming and diffusing means for receiving the ray of outgoing light, to which display contents are added, from the Fresnel lens, forming an image from the ray of outgoing light and diffusing the image.
Therefore, unevenness of the brightness of an image can be suppressed, and a screen applicable in a range from a small projection angle to a large projection angle can be obtained.
A screen according to the present invention, includes the Fresnel lens and an image forming and diffusing means for receiving the ray of outgoing light, to which display contents are added, from the Fresnel lens, forming an image from the ray of outgoing light and diffusing the image.
Therefore, unevenness of the brightness of an image can be suppressed, and a screen applicable in a range from a small projection angle to a large projection angle can be obtained.
In the screen according to the present invention, the image forming and diffusing means is arranged on the outgoing plane to be integrally formed with the Fresnel lens.
Therefore, a screen manufactured by using a reduced number of constituent parts can be provided.
In the screen according to the present invention, the image forming and dif fusing means is arranged on the outgoing plane to be integrally formed with the Fresnel lens.
Therefore, a screen manufactured by using a reduced number of constituent parts can be provided.
An image displaying device according to the present invention includes the screen, illumination light source means for emitting a plurality of rays of light almost parallel to each other, converging optics means for converging the rays of light emitted from the illumination light source means, optical modulating means for spatially changing intensities of the rays of light converged by the converging optics means so as to modulate the rays of light according to the display contents, and projection optics means for rejecting the rays of light modulated by the optical modulating means into the screen.
Therefore, an image displaying device having an improved brightness of an image can be obtained.
An image displaying device according to the present invention includes the screen, illumination light source means for emitting a plurality of rays of light almost parallel to each other, converging optics means for converging the rays of light emitted from the illumination light source means, optical modulating means for spatially changing intensities of the rays of light converged by the converging optics means so as to modulate the rays of light according to the display contents, and projection optics means for projecting the rays of light modulated by the optical modulating means onto the screen.
Therefore, an image displaying device having an improved brightness of an image can be obtained.
A Fresnel lens according to the present invention includes a plurality of total reflection type prism portions which respectively have a subsidiary unit-prism portion in a part of a second incident plane on which a ray of light expected not to be totally reflected on a total reflection plane is incident. A refraction type prism portion having a first incident plane on which the ray of incident light is refracted to be deflected in a desired direction is set as the subsidiary unit-prism portion.
Therefore, the subsidiary unit-prism portion functions as a lens for a ray of light for which the total reflection type prism portion does not effectively function, and the transmissivity of the Fresnel lens can be improved.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, a plane obtained by extending the first incident plane of each subsidiary unit-prism portion is placed in a position shifted from the total reflection plane toward a light outgoing side in a range of the corresponding total reflection type prism portion.
Therefore, a Fresnel lens possible to be easily manufactured can be provided.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, a ratio of each subsidiary unit-prism portion to the corresponding second incident plane differs from those of the other subsidiary unit-prism portions.
Therefore, each subsidiary unit-prism portion can be formed in an optimum shape in correspondence to an incident angle of a light flux, and a Fresnel lens having high transmissivity can be obtained.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, a ratio of each subsidiary unit-prism portion to the corresponding second incident plane differs from those of the other subsidiary unit-prism portions.
Therefore, each subsidiary unit-prism portion can be formed in an optimum shape in correspondence to an incident angle of a light flux, and a Fresnel lens having high transmissivity can be obtained.
A Fresnel lens according to the present invention, includes a plurality of refraction type prism portions which respectively have a subsidiary unit-prism portion, in which a ray of light expected to be incident on an ineffective plane of another adjacent refraction type prism portion placed on a Fresnel periphery side is received, on a first incident plane. A total reflection type prism portion has both a second incident plane, on which a ray of light is received, and a total reflection plane, on which the ray of light received on the second incident plane is totally reflected to be deflected in a desired direction, and is set as the subsidiary unit-prism portion.
Therefore, the subsidiary unit-prism portion functions as a lens for a ray of light for which the refractive type prism portion does not effectively function, and the transmissivity of the Fresnel lens can be improved.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, a plane obtained by extending the second incident plane of each subsidiary unit-prism portion is placed in a position shifted from the ineffective plane toward a light outgoing side in a range of the corresponding refraction type prism portion.
Therefore, a Fresnel lens possible to be easily manufactured can be provided.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, a ratio of each subsidiary unit-prism portion to the corresponding first incident plane differs from those of the other subsidiary unit-prism portions. Therefore, each subsidiary unit-prism portion can be formed in an optimum shape in correspondence to an incident angle of a light flux, and a Fresnel lens having high transmissivity can be obtained.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, a ratio of each subsidiary unit-prism portion to the corresponding first incident plane differs from those of the other subsidiary unit-prism portions.
Therefore, each subsidiary unit-prism portion can be formed in an optimum shape in correspondence to an incident angle of a light flux, and a Fresnel lens having high transmissivity can be obtained.
A Fresnel lens according to the present invention, includes a first region in which the Fresnel lens, is arranged, and a second region in which a plurality of refraction type prism portions respectively having both a first incident plane, on which a ray of incident light is refracted to be deflected in a desired direction, and an ineffective plane different from the first incident plane are arranged on a light incident side, wherein each refraction type prism portion has a subsidiary unit-prism portion arranged on the first incident plane, a ray of light expected to be incident on the ineffective plane of another adjacent refraction type prism portion placed on a Fresnel periphery side is received in the subsidiary unit-prism portion, and the subsidiary unit-prism portion functions as a total reflection type prism portion having both a second incident plane, on which a ray of light is received, and a total reflection plane on which the ray of light received on the second incident plane is totally reflected to be deflected in the desired direction.
Therefore, an optimum shape of each unit-prism portion can be selected from the first region or the second region in correspondence to an incident angle of a light flux and be formed, and a Fresnel lens having high transmissivity can be obtained.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, a ratio of the subsidiary unit-prism portion to the corresponding second incident plane in the first region is increased as the subsidiary unit-prism portion approaches a boundary between the first region and the second region, the ratio of the subsidiary unit-prism portion to the corresponding second incident plane in the first region is decreased as the subsidiary unit-prism portion is far a way from the boundary, a ratio of the subsidiary unit-prism portion to the corresponding first incident plane in the second region is increased as the subsidiary unit-prism portion approaches the boundary, and the ratio of the subsidiary unit-prism portion to the corresponding first incident plane in the second region is decreased as the subsidiary unit-prism portion is far away from the boundary.
Therefore, the ratios of the subsidiary unit-prism portion are increased as the subsidiary unit-prism portion approaches the boundary in which the subsidiary unit-prism portion effectively functions, and a Fresnel lens having high transmissivity can be obtained.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, a second Fresnel lens different from the Fresnel lens arranged on a plane of the light incident side is arranged on a plane of a light outgoing side of the Fresnel lens.
Therefore, the Fresnel lens arranged on the light incident side and the Fresnel lens arranged on the light outgoing side are cooperated, and a Fresnel lens having transmissivity further heightened can be obtained.
In the Fresnel lens according to the present invention, a second Fresnel lens different from the Fresnel lens arranged on a plane of a light incident side is arranged on a plane of a light outgoing side of the Fresnel lens.
Therefore, the Fresnel lens arranged on the light incident side and the Fresnel lens arranged on the light outgoing side are cooperated, and a Fresnel lens having transmissivity further heightened can be obtained.
A screen according to the present invention, includes the Fresnel lens, and light diffusing means, arranged on a plane of a light outgoing side of the Fresnel lens, for diffusing the rays of light going out from the Fresnel lens.
Therefore, a screen applicable in a range from a small projection angle to a large projection angle can be obtained while decreasing the number of constituent parts and suppressing unevenness of the brightness of an image.
A screen according to the present invention, includes the Fresnel lens, and light diffusing means, arranged on a plane of a light outgoing side of the Fresnel lens, for diffusing the rays of light going out from the Fresnel lens.
Therefore, a screen applicable in a range from a small projection angle to a large projection angle can be obtained while decreasing the number of constituent parts and suppressing unevenness of the brightness of an image.
A screen according to the present invention, includes the Fresnel lens, and light diffusing means, arranged on a light outgoing side of the Fresnel lens, for diffusing the rays of light going out from the Fresnel lens.
Therefore, a screen applicable in a range from a small projection angle to a large projection angle can be obtained while suppressing unevenness of the brightness of an image.
A screen according to the present invention, includes the Fresnel lens, and light diffusing means, arranged on a light outgoing side of the Fresnel lens, for diffusing the rays of light going out from the Fresnel lens.
Therefore, a screen applicable in a range from a small projection angle to a large projection angle can be obtained while suppressing unevenness of the brightness of an image.
An image displaying device according to the present invention, includes the screen, an image light source for emitting a plurality of rays of image light, and projection optics means for projecting the rays of image light emitted from the image light source on to the screen.
Therefore, an image displaying device displaying an image of an improved brightness can be provided.
An image displaying device according to the present invention, includes the screen, an image light source for emitting a plurality of rays of image light, and projection optics means for projecting the rays of image light emitted from the image light source on to the screen.
Therefore, an image displaying device displaying an image of an improved brightness can be provided.
An image displaying device according to the present invention, includes the screen, an image light source for emitting a plurality of rays of image light, and projection optics means for projecting the rays of image light emitted from the image light source on to the screen.
Therefore, an image displaying device displaying an image of an improved brightness can be provided.
An image displaying device according to the present invention, includes the screen, an image light source for emitting a plurality of rays of image light, and projection optics means for projecting the rays of image light emitted from the image light source on to the screen.
Therefore, an image displaying device displaying an image of an improved brightness can be provided.
A method of manufacturing a lens forming mold according to the present invention, includes a main unit-prism portion cutting step of cutting a lens forming mold in a reversed shape of a refractive type prism portion of a cutting pitch area by using a cutting tool, and a subordinate unit-prism portion cutting step of cutting the lens forming mold in a reversed shape of a total reflection type prism portion of the cutting pitch area by using the cutting tool on condition that a plane obtained by extending an incident plane in the reversed shape of the total reflection type prism portion intersects a trough line placed between the cutting pitch area and another cutting area adjacent to the cutting pitch area on a Fresnel center side or pass through an area shifted from the trough line toward a light outgoing side. The combination of the main unit-prism portion cutting step and the subordinate unit-prism portion cutting step is repeatedly performed by a prescribed number equal to the number of cutting pitch areas.
Therefore, a lens forming mold can be easily manufactured by using a normal cutting tool, and the precision in the manufacturing of the lens forming mold can be improved.
A method of manufacturing a lens forming mold according to the present invention, includes a main unit-prism portion cutting step of cutting a lens forming mold in a reversed shape of a total reflection type prism portion of a cutting pitch area by using a cutting tool, and a subordinate unit-prism portion cutting step of cutting the lens forming mold in a reversed shape of a refractive type prism portion of the cutting pitch area by using the cutting tool on condition that a plane obtained by extending a first incident plane in the reversed shape of the refractive type prism portion intersects a trough line placed between the cutting pitch area and another cutting area adjacent to the cutting pitch area on a Fresnel periphery side or pass through an area shifted from the trough line toward a light outgoing side, wherein the combination of the main unit-prism portion cutting step and the subordinate unit-prism portion cutting step is repeatedly performed by a prescribed number equal to the number of cutting pitch areas.
Therefore, a lens forming mold can be easily manufactured by using a normal cutting tool, and the precision in the manufacturing of the lens forming mold can be improved.
The method of manufacturing a lens forming mold according to the present invention, further includes a pitch margin setting step for setting a pitch margin for each cutting pitch area before the subordinate unit-prism portion cutting step in cases where the lens forming mold is cut in a cut performing direction from the Fresnel periphery side to a Fresnel center side in the order of the refractive type prism portion and the total reflection type prism portion. The lens forming mold is cut by shifting a cutting start position toward the cut performing direction by the pitch margin to form a reversed shape of the total reflection type prism portion in the subordinate unit-prism portion cutting step for each cutting pitch area.
Therefore, in cases where the lens forming mold is cut in the reversed shape of the refractive type prism portion, the distortion of the lens forming mold occurring in a tip portion on the trough line placed between the total reflection type prism portions for each pitch area can be prevented, the lens forming mold can be formed in a shape determined in the designing, and the optical performance of the Fresnel lens manufactured by using the lens forming mold can be guaranteed.
The method of manufacturing a lens forming mold according to the present invention, further includes a pitch margin setting step for setting a pitch margin for each cutting pitch area before the subordinate unit-prism portion cutting step in cases where the lens forming mold is cut in a cut performing direction from a Fresnel center side to the Fresnel periphery side in the order of the total reflection type prism portion and the refractive type prism portion, wherein the lens forming mold is cut by shifting a cutting start position toward the cut performing direction by the pitch margin to form the reversed shape of the refractive type prism portion in the subordinate unit-prism portion cutting step for each cutting pitch area.
Therefore, in cases where the lens forming mold is cut in the reversed shape of the total reflect ion type prism portion, the distortion of the lens forming mold occurring in a tip portion on the trough line placed between the refractive type prism portions for each pitch area can be prevented, the lens forming mold can be formed in a shape determined in the designing, and the optical performance of the Fresnel lens manufactured by using the lens forming mold can be guaranteed.
A method of manufacturing a lens forming mold according to the present invention, further includes the step of successively cutting the lens forming mold in a reversed shape of a plurality of dummy prism portions respectively having a height in an optical axis direction not related to the reception of light for a group of pitch areas.
Therefore, a rapid disappearance and occurrence of a manufacturing error occurring by the change of the shape of the prism portion can be suppressed, and a rapid change of the optical performance such as transmissivity in a Fresnel lens can be relieved.
A method of manufacturing a lens according to the present invention, includes the steps of pouring resin into a lens forming mold manufactured in the method of manufacturing a lens forming mold hardening the resin, and taking off the lens forming mold from the hardened resin to form a lens.
Therefore, a Fresnel lens having high precision can be easily manufactured.
A method of manufacturing a lens according to the present invention, includes the steps of pouring resin into a lens forming mold manufactured in the method of manufacturing a lens forming mold hardening the resin, and taking off the lens forming mold from the hardened resin to form a lens.
Therefore, a Fresnel lens having high precision can be easily manufactured.
A method of manufacturing a lens according to the present invention, includes the steps of pouring resin in to a lens forming mold manufactured in the method of manufacturing a lens forming mold hardening the resin, and taking off the lens forming mold from the hardened resin to form a lens.
Therefore, a Fresnel lens having high precision can be easily manufactured.
A method of manufacturing a lens according to the present invention, includes the steps of pouring resin in to a lens forming mold manufactured in the method of manufacturing a lens forming mold hardening the resin, and taking off the lens forming mold from the hardened resin to form a lens.
Therefore, a Fresnel lens having high precision can be easily manufactured.
A method of manufacturing a lens according to the present invention, includes the steps of pouring resin into a lens forming mold manufactured in the method of manufacturing a lens forming mold hardening the resin, and taking off the lens forming mold from the hardened resin to form a lens.
Therefore, a Fresnel lens having high precision can be easily manufactured.

Fresnel lens, screen, image display device, lens mold manufacturing method and lens manufacturing method


A phase change memory device with a memory element including a basis phase change material, such as a chalcogenide, and one or more additives, where the additive or additives have a non-constant concentration profile along an inter-electrode current path through a memory element. The use of “non-constant” concentration profiles for additives enables doping the different zones with different materials and concentrations, according to the different crystallographic, thermal and electrical conditions, and different phase transition conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to memory devices based on phase change materials including chalcogenide materials, and methods for manufacturing such devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Phase change based memory materials, like chalcogenide based materials and similar materials, can be caused to change between an amorphous phase and a crystalline phase by application of electrical current at levels suitable for implementation in integrated circuits. The amorphous phase is characterized by higher electrical resistivity than the crystalline phase, which can be readily read to indicate data. These properties have generated interest in using programmable resistive material to form non-volatile memory circuits, which can be read and written with random access.
The change from the amorphous to the crystalline phase is generally a lower current operation. The change from crystalline to amorphous, referred to as reset herein, is generally a higher current operation, which includes a short high current density pulse to melt or breakdown the crystalline structure, after which the phase change material cools quickly, quenching the phase change process and allowing at least a portion of the phase change material to stabilize in the amorphous phase.
One problem arising in phase change devices involves data retention. Phase change memory cells can suffer a drift in resistance over time, as the active region composition shifts from amorphous to crystalline phase, or vice versa, due to environmental conditions to which the device is exposed. For example, a memory cell in which the active region has been reset to a generally amorphous state may over time develop a distribution of crystalline regions in the active region. If these crystalline regions connect to form a low resistance path through the active region, when the memory cell is read a lower resistance state will be detected and result in a data error. See Gleixner, "Phase Change Memory Reliability," 22nd NVSMW, 2007.
Another problem with phase change memory cells involves reliability issues arising from the difference in density between the crystalline and amorphous phases. The change in volume that occurs because the transition from the amorphous phase to the crystalline phase causes stress within the memory material and at the interface with electrodes. During operation, repeated set and reset operations can cause formation of voids in the phase change material, which can lead to device failure and limit the cycle endurance of the cell. Also, during manufacturing, high temperature back-end-of-line (BEOL) processes can cause a transition from the as-deposited amorphous phase into the higher density crystalline phase, which can cause voids that result in device failure.
Chalcogenides and other phase change materials can be combined with additives to modify conductivity, transition temperature, melting temperature, and other properties of the material. Combining phase change materials with additives is sometimes referred to as "doping with impurities" or adding "dopants." The terms "additive," "dopant" or "impurity" can be used interchangeably in connection with this specification. Representative additives used with chalcogenides include nitrogen, silicon, oxygen, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, copper, silver, gold, aluminum, aluminum oxide, tantalum, tantalum oxide, tantalum nitride, titanium and titanium oxide. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,800,504 (metal doping), and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. U.S. 2005/0029502 (nitrogen doping). Research has progressed to provide memory devices that operate with low reset current by adjusting the doping concentration in phase change memory.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,087,674 and its parent U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,046 by Ovshinsky et al., describe forming composite memory material in which phase change material is mixed with a relatively high concentration of dielectric material in order to manage the resistance of the composite memory material. The nature of the composite memory material described in these patents is not clear, because it describes composites as layered structures as well as mixed structures. The dielectric materials described in these patents cover a very broad range.
A number of researchers have investigated the use of silicon oxide doping of chalcogenide material for the purposes of reducing the reset current needed for operation of the memory devices. See Ryu, et al., "SiO2 Incorporation Effects in Ge2Sb2Te5 Films Prepared by Magnetron Sputtering for Phase Change Random Access Memory Devices," Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters, 9 (8) G259-G261 (2006); Lee et al., "Separate domain formation in Ge2Sb2Te5—SiOx mixed layer," Appl. Phys. Lett. 89,163503 (2006); Czubatyj et al., "Current Reduction in Ovonic Memory Devices," E*PCOS06 (2006); and Noh et al., "Modification of Ge2Sb2Te5 by the Addition of SiOx for Improved Operation of Phase Change Random Access Memory," Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. Vol. 888 (2006). These references suggest that relatively low concentrations of silicon oxide doping in Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) result in substantial increases in resistance and corresponding reductions in reset current. The Czubatyj et al. article suggests that the improvement in resistance in a silicon oxide doped GST alloy saturates at about 10 vol % (6.7 at %), and reports that doping concentrations up to 30 vol % silicon oxide had been tested, without providing details. The Lee et al. publication describes a phenomenon at relatively high doping concentrations around 8.4 at %, by which the silicon oxide appears to separate from the GST after high-temperature annealing to form domains of GST surrounded by boundaries that are primarily silicon oxide. Doping with silicon dioxide also results in reduction in grain size in the polycrystalline phase of the material, and improves manufacturability.
Hudgens, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2005/0029502, describes a composite doped GST, where nitrogen or nitrogen and oxygen are alleged to cause reduction in grain size, while a second dopant, such as titanium, is applied in a manner that increases the set programming speed. The second dopant in Hudgens is applied to offset an increase in the time needed for set programming caused by nitrogen doping. However, it is found that gas phase dopants like nitrogen and oxygen, while causing a reduction in grain size in the deposited material, have not been reliable, and result in void formations in the material during use.
Chen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,501,648 entitled PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS AND ASSOCIATED MEMORY DEVICES, issued 10 Mar. 2009, describes phase change material doped using nitride compounds to affect transition speeds.
Our co-pending U.S. patent application entitled DIELECTRIC MESH ISOLATED PHASE CHANGE STRUCTURE FOR PHASE CHANGE MEMORY, application Ser. No. 12/286,874, filed 2 Oct. 2008, describes the use of silicon dioxide doping in relatively high concentrations and addresses some of the issues discussed above related to changes in composition of the phase change memory materials.
Although substantial benefits in yield can be achieved using additives, issues such as data retention and reliability still arise. Additionally, the use of additives can adversely impact a variety of memory performance characteristics such as set programming speed and threshold voltage compared to that of undoped phase change material, restricting the use of phase change based memory circuits in certain applications.
It is therefore desirable to provide memory cells addressing the yield, endurance, and data retention issues discussed above.

Phase change memory having one or more non-constant doping profiles

International Business Machines Corporation


A method is provided, including treating a heart valve of a patient by implanting at the heart valve an implant including an elongate element including at least in part a tension element, by placing the implant at the heart valve of the patient, and subsequently to the placing, increasing tension of the elongate element at least in part. The tension element is configured to undergo conformational changes, subsequently to the placing, responsively to a cardiac cycle of the patient. Implanting the implant includes implanting the implant such that the tension element undergoes the conformational changes responsively to the cardiac cycle of the patient in a manner in which the tension element cyclically increases and decreases pressure applied to at least one leaflet of the heart valve by the elongate element.

Mitral valve regurgitation is a disorder in which the mitral valve does not close properly. During systole, a healthy mitral valve prevents oxygenated blood from flowing back (regurgitating) from the left ventricle to the left atrium. Regurgitation caused by a defective mitral valve reduces cardiac output, increasing the risk of progressive heart failure. Treatments for mitral valve regurgitation include valve replacement and strengthening the valve annulus by implanting a mechanical support ring or other structure (generally called valve annuloplasty).
The chordae tendineae are commonly classified according to their insertion sites on the mitral cusps. The first-order (also called primary or marginal) chordae insert on the cusp free edges, the second-order (also called "strut") chordae insert on the ventricular surface of the cusps, usually near the junction between the rough and smooth zones, and the third-order (also called tertiary or basal) chordae originate directly from the trabeculae carneae of the left ventricular wall, and attach to the cusps near the annulus of the mitral valve.
US Patent Application Publication 2005/0010287 to Macoviak et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes techniques for supplementing, repairing, or replacing a native heart valve. The techniques employ an implant that is adapted to extend adjacent a valve annulus. The implant includes a mobile neoleaflet element that occupies the space of at least a portion of one native valve leaflet. The implant mimics the one-way valve function of a native leaflet, to resist or prevent retrograde flow. The implant restores normal coaptation of the leaflets to resist retrograde flow, thereby resisting eversion and/or prolapse, which, in turn, reduces regurgitation.
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0193191 to Starksen et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes methods for treating a cardiac valve annulus, comprising contacting an anchor delivery device with the valve annulus and releasing a plurality of coupled anchors from the anchor delivery device to secure the anchors to the annulus. Anchors, which in some embodiments are super-elastic or shape memory self-securing anchors, are then drawn together to tighten the annulus. The publication also describes devices including an elongate catheter having a housing at or near the distal end for releasably housing a plurality of coupled anchors. The housing may be flexible, may conform to a valve annulus, and in some embodiments may be coupled with an expandable member to enhance contact of the housing with annular tissue. In one embodiment, self-securing anchors lie approximately flat within the delivery device housing, allowing anchors with relatively large deployed shapes to be housed in and deployed from a relatively narrow delivery device.
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0148020 to Vidlund et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes techniques for improving the function of a valve (e.g., a mitral valve) by positioning an implantable device outside and adjacent the heart wall such that the device alters the shape of the heart wall acting on the valve. The implantable device may alter the shape of the heart wall acting on the valve by applying an inward force and/or by circumferential shortening (cinching). The shape change of the heart wall acting on the valve is sufficient to change the function of the valve, and may increase coaptation of the leaflets, for example, to reduce regurgitation.
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0148019 to Vidlund et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes techniques for improving the function of a valve (e.g., a mitral valve) by positioning a spacing filling device outside and adjacent the heart wall such that the device applies an inward force against the heart wall acting on the valve. A substantially equal and opposite force may be provided by securing the device to the heart wall, and/or a substantially equal and opposite outward force may be applied against anatomical structure outside the heart wall. The inward force is sufficient to change the function of the valve, and may increase coaptation of the leaflets, for example. The space filling device may be implanted by a surgical approach, a transthoracic approach, or a transluminal approach, for example. The space filling portion may be delivered utilizing a delivery catheter navigated via the selected approach, and the space filling portion may be expandable between a smaller delivery configuration and a larger deployed configuration.
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0138745 to Macoviak et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes medical devices for improving heart valve function, including leaflet retainers, a neo-annulus, neo-leaflet, and a framework.
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0127983 to Mortier et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a device for heart valve repair including at least one tension member having a first end and second end. A basal anchor is disposed at the first end of the tension member and a secondary anchor at the second end. The publication describes a method including the steps of anchoring the basal anchor proximate a heart valve and anchoring the secondary anchor at a location spaced from the valve such that the chamber geometry is altered to reduce heart wall tension and/or stress on the valve leaflets.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,534 and US Patent Application Publication 2004/0039442 to St. Goar et al., which are incorporated herein by reference, describe techniques for performing endovascular repair of atrioventricular and other cardiac valves in the heart. Regurgitation of an atrioventricular valve, particularly a mitral valve, is repaired by modifying a tissue structure selected from the valve leaflets, the valve annulus, the valve chordae, and the papillary muscles. These structures are modified by suturing, stapling, snaring, or shortening, using interventional tools which are introduced to a heart chamber.
US Patent Application Publication 2003/0199974 to Lee et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes an annuloplasty system for repairing a heart valve, comprising a surgical implant including a member having first and second end portions. The implant member further is configured and/or adapted to form a partial ring along a portion of one of the valve annulae of a patient's heart such as the mitral or tricuspid valve annulus. The implant member is axially elastic such that it can axially expand and contract and includes first and second anchors extending from the end portions of the implant member. The anchors are adapted to anchor the implant in tissue such as the mitral or tricuspid valve annulus. The system is described as facilitating tissue plication (e.g., of the posterior annulus of the mitral valve or the annulus of the tricuspid valve) and reinforcement of a valve annulus.
US Patent Application Publication 2003/0191528 to Quijano et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes an expandable annular ring for implantation in a valvular annulus and its percutaneous use. The ring comprises a plurality of stenting elements made of a first shape-memory material having a first shape-transition temperature, wherein the first shape-memory material expands to a preshape when the first shape-memory material is heated to above the first shape-transition temperature; and a plurality of anchoring elements made of a second shape-memory material having a second shape-transition temperature that is higher than the first shape-transition temperature, wherein the second shape-memory material expands to the second preshape when the second shape-memory material is heated to above the second shape-transition temperature.
US Patent Application Publications 2004/0260393 to Randert et al. and 2004/0127982 to Machold et al., which are incorporated herein by reference, describe techniques using an implant that is sized and configured to attach in, on, or near the annulus of a dysfunctional heart valve. In use, the implant extends either across the minor axis of the annulus, or across the major axis of the annulus, or both. The implant is described as restoring to the heart valve annulus and leaflets a more functional anatomic shape and tension. The more functional anatomic shape and tension are conducive to coaptation of the leaflets, which, in turn, reduces retrograde flow or regurgitation.
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0260394 to Douk et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a cardiac valve annulus compressor comprising a generally cylindrical main body having plain and barbed ends and an actuator portion. Barbs disposed on the barbed end are engageable with the valve annulus. The length of the circumference of the barbed end is responsive to movement of the actuator portion. The annulus compressor can be delivered percutaneously or surgically.
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0236419 to Milo, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes methods for reconfiguring an atrioventricular heart valve that use systems comprising a partial or complete annuloplasty rings proportioned to reconfigure a heart valve that has become in some way incompetent, a pair of trigonal sutures or implantable anchors, and a plurality of staples which may have pairs of legs that are sized and shaped for association with the ring at spaced locations along its length. These systems are described as permitting relative axial movement between the staples and the ring, whereby a patient's heart valve can be reconfigured in a manner that does not deter subtle shifting of the native valve components. Shape-memory alloy material staples may have legs with free ends that interlock following implantation. Annuloplasty rings may be complete or partial and may be fenestrated. One alternative method routes a flexible wire, preferably of shape-memory material, through the bights of pre-implanted staples. Other alternative systems use linkers of shape-memory material having hooked ends to interengage with staples or other implanted supports which, following implantation, decrease in effective length and pull the staples or other supports toward one another so as to create desired curvature of the reconfigured valve. These linkers may be separate from the supports or may be integral with them and may have a variety of shapes and forms. Various of these systems may be implanted non-invasively using a delivery catheter.
US Patent Application Publication 2004/0243227 to Starksen et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes techniques for facilitating positioning of a cardiac valve annulus treatment device. The publication describes methods including advancing an anchor delivery device through vasculature of the patient to a location in the heart for treating the valve annulus, contacting the anchor delivery device with a length of the valve annulus, delivering a plurality of coupled anchors from the anchor delivery device to secure the anchors to the annulus, and drawing the anchors together to circumferentially tighten the valve annulus. Devices generally include an elongate catheter having at least one tensioning member and at least one tensioning actuator for deforming a distal portion of the catheter to help it conform to a valve annulus. The catheter device may be used to navigate a subannular space below a mitral valve to facilitate positioning of an anchor delivery device.
Odell J A et al., in an article entitled "Early Results of a Simplified Method of Mitral Valve Annuloplasty," Circulation 92:150-154 (1995), which is incorporated herein by reference, studied the outcome of three different annuloplasty techniques: commissural annuloplasty, complete ring annuloplasty, and an unmeasured, posterior, partial ring annuloplasty. They concluded that postoperative valve function obtained by unmeasured posterior annuloplasty, as assessed by degree of regurgitation, transvalvular gradient, and valve area, was similar to that obtained by measured, complete ring annuloplasty and superior to that found in patients having commissural annuloplasty.
US Patent Application Publication 2003/0078465 to Pai et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes techniques for treating degenerative, congestive heart disease and related valvular dysfunction. Percutaneous and minimally invasive surgical tensioning structures are implantable within various major coronary blood-carrying conduit structures (arteries, veins and branching vessels), into or through myocardium, or into engagement with other anatomic structures that impact cardiac output to provide tensile support to the heart muscle wall which resists diastolic filling pressure while simultaneously providing a compressive force to the muscle wall to limit, compensate or provide therapeutic treatment for congestive heart failure and/or to reverse the remodeling that produces an enlarged heart. In some embodiments, the tensioning structures are used to apply tension to papillary muscles and/or chordae tendineae to reposition the valve leaflets to reduce/eliminate regurgitation, to limit the motion of the leaflets to improve/restore the function of cardiac valves; and to directly reposition the valve leaflets to prevent prolapse or other abnormalities of the leaflets and to prevent associated deficiencies.
US Patent Application Publication 2003/0018358 to Saadat, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes techniques for thermally and/or mechanically treating tissue, such as valvular structures, to reconfigure or shrink the tissue in a controlled manner. Mechanical clips are implanted over the leaflets of a valve, e.g., in the heart, either alone or after thermal treatment to cause the valve to close more tightly. The clips are delivered by a catheter and may be configured to traverse directly over the valve itself or to lie partially over the periphery of the valve to prevent obstruction of the valve channel. Alternatively, individual anchors with a tensioning element, like a suture, are described as being useful for approximating the valves towards each other.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,899 to Houser et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes techniques for thermally and/or mechanically treating tissue, such as valvular structures, to reconfigure or shrink the tissue in a controlled manner. The apparatus comprises a catheter in communication with an end effector which induces a temperature rise in an annulus of tissue surrounding the leaflets of a valve or in the chordae tendineae sufficient to cause shrinkage, thereby causing the valves to close more tightly. Mechanical clips can also be implanted over the valve either alone or after the thermal treatment. The clips are delivered by a catheter and may be configured to traverse directly over the valve itself or to lie partially over the periphery of the valve to prevent obstruction of the valve channel.
US Patent Application Publication 2005/0222678 to Lashinski et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes methods and devices for applying pressure to an adjacent tissue structure, such as the annulus of the mitral valve. An adjustable implant is described with an elongate control line having a distal end connected to the implant and a proximal end spaced apart from the implant. The device enables post implantation adjustment, by accessing the proximal end of the control line and manipulating the control line to adjust the implant.
US Patent Application Publication 2005/0096740 to Langberg et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a mitral annuloplasty and left ventricle restriction device adapted to be transvenously advanced and deployed within the coronary sinus and, in some embodiments, other coronary veins. The device places tension on adjacent structures, reducing the diameter and/or limiting expansion of the mitral annulus and/or limiting diastolic expansion of the left ventricle. These effects may be beneficial for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.


The present invention relates to a display, a timing controller and a column driver IC, and more particularly to a display, timing controller and column driver integrated circuit using clock embedded multi-level signaling. The present invention provides a timing controller including a transmitter for transmitting a transmission signal wherein a transmission clock signal is embedded therein between a transmission data signal to have a signal magnitude different from that of the transmission data signal. The present invention also provides a column driver integrated circuit including a receiving unit for separating a clock signal from a received signal using a magnitude of the received signal, and for performing a sampling of a received data signal from the received signal using the separated clock signal.

Recently, in addition to an increase in a popularization of portable electronic devices such as a notebook computer and a personal portable communication device, a market size of digital appliances and personal computers is constantly increased. Display apparatuses which are final connection medium between such devices and users is required to have a light weight and low power consumption. Therefore, FPDs (Flat Panel Displays) such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a PDP (Plasma Display Panel) and an OELD (Organic Electro-Luminescence Display) are generally used instead of a conventional CRT (Cathode Ray Tube).

Display, timing controller and column driver integrated circuit using clock embedded multi-level signaling


A 5-fluoro-minoxidil compound and compositions are disclosed which are useful in the treatment of hair growth and cardiovascular disorders. The 5-fluoro-minoxidil compounds have been shown to have increased transdermal transport than minoxidil and therefore can be used in decreased amounts to achieve the same pharmacological efficacy of minoxidil.

The present invention is directed toward a novel set of compounds, 5-fluoro-2,4,6-pyrimidinetriamines of Formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof (hereinafter referred to as "5-fluoro minoxidil"), which are useful for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders and the promotion of hair growth. The use of minoxidil to treat cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension, congestive hear failure, and angina, peripheral vascular disorders and more recently to promote hair growth was recognized in the past and was extensively patented. Earlier patents to the minoxidil formulae itself are U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,461,461, 3,464,987 and 3,644,364 however they do not disclose or suggest a fluorine substitution even though bromine and chlorine were specifically named and in some cases iodide. Minoxidil for hair growth has also been patented in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,139,619 and 4,596,812 however the minoxidil formulae claimed and disclosed in those patents did not show a 5-fluoro substituted minoxidil.
One explanation for this apparent deletion from the halogen family was that the fluorine atom was difficult to substitute onto the pyrimidine ring at this particular position.
The subject invention provides a method for substituting fluorine at the 5-position on a minoxidil compound and shows that this particular species has significant advantages over its halogen analogs. The 5-fluoro substituted minoxidil has bene found to have superior transdermal transport properties over unsubstituted minoxidil. The increased amount of minoxidil that is transported into the epidermis means that less can be topically applied to achieve the same hair growth pharmacological efficacy as compared to other non-fluoride substituted minoxidils. Also, because less active ingredient is used, there is significantly reduced side effects when the compound is used for hair growth.


A system for controlling a power supplied to a load from a radio frequency amplifier system includes a radio frequency signal generator adapted for generating a radio frequency signal, an amplifier to which the radio frequency signal is supplied and that amplifies the radio frequency signal into a radio frequency power signal, a power coupler connected to the amplifying member for coupling the radio frequency power signals, where the power coupler includes a summing connection adapted for connection to the load and a compensating connection adapted for connection to a dissipative element. A first control value generating member is adapted for receiving a signal proportional to a power output from the power coupler at the summing connection and is adapted for generating a first control signal for controlling the amplifier or a current supply that supplies current to the amplifier. A second control value generating member is adapted for receiving a signal proportional to a power output from the power coupler at the compensating connection and is adapted for generating a second control signal for controlling the amplifier or the current supply.

Power amplifiers for exciting plasma processes or laser discharge paths in a frequency range between 1 and 50 MHz, in particular at industrial frequencies of 13.56, 27.12, and 40.68 MHz are generally known. There are different power classes for power amplifiers of this type having output powers ranging from approximately 1 kW to several 100 kW. For a low power in the range between 1 and 20 kW, amplifiers on the basis of semiconductor modules (solid state amplifiers) are preferably used. Tube amplifiers are frequently used for a larger power. The tube amplifiers have an amplifier tube that is driven by a semiconductor power amplifier module, i.e., an amplifier that corresponds to amplifiers used for a smaller power. Since tubes require more space, it is desired to construct power amplifiers for larger output powers also of amplifiers based on semiconductor modules. Towards this end, solid state amplifiers of a smaller power are connected to suitable power couplers.
An important aspect of power amplifiers based on semiconductor modules is the minimization of the power loss, mainly in the semiconductor modules themselves. So-called amplifying circuits in resonance operation are advantageous, wherein the semiconductor modules are switched to have a particularly small loss.
Typical systems of switched amplifiers of classes D, E, and F are known, but a common problem of these switched amplifiers is the dynamically varying load. Such a load can develop in plasma processes and also in laser excitation or amplifier tubes, and the power supplied to the load can be reflected by the load. This reflected power is partially converted into heat by the amplifiers and is partly reflected back from the amplifier toward the load. Multiple reflections from load to amplifier and back produce instabilities in the amplifier and voltage and current increases, which can destroy the components in the amplifier and, in particular, also the semiconductor modules.
The output power of these amplifiers is usually controlled through control of the supplied direct voltage or direct current. If the power is to be rapidly controlled at the output, the supplied direct current must be rapidly controlled. This represents, however, also additional complexity for the direct voltage supply requiring expensive components and complex control.
Thus, a method and a control system for providing rapid and exact control with little power loss is desirable.

Method and control system for controlling the output power of an RF amplifier system