Global visual technology company RealD Inc. (NYSE:

) announced today the issuance to it by the European Patent Office of a patent that covers the fundamental optical architecture of the company's XL Cinema System, which is the world's brightest and most widely used cinema 3D projection technology. “The issuance of this European patent builds on the significant patent position we have globally around our XL Cinema System and validates our inventive approach,” said Robert Mayson, Managing Director of RealD Europe. “We place great value on our intellectual property and its ability to ensure the industry's brightest, premium visual experience for our partners and moviegoers around the world.” European Patent No. 2067066, entitled “Polarization conversion systems for stereoscopic projection,” is for a polarization conversion system (PCS) located in the output light path of a projector. The PCS may include a polarizing beam splitter, a polarization rotating element, a reflecting element, and a polarization switch, combining to direct multiple polarized light paths toward a projection screen to collectively form a brighter image for 3D content viewing in cinemas. “The European Patent Office is acknowledged as one of the most thorough patent offices worldwide and the grant of this patent following more than six years of examination indicates the uniqueness of RealD's technology,” added Mayson. Complementing the European Patent Office issuance, patents covering the optical design of the RealD XL Cinema System have been issued or are pending in many countries and territories, including the United States, China, Japan, S. Korea, Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico and Russia. RealD has more than 60 issued patents around the world covering aspects of its XL Cinema System technology and hundreds more patents issued or pending covering other innovative visual technologies. With intellectual property dating back to 2006, the RealD XL Cinema System was introduced in 2008 and today is the world's most widely used 3D cinema projection technology with more than 15,000 units installed around the world. The XL Cinema System delivers greater light efficiency than other 3D cinema projection technologies, and as a result, it provides a superior projected 3D image at a lower operating cost. The world's most widely used 3D cinema technology, RealD 3D is installed in approximately 26,000 auditoriums by approximately 1,000 exhibitors in 73 countries around the world (as of September 30, 2014).