Directional backlight
First Claim
1. A directional illumination apparatus, comprising:
- at least two optical valves for guiding light, wherein each optical valve further comprises;
a first light guiding surface, wherein the first light guiding surface is substantially planar; and
a second light guiding surface, opposite the first light guiding surface, further comprising a plurality of guiding features and a plurality of extraction features,wherein the plurality of extraction features are operable to allow light to pass with substantially low loss when the light is propagating in a first direction;
wherein the plurality of extraction features are oriented to cooperate with light sources to direct illumination light provided from different light sources along different directions, wherein different directions comprise at least different angular directions, and wherein at least one of the optical valves has a nonuniform thickness between the light guiding surfaces, andwherein the optical valves are arranged in a stacked configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a light guiding valve apparatus including at least one transparent stepped waveguide optical valve for providing large area collimated illumination from localized light sources, and at least one further illumination source. A stepped waveguide may be a stepped structure, where the steps include extraction features hidden to guided light, propagating in a first forward direction. Returning light propagating in a second backward direction may be refracted, diffracted, or reflected by the features to provide discrete illumination beams exiting from the top surface of the waveguide. Such controlled illumination may provide for efficient, multi-user autostereoscopic displays as well as improved 2D display functionality. Light from a separate illumination source may pass through the transparent stepped waveguide optical valve to provide at least one further additional illumination function.
352 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A directional illumination apparatus, comprising:
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at least two optical valves for guiding light, wherein each optical valve further comprises; a first light guiding surface, wherein the first light guiding surface is substantially planar; and a second light guiding surface, opposite the first light guiding surface, further comprising a plurality of guiding features and a plurality of extraction features, wherein the plurality of extraction features are operable to allow light to pass with substantially low loss when the light is propagating in a first direction; wherein the plurality of extraction features are oriented to cooperate with light sources to direct illumination light provided from different light sources along different directions, wherein different directions comprise at least different angular directions, and wherein at least one of the optical valves has a nonuniform thickness between the light guiding surfaces, and wherein the optical valves are arranged in a stacked configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A directional illumination apparatus, comprising:
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a first light extraction element for guiding and extracting light, wherein the first light extraction element comprises; a first light guiding surface; a second light guiding surface, opposite the first light guiding surface; and a first illumination input surface located between the first and second light guiding surfaces, the first illumination input surface operable to receive light from a first array of light sources; and a second light extraction element for guiding and extracting light, wherein the second light extraction element comprises; a third light guiding surface, a fourth light guiding surface opposite the third light guiding surface, a second illumination input surface located between the third and fourth light guiding surfaces, the second illumination input surface operable to receive light from a second array of light sources, wherein light from the second light extraction light element is directed at least in part through a surface of the first light extraction element other than the first illumination input surface, and wherein at least one of the first and second light extraction elements has a nonuniform thickness between the light guiding surfaces; and wherein the second and fourth light guiding surfaces further comprise a plurality of light extraction features oriented to cooperate with respective arrays of light sources to direct illumination light provided from different light sources along different directions, wherein different directions comprise at least different angular directions, and wherein the first and second light extraction elements are arranged in a stacked configuration. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification