HIGH-BRIGHTNESSS COLOR LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY PANEL EMPLOYING LIGHT RECYCLING THEREIN

• US 20020113921A1
• Filed: 05/17/1999
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reveo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Reveo, Inc.
• Inventors: LI, LE, HOCHBAUM, AHARON, WILEY, RICHARD, GALABOVA, HRISTINA, VARTAK, SAMEER, JIANG, YINGQIU, FARIS, SADEG M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,573,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/96
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 19/544 as dispersing or encapsulating medium around the liquid crystal
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2464 featuring transparency control by applying voltage, e.g. LCD, electrochromic panels
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 50/80 for controlling collection or absorption of solar radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3016 involving passive liquid crystal elements optical properties of liquid crystals G02F1/0063; polarising elements associated with active liquid crystal devices G02F1/133528
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0051 Diffusing sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0056 for producing polarisation effects, e.g. by a surface with polarizing properties or by an additional polarizing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133514 Colour filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133536 Reflective polarizers G02F1/13362 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133543 Cholesteric polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13362 providing polarized light, e.g. by converting a polarisation component into another one
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133621 providing coloured light G02F1/133617, G02F1/133533 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133623 Inclined coloured light beams
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13471 in which all the liquid crystal cells or layers remain transparent, e.g. FLC, ECB, DAP, HAN, TN, STN, SBE-LC cells G02F1/13475 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13718 : based on a change of the texture state of a cholesteric liquid crystal
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1393 : the birefringence of the liquid crystal being electrically controlled, e.g. ECB-, DAP-, HAN-, PI-LC cells G02F1/1396, G02F1/141 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 : Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers

Abstract

Reflective color filters using layers of cholesteric liquid crystals with two different center wavelengths and bandwidths per layer are stacked in two layers to provide colored light for displays. With a two layer stack circularly polarized light of one handedness can be provided. With a four layer stack unpolarized colored light can be provided. With a broadband polarizing filter overlapping other filters in the stack a black matrix can be provided by reflecting all colors and transmitting no light in the overlapping areas. When broadband reflective cholesteric liquid crystals are used two primary colors can be reflected in the same pixel of a display making reflective layers with two reflective portions per layer possible. Color displays having three linear sub-pixels with three primary colors or with four sub-pixels of white, blue, green, and red in a pixel with two colors in a top row and two colors on a bottom row can are made with two colors per layer in two layer stacks. The pixels in the display are arranged such that multiple adjacent sub-pixels in a layer, or row in a layer, with the same color makes the color filters easier to manufacture. Displays using these reflective color filters may have a reflective polarizer for viewing the display at wide angles without color distortion.

A method of producing cholesteric liquid crystal color filters by polymerizing different portions of cholesteric liquid crystal mixtures at different temperatures and radiations to obtain different central wavelengths and bandwidths of reflection. By masking parts of a layer several portions with different colors are polymerized in a single layer. Further, with radiation which is attenuated in the cholesteric liquid crystal material stacks of different portions reflecting different colors in the same layer are made. Further the cholesteric liquid crystals are polymerized to have other optical properties in the stack such as quarter wave plates and broad band polarizers such that entire optical devices can be made in one layer of cholesteric liquid crystal material making the devices smaller, lighter, more robust, reliable, and easier to make by eliminating gluing and alignment problems. With overlapping reflective cholesteric liquid crystal which together reflect all light stacks with automatic black matrixes built into the layer are made saving light from being blocked by conventional black matrix light absorbing layers in display devices.

Claims

1. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter comprising:

a first layer of reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filters of one handedness having at least a first light reflecting portion reflecting a first bandwidth around a first center wavelength and a second light reflecting portion reflecting a second bandwidth around a second center wavelength and,

a second layer of reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filters of the same handedness as the first layer having at least a third light reflecting portion reflecting a third bandwidth around a third center wavelength, and a fourth light reflecting portion reflecting a forth bandwidth around a forth center wavelength, the second layer of reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filters adjacent the first layer of reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filters such that adjacent first and second layer reflecting portions reflect different wavelengths of incident light of the same handedness and transmit the remaining wavelengths.

2. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 1 wherein, the first reflecting portion overlaps the third and fourth reflecting portions and the fourth reflecting portion overlaps the first and second reflective portions,

the second reflecting portion and the third reflecting portion do not overlap each other and reflect the same wavelengths, such that three bands of wavelengths are transmitted through the two layers.

3. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 2 wherein,

the three center wavelengths are for the colors red, green and blue.

4. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 3 wherein,

the bandwidths are narrow such that they are matched to the bandwidths of the incident light.

5. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 1 wherein, the two layers of reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filters are replaced with one layer having a top portion of cholesteric liquid crystals polymerized to reflect a different wavelength and band width of light than the bottom portion.

6. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 2 wherein,

third and forth layers of cholesteric liquid crystals are added, the third layer matching the first layer except with opposite handedness and the forth layer matching the second layer except with opposite handedness such that any incident light with a selected color is transmitted through the color filters and incident light for all other colors is reflected.

7. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 1 wherein,

the first bandwidth includes the colors blue and green, and the third bandwidth includes the colors green and red,

the second bandwidth includes the color blue and the fourth bandwidth includes the color red,

a clear transparent portion in the second layer is paired vertically with the first bandwidth,

a clear transparent portion in the first layer is paired vertically with the third bandwidth,

and the fourth reflective portion in the second layer is paired vertically with the second reflective portion in the first layer,

such that red is transmitted through the first bandwidth, blue is transmitted through the third bandwidth and green is transmitted through the second and forth bandwidths to provide the primary colors for a display.

8. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 7 wherein,

the third reflective portions overlap the first reflecting portions and the second reflecting portions and the first reflective portions overlap the third and forth reflective portions, such that a black matrix is formed by reflecting all light in the overlapping portions.

9. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 7 wherein,

third and forth layers of cholesteric liquid crystals are added, the third layer matching the first layer except with opposite handedness and the forth layer matching the second layer except with opposite handedness such that any incident light with a selected color is transmitted through the color filters and incident light for all other colors is reflected.

10. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 8 wherein,

third and forth layers of cholesteric liquid crystals are added, the third layer matching the first layer except with opposite handedness and the forth layer matching the second layer except with opposite handedness such that any incident light with a selected color is transmitted through the color filters and incident light for all other colors is reflected.

11. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 2 wherein,

a circular polarizer of opposite handedness of the cholesteric liquid crystals in the first and second layers polarizes unpolarized light incident thereon,

a black matrix layer blocks light from the polarizer before it is transmitted to the first and seconds layers,

a quarter wave plate converts the circularly polarized light transmitted by the first and second layers into linearly polarized light.

12. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 2 wherein,

an added layer of reflective color filters forms a black matrix by overlapping the color filters in the first and second layers to reflect the colors not reflected by the first and second layers.

13. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 12 wherein,

a circular polarizer of opposite handedness of the cholesteric liquid crystals in the first and second layers polarizes unpolarized light incident thereon,

a quarter wave plate converts the circularly polarized light transmitted by the first and second layers into linearly polarized.

14. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 7 wherein,

a circular polarizer of opposite handedness of the cholesteric liquid crystals in the first and second layers polarizes unpolarized light incident thereon,

a black matrix layer blocks light from the polarizer before it is transmitted to the first and seconds layers,

a quarter wave plate converts the circularly polarized light transmitted by the first and second layers into linearly polarized light.

15. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 8 wherein,

a circular polarizer of opposite handedness of the cholesteric liquid crystals in the first and second layers polarizes unpolarized light incident thereon,

a quarter wave plate converts the circularly polarized light transmitted by the first and second layers into linearly polarized light.

16. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 11 wherein,

the circular polarizer is a broad band cholesteric liquid crystal polarizer.

17. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 14 wherein,

the circular polarizer is a broad band cholesteric liquid crystal polarizer.

18. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 15 wherein,

the circular polarizer is a broad band cholesteric liquid crystal polarizer.

19. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 1 wherein,

the first layer of reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filters of one handedness has a fifth reflecting portion having a fifth bandwidth around a fifth center wavelength,

the second layer of reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filters of one handedness has a sixth reflecting portion having a sixth bandwidth around a six center wavelength,

the bandwidths and center wavelengths of the first layer and the second layer are the same, and overlap each other such that the first reflecting portion is vertically adjacent the third and forth reflective portions, the second reflective portion is vertically adjacent the forth and sixth reflective portions and the fifth reflective portion is vertically adjacent the sixth and third reflective portions,

plus a third and a forth layer identical to the first and second layers with opposite handedness, the third and forth layers aligned to match the reflecting portion positions of the first and second layers, such that any incident light with a selected color is transmitted through the color filters and incident light for all other colors is reflected.

20. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 19 wherein,

the three center wavelengths are for the colors red, green and blue.

21. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 2 wherein,

the layers are used in displays having an array of pixels each pixel having three sub-pixels, the width of each light reflecting portions in each layer extends for two sub-pixels of a first color and four sub-pixels of a second color.

22. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 21 wherein,

the first layer has repeating pattern with a green light reflecting portion having a width of two sub-pixels and a red light reflecting portion having a width of four sub-pixels, and the second layer has repeating pattern with a green light reflecting portion having a width of two sub-pixels and a blue light reflecting portion having a width of four sub-pixels.

23. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 12 wherein,

the layers are used in displays having an array of pixels each pixel having three sub-pixels, the width of each light reflecting portions in each layer extends for two sub-pixels of a first color and four sub-pixels of a second color.

24. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 1 wherein,

the layers are used in displays having an array of pixels, each pixel having three sub-pixels, where the adjacent pixels have reversed sub-pixel patterns such that adjacent pixels have reflective color portions two sub-pixel widths in size, half in each pixel, for ease of manufacture.

25. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 2 wherein,

the layers are used in displays having an array of pixels, each pixel having three sub-pixels, where the adjacent pixels have reversed sub-pixel patterns such that adjacent pixels have reflective color portions two sub-pixel widths in size, half in each pixel, for ease of manufacture.

26. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 7 wherein,

the layers are used in displays having an array of pixels, each pixel having three sub-pixels, where the adjacent pixels have reversed sub-pixel patterns such that adjacent pixels have reflective color portions two sub-pixel widths in size, half in each pixel, for ease of manufacture.

27. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 8 wherein,

the layers are used in displays having an array of pixels, each pixel having three sub-pixels, where the adjacent pixels have reversed sub-pixel patterns such that adjacent pixels have reflective color portions two sub-pixel widths in size, half in each pixel, for ease of manufacture.

28. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 12 wherein,

the layers are used in displays having an array of pixels, each pixel having three sub-pixels, where the adjacent pixels have reversed sub-pixel patterns such that adjacent pixels have reflective color portions two sub-pixel widths in size, half in each pixel, for ease of manufacture.

29. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 1 wherein,

a display having rows and columns of sub-pixels for a display array has

at least two rows and at least two columns of two layers of reflecting color filters for pixels such that there are four sub-pixels per pixel.

30. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 29 wherein,

each pixel has a red, a green , a blue and a white transmitting sub-pixel.

31. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 29 wherein,

at least two adjacent sub-pixels in a layer have the same color for ease of manufacturing the displays.

32. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 29 wherein,

at least one row of adjacent sub-pixels in a layer have the same color for ease of manufacturing the displays.

33. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 29 wherein,

at least one column adjacent sub-pixels in a layer have the same color for ease of manufacturing the displays.

34. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 1 wherein,

the light entering the reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter emanates from a backlight and is collimated in a collimator and then enters a reflective polarizer for providing a wide viewing angle without color distortion in the reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filters,

the light then enters the reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter were the adjacent first and second layer reflecting portions reflect different wavelengths of incident light of the same handedness and transmit the remaining wavelengths,

the transmitted light enters a quarter wave plate to be linearly polarized,

the linearly polarized light then enters a liquid crystal light valve to selectively pass light therethrough,

light passing though the light valve passes through an analyzer and a diffuser to illuminate a color display.

35. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 2 wherein,

the light entering the reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter emanates from a backlight and is collimated in a collimator and then enters a reflective polarizer for providing a wide viewing angle without color distortion in the reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filters,

the light then enters the reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter were the adjacent first and second layer reflecting portions reflect different wavelengths of incident light of the same handedness and transmit the remaining wavelengths,

the transmitted light enters a quarter wave plate to be linearly polarized,

the linearly polarized light then enters a liquid crystal light valve to selectively pass light therethrough,

light passing though the light valve passes through an analyzer and a diffuser to illuminate a color display.

36. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 7 wherein,

the light entering the reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter emanates from a backlight and is collimated in a collimator and then enters a reflective polarizer for providing a wide viewing angle without color distortion in the reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filters,

the light then enters the reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter were the adjacent first and second layer reflecting portions reflect different wavelengths of incident light of the same handedness and transmit the remaining wavelengths,

the transmitted light enters a quarter wave plate to be linearly polarized,

the linearly polarized light then enters a liquid crystal light valve to selectively pass light therethrough,

light passing though the light valve passes through an analyzer and a diffuser to illuminate a color display.

37. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter as in claim 29 wherein,

the light entering the reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter emanates from a backlight and is collimated in a collimator and then enters a reflective polarizer for providing a wide viewing angle without color distortion in the reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filters,

the light then enters the reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter were the adjacent first and second layer reflecting portions reflect different wavelengths of incident light of the same handedness and transmit the remaining wavelengths,

the transmitted light enters a quarter wave plate to be linearly polarized,

the linearly polarized light then enters a liquid crystal light valve to selectively pass light therethrough,

light passing though the light valve passes through an analyzer and a diffuser to illuminate a color display.

39. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 38 wherein:

the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material being a left handed cholesteric liquid crystal polymer blue polysiloxane, SLM 90032 (Wacker), approximately 84.1% by weight

a low molecular weight nematic liquid crystal, EMI E44 approximately 14.8% by weight,

a left handed chiral dopant EMI S1011, approximately 0.1 % by weight,

a photo initiator Ciba-Geigy IG184 approximately 1%

the first temperature is set to approximately 100°

C. and the unmasked mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material exposed to Ultraviolet light of about 360 nm wavelength at an intensity of about 2.77 mW/cm² for about 17 seconds, to make a blue reflecting cholesteric liquid crystal portion,

lower the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material to 61°

C. for about 5 minutes to control the bandwidth of the green reflecting cholesteric liquid crystal sub-pixel,

the second temperature is set to approximately 61°

C. and all of the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material exposed to the second UV radiation of about 360 nm wavelength at an intensity of about 1.00 mW/cm² for about 150 seconds, to make a green reflecting cholesteric liquid crystal portion,

exposing the layer to a third temperature of about 61°

C., for a third time of approximately 60 seconds at the third ultraviolet light intensity at about 20 mW/cm².

40. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 39 wherein:

the substrates are mechanically sheared while at 100°

C. before the mask is applied.

41. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 39 wherein:

the mask applied has openings for two separate adjacent sub-pixels.

42. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 39 wherein:

the mask applied has openings for one large pixel.

43. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 38 wherein:

the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material is a left handed cholesteric liquid crystal polymer blue polysiloxane, Wacker SLM 90032, approximately 79% by weight

a low molecular weight nematic liquid crystal, EMI E44 approximately 20% by weight,

a photo initiator Ciba-Geigy IG184 approximately 1%

the first temperature is set to approximately 58°

C. and the unmasked mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material exposed to Ultraviolet light of about 360 nm wavelength at an intensity of about 1.0 mW/cm² for about 77 seconds, to make a red reflecting cholesteric liquid crystal portion,

raise the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material to 83°

C. for about 5 minutes to control the bandwidth of the red cholesteric liquid crystal polymer,

the second temperature set to approximately 70°

C. and all of the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material exposed to the second UV radiation of about 360 nm wavelength at an intensity of about 20.00 mW/cm² for about 60 seconds, to make a green reflecting cholesteric liquid crystal portion.

44. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 43 wherein:

the substrates are mechanically sheared while at 58°

C. before the mask is applied.

45. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 43 wherein:

the mask applied has openings for two separate adjacent sub-pixels.

46. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 43 wherein:

the mask applied has openings for one large pixel.

47. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 38 wherein the reflective cholesteric liquid color filter layer of claim 39 and the reflective cholesteric liquid color filter layer of claim 43 are glued together to form a reflective color filter for a display.

48. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 38 wherein:

the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material is

a left handed cholesteric liquid crystal polymer blue polysiloxane, Wacker SLM 90032, approximately 63% by weight

a low molecular weight nematic liquid crystal, EMI E44 approximately 28.6% by weight,

a low molecular weight nematic liquid crystal, SLICHEM TEB30 approximately 8.4% by weight,

a photo initiator Ciba-Geigy IG184 approximately 0.35% of polymer,

the first temperature is set to approximately 75°

C. and the unmasked mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material exposed to Ultraviolet light of about 360 nm wavelength at an intensity of about 0.1 mW/cm² for about 20 seconds, to make a red reflecting cholesteric liquid crystal portion,

the unmasked mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material is then re-exposed at 75°

C. with a collimated UV of about 360 nm at another intensity of about 10 mW/cm² for about 30 seconds,

remove a portion of the mask to expose another portion of the cholesteric liquid crystal material,

with the cholesteric liquid crystal material still at about 75°

C. expose the unmasked portion to ultraviolet light 360 nm wavelength at an intensity of about 0.1 mW/cm² for about 40 seconds, to polymerize the red, green reflection portion,

the unmasked mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material is then re-exposed at 75°

C. with a collimated UV of about 360 nm at another intensity of about 10 mW/cm² for about 30 seconds,

the second temperature is set to approximately 150°

C. and all of the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material exposed to the UV radiation of about 360 nm wavelength at an intensity of about 20 mW/cm² for about 150 seconds resulting in a red, green reflecting portion, a red reflecting portion and a clear portion of the layer.

49. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 48 wherein:

the substrates are mechanically sheared while at 75°

C. before the mask is applied.

50. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 38 wherein:

the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material is

a left handed cholesteric liquid crystal polymer blue polysiloxane, Wacker SLM 90032, approximately 47.5% by weight

a left handed cholesteric liquid crystal polymer blue polysiloxane, Wacker SLM 90031, approximately 19.1% by weight a low molecular weight nematic liquid crystal, EMI E44 approximately 32.1% by weight,

a chiral dopant EMI S1011, 1.3% by weight,

a photo initiator Ciba-Geigy IG184 approximately 0.35% of polymer,

the first temperature is set to approximately 75°

C. and the unmasked mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material exposed to Ultraviolet light of about 360 nm wavelength at an intensity of about 0.1 mW/cm² for about 20 seconds, to make a blue reflecting cholesteric liquid crystal portion,

the unmasked mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material is then re-exposed at 75°

C. with a collimated UV of about 360 nm at another intensity of about 10 mW/cm² for about 30 seconds, before unmasking the substrate, remove a portion of the mask to expose another portion of the cholesteric liquid crystal material, with the cholesteric liquid crystal material still at about 75°

C. expose the unmasked portion to ultraviolet light 360 nm wavelength at an intensity of about 0.1 mW/cm² for about 40 seconds, to polymerize the blue, green reflecting portion,

the unmasked mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material is then re-exposed at 75°

C. with a collimated UV of about 360 nm at another intensity of about 10 mW/cm² for about 30 seconds, removing the remainder of the mask, the second temperature is set to approximately 150°

C. and all of the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material exposed to the UV radiation of about 360 nm wavelength at an intensity of about 20 mW/cm² for about 150 seconds, resulting in a blue, green reflecting portion, a blue reflecting portion and a clear portion of the layer.

51. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 50 wherein:

the substrates are mechanically sheared while at 75°

C. before the mask is applied.

52. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 38 wherein the reflective cholesteric liquid color filter layer of claim 48 and the reflective cholesteric liquid color filter layer of claim 50 are glued together to form a reflective color filter for a display.

53. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 38 wherein,

the first and second frequency ultraviolet radiation being attenuated half way through the reflective cholesteric color filter layer to polymerize only one half the layer,

the steps of claim 38 are repeated substituting third and fourth temperatures and ultraviolet radiations for the first and second temperatures and ultraviolet radiations such that the radiation is attenuated half way through the reflective cholesteric color filter layer to polymerize the second half of the layer.

54. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 43 wherein,

the layer is inverted such that the third and fourth ultraviolet radiations enter the layer from the opposite side from the first and second ultraviolet radiations.

55. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 53 wherein,

the third and fourth ultraviolet radiations enter the layer from the same side as the first and second ultraviolet radiations.

56. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 53 wherein,

a quarter wave plate is polymerized as a first step, having a temperature and an ultraviolet radiation for polymerizing the quarter wave plate.

57. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 56 wherein,

there are three sub-pixels each having a different quarter wave plate for a different primary color, each quarter wave plate having a separate mask, a separate temperature of polymerization and a separate ultraviolet radiation to polymerize the cholesteric liquid crystal material in the quarter wave plate.

58. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 56 wherein,

a broadband polarizer cholesteric liquid crystal is polymerized on the opposite side of the layer from the quarter wave plate by the layer being set to at least one polymerization temperature and irradiated with at least one ultraviolet radiation to polymerize the broadband cholesteric liquid crystal material.

59. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 57 wherein,

a broadband polarizer cholesteric liquid crystal is polymerized on the opposite side of the layer from the quarter wave plate by the layer being set to at least one polymerization temperature and irradiated with at least one ultraviolet radiation to polymerize the broadband cholesteric liquid crystal material.

60. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 59 wherein,

there are three sub-pixels each having a different quarter wave plate for a different primary color, each quarter wave plate having a separate mask, a separate temperature of polymerization and a separate ultraviolet radiation to polymerize the cholesteric liquid crystal material in the quarter wave plate.

61. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 53 wherein,

the first and second ultraviolet radiation being attenuated one fourth way through the reflective cholesteric color filter layer to polymerize only one fourth of the layer,

the steps of claim one are repeated substituting third and fourth temperatures and ultraviolet radiations for the first and second temperatures and ultraviolet radiations such that the radiation is attenuated from one fourth way through the reflective cholesteric color filter layer to one half way through the reflective cholesteric color filter layer to polymerize the second one fourth the layer, flipping the layer over,

the steps of claim one are repeated substituting fifth and sixth temperatures and ultraviolet radiations for the first and second temperatures and ultraviolet radiations such that the frequency is attenuated one fourth way through the reflective cholesteric color filter layer to polymerize the only one fourth of the layer,

the steps of claim one are repeated substituting seventh and eight temperatures and ultraviolet radiations for the first and second temperatures and ultraviolet radiations such that the frequency is attenuated from one fourth way through the reflective cholesteric color filter layer to one half way through the reflective cholesteric color filter layer to polymerize the second one fourth the layer, such that a four portion stack of reflective cholesteric liquid crystal materials is created in one layer.

62. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 53 wherein,

a reflective cholesteric liquid crystal layer to form a black matrix when combined with the two portions of the reflective cholesteric liquid crystal portions in the layer of claim 16 is polymerized as a first step, having a first mask and a first reflective matrix component temperature and ultraviolet radiation and a second mask and a second reflective matrix component temperature and ultraviolet radiation such that all incident light is reflected from the three portion stack of cholesteric liquid crystal material in the layer to form a black matrix.

63. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 38 wherein,

there is a third unmasking step for unmasking a third portion of the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material,

setting the temperature of the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material to a third specific temperature,

the unmasked mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material to a third ultraviolet radiation for a third length of time which will polymerize the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material to a clear isotropic polymer to transmit all light,

the first and second and third ultraviolet radiation being attenuated half way through the reflective cholesteric color filter layer to polymerize only one half the layer,

the above steps are repeated substituting forth, fifth and sixth temperatures and ultraviolet radiations for the first, second and third temperatures and ultraviolet radiations such that the Ultraviolet radiation is attenuated half way through the reflective cholesteric color filter layer to polymerize the second one half of the layer.

64. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 38 wherein,

the masks on the fist half the layer and the second half of the layer are different such that overlapping portions are polymerized to form a black matrix by reflecting all light from the overlapping portions.

65. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 64 wherein,

a quarter wave plate is polymerized as a first step, having a temperature and an ultraviolet radiation for polymerizing the quarter wave plate.

66. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 65 wherein,

there are three sub-pixels each having a different quarter wave plate for a different primary color, each quarter wave plate having a separate mask, a separate temperature of polymerization and a separate ultraviolet radiation to polymerize the cholesteric liquid crystal material.

67. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 65 wherein,

a broadband polarizer cholesteric liquid crystal is polymerized on the opposite side of the layer from the quarter wave plate by the layer being set to at least one polymerization temperature and irradiated with at least one ultraviolet radiation to polymerize the broadband cholesteric liquid crystal material.

68. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 66 wherein,

a broadband polarizer cholesteric liquid crystal is polymerized on the opposite side of the layer from the quarter wave plate by the layer being set to at least one polymerization temperature and irradiated with at least one ultraviolet radiation to polymerize the broadband cholesteric liquid crystal material.

69. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 38 wherein:

the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material having at least one polymerizable liquid crystal component and at least one non-polymerizable liquid crystal component.

70. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 69 wherein:

the polymerizable liquid crystal component in the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material is a monomer.

71. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 69 wherein:

the polymerizable liquid crystal component in the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material is an oligmer.

72. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 69 wherein:

the non-polymerizable liquid crystal component in the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material is a nematic.

73. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 69 wherein:

the non-polymerizable liquid crystal component in the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material is a chiral additive.

74. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 69 wherein:

the non-polymerizable liquid crystal component is phase segregated from the polymerizable liquid crystal and diffuses along the UV field to generate a pitch gradient.

75. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 73 wherein:

the diffusion rate of the non-polymerizable liquid crystal component is slower than the polymerization rate of the polymerizable liquid crystal.

76. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process as in claim 73 wherein:

the pitch distribution of the cholesteric liquid crystal is nonlinear.

38. A reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter manufacturing process comprising:

mixing a cholesteric liquid crystal material subject to polymerization by exposure to a specific frequency ultraviolet light at a specific temperature for a specific time to yield a specific color band of reflection from a pitch gradient in the cholesteric liquid crystal when polymerized,

degassing the mixture at approximately 90°

C. in a vacuum,

sandwiching the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material between a top substrate and a bottom substrate,

partially masking one of the substrates to block UV light passing therethrough to prevent polymerization of the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material in the masked portion,

setting the temperature of the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material to a first specific temperature,

exposing the unmasked mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material to a first UV radiation for a first length of time which will polymerize the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material to reflect a first color of light in a first band width,

unmasking the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material,

setting the temperature of the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material to a second specific temperature,

exposing the unmasked mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material to a second UV radiation for a second length of time which will polymerize the mixture of cholesteric liquid crystal material to reflect a second color of light in a second band width to form a reflective cholesteric liquid color filter layer.

77. An image display panel employing the recycling of light from a plurality of light reflective elements therewithin so as to produce color images with enhanced brightness for viewing by a viewer, said image display panel comprising:

a backlighting structure including

a light source for producing light consisting of spectral components having wavelengths over a substantial portion of the visible band of said electromagnetic spectrum, and

a broad-band reflector for reflecting, within said backlighting structure, polarized light consisting of spectral components having wavelengths over a substantial portion of said visible band and, upon one or more reflections within said backlighting structure, converting the polarization state of said spectral components from a first polarization state (P1) to a second polarization state (P2) orthogonal to said first polarization state (P1), and from said second polarization state (P2) to said first polarization state (P1);

a plurality of pixel regions spatially encompassed within a predefined image display area definable relative to said backlighting structure, wherein each said pixel region spatially encompasses a plurality of subpixel regions and each said subpixel region within each said spatially-encompassing pixel region has a predefined spectral band over the visible band of the electromagnetic spectrum,

each said subpixel region within each said pixel region having a light transmission portion and a light blocking portion, and each said light transmission portion and said light blocking portion having a frontside disposed in the direction of said viewer and a backside in the direction of said backlighting structure;

a broad-band reflective polarizer for reflecting light consisting substantially of spectral components having wavelengths over a substantial portion of said visible band and said first polarization state (PI), and transmitting a distribution of polarized light along a prespecified direction, substantially confined within said predefined image display area, and consisting substantially of spectral components having wavelengths over a substantial portion of said visible band and said second polarization state (P2);

a spatial intensity modulation structure including

an array of polarization modifying elements, each said polarization modifying element being spatially registered with one said subpixel region and selectively modifying the polarization state of polarized light transmitted therethrough in response to a subpixel drive signal provided to said polarization modifying element, and

a broad-band polarizer, cooperating with said array of polarization modifying elements, so as to modulate the spatial intensity of said produced distribution of polarized light and thereby produce a dark-type or bright-type intensity level at each said subpixel region along said broad-band polarizer; and

a spectral filtering structure having a pixelated array of pass-band reflective-type spectral filtering elements for spectrally filtering said polarized light, each said pass-band reflective-type spectral filtering element being spatially registered with one said subpixel region and tuned to one said predefined spectral band for transmitting only the spectral components of said polarized light having wavelengths within said predefined spectral band of said subpixel region, and reflecting the spectral components of said produced polarized light having wavelengths outside said predefined spectral band of said subpixel region so as to produce a predefined color value at said subpixel region spatially-registered with said pass-band reflective-type spectral filtering element;

a pattern of broad-band reflector material, in spatial registration with the backside of said light blocking portions of said subpixel regions, for reflecting produced light at the light blocking portions of said subpixel regions;

a pattern of broad-band absorption material, in spatial registration with the frontside of said light blocking portions of said subpixel regions, for absorbing ambient light incident upon said light blocking portions of said subpixel regions;

wherein, the spectral components of polarized light that are transmitted through said broad-band reflective polarizer along said prespecified direction contribute to said distribution of polarized light;

wherein, the spectral components of polarized light that are not transmitted through said broad-band reflective polarizer along said prespecified direction are reflected off said broad-band reflective polarizer and transmitted back towards said broad-band reflector for reflection and/or polarization conversion within said backlighting structure and retransmission through said broad-band reflective polarizer so as to contribute to said distribution of polarized light;

wherein, the spectral components of said polarized light that are transmitted through the pass-band reflective-type spectral filtering element at each said subpixel region within each said spatially-encompassing pixel region produce said predefined color value at said subpixel region; and

wherein, the spectral components of said polarized light that are not transmitted through the pass-band reflective-type spectral filtering element at each said subpixel region within each said spatially-encompassing pixel region are reflected off said pass-band reflective-type spectral filtering element and transmitted back towards said backlighting structure for reflection and/or polarization conversion and retransmission towards the other said subpixel regions within said spatially-encompassing pixel region in said spectral filtering structure;

wherein, the spectral components of said produced polarized that fall incident on the light blocking portions of said subpixel regions are reflected off said pattern of broad-band reflector material disposed thereon, and transmitted back towards said backlighting structure for reflection and/or polarization conversion and retransmission towards the other said subpixel regions within said spatially-encompassing pixel region in said spectral filtering structure;

wherein, the spectral components of ambient light falling incident upon the light blocking portions of said subpixel regions are absorbed by said pattern of broad-band absorption material disposed thereon, thereby reducing glare from said image display panel due to ambient light incident thereon;

whereby said color images are produced from said predefined image display area having enhanced brightness.

78. The image display panel of claim 77, wherein said pass-band reflective-type spectral filtering structure is disposed between said backlighting structure and said spatial intensity modulation structure.

79. The image display panel of claim 78, wherein said plurality of subpixel regions within each said spatially-encompassing pixel region comprise a “

red”

subpixel region having a “

red”

pass-band, a “

green”

subpixel region having a “

green”

pass-band, and a “

blue”

subpixel region having a “

blue”

pass-band.

80. The image display panel of claim 78, wherein each said pass-band reflective-type spectral filtering element is an optical element made from a material selected from the group consisting of liquid crystal material, holographic-type material, and interference-type material.

81. The image display panel of claim 78, wherein each said polarization modifying element is an optical element made from liquid crystal material.

82. The image display panel of claim 78, wherein said backlighting structure further comprises

a light guiding panel disposed between said broad-band reflector and said broad-band reflective polarizer for guiding said produced light over said predefined image display area.

83. The image display panel of claim 78, wherein said first polarization state is a first linear polarization state and said second polarization state is a second linear polarization state orthogonal to said first linear polarization state.

84. The image display panel of claim 78, wherein said first polarization state is a first circular polarization state and said second polarization state is a second circular polarization state orthogonal to said first circular polarization state.

85. The image display panel of claim 78, said broad-band reflector is a quasi-diffusive reflector.

86. The image display panel of claim 77, wherein said spatial intensity modulation structure is disposed between said backlighting structure and said spectral filtering structure-subpixel regions within each said spatially-encompassing pixel region comprise a “

red”

subpixel region having a “

red”

pass-band, a “

green”

subpixel region having a “

green”

pass-band, and a “

blue”

subpixel region having a “

blue”

pass-band.

87. The image display panel of claim 86, wherein said plurality of subpixel regions within each said spatially-encompassing pixel region comprise a “

red”

subpixel region having a “

red”

pass-band, a “

green”

subpixel region having a “

green”

pass-band, and a “

blue”

subpixel region having a “

blue”

pass-band.

88. The image display panel of claim 87, wherein said “

red”

pass-band transmits spectral components of light within said “

red”

pass-band and reflects substantially all spectral components of light within said “

green”

pass-band and said “

blue”

pass-band, wherein said “

green”

pass-band transmits spectral components of light within said “

green”

pass-band and reflects substantially all spectral components of light within said “

red”

pass-band and said “

blue”

pass-band, and wherein said “

blue”

pass-band transmits spectral components of light within said “

blue”

pass-band and reflects substantially all spectral components of light within said “

red”

pass-band and said “

green”

pass-band.

89. The image display panel of claim 86, wherein each said spectral filtering element is an optical element made from a material selected from the group consisting of liquid crystal material, holographic-type material, and interference-type material.

90. The image display panel of claim 86, wherein each said polarization modifying element is an optical element made from liquid crystal material.

91. The image display panel of claim 87, wherein said backlighting structure further comprises

a light guiding panel disposed between said broad-band reflector and said broad-band reflective polarizing filter for guiding said produced light over said predefined image display area.

92. The image display panel of claim 86, wherein said first polarization state is a first linear polarization state and said second polarization state is a second linear polarization state orthogonal to said first linear polarization state.

93. The image display panel of claim 86, wherein said first polarization state is a first circular polarization state and said second polarization state is a second circular polarization state orthogonal to said first circular polarization state.

94. The image display panel of claim 86, said broad-band polarizing reflector is a quasi-diffusive reflector.

95. The image display panel of claim 77, wherein, the spectral components of said polarized light producing said bright-type intensity level at each subpixel region within said spatially-encompassing pixel region in said spatial intensity modulation structure are transmitted through said broad-band polarizer, and

wherein, the spectral components of said polarized light not producing said bright-type intensity level are reflected off said broad-band polarizer and transmitted back towards said backlighting structure for reflection and/or polarization conversion and retransmission towards the other said subpixel regions within said spatially-encompassing pixel region.

115. The image display panel of claim 87, wherein, the spectral components of said polarized light producing said bright-type intensity level at each subpixel region within said spatially-encompassing pixel region in said spatial intensity modulation structure are transmitted through said broad-band polarizer, and

wherein, the spectral components of said polarized light not producing said bright-type intensity level are reflected off said broad-band polarizer and transmitted back towards said backlighting structure for reflection and/or polarization conversion and retransmission towards the other said subpixel regions within said spatially-encompassing pixel region.

96. A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel construction for producing color images for viewing by a viewer, said LCD panel construction comprising:

a plurality of pixel regions within a predefined image display area, wherein each said pixel region has a plurality of subpixel regions and each said subpixel region within each said pixel region has a light transmission portion and a light blocking portion, and each said light transmission portion and said light blocking portion having a frontside disposed in the direction of said viewer and a backside in the direction of said illumination means;

illumination means for illuminating said plurality of pixel regions from the backside thereof so that a color image is formed from said plurality of pixel regions for viewing;

a pattern of broad-band reflector material, in spatial registration with the backside of said light blocking portions of said subpixel regions, for reflecting produced light at structures associated with said light blocking portions of the subpixels and thereby recycling produced light for use in illuminating said plurality of pixel regions; and

a pattern of broad-band absorption material, in spatial registration with the frontside of said light blocking portions of said subpixel regions, for absorbing ambient light incident upon structures associated with said light blocking portions of said subpixels and thereby reducing glare at the surface of the LCD panel due to ambient light incident thereon.

97. An image display panel employing the recycling of light from a plurality of light reflective elements therewithin so as to produce color images with enhanced brightness for viewing by a viewer, said image display panel comprising:

a backlighting structure including

a light source for producing light consisting of spectral components having wavelengths over a substantial portion of the visible band of said electromagnetic spectrum, and

a broad-band reflector for reflecting, within said backlighting structure, polarized light consisting of spectral components having wavelengths over a substantial portion of said visible band and, upon one or more reflections within said backlighting structure, converting the polarization state of said spectral components from a first polarization state (P1) to a second polarization state (P2) orthogonal to said first polarization state (PI), and from said second polarization state (P2) to said first polarization state (P1);

a plurality of pixel regions spatially encompassed within a predefined image display area definable relative to said backlighting structure, wherein each said pixel region spatially encompasses a plurality of subpixel regions and each said subpixel region within each said spatially-encompassing pixel region has a predefined spectral band over the visible band of the electromagnetic spectrum,

each said subpixel region within each said pixel region having a light transmission portion and a light blocking portion, and each said light transmission portion and said light blocking portion having a frontside disposed in the direction of said viewer and a backside in the direction of said backlighting structure;

a broad-band reflective polarizer for reflecting light consisting substantially of spectral components having wavelengths over a substantial portion of said visible band and said first polarization state (P1), and transmitting a distribution of polarized light along a prespecified direction, substantially confined within said predefined image display area, and consisting substantially of spectral components having wavelengths over a substantial portion of said visible band and said second polarization state (P2);

a spatial intensity modulation structure including

an array of polarization modifying elements, each said polarization modifying element being spatially registered with one said subpixel region and selectively modifying the polarization state of polarized light transmitted therethrough in response to a subpixel drive signal provided to said polarization modifying element, and

a broad-band polarizer, cooperating with said array of polarization modifying elements, so as to modulate the spatial intensity of said produced distribution of polarized light and thereby produce a dark-type or bright-type intensity level at each said subpixel region along said broad-band polarizer; and

a spectral filtering structure having a pixelated array of pass-band reflective-type spectral filtering elements for spectrally filtering said polarized light, each said pass-band reflective-type spectral filtering element being spatially registered with one said subpixel region and tuned to one said predefined spectral band for transmitting only the spectral components of said polarized light having wavelengths within said predefined spectral band of said subpixel region, and reflecting the spectral components of said produced polarized light having wavelengths outside said predefined spectral band of said subpixel region so as to produce a predefined color value at said subpixel region spatially-registered with said pass-band reflective-type spectral filtering element;

a pattern of broad-band reflector material, in spatial registration with the backside of said light blocking portions of said subpixel regions, for reflecting produced light at the light blocking portions of said subpixel regions;

a pattern of broad-band absorption material, in spatial registration with the frontside of said light blocking portions of said subpixel regions, for absorbing ambient light incident upon said light blocking portions of said subpixel regions;

wherein, the spectral components of polarized light that are transmitted through said broad-band reflective polarizer along said prespecified direction contribute to said distribution of polarized light;

wherein, the spectral components of polarized light that are not transmitted through said broad-band reflective polarizer along said prespecified direction are reflected off said broad-band reflective polarizer and transmitted back towards said broad-band reflector for reflection and/or polarization conversion within said backlighting structure and retransmission through said broad-band reflective polarizer so as to contribute to said distribution of polarized light;

wherein, the spectral components of said polarized light that are transmitted through the pass-band reflective-type spectral filtering element at each said subpixel region within each said spatially-encompassing pixel region produce said predefined color value at said subpixel region; and

wherein, the spectral components of said polarized light that are not transmitted through the pass-band reflective-type spectral filtering element at each said subpixel region within each said spatially-encompassing pixel region are reflected off said pass-band reflective-type spectral filtering element and transmitted back towards said backlighting structure for reflection and/or polarization conversion and retransmission towards the other said subpixel regions within said spatially-encompassing pixel region in said spectral filtering structure;

wherein, the spectral components of said produced polarized that fall incident on the light blocking portions of said subpixel regions are reflected off said pattern of broad-band reflector material disposed thereon, and transmitted back towards said backlighting structure for reflection and/or polarization conversion and retransmission towards the other said subpixel regions within said spatially-encompassing pixel region in said spectral filtering structure;

wherein, the spectral components of ambient light falling incident upon the light blocking portions of said subpixel regions are absorbed by said pattern of broad-band absorption material disposed thereon, thereby reducing glare from said image display panel due to ambient light incident thereon;

whereby said color images are produced from said predefined image display area having enhanced brightness.

98. The image display panel of claim 97, wherein said pass-band reflective-type spectral filtering structure is disposed between said backlighting structure and said spatial intensity modulation structure.

99. The image display panel of claim 98, wherein said plurality of subpixel regions within each said spatially-encompassing pixel region comprise a “

red”

subpixel region having a “

red”

pass-band, a “

green”

subpixel region having a “

green”

pass-band, and a “

blue”

subpixel region having a “

blue”

pass-band.

100. The image display panel of claim 98, wherein each said pass-band reflective-type spectral filtering element is an optical element made from a material selected from the group consisting of liquid crystal material, holographic-type material, and interference-type material.

101. The image display panel of claim 98, wherein each said polarization modifying element is an optical element made from liquid crystal material.

102. The image display panel of claim 98, wherein said backlighting structure further comprises

a light guiding panel disposed between said broad-band reflector and said broad-band reflective polarizer for guiding said produced light over said predefined image display area.

103. The image display panel of claim 98, wherein said first polarization state is a first linear polarization state and said second polarization state is a second linear polarization state orthogonal to said first linear polarization state.

104. The image display panel of claim 98, wherein said first polarization state is a first circular polarization state and said second polarization state is a second circular polarization state orthogonal to said first circular polarization state.

105. The image display panel of claim 98, said broad-band reflector is a quasi-diffusive reflector.

106. The image display panel of claim 97, wherein said spatial intensity modulation structure is disposed between said backlighting structure and said spectral filtering structure- subpixel regions within each said spatially-encompassing pixel region comprise a “

red”

subpixel region having a “

red”

pass-band, a “

green”

subpixel region having a “

green”

pass-band, and a “

blue”

subpixel region having a “

blue”

pass-band.

107. The image display panel of claim 106, wherein said plurality of subpixel regions within each said spatially-encompassing pixel region comprise a “

red”

subpixel region having a “

red”

pass-band, a “

green”

subpixel region having a “

green”

pass-band, and a “

blue”

subpixel region having a “

blue”

pass-band.

108. The image display panel of claim 107, wherein said “

red”

pass-band transmits spectral components of light within said “

red”

pass-band and reflects substantially all spectral components of light within said “

green”

pass-band and said “

blue”

pass-band, wherein said “

green”

pass-band transmits spectral components of light within said “

green”

pass-band and reflects substantially all spectral components of light within said “

red”

pass-band and said “

blue”

pass-band, and wherein said “

blue”

pass-band transmits spectral components of light within said “

blue”

pass-band and reflects substantially all spectral components of light within said “

red”

pass-band and said “

green”

pass-band.

109. The image display panel of claim 106, wherein each said spectral filtering element is an optical element made from a material selected from the group consisting of liquid crystal material, holographic-type material, and interference-type material.

110. The image display panel of claim 106, wherein each said polarization modifying element is an optical element made from liquid crystal material.

111. The image display panel of claim 107, wherein said backlighting structure further comprises

a light guiding panel disposed between said broad-band reflector and said broad-band reflective polarizing filter for guiding said produced light over said predefined image display area.

112. The image display panel of claim 106, wherein said first polarization state is a first linear polarization state and said second polarization state is a second linear polarization state orthogonal to said first linear polarization state.

113. The image display panel of claim 106, wherein said first polarization state is a first circular polarization state and said second polarization state is a second circular polarization state orthogonal to said first circular polarization state.

114. The image display panel of claim 106, said broad-band polarizing reflector is a quasi-diffusive reflector.

117. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 116 wherein:

the helical axis of the first variable pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film is oriented perpendicular to the film surface,

the helical axis of the first constant pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film is oriented perpendicular to the film surface,

the long molecular axes of the first homeotropic film are aligned perpendicular to the film surface.

118. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 116 wherein:

a second varying pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film for reflecting and transmitting circularly polarized light over a broad band of wavelengths, adjacent the first varying pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film,

a second constant pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film for rotating the elliptical axis of light from the second varying pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film, adjacent the second varying pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film,

a second homeotropic film for compensating the phase of the light from the second constant pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film, adjacent the second constant pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film, such that unpolarized light incident on either homeotropic film of the wide incident angle broadband polarizer is transmitted as circularly polarized light of one handedness for small and large angles of incidence and reflected as circularly polarized light of the opposite handedness for small and large angles of incidence.

120. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 116 wherein:

a second constant pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film for rotating the elliptical axis of light from the first varying pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film, adjacent the first varying pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film,

a second homeotropic film for compensating the phase of the light from the second constant pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film, adjacent the second constant pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film such that unpolarized light incident on either homeotropic film of the wide incident angle broadband polarizer is transmitted as circularly polarized light of one handedness for small and large angles of incidence and reflected as circularly polarized light of the opposite handedness for small and large angles of incidence.

121. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 119 wherein:

the wide angle broadband polarizer of claim 119 is encased in a block of transparent material diagonally to form a prism such that unpolarized light incident on one prism face will be transmitted as circularly polarized light of one handedness and reflected as circularly polarized light of the opposite handedness perpendicular to the transmitted light.

122. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 121 wherein:

a prism of claim 121 having varying pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film for reflecting and transmitting circularly polarized light over a broadband of wavelengths of one handedness is adjacent to,

a prism of claim 121 having a varying pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film for reflecting and transmitting circularly polarized light over a broadband of wavelengths of the opposite handedness,

a mirror adjacent one of the prisms for changing the handedness of the reflected light and reflecting the reflected light to the prism with the opposite handedness for reflection in the same direction as the incident light such that incident unpolarized light converts totally to transmitted circularly polarized light of one handedness.

123. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 119 wherein,

a mirror placed parallel to the wide incident angle broadband polarizer,

a light source for producing unpolarized light is placed between the mirror and the wide incident angle broadband polarizer, such that light from the light source is polarized when it is transmitted through the wide incident angle broadband polarizer as circularly polarized light of one handedness.

124. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 123 wherein,

a quarter wave plate placed adjacent the wide incident angle broadband polarizer on the side opposite the mirror such that linearly polarized light from the quarter wave plate is chromatically stable at any viewing azimuthal and polar angle.

125. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 120 wherein:

the wide angle broadband polarizer of claim 120 is encased in a block of transparent material diagonally to form a prism such that unpolarized light incident on one prism face will be transmitted as circularly polarized light of one handedness and reflected as circularly polarized light of opposite handedness perpendicular to the transmitted light.

126. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 125 wherein:

a prism of claim 125 having varying pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film for reflecting and transmitting circularly polarized light over a broadband of wavelengths of one handedness is adjacent to,

a prism of claim 9 having a varying pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film for reflecting and transmitting circularly polarized light over a broadband of wavelengths of the opposite handedness,

a mirror adjacent one of the prisms for changing the handedness of the reflected light and reflecting the reflected light to the prism with the opposite handedness for reflection in the same direction as the incident light such that incident unpolarized light converts totally to transmitted circularly polarized light of one handedness.

127. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 130 wherein,

a mirror placed parallel to the wide incident angle broadband polarizer,

a light source for producing unpolarized light is placed between the mirror and the wide incident angle broadband polarizer, such that light from the light source is polarized when it is transmitted through the wide incident angle broadband polarizer as circularly polarized light of one handedness.

128. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 127 wherein,

a quarter wave plate placed adjacent the wide incident angle broadband polarizer on the side opposite the mirror such that linearly polarized light from the quarter wave plate is chromatically stable at any viewing azimuthal and polar angle.

129. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 116 wherein,

the homeotropic film is polymerizable.

130. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 116 wherein,

the constant pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film is polymerizable.

131. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 116 wherein,

incident unpolarized visible light is transmitted as circularly polarized light.

132. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 116 wherein,

incident unpolarized ultraviolet light is transmitted as circularly polarized light.

133. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 116 wherein,

incident unpolarized infrared light is transmitted as circularly polarized light.

134. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 116 wherein,

an electric field is applied to the varying pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film to switch the film between a totally transmissive state and a circularly polarizing transmitting state.

135. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 116 wherein,

a first index matching adhesive binds the first varying pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film to the first constant pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film and a second index matching adhesive binds first constant pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film to the first homeotropic film.

136. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 116 wherein,

the film of claim 116 is broken up into fragments and used as a pigment.

137. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 119 wherein,

the film of claim 119 is broken up into fragments and used as a pigment.

138. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 120 wherein,

the film of claim 120 is broken up into fragments and used as a pigment.

139. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 116 wherein,

the wide incident angle broadband polarizer installed in a reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter display corrects for color distortions over large viewing angles.

140. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 119 wherein,

the wide incident angle broadband polarizer installed in a reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter display corrects for color distortions over large viewing angles.

141. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 120 wherein,

the wide incident angle broadband polarizer installed in a reflective cholesteric liquid crystal color filter display corrects for color distortions over large viewing angles.

142. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 116 wherein,

the wide incident angle broadband polarizer installed in a smart window corrects for color distortions over large viewing angles.

143. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 119 wherein,

the wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer installed in a smart window corrects for color distortions over large viewing angles.

144. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 120 wherein,

the wide incident angle broadband polarizer installed in a smart window corrects for color distortions over large viewing angles.

145. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 116 wherein,

a wide incident angle broadband polarizer as in claim 116 with opposite handedness is attached to reflect all incident light.

146. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer as in claim 116 wherein an electrically addressable π

phase shifter is sandwiched between the wide incident angle broadband polarizer of claim 116 with one handedness and the wide incident angle broadband polarizer of claim 116 with either handedness such that all incident light is reflected when the π

phase shifter changes the light incident thereon and transmits light when the π

phase shifter is quiescent.

116. A wide incident angle reflective broadband polarizer comprising:

a first varying pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film for reflecting and transmitting circularly polarized light over a broad band of wavelengths,

a first constant pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film for rotating the elliptical axis of light from the first varying pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film, adjacent the first varying pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film,

a first homeotropic film for compensating the phase of the light from the first constant pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film, adjacent the first constant pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film such that unpolarized light entering the first varying pitch helix cholesteric liquid crystal film exits the first homeotropic film as circularly polarized light of one handedness for small and large angles of incidence.