Optical devices using reflecting polarizing materials
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Abstract
Optical devices using reflective polarizers and, in particular, diffusely reflective polarizers are provided. Many of the optical devices utilize the diffusely reflecting and specularly transmitting properties of diffusely reflecting polarizers to enhance their optical characteristics. The optical devices include a lighting system which uses a reflector formed from a diffusely reflecting polarizer attached to a specular reflector. Another optical device is a display apparatus which uses a diffusely reflecting polarizer layer in combination with a turning lens which folds shallow angle light toward a light modulating layer. Other optical devices exploit the depolarizing characteristics of a diffusely reflecting polarizer when reflecting light. Still other optical devices use diffusely reflecting polarizers to recycle light and improve display illumination.
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Citations
45 Claims
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13. A display apparatus, comprising:
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a light modulating layer;
a light cavity adapted to provide light to the light modulating layer, the light cavity reflecting incident light with a first degree of depolarization of the incident light; and
a diffusely reflecting polarizer, disposed between the light modulating layer and the light cavity, for transmitting a component of the light provided by the light cavity having a first polarization for viewing and diffusely reflecting a component of the light, received from the light cavity, having a second polarization, the polarizer diffusely reflecting the light of the second polarization with a second degree of depolarization greater than the first degree of depolarization to provide light of the first polarization;
wherein at least a portion of the diffusely reflected light of the first polarization is reflected by the light cavity without depolarization toward the diffusely reflecting polarizer for transmission therethrough.
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32. An optical device comprising:
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a light source for generating light;
a specular reflector disposed to receive at least some light from the light source; and
a continuous layer of diffusely reflecting polarizer disposed between the light source and the specular reflector;
wherein at least a portion of the light having a first polarization is transmitted by the layer of diffusely reflecting polarizer, reflected by the reflector, and retransmitted through the layer of diffusely reflecting polarizer; and
wherein at least a portion of the light having a second, different, polarization is diffusely reflected by the layer of diffusely reflecting polarizer. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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36. An optical device comprising:
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a light source for generating light;
a specular reflector disposed to receive at least some light from the light source; and
a diffusely reflecting polarizer disposed between the light source and the specular reflector, said diffusely reflecting polarizer fixedly attached to the specular reflector;
wherein at least a portion of the light having a first polarization is transmitted by the diffusely reflecting polarizer, reflected by the reflector, and retransmitted through the diffusely reflecting polarizer; and
wherein at least a portion of the light having a second, different, polarization is diffusely reflected by the diffusely reflecting polarizer. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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- 39. An optical device comprising an emissive element and a diffusely reflecting polarizer disposed to receive light therefrom, said diffusely reflecting polarizer attached to the emissive element.
Specification