Directional Display Apparatus
First Claim
1. A lens structure for a directional display apparatus, comprising:
- a birefringent lens array capable of directing light of a given polarisation into a directional distribution, the birefringent lens comprising a solid, first birefringent material and an isotropic material having an interface having a refractive structure;
a second birefringent material arranged adjacent the first birefringent material of the birefringent lens,wherein the interface between the first birefringent material and the second birefringent material has an alignment microstructure providing alignment of the first birefringent material and the second birefringent material,wherein said refractive structure is uniform in one direction and said alignment microstructure at the interface between the first birefringent material and the second birefringent material provides alignment in the direction of polarisation of a polarisation component polarised in said one direction at said interface between the first birefringent material and the isotropic material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A birefringent lens structure comprises a birefringent lens array capable of directing light of a given polarisation into a directional distribution, the birefringent lens comprising a solid birefringent material and an isotropic material having an interface having a refractive structure. A switchable liquid crystal layer capable of rotating the polarisation of light passing therethrough is arranged adjacent the first birefringent material. The interface between the birefringent material and the liquid crystal layer has an alignment microstructure providing alignment of the birefringent material and the liquid crystal layer. A pair of electrodes for applying an electric field to switch the liquid crystal are arranged with both the lens array and the switchable liquid crystal layer therebetween and a conductive material is incorporated in the lens array to reduce the voltage drop across the lens array. To reduce reflection, the interface between the birefringent material and the isotropic material has an interface having alignment microstructure providing alignment of the birefringent material, and the refractive index of the isotropic material is substantially equal to the extraordinary refractive index of the birefringent material.
35 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A lens structure for a directional display apparatus, comprising:
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a birefringent lens array capable of directing light of a given polarisation into a directional distribution, the birefringent lens comprising a solid, first birefringent material and an isotropic material having an interface having a refractive structure; a second birefringent material arranged adjacent the first birefringent material of the birefringent lens, wherein the interface between the first birefringent material and the second birefringent material has an alignment microstructure providing alignment of the first birefringent material and the second birefringent material, wherein said refractive structure is uniform in one direction and said alignment microstructure at the interface between the first birefringent material and the second birefringent material provides alignment in the direction of polarisation of a polarisation component polarised in said one direction at said interface between the first birefringent material and the isotropic material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15)
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4. A lens structure for a directional display apparatus, comprising:
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a birefringent lens array capable of directing light of a given polarisation into a directional distribution, the birefringent lens comprising a solid, first birefringent material and an isotropic material having an interface having a refractive structure; a second birefringent material arranged adjacent the first birefringent material of the birefringent lens, wherein the interface between the first birefringent material and the second birefringent material has an alignment microstructure providing alignment of the first birefringent material and the second birefringent material, wherein said interface between the first birefringent material and the isotropic material of the birefringent lens has an alignment microstructure providing alignment of the first birefringent material, wherein said refractive structure is uniform in one direction and said alignment microstructure at the interface between the first birefringent material and the isotropic material of the birefringent lens provides alignment in said one direction.
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9. A birefringent lens comprising:
a birefringent material and an isotropic material having an interface having a refractive structure and a surface relief alignment microstructure providing alignment of the birefringent material, wherein the refractive index of the isotropic material is substantially equal to the extraordinary refractive index of the birefringent material. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
Specification