OPTICAL LOSS STRUCTURE INTEGRATED IN AN ILLUMINATION APPARATUS

• US 20100026727A1
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gruhlke, Russell W., Mienko, Marek, Xu, Gang, Bita, Ion
• Granted Patent: US 9,019,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/690
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/001 based on interference in an adjustable optical cavity interference filters G02B5/28; devices or arrangements using multiple reflections in spectrometry or monochromators G01J3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0033 Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
• 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 6/0056 for producing polarisation effects, e.g. by a surface with polarizing properties or by an additional polarizing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects

Abstract

Various embodiments of a display device described herein include an optical propagation region, at least one optical loss structure, an optical isolation layer, and a plurality of display elements. The propagation region includes a light guide in which light is guided via total internal reflection and turning features configured to redirect the light out of the propagation region. The loss structure would disrupt the total internal reflection of at least some of the light guided within the propagation region if disposed directly adjacent thereto. The optical isolation layer includes a non-gaseous material between the propagation region and the loss structure, and is configured to increase an amount of light that is totally internal reflected in the propagation region. The plurality of display elements are positioned to receive the light redirected out of the propagation region. The loss structure is positioned between the plurality of display elements and the propagation region.

Claims

1-56. -56. (canceled)

57. An illumination apparatus comprising:

an optical propagation region comprising a light guide in which light is guided via total internal reflection, said optical propagation region further comprising turning features configured to redirect said light out of said optical propagation region; and

an optical isolation layer coupled to the optical propagation region, the optical isolation layer including a matrix and microstructure, at least a portion of the optical isolation layer having an index of refraction less than an index of refraction of the optical propagation region, the optical isolation layer configured to increase an amount of light that is totally internal reflected in said optical propagation region.

58. The illumination apparatus of claim 57, wherein the microstructure has an index of refraction less than the index of refraction of the optical propagation region.

59. The illumination apparatus of claim 57, wherein the matrix has an index of refraction less than the index of refraction of the optical propagation region.

60. The illumination apparatus of claim 57, wherein the microstructure is configured to scatter light.

61. The illumination apparatus of claim 57, wherein the microstructure is configured to absorb light at a selected range of wavelengths.

62. The illumination apparatus of claim 57, wherein the microstructure is elongated.

63. The illumination apparatus of claim 57, the microstructure further comprising a plurality of particulates, a first of the particulates differing in size from a second of the particulates.

67. The illumination apparatus of claim 57, wherein the microstructure is configured to absorb light at all visible wavelengths.

68. The illumination apparatus of claim 57, wherein the microstructure comprises voids.

69. The illumination apparatus of claim 57, wherein the microstructure occupies less than about 10% of the optical isolation layer.

70. The illumination apparatus of claim 57, wherein the microstructure is spaced from the optical propagation region by a layer of the matrix.

71. The illumination apparatus of claim 70, wherein the layer of the matrix has a thickness of less than about 1 μ

m.

72. The illumination apparatus of claim 57, wherein the optical propagation region comprises a film or a slab.

73. The illumination apparatus of claim 72, wherein the optical propagation region further comprises a substrate having the film or the slab formed thereon.

74. The illumination apparatus of claim 57, wherein the optical propagation region comprises a film stack.

75. The illumination apparatus of claim 74, wherein the optical propagation region further comprises a substrate having the film stack formed thereon.

76. The illumination apparatus of claim 57, further comprising a turning film or a diffractive optical element having said turning features formed therein.

77. The illumination apparatus of claim 57, wherein the indices of refraction of the portion and the optical propagation region are sufficiently close that Fresnel reflection at normal incidence is less than about 4%.

78. A display device comprising:

the illumination apparatus of claim 57; and

a plurality of display elements, wherein the turning features are configured to direct light towards the plurality of display elements.

79. The display device of claim 78, wherein the optical isolation layer is positioned between the plurality of display elements and the optical propagation region.

80. The display device of claim 78, further comprising:

a processor that is configured to communicate with said display elements, said processor being configured to process image data; and

a memory device that is configured to communicate with said processor.

81. The display device of claim 80, further comprising a driver circuit configured to send at least one signal to the display elements.

82. The display device of claim 81, further comprising a controller configured to send at least a portion of the image data to the driver circuit.

83. The display device of claim 80, further comprising an image source module configured to send said image data to said processor.

84. The display device of claim 83, wherein the image source module comprises at least one of a receiver, transceiver, and transmitter.

85. The display device of claim 80, further comprising an input device configured to receive input data and to communicate said input data to said processor.

64-66. -66. (canceled)

86. A method of manufacturing an illumination apparatus, the method comprising coupling an optical isolation layer to an optical propagation region, the optical isolation layer including a matrix and microstructure, at least a portion of the optical isolation layer having an index of refraction less than an index of refraction of the optical propagation region, the optical isolation layer configured to increase an amount of light that is totally internal reflected in the optical propagation region, the optical propagation region comprising a light guide in which light is guided via total internal reflection, the optical propagation region comprising turning features configured to redirect said light out of the optical propagation region.