LIGHT ILLUMINATION OF DISPLAYS WITH FRONT LIGHT GUIDE AND COUPLING ELEMENTS
First Claim
1. A display device comprising:
- a reflective spatial light modulator;
a light source;
a light guide forward of the reflective spatial light modulator, the light guide having forward and rearward surfaces;
a light bar disposed forward or rearward of the light guide, the light bar configured to receive light from the light source and comprising a material through which light from the light source propagates; and
a turning mirror, the light bar including turning features configured to turn light propagating therein onto the turning mirror, the turning mirror disposed to direct light into the light guide, such that the light is total internally reflected from the forward and rearward surfaces of the light guide so as to be guided along the length of the light guide,wherein the light guide is configured to direct the light coupled therein to the reflective spatial light modulator.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In various embodiments described herein, a display device includes a front illumination apparatus that comprises a first light guide disposed forward of an array of display elements, such as an array of interferometric modulators, to distribute light across the array of display elements. The light guide panel is edge illuminated by a light source positioned behind the array display elements. The light from such a light source is coupled to a second light guide disposed behind the array of display elements and positioned laterally with respect to the light source. The light in the second light guide is coupled into the first light guide using a small optical coupling element such as a turning mirror. In some embodiments the second light guide may comprise the backplate of the display device.
164 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A display device comprising:
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a reflective spatial light modulator; a light source; a light guide forward of the reflective spatial light modulator, the light guide having forward and rearward surfaces; a light bar disposed forward or rearward of the light guide, the light bar configured to receive light from the light source and comprising a material through which light from the light source propagates; and a turning mirror, the light bar including turning features configured to turn light propagating therein onto the turning mirror, the turning mirror disposed to direct light into the light guide, such that the light is total internally reflected from the forward and rearward surfaces of the light guide so as to be guided along the length of the light guide, wherein the light guide is configured to direct the light coupled therein to the reflective spatial light modulator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A display device comprising:
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a means for reflectively modulating light; a means for illuminating; a means for guiding light disposed forward of the reflectively light modulating means, the means for guiding light having forward and rearward surfaces; a means for receiving light from the illuminating means, the light receiving means disposed forward or rearward of the light guiding means and including a material through which light from the illuminating means propagates; and a turning mirror, the light receiving means including means for turning light configured to turn light propagating therein onto the turning mirror, the turning mirror disposed to direct light received from the light receiving means into the light guiding means, such that the light is total internally reflected from the forward and rearward surfaces of the means for guiding light so as to be guided along the length of the means for guiding light, wherein the light guiding means is configured to direct the light coupled therein to the reflectively light modulating means. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method of manufacturing a display device, the method comprising:
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providing a reflective spatial light modulator; providing a light source; disposing a light guide forward of the reflective spatial light modulator, the light guide having forward and rearward surfaces; disposing a light bar forward or rearward of the light guide, the light bar configured to receive light from the light and including a material through which light from the light source propagates; providing a plurality of turning features on the light bar; and providing a turning mirror, the turning features on the light bar configured to direct light towards the turning mirror, the turning mirror configured to direct light received from the light bar into the light guide, such that the light is total internally reflected from the forward and rearward surfaces of the light guide so as to be guided along the length of the light guide. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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Specification