DISPLAY INCLUDING ELECTROWETTING PRISM ARRAY

• US 20140168754A1
• Filed: 09/19/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Yun-hee, SONG, Hoon, BAE, Jung-mok, CHOI, Kyu-hwan, CHOI, Yoon-sun, KWON, Yong-joo
• Granted Patent: US 10,036,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/316
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/005 based on electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/36 using refractive optical elements, e.g. prisms, in the optical path between the images and the observer

Abstract

A display including an electrowetting prism array is provided. The display includes: a light source, a 2-dimensional (2D) display for providing an image using light from the light source, a prism array in which a refractive power of one or more prisms of the prism array is adjustablein real time, and an optical element which increases a refraction of light transmitted therethrough. In the display, the optical element may be disposed in front of or behind the prism array. The optical element may be a convex lens, a Fresnel lens, a holographic optical element (HOE), a diffraction optical element (DOE), or a second electrowetting prism array. The convex lens may be a variable focus lens.

Claims

1. A display comprising:

a light source;

a 2-dimensional (2D) display which provides an image using light from the light source;

a prism array, wherein a refractive power of one or more prisms of the prism array is adjustable in real time; and

an optical element which increases a refraction of light transmitted therethrough.

2. The display according to claim 1, wherein the optical element is disposed to receive light transmitted by the prism array.

3. The display according to claim 1, wherein the optical element is disposed such that light emitted by the optical element is incident on the prism array.

4. The display according to claim 1, wherein the optical element is one of a convex lens, a Fresnel lens, a holographic optical element, a diffraction optical element (DOE), a liquid crystal lens, and an optical element operating as a lens

5. The display according to claim 1, wherein the prism array is a first electrowetting prism array, and the optical element is a second electrowetting prism array.

6. The display according to claim 4, wherein the optical element is a variable focus convex lens.

7. The display according to claim 1, wherein the prism array comprises prisms disposed such that the prism array operates as a convex lens.

8. The display according to claim 1, wherein the prism array comprises prisms disposed such that the prism array operates as a concave lens.

9. The display according to claim 1, wherein the optical element is a film operating as a lens.

10. The display according to claim 1, wherein the prism array comprises a plurality of prisms, wherein all of the plurality of prisms have the same refractive characteristic.

11. The display according to claim 1, wherein the 2D display is a 2D display which provides directional light.

12. The display according to claim 8, wherein the optical element comprises an optical element which receives divergent light from the prism array and emits collimated light.

14. The display according to claim 5, wherein the prism array comprises prisms disposed such that the prism array operates as a convex lens.

15. The display according to claim 5, wherein the prism array comprises prisms disposed such that the prism array operates as a concave lens.

16. The display according to claim 6, wherein the prism array comprises a plurality of prisms, wherein all of the plurality of prisms have the same refractive characteristic.

13. A display comprising:

a light source;

a 2-dimensional (2D) display which provides an image using light from the light source;

a non-variable prism array; and

an optical element which increases a refraction of light transmitted therethrough.

17. A display comprising:

a light source,

a display which provides an image using light emitted from the light source;

an electrowetting prism array; and

an optical element which increases a refraction of light transmitted therethrough.