DIRECTIONAL PIXEL FOR USE IN A DISPLAY SCREEN

• US 20140300947A1
• Filed: 06/19/2014
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lelis, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Leia Inc.
• Inventors: Fattal, David A., Brug, James A., Peng, Zhen, Fiorentino, Marco, Beausoleil, Raymond G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,389,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0808 by means of one or more diffracting elements

Abstract

A directional pixel for use in a display screen is disclosed. The directional pixel receives a planar lightbeam and includes a light propagating layer and a grating to scatter a portion of the planar lightbeam into a directional lightbeam having a direction and angular spread controlled by the grating.

Claims

1. A directional pixel for use in a display screen, the directional pixel receiving a planar lightbeam and comprising:

a light propagating layer; and

a grating to scatter a portion of the planar lightbeam into a directional lightbeam having a direction and angular spread controlled by the grating.

2. The directional pixel of claim 1, wherein the light propagating layer comprises a transparent Silicon-Nitride (“

SiN”

) layer.

3. The directional pixel of claim 1, wherein the grating has a duty cycle around 50%.

4. The directional pixel of claim 1, wherein the grating comprises a plurality of substantially parallel and slanted grooves having a pitch, an orientation, a length, and a width.

5. The directional pixel of claim 4, wherein the pitch and orientation control the direction of the directional lightbeam.

6. The directional pixel of claim 4, wherein the length and width control the angular spread of the directional lightbeam.

7. The directional pixel of claim 1, wherein the directional pixel is substantially planar.

8. The directional pixel of claim 1, wherein the display screen is a multi-view display screen.

9. The directional pixel of claim 1, wherein the display screen is a privacy display screen.

10. The directional pixel of claim 4, wherein the grating width is substantially smaller than the grating length and the display screen is a horizontal parallax only display screen.

11. A grating for use in a directional pixel in a display screen, the grating to scatter an incident planar lightbeam into a directional lightbeam and comprising a plurality of substantially parallel and slanted grooves having a pitch, an orientation, a length, and a width, the pitch and orientation to control a direction and the length and width to control an angular spread of the directional lightbeam.

12. The grating of claim 11, wherein the grating is etched on a light propagating layer.

13. The grating of claim 11, wherein the grating is deposited on top of a light propagating layer.

14. The grating of claim 11, wherein the direction of the directional lightbeam is a function of the grating pitch, the grating orientation, a wavelength of the directional lightbeam, and an effective refractive index of the grating.

15. The grating of claim 11, wherein the angular spread of the directional lightbeam is a function of the grating length, the grating width, and a wavelength of the directional lightbeam.

16. The grating of claim 11, wherein the display screen is a multi-view display screen.

17. The grating of claim 11, wherein the display screen is a privacy display screen.

18. The grating of claim 11, wherein the grating width is substantially smaller than the grating length and the display screen is a horizontal parallax only display screen.

19. A directional pixel for use in a display screen, comprising:

a light propagating layer arranged on a substrate layer to carry a planar lightbeam; and

a grating arranged in the light propagating layer to scatter the planar lightbeam into a directional lightbeam having a direction and an angular spread controlled by the grating.

20. The directional pixel of claim 19, wherein the grating is etched on the light propagating layer.

21. The directional pixel of claim 19, wherein the grating is deposited on top of the light propagating layer.

22. The directional pixel of claim 19, wherein the display screen is a multi-view display screen.

23. The directional pixel of claim 19, wherein the display screen is a privacy display screen.