DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20170242173A1
• Filed: 02/23/2017
• Published: 08/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Display Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Japan Display Incorporated
• Inventors: NUMATA, Yudai, KOITO, Takeo
• Granted Patent: US 10,222,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/08 Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/124 plural reflecting elements forming part of a unitary plate or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3083 Birefringent or phase retarding elements G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence; systems for polarisation control G02B27/286; manufacturing phase modulating patterns by lithographic processes G03F7/001

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a display device includes an optical element urging incident light to be transmitted or reflected, a first reflective element includes a first retroreflective surface in an uneven state on which the light reflected on the optical element is retroreflected, and a first specular reflection surface on which the light reflected on the optical element is specularly reflected, and a second reflective element includes a second retroreflective surface in an uneven state on which the light reflected on the first specular reflection surface is retroreflected.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

an optical element urging incident light to be transmitted or reflected;

a first reflective element comprising a first retroreflective surface in an uneven state on which the light reflected on the optical element is retroreflected, and a first specular reflection surface on which the light reflected on the optical element is specularly reflected; and

a second reflective element comprising a second retroreflective surface in an uneven state on which the light reflected on the first specular reflection surface is retroreflected.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein

the optical element comprises:

a polarizing element comprising a transparent axis which urges first linearly polarized light to be transmitted and reflecting second linearly polarized light orthogonal to the transparent axis; and

a retardation film opposed to the polarizing element and assigning a phase difference to the transmitted light.

3. The display device of claim 2, further comprising:

a display module emitting first display light and second display light which is first circularly polarized light,

wherein

the first display light is converted into the second linearly polarized light when transmitted through the retardation film, reflected on the polarizing element, converted into second circularly polarized light in an opposite direction to the first circularly polarized light when transmitted through the retardation film, reflected on the first specular reflection surface, reflected on the second retroreflective surface, reflected on the first specular reflection surface, converted into the first linearly polarized light when transmitted through the retardation film, and transmitted through the polarizing element, and

the second display light is converted into the second linearly polarized light when transmitted through the retardation film, reflected on the polarizing element, converted into the second circularly polarized light when transmitted through the retardation film, reflected on the first retroreflective surface, converted into the first linearly polarized light when transmitted through the retardation film, and transmitted through the polarizing element.

4. The display device of claim 1, wherein

the first retroreflective surface and the first specular reflection surface include metallic thin films.

5. The display device of claim 1, wherein

the first specular reflection surface is arranged on a plane connecting top parts of the first retroreflective surface.

6. The display device of claim 1, wherein

the first specular reflection surfaces are arranged in a grating state.

7. The display device of claim 6, wherein

the first retroreflective surface is surrounded by the first specular reflection surfaces.

8. The display device of claim 7, wherein

a width of the first specular reflection surface in a first direction is smaller than a width of the first retroreflective surface in the first direction.

9. The display device of claim 7, wherein

the second reflective element is in contact with the first reflective element at a boundary portion.

10. The display device of claim 9, wherein

the second reflective element has a second specular reflection surface on which the light reflected on the first specular reflection surface is specularly reflected.

11. The display device of claim 10, wherein

the second specular reflection surfaces are arranged in a grating state.

12. The display device of claim 11, wherein

the second retroreflective surface is surrounded by the second specular reflection surfaces.

13. The display device of claim 12, wherein

the first retroreflective surface is in contact with the second retroreflective surface at the boundary portion, and

the first specular reflection surface is in contact with the second specular reflection surface at the boundary portion.

14. The display device of claim 13, wherein

the first specular reflection surface extends orthogonally or parallel to the second specular reflection surface.

15. The display device of claim 12, wherein

the first retroreflective surface is in contact with the second specular reflection surface at the boundary portion, and

the first specular reflection surface is in contact with the second retroreflective surface at the boundary portion.

16. A display device comprising:

an optical element urging part of incident light to be transmitted or reflected; and

a reflective element comprising a retroreflective surface in an uneven state on which the light reflected on the optical element is retroreflected, and a specular reflection surface on which the light reflected on the optical element is specularly reflected,

an angle formed by the reflective element with the optical element is an acute angle.

17. The display device of claim 16, wherein

the retroreflective surface and the specular reflection surface include metallic thin films.

18. The display device of claim 16, wherein

the specular reflection surface is arranged on a plane connecting top parts of the retroreflective surface.

19. The display device of claim 16, wherein

the specular reflection surfaces are arranged in a grating state on the reflective element.

20. The display device of claim 19, wherein

the retroreflective surface is surrounded by the specular reflection surfaces.