Illumination system for a display using cholesteric liquid crystal reflectors
First Claim
1. An illumination system for a display, comprisinga source of polychromatic, polarized light,a plurality of analyzes in optical series for reflecting light to a common display or transmitting light from the display as a function of the wavelength and/or polarization characteristic of incident light, andlight from the display being directed to said analyzers for reflection or transmission thereby.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A display system for direct viewing or projection includes a source of polarized light, an analyzer for reflecting or transmitting light as a function of the wavelength and polarization characteristic of incident light, and a display receiving light from said analyzer, the display being operable selectively to change a polarization characteristic of incident light, and light from the display being directed to the analyzer for reflection or transmission thereby. A method of display includes providing a source of polarized light, analyzing polarized light by selectively reflecting or transmitting light as a function of the wavelength and polarization characteristic of incident light, and creating a desired light pattern from light received from said analyzing step by selectively changing a polarization characteristic of incident light, and selectively transmitting light according to such pattern.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. An illumination system for a display, comprising
a source of polychromatic, polarized light, a plurality of analyzes in optical series for reflecting light to a common display or transmitting light from the display as a function of the wavelength and/or polarization characteristic of incident light, and light from the display being directed to said analyzers for reflection or transmission thereby.
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9. A method for illuminating a display, comprising
supplying multicolor light having a polarization characteristic to plural analyzers, reflecting or transmitting light by the analyzers as a function of the color and polarization characteristic of incident light, said reflecting comprising reflecting light to a common display for illuminating the display.
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16. A method of display, comprising
sequentially supplying different wavelengths of polarized light, reflecting substantially all of such polarized light to a common display using a plurality of analyzers in optical series creating a desired light pattern in said display from light received from said reflecting step by selectively changing a polarization characteristic of incident light, and selectively transmitting light according to such pattern through said plurality of analyzers.
- 22. A front illumination system for an object to be illuminated comprising a source of light having a distinguishable characteristic, means for directing light from the source along a folded path toward an object to be illuminated, said means for directing including means for selectively transmitting light from the object to be illuminated based on such distinguishable characteristic said source of light comprising means for producing light of different respective wavelengths, said source of light being located adjacent said the object to be illuminated, said means for directing light comprising a cholesteric liquid crystal reflector for selectively transmitting light or reflecting light depending on the optical polarization of such light and for selectively transmitting light or reflecting light depending on the wavelength of such light, said cholesteric liquid crystal reflector comprising means for reflecting light having specified wavelength characteristics and optical polarization characteristics from the source of light to the object to be illuminated and for transmitting light having specified optical polarization characteristics reflected by the object to be illuminated, said cholesteric liquid crystal reflector comprising a plurality of cholesteric liquid crystal reflectors in optical series, each having a different band of wavelengths over which light having a prescribed optical polarization characteristic is reflected.
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26. A from illumination system for an object to be illuminated, comprising
a source of light having a distinguishable characteristic, means for directing light from the source along a folded path toward an object to be illuminated. said means for directing including means for selectively transmitting light from the object to be illuminated based on such distinguishable characteristic, said source of light comprising plural light sources located adjacent said object to produce respectively light of different wavelengths, and further comprising means for sequentially operating respective light sources to produce light of different respective wavelengths for sequentially illuminating the object to be illuminated, a miniature reflective display as the object to be illuminated, and control means for operating said display in coordination with sequential operation of said light sources to provide a frame sequential multicolor output.
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30. An optical system for selectively transmitting or reflecting light of plural colors, comprising
a first reflector for selectively transmitting or reflecting light incident thereon depending on the wavelength characteristic of the light and an optical polarization property of the light, and a second reflector in optical series with said first reflector, and oriented substantially parallel to said first reflector and substantially perpendicular to the incident light, for selectively transmitting or reflecting light depending on a different wavelength characteristic of the light and an optical polarization property of the light, said reflectors comprising cholesteric liquid crystal polymer material.
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32. A display system, comprising
a reflective liquid crystal display, a source of light adjacent said display for illuminating said display, means for folding an optical path between said source of light and said display, said means for folding comprising means for selectively transmitting light or reflecting light depending on an optical characteristic of the light, and said display being operative to change such optical characteristic.
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39. A display system comprising
a reflective liquid crystal display, a source of light for illuminating said display, means for folding an optical path between said source of light and said display, said means for folding comprising means for selectively transmitting light or reflecting light depending on an optical characteristic of the light, and said display being operative to change such optical characteristic, said source comprising fiber optics for conducting light from a light source.
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40. A display system, comprising
a reflective liquid crystal display, a source of light for illuminating said display, means for folding an optical path between said source of light and said display, said means for folding comprising means for selectively transmitting light or reflecting light depending on an optical characteristic of the light, and said display being operative to change such optical characteristic, said source comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes said means for selectively transmitting light or reflecting light comprises means for reflecting plural colors of light, said means for reflecting plural colors comprises plural reflectors in optical series, each reflector being operative to transmit at least one color light that is reflected by the other reflector, said source of light comprising a source of circularly polarized light of plural colors, said display being operative selectively to change the polarization characteristic of light as such characteristic to determine whether light is transmitted by a respective reflector.
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41. A display system, comprising
a reflective liquid crystal display, a source of light adjacent said display for illuminating said display, and an analyzer lying in a plane parallel to the plane of said display for selectively transmitting light or reflecting light as a function of the wavelength and polarization characteristic of the light, said display being operative to change such optical characteristic.
Specification