Display panel assembly with microlens structure

• US 5,608,551 A
• Filed: 04/03/1995
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: InFocus Corporation (Lap-Shun Hui, MBA)
• Inventors: Biles, Jonathon R., Conner, Arlie R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong, Tai V.
• Application Number:
  US08/415,753
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 359/40, 359/41, 359/53, 359/48, 359/54, 359/619, 359/621, 359/622, 345/32
• US Class Current: 349/95
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133526 Lenses, e.g. microlenses or Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1347 Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells

Abstract

The present invention includes a matrix display panel assembly (10) having at least two face-to-face matrix display panels (20) that each define an array of pixel components (28) through which light is directed to form a display image. A microlens panel (32, 34) is positioned between the pair of matrix display panels. The microlens panel includes an array of microlenses that receive light propagating through the pixel components of one of the matrix display panels and directs the light through the pixel components of the other matrix display panel. As a result, the panel assembly has improved light transmission capabilities with reduced parallax and depth of field requirements.

Claims

1. In a display panel assembly having successive first and second liquid crystal display panels with respective first and second pixel components aligned to define an array of pixels through which light is directed to form a display image, the improvement comprising:

a converging microlens structure positioned between the first and second liquid crystal display panels to enhance light transmission through the display panel assembly, the converging microlens structure including an array of microlenses in alignment with the first and second pixel components, receiving the light as it passes through the first pixel components, and having light directing properties to converge the light where it passes through corresponding ones of the second pixel components with which the first pixel components are aligned.

2. The panel assembly of claim 1 further comprising a noncoherent light source from which the light directed through the array of pixels propagates.

17. The panel assembly of claim 1 in which the converging microlens structure includes a pair of face-to-face microlens panels.

3. A matrix display panel assembly, comprising:

plural successive pairs of matrix display panels that define an array of pixels through which light passes to form a display image, each display panel defining pixel components of the pixels in the array; and

a converging microlens structure positioned between each successive pair of matrix display panels to enhance light transmission through the display panel assembly, each microlens structure including an array of converging microlenses aligned with the array of pixels, receiving the light as it passes through its respective pair of matrix display panels, and having light directing properties to converge the light where it passes through corresponding pixel components of the matrix panels between which the microlens structure is positioned.

4. The panel assembly of claim 3 in which each matrix display panel includes a liquid crystal display panel.

5. The panel assembly of claim 3 in which each matrix display panel includes a twisted nematic liquid crystal display panel.

6. The panel assembly of claim 3 in which each matrix display panel includes a supertwisted nematic liquid crystal display panel.

7. The panel assembly of claim 3 in which each matrix display panel includes an electrically active component positioned adjacent each pixel component.

8. The panel assembly of claim 7 in which the electrically active component positioned adjacent each pixel component includes a thin film transistor.

9. The panel assembly of claim 3 further comprising a noncoherent light source from which the light directed through the array of pixels propagates.

10. A matrix display panel assembly, comprising:

first and second successive matrix display panels that include multiple pairs of respective first and second pixel components aligned to define an array of pixels through which light passes to form a display image; and

a converging microlens structure positioned between the first and second matrix display panels to enhance light transmission through the display assembly, the converging microlens structure including an array of microlenses aligned with the array of pixels, receiving the light as it passes through the first pixel components, and having light directing properties to converge the light where it passes through the respective second pixel components of the multiple pairs of pixel components.

11. The panel assembly of claim 10 in which the first and second matrix display panels each include a liquid crystal display panel.

12. The panel assembly of claim 10 in which the first and second matrix display panels each include a twisted nematic liquid crystal display panel.

13. The panel assembly of claim 10 in which the first and second matrix display panels each include a supertwisted nematic liquid crystal display panel.

14. The panel assembly of claim 10 in which the first and second matrix display panels include an electrically active component positioned adjacent each of the first and second pixel components.

15. The panel assembly of claim 14 in which the electrically active component positioned adjacent each pixel component includes a thin film transistor.

16. The panel assembly of claim 10 further comprising a noncoherent light source from which the light directed through the array of pixels propagates.