Thin optical display panel
First Claim
1. An optical display 12 comprising a plurality of optical waveguides 16 each including a core 26 and bounding cladding layer 28 for guiding internal display light 18a between first and second opposite ends 16a,b thereof by internal reflection;
- said waveguides 16 being stacked together between said first and second ends 16a,b to define a collective display thickness; and
each of said cores 26 including a heterogeneous portion defining a light scattering site 30 disposed longitudinally between and spaced from said first and second ends 16a,b, with adjacent ones of said sites 30 being longitudinally offset from each other for forming a longitudinal internal image display 32 over said display thickness for scattering said internal display light 18a thereagainst for generating a display image 22a.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical display includes a plurality of optical waveguides each including a cladding bound core for guiding internal display light between first and second opposite ends by total internal reflection. The waveguides are stacked together to define a collective display thickness. Each of the cores includes a heterogeneous portion defining a light scattering site disposed longitudinally between the first and second ends. Adjacent ones of the sites are longitudinally offset from each other for forming a longitudinal internal image display over the display thickness upon scattering of internal display light thereagainst for generating a display image. In a preferred embodiment, the waveguides and scattering sites are transparent for transmitting therethrough an external image in superposition with the display image formed by scattering the internal light off the scattering sites for defining a heads up display.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical display 12 comprising a plurality of optical waveguides 16 each including a core 26 and bounding cladding layer 28 for guiding internal display light 18a between first and second opposite ends 16a,b thereof by internal reflection;
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said waveguides 16 being stacked together between said first and second ends 16a,b to define a collective display thickness; and each of said cores 26 including a heterogeneous portion defining a light scattering site 30 disposed longitudinally between and spaced from said first and second ends 16a,b, with adjacent ones of said sites 30 being longitudinally offset from each other for forming a longitudinal internal image display 32 over said display thickness for scattering said internal display light 18a thereagainst for generating a display image 22a. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of displaying an image 22a comprising:
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projecting an internal light image 22a through a plurality of stacked together optical waveguides 16, each having a heterogeneous portion between the ends of the waveguide, for transmission therein by internal reflection between first and second ends 16a,b thereof; and scattering said internal light inside said waveguides 16 at a coplanar location that is spaced from said first and second ends to effect an internal image 22a at said heterogeneous portions. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification