High efficiency polarized display
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An image display apparatus comprising:
- a source of light rays;
a polarization-sensitive scattering element (PSSE) located proximate to said source of light rays, where said PSSE is a microstructural composite of material domains having differing birefringence, having a first scattering distribution which is randomly diffuse for light rays of a first polarization and a second scattering distribution for light rays of a second polarization; and
a light modulating means in the path of said light rays which selectively passes light in order to display a desired image.
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Abstract
An image display apparatus which employs a polarization-sensitive scattering element (PSSE). In the display, a light source is used to illuminate a panel which modulates light in order to form an image. Positioned between the light source and the panel is the PSSE which acts to effectively separate light of different polarizations. The PSSE provides a means for recapturing light energy which would otherwise be lost in the display, while reducing degradation and heat build-up due to light absorption.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. An image display apparatus comprising:
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a source of light rays; a polarization-sensitive scattering element (PSSE) located proximate to said source of light rays, where said PSSE is a microstructural composite of material domains having differing birefringence, having a first scattering distribution which is randomly diffuse for light rays of a first polarization and a second scattering distribution for light rays of a second polarization; and a light modulating means in the path of said light rays which selectively passes light in order to display a desired image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A polarization converter for directional light comnprising:
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a polarization-sensitive scattering element (PSSE) where said PSSE is substantially non-scattering to light rays of a first polarization and randomly scattering to light rays of a second polarization; a first set of aperture openings with first polarization optics; and a second set of aperture openings with second polarization optics; wherein; light rays of a first polarization incident on the PSSE passes predominantly through the first set of aperture openings and are converted by the first polarization optics to a third polarization; light rays of a second polarization incident on the PSSE are scattered by the PSSE and passes predominantly through the second set of aperture openings and are converted by the second polarization optics to the third polarization. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A polarized light valve display system comprising:
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an unpolarized illumination source; a polarization-based light valve; and a polarization-sensitive scattering element (PSSE) proximate to said illumination source, where said PSSE is a microstructural composite of material domains having differing birefringence, having a first scattering distribution which is random for light rays of a first polarization and a second scattering distribution for light rays of a second polarization;
wherein light from the unpolarized illumination source is pre-polarized by the PSSE prior to being modulated by the polarization-based light valve. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A polarized backlight comprising:
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a transparent light guide with external edges and first and second opposing sides; illumination means at the edges of the light guide, such that light entering the light guide is totally internally reflected by one or more surfaces of the light guide; polarization-sensitive deflection means in the light guide to deflect light rays of a first polarization, causing them to exit the light guide, while light rays of a second polarization are substantially non-deflected; and polarization rotation means within the light guide for changing the light rays of the second polarization to the light rays of the first polarization. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. A polarized backlight comprising:
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a transparent light guide with external edges and first and second opposing sides; illumination means at the edges of the light guide, such that light rays entering the light guide are totally internally reflected by one or more surfaces of the light guide; diffusing means in the light guide to deflect the light rays, causing the light rays to exit the light guide; reflector means, adjacent to the light guide, to redirect the light rays exiting the light guide from the first side back into the light guide such that it may exit from the second side of the light guide; non-absorbing polarization means which is a microstructural composite of material domains having differing birefringence, adjacent to said light guide, and opposite the light guide from the reflector means, such that light rays of a first polarization pass through the non-absorbing polarization means and light rays of a second polarization are returned to the light guide in a randomly diffuse manner; and polarization rotation means for rotating the polarization of the light rays of the second polarization returned to the light guide such that it is returned to the non-absorbing polarization means in the first polarization and is transmitted.
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40. A polarized backlight comprising:
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a diffuse, highly reflective enclosure; an illumination source which injects light rays into the enclosure; depolarization means located within the enclosure; non-absorbing polarization means, comprising a microstructural composite of material domains having differing birefringence, wherein said non-absorbing polarization means is positioned over a region of the enclosure, said region having significant transmittance of light from within the enclosure such that light rays of a first polarization exit the enclosure and pass through the non-absorbing polarization means, while light rays of a second polarization exit the enclosure and are returned to the enclosure by the non-absorbing polarization means. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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44. A light valve system comprising:
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a source of light rays; a light valve which selectively modulates the polarization state of said light rays; polarization means to convert the polarization modulation of said light rays into amplitude modulation of the light rays; and a polarization-sensitive scattering element in the path of said light rays where said polarization-sensitive scattering element is a microstructural composite of material domains having differing birefringence, having a first scattering distribution which is random for light rays of a first polarization and a second scattering distribution for light rays of a second polarization. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification