Computer-based image display systems having direct and projection modes of viewing
First Claim
1. An image display device having direct and projection viewing modes of operation, said image display device comprising:
- light producing means for producing light during said direct viewing mode;
a light guiding structure formed from optically transparent material, said light guiding structure having first and second light guiding surfaces, and a first light conducting edge through which light produced from said light producing means can be transmitted into said light guiding structure and undergo total internal reflection between said first and second light guiding surfaces;
a light diffusing structure operably associated with said light guiding structure, said light diffusing structure having a light scattering state of operation selectable during said direct viewing mode, and a light non-scattering state of operation selectable during said projection viewing mode;
a spatial light mask, disposed adjacent said light diffusing structure, being optically transparent during said projection viewing mode, and having means for modulating the spatially intensity of light transmitted through said light diffusing structure; and
state selection means for selecting said light scattering state of operation for said light diffusing structure during said direct viewing mode, and for selecting said light non-scattering state of operation for said light diffusing structure during said projection viewing mode,wherein during said direct viewing mode, said light diffusing structure scatters light reflected within said light guiding structure and a portion of said scattered light is transmitted through said second light guiding surface of said light guiding structure and said light diffusing structure, and through said spatial light mask, andwherein during said projection viewing mode, said light diffusing structure permits light produced from an external source to be transmitted through the first and second light guiding surfaces of said light guiding structure and said light diffusing structure without substantial scattering, and through said spatial light mask, for spatial intensity modulation of said transmitted light.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electro-optical backlighting panel construction for use in portable computer-based systems having direct and projection viewing modes of operation. In the illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the electro-optical backlighting panel is integrated with a LCD display panel, a micropolarization panel, and a touch-screen writing panel to provide several different types of portable computer-based systems including, for example, a portable notebook computer, a computer-driven image display device, and a portable pen-computing device. In general, each of these computer-based systems are capable of selectively displaying color video images on an actively driven display surface, or projecting such video images onto a wall surface or projection screen. These computer-based systems can be easily reconfigured for projection viewing without any sort of physical modification to the LCD display panel assembly. If desired, the these computer-based systems can be used to directly view "spatially-multiplexed" images of 3-D objects or imagery during the direct viewing mode, and when desired these spatially-multiplexed images can be projected onto a wall surface or projection screen during the projection viewing mode. When the spatially-multiplexed images are viewed through electrically-passive polarized glasses, the 3-D object is perceived with stereoscopic depth sensation in either mode of viewing. A portable light projection accessory device is provided for use with the portable computer-based systems of the present invention. In the illustrative embodiments, the portable light projection device has first and second housing portions that are interconnected by a foldable structure that permits the first and second housing portions to be selectively reconfigured for simple trouble-free use during the projection viewing mode of operation, and for compact storage during the direct viewing mode of operation.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. An image display device having direct and projection viewing modes of operation, said image display device comprising:
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light producing means for producing light during said direct viewing mode; a light guiding structure formed from optically transparent material, said light guiding structure having first and second light guiding surfaces, and a first light conducting edge through which light produced from said light producing means can be transmitted into said light guiding structure and undergo total internal reflection between said first and second light guiding surfaces; a light diffusing structure operably associated with said light guiding structure, said light diffusing structure having a light scattering state of operation selectable during said direct viewing mode, and a light non-scattering state of operation selectable during said projection viewing mode; a spatial light mask, disposed adjacent said light diffusing structure, being optically transparent during said projection viewing mode, and having means for modulating the spatially intensity of light transmitted through said light diffusing structure; and state selection means for selecting said light scattering state of operation for said light diffusing structure during said direct viewing mode, and for selecting said light non-scattering state of operation for said light diffusing structure during said projection viewing mode, wherein during said direct viewing mode, said light diffusing structure scatters light reflected within said light guiding structure and a portion of said scattered light is transmitted through said second light guiding surface of said light guiding structure and said light diffusing structure, and through said spatial light mask, and wherein during said projection viewing mode, said light diffusing structure permits light produced from an external source to be transmitted through the first and second light guiding surfaces of said light guiding structure and said light diffusing structure without substantial scattering, and through said spatial light mask, for spatial intensity modulation of said transmitted light. - 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)
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26. A portable computer-based system having direct and projection viewing modes of operation, comprising:
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a housing of compact construction; data storage means, disposed in said housing, for storing data representative of one or more images; and a display panel assembly, supported within said housing, said display panel assembly including light producing means for producing light during said direct viewing mode, a light guiding structure having first and second light guiding surfaces between which said produced light can be totally internally reflected during said direct viewing mode, a light diffusing structure operably associated with said light guiding structure, said light diffusing structure having a light scattering state of operation selectable during said direct viewing mode, and a light non-scattering state of operation selectable during said projection viewing mode, a programmable spatial light mask, disposed in direct physical contact with said light diffusing structure, being optically transparent during said projection viewing mode, and including means for modulating the spatial intensity of light transmitted from said light diffusing structure and through said programmable spatial light mask, and state selection means for selecting said light scattering state of operation for said light diffusing structure during said direct viewing mode, and for selecting said light non-scattering state of operation for said light diffusing structure during said projection viewing mode, wherein during said light scattering state of operation, said light diffusing structure scatters light reflected within said light guiding structure and a portion of said scattered light is transmitted through said second light guiding surface of said light guiding structure and said light diffusing structure, and through said programmable spatial light mask, and wherein during said projection viewing mode, said light diffusing structure permits light produced from an external source to be transmitted through the first and second light guiding surfaces of said light guiding structure and said light diffusing structure without substantial scattering, and through said programmable spatial light mask, for spatial intensity modulation of said transmitted light. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification