Embossed diffraction grating alone and in combination with changeable image display
First Claim
1. A display system comprising:
- a. a light source for generating a beam of light;
b. a first substrate positioned to receive the beam of light, the first substrate having a first plurality of surface features preconfigured to reflect and diffract the beam of light, the first substrate forming first diffracted light representative of a fixed image and first reflected light;
c. a second substrate positioned to receive the beam of light, the second substrate having a second plurality of surface features selectively configurable to reflect and diffract the beam of light, the second substrate forming second diffacted light representative of a changeable image and second reflected light;
d. means for blocking the first and second reflected light and for collecting the first and second diffracted light forming collected light; and
e. means for displaying an image representative of the collected light.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A static diffracting grating display system provides a fixed image representing high digital content information. A plurality of physical diffracting features are fixed into the surface of a substrate. The diffracting features are positioned and oriented to selectively diffract or reflect a first incident beam of light which is then collected by a first display optical system. For color, preferably three light sources, red, green and blue, are used to form three incident beams of light. The period between adjacent ones of the diffracting features can be adjusted to appropriately form full-color image from the collected light. Preferably the diffracting features are formed by embossing a deformable substrate. Where the material of the deformable substrate is not reflective, a reflective coating is then applied. In some circumstances a protective overcoat applied over the reflective surface to obviate scratches or other damage to the diffracting features of the embossed surface. The diffracting features can also be formed using photolithographic techniques. To display changeable information in the image, a selectively deformable diffraction grating light valve is provided. A second incident beam of light is provided to illuminate the deformable diffraction grating light valve. A second display optical system collects light from the deformable diffraction grating light valve and merges this light with that collected from the static diffracting grating display system to form a unitary display.
241 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A display system comprising:
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a. a light source for generating a beam of light; b. a first substrate positioned to receive the beam of light, the first substrate having a first plurality of surface features preconfigured to reflect and diffract the beam of light, the first substrate forming first diffracted light representative of a fixed image and first reflected light; c. a second substrate positioned to receive the beam of light, the second substrate having a second plurality of surface features selectively configurable to reflect and diffract the beam of light, the second substrate forming second diffacted light representative of a changeable image and second reflected light; d. means for blocking the first and second reflected light and for collecting the first and second diffracted light forming collected light; and e. means for displaying an image representative of the collected light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for displaying an image comprising:
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a. a light source for generating a beam of light; b. a first receiving apparatus configured to receive a first substrate such that the beam of light impinges on the first substrate, and further first substrate is configured with a first plurality of surface features configured to reflect and diffract the beam of light, the first substrate forming first diffracted light representative of a fixed image and first reflected light; c. a second receiving apparatus configured to receive a second substrate such that the beam of light impinges on the second substrate, and further wherein the second substrate is configured with a second plurality of surface features configured to selectively reflect and diffract the beam of light, the second substrate forming second diffracted light and second reflected light; d. means for blocking the first reflected light and for collecting the first diffracted light forming first collected light; and e. means for blocking the second reflected light and for collecting the second diffracted light forming second collected light; and f. means for displaying a composite image representative of the first and second collected light.
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10. An apparatus for displaying an image comprising:
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a. a fixed image diffraction grating subsystem comprising; (1) a first light source for generating a first beam of light; (2) a receiving apparatus configured to receive a substrate such that the beam of light impinges on the substrate, and further wherein the substrate in configured with a first plurality of surface features selectively preconfigured to reflect and diffract the beam of light forming first diffracted light and first reflected light; and (3) first means for blocking the first reflected light and for collecting the first diffracted light forming first collected light; b. a light modulation image subsystem comprising; (1) means for generating a second beam of light; (2) means for modulating the second beam of light to form a modulated light image; and (3) means for collecting the modulated light image forming second collected light; c. means for merging the first collected light and the second collected light forming a composite image; and d. means for displaying the composite image. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification