Microdisplay system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A microdisplay system using ambient light comprising:
- a microdisplay;
a first wave-guide having a light receiving surface, a light-transmissive first front end, and a first back end, the first wave-guide having a first reflective device provided at the first back end, the first wave-guide having a first dye embedded therein, the first dye absorbing the ambient light through the light receiving surface to re-emit light, the first wave-guide trapping the re-emitted light and directing the re-emitted light through the light-transmissive first front end; and
an illuminator optically coupled to the light-transmissive first front end of the first wave-guide for receiving the re-emitted light and illuminating the microdisplay with the re-emitted light.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A micro display system is provided that uses ambient light to illuminate the microdisplay. A wave-guide contains an embedded dye which absorbs ambient light through the surface of the wave-guide and re-emits light. Total internal reflection in the wave-guide and reflection from a reflector at one end of the wave-guide direct all the re-emitted light through a light-transmissive end to an illuminator for illuminating the microdisplay with polarized light. The microdisplay has a plurality of pixels which are activated to selectively reflect polarized or rotated polarized light back through the illuminator where the polarized light forms an image for a user.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A microdisplay system using ambient light comprising:
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a microdisplay;
a first wave-guide having a light receiving surface, a light-transmissive first front end, and a first back end, the first wave-guide having a first reflective device provided at the first back end, the first wave-guide having a first dye embedded therein, the first dye absorbing the ambient light through the light receiving surface to re-emit light, the first wave-guide trapping the re-emitted light and directing the re-emitted light through the light-transmissive first front end; and
an illuminator optically coupled to the light-transmissive first front end of the first wave-guide for receiving the re-emitted light and illuminating the microdisplay with the re-emitted light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
the light-transmissive first front end has a roughened surface provided thereon.
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3. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 1 including:
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an eyepiece for viewing the microdisplay; and
wherein;
the illuminator is disposed between the microdisplay and the eyepiece.
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4. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 1 including:
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an eyepiece for viewing the microdisplay; and
wherein;
the microdisplay is disposed between the illuminator and the eyepiece.
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5. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
the first wave-guide has a second dye and a third dye additionally embedded therein, the first dye absorbing the ambient light to re-emit light with a first color, the second dye absorbing the ambient light to re-emit light with a second color, and the third dye absorbing the ambient light to re-emit light with a third color.
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6. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 5 including:
a color wheel positioned between the first wave-guide and the illuminator for selectively providing the re-emitted light with the first, second, and third colors to the illuminator.
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7. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 6 wherein:
the first color, the color and the third color are red, green and blue, respectively.
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8. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
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the first dye absorbs the ambient light to re-emit light with a first color; and
including;
a second wave-guide having a second light receiving surface, a light-transmissive second front end, a second back end, the second wave-guide having a second reflective device provided at the second back end, the second wave-guide having a second dye embedded therein, the second dye absorbing the ambient light to re-emit light with a second color;
a third wave-guide having a third light receiving surface, a light-transmissive third front end, a third back end, the third wave-guide having a third reflective device provided at the third back end, and the third wave-guide having a third dye embedded therein, the third dye absorbing the ambient light to re-emit light with a third color; and
wherein;
the illuminator is optically coupled to the light-transmissive second front end of the second wave-guide and the light-transmissive third front end of the third wave-guide.
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9. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 8 including:
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a first light shutter at the light-transmissive first front end of the first wave-guide for selectively providing the first color light to the illuminator;
a second light shutter at the light-transmissive second front end of the second wave-guide for selectively providing the second color light to the illuminator; and
a third light shutter coupled to the third back end the third wave-guide for selectively providing the third color light to the illuminator.
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10. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 9 including:
a wave-guide coupler coupled to the light-transmissive first, second, and third front ends of the respective first, second, and third wave-guides, the coupler positioned between the first, second, and third light shutters and the illuminator.
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11. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 1 including:
an auxiliary powered light source operatively positioned to illuminate the illuminator.
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12. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 11 including:
a wave-guide coupler having two branches, one of the two branches connected to the first wave-guide and the other of the two branches connected to the auxiliary powered light source, the wave-guide coupler operatively positioned to illuminate the illuminator from the first wave-guide and the auxiliary powered light source.
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13. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 11 wherein:
the auxiliary powered light source is positioned adjacent the first wave-guide.
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14. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 11 wherein:
the auxiliary powered light source is positioned inside the first wave-guide.
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15. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 11 wherein:
the auxiliary powered light source is transparent and positioned between the first wave-guide and the illuminator.
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16. A microdisplay system using ambient light comprising:
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a liquid crystal microdisplay having a plurality of pixels selectively which can be actuated to reflect polarized light with the plane of polarization rotated;
a first wave-guide having a light receiving surface, a light-transmissive first front end, and a first back end, the first wave-guide having a first reflective device provided at the first back end, the first wave-guide having a first dye embedded therein, the first dye absorbing the ambient light through the light receiving surface to re-emit light at a first color, the first wave-guide trapping the re-emitted light and directing the re-emitted light through the light transmissive first front end; and
an illuminator optically coupled to the first of the first wave-guide for receiving the re-emitted light, polarizing the re-emitted light, and illuminating the microdisplay with the polarized light, the illuminator receiving and transmitting polarized light to the microdisplay. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
the light-transmissive first front end has a roughened surface provided thereon for diffusing light trapped in sand released from the first wave-guide.
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18. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 16 including:
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an eyepiece for viewing the microdisplay; and
wherein;
the microdisplay is a reflective microdisplay; and
the illuminator is disposed between the microdisplay and the eyepiece for providing polarized light to the eyepiece.
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19. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 16 including:
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a eyepiece for viewing the microdisplay; and
wherein;
the microdisplay is a transmissive microdisplay; and
the microdisplay is disposed between the illuminator and the eyepiece for selectively transmitting light from the illuminator to the eyepiece.
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20. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 16 wherein:
the first wave-guide has a second dye and a third dye additionally embedded therein, the first dye absorbing the ambient light to re-emit light with a first color, the second dye absorbing the ambient light to re-emit light with a second color, and the third dye absorbing the ambient light to re-emit light with a third color.
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21. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 20 including:
a solid-state color wheel positioned between the first wave-guide and the illuminator for selectively providing the light with the first, second, and third colors to the illuminator, the color wheel operatively coupled to the microdisplay.
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22. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 21 wherein:
the first color, the color and the third color are red, green and blue, respectively.
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23. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 16 wherein:
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the first dye absorbs the ambient light to re-emit light with a first color; and
including;
a second wave-guide having a second light receiving surface, a light-transmissive second front end, a second back end, the second wave-guide having a second reflective device provided at the second back end, the second wave-guide having a second dye embedded therein, the second dye absorbing the ambient light to re-emit light with a second color;
a third wave-guide having a third light receiving surface, a light-transmissive third front end, a third back end, the third wave-guide having a third reflective device provided at the third back end, and the third wave-guide having a third dye embedded therein, the third dye absorbing the ambient light to re-emit light with a third color; and
wherein;
the illuminator is optically coupled to the light-transmissive second front end of the second wave-guide and the light-transmissive third front end of the third wave-guide to receive non-polarized light from the illuminator and provide polarized light to the microdisplay.
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24. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 23 including:
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a first liquid crystal shutter at the light-transmissive first front end of the first wave-guide for selectively providing the first color light to the illuminator;
a second liquid crystal shutter at the light-transmissive second front end of the second wave-guide for selectively providing the second color light to the illuminator; and
a third liquid crystal shutter coupled to the third back end the third wave-guide for selectively providing the third color light to the illuminator; and
the first, second, and third liquid crystal shutters operatively coupled to the microdisplay.
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25. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 24 including:
a wave-guide coupler coupled to the light-transmissive first, second, and third front ends of the respective first, second, and third wave-guides, the coupler positioned between the first, second, and third light shutters and the illuminator to provide non-polarized light to the illuminator.
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26. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 16 including:
a light emitting diode operatively positioned to illuminate the illuminator.
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27. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 26 including:
a wave-guide coupler having two branches, one of the two branches connected to the first wave-guide and the other of the two branches connected to the auxiliary powered light source, the wave-guide coupler operatively positioned to illuminate the illuminator from the first wave-guide and the auxiliary powered light source.
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28. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 26 wherein:
the light emitting diode is positioned along the light receiving surface.
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29. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 26 wherein:
the light emitting diode is positioned inside the first wave-guide.
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30. The microdisplay system as claimed in claim 26 wherein:
the light emitting diode is transparent and positioned between the first wave-guide and the illuminator.
Specification