Polarized display with wide-angle illumination
First Claim
1. A polarized display device having an expanded angle of illumination for optimizing a viewing angle in a desired plane comprising:
- a direct view polarized display panel; and
a transmissive polarization rotating element proximate to an exterior surface of the polarized display panel, wherein said transmissive polarization rotating element rotates light polarization between a first linear polarization orientation and a second linear polarization orientation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for improving the brightness of a polarized display at viewing angles off of the vector normal to the display panel. The advantages of the present invention will be most pronounced when employed in applications in which the viewing angle requirements are asymmetric, such as for avionics applications that require cross-cockpit viewability of the display. The present invention overcomes the limitations inherent in earlier designs by introducing a polarization rotation element as part of the display device to rotate the polarization of light from one orientation to another orientation. Through the use of the present invention, the axis in which the angle of sufficient off normal brightness is broadest can be reoriented to an axis that is most ideal for the particular application, thus dramatically improving the overall performance and efficiency of such displays.
37 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A polarized display device having an expanded angle of illumination for optimizing a viewing angle in a desired plane comprising:
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a direct view polarized display panel; and
a transmissive polarization rotating element proximate to an exterior surface of the polarized display panel, wherein said transmissive polarization rotating element rotates light polarization between a first linear polarization orientation and a second linear polarization orientation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for improving the viewability characteristics of a polarized display panel comprising:
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a polarization sensitive scattering element having a polarization axis; and
a transmissive polarization rotating element attached to an exterior surface of the polarization sensitive scattering element, wherein said transmissive polarization rotating element rotates light polarization between a first linear polarization orientation and a second linear polarization orientation. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of projecting light using a polarized display, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting light from a rear optical element in an asymmetric angular pattern for a first linear polarization and having a transmittance envelope with a major axis for the first linear polarization;
receiving light by a transmissive polarization rotating element from said rear optical element in the first linear polarization;
rotating light to a second linear polarization by the transmissive polarization rotating element; and
receiving light from the transmissive polarization rotating element in the second linear polarization by a polarized display panel having a rear polarizer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A polarized display device comprising:
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a rear optical element transmitting light in a pattern and having a first linear polarization;
a direct view polarized display panel having a rear polarizer oriented to receive light from the rear optical element in the first linear polarization and transmit light in a second linear polarization; and
a transmissive polarization rotating element affixed to an exterior surface of the direct view polarized display panel receiving light from the direct view polarized display panel in the second linear polarization, rotating the light to a third linear polarization, and transmitting the light. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification