Integrated modulator illumination
First Claim
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1. A spatial light modulator, comprising:
- an array of display elements configured to modulate light in accordance with image data, said array of display elements comprising interferometric modulators;
a display panel comprising a transparent substrate having forward and rearward surfaces arranged adjacent to the array of display elements such that the rearward surface is directly adjacent the array of display elements to allow a viewer to view an image produced by modulation of light, the substrate including a plurality of edges defined between said forward and rearward surfaces;
a light source comprising an edge light, the edge light disposed laterally with respect to at least one of said edges of the transparent substrate, the light source configured to inject light into at least one edge of said substrate such that light is guided through the substrate due to total internal reflection; and
reflective elements disposed on the forward surface of the substrate, the reflective elements configured to reflect the light guided due to total internal reflection through the substrate, thereby directing said light guided through the substrate due to total internal reflection to the array of display elements.
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Abstract
A spatial light modulator includes an array of elements to modulate light in accordance with image data. The modulator has a display panel having first and second surfaces arranged adjacent to the array of elements such that the second surface is directly adjacent the array of elements to allow a viewer to view an image produced by modulation of light. The modulator may also include a light source to provide light to the display panel and illumination dots on the first surface of the display panel to reflect light from the source to the array of elements.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A spatial light modulator, comprising:
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an array of display elements configured to modulate light in accordance with image data, said array of display elements comprising interferometric modulators; a display panel comprising a transparent substrate having forward and rearward surfaces arranged adjacent to the array of display elements such that the rearward surface is directly adjacent the array of display elements to allow a viewer to view an image produced by modulation of light, the substrate including a plurality of edges defined between said forward and rearward surfaces; a light source comprising an edge light, the edge light disposed laterally with respect to at least one of said edges of the transparent substrate, the light source configured to inject light into at least one edge of said substrate such that light is guided through the substrate due to total internal reflection; and reflective elements disposed on the forward surface of the substrate, the reflective elements configured to reflect the light guided due to total internal reflection through the substrate, thereby directing said light guided through the substrate due to total internal reflection to the array of display elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 20)
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9. A spatial light modulator, comprising:
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means for modulating light in accordance with image data, said modulating means comprising interferometric modulators; means for supporting said modulating means during fabrication of said modulation means, said supporting means having forward and rearward surfaces, said rearward surface of said supporting means being located directly adjacent to said modulating means to allow a viewer to view an image produced by modulation of light, the supporting means including a plurality of edges defined between said forward and rearward surfaces; means for edge illuminating the supporting means, said edge illuminating means disposed laterally with respect to at least one of the edges of said supporting means to inject light into at least one edge of the supporting means such that light is guided through the supporting means due to total internal reflection; and means for scattering said light guided due to total internal reflection through supporting means, said light scattering means located on said forward surface of said supporting means, thereby directing said light guided through the supporting means due to total internal reflection to said modulating means. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21)
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Specification