Frontlight unit for enhancing illumination of a reflective display
First Claim
1. A frontlight unit for enhancing illumination of a reflective display having pixels arranged in a matrix pattern, comprising:
- an optically transparent waveguide medium having an external surface on the side opposite the reflective display;
cores embedded in the optically transparent waveguide medium, the optically transparent waveguide medium functioning as a cladding for the cores;
a net of planar ridge waveguides formed by cores and cladding;
at least one source of laser light optically coupled with aforementioned net of planar ridge waveguides for delivery of laser light to the optically transparent waveguide medium, the net comprising light-separating means for separating laser light into individual light beams propagating in the planar ridge waveguides of the net and light-distributing means for receiving individual light beams and for distributing individual light beams to predetermined places of the net;
the first individual light beam-redirection means formed on one of the core surfaces located in the aforementioned, predetermined places of the net for redirecting individual light beams that propagate through the light-distributing means in the first direction relative to the planar ridge waveguide medium and in the second direction relative to the planar ridge waveguide medium; and
second light beam-redirection means formed on other core surfaces for redirecting individual light beams that propagate through the light-distributing means in the first direction relative to the planar ridge waveguide medium and in the second direction relative to the planar ridge waveguide medium;
the second individual light beam-redirection means of each core being identical to the first individual light beam-redirection means of the same core but formed in positions at which light beams directed from the first individual light beam and from the second individual light beam in the first direction are doubled and in the second direction are extinguished, the first direction being the direction toward the reflective display and the second direction being the direction opposite the first direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The frontlight illumination system is intended for enhancing illumination of a reflective display having pixels arranged in a matrix pattern and using monochromatic laser lights as light sources. The unit contains a network of light-distributing planar ridge waveguides with holograms arranged in a matrix pattern that corresponds to the matrix pattern of the reflective display. The light-distributing holograms of the system are formed on opposite sides of each core of respective light-distributing planar ridge waveguides. Neighboring holograms located on opposite sides of the core are combined into pairs and are arranged on each core in positions at which they interact with a predetermined phase shift that doubles the intensity of light directed to the reflective display and extinguishes light directed to the external surface.
59 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A frontlight unit for enhancing illumination of a reflective display having pixels arranged in a matrix pattern, comprising:
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an optically transparent waveguide medium having an external surface on the side opposite the reflective display; cores embedded in the optically transparent waveguide medium, the optically transparent waveguide medium functioning as a cladding for the cores; a net of planar ridge waveguides formed by cores and cladding; at least one source of laser light optically coupled with aforementioned net of planar ridge waveguides for delivery of laser light to the optically transparent waveguide medium, the net comprising light-separating means for separating laser light into individual light beams propagating in the planar ridge waveguides of the net and light-distributing means for receiving individual light beams and for distributing individual light beams to predetermined places of the net; the first individual light beam-redirection means formed on one of the core surfaces located in the aforementioned, predetermined places of the net for redirecting individual light beams that propagate through the light-distributing means in the first direction relative to the planar ridge waveguide medium and in the second direction relative to the planar ridge waveguide medium; and second light beam-redirection means formed on other core surfaces for redirecting individual light beams that propagate through the light-distributing means in the first direction relative to the planar ridge waveguide medium and in the second direction relative to the planar ridge waveguide medium; the second individual light beam-redirection means of each core being identical to the first individual light beam-redirection means of the same core but formed in positions at which light beams directed from the first individual light beam and from the second individual light beam in the first direction are doubled and in the second direction are extinguished, the first direction being the direction toward the reflective display and the second direction being the direction opposite the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A frontlight unit for enhancing illumination of a reflective display having pixels arranged in a matrix pattern, comprising:
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an optically transparent waveguide medium having an external surface on the side opposite the reflective display, cores embedded in the optically transparent waveguide medium, the cores comprising a net of planar ridge waveguides comprising a plurality of light-distributing planar ridge waveguides that extend in a direction perpendicular to the light-separating waveguide in the plane of cores and that are optically coupled with the light-separating planar ridge waveguide at predetermined areas of the latter; at least three laser sources generating different wavelengths for delivery of light to the light-separating planar ridge waveguide; light-separating holograms formed in the light-separating planar ridge waveguide in said predetermined areas of the light-separating planar ridge waveguide for reorienting the light obtained from at least three laser sources to the light-distributing planar ridge waveguides; and first illuminating digital planar holograms formed in the light-distributing planar ridge waveguides that emit light beams obtained from the light-separating planar ridge waveguide in the direction of the external surface of the optically transparent waveguide medium and in the direction of the reflective display with which the frontlight unit interacts, said first and second illuminating digital planar holograms being arranged in a matrix pattern that coincides with the matrix pattern of the reflective display when the frontlight unit is interposed onto the reflective display. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification