Light illumination of displays with front light guide and coupling elements
First Claim
1. A display device comprising:
- a reflective spatial light modulator included in a pixel of a display;
a light source rearward of said reflective spatial light modulator;
a first light guide forward of said reflective spatial light modulator, said first light guide having forward and rearward surfaces;
a second light guide rearward of said reflective spatial light modulator such that light from said light source propagates therein; and
a turning mirror disposed to receive light from an edge of the second light guide that is distal to the light source and direct said light into said first light guide, such that said light is total internally reflected from the forward and rearward surfaces of the first light guide so as to be guided along the length of the first light guide,wherein said first light guide is configured to direct said light coupled therein to said reflective spatial light modulator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In various embodiments described herein, a display device includes a front illumination apparatus that comprises a first light guide disposed forward of an array of display elements, such as an array of interferometric modulators, to distribute light across the array of display elements. The light guide panel is edge illuminated by a light source positioned behind the array display elements. The light from such a light source is coupled to a second light guide disposed behind the array of display elements and positioned laterally with respect to the light source. The light in the second light guide is coupled into the first light guide using a small optical coupling element such as a turning mirror. In some embodiments the second light guide may comprise the backplate of the display device.
255 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A display device comprising:
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a reflective spatial light modulator included in a pixel of a display; a light source rearward of said reflective spatial light modulator; a first light guide forward of said reflective spatial light modulator, said first light guide having forward and rearward surfaces; a second light guide rearward of said reflective spatial light modulator such that light from said light source propagates therein; and a turning mirror disposed to receive light from an edge of the second light guide that is distal to the light source and direct said light into said first light guide, such that said light is total internally reflected from the forward and rearward surfaces of the first light guide so as to be guided along the length of the first light guide, wherein said first light guide is configured to direct said light coupled therein to said reflective spatial light modulator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34)
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32. A display device comprising:
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a means for reflectively modulating light for forming part of an image; a means for illuminating disposed rearward of said reflectively light modulating means; a first means for guiding light forward of said reflectively light modulating means, said first means for guiding light having forward and rearward surfaces; a second means for guiding light rearward of said reflectively light modulating means such that light from said light illuminating means propagates therein; and a turning mirror disposed to receive light from an edge of said second light guiding means that is distal to said illuminating means and direct said light into said first light guiding means, such that said light is total internally reflected from the forward and rearward surfaces of the first means for guiding light so as to be guided along the length of the first means for guiding light, wherein said first light guiding means is configured to direct said light coupled therein to said reflectively light modulating means.
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33. A method of manufacturing a display device, the method comprising:
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providing a reflective spatial light modulator included in a pixel of a display; disposing a light source rearward of said reflective spatial light modulator; disposing a first light guide forward of said reflective spatial light modulator, said first light guide having forward and rearward surfaces; disposing a second light guide rearward of said reflective spatial light modulator such that light from said light source propagates therein; and disposing a turning mirror to receive light from an edge of the second light guide that is distal to the light source and direct said light into said first light guide, such that said light is total internally reflected from the forward and rearward surfaces of the first light guide so as to be guided along the length of the first light guide.
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Specification