Holographic brightness enhancement film

• US 8,902,484 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gruhlke, Russell Wayne, Martin, Russel Allyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Chwasz, Jade R
• Application Number:
  US12/969,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20120154881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 359/27
• US Class Current: 359/15
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/001 based on interference in an adjustable optical cavity interference filters G02B5/28; devices or arrangements using multiple reflections in spectrometry or monochromators G01J3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/32 Holograms used as optical elements

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including a display device that includes an overlying holographic film. In one aspect, the holographic film includes a hologram that is configured to turn light incident on the film. The light is turned towards the display device at desired angles. The display can be formed of interferometric modulators and the turned light can be reflected off the display, and towards a viewer, to form an image. For light that is incident on the film at angles outside of a view cone, the holographic film is provided with holographic light turning features that turn this light so that it is reflected off the display at angles within a view cone of the display.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising:

an array of display elements; and

a holographic film overlying the display elements, the holographic film comprising a pixilated hologram,

wherein the hologram is configured to turn ambient light incident on the holographic film towards the array of display elements such that the turned light is reflected and propagates away from the display device at angles within a view cone of the display device, wherein a range of light that the hologram is configured to turn consists of light incident on the holographic film at angles outside of the view cone of the display device, wherein some pluralities of pixels of the hologram are configured to turn light incident on the hologram from a first direction without turning incident light from a second direction and wherein other pluralities of pixels of the hologram are configured to turn light incident on the hologram from the second direction without turning incident light from the first direction.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the display elements comprise interferometric modulators, each interferometric modulator including a reflective surface for reflecting the turned light.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein a reflective surface for reflecting the turned light underlies the array of display elements.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein a reflective surface for reflecting the turned light is integral with the array of display elements.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the turned light is incident on the hologram from a plurality of directions.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the hologram is configured to not turn light from directions opposite the plurality of directions.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein different pluralities of pixels of the hologram are configured to turn light of different colors.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the pixels are biased to turn light of one or more particular colors relative to other colors.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the pixels configured to turn light of any of the one or more particular colors outnumber pixels configured to turn light of any other one color.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein pixels forming the hologram have a minimum width or length of about 100 μ

m.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the view cone is within about ±

60°

of a normal to a major surface of the display.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the view cone is within about ±

45°

of a normal to a major surface of the display.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor that is configured to communicate with the display elements, the processor being configured to process image data; and

a memory device that is configured to communicate with the processor.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

a driver circuit configured to send at least one signal to said display.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

a controller configured to send at least a portion of said image data to said driver circuit.

16. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

an image source module configured to send said image data to said processor.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein said image source module comprises at least one of a receiver, transceiver, and transmitter.

18. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

an input device configured to receive input data and to communicate said input data to said processor.

19. A display device, comprising:

a first means for reflecting incident light outward from an image-displaying side of the display system to form a displayed image; and

a second means for selectively turning light depending on the location of incidence of the light on the display device, wherein the second means turns the light towards the first means such that the turned light is reflected from the first means and the reflected turned light propagates away from the display device at angles within a view cone of the display device, wherein a range of light that the second means is configured to turn consists of light incident on the second means at angles outside of the view cone of the display device, the second means comprising a pixilated hologram, wherein some pluralities of pixels of the hologram are configured to turn light incident on the hologram from a first direction without turning incident light from a second direction and wherein other pluralities of pixels of the hologram are configured to turn light incident on the hologram from the second direction without turning incident light from the first direction.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the first means is a plurality of interferometric modulators.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the hologram is a volume hologram.

22. The device of claim 19, wherein the view cone is within about ±

60°

of a normal to a major surface of the display device.

23. The device of claim 19, wherein the hologram is provided in a holographic film disposed on a display comprising the first means, wherein the first means is a plurality of interferometric modulators.

24. The device of claim 19, wherein different pluralities of the pixels of the hologram are configured to turn light of different colors.

25. A method for manufacturing a display device, comprising:

providing a display having a reflective layer; and

providing a holographic film on the display, the holographic film including a pixilated hologram configured to turn light incident on the display device towards the reflective layer such that the turned light is reflected off the reflective layer and the reflected turned light propagates away from the display device at angles within a view cone, wherein a range of light that the hologram is configured to turn consists of light incident on the holographic film at angles outside of the view cone, wherein some pluralities of pixels of the hologram are configured to turn light incident on the hologram from a first direction without turning incident light from a second direction and wherein other pluralities of pixels of the hologram are configured to turn light incident on the hologram from the second direction without turning incident light from the first direction.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein providing the holographic film includes attaching the holographic film to the display.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein providing the display includes forming a plurality of interferometric modulators, the interferometric modulators forming pixels of the display.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein providing the holographic film includes forming the hologram by directing laser light through a diffuser and into the holographic film.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein providing the holographic film includes forming the hologram by separately forming pluralities of regularly spaced apart holographic light turning structures.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein each plurality of holographic light turning structures is formed by striking the holographic film with light of a different wavelength.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein each plurality of holographic light turning structures is formed by striking the holographic film with light incident on the film from a different direction.