Three-five Systems, Inc.

Bart D Millikan

Dan Jerry Schott

Michael G Petera

David R Buchanan

An optical docking station comprises an optical frame and a detachable virtual image display module. The display module comprises a low power light source such as a light emitting diode, one or more beam splitters, polarizers, a liquid crystal display panel and an imaging lens. When the display module is detached from the optical frame, the light emitting diode provides the primary illumination for the image formed by the liquid crystal display panel. The image thus formed is a magnified virtual image of the liquid crystal display panel. When the display module is attached to the projector frame, however, a more powerful light source mounted to the optical frame provides the primary illumination. The more powerful light source forms a real image of the liquid crystal display module, which is capable of being projected onto a screen.

Optical docking station

An LCD backlight (30) comprises generally rectangular parallelepiped light guide (36) with an exit aperture (31) that is smaller than the surface area light guide (36) and illuminates a LCD (49). The light guide is illuminated by a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LED) dies (32) disposed along at least one edge of the light guide. A translucent fluorescent film (40) is disposed immediately above the exit aperture to diffuse the light exiting the exit aperture and also the change in the dominant wavelengths. Further, the light guide (36), the LEDs (32), fluorescent film (40), and additional light redirecting layers (42 and 44) are completely surrounded by and optically coupled to a diffusively reflective film (50), which covers the back surface, the edges, and the front surface of the light guide except for the exit aperture. This diffusively reflective shielding is covered by a conventional reflective material layer (51) to ensure no light escapes the backlight except through the exit aperture.

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Gilbert, AZ, United States of America

Bart D Millikan