U.S. Philips Corporation

Constance J Seppen

Dirk Jan Broer

Henri M Boots

An illumination system (3) includes an optical waveguide (11) and a light source (9) whose light is coupled into the optical waveguide (11) via at least one end face (13) of the optical waveguide (11). The optical waveguide (11) is provided with recesses (19) which are subsequently filled up with a material which is different from that of the optical waveguide (11). One of the two materials is isotropic and has refractive index n.sub.p and the other material is anisotropic and has refractive indices n.sub.o and n.sub.e. For the refractive indices it should hold that n.sub.o or n.sub.e is equal or substantially equal to n.sub.p in order that there is separation of polarization at the interfaces between isotropic and anisotropic material. Further, a flat-panel picture display device includes such an illumination system.

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Orleans, France

Constance J Seppen