Prysm, Inc.

Seiko Epson Corporation

3m Innovative Properties Company

Polaroid Corporation

Philip J Ralli

Pradnya V Nagarkar

Giorgio Trapani

Robert L Graves

James N Gordon

Michael P McMahon

Charles L Bruzzone

Ikuko Ebihara

John J Cael

Jonathan M Mack

Gerald N Nkwantah

Michael K Gerlach

John C Branca

Roger A Hajjar

Philip Edwin Watson

William K Smyth

John L Ritter

Michael M Wenyon

William J Molteni

David M Foresyth

Atsushi Suzuki

William Pugh

A display screen includes a filter layer, a fluorescent layer having parallel fluorescent stripes, and an attachment layer between an excitation side of the fluorescent layer and a first side of the filter layer to attach the excitation side of fluorescent layer to the filter layer while providing vertical separation therebetween. The attachment layer includes attachment regions that are separated from each other by lateral spacings such that excitation-side air gaps are formed between areas of the fluorescent layer and the filter layer that correspond to the lateral spacings. During display operation, excitation light received on a second side of the filter layer propagates through to the first side of the filter layer, and at least a portion of the excitation light that propagates from the second side of the filter layer travels through the excitation-side air gaps to excite the fluorescent stripes.

Multilayered screens for scanning beam display systems

A multi-layer display screen capable of being tiled without a visible gap between tiled screens and methods of using said device are described herein. In one embodiment, a system includes a light generator configured to produce light and a multi-layer screen with a plurality of layers. The multi-layer screen can be configured to permit the light from the light generator to propagate therethrough. The plurality of layers can include an opaque region layer having a plurality of opaque regions and a first layer comprising one or more abutted layers disposed within a common plane, the abutted layers spaced apart by a gap, wherein the gap is coincident with the opaque region.

Seamless emission tile quilt

Embodiments of fluorescent display screens having an intermediate layer between a light-emitting fluorescent layer and an excitation filter layer are disclosed. The intermediate layer includes (1) a low-index layer disposed between the light-emitting fluorescent layer and the excitation filter layer and (2) an index bridging layer disposed between the low-index layer and the excitation filter layer. The insertion of the low-index layer and the index bridging layer according to the above configuration reduces the sensitivity of the excitation coupling to the non-uniformities in the excitation filter layer and variability in the output frequency of the excitation source, leading to improved uniformity of display intensity without significant compromise in the excitation coupling efficiency. A index bridging region made of a hard coat also provides abrasion resistance and provides structure rigidity to the adjacent excitation filter layer.

Reduction of intensity ringing in fluorescent displays

A projection system includes a light source producing illumination light, an imager disposed to receive the illumination light, and a projection lens disposed to receive the illumination light from the imager. The imager includes an intrinsic polarizer. The intrinsic polarizer can be an intrinsic polarizer stack including a U.V. curable adhesive.

Projection system including intrinsic polarizer

An intrinsic polarizer, including a sheet of PVA-type matrix that includes vinylene polymer blocks, the sheet defining a pass polarization axis and a block polarization axis perpendicular to the pass polarization axis, light having an electrical vector parallel to the pass polarization axis being substantially transmitted through the sheet and light having an electrical vector parallel to the block polarization axis being substantially absorbed by the vinylene blocks, the sheet exhibiting a dichroic ratio of more than 100.

Intrinsic polarizer

An improved method of forming an intrinsic polarizer, referred to as a K-type polarizer, includes stretching a polymeric film a first stretching step. The polymeric film comprises a hydroxylated linear polymer which is converted after the first stretching step to form dichroic, copolymer polyvinylene blocks aligned in the polymeric film. The polymeric film is stretched in a second stretching step while converting the hydroxylated linear polymer. This method produces an improved K-type polarizer with excellent polarizing and color characteristics. For example, the dichroic ratio is higher than 100, the color shift for light passed through the polarizer in a crossed configuration is low, and the absorption of light in the blue region of the visible spectrum is more than one half of the absorption for light in the middle of the visible spectrum.

Intrinsic polarizer and method of manufacturing an intrinsic polarizer

A projection system including an intrinsic polarizer is disclosed. The projection system includes a light source producing illumination light, an imager disposed to receive the illumination light, and a projection lens disposed to receive the illumination light from the imager. The imager includes an intrinsic polarizer. An intrinsic polarizer stack including a U.V. curable adhesive is also disclosed.

A polarizer is used with a liquid crystal display (LCD) cell whose liquid crystal molecules are switched in the plane of the cell. The LCD has birefringent properties that are different from other types of LCD cell and, unlike other types of LCD, the image contrast is maintained and there is little color shift in the dark state when a low birefringence polarizer is used with the SIP LCD cell. In one embodiment, the x-z retardation of the layers between the polarization-sensitive absorbing layer and the LCD is less than 20 nm. In another embodiment, the x-z birefringence is less than 0.0005. The low levels of retardation and birefringence may be achieved by omitting the commonly used cellulose triacetate layer between the polarization-sensitive absorbing layer and the LCD.

Liquid crystal display with neutral dark state

A liquid crystal display structure includes a liquid crystal display cell having a front surface and a back surface. One or more intrinsic polarizers lacking protective coatings thereon, such as K-type polarizers and thin KE polarizer sheets, are disposed adjacent to the front and back surfaces of the liquid crystal display cell. Alternatively, thinly cladded or encased iodine polarizers are disposed adjacent to the front and back surfaces of the liquid crystal display cell. The liquid crystal display structure may be used in conjunction with other optical display elements to enhance the brightness and contrast of the liquid crystal display.

Polarizers for use with liquid crystal displays

Reflective image-providing displays illuminated with chromatically-adjusted holographically diffused light are provided. In one particular and preferred embodiment, a liquid crystal display component is presented comprising a liquid crystal display element backed with a reflective transmission holographic diffuser. Chromatic adjustment is effected by the inclusion in said liquid crystal display component of a compensatory filter layer of relatively low density designed to restore the ambient color balance of input light, the balance being otherwise upset by transit through said liquid crystal display element. Achromatically illuminated images of good contrast are displayed and viewed from the liquid crystal display component under ambient lighting conditions.

Chromatically-adjusted holographically illuminated image-providing

A light-diffusing holographic transflector comprising a holographic layer and a transflective layer is disclosed. The transflector is capable under good ambient lighting conditions of illuminating an LCD display element by holographic reflection, and under poor ambient lighting conditions, by the transmission therethrough of internal edge- or back-lighting. The transmission of light is accomplished to form a predetermined visually-perceptible image (e.g., graphics, designs, and logos) by the provision in said transflector of a corresponding pattern of light-transmitting microholes. The light-transmitting microholes are formed preferably by laser ablation or etching.

Holographic transflector

The present invention provides a polarizing holographic reflector module useful in the manufacture of a holographically-illuminated liquid crystal display assembly by combination thereof with a partial LCD stack. The polarizing holographic reflector module is substantially quadrangular in shape and comprises a reflective holographic diffuser, a light polarizer, a pressure sensitive adhesive, and a removable protective liner. A method of manufacture is also provided wherein a web of polarizer material having a linear or downweb orientation is roll-to-roll laminated to a web of angularly offset reflective holographic diffusers.

Growing community of inventors

Sudbury, MA, United States of America

Philip J Ralli