Abstract: The invention relates to a color display device for display a color image and a method of operating such display. The color display device is provided with a plurality of picture elements, two selectable light sources having different predetermined radiance spectra, color selection means which in combination with the selectable light sources is able to produce respective first and second primary colors on the display panel and control means arranged to select alternately one of the selectable light sources and to provide a portion of the picture elements with image information corresponding to the respective primary colors obtainable with the selected light source. The primary colors of the display device can be selected in a time sequential and space sequential way which enable a reduction of a color break-up.

Abstract: An optical filter for filtering light rays having mutually different light intensity and direction of incidence on the optical filter along a number of mutually different directions and having a predetermined wavelength or wavelengths, has a carrier body which is transmissive for light rays having the predetermined wavelength or wavelengths and a plurality of photo-adaptive light-blocking elements distributed within the carrier body rendering the optical filter least transmissive in the direction along which the light ray having the highest light intensity is incident.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate material for analyzing one or more fluid samples for the presence, amount or identity of one or more analytes in the samples, whereby the substrate material is adapted in that way that a flow of the sample or parts thereof in and/or with the substrate material is influenced and/or caused by phase transitions, preferably temperature-inducible phase transitions, in selected areas of the substrate material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate material for analyzing fluids which is elastic and allows radial lateral movement of sample within the substrate material upon application of pressure.

Abstract: The present invention provides micro-fluidic systems, a method for the manufacturing of such a micro-fluidic system and a method for controlling or manipulating a fluid flow through micro-channels of a such a micro-fluidic system. Herefore, an inner side of a wall of a microchannel is provided with actuator elements which can change shape and orientation as a response to an external stimulus. Through this change of shape and orientation the flow of a fluid through a microchannel may be controlled and manipulated.

Abstract: A mirror device (1) which can be simultaneously used for display purposes, based on e.g. an LCD display (5) with a polarizing mirror (2) placed in front of it. The polarizing mirror (2) has the characteristics that it does not disturb the transmission of the light from the display (5), but does reflect the light from outside the area of the screen.

Abstract: A multi-layered arrangement according to the invention provide emission of polarized light. At least one of the interfacing surfaces between the layers is provided with a microstructure. In one embodiment, a first layer in the form of a lightguide substrate (401) receives unpolarized light from a lamp (420). A birefringent second layer (402) is provided with a microstructure (410) in the form of parallel grooves. On top of the birefringent layer a third layer (403), i.e. a coating layer, is located. Light is outcoupled by way of selective Total Internal Reflection, TIR, at the micro-structured surface of the birefringent layer, yielding a highly linearly polarized emission at near normal angles. The polarized light may be emitted out through the coating or in an opposite direction through the lightguide, which in an advantageous manner allow any configuration of transmissive (backlight), transflective (backlight) or reflective (frontlight) display arrangement.

Abstract: An electroluminescent device (13), such as a light emitting diode, which has a light-reflecting surface (10) causing undesirable reflection of ambient light incident on the device is provided with a combination of a reflective circular polarizer (17) and an absorbing circular polarizer (23) to suppress the undesirable reflection of ambient light thus improving the contrast of the device when used under high intensity ambient lighting conditions while maintaining a satisfactory brightness. The reflection band of the reflective circular polarizer regions (17?) of the reflective circular polarizer (17) are preferably tuned to the corresponding emission band of the luminescent regions (9?) of the electroluminescent device to further increase the contrast of the device while substantially maintaining the same brightness.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display laminate comprises a liquid crystal layer and a single substrate for confining that layer, allowing the liquid crystal layer to be provided using a wet deposition method such as printing or coating. To improve mechanical stability and provide protection and keep the liquid crystal layer in place, a cover layer may be provided on the liquid crystal layer. The cover layer and liquid crystal layer may together form a stratified-phase-separated composite in which case the liquid crystal layer and the cover layer are provided simultaneously. The display laminate is very thin and light weight. The display laminate may include or be combined with further layers such as orientation layers, electrode layers, polarizers and/or retarders layer to form a fully functional, high contrast display device.

Abstract: A polarized light emitting waveguide plate comprises an entrance side for coupling light into the wave guide plate, a major exit surface for coupling light out of the waveguide plate, and a polarizer for selectively directing a component of a first polarization state of light coupled in via the entrance side towards the exit surface, the polarizer comprising an anisotropically light scattering layer which selectively scatters the component of the first polarization state towards the exit surface. Preferably, the waveguide plate is made of conventionally processed polymeric materials in the form of a laminate of waveguide substrate, anisotropically light scattering layer and, optionally, an optically transparent cover layer.

Abstract: A light valve for controlled transmission of light comprises first and second elements at least one of which is controllably movable into optical contact with the other element. Means are provided for projecting light on the first of the two elements on the side remote from the second of the two elements. Each facing side of the elements is provided with an interference filter layer, which interference filter layers, when being in optical contact with each other, have a transmission for light projected onto the light valve in a wavelength range determined by the interference filter layers. This transmission differs from the transmission that would occur in the case where the interference filter layers are not in optical contact with each other.

Abstract: A stratified-phase-separated composite comprising a polymeric layer and a liquid layer is obtained by photo-polymerizing a composition comprising a liquid and a photo-polymerizable monomer. In order to obtain well-stratified composites which may contain liquid which does not absorb radiation used to photo-polymerize, the composition and composite comprises a dye which is adapted to absorb radiation used to carry out the photo-polymerization and which selectively accumulates in the polymeric layer.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing polarized light to, e.g. a LCD, is disclosed. The arrangement comprises a substrate (201) and a top layer (202). The substrate (201) is preferably optically anisotropic and the top layer (202) is either isotropic or anisotropic. The respective indices of refraction are chosen such that polarization separation occurs at the interface (214) between the substrate (201) and the top layer (202). Furthermore, the indices of refraction are chosen such that there are no restrictions on the angle of incidence (&thgr;i) of the incoming light (L), and hence obviating the need for collimation of the incoming light (L). The top layer (202) comprises light outcoupling structures, internally or externally.

Abstract: A stacked liquid cell, such as a stacked liquid crystal cell, comprises a stack of liquid layers and substrate layers between which the liquid layers are dispersed. The stack comprises a liquid and polymeric substrate layers made from a stratified-phase-separated composite. Being part of a stratified-phase-separated composite, in particular one manufactured in accordance with a single-substrate method, the polymeric layer may have a relative small thickness compared a conventional substrate layer which results in a stacked liquid cell having a reduced thickness or, more particular, a stacked liquid cell having a reduced thickness between subjacent liquid layers giving a reduction in parallax effects. A method of manufacturing a liquid cell involves stratifying, on a substrate, a layer of stratified-phase-separable composition into a liquid layer and a polymeric layer to form a stratified-phase-separated composite, the polymeric layer serving as one of the substrate of the liquid cell.

Abstract: Transflective display device has an optical waveguide commonly known as a light guide. The guide includes areas having a chiral nematic structure which splits light coming in from aside into two light beams having a mutually opposite circular polarization. Polarization splitting is achieved at the interface of the areas having the chiral nematic structure.

Abstract: A stratified-phase-separated composite comprises a liquid layer, such as a liquid crystal layer, and a polymeric layer. In order to obtain a more complete stratification resulting in less liquid being present in the polymeric layer, the polymeric layer is crosslinked. The stratified composite is preferably obtained by photo-polymerization induced phase-separation of a phase-separable composition provided on a single substrate or dispersed between two opposite substrates.

Abstract: A polarized light-emitting waveguide for use in an edge-lit lighting arrangement has polarization-selective outcoupling structure including at least a volume hologram for selectively diffracting waveguided light towards the exit surface of the waveguide with high contrast and efficiency. The light emitted by the waveguide is selectively emitted to one side thereof, highly polarized, highly collimated and may be homogeneously distributed across the exit surface. Also, light emission may be normal or near-normal to the exit surface. If combined with light recycling means the contrast, brightness and/or efficiency of the edge-lit illumination arrangement may be further increased.

Abstract: A polarized light emitting waveguide plate (60) comprises an entrance side (64) for coupling light into the wave guide plate (60), a major exit surface (65) for coupling light out of the waveguide plate, and polarization means for selectively directing a component of a first polarization state of light coupled in via the entrance side (64) towards the exit surface (65), the polarization means comprising an anisotropically light scattering layer (26) which selectively scatters the component of the first polarization state towards the exit surface (65). In a preferred embodiment the waveguide plate (60) is made of conventionally processed polymeric materials in the form of a laminate of waveguide substrate (68), anisotropically light scattering layer(26) and, optionally, an optically transparent cover layer (69).

Abstract: Display device based on the scanning window principle, in which light loss in segments of the optical shutter element (21) is prevented by using reflective polarizers (35, 36).

Abstract: Transflective display device provided with an optical waveguide which splits light coming in from aside into two light beams having a mutually opposite circular polarization. Polarization splitting is achieved at the interface of areas in the optical waveguide having a chiral nematic structure.