Abstract: An optical display system and method selectively displaces delta triad pixels vertically. The first raster line of picture information is removed from the video signal, and each subsequent raster line of picture information (data) is displaced upward. Next, the entire picture is optically displaced down by a distance equal to one vertical pixel pitch placing the picture back in its original vertical position, but horizontal position of the pixels has changed. Thus picture information is displaced horizontally a distance equal to one and one half times horizontal pixel pitch. Odd pixel rows are displaced in one direction, and even pixel rows are displaced in the opposite direction. The technique can be used to double pixel density and, thus, resolution, in the horizontal direction by the selective shifting technique and coordination with the input video signals.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device, materials for making the device, and method of making and using the device, and several applications of the device, having memory is responsive to respective inputs to assume respective optical responses; the liquid crystal may be liquid crystal microencapsulated in a containment medium; the memory capability of the device allows the device to hold a prescribed optical response condition even though one of the inputs changes between respective states or values.

Abstract: A passive dithering display system includes an optical display including a plurality of pixels with optical dead space between the pixels for producing an image, and a birefringent material for shifting one polarization component of the image relative to a second polarization component of the image such that the shifted polarization component lies in the dead space. Thus, the system of the invention can change the location of an optical signal, and the change can be used to improve resolution of a display, to reduce fixed pattern noise of a display, to facilitate locating and hiding of circuitry, to facilitate overlapping of tiles or pixels, etc.

Abstract: An optical system and projector includes a source of light, an output system having a collection angle for receiving light and passing such received light as an output, and a liquid crystal device including relatively low birefringence liquid crystal material for selectively scattering light through a controlled angle such that a major portion of the scattered light may be collected by said output system, or for transmitting light, the output system including an aperture for transmitting such scattered light and blocking unscattered light. A method of optimizing the angle of scattering of output light in a liquid crystal device which is operable to transmit light or to scatter light to match the entrance pupil of an optical system in order to maximize the amount of collected scattered light, includes selecting the birefringence of the liquid crystal material of about 0.16 or less, and placing the liquid crystal material and medium in physical relation to cause such light scattering or transmission.

Abstract: A head mounted display system includes focusing optics to focus light from an image source, retro-reflector and beamsplitter, the image source and beamsplitter directing light toward the retro-reflector to focus a real image, and the light reflected from the retro-reflector being directed via the beamsplitter for viewing, thereby to use conjugate optics effectively to place the viewing eye or detector in relation to the image source the same as the relation of the focusing optics to the image source. The retro-reflector may be mounted on a common housing or support with the beamsplitter and focusing optics or it may be remotely located. A method for forming an image using conjugate optics in which light from a source is focused to form a real image at a retro-reflector and is reflected for viewing.

Abstract: A display system including a retro-reflector, and optical means including a projection lens and an accommodation feature for directing light from an image source to the retro-reflector, light reflected by the retro-reflector being provided for viewing, said optical means and retro-reflector being cooperative to establish a conjugate optics path including the accommodation feature along which the light is directed to the eye or eyes of a viewer for viewing of an image, the accommodation feature includes a conjugation lens means and it and the retro-reflector are cooperatively positioned such that as light passes back through the conjugation lens means along the same path it would have followed had the retro-reflector been placed at the image plane of the projection lens had the conjugation lens means not been in position. A servo system for moving the projection lens and the retro-reflector according to a transfer function also may be included.

Abstract: A birefringent material have two major parallel surfaces and a method of making such a material, wherein the said material comprises plural identical uniaxial birefringent polymeric films, each of said uniaxial films having an optical axis, or comprising plural identical biaxial birefringent polymeric films, each of said biaxial films having an acute bisectrix of the optical axes, wherein the material is formed from a stack of said films, with the optical axes or the acute bisectrixes of the films in the stack being aligned, and wherein said stack has been cut or skived at an angle to the optical axes or the acute bisectrixes thereof, such that when incident light passes through said material in a direction perpendicular to said major surfaces of the material, the incident light having a first plane of polarization is displaced relative to the incident light having a second plane of polarization, the first and second planes of polarization being perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: A display system includes a relatively higher resolution display for presenting visual information, and a relatively lower resolution display for presenting visual information, the displays being positioned to present the visual information images therefrom in substantially side-by-side relation, the lower resolution image being provided by the cooperation of focusing optics which form a real image at a retro-reflector, which reflects light along an optical path conjugate with light incident thereon to provide an image for viewing, and the higher resolution image being provided without passing through the focusing optics.

Abstract: A display includes a light modulator, a source of light, and a control for controlling the intensity of light from the source supplied to the light modulator thereby to provide images of good contrast for both bright and dark scenes. A method of displaying an image using a passive light modulating display apparatus includes controlling the intensity of light illuminating the display apparatus as a function of a brightness characteristic of the image.

Abstract: A passive dithering display system includes an optical display including a plurality of pixels with optical dead space between the pixels for producing an image, and a birefringent material for shifting one polarization component of the image relative to a second polarization component of the image such that the shifted polarization component lies in the dead space. Thus, the system of the invention can change the location of an optical signal, and the change can be used to improve resolution of a display, to reduce fixed pattern noise of a display, to facilitate locating and hiding of circuitry, to facilitate overlapping of tiles or pixels, etc.

Abstract: A display system and method for displaying an image including focusing optics to focus light from an image source, retro-reflector and beamsplitter, the image source and beamsplitter directing light toward the retro-reflector being directed via the beamsplitter for viewing and folding an optical path in the conjugate optics.

Abstract: A head mounted display system includes focusing optics to focus light from an image source, retro-reflector and beamsplitter, the image source and beamsplitter directing light toward the retro-reflector being directed via the beamsplitter for viewing, thereby to use conjugate optics effectively to place the viewing eye or detector in relation to the image source the same as the relation of the focusing optics or it may be remotely located. A method for forming an image using conjugate optics which light from a source is focused to form a real image at a retro-reflector and is reflected for viewing.

Abstract: A head mounted display system includes focusing optics to focus light from an image source, retro-reflector and beamsplitter, the image source and beamsplitter directing light toward the retro-reflector to focus a real image, and the light reflected from the retro-reflector being directed via the beamsplitter for viewing, thereby to use conjugate optics effectively to place the viewing eye or detector in relation to the image source the same as the relation of the focusing optics to the image source. The retro-reflector may be mounted on a common housing or support with the beamsplitter and focusing optics or it may be remotely located. A method for forming an image using conjugate optics in which light from a source is focused to form a real image at a retro-reflector and is reflected for viewing.

Abstract: An electro-optical dithering system based on birefringence or double refraction increases the resolution of a display and includes a birefringent material, such as a calcite material, which selectively refracts or deflects light depending on an optical polarization characteristic of the light, and a switch to switch the optical polarization characteristic of the light, thereby to determine the location of output optical information. Thus, the apparatus and method of the invention can change the location of an optical signal, and the change can be used for a number of purposes, such as to improve resolution of a display, to provide an auto-stereoscopic output, to interlace optical signals, to facilitate locating and hiding of circuitry, to facilitate overlapping of tiles or pixels, etc.

Abstract: An in-line system for viewing at a viewing location in relative privacy an image provided from an image source uses a retro-reflector and a beamsplitter to provide conjugate optical path, a lens for delivering into the conjugate optical path an image from a source, and the image being enlarged by the lens and formed for as a real image relative to the retro-reflector for viewing at a comfortable viewing distance and with acceptable eye relief.A method for presenting an enlarged, relatively private view of an image represented by light from an image source includes directing along a relatively straight path light from the image source via a beamsplitter toward a retro-reflector while enlarging the image, and reflecting light by the retro-reflector to the beamsplitter for transmission through the beamsplitter for relatively private viewing of the enlarged image at a viewing location.

Abstract: A display system for direct viewing or projection includes a source of polarized light, an analyzer for reflecting or transmitting light as a function of the wavelength and polarization characteristic of incident light, and a display receiving light from said analyzer, the display being operable selectively to change a polarization characteristic of incident light, and light from the display being directed to the analyzer for reflection or transmission thereby. A method of display includes providing a source of polarized light, analyzing polarized light by selectively reflecting or transmitting light as a function of the wavelength and polarization characteristic of incident light, and creating a desired light pattern from light received from said analyzing step by selectively changing a polarization characteristic of incident light, and selectively transmitting light according to such pattern.

Abstract: An electronic dithering system based on birefringence or double refraction increases the resolution of a display and includes a birefringent material, such as a calcite material, which selectively refracts or deflects light depending on an optical polarization characteristic of the light, and a switch to switch the optical polarization characteristic of the light, thereby to determine the location of output optical information. Thus, the apparatus and method of the invention can change the location of an optical signal, and the change can be used for a number of purposes, such as to improve resolution of a display, to provide an auto-stereoscopic output, to interlace optical signals, to facilitate locating and hiding of circuitry, to facilitate overlapping of tiles or pixels, etc.

Abstract: A reflective variable birefringence liquid crystal cell has an active matrix substrate, a birefringent material, a pair of surfaces containing the birefringent material therebetween, the birefringent material in proximity to the active matrix substrate having homeotropic alignment to eliminate the affect of varying cell thickness due to peaks and valleys in the surface of the active matrix substrate, the birefringent material in proximity to the other surface being switchable to provide relatively minimal optical phase retardation and increased optical phase retardation, the liquid crystal material may be preconditioned to assume a particular alignment to provide for a prescribed amount of retardation in one operational state of the cell.

Abstract: A controllable liquid crystal polarizer has nematic liquid crystal and pleochroic dye in plural, parallel, elongate volumes in a sheet-like containment medium. Polarization effectiveness is variable as a function of electric field. A method of making the polarizer includes continuously forming a sheet-like film of a containment medium having a plurality of volumes of liquid crystal and pleochroic dye therein, and during curing of the film, stretching it to elongate the volumes.

Abstract: A miniature image source includes a plurality of substrates, one formed of semiconductor material having an active matrix array and being relatively rough and the other being relatively smooth, a sealed space between the substrates containing liquid crystal material, electrically conductive members or terminal pads of the rough substrate being electrically and mechanically connected to electrically conductive members on the smooth substrate and are brought externally of the sealed space for exposure on the smooth substrate for external electrical connection. A method for making a miniature image source includes mechanically and electrically connecting electrical members of respective substrates using electrical material, sealing a space between the substrates for containing liquid crystal material using seal material, and elevating the temperature of the respective materials to activate first said electrical material and subsequently said seal material.