Abstract: Color transmissive displays have historically used only backlight for forming the color image, and have not used ambient light. Usually, such a display is not used in bright sunlight, since the color image becomes washed out. Transflective color displays form an image by reflecting ambient light or by transmitting backlight, and can be used in bright sunlight. The transflector in such displays reflects the ambient light while also transmitting the backlight. The requirements on the transflector, however, are different from those used in monochromatic displays. According to the invention, a color transflective display device uses comprises a transmissive display unit having a viewing side and a back side and defining picture elements. A structured transflector is disposed to the back side of the color display unit. The structured transflector includes a structured surface and a layered dielectric reflector disposed over the structured surface.

Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, light guides coupled to the light source, each including an input surface and an output surface, emissive material positioned to receive light from at least one light guide, and an interference reflector positioned such that the emissive material is between the output surfaces of the light guides and the interference reflector is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The interference reflector substantially transmits light having the second optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the first optical characteristic.

Abstract: A directly illuminated display unit has a display panel and one or more light sources disposed behind the display panel. A diffuser is disposed between the one or more light sources and the display panel, and a light diverting layer is disposed between the one or more light sources and the diffuser. The light diverting layer has a first light-diverting surface facing the one or more light sources and a second light diverting surface facing the display panel. The light diverting layer diverts light passing from the one or more light sources to the diffuser, thus improving the uniformity of the light in the display unit.

Abstract: A directly illuminated display unit has a display panel and one or more light sources disposed behind the display panel. A diffuser is disposed between the one or more light sources and the display panel, and a light diverting layer is disposed between the one or more light sources and the diffuser. The light diverting layer has a first light-diverting surface facing the one or more light sources and a second light diverting surface facing the display panel. The light diverting layer diverts light passing from the one or more light sources to the diffuser, thus improving the uniformity of the light in the display unit.

Abstract: A directly illuminated display unit has a display panel and one or more light sources disposed behind the display panel. A diffuser is disposed between the light source unit and the display panel and a light diverting layer is disposed between the one or more light sources and the diffuser. The light diverting layer has light diverting elements on a first side of the light diverting layer facing the diffuser. Surfaces of the light diverting elements are disposed at more than one angle relative to a normal to the light diverting layer and also include one or more sharp changes of surface slope. The light diverting elements spread the illumination light so as to be more uniform. Different light diverting elements can have different apex angles. Also, different sides of a light diverting element can have best fit centers of curvature that are non-coincident.

Abstract: A directly illuminated display unit has a display panel and one or more light sources disposed behind the display panel. A diffuser is disposed between the light source unit and the display panel and a light diverting layer is disposed between the one or more light sources and the diffuser. The light diverting layer has light diverting members on a first side of the light diverting layer facing the diffuser. Surfaces of the light diverting members are disposed at more than one angle relative to a normal to the light diverting layer and also include one or more sharp changes of surface slope. The light diverting members spread the illumination light so as to be more uniform. Different light diverting members can have different apex angles. Also, different sides of a light diverting member can have best fit centers of curvature that are non-coincident.

Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, a light guide including an output surface, emissive material positioned to receive light from the output surface of the light guide, and a first interference reflector positioned between the output surface of the light guide and the emissive material is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The first interference reflector substantially transmits light having the first optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the second optical characteristic.

Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, a light guide including an output surface, emissive material positioned to receive light from the output surface of the light guide, and an interference reflector positioned such that the emissive material is between the output surface of the light guide and the interference reflector is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The interference reflector substantially transmits light having the second optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the first optical characteristic.

Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, a light guide including an output surface, a first interference reflector positioned between the light source and the output surface of the light guide, and emissive material positioned between the first interference reflector and the output surface of the light guide is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The first interference reflector substantially transmits light having the first optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having a second optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having the second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic.

Abstract: An optical film for use in transparent displays, such as reflective LCDs. The optical film has three-dimensional, prismatic structures that reflect incoming light. The prismatic structures are configured so that the reflecting facets orient the reflected light in desired reflective light pattern. The pattern shape and intensity can be controlled by the shape and dimensions of the various reflecting facets. In one embodiment, the height of the prismatic structure varies along two dimensions of the structure.

Abstract: A backlight includes a lightguide, a light source disposed with respect to the lightguide to introduce light into the lightguide and a turning film. Optical structures are formed in one of an output surface and a back surface of the lightguide. The optical structures are arranged to extract light from the lightguide. A back reflector is disposed adjacent the back surface. The optical structures are formed to include a varying pattern arranged to mask non-uniformities in the output of the lightguide.

Abstract: An illumination light unit includes at least two light sources that generate light at different wavelengths. The illumination light unit also includes a reflecting cavity having one or more reflectors and a controlled transmission mirror disposed at an output of the reflecting cavity. The controlled transmission mirror includes an input coupling element, an output coupling element and a first multilayer reflector disposed between the input and output coupling elements. At least some of the light from the light sources is reflected within the reflecting cavity by the one or more reflectors and is mixed. Light passes out of the reflecting cavity through the controlled transmission mirror. The illumination light unit may be used for illumination purposes, or as part of a backlight for illuminating a display.

Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, a light guide including an output surface, emissive material positioned to receive light from the output surface of the light guide, and a first interference reflector positioned between the output surface of the light guide and the emissive material is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The first interference reflector substantially transmits light having the first optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the second optical characteristic.

Abstract: An illumination assembly includes a heat dissipating member having a plurality of circuitized strips disposed thereon a spaced relationship. Each circuitized strip includes an electrically insulative substrate having at least one circuit trace on a first side of the substrate and an electrically and thermally conductive layer on a second side of the substrate, such that the at least one circuit trace is electrically insulated from the second side of the substrate. The circuitized strips have a plurality of vias extending from the first side to the second side of the substrate. A plurality of LEDs are disposed in the plurality of vias, such that each LEDs is disposed on the electrically and thermally conductive layer on the second side of the substrate and electrically connected to the at least one circuit trace on the first side of the substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to backlighting systems, which include first and second lightguides, at least one light source optically connected to an edge of the first lightguide and at least one light source optically connected to an edge of the second lightguide for supplying light into their respective interiors. In the appropriate exemplary embodiments, the backlighting systems of the present disclosure include an extractor disposed at a surface of the second lightguide for diffuse extraction of light from the interior of the second lightguide. In such exemplary embodiments, at least a portion of the light supplied into the interior of the second lightguide and then diffusely extracted therefrom enters the interior of the first lightguide through a substantially optically clear surface. In some exemplary embodiments, the backlighting systems of the present disclosure include recycling enhancement structures, which may be attached to the first lightguide.

Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, a light guide including an output surface, emissive material positioned between the light source and the output surface of the light guide, and an interference reflector positioned between the emissive material and the output surface of the light guide is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The interference reflector substantially transmits light having the second optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the first optical characteristic.

Abstract: An information broker for use in an information distribution system permits users to receive information based on authentication from a second source. The information broker includes a memory, a network interface, and a processing unit. The memory contains at least one device characteristic and one user characteristic corresponding to a user device and user, respectively. The broker receives a request for information from a first user device, authenticates the request, provides the requested information for authenticated requests, and based on the request, updates the at least one characteristic contained in the memory that corresponds to the first user device. The broker transmits an authorization request to a second user device and only provides the requested information to the first user device when authorized by the second device. The broker determines if the first user device is capable of receiving the requested information based on the device characteristic stored in memory.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an illumination light unit including an array of LEDs disposed on a substrate, a controlled transmission mirror positioned to receive illumination light from the array of LEDs, and a reflector sheet positioned between the substrate and the controlled transmission mirror. The reflector sheet includes an array of reflectors each having an aperture. Respective LEDs of the array of LEDs protrude through respective apertures of the reflectors. Each reflector is operable to direct at least a portion of illumination light from its respective LED to the controlled transmission mirror.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes a reflective layer, an optical element covering at least a portion of the reflective layer, and an LED having a light-emitting axis and disposed to emit light between the optical element and the reflective layer. The optical element has a rotationally symmetric funnel-shaped recess in substantial registration with the light-emitting axis and the optical element also has an overall outer shape that is non-rotationally symmetric. An optical array of these assemblies and backlight displays including these assemblies are also disclosed.

Abstract: An illumination system including a light source, light guides coupled to the light source, each including an input surface and an output surface, emissive material positioned to receive light from at least one light guide, and a first interference reflector positioned between the emissive material and the output surfaces of the light guides is disclosed. The light source emits light having a first optical characteristic. The emissive material emits light having a second optical characteristic when illuminated with light having the first optical characteristic. The first interference reflector substantially transmits light having the first optical characteristic and substantially reflects light having the second optical characteristic.