Abstract: A locally dimmed display has a spatial light modulator illuminated by a light source. The spatial light modulator is illuminated with a low resolution version of a desired image. The illumination may comprise a series of lighting elements that vary smoothly from one element to another at the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: Parallax in an optical device is reduced by apply one or a combination of several disclosed techniques, including reduced solid angle or increased collimation of light sources, increased diffusion/scattering at an output of the device, and/or reflective structures for collimation and containment of reflected light. The techniques are advantageously applied to a backlight LCD display, and particularly to high dynamic range dual modulation displays.

Abstract: A locally dimmed display has a spatial light modulator illuminated by a light source. The spatial light modulator is illuminated with a low resolution version of a desired image. The illumination may comprise a series of lighting elements that vary smoothly from one element to another at the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to image displays. Specifically, the application relates to an overlay that, among others, enhances the brightness in image displays with color filters. Much of the incoming light to a reflective image display having a color filter layer is absorbed by the color filter layer and is therefore lost. An overlay embodiment is disclosed herein that disperses and concentrates portions of the incoming light onto specific portions of the display. The amount of light absorbed by the color filter layer may be drastically reduced and instead transmitted through the color filter where the light may be reflected or absorbed by a light modulating layer. The disclosed embodiments increase the efficiency and reflectance of the display.

Abstract: A high efficiency, long life, video rate, electrophoretic display comprises fluid containing sub-pixel structures that are periodic, and aligned with a color filter array. A fluid comprising of electrophoretically mobile particles is compartmentalized at the size scale of the individual filters (one per filter) such that the particles may be moved to either allow light to be returned through the same filter back towards the viewer by total internal reflection (TIR) or conventional reflection to create a light state or to be absorbed by the particles to create a dark state. High reflectance is achieved through the use of structures that avoid ITO layers in the light path and reflecting most light, by virtue of a dual control of light by TIR and transmission to a reflector. In one embodiment the structures are in the shape of truncated pyramids.

Abstract: A sunlight redirector has a first mirror array formed of a first plurality of substantially parallel, uniformly spaced, longitudinal outward mirror segments; and a second mirror array formed of a second plurality of substantially parallel, uniformly spaced, longitudinal inward mirror segments. Each mirror segment has a normal vector. The outward mirror segments are adjustably positionable, such that their normal vectors remain parallel. The first mirror array is rotatable about a normal vector of the sunlight redirector. The inward mirror segments may remain fixed in position at all times; or they may be moved, twice per day, between first and second fixed positions.

Abstract: The brightness of a TIR-based display is enhanced with a registered reflective element by recycling and reflecting light that passes through the dark pupil region of each hemi-spherical protrusion in the hemi-spherical surface back to the viewer. A method to fabricate a brightness enhanced TIR display comprising an apertured membrane with a thin conductive reflective metal layer facing and registered with the pupils of the hemi-spherical surface.

Abstract: New reflective display architecture embodiments are disclosed to create specular or paper-like reflectance comprising a transparent outer sheet with an optional light diffusing layer, a rear backplane electrode, a perforated continuous reflective or non-reflective film with a thin conductive reflective or transparent layer acting as a front electrode facing the transparent outward sheet placed between the transparent outward sheet and rear backplane electrode. Other variations include semi-retroreflective or sintered TiO2 layers atop the front electrode. Light is modulated by reflectance or absorbance of the light rays that pass through the transparent outward sheet by movement of light absorbing electrophoretically mobile particles within an optically transparent liquid or air medium. A voltage bias is applied across the medium by a voltage source to move the electrophoretically mobile particles.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a front-lit display having transparent and selectively emissive light directionality. The disclosed semi-retro-reflective, semi-specular and specular displays include directional front light systems that reflect light in a manner to preserve the non-Lambertian characteristic of the light output. This leads to brighter displays with a higher degree of luminance as compared to conventional microencapsulated electrophoretic displays with substantially Lambertian reflectance where much of the light is not reflected back towards the viewer.

Abstract: Corner cubes are well known retro-reflective devices. Corner cubes may be employed for high brightness in reflective image displays. An embodiment of a reflective image display is disclosed that employs corner cubes with metallized surfaces. Light reflection and absorption may be modulated with electrophoretically mobile light absorbing particles or electrofluidic systems. Display images may be created to convey information to a viewer.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods in which reflective slats are configured to redirect light received from various sun positions are provided. The slats or mirrored array could be coupled to a base of the redirector, such that an adjustment of an angle of the base relative to the horizontal adjusts an angle of each slat relative to the horizontal. In some aspects, an algorithm can be used to determine the angle of tilt that maximizes the transmission efficiency for the mirror array.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a front-lit display having transparent and selectively emissive light directionality. The disclosed semi-retro-reflective, semi-specular and specular displays include directional front light systems that reflect light in a manner to preserve the non-Lambertian characteristic of the light output. This leads to brighter displays with a higher degree of luminance as compared to conventional microencapsulated electrophoretic displays with substantially Lambertian reflectance where much of the light is not reflected back towards the viewer.

Abstract: Dual modulator displays are disclosed incorporating a phosphorescent plate interposed in the optical path between a light source modulation layer and a display modulation layer. Spatially modulated light output from the light source modulation layer impinges on the phosphorescent plate and excites corresponding regions of the phosphorescent plate which in turn emit light having different spectral characteristics than the light output from the light source modulation layer. Light emitted from the phosphorescent plate is received and further modulated by the display modulation layer to provide the ultimate display output.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided that employ one or more of a variety of techniques for reducing the time required to display high resolution images on a high dynamic range display having a light source layer and a display layer. In one technique, the image resolution is reduced, an effective luminance pattern is determined for the reduced resolution image, and the resolution of the effective luminance pattern is then increased to the resolution of the—display layer. In another technique, the light source layer's point spread function is decomposed into a plurality of components, and an effective luminance pattern is determined for each component. The effective luminance patterns are then combined to produce a total effective luminance pattern. Additional image display time reduction techniques are provided.

Abstract: A backlight for a display comprises a plurality of independently controllable light sources and inclined surfaces inclining in a radially outward direction from each light source for shaping the distribution of emitted light. The light sources may each comprise a group of differently-colored light emitters. The backlight may include light integrators configured to mix light of the differently-colored light emitters. Inclined surfaces for shaping the distribution of emitted light may be arranged around exits of the light integrators.

Abstract: Simple yet powerful mathematical solutions are provided for producing a minimally-spreading de-pixelization light spread function with four-fold bilateral symmetry to create a High Dynamic Range LED-LCD display where the point spread functions of each LED regardless of intensity can be designed such that adjacent rows and columns of LEDs within an array blend smoothly and uniformly to create a non-pixelated continuous image in two dimensions on the diffuser screen and with minimal luminance overlap to minimize the computational demands required at video rate of an HDR display. The resulting image has substantially visually perfect uniform luminance, linear luminance and quadratic luminance gradient. Additionally a new display architecture is unveiled and described that emulates the mathematically developed light spread functions mentioned. This new architecture comprises several sub-aspects to tune the display device to the desired design requirements.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for moving and concentrating particles by applying an alternating driving field and an alternating field that alters mobility of the particles. The driving field and mobility-varying field are correlated with one another. The methods and apparatus may be used to concentrate DNA or RNA in a medium, for example. Methods and apparatus for extracting particles from one medium into another involve applying an alternating driving field that causes net drift of the particles from the first medium into the second medium but no net drift of the particles in the second medium.

Abstract: Semi-retro-reflective, semi-specular, specular and etched glass displays are equipped with a dielectric layer. This leads to displays with enhanced brightness, improved electrophoretic particle responsiveness, improved grayscale and chemical stability in the presence of an electrophoretic medium, electric field and high temperatures. In one embodiment, a reflective image display comprises a front sheet further comprising a plurality of hemispherical protrusions, front and rear electrodes, a dielectric layer on the surface of at least one electrode, liquid medium with electrophoretically mobile particles, color filter array layer and a directional front light system.

Abstract: A locally dimmed display has a spatial light modulator illuminated by a light source. The spatial light modulator is illuminated with a low resolution version of a desired image. The illumination may comprise a series of lighting elements that vary smoothly from one element to another at the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided that employ one or more of a variety of techniques for reducing the time required to display high resolution images on a high dynamic range display having a light source layer and a display layer. In one technique, the image resolution is reduced, an effective luminance pattern is determined for the reduced resolution image, and the resolution of the effective luminance pattern is then increased to the resolution of the-display layer. In another technique, the light source layer's point spread function is decomposed into a plurality of components, and an effective luminance pattern is determined for each component. The effective luminance patterns are then combined to produce a total effective luminance pattern. Additional image display time reduction techniques are provided.