Abstract: A display is provided having first and second direct view modes of operation. The display comprises a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight which is illuminated during the first mode so that the displayed image is visible throughout an extended viewing region in front of the device. The display also comprises a holographic element and a front light source, which is switched on for the second direct view mode. The holographic element redirects light from the front light source into part of the extended viewing region so that an image displayed by the device is visible in only a restricted portion of the viewing region.

Abstract: A time-sequential colour projector comprises a pixellated light valve (2), such as a liquid crystal device, and a plurality of light sources (30, 31, 32). The light sources (30, 31, 32) direct light on different sets of pixels of the light valve (2) via an optical system (1), such as a lens array, which focuses the light on pixels of the light valve (2). At least two of the light sources (30, 31, 32) are multiple colour light sources and the multiple colour light sources emit different colour components during each set of frames making up a complete image frame.

Abstract: A projection adapter is provided for attaching to a display so as to form a projected enlarged image of an image displayed by the display. The display is of the direct view reflective or transflective type and does not require any modification when cooperating with the projection adapter to function as a projection display. The adapter comprises an illumination section and a projection section with optional beam steering optics supported by a common support arrangement. A front optical element is arranged to overlay the display with the projection adapter in use. The illumination section forms an off-axis image of a light source and the front optical element images light reflected by the reflective or transflective display to an image which is laterally displaced from the light source image. The projection section projects a magnified image of the image displayed by the display onto a screen which may form part of or be distinct from the adapter.

Abstract: A display is provided having first and second direct view modes of operation. The display comprises a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight which is illuminated during the first mode so that the displayed image is visible throughout an extended viewing region in front of the device. The display also comprises a holographic element and a front light source, which is switched on for the second direct view mode. The holographic element redirects light from the front light source into part of the extended viewing region so that an image displayed by the device is visible in only a restricted portion of the viewing region.

Abstract: A parallax barrier is made by developing a film exposed through a mask having elongate opaque regions interleaved with transparent regions. The film is exposed by a light source through the mask while the mask is moved so as to vary the exposure of each region of the film for forming the parallax barrier slit edges. Alternatively, the film or the light source may be moved during exposure. It is thus possible to make soft edge barriers, for example for use in autostereoscopic 3D displays.

Abstract: A parallax barrier is made by developing a film exposed through a mask having elongate opaque regions interleaved with transparent regions. The film is exposed by a light source through the mask while the mask is moved so as to vary the exposure of each region of the film for forming the parallax barrier slit edges. Alternatively, the film or the light source may be moved during exposure. It is thus possible to make soft edge barriers, for example for use in autostereoscopic 3D displays.

Abstract: A method is provided of making a passive patterned retarder, in which a liquid crystal alignment surface is formed. The alignment surface 37 comprises sets of regions. Each region comprises a grating-like structure having elongate surface relief features aligned in the same alignment direction. The alignment directions of different sets are different from each other. The alignment surface is coated in a layer of fixable liquid crystal material 38 whose optic axis is oriented by the underlying grating-like structure. The liquid crystal material is then fixed so that the optic axis is defined and fixed by the underlying grating-like structures.

Abstract: A projection display comprising: a transmissive spatial light modulator (10); an illuminator (1, 20, 21, 30) for illuminating the modulator from the front thereof; and a hologram (32) disposed at the rear of the modulator for imaging and reflecting back through the modulator light from the illuminator received through the modulator.