Abstract: An optical system for presenting a visual display includes a light source, a polarity-reversing polarizer-analyzer beam splitting cube, and a viewing area that receives light of a first polarity from the light source. The first polarity light contains image information. The cube has a plurality of external surfaces and a bleed through polarity-reversing beam splitting film that selectively passes the first polarity light and converts the passed first polarity light (e.g., S-polarized light) to light of a second polarity (e.g., P-polarized light). The viewing area receives the first polarity light from one of the external surfaces of the cube. In one embodiment, the optical system includes an auxiliary analyzer for blocking the second polarity light from reaching the viewing area.

Abstract: An assembly for producing a visual display includes a light-reflecting type spatial light modulator and an illumination arrangement for providing a particular source of light. The spatial light modulator has a light reflecting surface cooperating with a light modulating medium switchable between different states so as to act on light in ways which form an overall pattern of reflected, modulated light. The spatial light modulator also has an arrangement for switching the modulating medium between the different states in a controlled way so as to form the overall pattern. The overall assembly further includes an optics arrangement having a first member defining a light reflecting surface.