Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display panel, a backlight source behind the liquid crystal display panel, and an optical filter interposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight source for controlling a direction of light passing through the liquid crystal display panel. The optical filter has a plurality of horizontal louvers vertically arranged in a column and perpendicularly disposed to a surface of the liquid crystal display panel. The differences in light reflectivity and transmittance between an upper surface and a lower surface of the louver give the optical filter a half mirror function that controls a direction of a passing light therethrough.

Abstract: When a video signal is inputted to a projector (10) through a video input terminal, a luminance peak value of an image of the video signal is detected by an image-analyzing circuit (61) to be outputted to a CPU (71). A gain-adjusting circuit (63) adjusts a luminance signal in the video signal based on a command from the CPU (71). The CPU (71) determines a gain adjustment amount based on the luminance peak value of the image obtained by the image-analyzing circuit (61) and outputs the result to the gain-adjusting circuit (63). For instance, when the luminance peak value (Ip) of the image is 50% of the upper limit (Imax) thereof, a gain-adjusting amount AG is doubled. In this case, an illuminating light volume of a light valve (44a) has to be reduced to 50%, which is achieved by light-attenuation by a light-source lamp (21) and an open/close light shield (23).

Abstract: The invention provides a light reflector and a light-reflective liquid crystal display device with the improved image quality. A plurality of projection sets 8 are formed on the substrate 1, each of said plurality of projection sets 8 comprising one projection 6 and seven projections 6 arranged around said one projection 6. After the formation of those projection sets 8, the planarizing film 9 and then the pixel electrode 10 are formed in sequence.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of optical devices, in particular liquid crystal imagers, as well as the mirrors associated with these optical devices. The optical device is angled, and includes at least one lamp and a channel guiding at least some of the light coming from the lamp, as well as a mirror in an angled part of the optical device, consisting of a sheet which is folded so that, on the one hand, it can be partially introduced into the channel and, on the other hand, once introduced into the channel and immobilized therein, it can reflect some of the light coming from the lamp into a determined direction. The invention may, in particular, be applied to liquid crystal imagers for military aircraft.

Abstract: A back light device. This back light device includes a light guide plate and a plurality of lamps, wherein the light guide plate has a first plane and a second plane opposite the first plane. The back light device of this invention has a plurality of arc-shaped recess regions to implement the lamps inside so that light from the lamps can be uniformly emitted by the light guide plate through the arc-shaped recess regions. Thus, a liquid crystal display implemented with the back light device can be uniformly lit.

Abstract: The present invention, in accordance with one embodiment, provides for a light modulating cell assembly especially suitable as eyewear including a detector and a light blocking arrangement at least partially surrounding a detector for allowing only light from a limited range of ambient directions to directly reaching said detector. In accordance with another embodiment there is a light transmissivity control arrangement including auxiliary means for controlling the state of said light modulating medium.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display screen comprising a liquid crystal layer and a first and a second transparent substrate flanking said liquid crystal layer, and comprising means for influencing the transmission state of the liquid crystal layer, and a phosphor layer, containing at least one phosphor in the form of phosphor dots, on the second substrate, and comprising a third substrate, which is arranged opposite the second substrate and connected with said second substrate so as to form a gastight gas discharge vessel filled with a filling gas, and comprising means for igniting and maintaining a dielectrically impeded discharge in the gas discharge vessel.

Abstract: The display device includes a spatial modulator having a plurality of pixels and a periodical structural body having condenser elements corresponding to the pixels of the spatial modulator. Each of the pixels of the spatial modulator includes a plurality of color dots arranged in a first direction. A length of a peripheral region of the respective pixel encircling the plurality of color dots, measured in the first direction, is longer than a length of the condenser element of the periodical structural body, measured in the first direction. In addition, combinations of the pixels in the square, delta or mosaic arrangement with the condenser elements in the square, delta or mosaic arrangement are disclosed.

Abstract: The illuminating device includes light sources, a housing of the light sources that has its inner surfaces covered with a diffuse reflecting layer, an optical collimator for collimating the light issued from the light sources and the light reflected by the diffuse reflecting layer, and a directivity regulating member for regulating the directivity of the collimated light emerging from the optical collimator. The liquid-crystal display apparatus has a liquid-crystal display panel and the illuminating device. The illuminating device can emit collimated light of very high directivity and may be utilized in the liquid-crystal display apparatus to display images of high quality and contrast over a wide range of viewing angles.

Abstract: An ultraviolet ray-emitting element is provided in a frame-like member disposed between an apparatus module and an apparatus case by corresponding to a peripheral portion of a protective glass. A light in an ultraviolet range from the ultraviolet ray-emitting element is irradiated between the module and the protective glass. A luminescent layer to which an ultraviolet ray is irradiated emits a light.

Abstract: A protective lens (10) for a display includes a transparent glass substrate (12) and a piece of filtering film (14) attached to an inner surface of the glass substrate. A plurality of parallel ink stripes (16) are formed on a surface of the film and are distributed symmetrically from a middle to opposite sides of the film in a predetermined pattern. A method for manufacturing the protective lens is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of (1) providing a mold having a plurality of recesses formed by etching a surface of the mold; (2) filling the recesses of the mold with ink; (3) positioning an elastically deformable body on the mold or attaching the ink in the recesses to the elastically deformable body; (4) positioning the elastically deformable body on a membrane to transfer the ink to the membrane, thereby forming a filtering film; (5) attaching the filtering film to a surface of the glass substrate.

Abstract: A reflective display having a first substrate having a first electrode, a second substrate having a second electrode and arranged opposite to the first electrode, and partition walls existing between the first and second substrates and arranged in a direction not perpendicular to the first and second substrates. A non-conductive liquid in which colored particles are dispersed resides in a cell including the partition walls. The colored particles can moved by an electric field, and the display color is thereby changed. Alternatively, the display color can be changed by shape deformation of a liquid-crystal-filled microcapsule enclosed in the cell.

Abstract: The improved liquid-crystal display apparatus has a liquid-crystal display panel, a backlight section that issues collimated light launched and a light diffusing plate and satisfies either the relation p/tan &thgr;≦L or d×tan &thgr;≦A, or the both relations, where p is the average pitch of emergence of the collimated light, &thgr; is the divergence angle of the collimated light, L is the distance from the collimating plate to the interface in the liquid-crystal layer of the liquid-crystal display panel which is directed to the collimating plate, d is the distance from the light diffusing plate to the interface in the liquid-crystal layer of the liquid-crystal display panel which is directed to the light diffusing plate, and A is the pixel size of the liquid-crystal display panel. The apparatus can display images of high contrast and quality over a wide range of viewing angles without having unevenness and blur.

Abstract: In a backlight device 10 comprising a light guide 12, a light source 14, a prism sheet 16, a polarized beam splitter sheet 18, and a light reflection sheet 20, the light reflection sheet 20 is composed with the provision of a regular reflection plane 20A in a shape of flat surface, and the direction of the normal standing on the regular reflection plane 20A is substantially the same as the directions of the normals standing respectively on the above-mentioned prism sheet 16 and on the polarized beam splitter sheet 18.

Abstract: A display unit, in particular in a vehicle, has a display (1.) which can be transilluminated by a transilluminating device (2) in a prescribed direction. Light launched from a light source (3) into an optical conductor (4) is aligned by a first optical element (5) and deflected into a prescribed direction by a second, displaceably arranged optical element (8). As a result, an image on the display (1) is to be detected exclusively from a viewing angle region in which the display (1) is transilluminated.

Abstract: A projection-type liquid crystal display apparatus is provided for preventing a reduction in image quality due to deposited foreign substances such as dust, arc fluctuations of a light source and so on. An optical illumination system of a liquid crystal panel includes an integrator having a first lens array made up of a plurality of lens elements and a second lens array made up of lens element corresponding to the lens elements of the first lens array. A single ray bundle incident on the first lens array is split into a plurality of split ray bundles by the first lens array and pass through the corresponding lens elements of the second lens array and further through a collimator lens, dichroic mirrors and enter the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel is illuminated with the ray bundles sent from all the lens elements of the first lens array in a superimposing manner and the illuminance distribution is made even.

Abstract: Variable viewing angle liquid crystal display screen systems are disclosed. They are useful, e.g. in automatic teller machines where, during parts of a transaction with a user, it is undesirable that information on screen can be read by others. In accordance with the invention, interposed in a conventional display arrangement of reflector (2), backlight (1), diffuser (3), optional brightness enhancer (4, 5) and transmission type screen (6) are a collimator (10) and a variable diffuser (11). If the variable diffuser (11) is set to transparent, the light passing through the transmission type screen (6) is still collimated and accordingly the display on the screen is only effectively visible over a narrow viewing angle. If the diffuser (11) is set to diffuse the collimated light, then the display is visible over a very wide range of angles.

Abstract: A selectively transparent map system, for use by a driver in an automobile having an automobile windshield, comprising a map having map indicia printed thereupon. The map is selectively transparent so that when the map is held against the windshield in front of the driver, and the map is viewed at a first angle, the driver can read the map indicia while simultaneously watching the road by looking directly through the map. However, when the map is viewed at a second angle, the driver can read the map indicia, but cannot see through the map. The map thus includes a selective transparency means which preferably includes a grating having a plurality of blocking members which allow light and images to be easily transmitted through the map at the first angle, but substantially block light from being transmitted through the map at the second angle.

Abstract: A polarized component is obtained with a high conversion efficiency in a light guide which produces one of the polarized components by having it transmitted. The light from a light source is incident to a light guide which comprises a plurality of light guide layers and reflected by the end surface to an interface between the light guide layers. The polarized component transmitting through the end surface is rotated in its polarization plane by a wave length plate and reflected by a reflecting plate for reentrance to the light guide at the end surface of the light guide toward the interface. The reentering light mostly transmits through the interface because the polarization plane is rotated. A reflected light polarized component is returned to the wave length plate and the reflecting plate, and directed back to the interface again. The polarized component transmitting through the interface is similarly transmitted and reflected in the next interface.

Abstract: A polarizing illumination device and a projection display device using the polarizing illumination device improve light utilization efficiency. Polarizing conversion elements are placed so that one of polarizing separation films of a first polarizing conversion element and one of polarizing separation films of a second polarizing conversion element are close to each other and so that effective incident areas and ineffective incident areas are alternately arranged in the x direction. The width WP in the x direction of the effective incident areas and the ineffective incident areas is set to be larger than half of the width WL in the x direction of small lenses in a second lens array. The optical axes of each of small lenses are offset from the lens centers thereof so that partial beams emerging from the small lenses in a first lens array optimally enter the effective incident areas where the partial beams should enter.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator for use in a optical printer where the spatial light modulator includes a plurality of cells, having a shape that is defined to decrease artifacts in an image produced on a recording medium by the optical printer. The shape of the plurality of cells merges a portion of the optical radiation passing through an individual cell of the spatial light modulator with optical radiation from that of adjacent cell to form a pixel on the recording medium. In one implementation each of the cells of the spatial light modulator independently modulate the optical radiation so as to print horizontally-displaced pixels. When LEDs are used as the colored light source, the light is either first diffused to minimize shadows from electrical contacts on the LEDs, thus removing linear artifacts in the image.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises a light source, a diffusion plate for diffusing light beams emitted from the light source, and a liquid crystal panel for forming an image thereon as a result of a variation in scattering efficiency wherein the diffusion plate and liquid crystal panel are separately arranged with a distance between them, thereby the liquid crystal panel being illuminated by the diffused light beams uniformly, and a liquid crystal projection display device further comprises a color separator, a light deflector, a projector lens assembly and apertures having a shape similar to an image of the light source formed near the pupil of the projector lens assembly.

Abstract: A reduced-thickness backlighter for an autostereoscopic display is disclosed having a lightguide and at least one light source parallel to an edge of the lightguide so as to be substantially coplanar with the lightguide. The lightguide is provided with a first surface which has a plurality of reflective linear regions, such as elongated grooves or glossy lines, parallel to the illuminated edge of the lightguide. Preferably the lightguide further has a second surface which has a plurality of lenticular lenses for reimaging the reflected light from the linear regions into a series of thin vertical lines outside the guide. Because of the reduced thickness of the backlighter system, autostereoscopic viewing is enabled in applications requiring thin backlighter systems. In addition to taking up less space, the reduced-thickness backlighter uses less lamps and less power.

Abstract: The reflected light absorbing plate 23 is divided into plural areas by light absorbing walls 20, and is adapted to satisfy a pre-determined condition among the width of one area d, thickness thereof t and the refraction index of the absorbing plate n. The reflected light absorbing plate 23 is applied to the display panel 134 having a polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer as a light modulating layer 16 via a light coupling layer 14. The reflected light absorbing plate 23 and the light modulating layer 16 are spaced by a pre-determined distance taking MTF into consideration. While the light 17a diffused at a minute area A is reflected at the interface 21 with air, the light is absorbed by the light absorbing wall 20 and never returns to the light modulating layer 16.

Abstract: A color LCD system includes an LCD cell, a color filter, and a light collecting member. The LCD cell includes a pair of panels, a pair of transparent electrodes facing each other and being disposed on the panels, respectively, and a pair of orientation layers covering the transparent electrodes, respectively, a color filter attached to an outer face of the LCD cell and having red, green, and blue filter layers each of which has the same centerline as that of the transparent electrode. The light collecting member is disposed between the color filter and a light source to improve light effect.

Abstract: A rear right source device having a lamp chamber in which straight-tube light source lamps are arranged in the vertical direction. The light source device includes a ventilating hole formed on the upper lateral face of the lamp chamber for releasing the air of the lamp chamber heated by the light source lamps to the extrior, and a seal member mounted on the lower lateral face of the lamp chamber and substantially closing the gap between the lamp and an aperture for inserting the lamp.

Abstract: In an lighting device, light rays, which have been illuminated from a discharge tube onto a light-guiding body and have been released from a light-emitting surface of the light-guiding body, are converged toward the normal direction by prisms each of which has a triangle- column shape and is installed on a light-converging control plate. A visual-range control plate provides a transparent visual range with a predetermined viewing angle with respect to the normal direction, while providing an opaque visual range outside the predetermined viewing angle with respect to the normal direction. This arrangement makes it possible to improve the surface luminance of the lighting device and prevent the degradation of the display quality. Thus, it is possible to achieve high-luminance, high quality lighting devices.

Abstract: A transmission liquid crystal display comprises a liquid crystal panel including at least two substrates spaced apart from one another through spacers to confine a liquid crystal between the two substrates; a surface light source provided at a first side of the liquid crystal panel; and an optical diffusion lens having a plate-like shape provided at a second side of the liquid crystal panel, the lens having first and second surfaces, the first surface facing to a display screen and the second surface facing to a liquid crystal panel, entire parts of the first surface is flat, and the second surface comprises alternating flat portions and convex or concave portions having a predetermined curvature, the convex or concave portions having a difference in level of a top portion thereof from the flat portions, the convex or concave portions being arranged at a predetermined pitch, wherein a ratio of the difference in level to the pitch is in the range from 2.9:10 to 0.8:10.