By Frustrated Total Internal Reflection Patents (Class 359/222.1)
  • Patent number: 11366351
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a display panel and a display device. The display panel includes a retroreflective layer disposed on a light-emitting side, wherein the retroreflective layer includes a retroreflective region and a transmissive region, the retroreflective region is configured to reflect light irradiated on the retroreflective region along an opposite direction of an incident direction or close to the opposite direction of the incident direction; the display panel comprises a pixel region and a pixel define region for defining the pixel region, and the pixel region is at least partially overlapped with the transmissive region along a thickness direction of the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignees: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., Hefei BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Xu, Qing Zhang, Fusheng Huang, Shouzheng Wu
  • Patent number: 10488731
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a display panel provided in an embodiment according to the present disclosure comprises: forming a light reflecting member on a support member in such a manner that the light reflecting member comprises a plurality of protruding structures which is arranged on the support member in an array form and surfaces of which define an enclosed area; and forming a first electrode and a light guide in order on the support member formed with the light reflecting member, charged particles being provided between the light reflecting member and the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuanjie Xu, Pengcheng Zang, Ting Li, Xiaohui Wu
  • Patent number: 10481093
    Abstract: An arrangement for examining a sample which can be excited by means of electromagnetic radiation comprises a first dichroitic beam splitter having a first and a second prism, which are connected to one another on the base surfaces thereof, and a dichroitic layer arranged between the base surfaces of the two prisms, wherein an entry surface of the first prism encloses an angle (?) in the range from 10° to <40° with the dichroitic layer. Furthermore a light source provides the electromagnetic radiation suitable for excitation of the sample, the radiation coupled into the entry surface of the first prism, wherein a part of the radiation is reflected on the dichroitic layer in the direction of the sample, which is positioned downstream of an exit surface of the first prism. Finally, a detector detects electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sample, passed through the beam splitter and leaving the latter on a measurement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: EYESENSE GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Mueller, Hans-Georg Ortlepp
  • Patent number: 10386691
    Abstract: A total internal reflection image display comprised of dry electrostatically mobile particles composed of a solid material stably floating as a dispersant in a gas and exhibiting a high fluidity in an aerosol state may be sealed between the transparent sheet capable of total internal reflection such as comprising a plurality of transparent convex or hemi-spherical protrusions and the rear support, partition walls and the dry particles may be moved by application of a voltage bias. A method of manufacture is described comprising of the steps of forming partition walls, filling with dry particles, sealing the particles into cells or compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: CLEARink Display, Inc.
    Inventor: Xiaojia Zhang
  • Patent number: 9939707
    Abstract: Improvements and modifications are provided in the type of frustrated total internal reflection (TIR) systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,885,496; 6,891,658; 7,286,280; 7,760,417 and 8,040,591. The improvements and modifications include various methods to improve display operation of hemispherical beaded front plane TIR systems such as (a) inhibit or prevent the undesired non-uniform distribution and lateral migration of charged, electrophoretically mobile, TIR frustrating particles by encapsulating or tethering the particles to the beaded front plane surface; (b) inhibit or prevent the settling of the TIR frustrating particles such as modifying the viscosity of the low refractive index medium; and (c) inhibit or prevent the non-uniformity of the applied electric field during display operation such as using a conforming rear electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: CLEARink Displays, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Loxley, Anthony E. Pullen, Boon Chong Ng, Bram M. Sadlik
  • Patent number: 9651792
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an image display apparatus having excellent light converging characteristics. The image display apparatus includes: a liquid crystal prism element including a prism array in which a plurality of prisms are arranged, a liquid crystal layer laminated on the prism array, and electrodes provided at position corresponding to the respective prisms which form the prism array; a control section configured to control a voltage to be applied to each electrode; and a position detection section configured to detect a viewing position of a user. The control section is able to apply the same or different voltages to the respective electrodes provided at the positions corresponding to the respective prisms, on the basis of a result of the detection of the viewing position by the position detection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Hayashi, Shuji Inoue
  • Patent number: 9612501
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: CLEARink Displays, Inc.
    Inventor: Lorne A. Whitehead
  • Patent number: 9548451
    Abstract: An apparatus having a reduced reflection from its surface includes a dielectric material and a capacitive circuit analog sheet buried within the dielectric material and configured to produce a reflection that adds out of phase with a reflection from an incident side of the dielectric material. The capacitive circuit analog sheet comprises conductive patches configured to have high impedance for transverse magnetic (TM) polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thomas Peter Delfeld, Nicole L. Dehuff
  • Patent number: 9430970
    Abstract: A 3D image display device includes a backlight unit for generating an original light, a display panel, a light modulating unit, and a controller connected to the display panel and the light modulating unit. According to a first signal, the original light passes through the display panel generates a first light, the first light passes through the light modulating unit, and has a first position on an objective plane parallel to the display panel. According to a second signal, the original light passes through the display panel to generate a second light, the second light passes through the light modulating unit and has a second position on the objective plane, wherein the first position is different from the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: INNOLUX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Sumi
  • Publication number: 20150146273
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Lorne A. WHITEHEAD
  • Publication number: 20140293392
    Abstract: Techniques for extracting light from a light guide are described. In some embodiments, a light source comprises a light guide configured to trap first light through total internal reflection. The light source may further comprise a plurality of light extractors configured to extract at least a portion of the first light upon establishing optical contact with the light guide. The light source is configured to control individual light extractors in the plurality of light extractors to make optical contact with the light guide. Quantum dots may be used with the light source to regenerate light, within desired frequency band, from the at least a portion of the first light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ajit Ninan, Scott Daly
  • Publication number: 20140192391
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products illuminate display devices. Light in a waveguide is frustrated to illuminate an array of picture elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Kevin A. Li
  • Patent number: 8651724
    Abstract: A flat panel display uses pixels (2060) that are turned on or off by the enabling or disabling total internal reflection, TIR, of a light guide (2010). A reflective surface (2070) directs the switched light towards the viewer. An optional mask may be employed to provide extremely high contrast ratios in low and in high ambient lighting conditions. The elements (2080) that enable TIR may be enabled quickly because of their small size and weight, resulting in a very fast switching speed. The fast switching speed allows colors to be generated and displayed in a sequential manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC
    Inventor: Brian E. Richardson
  • Publication number: 20130235442
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a light manipulating device. The light manipulating device can include a light guide and an actuator above the light guide with at least one lens connected to the actuator. The at least one lens and the light guide can have a substantially similar refractive index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Aya Seike
  • Publication number: 20130107340
    Abstract: An autostereoscopic steering light-guide three-dimensional display. The display includes a light modulator, a light guide in light-transmitting orientation to the light modulator, a light source in light-transmitting orientation to the light guide, and a control element adjacent the light guide. The control element is responsive to a first command to cause the light guide to steer light from the light source in a first direction through the light modulator and responsive to a second command to cause the light guide to steer light from the light source in a second direction through the light modulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Yoon Kean Wong, Chun Wun Steve Yeung
  • Patent number: 8345338
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for evaluating the qualities of the user's color vision by means of the FM chromaticity test or directly measuring the defective factors of the user causing the color blindness. Thus it modifies the color composition of a video displaying apparatus according to a numerical analysis of the color and degree of color blindness specific to each dichromatic individual, so that he may perceive the same colors as the normal person. Also discloses is an apparatus for performing the method steps described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Min Jeong, Seok-Jin Won, Sung-Dae Cho, Sang-Wook Oh, Kyoung-Ju Park, Jung-Hoon Park, Jae-Won Moon, Young-Ho Ha, Cheol-Hee Lee, Chang-Hwan Son, Jong-Man Kim
  • Patent number: 8322864
    Abstract: A projection system incorporating a prism with dual total internal reflection function, to increase the performance of DLP™ projection, by offering a solution to combine 2 light paths to contribute to the brightness on the screen and at the same time rejecting flat-state and off-state light from entering the projection lens thereby enhancing contrast. In one implementation those two light paths can be collecting light from 2 different light sources which are driven in a pulsed manner with a duty cycle of approximately 50% for each of the two light sources at increased power. In a second implementation with a color sequential single DMD™ projector, while one light path passes a primary color the second light path passes the complementary secondary color. A special color transformation algorithm is proposed to transform the image input signals to make optimal use of the capabilities offered by the second implementation, and create maximum brightness and color saturation of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Barco N.V.
    Inventor: Dirk L. A. Maes
  • Publication number: 20120154417
    Abstract: Techniques for extracting light from a light guide are described. In some embodiments, a light source comprises a light guide configured to trap first light through total internal reflection. The light source may further comprise a plurality of light extractors configured to extract at least a portion of the first light upon establishing optical contact with the light guide. The light source is configured to control individual light extractors in the plurality of light extractors to make optical contact with the light guide. Quantum dots may be used with the light source to regenerate light, within desired frequency band, from the at least a portion of the first light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ajit Ninan, Scott Daly
  • Patent number: 8139288
    Abstract: A prism for use in scanning applications such as total internal reflection microscopy in which the prism is translated relative to an incident light beam. A geometry is disclosed which cancels walk of the beam footprint at the base of the prism. Walk of the beam footprint due to irregularities in a largely planar sample surface located at the prism base are cancelled by coupling movement of the incident light beam to movement of the sample in the field of view of an objective lens, for example as part of an autofocus arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Illumina Cambridge Limited
    Inventors: Mark Osborne, Jason Bryant, Bojan Obradovic, Harold Swerdlow
  • Publication number: 20110267667
    Abstract: A flat panel display uses pixels (2060) that are turned on or off by the enabling or disabling total internal reflection, TIR, of a light guide (2010). A reflective surface (2070) directs the switched light towards the viewer. An optional mask may be employed to provide extremely high contrast ratios in low and in high ambient lighting conditions. The elements (2080) that enable TIR may be enabled quickly because of their small size and weight, resulting in a very fast switching speed. The fast switching speed allows colors to be generated and displayed in a sequential manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventor: Brian E. Richardson
  • Patent number: 7950812
    Abstract: A modulating corner-cube retroreflector for remote communications is disclosed. The modulating corner-cube retroreflector includes a solid retroreflector with a front surface and three mutually perpendicular surfaces: a first surface, a second surface and a third surface. A first thin membrane is disposed relative to at least one of the three mutually perpendicular surfaces and covers at least a portion of the surface. A modulator is included that is adapted to cause the thin membrane to vibrate. The corner-cube retroreflector is configured to receive an incident beam of light from a source along a first path and is configured to return a reflected beam of light back towards the source along a second path that is substantially parallel to the first path. The first thin membrane is configured to substantially frustrate total internal reflection of the incident beam of light when the first thin membrane is moved relative to at least one surface of the retroreflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Cubic Corporation
    Inventors: John B. Roes, Gennady Tartakovsky
  • Publication number: 20110007377
    Abstract: Embodiments of a display comprising pixels formed from suitably tethered deformable membrane-based MEMS subsystems are provided that include the means to dynamically alter the in-plane tension, and thus the effective spring constant, of the deformable membrane being ponderomotively propelled between active and inactive optical states, said dynamic alteration being effected by exploiting transverse piezoelectric properties of the deformable membranes. Manipulating the spring constant can reduce the actuation force required to turn pixels on, thus significantly reducing the operational voltages for the display composed of an array of such subsystems. Since display power rises with the square of the pixel drive voltage, such architectures give rise to more power efficient display systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: RAMBUS INC
    Inventors: Martin G. Selbrede, Daniel K. Van Ostrand
  • Publication number: 20100328748
    Abstract: An array of light valves switch light by enabling and disabling total internal reflection (TIR) on a surface of the light valve. The disabling of the TIR is accomplished by putting another optical element in contact with the surface and then diffusing or changing the direction of the light. The mechanical mechanism to move the optical element is a simple one in that it only moves the optical element a small distance to change the valve from a first position to a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventor: Brian Edward Richardson