Optical illumination module for a display system

1 . An optical illumination module for a display system comprising:

a light generator operable to generate light beams, the light generator comprising a plurality of light cells;

a polarizer film operable to at least partially polarize the generated light beams;

a reflective sheet having a convex spherical surface or a convex aspherical surface comprising a plurality of punch-holes configured to allow the generated light beams to emit therethrough; and

a polarization-rotating element operable to re-direct the generated light beams;

wherein the reflective sheet is operable to receive the polarized light beams and the re-directed light beams and re-direct the polarized light beams, the re-directed light beams, and the light beams emitting through the punch-holes towards the polarizer film.

2 . The optical illumination module of claim 1 , wherein the reflective sheet is positioned between the light generator and the polarizer film.

3 . The optical illumination module of claim 2 , wherein the light generator comprises an LED array, a lens array or a combination thereof.

4 . The optical illumination module of claim 3 , wherein the lens array is positioned between the reflective sheet and the LED array.

5 . The optical illumination module of claim 3 , wherein the reflective sheet and the lens array are integrated as a single device.

6 . The optical illumination module of claim 1 , wherein the aspherical surface is a bow-shaped profile.

7 . The optical illumination module of claim 6 , wherein the reflective sheet is a metal punch-sheet, a plastic sheet treated with a reflective coating, or a plastic sheet treated with a reflective foil.

8 . The optical illumination module of claim 7 , wherein the polarizer film is a dual brightness enhancement film.

9 . The optical illumination module of claim 8 , wherein the polarization rotating element is a retarder or a quarter-wave plate.

10 . The optical illumination module of claim 9 , wherein the polarization rotating element is made of high birefringence material.

11 . The optical illumination module of claim 10 , further comprising an optical diffusor positioned forward of the polarizer film.

12 . The optical illumination module of claim 11 , wherein the display system is a motor vehicle display system operable to project a virtual image on a transparent pane.

13 . The optical illumination module of claim 11 , wherein the display system is a motor vehicle display system embedded within a display device.

14 . A method of providing illumination for a display system, the method comprising:

generating light beams from a light generator, the light generator comprising a plurality of light cells;

at least partially polarizing light beams generated from the light generator by way of a polarizer film;

changing a direction of the light beams generated by the light generator by way of a polarization-rotating element;

receiving, by way of a reflective sheet: the at least partially polarized light beams reflected from the polarizer film and the light beams re-directed by the polarization-rotating element; and a reflective sheet comprising a convex spherical surface or a convex aspherical surface having a plurality of punch-holes configured to allow the generated light beams to emit therethrough

re-directing, the at least partially polarized light beams, the light beams re-directed by the polarization-rotating element, and light beams emitting through the light cells towards the polarizer film.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising locally dimming each light cell by controlling the contrast of light generated from each light cell.