Laser diode backlighting of LC display with at least one diode generating light beam having divergence angle and with display panel having beam spreader to increase divergence

1. A display comprising:

a planar array of transmissive liquid crystal display (LCD) devices; and

a plurality of laser diode devices including at least a laser diode emitting in the red portion of the visible spectrum, a laser diode emitting in the green portion of the visible spectrum, and a laser diode emitting in the blue portion of the visible spectrum spaced apart from the planar array of LCD devices and configured to sequentially illuminate at least a subset of the LCD devices of the planar array of LCD devices such that, in operation, the plurality of laser diode devices provides backlighting for the subset of LCD devices of the planar array of LCD devices while the subset of LCD devices sequentially generates color-separated images corresponding to the respective colors of the laser diode devices;

wherein at least one of the plurality of laser diode devices generates a beam of light having a divergence angle, and wherein the display panel further comprises a beam spreader configured to increase the divergence angle of the beam of light.

2. The display of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of laser diode devices generate respective beams of substantially polarized light, and wherein the display panel further comprises a reflector configured to reflect the beams of substantially polarized light onto an illumination area including the subset of LCD devices of the planar array of LCD devices.

3. The display of claim 2 , wherein the reflector comprises a passive reflector.

4. The display of claim 3 , wherein the reflector comprises a convex mirror.

5. The display of claim 2 , wherein the reflector comprises an active reflector.

6. The display of claim 5 , wherein the reflector comprises a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) mirror.

7. The display of claim 1 , wherein the display panel further comprises a beam scanner configured to increase the divergence angle of the beam of light.

8. The display of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of laser diode devices are configured to generate respective beams of substantially polarized light initially directed towards an illumination area including the subset of LCD devices of the planar array of LCD devices.

9. The display of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of laser diode devices are configured to generate respective beams of substantially polarized light initially directed away from an illumination area including the subset of LCD devices of the planar array of LCD devices, and wherein the display panel further includes a reflector configured to reflect the beams towards the illumination area.

10. The display of claim 2 , wherein plurality of one laser diode devices are configured to generate respective beams of substantially polarized light initially directed parallel to an illumination area including the subset of LCD devices of the planar array of LCD devices, and wherein the display panel further includes a reflector configured to reflect the beams towards the illumination area.

11. A display comprising:

a planar array of transmissive liquid crystal display (LCD) devices; and

a plurality of laser diode devices including at least a laser diode emitting in the red portion of the visible spectrum, a laser diode emitting in the green portion of the visible spectrum, and a laser diode emitting in the blue portion of the visible spectrum spaced apart from the planar array of LCD devices and configured to sequentially illuminate at least a subset of the LCD devices of the planar array of LCD devices such that, in operation, the plurality of laser diode devices provides backlighting for the subset of LCD devices of the planar array of LCD devices while the subset of LCD devices sequentially generates color-separated images corresponding to the respective colors of the laser diode devices;

wherein at least one of the laser diode devices generates a beam of substantially polarized light having a divergence angle, and wherein the display panel further comprises a beam scanner configured to increase the divergence angle of the beam of substantially polarized light.

12. A display comprising:

a planar array of transmissive liquid crystal display devices; and

at least one laser diode device spaced apart from the planar array of LCD devices and configured to illuminate at least a subset of the LCD devices of the planar array of LCD devices such that, in operation, the laser diode device provides backlighting for the subset of LCD devices of the planar array of LCD devices, wherein at least one of the transmissive liquid crystal display devices of the planar array of transmissive liquid crystal display devices comprises:

a liquid crystal shutter;

an analyzer positioned to receive light passing through the liquid crystal shutter; and

an optical filter positioned to filter light passing through the liquid crystal shutter, wherein the optical filter has a passband of about 50 nm or less in the green or blue portions of the visible spectrum.

13. The display of claim 12 , further comprising a polarizer configured to polarize light generated by an LCD backlight and impinging on the liquid crystal shutter.

14. The display of claim 13 , wherein the optical filter is positioned between the laser diode and the polarizer.

15. The display of claim 12 , wherein the optical filter is positioned between the laser diode and the liquid crystal shutter.

16. The display of claim 12 , wherein the optical filter is positioned between the liquid crystal shutter and the analyzer.

17. The display of claim 12 , wherein the analyzer is positioned between the optical filter and the liquid crystal shutter.