Display that emits circularly-polarized light
View Patent ↗One embodiment of the present invention provides a display that emits circularly-polarized light. This display includes a display mechanism that emits linearly-polarized light and a layer placed in the path of the linearly-polarized light. The layer receives the linearly-polarized light on one surface, converts the linearly-polarized light to circularly-polarized light, and then emits the circularly-polarized light from another surface. By emitting circularly-polarized light, the display reduces the perceived distortion found at some angles when the display is viewed through a linearly-polarizing filter.
1. A display that emits circularly-polarized light, comprising:
a display mechanism that emits linearly-polarized light; and
a layer that circularly polarizes light which is placed in the path of the linearly-polarized light, so that the layer converts the linearly-polarized light to circularly-polarized light;
one or more a-plates coupled to the layer that circularly polarizes light;
wherein the display reduces perceived distortion when the display is viewed through a linearly-polarizing filter.
2. The display of claim 1 , wherein the linearly-polarizing filter is a polarizing sunglass lens.
3. The display of claim 1 ,
wherein the layer comprises a retardation film; and
wherein the retardation film has a higher refractive index in a first direction than in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
4. The display of claim 3 , wherein the first direction in the retardation film is aligned 45 degrees with respect to the plane of the linearly-polarized light emitted by the display mechanism.
5. The display of claim 3 , wherein the thickness of the retardation film is tuned to convert linearly-polarized light to circularly-polarized light.
6. The display of claim 1 , wherein the layer is:
laminated on top of the display mechanism;
a film in front of the display mechanism; and/or
incorporated into a display cover which can be attached to the display mechanism.
7. The display of claim 1 , wherein the display mechanism includes:
a transmissive mechanism configured to actively generate and transmit light;
a reflective mechanism configured to selectively reflect external light; or
a trans-flective mechanism configured to both actively generate and transmit light as well as selectively reflect external light.
8. The display of claim 1 , wherein the display mechanism is a liquid crystal display mechanism that further comprises:
a liquid crystal layer; and
a polarizing layer that linearly polarizes light.