The present invention discloses a display panel 10 having a substrate 12 with one or more surfaces and one or more features 30 within the substrate 12 . When electromagnetic radiation is introduced at or directed toward one or more surfaces of the substrate 12 , the features 30 redirect the electromagnetic radiation in one or more predetermined directions.
1. A device comprising:
A glass substrate having a viewing surface; and
at least one fissure within the substrate positioned at an angle to the viewing surface,
wherein the fissure is configured to direct electromagnetic radiation in a predetermined direction, and
wherein the fissure has a refractive index that is at least 0.004 different than the refractive index of the substrate in its immediate vicinity.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the fissure is configured to direct at least a portion of the radiation from an interior of the substrate toward the viewing surface to form an image.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the fissure is configured to redirect electromagnetic radiation within a predetermined wavelength range.
4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the fissure is configured to redirect electromagnetic radiation within the IR and/or UV wavelength ranges.
5. The device of claim 1 , including a plurality of fissures configured to direct electromagnetic radiation in a plurality of directions.
6. The device of claim 1 , including at least one radiation source adjacent the display device.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the fissure comprises a tubular feature.
8. The device of claim 1 , including an image projector configured to direct an image onto at least one surface of the substrate.
9. A device comprising:
a glass substrate having a viewing surface; and
a plurality of fissures within the substrate positioned at an angle to the viewing surface,
wherein the fissures are configured to direct electromagnetic radiation in a predetermined direction,
wherein the fissures have a refractive index that is at least 0.004 different than the refractive index of the substrate in its immediate vicinity,
wherein the substrate further comprises a second surface, wherein the fissures are configured to direct at least a portion of radiation from a first radiation source toward the viewing surface and to direct at least a portion of electromagnetic radiation from a second radiation source toward the second surface.
10. A display device, comprising:
a glass substrate having a surface;
a plurality of fissures in the substrate positioned at an angle to the surface; and
at least one electromagnetic radiation source configured to introduce electromagnetic radiation into the substrate,
wherein the fissures are configured to direct at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation introduced into the substrate by the at least one electromagnetic radiation source toward the surface, and
wherein the fissures have a refractive index that is at least 0.004 different than the refractive index of the substrate in its immediate vicinity.
11. A method of making a display panel,
comprising:
focusing a beam of radiation inside a glass substrate at an angle to a surface of the substrate to form at least one fissure configured to direct electromagnetic radiation introduced into the substrate in a predetermined direction,
wherein the at least one fissure has a refractive index that is at least 0.004 different than the refractive index of the substrate in its immediate vicinity.
12. The device of claim 1 , wherein,
the device comprises a plurality of fissures,
wherein, when electromagnetic radiation is introduced into the substrate, the fissures are configured to convert the substrate to an opaque substrate relative to at least a first surface of the substrate.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the device further comprises an image projector configured to direct an image onto at least the first surface of the opaque substrate.