Flat panel optical display system with highly controlled output
A brightness enhancing reflector to accurately control the light exiting the guide achieves accurate control of the reflected light by extracting light from a limited area of the light guide. The configuration of the reflectors used for the selective extraction determines the nature of the output light. The reflectors are preferably located on a side of the light guide opposite to an output side of the light guide and in conjunction with an electronic display.
1 . An optical display system comprising:
a light guide wherein light travels by total internal reflection,
at least one optical element that provides selective extraction of light from said light guide, and
a reflector element comprising a plurality of reflector surfaces, said reflector element being optically isolated from said light guide, said reflector element directing light out of said light guide in a predetermined direction and pattern through a display matrix; wherein
said display matrix comprises black areas and non-black areas, said reflector surfaces being aligned with said display matrix such that the light directed through said display matrix passes through said non-black areas of said display matrix, thereby increasing the brightness of an output of said display system.
2 . The light guide system of claim 1 wherein:
elements of a light source of said system are mounted on a plurality of narrow mounting points on side reflector edges at a front end of said light guide, said mounting points being separated from each other, and
said side reflector edges expand in width from said mounting points to a base of said side reflector edges, said base of said side reflector edges being connected to a front end of a main body of said light guide.
3 . The light guide system of claim 1 wherein:
said light guide decreases in thickness from an end of said light guide to which a light source is attached to an end of said light guide to which said reflector element is attached.
4 . The optical display system of claim 1 wherein:
after light is directed from said light guide, the light passes through at least one diffusing element.
5 . The optical display system of claim 1 wherein:
optical isolation of said light guide from said reflector element is accomplished by an air gap.
6 . The light guide system of claim 1 wherein:
optical isolation of said light guide from said reflector element is accomplished by a thin layer of a material with a low index of refraction.
7 . The light guide system of claim 1 wherein:
an index of refraction of said light guide is less than an index of refraction of said reflector element.
8 . An optical display system comprising:
a light guide wherein light travels by total internal reflection,
at least one optical element that provides selective extraction of light from said light guide, and
a reflector element comprising a plurality of reflector surfaces, said reflector element being optically isolated from said light guide; wherein
elements of a light source of said system are mounted on a plurality of narrow mounting points on side reflector edges at a front end of said light guide, said mounting points being separated from each other, and
said side reflector edges expand in width from said mounting points to a base of said side reflector edges, said base of said side reflector edges being connected to a front end of a main body of said light guide.
9 . The light guide system of claim 8 wherein:
said reflector element directs light out of said light guide in a predetermined direction and pattern through a display matrix, said display matrix comprising black areas and non-black areas, said reflector surfaces being aligned with said display matrix such that the light directed through said display matrix passes through said non-black areas of said display matrix, thereby increasing the brightness of an output of said display system.
10 . The light guide system of claim 8 wherein:
said light guide decreases in thickness from an end of said light guide to which a light source is attached to an end of said light guide to which said reflector element is attached.
11 . The optical display system of claim 8 wherein:
after light is directed from said light guide, the light passes through at least one diffusing element.
12 . The optical display system of claim 8 wherein:
optical isolation of said light guide from said reflector element is accomplished by an air gap.
13 . The light guide system of claim 8 wherein:
optical isolation of said light guide from said reflector element is accomplished by a thin layer of a material with a low index of refraction.
14 . The light guide system of claim 8 wherein:
an index of refraction of said light guide is less than an index of refraction of said reflector element.
15 . An optical display system comprising:
a light guide wherein light travels by total internal reflection,
at least one optical element that provides selective extraction of light from said light guide, and
a reflector element comprising a plurality of reflector surfaces, said reflector element being optically isolated from said light guide; wherein
said light guide decreases in thickness from an end of said light guide to which a light source is attached to an end of said light guide to which said reflector element is attached.
16 . The light guide system of claim 15 wherein:
said reflector element directs light out of said light guide in a predetermined direction and pattern through a display matrix, said display matrix comprising black areas and non-black areas, said reflector surfaces being aligned with said display matrix such that the light directed through said display matrix passes through said non-black areas of said display matrix, thereby increasing the brightness of an output of said display system.
17 . The light guide system of claim 15 wherein:
elements of a light source of said system are mounted on a plurality of narrow mounting points on side reflector edges at a front end of said light guide, said mounting points being separated from each other, and
said side reflector edges expand in width from said mounting points to a base of said side reflector edges, said base of said side reflector edges being connected to a front end of a main body of said light guide.
18 . The optical display system of claim 15 wherein:
after light is directed from said light guide, the light passes through at least one diffusing element.
19 . The optical display system of claim 15 wherein:
optical isolation of said light guide from said reflector element is accomplished by an air gap.
20 . The light guide system of claim 15 wherein:
optical isolation of said light guide from said reflector element is accomplished by a thin layer of a material with a low index of refraction.
21 . The light guide system of claim 15 wherein:
an index of refraction of said light guide is less than an index of refraction of said reflector element.
22 . An optical display system comprising:
a light guide wherein light travels by total internal reflection,
at least one optical element that provides selective extraction of light from said light guide, and
a reflector element comprising a plurality of reflector surfaces, said reflector element being optically isolated from said light guide, said reflector element directing light out of said light guide in a predetermined direction and pattern through a display matrix; wherein
said display matrix comprises black areas and non-black areas, said reflector surfaces being aligned with said display matrix such that the light directed through said display matrix passes through said non-black areas of said display matrix, thereby increasing the brightness of an output of said display system, and
elements of a light source of said system are mounted on a plurality of narrow mounting points on side reflector edges at a front end of said light guide, said mounting points being separated from each other, and said side reflector edges expand in width from said mounting points to a base of said side reflector edges, said base of said side reflector edges being connected to a front end of a main body of said light guide, and
said light guide decreases in thickness from an end of said light guide to which a light source is attached to an end of said light guide to which said reflector element is attached.
23 . The optical display system of claim 22 wherein:
after light is directed from said light guide, the light passes through at least one diffusing element.
24 . The optical display system of claim 22 wherein:
optical isolation of said light guide from said reflector element is accomplished by an air gap.
25 . The light guide system of claim 22 wherein:
optical isolation of said light guide from said reflector element is accomplished by a thin layer of a material with a low index of refraction.
26 . The light guide system of claim 22 wherein:
an index of refraction of said light guide is less than an index of refraction of said reflector element.