Spectrally Transflective Display

1 . An apparatus, comprising:

an upper display comprising a spatial light amplitude modulator;

a backlight unit, comprising light sources generating primary colors of a display color gamut; and

an optical filter located between the upper display and the backlight unit and having a high reflectivity of visible light except for narrow-band transmission windows substantially coinciding with the primary colors.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter is implemented using a multi-layer dielectric film.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter is implemented using enhanced optical reflector.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter is implemented using reactive mesogens.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical filter is implemented using a single-layer Fabry-Perot etalon having high reflectivity surfaces and high finesse.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein backlight unit is an organic light-emitting diode display.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein light sources generating primary colors are narrow band light emitting diodes.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein light sources generating primary colors are lasers.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is comprised of a display comprising the upper display, the backlight unit and the optical filter.

10 . A method comprising:

receiving from a backlight unit of a display and transmitting to an upper display light comprising primary colors of a color gamut by an optical filter using narrow-band transmission windows substantially coinciding with the primary colors; and

receiving and reflecting by the optical filter an ambient light using a high reflectivity of the optical filter in a visible part of spectrum except for the narrow-band transmission window, where the optical filter is located between the upper display and the backlight unit.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the optical filter is implemented using a multi-layer dielectric film.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the optical filter is implemented using an enhanced optical reflector.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the optical filter is implemented using reactive mesogens.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the optical filter is implemented using a single-layer Fabry-Perot etalon having high reflectivity surfaces and high finesse.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein backlight unit is an organic light-emitting diode display.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein light sources generating primary colors are narrow band light emitting diodes.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein light sources generating primary colors are lasers.

18 . An electronic device, comprising:

a controlling and processing unit;

an optical engine operatively connected to the controlling and processing unit for receiving image data from the controlling and processing unit; and

a display operatively connected to the optical engine for forming an image based on the image data, the display comprises:

an upper display comprising a spatial light amplitude modulator;

a backlight unit, comprising light sources generating primary colors of a display color gamut; and

an optical filter located between the upper display and the backlight unit and having a high reflectivity of visible light except for narrow-band transmission windows substantially coinciding with the primary colors.

19 . The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the optical filter is implemented using a multi-layer dielectric film, an enhanced optical reflector, reactive mesogens or a single-layer Fabry-Perot etalon having high reflectivity surfaces and high finesse.

20 . The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein light sources generating primary colors are narrow band light emitting diodes or lasers.