Patent ID: 6326939
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: G02B,G09F

Abstract:
A flat panel display comprising:an input imaging source for supplying an input image, said input imaging source comprising pixels having a major planar dimension;a first array of optical waveguides optically coupled to said input imaging source, said first array having an input surface and an intermediate output surface, said intermediate output surface being oriented at an angle with respect to said input surface, and wherein each waveguide of said first array comprises a first major cross-sectional dimension;a first light redirecting layer disposed adjacent to said intermediate light output surface for redirecting said input image;a second array of optical waveguides, said second array having an intermediate input surface disposed adjacent to said light redirecting layer and a light output surface oriented at an angle with respect to said intermediate input surface, wherein each waveguide of said second array comprises a second major cross-sectional dimension, and wherein the first and second major cross-sectional dimensions form an equivalent waveguide size according to the relationship: ##EQU5##where E represents the equivalent waveguide size, D.sub.1 represents the first major cross-sectional dimension, and D.sub.2 represents the second major cross-sectional dimension;a second light redirecting layer, disposed on said light output surface, through which said input image is projected; andwherein a pixel-to-waveguide ratio between the major planar dimension of the pixels of the input imaging source and the equivalent waveguide size is between about 1.2 to about 4.0.