Patent ID: 6352350
Filing Date: 2002-03-05
Classification: F21V,G02B,G02F

Abstract:
An illumination system for a display device comprising:a lightguide having a first major surface opposite a second major surface and a first edge face opposite a second edge face, said first edge face being positioned to receive light from a light source; a polarizing system proximate to said second major surface which passes a first portion of said light having a desired polarization state to a reflective liquid crystal display panel and which reflects a second portion of said light having an undesired polarization state; and means, integrated with said lightguide, for reflecting said second portion of said light at said second edge face and for rotating the polarization state of said second portion of said light from said undesired polarization state to said desired polarization state, wherein said second portion of said light having said desired polarization state is incident on said polarizing system and is passed to said reflective liquid crystal display panel.