Patent ID: 6335999
Filing Date: 2002-01-01
Classification: F21V,G02B,G02F,G09F,Y10S

Abstract:
An optical device for operating on light from a source and for selectively outputting light to a viewer, comprising:a base layer having at least a first and second surface, said base layer further including a back surface spanning said first and second surfaces, and the light exiting said base layer when the light being reflected therein decreases its angle relative to a normal to at least one of said first and second surfaces at the point of light incidence and achieves an angle of incidence less than a critical angle &thgr;c relative to the normal at the point of light incidence on said surfaces; a layer for preferably outputting light of a first polarization state compared to a second polarization state, said layer disposed beyond at least one of said first and second surfaces relative to said base layer and said layer further enabling reflection of at least part of the light having the second polarization state; and a light control layer for at least one of reflecting, transmitting and diffusing light output from said layer, thereby providing polarized light of first polarization state of controlled angular distribution; and an imaging layer for forming an image from the light of the first polarization state for display to the viewer.