Patent ID: 6304365
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: G02B,G02F

Abstract:
An image display having a preferred viewing direction, said image display comprising:(a) a substantially macroscopically planar light deflecting portion having longitudinal symmetry in a first direction substantially perpendicular to said preferred viewing direction;(b) a substantially macroscopically planar light reflecting portion having longitudinal symmetry in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction and substantially perpendicular to said preferred viewing direction, said light reflecting portion substantially parallel to said light deflecting portion;(c) a liquid contacting said light reflecting portion;(d) a plurality of movable members in said liquid;(e) a controller for applying an electromagnetic force to said members to selectively move said members into an evanescent wave region adjacent said light reflecting portion to frustrate total internal reflection of light rays at selected points on said light reflecting portion;wherein:(i) said light deflecting portion is substantially non-light absorptive and has structured surfaces which deflect light rays incident upon said display in said preferred viewing direction toward said light reflecting portion by imparting to said incident light rays a directional component in said second direction;(ii) said light reflecting portion is substantially non-light absorptive and has structured surfaces which totally internally reflect said deflected light rays toward said light deflecting portion at points other than said selected points; and,(iii) said light deflecting portion structured surfaces deflect said totally internally reflected light rays by cancelling said directional component from said totally internally reflected light rays, such that said deflected totally internally reflected light rays emerge from said image display in a direction substantially parallel to said preferred viewing direction.