Patent Description:
Electronic displays are a nearly ubiquitous medium for communicating information to users of a wide variety of devices and products. Most commonly employed electronic displays include the cathode ray tube (CRT), plasma display panels (PDP), liquid crystal displays (LCD), electroluminescent displays (EL), organic light emitting diode (OLED) and active matrix OLEDs (AMOLED) displays, electrophoretic displays (EP) and various displays that employ electromechanical or electrofluidic light modulation (e.g., digital micromirror devices, electrowetting displays, etc.). Generally, electronic displays may be categorized as either active displays (i.e., displays that emit light) or passive displays (i.e., displays that modulate light provided by another source). Among the most obvious examples of active displays are CRTs, PDPs and OLEDs/AMOLEDs. Displays that are typically classified as passive when considering emitted light are LCDs and EP displays. Passive displays, while often exhibiting attractive performance characteristics including, but not limited to, inherently low power consumption, may find somewhat limited use in many practical applications given the lack of an ability to emit light.

To overcome the limitations of passive displays associated with emitted light, many passive displays are coupled to an external light source. The coupled light source may allow these otherwise passive displays to emit light and function substantially as active displays. Examples of such coupled light sources are backlights. A backlight may serve as a source of light (often a panel backlight) that is placed behind an otherwise passive display to illuminate the passive display. For example, a backlight may be coupled to an LCD or an EP display. The backlight emits light that passes through the LCD or the EP display. The light emitted is modulated by the LCD or the EP display and the modulated light is then emitted, in turn, from the LCD or the EP display. Often backlights are configured to emit white light. Color filters are then used to transform the white light into various colors used in the display. The color filters may be placed at an output of the LCD or the EP display (less common) or between the backlight and the LCD or the EP display, for example. Alternatively, the various colors may be implemented by field-sequential illumination of a display using different colors, such as primary colors.

<CIT> discloses a dual view display device where a display surface is divided into a first and a second sub-section. A backlighting arrangement is used which provides light with different angular distributions to the different subsections.

<CIT> discloses a directional backlight comprising a lightguide with a plurality of light sources along one edge. The independently controllable light sources are spatially separated and point in different directions to each other. The waveguide contains extraction features which have a preferred direction arranged around a reference point, and wherein the structure of the extraction features is altered with increasing distance from this reference point.

<CIT> discloses a backlight unit comprising a light guide configured to receive light at a first light interface located at an end of the light guide and output light via a second light interface located at a face of the light guide, and a plurality of light sources configured to inject light into the light guide at the first light interface.

Examples and embodiments in accordance with the principles described herein provide backlighting employing broad-angle scattering and directional scattering on the same backlight with application to electronic displays. In various embodiments consistent with the principles herein, a dual view zone backlight is provided. The dual view zone backlight is configured to both emit directional emitted light toward a first view zone and to emit broad-angle emitted light toward both the first view zone and a second view zone. Further, a viewing range or cone of the first view zone has a direction that differs from a direction of a viewing range or cone of the second view zone, in various embodiments.

According to various embodiments, a dual-mode display is also provided. In particular, the dual-mode display combines the dual view zone backlight with a broad-angle backlight in a dual-backlight display to provide a first mode comprising two separate images on the same screen and a second mode comprising a single image occupying the whole screen. Uses of dual view zone backlight and the dual-mode display described herein include, but are not limited to, mobile telephones (e.g., smart phones), watches, tablet computes, mobile computers (e.g., laptop computers), personal computers and computer monitors, automobile display consoles, cameras displays, and various other mobile as well as substantially non-mobile display applications and devices.

Herein a 'two-dimensional display' or '2D display' is defined as a display configured to provide a view of an image that is substantially the same regardless of a direction from which the image is viewed (i.e., within a predefined viewing angle or range of the 2D display). A conventional liquid crystal display (LCD) found in may smart phones and computer monitors are examples of 2D displays. In contrast herein, a 'multiview display' is defined as an electronic display or display system configured to provide different views of a multiview image in or from different view directions. In particular, the different views may represent different perspective views of a scene or object of the multiview image.

Herein, a 'multiview display' is defined as an electronic display or display system configured to provide different views of a multiview image in different view directions. <FIG> illustrates a perspective view of a multiview display <NUM> in an example, according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. As illustrated in <FIG>, the multiview display <NUM> comprises a screen <NUM> to display a multiview image to be viewed. The screen <NUM> may be a display screen of a telephone (e.g., mobile telephone, smart phone, etc.), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a computer monitor of a desktop computer, a camera display, or an electronic display of substantially any other device, for example.

The multiview display <NUM> provides different views <NUM> of the multiview image in different view directions <NUM> relative to the screen <NUM>. The view directions <NUM> are illustrated as arrows extending from the screen <NUM> in various different principal angular directions; the different views <NUM> are illustrated as shaded polygonal boxes at the termination of the arrows (i.e., depicting the view directions <NUM>); and only four views <NUM> and four view directions <NUM> are illustrated, all by way of example and not limitation. Note that while the different views <NUM> are illustrated in <FIG> as being above the screen, the views <NUM> actually appear on or in a vicinity of the screen <NUM> when the multiview image is displayed on the multiview display <NUM>. Depicting the views <NUM> above the screen <NUM> is only for simplicity of illustration and is meant to represent viewing the multiview display <NUM> from a respective one of the view directions <NUM> corresponding to a particular view <NUM>.

A view direction or equivalently a light beam having a direction corresponding to a view direction of a multiview display generally has a principal angular direction given by angular components {θ, φ}, by definition herein. The angular component θ is referred to herein as the 'elevation component' or 'elevation angle' of the light beam. The angular component φ is referred to as the 'azimuth component' or 'azimuth angle' of the light beam. By definition, the elevation angle θ is an angle in a vertical plane (e.g., perpendicular to a plane of the multiview display screen while the azimuth angle φ is an angle in a horizontal plane (e.g., parallel to the multiview display screen plane).

<FIG> illustrates a graphical representation of the angular components {θ, φ} of a light beam <NUM> having a particular principal angular direction corresponding to a view direction (e.g., view direction <NUM> in <FIG>) of a multiview display in an example, according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. In addition, the light beam <NUM> is emitted or emanates from a particular point, by definition herein. That is, by definition, the light beam <NUM> has a central ray associated with a particular point of origin within the multiview display. <FIG> also illustrates the light beam (or view direction) point of origin O.

Further herein, the term 'multiview' as used in the terms 'multiview image' and 'multiview display' is defined as a plurality of views representing different perspectives or including angular disparity between views of the view plurality. In addition, herein the term 'multiview' explicitly includes more than two different views (i.e., a minimum of three views and generally more than three views), by definition herein. As such, 'multiview display' as employed herein is explicitly distinguished from a stereoscopic display that includes only two different views to represent a scene or an image. Note however, while multiview images and multiview displays include more than two views, by definition herein, multiview images may be viewed (e.g., on a multiview display) as a stereoscopic pair of images by selecting only two of the multiview views to view at a time (e.g., one view per eye).

A 'multiview pixel' is defined herein as a set of pixels (e.g., a set of light valves) representing 'view' pixels in each view of a plurality of different views of a multiview display. In particular, a multiview pixel may have an individual pixel (or light valve) corresponding to or representing a view pixel in each of the different views of the multiview image. Moreover, the pixels of the multiview pixel are so-called 'directional pixels' in that each of the pixels is associated with a predetermined view direction of a corresponding one of the different views, by definition herein. Further, according to various examples and embodiments, the different view pixels represented by the pixels of a multiview pixel may have equivalent or at least substantially similar locations or coordinates in each of the different views. For example, a first multiview pixel may have individual pixels corresponding to view pixels located at {x<NUM>, y<NUM>} in each of the different views of a multiview image, while a second multiview pixel may have individual pixels corresponding to view pixels located at {x<NUM>, y<NUM>} in each of the different views, and so on.

Herein, a 'light guide' is defined as a structure that guides light within the structure using total internal reflection. In particular, the light guide may include a core that is substantially transparent at an operational wavelength of the light guide. The term 'light guide' generally refers to a dielectric optical waveguide that employs total internal reflection to guide light at an interface between a dielectric material of the light guide and a material or medium that surrounds that light guide. By definition, a condition for total internal reflection is that a refractive index of the light guide is greater than a refractive index of a surrounding medium adjacent to a surface of the light guide material. In some embodiments, the light guide may include a coating in addition to or instead of the aforementioned refractive index difference to further facilitate the total internal reflection. The coating may be a reflective coating, for example. The light guide may be any of several light guides including, but not limited to, one or both of a plate or slab guide and a strip guide.

By definition herein, a 'multibeam element' is a structure or element of a backlight or a display that produces light that includes a plurality of directional light beams. Directional light beams of the plurality of directional light beams (or 'directional light beam plurality') produced by a multibeam element have different principal angular directions from one another, by definition herein. In particular, by definition, a directional light beam of the directional light beam plurality has a predetermined principal angular direction that is different from another directional light beam of the directional light beam plurality. According to some embodiments, a size of the multibeam element may be comparable to a size of a light valve used in a display that is associated with the multibeam element (e.g., a multiview display). In particular, the multibeam element size may be between about one half and about two times the light valve size, in some embodiments. In some embodiments, a multibeam element may provide polarization-selective scattering.

According to some embodiments, the directional light beam plurality may represent a light field. For example, the directional light beam plurality may be confined to a substantially conical region of space or have a predetermined angular spread that includes the different principal angular directions of the light beams in the light beam plurality. As such, the predetermined angular spread of the directional light beams in combination (i.e., the directional light beam plurality) may represent the light field.

According to various embodiments, the different principal angular directions of the various directional light beams in the directional light beam plurality are determined by a characteristic including, but not limited to, a size (e.g., one or more of length, width, area, and etc.) of the multibeam element along with other characteristics. For example, in a diffractive multibeam element, a 'grating pitch' or a diffractive feature spacing and an orientation of a diffraction grating within diffractive multibeam element may be characteristics that determine, at least in part, the different principal angular directions of the various directional light beams. In some embodiments, the multibeam element may be considered an 'extended point light source', i.e., a plurality of point light sources distributed across an extent of the multibeam element, by definition herein. Further, a directional light beam produced by the multibeam element may have a principal angular direction given by angular components {θ, φ}, as described above with respect to <FIG>.

In some embodiments, the multibeam element may have a shape that is analogous to a shape of an associated multiview pixel. For example, both the multibeam element and the multiview pixel may have a square shape. In another example, a shape of the multibeam element may be rectangular and thus be analogous to associated rectangular shaped multiview pixel. In yet other examples, the multibeam element and the corresponding multiview pixel may have various other analogous shapes including or at least approximated by, but not limited to, a triangular shape, a hexagonal shape, and a circular shape.

Herein, a 'diffraction grating' is generally defined as a plurality of features (i.e., diffractive features) arranged to provide diffraction of light incident on the diffraction grating. In some examples, the plurality of features may be arranged in a periodic or quasi-periodic manner. For example, the diffraction grating may include a plurality of features (e.g., a plurality of grooves or ridges in a material surface) arranged in a one-dimensional (1D) array. In other examples, the diffraction grating may be a two-dimensional (2D) array of features. The diffraction grating may be a 2D array of bumps on or holes in a material surface, for example.

As such, and by definition herein, the 'diffraction grating' is a structure that provides diffraction of light incident on the diffraction grating. If the light is incident on the diffraction grating from a light guide, the provided diffraction or diffractive scattering may result in, and thus be referred to as, 'diffractive coupling' in that the diffraction grating may couple light out of the light guide by diffraction. The diffraction grating also redirects or changes an angle of the light by diffraction (i.e., at a diffractive angle). In particular, as a result of diffraction, light leaving the diffraction grating generally has a different propagation direction than a propagation direction of the light incident on the diffraction grating (i.e., incident light). The change in the propagation direction of the light by diffraction is referred to as 'diffractive redirection' herein. Hence, the diffraction grating may be understood to be a structure including diffractive features that diffractively redirects light incident on the diffraction grating and, if the light is incident from a light guide, the diffraction grating may also diffractively couple out the light from the light guide.

Further, by definition herein, the features of a diffraction grating are referred to as 'diffractive features' and may be one or more of at, in and on a material surface (i.e., a boundary between two materials). The surface may be a surface of a light guide, for example. The diffractive features may include any of a variety of structures that diffract light including, but not limited to, one or more of grooves, ridges, holes and bumps at, in or on the surface. For example, the diffraction grating may include a plurality of substantially parallel grooves in the material surface. In another example, the diffraction grating may include a plurality of parallel ridges rising out of the material surface. The diffractive features (e.g., grooves, ridges, holes, bumps, etc.) may have any of a variety of cross sectional shapes or profiles that provide diffraction including, but not limited to, one or more of a sinusoidal profile, a rectangular profile (e.g., a binary diffraction grating), a triangular profile and a saw tooth profile (e.g., a blazed grating).

According to various examples described herein, a diffraction grating (e.g., a diffraction grating of a directional scattering element or a multibeam element, as described below) may be employed to diffractively scatter or couple light out of a light guide (e.g., a plate light guide) as a light beam. In particular, a diffraction angle θm of or provided by a locally periodic diffraction grating may be given by equation (<NUM>) as: <MAT> where λ is a wavelength of the light, m is a diffraction order, n is an index of refraction of a light guide, d is a distance or spacing between features of the diffraction grating, θi is an angle of incidence of light on the diffraction grating. For simplicity, equation (<NUM>) assumes that the diffraction grating is adjacent to a surface of the light guide and a refractive index of a material outside of the light guide is equal to one (i.e., nout = <NUM>). In general, the diffraction order m is given by an integer. A diffraction angle θm of a light beam produced by the diffraction grating may be given by equation (<NUM>) where the diffraction order is positive (e.g., m > <NUM>). For example, first-order diffraction is provided when the diffraction order m is equal to one (i.e., m = <NUM>).

<FIG> illustrates a cross sectional view of a diffraction grating <NUM> in an example, according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. For example, the diffraction grating <NUM> may be located on a surface of a light guide <NUM>. In addition, <FIG> illustrates a light beam <NUM> incident on the diffraction grating <NUM> at an incident angle θi. The light beam <NUM> is a guided light beam within the light guide <NUM>. Also illustrated in <FIG> is a directional light beam <NUM> diffractively produced and coupled-out by the diffraction grating <NUM> as a result of diffraction of the incident light beam <NUM>. The directional light beam <NUM> has a diffraction angle θm (or 'principal angular direction' herein) as given by equation (<NUM>). The diffraction angle θm may correspond to a diffraction order 'm' of the diffraction grating <NUM>, for example.

Herein by definition, a 'slanted' diffraction grating is a diffraction grating with diffractive features having a slant angle relative to a surface normal of a surface of the diffraction grating. According to various embodiments, a slanted diffraction grating may provide unilateral scattering by diffraction of incident light.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of a slanted diffraction grating <NUM> in an example, according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. As illustrated, the slanted diffraction grating <NUM> is a binary diffraction grating located at a surface of a light guide <NUM>, analogous to the diffraction grating <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. However, the slanted diffraction grating <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> comprises diffractive features <NUM> having a slant angle γ relative to a surface normal (illustrated by a dashed line) along with a grating height, depth or thickness t, as illustrated. Also illustrated are the incident light beam <NUM> and a directional light beam <NUM> representing unilateral diffractive scattering of the incident light beam <NUM> by the slanted diffraction grating <NUM>. Note that diffractive scattering of light in a secondary direction by the slanted diffraction grating <NUM> is suppressed by the unilateral diffractive scattering, according to various embodiments. In <FIG>, 'crossed out' a dashed-line arrow <NUM> represents suppressed diffractive scattering in the secondary direction by the slanted diffraction grating <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the slant angle γ of the diffractive features <NUM> may be selected to control a unilateral diffraction characteristic of the slanted diffraction grating <NUM> including a degree to which diffractive scattering in the secondary direction is suppressed. For example, the slant angle γ may be selected to be between about twenty degrees (<NUM>°) and about sixty degrees (<NUM>°) or between about thirty degrees (<NUM>°) and about fifty degrees (<NUM>°) or between about forty degrees (<NUM>°) and about fifty-five degrees (<NUM>°). A slant angle γ in a range of about <NUM>° - <NUM>° may provide better than about forty times (40x) suppression of the diffractive scattering in secondary direction, when compared to a unilateral direction provided by the slanted diffraction grating <NUM>, for example. According to some embodiments, the thickness t of the diffractive features <NUM> may be between about one hundred nanometers (<NUM>) and about four hundred nanometers (<NUM>). For example, the thickness t may be between about one hundred fifty nanometers (<NUM>) and about three hundred nanometers (<NUM>) for grating periodicities p in a range from about <NUM> and about five hundred nanometers (<NUM>).

Further, the diffractive features may be curved and may also have a predetermined orientation (e.g., a rotation) relative to a propagation direction of light, according to some embodiments. One or both of the curve of the diffractive features and the orientation of the diffractive features may be configured to control a direction of light coupled-out by the diffraction grating, for example. For example, a principal angular direction of the coupled-out light may be a function of an angle of the diffractive feature at a point at which the light is incident on the diffraction grating relative to a propagation direction of the incident light.

By definition, the term 'broad-angle' as in 'broad-angle emitted light' is defined as light having a cone angle that is greater than a cone angle of the view of a multiview image or multiview display. In particular, in some embodiments, the broad-angle emitted light may have a cone angle that is greater than about sixty degrees (<NUM>°). In other embodiments, the broad-angle emitted light cone angle may be greater than about fifty degrees (<NUM>°), or greater than about forty degrees (<NUM>°). For example, the cone angle of the broad-angle emitted light may be about one hundred twenty degrees (<NUM>°).

In some embodiments, the broad-angle emitted light cone angle may defined to be about the same as a viewing angle of an LCD computer monitor, an LCD tablet, an LCD television, or a similar digital display device meant for broad-angle viewing (e.g., about ± <NUM>-<NUM>° relative to a normal direction). In other embodiments, broad-angle emitted light may also be characterized or described as diffuse light, substantially diffuse light, non-directional light (i.e., lacking any specific or defined directionality), or as light having a single or substantially uniform direction.

Herein a 'collimator' is defined as substantially any optical device or apparatus that is configured to collimate light. According to various embodiments, an amount of collimation provided by the collimator may vary in a predetermined degree or amount from one embodiment to another. Further, the collimator may be configured to provide collimation in one or both of two orthogonal directions (e.g., a vertical direction and a horizontal direction). That is, the collimator may include a shape in one or both of two orthogonal directions that provides light collimation, according to some embodiments.

Herein, a 'collimation factor' is defined as a degree to which light is collimated. In particular, a collimation factor defines an angular spread of light rays within a collimated beam of light, by definition herein. For example, a collimation factor σ may specify that a majority of light rays in a beam of collimated light is within a particular angular spread (e.g., +/- σ degrees about a central or principal angular direction of the collimated light beam). The light rays of the collimated light beam may have a Gaussian distribution in terms of angle and the angular spread may be an angle determined by at one-half of a peak intensity of the collimated light beam, according to some examples.

Herein, an 'angle-preserving scattering feature' or equivalently an 'angle-preserving scatterer' is any feature or scatterer configured to scatter light in a manner that substantially preserves in scattered light an angular spread of light incident on the feature or scatterer. In particular, by definition, an angular spread σs of light scattered by an angle-preserving scattering feature is a function of an angular spread σ of the incident light (i.e., σs = f(σ) ). In some embodiments, the angular spread σs of the scattered light is a linear function of the angular spread or collimation factor σ of the incident light (e.g., σs = a·σ, where a is an integer). That is, the angular spread σs of light scattered by an angle-preserving scattering feature may be substantially proportional to the angular spread or collimation factor σ of the incident light. For example, the angular spread σs of the scattered light may be substantially equal to the incident light angular spread σ (e.g., σs ≈ σ). A uniform diffraction grating (i.e., a diffraction grating having a substantially uniform or constant diffractive feature spacing or grating pitch) is an example of an angle-preserving scattering feature.

Herein, the term 'unilateral' as in 'unilateral diffractive scattering element,' is defined as meaning 'one-sided' or 'preferentially in one direction' correspond to a first side as opposed to another direction correspond to a second side. In particular, a 'unilateral backlight' is defined as a backlight that emits light from a first side and not from a second side opposite the first side. For example, a unilateral backlight may emit light into a first (e.g., positive) half-space, but not into the corresponding second (e.g., negative) half-space. The first half-space may be above the unilateral backlight and the second half-space may be below the unilateral backlight. As such, the unilateral backlight may emit light into a region or toward a direction that is above the unilateral backlight and emit little or no light into another region or toward another direction that is below the unilateral backlight, for example. Similarly a 'unilateral scatterer' such as, but not limited to, a unilateral diffractive scattering element or a unilateral multibeam element is configured to scatter light toward and out of a first surface, but not a second surface opposite the first surface, by definition herein.

Herein, a 'light source' is defined as a source of light (e.g., an optical emitter configured to produce and emit light). For example, the light source may comprise an optical emitter such as a light emitting diode (LED) that emits light when activated or turned on. In particular, herein the light source may be substantially any source of light or comprise substantially any optical emitter including, but not limited to, one or more of a light emitting diode (LED), a laser, an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a polymer light emitting diode, a plasma-based optical emitter, a fluorescent lamp, an incandescent lamp, and virtually any other source of light. The light produced by the light source may have a color (i.e., may include a particular wavelength of light), or may be a range of wavelengths (e.g., white light). In some embodiments, the light source may comprise a plurality of optical emitters. For example, the light source may include a set or group of optical emitters in which at least one of the optical emitters produces light having a color, or equivalently a wavelength, that differs from a color or wavelength of light produced by at least one other optical emitter of the set or group. The different colors may include primary colors (e.g., red, green, blue) for example.

Further, as used herein, the article 'a' is intended to have its ordinary meaning in the patent arts, namely 'one or more'. For example, 'a directional scattering element' means one or more directional scattering elements and as such, 'the directional scattering element' means 'directional scattering element(s)' herein. Also, any reference herein to 'top', 'bottom', 'upper', 'lower', 'up', 'down', 'front', back', 'first', 'second', 'left' or 'right' is not intended to be a limitation herein. Herein, the term 'about' when applied to a value generally means within the tolerance range of the equipment used to produce the value, or may mean plus or minus <NUM>%, or plus or minus <NUM>%, or plus or minus <NUM>%, unless otherwise expressly specified. Further, the term 'substantially' as used herein means a majority, or almost all, or all, or an amount within a range of about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%. Moreover, examples herein are intended to be illustrative only and are presented for discussion purposes and not by way of limitation.

According to some embodiments of the principles described herein, a dual view zone backlight is provided. <FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of a dual view zone backlight <NUM> in an example, according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. <FIG> illustrates a plan view of a dual view zone backlight <NUM> in an example, according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. <FIG> illustrates a perspective view of a dual view zone backlight <NUM> in an example, according to another embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. The illustrated dual view zone backlight <NUM> may be used for backlighting in an electronic display including, but not limited to, a dual-mode display described below, for example.

The dual view zone backlight <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> comprises a first backlight region 100a and a second backlight region 100b, the second backlight region 100b being adjacent to the first backlight region 100a. The first backlight region 100a is configured to emit directional emitted light <NUM>. In particular, the directional emitted light <NUM> is directed toward a first view zone I of the dual view zone backlight <NUM> by the first backlight regions 100a, according to various embodiments. The second backlight region 100b is configured to emit broad-angle emitted light <NUM> toward both the first view zone I and a second view zone II. According to the claimed invention, a viewing range or cone of the first view zone I has a direction that differs from a direction of a viewing range of the second view zone II. In some embodiments, the viewing range of the first view zone I and viewing range of the second view zone II are mutually exclusive in angular space.

In <FIG>, the viewing range or cone of the first view zone I is represented by dashed lines depicting both an angular range and the direction of the viewing range (e.g., viewing angular range or cone angle). The directional emitted light <NUM> emitted by the first backlight region 100a may be substantially confined to the viewing range or cone angle of the first view zone I (i.e., confined between the dashed lines), e.g., as illustrated. Similarly, in <FIG> the second view zone I has a viewing range with both an angular range and a direction as illustrated by dashed lines in <FIG>. The viewing range of the first view zone I has a different direction from the viewing range of the second view zone II, as illustrated. Further, the viewing ranges of the first and second view zones I, II are mutually exclusive in angular space, as illustrated in <FIG>. That is, the view ranges or cones do not overlap one another. In other embodiments (not illustrated), the view ranges of the first and second view zones I, II may overlap one another, at least to some extent.

In <FIG>, the adjacent first and second backlight regions 100a, 100b are illustrated as being separated by a boundary <NUM>'. The boundary <NUM>', illustrated as a dashed line, may represent an intersection between a y-z plane and the dual view zone backlight <NUM>, for example. In <FIG>, the boundary <NUM>' is merely a virtual separation that delineates each of the first and second backlight regions 100a, 100b. As illustrated, the first backlight region 100a occupies a first portion of the dual view zone backlight <NUM> located to a side of the boundary <NUM>', while the second backlight region 100b occupies a second portion on an opposite side of the boundary <NUM>'.

According to various embodiments, the boundary <NUM>' between the first and second backlight regions 100a, 100b may be located substantially anywhere along the length (i.e., x-direction) of the dual view zone backlight <NUM>. For example, as illustrated, the boundary <NUM>' is located at about two-thirds of a length of the dual view zone backlight <NUM>. Thus, the first backlight region 100a comprises about two thirds of the dual view zone backlight <NUM> and the second backlight region 100b comprises about one third of the dual view zone backlight <NUM>, as illustrated. In other embodiments (not illustrated), the first backlight region 100a may comprise about half of the dual view zone backlight <NUM>, or one third of the dual view zone backlight <NUM>, with the second backlight region 100b comprising a remaining portion thereof. In yet other embodiments (not illustrated), the boundary <NUM>' may be located along a length of the dual view zone backlight <NUM>, e.g., along an intersection between an x-z plane and the dual view zone backlight <NUM>. As such, the boundary <NUM>' may divide the dual view zone backlight <NUM> into an 'upper' region and a 'lower' region with one of the upper and lower regions corresponding to the first backlight region 100a and the other corresponding to the second backlight region 100b. In some embodiments (not illustrated), the boundary <NUM>' may be curved or piecewise linear (e.g., other than straight, as illustrated). For example, the second backlight region 100b may occupy a rectangular portion of the dual view zone backlight <NUM>, with the first backlight region 100a being adjacent on more than one side of the second backlight region 100b.

As mentioned above, the directional emitted light <NUM> that is emitted by the first backlight region 100a may be confined to a region of angular space representing the viewing range of the first view zone I. In various embodiments, a cone angle of the directional emitted light <NUM> may be relatively narrow. In particular, the directional emitted light <NUM> may have a cone angle that is less than about sixty degrees (<NUM>°). In other embodiments, the directional emitted light <NUM> may have a cone angle that is less than about forty degrees (<NUM>°), or less than about thirty degrees (<NUM>°), or less than about twenty degrees (<NUM>°). In yet other embodiments, the cone angle of the viewing zone of the first view zone I may be greater than <NUM>°, but less than about ninety degrees (<NUM>°), such that a direction of the viewing range is confined or at least substantially confined to a halfspace on a side of the dual view zone backlight <NUM> corresponding to the first backlight region 100a, e.g., a halfspace above the dual view zone backlight <NUM> and to a right of the boundary <NUM>', as illustrated in <FIG>.

By contrast, the broad-angle emitted light <NUM> may be provided in a region of angular space that is relative wide. The relatively wide angle of the broad-angle emitted light <NUM> allows the broad-angle emitted light <NUM> to illuminate or reach both the first view zone I and the second view zone II. The broad-angle emitted light <NUM> provided by the second backlight region 100b may be suitable for use as an illumination source in display applications meant for broad-angle viewing. For example, the broad-angle emitted light <NUM> may have a cone angle of about ± <NUM>-<NUM>° or greater. The broad-angle emitted light cone angle may provide about the same view angle as a LCD monitor, LCD tablet, or LCD television, in some embodiments.

<FIG> illustrates a graphical representation of illumination provided by a dual view zone backlight <NUM> in an example, according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. As illustrated, the first backlight region 100a provides directional emitted light <NUM> and the second backlight region 100b provides broad-angle emitted light <NUM>. Further, the directional emitted light <NUM> provided by the first backlight region 100a is configured to exclusively illuminate the first viewing zone I, while the broad-angle emitted light <NUM> provided by the second backlight regions 100b is configured to illuminate both the first viewing zone I and the second viewing zone II, as illustrated in <FIG>.

Further, as mentioned above, the dual view zone backlight <NUM> provides a viewing range or cone in the first view zone I having a direction that differs from a direction of a viewing range or cone of the second view zone II. That is, a centerline of the viewing range of the first view zone I and a centerline of the viewing range of the second view zone II are not parallel, but instead diverge from one another. In terms of emitted light, the directional emitted light <NUM> of the first backlight region 100a and the broad-angle emitted light <NUM> of the second backlight region 100b are emitted toward different directions. In particular, in some embodiments, a direction of the directional emitted light <NUM> and also the direction of the viewing range of the first view zone I is skewed or tilted away from a direction of the view cone of the second view zone II. A tilt of the viewing range of the first view zone I may serve to minimize entry of directional emitted light <NUM> into the second view zone II, for example. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the directional emitted light <NUM> has a tilt angle relative to a normal of a surface corresponding to the first backlight region 100a and from which the directional emitted light <NUM> is emitted. For example, a directional emitted light <NUM> of the first backlight region 100a may have a tilt angle between about twenty degrees (<NUM>°) and about forty-five degrees (<NUM>°) relative to the surface normal. In other non-limiting examples, the tilt angle may be greater than about ten degrees (<NUM>°), or fifteen degrees (<NUM>°), or thirty degrees (<NUM>°), or fifty degrees (<NUM>°). An angle of the viewing range or cone (e.g., cone angle) in which the directional emitted light <NUM> is confined may be centered about the tilt angle, according to various embodiments.

According to the claimed invention (e.g., as illustrated in <FIG>), the dual view zone backlight <NUM> further comprises a light guide <NUM>. The light guide <NUM> is configured to guide light along a length of the light guide <NUM> as guided light <NUM> (i.e., a guided light beam <NUM>). For example, the light guide <NUM> may include a dielectric material configured as an optical waveguide. The dielectric material may have a first refractive index that is greater than a second refractive index of a medium surrounding the dielectric optical waveguide. The difference in refractive indices is configured to facilitate total internal reflection of the guided light <NUM> according to one or more guided modes of the light guide <NUM>, for example.

In some embodiments, the light guide <NUM> may be a slab or plate optical waveguide (i.e., a plate light guide) comprising an extended, substantially planar sheet of optically transparent, dielectric material. The substantially planar sheet of dielectric material is configured to guide the guided light <NUM> using total internal reflection. According to various examples, the optically transparent material of the light guide <NUM> may include or be made up of any of a variety of dielectric materials including, but not limited to, one or more of various types of glass (e.g., silica glass, alkali-aluminosilicate glass, borosilicate glass, etc.) and substantially optically transparent plastics or polymers (e.g., poly(methyl methacrylate) or 'acrylic glass', polycarbonate, etc.). In some examples, the light guide <NUM> may further include a cladding layer (not illustrated) on at least a portion of a surface (e.g., one or both of the first surface and the second surface) of the light guide <NUM>. The cladding layer may be used to further facilitate total internal reflection, according to some examples.

Further, according to some embodiments, the light guide <NUM> is configured to guide the guided light <NUM> according to total internal reflection at a non-zero propagation angle between a first surface <NUM>' (e.g., front or top surface or side) and a second surface <NUM>" (e.g., back or bottom surface or side) of the light guide <NUM>. In particular, the guided light <NUM> propagates by reflecting or 'bouncing' between the first surface <NUM>' and the second surface <NUM>" of the light guide <NUM> at the non-zero propagation angle. In some embodiments, a plurality of guided light beams <NUM> comprising different colors of light may be guided by the light guide <NUM> at respective ones of different color-specific, non- zero propagation angles. Note, the non-zero propagation angle is not illustrated in <FIG> for simplicity of illustration. However, a bold arrow depicting a propagation direction <NUM> illustrates a general propagation direction of the guided light <NUM> along the light guide length in <FIG>.

In some embodiments, the guided light <NUM> may be collimated or equivalently may be a collimated light beam (e.g., provided by a collimator, as described below). Herein, a 'collimated light' or 'collimated light beam' is generally defined as a beam of light in which rays of the light beam are substantially confined to a predetermined or defined angular spread within the light beam (e.g., the guided light <NUM>). Further, rays of light that diverge or are scattered from the collimated light beam are not considered to be part of the collimated light beam, by definition herein. Moreover, the guided light <NUM> may be collimated according to or having a collimation factor σ, in various embodiments.

According to the claimed invention, the dual view zone backlight <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> further comprises a directional scattering feature <NUM>. The directional scattering feature <NUM> is configured to scatter out of the light guide a portion of the guided light <NUM> as the directional emitted light <NUM> from a portion of the light guide <NUM> corresponding to the first backlight region 100a. In particular, the directional scattering feature <NUM> may be located in the portion of the light guide <NUM> corresponding to the first backlight region 100a, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the directional scattering feature <NUM> may be confined exclusively to the first backlight region 100a. In other words, the first backlight region 100a may comprise the directional scattering feature <NUM> along with the portion of the light guide <NUM> that includes the directional scattering feature <NUM>.

In some embodiments (e.g., as illustrated in <FIG>), the directional scattering feature <NUM> comprises a plurality of directional scattering elements <NUM> (or equivalently, directional scatterers). The directional scattering elements <NUM> of the plurality may be spaced apart from one another along a length of the light guide portion corresponding to the first backlight region 100a. According to various embodiments, a directional scattering element <NUM> of the directional scattering element plurality is configured to scatter out of the light guide <NUM> a portion of guided light <NUM> as the directional emitted light <NUM>. In addition, the directional scattering elements <NUM> of the plurality may be separated from one another by a finite space and represent individual, distinct elements along the light guide length. In particular, by definition herein, directional scattering elements <NUM> of the plurality are spaced apart from one another according to a finite (i.e., non-zero) inter-element distance (e.g., a finite center-to-center distance). Further, the directional scattering elements <NUM> of the plurality generally do not intersect, overlap or otherwise touch one another, according to some embodiments. That is, each directional scattering element <NUM> of the plurality is generally distinct and separated from other ones of the directional scattering elements <NUM> of the plurality.

In various embodiments, the plurality of directional scattering elements <NUM> may be arranged in a variety of configurations that are one or more of at, on and in the surface (e.g., the first surface <NUM>' or the second surface <NUM>") of the light guide <NUM>. For example, directional scattering elements <NUM> may be arranged in columns and rows across the light guide surface (e.g., as an array). In another example, a plurality of directional scattering elements <NUM> may be arranged in groups and the groups may be arranged in rows and columns. In yet another example, the plurality of directional scattering elements <NUM> may be randomly distributed across the light guide <NUM>, e.g., as illustrated in <FIG>.

In various embodiments, the directional scattering elements <NUM> may comprise any of a variety of different structures or features that provide or are configured to produce directional scattering including, but not limited to, a diffraction grating, a micro-reflective scattering element, and a micro-refractive scattering element, as well as various combinations thereof having directional scattering characteristics. In some embodiments, the direction scattering feature <NUM> (or a directional scattering element <NUM> thereof) may be configured as an angle-preserving scattering feature (or element). In some embodiments, the direction scattering feature <NUM> (or a directional scattering element <NUM> thereof) may be configured as a unilateral scattering feature (or unilateral scattering element).

According to the claimed invention, the dual view zone backlight <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> further comprises a broad-angle scattering feature <NUM>. The broad-angle scattering feature <NUM> is configured to scatter out of the light guide <NUM> a portion of the guided light <NUM> as the broad-angle emitted light <NUM> from a portion of the light guide <NUM> corresponding to the second backlight region 100b. In particular, the broad-angle scattering feature <NUM> may be located in the portion of the light guide <NUM> corresponding to the second backlight region 100b, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the broad-angle scattering feature <NUM> may be confined exclusively to the second backlight region 100b. In other words, the second backlight region 100b may comprise the broad-angle scattering feature <NUM> along with the portion of the light guide <NUM> that includes the broad-angle scattering feature <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the broad-angle scattering feature <NUM> may comprise substantially any scattering feature configured to provide the broad-angle emitted light <NUM>. In some embodiments, the broad-angle scattering feature <NUM> comprises a plurality of directional scattering elements <NUM>, e.g., as illustrated in <FIG>. Specifically, the broad-angle scattering feature <NUM> may comprise a first plurality of directional scattering elements <NUM>' configured to scatter out the guided light portion in the direction of the first view zone I. The broad-angle scattering feature <NUM> may further comprise a second plurality of directional scattering elements <NUM>" configured to scatter out the guided light portion in the direction of the second view zone II. According to various embodiments, directional scattering elements <NUM>', <NUM>" of both the first directional scattering element plurality and the second directional scattering element plurality may be spaced apart from one another along a length of the light guide portion corresponding to the second backlight region 100b.

In some embodiments, a directional scattering element <NUM> of one or both of the first and second directional scattering element pluralities may be the same as, or substantially similar to, a directional scattering element <NUM> of the first backlight region 100a. Accordingly, a directional scattering element <NUM> of the first or second plurality of directional scattering elements may comprise any of a variety of different structures or features that provide or are configured to provide scattering including, but not limited to, a diffraction grating, a micro-reflective scattering element, and a micro-refractive scattering element, as well as various combinations thereof. Further, broad-angle scattering feature <NUM> (or the first and second pluralities of directional scattering element <NUM> thereof) may be configured as an angle-preserving scattering feature (or elements). In some embodiments, the broad-angle scattering feature <NUM> (or the first and second pluralities directional scattering element <NUM> thereof) may be configured as a unilateral scattering feature (or unilateral scattering elements).

In some embodiments, the directional scattering elements <NUM> of both the first directional scattering element plurality and the second directional scattering element plurality of the second backlight region 100b are randomly distributed across a length and a width of the portion of the light guide <NUM> corresponding to the second backlight region 100b. The first plurality of directional scattering elements <NUM>' and the second plurality of the directional scattering elements <NUM>" combine to scatter out or couple out portions of guided light in a broad-angle scattering manner to provide the broad-angle emitted light <NUM> directed toward both the first view zone I and the second view zone II, according to various embodiments.

In some embodiments, the dual view zone backlight <NUM> may be optically transparent to light incident upon the dual view zone backlight100 in a direction substantially orthogonal to a surface of the light guide <NUM>. In particular, any effects of the directional scattering feature <NUM> and broad-angle scattering feature <NUM> on such light may be minimal. Instead, the directional scattering feature <NUM> and broad-angle scattering feature <NUM> are configured to interact with guided light propagating at a non-zero propagation angle and incident on the features at an angle from within the light guide <NUM>, according to various embodiments.

In some embodiments, one or both of the directional scattering feature <NUM> and the broad-angle scattering feature <NUM> may comprise a plurality of multibeam elements. For example, directional scattering elements <NUM>, <NUM> of the directional scattering element plurality may be or comprise multibeam elements. A multibeam element of the multibeam element plurality is configured to scatter out light from the light guide <NUM> as a plurality of directional light beams having principal angular directions corresponding to view directions of a multiview image. According to various embodiments, the multibeam element may comprise any of a number of different structures configured to scatter out a portion of the guided light <NUM>. For example, the different structures may include, but are not limited to, diffraction gratings, micro-reflective elements, micro-refractive elements, or various combinations thereof. The multibeam element comprising a diffraction grating is configured to diffractively scatter out the guided light portion as the plurality of directional light beams having the different principal angular directions; the multibeam element comprising a micro-reflective element is configured to reflectively scatter out the guided light portion as the plurality of directional light beams; and the multibeam element comprising a micro-refractive element is configured to scatter out the guided light portion as the plurality of directional light beams by or using refraction (i.e., refractively couple out the guided light portion), according to various embodiments.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of a dual view zone backlight <NUM> in an example, according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. <FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of a dual view zone backlight <NUM> in an example, according to another embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. In particular, <FIG> illustrate a portion of the a dual view zone backlight <NUM> including the light guide <NUM> and a pair of directional scattering elements <NUM>. Each of the directional scattering elements <NUM> comprises a diffraction grating configured to provide unilateral scattering. In particular, the directional scattering elements <NUM> in <FIG> each comprise a slanted diffraction grating, while in <FIG>, the directional scattering elements <NUM> comprise a reflective diffraction grating, as illustrated. The reflective diffraction grating may comprise a diffraction grating and a reflective material layer, for example.

As illustrated, the diffraction gratings of the directional scatter elements <NUM> provide unilateral scattering of the guided light <NUM> to provide directional emitted light <NUM>. As such, the portion of the dual view zone backlight <NUM> illustrated <FIG> may represent a portion of the first backlight region 100a. Although not illustrated, the pair of directional scattering elements <NUM> alternatively may be configured to provide broad-angle emitted light <NUM> and thus the illustrated portion of the dual view zone backlight <NUM> may equally represent a portion of the second backlight region 100b. For example (not illustrated), a first directional element <NUM> of the pair may be configured to scatter out a portion of the guided light <NUM> in the direction of view zone I and a second directional element <NUM> of the pair may be configured to scatter another portion of the guided light <NUM> toward the second view zone II.

According to some embodiments, the dual view zone backlight <NUM> may further comprise collimated light source <NUM> at an input of the light guide <NUM>. The collimated light source <NUM> is configured to provide collimated light to the light guide <NUM> to be guided as the guided light <NUM>. In some embodiments, the collimated light source <NUM> may comprise separately a light source and a collimator, the collimator being disposed between the light source and the light guide <NUM>. The collimator may be configured to collimate substantially uncollimated light generated by the light source to provide collimated light. The collimator may be further configured to communicate the collimate light to the light guide <NUM>. The collimated light may have a non-zero propagation angle and may be collimated according to a predetermined collimation factor σ when delivered to the light guide <NUM> to be guided as the guided light <NUM>, according to some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the collimated light source <NUM> may comprise a tapered collimator. <FIG> illustrates a perspective view of a portion of a dual view zone backlight <NUM> including a collimated light source <NUM> in an example, according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. As illustrated, the dual view zone backlight <NUM> comprises the light guide <NUM>, a first backlight region 100a and a second backlight region 100b. The illustrated dual view zone backlight <NUM> further comprises the collimated light source <NUM> at an edge of the light guide <NUM>. The collimated light source <NUM> comprises a tapered collimator <NUM> and an optical emitter <NUM>. The tapered collimator <NUM>, in turn, comprises a tapered light guide, as illustrated. Light emitted by the optical emitter <NUM> is collimated by the tapered collimator <NUM> to provide collimated guided light within the light guide <NUM>, according to various embodiments.

According to other embodiments of the principles described herein, a dual-mode display is provided. The dual-mode display employs a dual backlight configuration to provide a dual-mode of operation, according to various embodiments. In particular, the dual-mode display combines a dual view zone backlight with a broad-angle backlight in a dual-backlight display configuration to provide a first mode comprising two separate images on the same screen and a second mode comprising a single image occupying the whole screen. Moreover, a first image of the two separate images may appear as occupying the whole screen, while a second image of the two separate images may appear only in a portion of the screen, according to some embodiments. The dual-mode display may be used as a dashboard display in a motor vehicle (e.g., a car), for example. During the first mode, e.g., a passenger entertainment mode, a different image may be projected using the dual view zone backlight for each of the driver and a passenger. The passenger may see the projected image as occupying the whole screen while simultaneously the driver may see a different image that occupies on a portion of the screen, for example. During the second mode, e.g., a full display mode, the same image may be projected to both the driver and the passenger.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of dual-mode display <NUM> in an example, according to another embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. <FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of dual-mode display <NUM> in another example, according to an embodiment consistent with the principles described herein. In particular, <FIG> may represent the dual-mode display <NUM> during the first mode (Mode <NUM>), while <FIG> may represent the dual-mode display <NUM> during the second mode (Mode <NUM>), for example.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the dual-mode display <NUM> comprises a dual view zone backlight <NUM>. The dual view zone backlight <NUM> is configured to emit light during the first mode (Mode <NUM>). In particular, the dual view zone backlight <NUM> is configured to emit the light from a first backlight region 210a of the dual view zone backlight <NUM> toward a first view zone I as directional emitted light <NUM> during the first mode (Mode <NUM>). Further, during the first mode (Mode <NUM>), the dual view zone backlight <NUM> is configured to emit the light from a second backlight region 210b toward both the first view zone I and a second view zone II as broad-angle emitted light <NUM>. In some embodiments, the dual view zone backlight <NUM> may be substantially similar to the dual view zone backlight <NUM> previously discussed. Accordingly, the dual view zone backlight <NUM> comprises the first backlight region 210a and the second backlight region 210b. Likewise, the first and second backlight regions 210a, 210b may be substantially similar to the above-described first and second backlight regions 100a, 100b, respectively. <FIG> illustrates the dual view zone backlight <NUM> providing both the directional emitted light <NUM> and the broad-angle emitted light <NUM> during the first mode (Mode <NUM>), each of the directional emitted light <NUM> and the broad-angle emitted light <NUM> being delineated by dashed lines.

The dual-mode display <NUM> further comprises a broad-angle backlight <NUM> adjacent to the dual view zone backlight <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the broad-angle backlight <NUM> is located below the dual view zone backlight <NUM> and separated therefrom by a narrow gap. Further, a top surface (i.e., a light emitting surface) of the broad-angle backlight <NUM> is substantially parallel to a bottom surface (i.e., a light receiving surface) of the dual view zone backlight <NUM>, as illustrated. According to various embodiments, the broad-angle backlight <NUM> is configured to emit light during the second mode (Mode <NUM>) of the dual-mode display <NUM>. Further, the light emitted by the broad-angle backlight <NUM> is emitted through the dual view zone backlight <NUM> toward both the first view zone I and second view zone II as broad-angle-light <NUM>. In particular, the broad-angle emitted light <NUM> from the broad-angle backlight <NUM> is emitted from the top surface of the broad-angle backlight <NUM> and toward the bottom surface of the dual view zone backlight <NUM>. The broad-angle emitted light <NUM> propagates through the thickness of the dual view zone backlight <NUM> to exit from a top surface of the dual view zone backlight <NUM> and toward both the first view zone I and the second view zone II, as illustrated.

The dual-mode display <NUM> further comprises an array of light valves <NUM>. The array of light valves <NUM> is configured to modulate the light emitted by the dual view zone backlight <NUM> and the broad-angle backlight <NUM> to provide a displayed image. In particular, the array of light valves <NUM> is configured both to modulate the directional emitted light <NUM> and the broad-angle emitted light <NUM> from the dual view zone backlight <NUM> during the first mode and to modulate the broad-angle emitted light <NUM> from the broad-angle backlight <NUM> during the second mode. In various embodiments, different types of light valves may be employed as the light valves <NUM> of the array of the valves, including but not limited to, one or more of liquid crystal light valves, electrophoretic light valves, and light valves based on electrowetting.

In various embodiments, during the first mode the dual-mode display <NUM> is configured to provide the displayed image comprising a first image exclusively visible in the first view zone I and a second image exclusively visible in the second view zone II. In some embodiments, the first image visible in the first view zone I may appear as occupying or extending across an entire surface of the dual-mode display <NUM>. Further, the second image visible in the second view zone II may appear as occupying or extending only across a portion the surface of the dual-mode display <NUM> corresponding to the second backlight region 210b, according to some embodiments. A remaining portion of the dual-mode display surface may be dark when viewed in or from the second view zone II during the first mode.

In various embodiments, during the second mode the dual-mode display <NUM> is configured to provide the displayed image visible in both the first view zone I and second view zone II. Moreover, the same displayed image is provided to both the first and second view zones I, II during the second mode. Further, during the second mode, the dual view zone backlight <NUM> is inactive and does not provide emitted light. Instead, emitted light that is modulated to as the displayed image is provided by the broad-angle backlight <NUM> as the broad-angle emitted light <NUM>.

As mentioned above, the dual view zone backlight <NUM> may be substantially similar to the above-described dual view zone backlight <NUM> in some embodiments. In particular, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the dual view zone backlight <NUM> comprises a light guide <NUM> configured to guide light as guided light. According to various embodiments, the light guide <NUM> may be configured to guide the guided light using total internal reflection. Further, the guided light may be guided one or both of at a non-zero propagation angle by or within the light guide <NUM>. In some embodiments, the light guide <NUM> may be substantially similar to the light guide <NUM> of the dual view zone backlight <NUM>, described above. In some embodiments, the guided light may be collimated or may be a collimated light beam having a collimation factor.

In some embodiments, the dual view zone backlight <NUM> of the dual-mode display <NUM> further comprises a plurality of directional scattering elements <NUM> spaced apart from one another along a length of a portion of the light guide <NUM> corresponding to the first backlight region 210a. A directional scattering element <NUM> of the directional scattering element plurality may be configured to scatter out of the light guide <NUM> a portion of the guided light as the directional emitted light <NUM>. Further, each directional scattering element <NUM> of the plurality may be generally distinct and separated from the other ones of the directional scattering elements <NUM> of the plurality. In various embodiments, the plurality of directional scattering elements <NUM> may be arranged in a variety of configurations that are one or more of at, on and in the surface (e.g., the first surface or the second surface) of the light guide <NUM>. According to some embodiments, the directional scattering elements <NUM> may be substantially similar to the directional scattering elements <NUM> of the directional scattering feature <NUM>, described above with respect to the dual view zone backlight <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the dual view zone backlight <NUM> of the dual-mode display <NUM> may further comprises a broad-angle scattering feature <NUM> distributed along a length of a portion of the light guide <NUM> corresponding to the second backlight region 210b. The broad-angle scattering feature <NUM> is configured to scatter out of the light guide <NUM> a portion of the guided light as the broad-angle emitted light <NUM>. In some embodiments, the broad-angle scattering feature <NUM> of the dual view zone backlight <NUM> may comprise a plurality of different directional scatterers configured to cooperatively scatter out light as the broad-angle emitted light <NUM>. Specifically, the broad-angle scattering feature <NUM> may comprise a first plurality of directional scattering elements configured to scatter out the guided light portion in the direction of the first view zone I, and a second plurality of directional scattering element configured to scatter out the guided light portion in the direction of the second view zone II. A directional scattering element of the first or second plurality of directional scattering elements may be the same as, or substantially similar to, a directional scattering element <NUM> of the first backlight region 210a, for example.

In some embodiments, the directional scattering element <NUM> may comprise one or more of a diffraction grating, a micro-reflective element, and a micro-refractive element. In some embodiments, the directional scattering element <NUM> may be configured as one or both of an angle preserving scattering element and a unidirectional scattering element. The angle-preserving scattering may be configured to preserve a collimation factor of the guided light portion in the directional emitted light <NUM>, for example. That is, the angle-preserving scattering is configured to preserve an angular spread of light incident on the directional scattering element <NUM> in the directional emitted light <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the plurality of directional scattering elements <NUM> comprises a plurality of multibeam elements configured to provide the directional emitted light <NUM> as directional light beams having principal angular directions corresponding to view directions of a multiview image. In these embodiments, the displayed image visible in the first view zone during the first mode may comprise the multiview image. In some embodiments, the multibeam elements of the plurality are substantially similar to the multibeam elements of the dual view zone backlight <NUM>, described above.

In accordance with other embodiments of the principles described herein, a method <NUM> of dual view zone backlight operation is described. <FIG> illustrates a flow chart of a method <NUM> of dual view zone backlight operation in an example, according to an embodiment consistent with the principles herein. As illustrated in <FIG>, the method <NUM> of dual view zone backlight operation comprises emitting <NUM> directional emitted light toward a first view zone using a first backlight region. In some embodiments, the directional emitted light emitted <NUM> toward the first view zone may be substantially similar to the directional emitted light <NUM> described above with respect to the dual view zone backlight <NUM>. Further, the first backlight region may be substantially similar to the first backlight region 100a also of the above-described dual view zone backlight <NUM>, in some embodiments.

The method <NUM> of dual view zone backlight operation illustrated in <FIG> further comprises emitting <NUM> broad-angle emitted light toward the first view zone and a second view zone. According to the claimed invention, emitting <NUM> broad-angle emitted light uses a second backlight region, the second backlight region being adjacent to the first backlight region. Further, a viewing range of the first view zone differs both in viewing angle and direction from a viewing angle and direction of a viewing range of the second view zone. In some embodiments, the broad-angle emitted light emitted <NUM> toward both the first and second view zones may be substantially similar to the broad-angle emitted light <NUM> described above with respect to the dual view zone backlight <NUM>. Further, the second backlight region may be substantially similar to the second backlight region 100b also of the above-described dual view zone backlight <NUM>, in some embodiments.

According to the claimed invention, the method <NUM> of dual view zone backlight operation further comprises guiding light in a light guide as guided light, the first and second backlight regions comprising adjacent portions of the light guide. According to various embodiments, the light guide may be configured to guide the guided light using total internal reflection. In some embodiments, the guided light may be collimated or may be a collimated light beam. The light guide may be substantially similar to the light guide <NUM> of the dual view zone backlight <NUM>, described above, according to some embodiments.

According to the claimed invention, the method <NUM> of dual view zone backlight operation further comprises scattering out a portion of the guided light as the directional emitted light using a directional scattering feature located along a portion of the light guide corresponding to the first backlight region. In some embodiments, directional scattering feature may be substantially similar to the directional scattering feature <NUM> described above with respect to the dual view zone backlight <NUM>. For example, the directional scattering feature may comprise a plurality of directional scattering elements (or equivalently, directional scatterers). The directional scattering elements of the directional scattering element plurality may be spaced apart from one another along a length of the light guide portion corresponding to the first backlight region. A directional scattering element of the plurality is configured to scatter out of the light guide the portion of guided light as the directional emitted light.

According to the claimed invention, the method <NUM> of dual view zone backlight operation further comprises scattering out a portion of the guided light as the broad-angle emitted light using a broad-angle scattering feature located along a portion of the light guide corresponding to the second backlight region. In some embodiments, the broad-angle scattering feature may be substantially similar to the broad-angle scattering feature <NUM> described with respect to the dual view zone backlight <NUM>. For example, the broad-angle scattering feature may comprise a plurality of directional scatterers. Specifically, the broad-angle scattering feature may comprise a first plurality of directional scattering elements configured to scatter out the guided light portion in the direction of the first view zone. Further, the broad-angle scattering feature may comprise a second plurality of directional scattering elements configured to scatter out the guided light portion in the direction of the second view zone.

In some embodiments, a directional scattering element of one or both of the directional scattering feature and the broad-angle scattering feature may comprise one or more of a diffraction grating, a micro-reflective element, and a micro-refractive element. In some embodiments, the directional scattering elements spaced apart from one another may be configured as one or both of angle preserving scattering elements and unidirectional scattering elements.

In some embodiments (not illustrated), the method <NUM> of dual view zone backlight operation further comprises providing light using a second backlight adjacent to a surface of the dual view zone backlight. In some embodiments, the second backlight may be a broad-angle backlight substantially similar to the broad-angle backlight <NUM>, previously described with respect to the dual-mode display <NUM>. As such, the second backlight may be configured to emit broad-angle light. In these embodiments, the method <NUM> of dual view zone backlight operation may further comprise transmitting the light from the second backlight through a thickness of dual view zone backlight. In various embodiments, the dual view zone backlight is optically transparent to light emitted from the second backlight. The method of dual view zone backlight operation further comprises emitting the light from the second backlight toward the first and second view zones as emitted light. A broad cone angle of the light emitted from the second backlight may allow the emitted light to be viewed from both of the first view zone and the second view zones. As previously discussed with regard to the dual-mode display, both the directional emitted light and the broad-angle emitted light may be emitted during a first mode, whereas the second backlight provides light during a second mode.

In some embodiments, the method <NUM> of dual view zone backlight operation further comprises modulating <NUM> the directional emitted light and the broad-angle emitted light using an array of light valve to provide a displayed image. In particular, a first displayed image is provided in the first view zone and a second displayed image is provided in the second view zone by modulating <NUM>. In some embodiments, the array of light valves may be substantially similar to the array of light valves <NUM> of the above-described dual-mode display <NUM>. For example, different types of light valves maybe employed as the light valves of the array of the valves, including but not limited to, one or more of liquid crystal light valves, electrophoretic light valves, and light valves based on electrowetting.

Claim 1:
A dual view zone backlight (<NUM>) comprising:
a light guide (<NUM>) configured to guide light as guided light (<NUM>);
a first backlight region (100a) configured to emit directional emitted light (<NUM>) toward a first view zone (I); and
a second backlight region (100b) configured to emit broad-angle emitted light (<NUM>) toward both the first view zone (I) and a second view zone (II), the second backlight region (100b) being adjacent to the first backlight region (100a),
wherein a viewing range of the first view zone (I) has a direction that differs from a direction of a viewing range of the second view zone (II);
characterized by a directional scattering feature (<NUM>) configured to scatter out of the light guide (<NUM>) a portion of the guided light (<NUM>) as the directional emitted light (<NUM>) from a portion of the light guide (<NUM>) corresponding to the first backlight region (100a); and
a broad-angle scattering feature (<NUM>) configured to scatter out of the light guide (<NUM>) a portion of the guided light (<NUM>) as the broad-angle emitted light (<NUM>) from a portion of the light guide (<NUM>) corresponding to the second backlight region (100b).