Patent ID: 8917269

Claim:
A display apparatus comprising: a polarized light source configured for providing edge illumination; a display area comprising at least one pixel row assembly positioned in the plane the light source is configured to emit light in, where the pixel row includes a polarization modifying element with a first side and second side, positioned to receive light emitted from the light source across substantially all of one side, modify the polarization of the light in response to a signal from a controller, said light leaving the polarization modifying element via the second surface in the direction the light was emitted from the light source and contacting a polarization selective reflective surface positioned to receive that light and angled such that the polarization selective reflective surface reflects light of a chosen polarization at a desired angle and transmits light of an orthogonal polarization in the direction the light was emitted from the light source; a computer controller for changing the amount the polarization modifying elements change the polarization of the incoming light based on the image to be displayed; and a retarder layer disposed on the side of the display area where reflected light is directed by the polarization selective reflective surface, configured to convert reflected light of a given first linear polarization into circularly polarized light, a holographic film disposed on the side of the display area where the reflective light is directed by the polarization selective reflective surface such that the retarder layer is disposed between the holographic film and the pixel row assemblies of the display area for reflecting the circularly polarized light such that the polarization is maintained and the polarization of the light will be modified to a linear polarization which is orthogonal to the first linear polarization when the light passes back through the retarder layer and the polarization selective reflective surfaces contained in the display apparatus are transmissive for the polarization orthogonal to the first linear polarization.