Patent ID: 7118226

Claim:
An image display system comprising: a light source operable to produce a beam of light; an electronically-switchable filter comprising a plurality of selectively transmissive and selectively reflective segments, the electronically-switchable filter operable to: receive the beam of light at a first segment upon a first pass, a first portion of the beam of light accepted by the first segment of the electronically-switchable filter and a second portion of the beam of light rejected by the first segment of the electronically-switchable filter; and receive at least some of the second portion of the beam of light at a second segment upon a second pass, the second portion of the beam of light accepted by the second segment of the electronically-switchable filter on the second pass; a light recycler, positioned relative to the electronically-switchable filter to receive the second portion of the beam of light rejected by the first segment of the electronically-switchable filter and to return at least some of the second portion of the beam of light to the electronically-switchable filter in the second pass; and a modulator operable to; receive the first and second portions of the beam of light from the electronically-switchable filter; and modulate the first and second portions of the beam of light to produce at least a portion of a displayed image.