Patent ID: 7573550

Claim:
A liquid crystal module comprising: a liquid crystal layer containing a plurality of pixels therein; a waveguide layer including; a transparent material having first and second surfaces, the transparent material having a first index of refraction; and a plurality of spaced-apart waveguide structures defining apertures therebetween, the waveguide structures being disposed within the transparent film and having a second index of refraction different than the first index of refraction of the transparent material, the waveguide structures being configured to guide light, entering the first surface of the transparent material, through the film and permit such light to exit the second surface of the transparent material; and a reflective layer provided between the liquid crystal layer and the waveguide layer, the reflective layer includes a plurality of reflective areas and a plurality of apertures to permit light to pass therethrough; wherein the liquid crystal layer, the reflective layer, and the waveguide layer are all aligned with each other such that: each pixel in the liquid crystal layer is substantially aligned with two reflective areas separated by one of the apertures in the reflective layer, and the apertures between each waveguide structure are substantially aligned with the apertures in the reflective layer.