Patent ID: 8836736

Claim:
A variable backlight flower assembly for a display system comprising: a plurality of light-transmissive segments each configured to be set to an individual light-transparency level based on a data value from a data input that is coupled to the plurality of light-transmissive segments; wherein the plurality of light-transmissive segments physically forms walls of a tube around a light-emitting element mounted on a first plane, wherein each of the light-transmissive segments has a first edge, and wherein the first edges of the light-transmissive segments collectively surround the light-emitting element on a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane, wherein each of the light-transmissive segments has a second edge, and wherein the second edges of the light-transmissive segments collectively form an opening of the tube, and wherein the second edge of each of the light-transmissive segments is opposite to the first edge of the each of the light-transmissive segments; wherein the opening of the tube is opposite to the first plane on which the light-emitting element is mounted; and wherein light travels through the walls of the tube in a direction non-perpendicular to the first and second planes, and the transparency levels of the walls of the tube are controlled electronically separately from the control of luminance levels of pixels of the display system.