CA1313716C - Method and apparatus for multi-color display - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for multi-color displayInfo
- Publication number
- CA1313716C CA1313716C CA000601047A CA601047A CA1313716C CA 1313716 C CA1313716 C CA 1313716C CA 000601047 A CA000601047 A CA 000601047A CA 601047 A CA601047 A CA 601047A CA 1313716 C CA1313716 C CA 1313716C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- light
- color
- retardation
- liquid crystal
- potential
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
- G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
- G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
- G02F1/1335—Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors
- G02F1/133528—Polarisers
- G02F1/133533—Colour selective polarisers
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour
- G02F1/03—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour based on ceramics or electro-optical crystals, e.g. exhibiting Pockels effect or Kerr effect
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A field sequential color shutter display system including a light source emitting light rays having substantially first and second different primary colors.
First and second light polarizing filters are included. The filters are aligned in optical communication with the source.
Each filter includes a color selective polarizing filter having substantially orthogonally oriented absorption axes.
The first absorption axis of each light polarizing filter passes linearly polarized light of the first color and a uniform first polarization. The second absorption axis of each light polarizing filter passes linearly polarized light of both the first and second colors and a uniform second polarization. Variable optical retarding filters are disposed between the first and second light polarizing filters. Switching filters are in communication with the variable optical retarding filters to selectively provide first and second switching states to produce respective first and second amounts of optical retardation to develop, over a relatively broad range of viewing angles, a light output through the second light polarizing filter of either the first color, or, a composite light output containing both the first color, having both the first and second polarizations, and the second color having only the second polarization.
MFJ/5:11
A field sequential color shutter display system including a light source emitting light rays having substantially first and second different primary colors.
First and second light polarizing filters are included. The filters are aligned in optical communication with the source.
Each filter includes a color selective polarizing filter having substantially orthogonally oriented absorption axes.
The first absorption axis of each light polarizing filter passes linearly polarized light of the first color and a uniform first polarization. The second absorption axis of each light polarizing filter passes linearly polarized light of both the first and second colors and a uniform second polarization. Variable optical retarding filters are disposed between the first and second light polarizing filters. Switching filters are in communication with the variable optical retarding filters to selectively provide first and second switching states to produce respective first and second amounts of optical retardation to develop, over a relatively broad range of viewing angles, a light output through the second light polarizing filter of either the first color, or, a composite light output containing both the first color, having both the first and second polarizations, and the second color having only the second polarization.
MFJ/5:11
Description
131371~
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates in general to a method and an apparatus for producing multi-color displays, and, more particularly, to a field sequential color shutter display system e~ploying light polarizers and filters in con3unction with a liquid crystal cell combination.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates in general to a method and an apparatus for producing multi-color displays, and, more particularly, to a field sequential color shutter display system e~ploying light polarizers and filters in con3unction with a liquid crystal cell combination.
2. Description of the Related Art The present invention is an improvement over that invention disclosed and claimed in United States Patent No.
4,770,500 of which I am a co-inventor.
The general idea of using a multi-color cathode ray tube in conjunction with liquid crystal cells and color polarizers has been described in numerous articles and issued patents such as the article by Brinson et al in IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin Vol.
22, No. 5 of October 1979 and United States Patent No. 4,582,396 to Bos et al.
~31~716 1 In U.S. Patent No. 4,582,396 to Bos et al., a typical 2 field sequential color system is disclosed. A color 3 ensitive polarizing means is placed in front of a cathode 4 ay tube light source which is capable of emitting at least wo colors. The polarizing means has a first absorption axis 6 hat passes linearly polarized light of the first color and a 7 econd absorption axis that passes linearly polarized light 8 f the second color. ~ liquid crystal cell functions as a 9 ariable optical retarder in association with the polarizing 10 filter means to selectively transmit a first or a second 11 olor, depending on the polarization of the light. The 12 liquid crystal cell is followed by a linear polarizer.
13 When the liquid crystal cell is driven by a first 14 ignal, it provides a half wave retardation to the applied 15 light. When it is driven by a second signal, substantially 16 o retardation is experienced by the impinging light. With 17 l ubstantially no retardation of the light, only light of one 18 f the two colors can pass through the linear polarizer.
19 ith half wave retardation, only light of the other of the wo colors can pass through the polarizer.
21 The device employs a specially designed liquid crystal 22 ell to function as the variable retarder. A nematic liquid 23 rystal cell is designed to be disclination-~ree and to 24 l witch in a ~bounce-free~ manner as it is switched between wo states which alter the orientation of the surface 26 on-contacting directors of the liquid crystal material in 27 he cell.
28 The Bos et al. reference is typical of the prior art 1 ~evices currently in use.
2 In these sequential color shutter systems, the image 3 source, typically a cathode ray tube, emits light in a 4 plurality of colors, for example, green and red. The bare 5 cathode ray tube would then appear to emit yellow light 6 (which is green and red combined) and would be viewed by an 7 observer through a color shutter. The color shutter would 8 permit information to be presented in either a red, green, or 9 an intermediate color by changing light polarization states 0 synchronously with the color information that is to be 11 written. In its green state, the color shutter would 12 transmit a certain percentage of green light, while absorbing 13 a much higher percentage o~ red light, while the opposite 14 would occur ln the red state.
Intermediate colors, such as yellow, would be generated 16 either by setting the shutter to an intermediate state where 17 absorption in both primary colors would be more or less 18 equal, or by ~double-writing~ yellow information in both of 19 the primary colors.
In either case, systems of the type described above 21 suffer from the relativ~ly low transmission level of the 22 selected color, which, in turn, leads to limited display 23 brightness.
24 The present invention provides both a method and an 25 apparatus to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art to 26 pxoduce a bright color display system suitable for use under 27 both sunl~ght and night time conditions.
28¦~ As a pr~ctiaal xamp1- o~ how the improved t-chnology 1~13716 1 incorporated and found in both a device embodying the present 2 invention, and the method of the present invention, may be 3 used in current practical situations, the reader need only 4 consider avionics multifunct$on display applications as used 5 in tactical military aircraft.
6 In avionics systems such as this, which are capable of 7 both raster and stroXe display modes, the raster modes are 8 often used for the display of monochrome sensor video 9 information, while color information is presented in the 10 stroke modes. ~igher raster writing rates and the 11 requirements for sunlight readability of multiple gray shade 12 video images maXe the (green) raster modes the more demanding 13 of the two types of modes from a brightness/contrast 14 viewpoint.
Reducing the red phosphor emission ~rom the cathode ray 16 tube (as is required ~or the improved configuration discussed 17 below), proportionally increases the green light output from 18 the cathode ray tube under the same drive conditions, thus 19 raising the display efficiency in this color. While this 20 ~onfiguration would reduce the red li~ht output from the 21 cathode ray tube, the overall red display luminance is 22 enhanced by the high transmission of the color shutter in the A 23 red state as described i-n-FI~. 4 below. Further, the 24 brightness/contrast requirements for all colors of stroXe 25 sym~ology are often lower than those for green raster video 26 presentations, thus resulting in an overall enhancement of 28 system capability.
.
1~13715 SUM~RY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved display which allows the use of liquid crystals over an extended temperature range in a field sequential color shutter display system.
It is another object of the present invention to pro-vide an improved display which has higher transmission and reduced surface reflections and therefore reduced glare, making the display more useful in daylight, as well as giving high-purity reds and greens.
In general, the present invention is directed towards both a method and an apparatus, the apparatus of which can be found in a field sequential color shutter display system, compris-ing a source of light that emits light rays of a plurality of colors and having substantially first and second different primary colors. First light polarizing means are in optical communica-tion with the source, and include a color selective polarizing filter having first and second substantially orthogonally oriented absorption axes. The first absorption axis passes linearly polarized light of the first color. The second absorp-tion axis passes linearly polarized light of both the first and second colors.
Second light polarizing means are in optical communi-cation with the first light polarizing means, and include a polarizing filter having a first absorption axis substantially aligned with one of the first or second absorption axes of the ./'~' .f ;., 1 3 1 3 7 1 fi 71650-21 first light polarizing means and passing linearly polarized light of both the first and second colors, and a second absorption axis of essentially zero transmission. Variable optical retard-ing means are disposed between the first and second light polariz-ing means.
Switching means are in communication with the variable optical retarding means to selectively provide first and second switching states to produce respective first and second amounts of optical retardation to develop, over a relatively broad range Of viewing angles, a light output of either the first color, or a composite color containing both the first and second colors, through the second light polarizing means.
An alternate embodiment of a field sequential color shutter display system constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a source of light that emits light rays of a plurality of colors and having substantially first and second different primary colors. First and second light polarizing means are included. The first light polarizing means are in optical communication with the source, and the second light polarizing means are in optical communication with the first light polarizing means.
Each of the light polarizing means includes a color selective polarizing filter having substantially orthogonally oriented absorption axes. The first absorption axis of each light polarizing means passes linearly polarized light of the first color. The second absorption axis of each light 1 polarizing means passes linearly polarized light of both the 2 first and second colors. The respective absorption axes of 3 the first and second liqht polarizing means are in 4 substantial alignment with one another.
Variable optical retarding means are disposed between 6 the ~irst and second light polarizing means. Switchin~ means 7 are in communication with the variable optical retarding 8 means to selectively provide ~irst and second switching 9 states to produce respective first and second amounts of 10 optical retardation in order to develop, over a relatively 11 broad range of viewing angles, a light output through the 12 second light polarizing means o~ either the first color, or, 13 a composite light output containing both the first color, 14 having both the first and second polarizations, and the 1~ second color having only the second polarization.
16 A method o~ providing a field sequential color shutter 17 display system in a high a~bient light environment in 18 accordance with the present invention, comprises the steps of 19 generating a source of light having at least two different 20 wavelength components of a first and a second color. The 21 light thus generated is polarized using a color selective 22 polarizing filter having first and second substantially 23 orthogonally oriented absorption axes. The first absorption 24 axis passes linearly polarized light of the first color, 25 while the second absorption axis passes linearly polarized 26 light of both the first and second colors.
27 The polarized light passes through a variable optical 28 retardinq e~nt ~ollo~ed by s-cond polarlz-r for 13137i6 1 l electively transmitting light of ~ither the first color and 2 polarization, or of a composite color containing both the 3 first and second colors and second polarization dQtermined by 4 the amount by which the light has been optically retarded.
Th~ light is selectively retarded by utilizing variable 6 l pt:ical retarding means disposed between the color selective 7 ?olarizing filter and the output polarizer. The amount of 8 ~ptical retardation is controlled by at least first and 9 l econ~ retardations to result in the emission of light of 10 3ither the ~irst color and polarization, or a composite color 11 :ontaining both the first and second colors and second 1:2 ?olarization .
13 The novel features of construction and operation of the 14 invention will be more clearly apparent during the course of 15 the following description, reference being had to the 16 l ccompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a 17 ?referred form of the device o~ the invention and wherein 18 l ike characters of reference designate like parts throughout 19 the drawings.
21 5RIEP DESCRIP~ION OF ~HE DRAW5NGS
23 FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a field 24 1 equential color display system incorporating a variable 25 1 etarder which is included in an optical assembly to function 26 as an optical switch in accordance with the prior art;
27 FIGs 2A and 2B are graphs illustrating the relationship 28 be een the trdns~ission values along the ~colored~ polarizer 1 ~ s and light wavelenqths of a practlcal versus ideal greon 2 and red polarizer transmissions respectively;
3 FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of a field 4 sequent~al color display system incorporating a variable 5 retarder which is included in an optical assembly to function 6 as an optical switch in accordance with the present 7 invention;
8 FIG. 4 i5 a simplified block diagram of an alternatè
9 field sequential color display system incorporating a 10 variable retarder which is included in an optical assembly to 11 function as an optical switch in accordance with the present 12 invention; and 13 FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a field sequential color 14 display system incorporating a variable retarder which is 15 included in an optical assembly to function as an optical 16 switch in accordance with the present invention.
18 DESCRIPTION OF TH~ PR~FERRED EMBoDrHENTs While the maximum theoretical transmission of polarizer 21 based color sh~tters is on the order of fifty percent, 22 practical color systems exhibit much lower transmissions in 23 the order of ten percent or so. (See FIG. 2) 24 This degradation in actual transmission over the 25 theoretical can be explained by reviewing ~he basic operating 26 principles of these systems. As shown in FIG. l, the 27 different primary colors emitted by the cathode ray tube 28 light source l00 are polarized orthogonally, with the _g_ 1 appropriate color tplane of polarization) being selected by 2 the output polarizer (analyzer) ~02 under control of the 3 liquid crystal element (rotator) 104. Thus, only one plane 4 of polarization is se}ected at a time and therefore, in the 5 most ideal case, ~ifty percent of the initially unpolarized 6 cathode ray tube light is a~sorbed. In actuality, all of the 7 system elements are less than ideal, particularly the color 8 polarizers 106a and 106b. FIGs 2A and 2B show the spectral 9 transmission characteristics of typical green and red color 0 polarizers respectively, versus the ~ideal~ characterist,cs 11 of such devices. Note, in particular, the low transmission 12 of the practical green color polarizer.
13 This limitation o~ the prior art devices is addressed in 14 the present invention. In the present invention the color of 15 the light emitted by the bare cathode ray tube light source 16 is itself one of the primary colors of the system display, 17 thus, one of the color polarizers found in many of the prior 18 art devices may be eliminated. Using the same colors as the 19 previous example, the light output from the bare cathode ray 20 tube light source would appear green if the proportion of 21 green light in its emission spectrum was far greater than the 22 proportion o~ red, as might be accomplished by changing the 23 phosphor blend of the cathode ray tube. Information then 24 could ~e displayed in red by using the red filter state as 25 described above, and could likewise be displayed in green by 26 using an ~open~ color shutter, i.e., one that passed all 28 colors.
1~1371~
1 In this manner, the green state transmission of the 2 present invention is markedly improved over prior art 3 devices. This configuration is illustrated in FIG. 3.
4 In FIG. 3 the red state performance of the system is the 5 same as for the system shown in FIG. 1. The light output in 6 the green state, however, is markedly improved over the 7 system of FIG. 1 by the elimination of the green polarizer 8 106b.
9 A further improvement in system performance is attained 10 by the configuration shown in FIG. 4. In this configuration, 11 the improvements resulting from the elimination of the green 12 polarizer 106a remain, but further system improvements are 13 provided in the transmission of the red state by the 14 substitution o~ a second red polarizer for the analyzer 102.
15 This substitution permits the red output o~ the system to be 16 transmitted unpolarized to the observer with roughly twice 17 the efficiency of previous system configurations.
18 FIG. 5 illustrates for clarity the cross-sectional 19 composition of a display system incorporating the present 20 invention.
21 In general, prior art devices, as shown in FIG. 1, tend æ to use a neutral polarizer 102 to select between two color 23 polarizers 106a, 106b to determine the display color (usually 24 green, red and a composite yellow). In the green state, the 25 neutral polarizer 102 is aligned to the green polarizer 106a, 26 which blocks transmission of the red phosphor light.
4,770,500 of which I am a co-inventor.
The general idea of using a multi-color cathode ray tube in conjunction with liquid crystal cells and color polarizers has been described in numerous articles and issued patents such as the article by Brinson et al in IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin Vol.
22, No. 5 of October 1979 and United States Patent No. 4,582,396 to Bos et al.
~31~716 1 In U.S. Patent No. 4,582,396 to Bos et al., a typical 2 field sequential color system is disclosed. A color 3 ensitive polarizing means is placed in front of a cathode 4 ay tube light source which is capable of emitting at least wo colors. The polarizing means has a first absorption axis 6 hat passes linearly polarized light of the first color and a 7 econd absorption axis that passes linearly polarized light 8 f the second color. ~ liquid crystal cell functions as a 9 ariable optical retarder in association with the polarizing 10 filter means to selectively transmit a first or a second 11 olor, depending on the polarization of the light. The 12 liquid crystal cell is followed by a linear polarizer.
13 When the liquid crystal cell is driven by a first 14 ignal, it provides a half wave retardation to the applied 15 light. When it is driven by a second signal, substantially 16 o retardation is experienced by the impinging light. With 17 l ubstantially no retardation of the light, only light of one 18 f the two colors can pass through the linear polarizer.
19 ith half wave retardation, only light of the other of the wo colors can pass through the polarizer.
21 The device employs a specially designed liquid crystal 22 ell to function as the variable retarder. A nematic liquid 23 rystal cell is designed to be disclination-~ree and to 24 l witch in a ~bounce-free~ manner as it is switched between wo states which alter the orientation of the surface 26 on-contacting directors of the liquid crystal material in 27 he cell.
28 The Bos et al. reference is typical of the prior art 1 ~evices currently in use.
2 In these sequential color shutter systems, the image 3 source, typically a cathode ray tube, emits light in a 4 plurality of colors, for example, green and red. The bare 5 cathode ray tube would then appear to emit yellow light 6 (which is green and red combined) and would be viewed by an 7 observer through a color shutter. The color shutter would 8 permit information to be presented in either a red, green, or 9 an intermediate color by changing light polarization states 0 synchronously with the color information that is to be 11 written. In its green state, the color shutter would 12 transmit a certain percentage of green light, while absorbing 13 a much higher percentage o~ red light, while the opposite 14 would occur ln the red state.
Intermediate colors, such as yellow, would be generated 16 either by setting the shutter to an intermediate state where 17 absorption in both primary colors would be more or less 18 equal, or by ~double-writing~ yellow information in both of 19 the primary colors.
In either case, systems of the type described above 21 suffer from the relativ~ly low transmission level of the 22 selected color, which, in turn, leads to limited display 23 brightness.
24 The present invention provides both a method and an 25 apparatus to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art to 26 pxoduce a bright color display system suitable for use under 27 both sunl~ght and night time conditions.
28¦~ As a pr~ctiaal xamp1- o~ how the improved t-chnology 1~13716 1 incorporated and found in both a device embodying the present 2 invention, and the method of the present invention, may be 3 used in current practical situations, the reader need only 4 consider avionics multifunct$on display applications as used 5 in tactical military aircraft.
6 In avionics systems such as this, which are capable of 7 both raster and stroXe display modes, the raster modes are 8 often used for the display of monochrome sensor video 9 information, while color information is presented in the 10 stroke modes. ~igher raster writing rates and the 11 requirements for sunlight readability of multiple gray shade 12 video images maXe the (green) raster modes the more demanding 13 of the two types of modes from a brightness/contrast 14 viewpoint.
Reducing the red phosphor emission ~rom the cathode ray 16 tube (as is required ~or the improved configuration discussed 17 below), proportionally increases the green light output from 18 the cathode ray tube under the same drive conditions, thus 19 raising the display efficiency in this color. While this 20 ~onfiguration would reduce the red li~ht output from the 21 cathode ray tube, the overall red display luminance is 22 enhanced by the high transmission of the color shutter in the A 23 red state as described i-n-FI~. 4 below. Further, the 24 brightness/contrast requirements for all colors of stroXe 25 sym~ology are often lower than those for green raster video 26 presentations, thus resulting in an overall enhancement of 28 system capability.
.
1~13715 SUM~RY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved display which allows the use of liquid crystals over an extended temperature range in a field sequential color shutter display system.
It is another object of the present invention to pro-vide an improved display which has higher transmission and reduced surface reflections and therefore reduced glare, making the display more useful in daylight, as well as giving high-purity reds and greens.
In general, the present invention is directed towards both a method and an apparatus, the apparatus of which can be found in a field sequential color shutter display system, compris-ing a source of light that emits light rays of a plurality of colors and having substantially first and second different primary colors. First light polarizing means are in optical communica-tion with the source, and include a color selective polarizing filter having first and second substantially orthogonally oriented absorption axes. The first absorption axis passes linearly polarized light of the first color. The second absorp-tion axis passes linearly polarized light of both the first and second colors.
Second light polarizing means are in optical communi-cation with the first light polarizing means, and include a polarizing filter having a first absorption axis substantially aligned with one of the first or second absorption axes of the ./'~' .f ;., 1 3 1 3 7 1 fi 71650-21 first light polarizing means and passing linearly polarized light of both the first and second colors, and a second absorption axis of essentially zero transmission. Variable optical retard-ing means are disposed between the first and second light polariz-ing means.
Switching means are in communication with the variable optical retarding means to selectively provide first and second switching states to produce respective first and second amounts of optical retardation to develop, over a relatively broad range Of viewing angles, a light output of either the first color, or a composite color containing both the first and second colors, through the second light polarizing means.
An alternate embodiment of a field sequential color shutter display system constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a source of light that emits light rays of a plurality of colors and having substantially first and second different primary colors. First and second light polarizing means are included. The first light polarizing means are in optical communication with the source, and the second light polarizing means are in optical communication with the first light polarizing means.
Each of the light polarizing means includes a color selective polarizing filter having substantially orthogonally oriented absorption axes. The first absorption axis of each light polarizing means passes linearly polarized light of the first color. The second absorption axis of each light 1 polarizing means passes linearly polarized light of both the 2 first and second colors. The respective absorption axes of 3 the first and second liqht polarizing means are in 4 substantial alignment with one another.
Variable optical retarding means are disposed between 6 the ~irst and second light polarizing means. Switchin~ means 7 are in communication with the variable optical retarding 8 means to selectively provide ~irst and second switching 9 states to produce respective first and second amounts of 10 optical retardation in order to develop, over a relatively 11 broad range of viewing angles, a light output through the 12 second light polarizing means o~ either the first color, or, 13 a composite light output containing both the first color, 14 having both the first and second polarizations, and the 1~ second color having only the second polarization.
16 A method o~ providing a field sequential color shutter 17 display system in a high a~bient light environment in 18 accordance with the present invention, comprises the steps of 19 generating a source of light having at least two different 20 wavelength components of a first and a second color. The 21 light thus generated is polarized using a color selective 22 polarizing filter having first and second substantially 23 orthogonally oriented absorption axes. The first absorption 24 axis passes linearly polarized light of the first color, 25 while the second absorption axis passes linearly polarized 26 light of both the first and second colors.
27 The polarized light passes through a variable optical 28 retardinq e~nt ~ollo~ed by s-cond polarlz-r for 13137i6 1 l electively transmitting light of ~ither the first color and 2 polarization, or of a composite color containing both the 3 first and second colors and second polarization dQtermined by 4 the amount by which the light has been optically retarded.
Th~ light is selectively retarded by utilizing variable 6 l pt:ical retarding means disposed between the color selective 7 ?olarizing filter and the output polarizer. The amount of 8 ~ptical retardation is controlled by at least first and 9 l econ~ retardations to result in the emission of light of 10 3ither the ~irst color and polarization, or a composite color 11 :ontaining both the first and second colors and second 1:2 ?olarization .
13 The novel features of construction and operation of the 14 invention will be more clearly apparent during the course of 15 the following description, reference being had to the 16 l ccompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a 17 ?referred form of the device o~ the invention and wherein 18 l ike characters of reference designate like parts throughout 19 the drawings.
21 5RIEP DESCRIP~ION OF ~HE DRAW5NGS
23 FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a field 24 1 equential color display system incorporating a variable 25 1 etarder which is included in an optical assembly to function 26 as an optical switch in accordance with the prior art;
27 FIGs 2A and 2B are graphs illustrating the relationship 28 be een the trdns~ission values along the ~colored~ polarizer 1 ~ s and light wavelenqths of a practlcal versus ideal greon 2 and red polarizer transmissions respectively;
3 FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of a field 4 sequent~al color display system incorporating a variable 5 retarder which is included in an optical assembly to function 6 as an optical switch in accordance with the present 7 invention;
8 FIG. 4 i5 a simplified block diagram of an alternatè
9 field sequential color display system incorporating a 10 variable retarder which is included in an optical assembly to 11 function as an optical switch in accordance with the present 12 invention; and 13 FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a field sequential color 14 display system incorporating a variable retarder which is 15 included in an optical assembly to function as an optical 16 switch in accordance with the present invention.
18 DESCRIPTION OF TH~ PR~FERRED EMBoDrHENTs While the maximum theoretical transmission of polarizer 21 based color sh~tters is on the order of fifty percent, 22 practical color systems exhibit much lower transmissions in 23 the order of ten percent or so. (See FIG. 2) 24 This degradation in actual transmission over the 25 theoretical can be explained by reviewing ~he basic operating 26 principles of these systems. As shown in FIG. l, the 27 different primary colors emitted by the cathode ray tube 28 light source l00 are polarized orthogonally, with the _g_ 1 appropriate color tplane of polarization) being selected by 2 the output polarizer (analyzer) ~02 under control of the 3 liquid crystal element (rotator) 104. Thus, only one plane 4 of polarization is se}ected at a time and therefore, in the 5 most ideal case, ~ifty percent of the initially unpolarized 6 cathode ray tube light is a~sorbed. In actuality, all of the 7 system elements are less than ideal, particularly the color 8 polarizers 106a and 106b. FIGs 2A and 2B show the spectral 9 transmission characteristics of typical green and red color 0 polarizers respectively, versus the ~ideal~ characterist,cs 11 of such devices. Note, in particular, the low transmission 12 of the practical green color polarizer.
13 This limitation o~ the prior art devices is addressed in 14 the present invention. In the present invention the color of 15 the light emitted by the bare cathode ray tube light source 16 is itself one of the primary colors of the system display, 17 thus, one of the color polarizers found in many of the prior 18 art devices may be eliminated. Using the same colors as the 19 previous example, the light output from the bare cathode ray 20 tube light source would appear green if the proportion of 21 green light in its emission spectrum was far greater than the 22 proportion o~ red, as might be accomplished by changing the 23 phosphor blend of the cathode ray tube. Information then 24 could ~e displayed in red by using the red filter state as 25 described above, and could likewise be displayed in green by 26 using an ~open~ color shutter, i.e., one that passed all 28 colors.
1~1371~
1 In this manner, the green state transmission of the 2 present invention is markedly improved over prior art 3 devices. This configuration is illustrated in FIG. 3.
4 In FIG. 3 the red state performance of the system is the 5 same as for the system shown in FIG. 1. The light output in 6 the green state, however, is markedly improved over the 7 system of FIG. 1 by the elimination of the green polarizer 8 106b.
9 A further improvement in system performance is attained 10 by the configuration shown in FIG. 4. In this configuration, 11 the improvements resulting from the elimination of the green 12 polarizer 106a remain, but further system improvements are 13 provided in the transmission of the red state by the 14 substitution o~ a second red polarizer for the analyzer 102.
15 This substitution permits the red output o~ the system to be 16 transmitted unpolarized to the observer with roughly twice 17 the efficiency of previous system configurations.
18 FIG. 5 illustrates for clarity the cross-sectional 19 composition of a display system incorporating the present 20 invention.
21 In general, prior art devices, as shown in FIG. 1, tend æ to use a neutral polarizer 102 to select between two color 23 polarizers 106a, 106b to determine the display color (usually 24 green, red and a composite yellow). In the green state, the 25 neutral polarizer 102 is aligned to the green polarizer 106a, 26 which blocks transmission of the red phosphor light.
27 Similarly, in the red state, the red polarizer 106b blocks 28 the green col onent of the pho;phor light. Contrast ia then 13137~6 1 determined by the filter transmission in the different 2 states, and the background luminance level from the ambient 3 double pass through the filter, as well as the front surface 4 and multiple internal filter rsflections.
In these prior art devices, measured display contrast 6 has been limited in full daytime ambients by background 7 levels, due to internal filter reflections. To compensate 8 for this, the present invention suggests a new phosphor blend 9 to permit higher light source (cathode ray tube) output.
10 This blend, consisting of approximately 90~ P43 Green and 10 11 P56 Red, is green in appearance (x 3 .36 and y - .53, using 12 the 1931 CIE system of coordinates as a reference standard).
13 This suggests that perhaps the green polarizer of prior art 14 devices might be omitted from the filtering system. The 15 green state color would then be similar to the phosphor 16 color, while the red state color would be defined by the red 17 polarizer as it is currently (see FIG. 3).
18 The advantage of this change is that it would increase 19 the green state filter transmission through the system by 20 more than a factor of two (green polarizer transmission of 21 P43 is less than 40%). This would markedly increase display 22 brightness and would therefore be of immsdiate benefit for 23 color HDD and HUD applications. For head down systems (HDD), 24 contrast could then be improved by adding a neutral density 25 filter (NDF) to the front portion of the display system.
26 ~o understand these effects, consider a nomina} example.
27 Say the current prior art systems in a lO,OOO fl. ambient 28 w ld exhibLt a bac~ground lumlnance of 125 fl. Th1s would 1 be partitioned roughly as follows: front surface 2 (AR-coated): 25 fl.: double pass reflection from phosphor:
3 40 fl.; and, internal filter reflections: 60 fl.
4 By doubling the filter transmission (removing the green 5 polarizer) and adding a 50% transmission neutral density 6 filter to the front end of the display system, the overall 7 display highlight brightness would remain the same, a~ would 8 the front surface and double pass reflections. The internal 9 reflections would be reduced by a factor of four (due to 0 attenuation by double pass through the neutral density 11 filter), so the overall background ambient light would be 12 reduced to approximately 80 fl. (25 fl. + 40 fl. + 60/4 fl.) 13 Thus, if the contrast had been 3.6 in 10,000 fl. (that 14 is, a display highlight br~ghtness o~ 325 fl. with 125 fl.
15 bacXground), with the new configuration of the present 16 invention, contrast would be 5.1, at the same light source 17 (CRT) brightness.
18 Alternatively, 3.6 contrast would be attainable with 19 only 208 fl. of display highlight brightness allowinq less 20 CRT light output, with resulting improvements in resolution, 21 phosphor life, etc.
22 These improvements of the present invention described so 23 far only relate to the green state, since the red state 24 transmission is improved by no more than 10% to 15% by 25 elimination of the green polarizer. A color balance ~ilter 26 of higher red transmission than green would further improve 27 green contrast without sacrificing red brightness, but a 28 bet~er ap ach found in the present invention is to conslder 1 the configuration of the invention as shown in FIG. 4.
2 In FIG. 4, the neutral polarizer is replaced by a second 3 red polarizer. In the green state the effect of this is 4 additional red leakage which would cause a slight hue shift, 5 but in the red state, the effect is to double the red light 6 output from the display system In this configuration, red 7 light is essentially unpolarized. Thus, the contrast 8 advantages described above would apply equally to the red and 9 green states.
These improvements, foun~ in the present invention, 11 apply to various configurations of the variable optical 12 retarder, including, push-pull configurations as well as 13 single element configurations, and are independent of whether 14 zero twist or Pi cells are used in the display.
In practical terms, the changes to the filter 16 architecture itself permit reconfiguration of the entire 17 display system for improved performance.
18 Turning first to FIG. 3, there is shown in idealized 19 side view, the elements comprising a display 10 incorporating 20 the present invention.
21 A field sequential color shutter display system lO, 22 incorporating the present invention in a preferable 23 embodiment would comprise a source of light that emits light 24 rays having su~stantially first and second different primary 25 colors or wavelength.
26 Such an acceptable light source would be a cathode ray 27 tube (~CRT~) 12 that displays information in the form of a 28 p tern Oe illu~inated phocphors Preferably, a special tube 1 is utilized which, when energized, emits light in at least a 2 first and a second narrow range of primary wavelengths.
3 However, it is preferred that the proportion of light of 4 the first and second colors emitted by the source be unequal.
5 Specifically, it is preferred that the proportion of light of 6 one wavelength be less than the proportion of light of the 7 other color wavelength so that when combined, light of the 8 greater proportioned wavelength color visually predominates 9 to an o~server. Thus, in the absence of any special ~color ~0 switch~, the CRT display would appear to an observer to be 11 monochromatic in the predominant wavelength or color.
12 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the light 13 emitted from the light source is modulated in synchronism 14 with a switching circuit, described below, to produce images 15 appearing to have a multi-colored appearance to a human 16 observer.
17 A first light polarizing filtering system 14 is 18 positioned in optical communication with the light source 12.
19 This first polarizing filtering system 14 includQs a color 20 selective polarizing filter 16 having first and second 21 substantially orthogonally oriented absorption axe~. The 22 first absorption axis of the color selective polarizing 23 filter 16 passes linearly polarized light of a first color or 24 wavelength, while the second absorption axis passes linearly 25 polarized light of both colors or wavelengths.
26 A preferred configuration of this color selective 27 polarizing filter would be comprised of first and second 28 p chroic linear polariz-ring ilters in adjacent optical 1 communication having substantially orthogonally aligned 2 absorption axes. The absorption axis of the first pleochroic 3 polarizer transmits light of the first color, while the 4 absorption axis of the second pleochroic polarizer transmits 5 light of both first and second colors.
6 ~ second light polarizing filtering system 22 is 7 positioned in optical communication with the first light 8 polarizing filtering system 14. This second filtering system 9 includes a neutral polarizing filter 24 having a first 10 absorption axis subs~antially aligned with one of the 11 absorption axes of the first light polarizing filtering 12 system 14 for passing linearly polarized light of both colors 13 or wavelengths, and a second absorption axis of essentially 14 zero transmission.
A liquid crystal variable optical retarder 26 is 16 disposed between the first and second light polarizing 17 filtering systems 14, 22, respectively. It is preferably a 18 zero to substantially half-wave retarder for light of the 19 first color. The first retardation amount is essentially 20 zero retardation so as to permit the retarder to transmit a 21 light output containing both of the first and second colors 22 having a uniform second polarization. The second retardation 23 amount is essentially half-wave retardation that transmits 2g through the retarder a light output o~ the ~irst color having 25 a uni~or~ second polarization.
26 In order to appreciate the invention more easily, 27 consider a single variable zero-to-half wave retarder being 28 oomprised two liquid orystal cells and the ~lxed guarter l 313716 1 wave retardation plate. This is the same function that a 2 single liquid crystal cell has in the previously described 3 configuration.
4 In general, the operation of the invention is that each 5 liquid crystal cell functions as a zero-to-quarter wave 6 retarder, but one cell has its retardation add to the fixed 7 quarter wave retarder plate while the other cell has its 8 retardation subtract from the fixed quarter wave retarder 9 plate. A quarter wave retardation plus an additional quarter 10 wave retardation results in a half wave retardation, while a 11 quarter wave retardation minus a quarter wave retardation 12 results in a net zero wave retardation. As a result, a net 13 dif~erence o~ one half wave is achieved between the two 14 states. With the liquid crystal and waveplate axes oriented 15 at 45 degrees with respect to the polarizer axes, a half wave 16 retardation corresponds to 90 degrees of rotation of the 17 plane of polarization of transmitted light, while a quarter 18 wave retardation converts linearly polarized light to 19 circularly polarized light.
Thus, each liquid crystal cell can convert the 21 originally linearly polarized light to circularly polarized 22 light, but the fixed quarter wave retarder plate re-converts 23 the light bacX to linearly polarized light (rotated or not 24 depending on which liquid crystal cell has been set to 25 provide for a quarter wave retardation).
26 Following this line of reasoning, there is no difference 27 between the two liquid crystal cell configuration and the one 28 l cuid crystal cell conficJuration in terms of ho~ the desired 1 colors are generated. The real advantage of the former 2 configuration is that it is faster in switching over a wider 3 temperature range than the latter configuration.
4 A preferred variable optical retarder 26 is found in 5 known liquid crystal cells 28, 30 havin~ liquid crystal 6 material with alignment directors. These liquid crystal 7 cells 28, 30 are responsive to electric fields of different 8 intensities introduced within the cell by the first and 9 second switching states of switching circuitry 32. The first 10 switching state provides a higher intensity electric field to 11 cause the directors to align substantially end-to-end in a 12 direction parallel to the flux lines of the electric field 13 while the second switching state provides a lower intensity 14 electric field to cause the directors to recede from the 15 end-to-end aliqnment to an alignment in which a component of 16 each one of a substantial number of the directors is 17 projected on the surfaces of the cell.
18 More specifically, a preferred variable optical retarder 19 26, as shown in FIG. 5, incorporates first and second liquid 20 crystal cells 28, 30 and a ~ixed quarter wave retarder 34, 21 with the slow axis of the fixed quarter wave retarder æ oriented substantially parallel to the optic axis of the 23 first liquid crystal cell 28 and substantially orthogonal to 24 the optic axis of the second liquid crystal cell 30. With 2$ this structure, the retardation in the first liquid crystal 26 cell add~ to the retardation of the fixed quarter wave 27 retarder, and retardation from the second liquid crystal cell 28 suberacts ~r the retardation o~ the fixed quarter wave 1313 ~116 1 retarder. Therefore, by selectively choosing to either su~
2 or subtract the retardation caused by the cells with respect 3 to the fixed quarter wave retarder, the transmitted light 4 output will have either a resulting zero or a half-wavelength 5 retardation.
6 The first and second l~quid crystal cells 28, 30 are 7 serially connected between a source of pctential 36, and a 8 source of reference potential 38 as better described below.
9 The reference potential is set to be equal to the sum of the 10 first and second potential levels, and the potential levels 11 are coupled to the interconnection of the first and second 12 cells 28, 30 as shown in the figures. In this structure, 13 each liquid crystal cell is capable of optically retarding 14 light by up to one quarter of a wave upon application of a 15 potential at the first level and of imposing substantially no 16 retardation upon the application of a potential of a 17 potential at the second level.
18 Switching circuitry 32 controls the variable optical 19 retarder 26 to selectively provide first and second switching 20 states to produce respective first and second amounts of 21 optical retardation to develop, over a relatively broad range 22 of viewing angles, a light output of either the first color, 23 or a composite color containing both of the first and second 2~ colors, for transmission through the second light polarizing 2~ filtering system 22.
26 A source of electric potential, not shown, such as a 27 battery, generator, alternator or even magneto, provides 28 first and second voltage levels that can be applied to each 1 of the cells 28, 30, for selectively controlling, by means of 2 the switching circuitry 32, the amount of optical retardation 3 imposed by each of the cells.
4 Since in many head down display systems, the measured 5 display contrast is limited in full sunlight by background 6 ambient light levels due to internal filter reflections, the 7 preferred display system 10 also includes neutral density 8 filters 42, 44, in the optical path between the light source 9 12 and the first light polarizing filtering system 14 and at 10 the output of the second light polarizing filtering system 22 11 for limiting emitted light to the first and second colors at 12 the first light polarizing filtering system 14 and to 13 eliminate unwanted colors from the output of the display 14 system 10. These filters 42, 44 will improve display 15 contrast by reducing reflected ambient light throughout the 16 display system without substantially affecting display 17 brightness compared to prior art systems.
18 A preferred method of providing a field sequential color 19 shutter display system in a high ambient light environment in 20 accordance with the present invention comprises first 21 generating a source of light having at least two different 22 wavelength components o~ a first and a second color.
23 The light th~s generated is polariæed using a color 24 selective polarizing filter having first and second 25 substantially orthogonally oriented absorption axes. The 26 first absorption axis passing linearly polarized light of the 27 first color and a uniform first polarization, while the 28 s ond absorption axls passing linearly polarized light o~
1 both the first and second colors and a uniform second 2 pc~larization.
3 Components of the polarized light are now selectively 4 retarded to produce linearly polarized light of either zero 5 or 9O degrees rotation, or circularly polarized light.
6 The light is linearly polarized for selectively 7 transmitting light of either the first color and 8 polarization, or of a composite color containing both first 9 and second colors and second polarization determined by the 10 amount by which the light has been optically retarded.
11 The amount of optical retardation is selectively 12 controlled by at least first and second retardations to 13 result in the emission of light of either the first color and 14 polarization, or a composite color containing both first and 15 second colors and second polarization. This can be 16 accomplished by applying first and second control signals to 17 liquid crystal cells for determining the amount of optical 18 retardation imposed by each of the cells. These liquid 19 crystal cells can be serially connected between a source of 20 potential and a source of reference potential wherein the 21 reference potential is set to be equal to the sum of the 22 first and second le~els, and applying the potential levels to 23 the interconnection of the f~rst and second cells.
24 The light is optically retarded up to one fourth of a 25 wavelength in each of the liquid crystal cells upon 26 application of a potential at the first level and of imposing 27 substantially no retardation upon the application of a 28 potential at ~he second level, and placing a quarter wave 1 retarder between the second liquid crystal cell and the 2 second light polarizing means.
3 The flrst and second liquid crystal cells are oriented 4 wi.th respect to the ~irst polarizing filter such that upon 5 the application of a potential at the first level, one of the 6 cells converts linearly polarized light to right hand 7 circularly polarized liqht and the other of the cells passes 8 light substantially without retardation resulting, in light 9 passing through the second light polarizing means with a net 10 retardation of one half wave (90 degree rotation of the plane 11 of polarization), and upon application of a potential at the 12 second level, the cell imposes substantially no retardation 13 on impinging light while the other of the cells converts 14 linearly polarized light to left hand circularly polarized 15 light which passes through the second light polarizing filter 16 with substantially no retardation (no rotation of the plane 17 of polarization).
18 Alternatively, the optical retardation of the light can 19 also ~e accomplished by using a single liquid crystal cell ~0 instead o~ the two cell con~iguration discussed above.
21 The light images produced by the light source can be 22 modulated in synchronism with a predetermined control system 23 to produce images appearing to have multiple colors.
24 Th~ light images produced by the light source can also 25 be filtered at the beginning and end of the light path before 26 and after the first light polarizing step and the second 27 light polarizing step for limiting emitted light to the first 28 and composite colors, in order to eliminate unwanted colors 1 from the output of the system and to improve display contrast 2 by reducing reflected ambient light without substantially 3 affecting display brightness.
4 The invention described above is, of course, susceptible 5 to many variations, modifications and changes, all of which 6 are within the skill of the art. It should be understood 7 that all such variations, modifications and changes are 8 within the spirit and scope of the invention and of the 9 appended claims. Similarly, it will be understood that it is 10 intended to cover all changes, modifications and variations 11 of the example o~ the invention herein disclosed for the 12 purpose of illustration which do not constitute departures I f ~ the s~irit and scope of the invention.
In these prior art devices, measured display contrast 6 has been limited in full daytime ambients by background 7 levels, due to internal filter reflections. To compensate 8 for this, the present invention suggests a new phosphor blend 9 to permit higher light source (cathode ray tube) output.
10 This blend, consisting of approximately 90~ P43 Green and 10 11 P56 Red, is green in appearance (x 3 .36 and y - .53, using 12 the 1931 CIE system of coordinates as a reference standard).
13 This suggests that perhaps the green polarizer of prior art 14 devices might be omitted from the filtering system. The 15 green state color would then be similar to the phosphor 16 color, while the red state color would be defined by the red 17 polarizer as it is currently (see FIG. 3).
18 The advantage of this change is that it would increase 19 the green state filter transmission through the system by 20 more than a factor of two (green polarizer transmission of 21 P43 is less than 40%). This would markedly increase display 22 brightness and would therefore be of immsdiate benefit for 23 color HDD and HUD applications. For head down systems (HDD), 24 contrast could then be improved by adding a neutral density 25 filter (NDF) to the front portion of the display system.
26 ~o understand these effects, consider a nomina} example.
27 Say the current prior art systems in a lO,OOO fl. ambient 28 w ld exhibLt a bac~ground lumlnance of 125 fl. Th1s would 1 be partitioned roughly as follows: front surface 2 (AR-coated): 25 fl.: double pass reflection from phosphor:
3 40 fl.; and, internal filter reflections: 60 fl.
4 By doubling the filter transmission (removing the green 5 polarizer) and adding a 50% transmission neutral density 6 filter to the front end of the display system, the overall 7 display highlight brightness would remain the same, a~ would 8 the front surface and double pass reflections. The internal 9 reflections would be reduced by a factor of four (due to 0 attenuation by double pass through the neutral density 11 filter), so the overall background ambient light would be 12 reduced to approximately 80 fl. (25 fl. + 40 fl. + 60/4 fl.) 13 Thus, if the contrast had been 3.6 in 10,000 fl. (that 14 is, a display highlight br~ghtness o~ 325 fl. with 125 fl.
15 bacXground), with the new configuration of the present 16 invention, contrast would be 5.1, at the same light source 17 (CRT) brightness.
18 Alternatively, 3.6 contrast would be attainable with 19 only 208 fl. of display highlight brightness allowinq less 20 CRT light output, with resulting improvements in resolution, 21 phosphor life, etc.
22 These improvements of the present invention described so 23 far only relate to the green state, since the red state 24 transmission is improved by no more than 10% to 15% by 25 elimination of the green polarizer. A color balance ~ilter 26 of higher red transmission than green would further improve 27 green contrast without sacrificing red brightness, but a 28 bet~er ap ach found in the present invention is to conslder 1 the configuration of the invention as shown in FIG. 4.
2 In FIG. 4, the neutral polarizer is replaced by a second 3 red polarizer. In the green state the effect of this is 4 additional red leakage which would cause a slight hue shift, 5 but in the red state, the effect is to double the red light 6 output from the display system In this configuration, red 7 light is essentially unpolarized. Thus, the contrast 8 advantages described above would apply equally to the red and 9 green states.
These improvements, foun~ in the present invention, 11 apply to various configurations of the variable optical 12 retarder, including, push-pull configurations as well as 13 single element configurations, and are independent of whether 14 zero twist or Pi cells are used in the display.
In practical terms, the changes to the filter 16 architecture itself permit reconfiguration of the entire 17 display system for improved performance.
18 Turning first to FIG. 3, there is shown in idealized 19 side view, the elements comprising a display 10 incorporating 20 the present invention.
21 A field sequential color shutter display system lO, 22 incorporating the present invention in a preferable 23 embodiment would comprise a source of light that emits light 24 rays having su~stantially first and second different primary 25 colors or wavelength.
26 Such an acceptable light source would be a cathode ray 27 tube (~CRT~) 12 that displays information in the form of a 28 p tern Oe illu~inated phocphors Preferably, a special tube 1 is utilized which, when energized, emits light in at least a 2 first and a second narrow range of primary wavelengths.
3 However, it is preferred that the proportion of light of 4 the first and second colors emitted by the source be unequal.
5 Specifically, it is preferred that the proportion of light of 6 one wavelength be less than the proportion of light of the 7 other color wavelength so that when combined, light of the 8 greater proportioned wavelength color visually predominates 9 to an o~server. Thus, in the absence of any special ~color ~0 switch~, the CRT display would appear to an observer to be 11 monochromatic in the predominant wavelength or color.
12 In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the light 13 emitted from the light source is modulated in synchronism 14 with a switching circuit, described below, to produce images 15 appearing to have a multi-colored appearance to a human 16 observer.
17 A first light polarizing filtering system 14 is 18 positioned in optical communication with the light source 12.
19 This first polarizing filtering system 14 includQs a color 20 selective polarizing filter 16 having first and second 21 substantially orthogonally oriented absorption axe~. The 22 first absorption axis of the color selective polarizing 23 filter 16 passes linearly polarized light of a first color or 24 wavelength, while the second absorption axis passes linearly 25 polarized light of both colors or wavelengths.
26 A preferred configuration of this color selective 27 polarizing filter would be comprised of first and second 28 p chroic linear polariz-ring ilters in adjacent optical 1 communication having substantially orthogonally aligned 2 absorption axes. The absorption axis of the first pleochroic 3 polarizer transmits light of the first color, while the 4 absorption axis of the second pleochroic polarizer transmits 5 light of both first and second colors.
6 ~ second light polarizing filtering system 22 is 7 positioned in optical communication with the first light 8 polarizing filtering system 14. This second filtering system 9 includes a neutral polarizing filter 24 having a first 10 absorption axis subs~antially aligned with one of the 11 absorption axes of the first light polarizing filtering 12 system 14 for passing linearly polarized light of both colors 13 or wavelengths, and a second absorption axis of essentially 14 zero transmission.
A liquid crystal variable optical retarder 26 is 16 disposed between the first and second light polarizing 17 filtering systems 14, 22, respectively. It is preferably a 18 zero to substantially half-wave retarder for light of the 19 first color. The first retardation amount is essentially 20 zero retardation so as to permit the retarder to transmit a 21 light output containing both of the first and second colors 22 having a uniform second polarization. The second retardation 23 amount is essentially half-wave retardation that transmits 2g through the retarder a light output o~ the ~irst color having 25 a uni~or~ second polarization.
26 In order to appreciate the invention more easily, 27 consider a single variable zero-to-half wave retarder being 28 oomprised two liquid orystal cells and the ~lxed guarter l 313716 1 wave retardation plate. This is the same function that a 2 single liquid crystal cell has in the previously described 3 configuration.
4 In general, the operation of the invention is that each 5 liquid crystal cell functions as a zero-to-quarter wave 6 retarder, but one cell has its retardation add to the fixed 7 quarter wave retarder plate while the other cell has its 8 retardation subtract from the fixed quarter wave retarder 9 plate. A quarter wave retardation plus an additional quarter 10 wave retardation results in a half wave retardation, while a 11 quarter wave retardation minus a quarter wave retardation 12 results in a net zero wave retardation. As a result, a net 13 dif~erence o~ one half wave is achieved between the two 14 states. With the liquid crystal and waveplate axes oriented 15 at 45 degrees with respect to the polarizer axes, a half wave 16 retardation corresponds to 90 degrees of rotation of the 17 plane of polarization of transmitted light, while a quarter 18 wave retardation converts linearly polarized light to 19 circularly polarized light.
Thus, each liquid crystal cell can convert the 21 originally linearly polarized light to circularly polarized 22 light, but the fixed quarter wave retarder plate re-converts 23 the light bacX to linearly polarized light (rotated or not 24 depending on which liquid crystal cell has been set to 25 provide for a quarter wave retardation).
26 Following this line of reasoning, there is no difference 27 between the two liquid crystal cell configuration and the one 28 l cuid crystal cell conficJuration in terms of ho~ the desired 1 colors are generated. The real advantage of the former 2 configuration is that it is faster in switching over a wider 3 temperature range than the latter configuration.
4 A preferred variable optical retarder 26 is found in 5 known liquid crystal cells 28, 30 havin~ liquid crystal 6 material with alignment directors. These liquid crystal 7 cells 28, 30 are responsive to electric fields of different 8 intensities introduced within the cell by the first and 9 second switching states of switching circuitry 32. The first 10 switching state provides a higher intensity electric field to 11 cause the directors to align substantially end-to-end in a 12 direction parallel to the flux lines of the electric field 13 while the second switching state provides a lower intensity 14 electric field to cause the directors to recede from the 15 end-to-end aliqnment to an alignment in which a component of 16 each one of a substantial number of the directors is 17 projected on the surfaces of the cell.
18 More specifically, a preferred variable optical retarder 19 26, as shown in FIG. 5, incorporates first and second liquid 20 crystal cells 28, 30 and a ~ixed quarter wave retarder 34, 21 with the slow axis of the fixed quarter wave retarder æ oriented substantially parallel to the optic axis of the 23 first liquid crystal cell 28 and substantially orthogonal to 24 the optic axis of the second liquid crystal cell 30. With 2$ this structure, the retardation in the first liquid crystal 26 cell add~ to the retardation of the fixed quarter wave 27 retarder, and retardation from the second liquid crystal cell 28 suberacts ~r the retardation o~ the fixed quarter wave 1313 ~116 1 retarder. Therefore, by selectively choosing to either su~
2 or subtract the retardation caused by the cells with respect 3 to the fixed quarter wave retarder, the transmitted light 4 output will have either a resulting zero or a half-wavelength 5 retardation.
6 The first and second l~quid crystal cells 28, 30 are 7 serially connected between a source of pctential 36, and a 8 source of reference potential 38 as better described below.
9 The reference potential is set to be equal to the sum of the 10 first and second potential levels, and the potential levels 11 are coupled to the interconnection of the first and second 12 cells 28, 30 as shown in the figures. In this structure, 13 each liquid crystal cell is capable of optically retarding 14 light by up to one quarter of a wave upon application of a 15 potential at the first level and of imposing substantially no 16 retardation upon the application of a potential of a 17 potential at the second level.
18 Switching circuitry 32 controls the variable optical 19 retarder 26 to selectively provide first and second switching 20 states to produce respective first and second amounts of 21 optical retardation to develop, over a relatively broad range 22 of viewing angles, a light output of either the first color, 23 or a composite color containing both of the first and second 2~ colors, for transmission through the second light polarizing 2~ filtering system 22.
26 A source of electric potential, not shown, such as a 27 battery, generator, alternator or even magneto, provides 28 first and second voltage levels that can be applied to each 1 of the cells 28, 30, for selectively controlling, by means of 2 the switching circuitry 32, the amount of optical retardation 3 imposed by each of the cells.
4 Since in many head down display systems, the measured 5 display contrast is limited in full sunlight by background 6 ambient light levels due to internal filter reflections, the 7 preferred display system 10 also includes neutral density 8 filters 42, 44, in the optical path between the light source 9 12 and the first light polarizing filtering system 14 and at 10 the output of the second light polarizing filtering system 22 11 for limiting emitted light to the first and second colors at 12 the first light polarizing filtering system 14 and to 13 eliminate unwanted colors from the output of the display 14 system 10. These filters 42, 44 will improve display 15 contrast by reducing reflected ambient light throughout the 16 display system without substantially affecting display 17 brightness compared to prior art systems.
18 A preferred method of providing a field sequential color 19 shutter display system in a high ambient light environment in 20 accordance with the present invention comprises first 21 generating a source of light having at least two different 22 wavelength components o~ a first and a second color.
23 The light th~s generated is polariæed using a color 24 selective polarizing filter having first and second 25 substantially orthogonally oriented absorption axes. The 26 first absorption axis passing linearly polarized light of the 27 first color and a uniform first polarization, while the 28 s ond absorption axls passing linearly polarized light o~
1 both the first and second colors and a uniform second 2 pc~larization.
3 Components of the polarized light are now selectively 4 retarded to produce linearly polarized light of either zero 5 or 9O degrees rotation, or circularly polarized light.
6 The light is linearly polarized for selectively 7 transmitting light of either the first color and 8 polarization, or of a composite color containing both first 9 and second colors and second polarization determined by the 10 amount by which the light has been optically retarded.
11 The amount of optical retardation is selectively 12 controlled by at least first and second retardations to 13 result in the emission of light of either the first color and 14 polarization, or a composite color containing both first and 15 second colors and second polarization. This can be 16 accomplished by applying first and second control signals to 17 liquid crystal cells for determining the amount of optical 18 retardation imposed by each of the cells. These liquid 19 crystal cells can be serially connected between a source of 20 potential and a source of reference potential wherein the 21 reference potential is set to be equal to the sum of the 22 first and second le~els, and applying the potential levels to 23 the interconnection of the f~rst and second cells.
24 The light is optically retarded up to one fourth of a 25 wavelength in each of the liquid crystal cells upon 26 application of a potential at the first level and of imposing 27 substantially no retardation upon the application of a 28 potential at ~he second level, and placing a quarter wave 1 retarder between the second liquid crystal cell and the 2 second light polarizing means.
3 The flrst and second liquid crystal cells are oriented 4 wi.th respect to the ~irst polarizing filter such that upon 5 the application of a potential at the first level, one of the 6 cells converts linearly polarized light to right hand 7 circularly polarized liqht and the other of the cells passes 8 light substantially without retardation resulting, in light 9 passing through the second light polarizing means with a net 10 retardation of one half wave (90 degree rotation of the plane 11 of polarization), and upon application of a potential at the 12 second level, the cell imposes substantially no retardation 13 on impinging light while the other of the cells converts 14 linearly polarized light to left hand circularly polarized 15 light which passes through the second light polarizing filter 16 with substantially no retardation (no rotation of the plane 17 of polarization).
18 Alternatively, the optical retardation of the light can 19 also ~e accomplished by using a single liquid crystal cell ~0 instead o~ the two cell con~iguration discussed above.
21 The light images produced by the light source can be 22 modulated in synchronism with a predetermined control system 23 to produce images appearing to have multiple colors.
24 Th~ light images produced by the light source can also 25 be filtered at the beginning and end of the light path before 26 and after the first light polarizing step and the second 27 light polarizing step for limiting emitted light to the first 28 and composite colors, in order to eliminate unwanted colors 1 from the output of the system and to improve display contrast 2 by reducing reflected ambient light without substantially 3 affecting display brightness.
4 The invention described above is, of course, susceptible 5 to many variations, modifications and changes, all of which 6 are within the skill of the art. It should be understood 7 that all such variations, modifications and changes are 8 within the spirit and scope of the invention and of the 9 appended claims. Similarly, it will be understood that it is 10 intended to cover all changes, modifications and variations 11 of the example o~ the invention herein disclosed for the 12 purpose of illustration which do not constitute departures I f ~ the s~irit and scope of the invention.
Claims (38)
1. A field seguential color shutter display system, comprising:
a source of light that emits light rays of a plurality of colors and having substantially first and second different primary colors:
first light polarizing means in optical communication with said source, including a color selective polarizing filter having first and second substantially orthogonally oriented absorption axes, said first absorption axis passing linearly polarized light of said first color, said second absorption axis passing linearly polarized light of both said first and second colors;
second light polarizing means in optical communication with said first light polarizing means, including a polarizing filter having a first absorption axis substantially aligned with one of said first or second absorption axes of said first light polarizing means and passing linearly polarized light of both said first and second colors, and a second absorption axis of essentially zero transmission;
liquid crystal variable optical retarding means disposed between said first and second light polarizing means; and switching means in communication with said variable optical retarding means to selectively provide first and second switching states to produce respective first and second amounts of optical retardation to develop, over a relatively broad range of viewing angles, a light output of either said first color, or a composite color containing both said first and second colors, through said second light polarizing means.
a source of light that emits light rays of a plurality of colors and having substantially first and second different primary colors:
first light polarizing means in optical communication with said source, including a color selective polarizing filter having first and second substantially orthogonally oriented absorption axes, said first absorption axis passing linearly polarized light of said first color, said second absorption axis passing linearly polarized light of both said first and second colors;
second light polarizing means in optical communication with said first light polarizing means, including a polarizing filter having a first absorption axis substantially aligned with one of said first or second absorption axes of said first light polarizing means and passing linearly polarized light of both said first and second colors, and a second absorption axis of essentially zero transmission;
liquid crystal variable optical retarding means disposed between said first and second light polarizing means; and switching means in communication with said variable optical retarding means to selectively provide first and second switching states to produce respective first and second amounts of optical retardation to develop, over a relatively broad range of viewing angles, a light output of either said first color, or a composite color containing both said first and second colors, through said second light polarizing means.
2. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 1 in which the proportion of light of said first color emitted by said source is unequal to the proportion of light of said second color emitted by said source.
3. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 2 in which the proportion of light of said first color emitted by said source is less than the proportion of light of said second color emitted by said source so that when combined, light of said second color visually predominates to an observer.
4. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 2 in which the proportion of light of said first color emitted by said source is greater than the proportion of light of said second color emitted by said source so that when combined, light of said first color predominates to an observer.
5. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 1 in which the color selective polarizing filter of said first light polarizing means includes first and second pleochroic linear polarizers having substantially orthogonally aligned absorption axes, the absorption axis of the first pleochroic polarizer transmitting light of said first color, and the absorption axis of the second pleochroic polarizer transmitting light of both said first and second colors.
6. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 1 in which the variable optical retarding means is a zero to substantially half-wave retarder for light of said first color, and the first retardation amount is essentially zero retardation transmitting a light output containing both said first and second colors having said uniform second polarization, and the second retardation amount is essentially half-wave retardation to develop a light output of said first color having said uniform second polarization.
7. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 1 in which the variable optical retarding means comprises a liquid crystal cell having liquid crystal material with alignment directors, said alignment directors oriented at substantially 45 degrees with respect to said polarizing means absorption axes, said liquid crystal cell being responsive to electric fields of different intensities introduced within said cell by said first and second switching states of said switching means, said first switching state providing a higher intensity electric field to cause said directors to align substantially end-to-end in a direction parallel to the flux lines of the electric field and said second switching state providing a lower intensity electric field to cause said directors to recede from the end-to-end alignment to an alignment in which a component of each one of a substantial number of said directors is projected on the surfaces of said cell.
8. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 1 in which the light emitted from said source is modulated in synchronism with said switching means to produce images appearing to have a multi-colored appearance.
9. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 1 including a first filter means in the optical path between said source and said first light polarizing means and a second filter means at the output of said second light polarizing means for limiting emitted light to said first and second colors at said first light polarizing means and to eliminate unwanted colors from the output of said system and to improve display contrast by reducing reflected ambient light without substantially affecting display brightness.
10. A field sequential color shutter as in claim 1 in which said switching means includes a source of electric potential at first and second levels and means for applying to each of said cells said electric potential levels for determining the amount of optical retardation imposed by each of said cells.
11. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 1 in which the variable optical retarding means comprises first and second liquid crystal cells and a fixed quarter wave retarder, with the slow axis of said fixed quarter wave retarder oriented substantially parallel to the optic axis of said first liquid crystal cell and substantially orthogonal to the optic axis of said second liquid crystal cell, such that retardation in said first liquid crystal cell adds to the retardation of said fixed quarter wave retarder and retardation from said second liquid crystal cell subtracts from the retardation of said fixed quarter wave retarder.
12. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 11 in which said first and second liquid crystal cells are serially connected between a source of potential and a source of reference potential and said reference potential is set to be equal to the sum of said first and second levels, and said means for applying said potential levels is coupled to the interconnection of said first and second cells.
13. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 12 wherein each said liquid crystal cell is capable of optically retarding light by up to one-quarter of a wave upon application of a potential at said first level and of imposing substantially no retardation upon the application of a potential of a potential at said second level.
14. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 11 wherein each one of said liquid crystal cells is capable of optically retarding light by up to one-quarter of a wave upon application of a potential at said first level and of imposing substantially no retardation upon the application of a potential at said second level.
15. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 1 in which the variable optical retarding means comprises first and second liquid crystal cells and a fixed quarter wave waveplate retarder, with the axes of said liquid crystal cells and waveplate retarder being substantially at 45 degrees with respect to said polarizinq means axes.
16. A field sequential color shutter display system, comprising:
a source of light that emits light rays of a plurality of colors and having substantially first and second different primary colors:
first and second light polarizing means, said first light polarizing means in optical communication with said source and said second light polarizing means in optical communication with said first light polarizing means, each of said light polarizing means including a color selective polarizing filter having substantially orthogonally oriented absorption axes, the first absorption axis of each light polarizing means passing linearly polarized light of said first color, the second absorption axis of each light polarizing means passing linearly polarized light of both said first and second colors, said respective absorption axes of said first and second light polarizing means being in substantial alignment with one another;
liquid crystal variable optical retarding means disposed between said first and second light polarizing means; and switching means in communication with said variable optical retarding means to selectively provide first and second switching states to produce respective first and second amounts of optical retardation to transmit, over a relatively broad range of viewing angles, a light output through said second light polarizing means of either said first color, or, a composite light output containing both said first color, having said first and second polarizations, and said second color having said second polarization.
a source of light that emits light rays of a plurality of colors and having substantially first and second different primary colors:
first and second light polarizing means, said first light polarizing means in optical communication with said source and said second light polarizing means in optical communication with said first light polarizing means, each of said light polarizing means including a color selective polarizing filter having substantially orthogonally oriented absorption axes, the first absorption axis of each light polarizing means passing linearly polarized light of said first color, the second absorption axis of each light polarizing means passing linearly polarized light of both said first and second colors, said respective absorption axes of said first and second light polarizing means being in substantial alignment with one another;
liquid crystal variable optical retarding means disposed between said first and second light polarizing means; and switching means in communication with said variable optical retarding means to selectively provide first and second switching states to produce respective first and second amounts of optical retardation to transmit, over a relatively broad range of viewing angles, a light output through said second light polarizing means of either said first color, or, a composite light output containing both said first color, having said first and second polarizations, and said second color having said second polarization.
17. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 16 in which the proportion of light of said first color emitted by said source is unequal to the proportion of light of said second color emitted by said source.
18. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 17 in which the proportion of light of said first color emitted by said source is less than the proportion of light of said second color emitted by said source so that when combined, light of said second color predominates to an observer.
19. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 17 in which the proportion of light Or said first color emitted by said source is greater than the proportion of light of said second color emitted by said source so that when combined, light of said first color predominates to an observer.
20. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 16 in which the color selective polarizing filter of said first light polarizing means includes first and second pleochroic linear polarizers having substantially orthogonally aligned absorption axes, the absorption axis of the first pleochroic polarizer transmitting light of said first color, and the absorption axis of the second pleochroic polarizer transmitting light of both said first and second colors.
21. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 16 in which the variable optical retarding means is a zero to substantially half-wave retarder, and the first retardation amount is essentially zero retardation to develop a light output containing both said first and second colors having said uniform second polarization, and the second retardation amount is essentially half-wave retardation to transmit a light output of said first color having said uniform second polarization.
22. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 16 in which the variable optical retarding means comprises a liquid crystal cell having liquid crystal material with alignment directors, said liquid crystal cell being responsive to electric fields of different intensities introduced within said cell by said first and second switching states of said switching means, said first switching state providing a higher intensity electric field to cause said directors to align substantially end-to-end in a direction parallel to the flux lines of the electric field and said second switching state providing a lower intensity electric field to cause said directors to recede from the end-to-end alignment to an alignment in which a component of each one of a substantial number of said directors is protected on the surfaces of said cell.
23. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 16 in which the light emitted from said source is modulated in synchronism with said switching means to produce images appearing to have a multi-colored appearance.
24. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 16 including a first filter means in the optical path between said source and said first light polarizing means and a second filter means at the output of said second light polarizing means for limiting emitted light to said first and second colors at said first light polarizing means and to eliminate unwanted colors from the output of said system and to improve display contrast by reducing reflected ambient light without substantially affecting display brightness.
25. A field sequential color shutter as in claim 16 in which said switching means includes a source of electrical potential at first and second levels and means for applying to each of said cells said electric potential levels for determining the amount of optical retardation imposed by each of said cells.
26. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 16 in which the variable optical retarding means comprises first and second liquid crystal cells and a fixed quarter wave retarder, with the slow axis of said fixed quarter wave retarder oriented substantially parallel to the optic axis of said first liquid crystal cell and substantially orthogonal to the optic axis of said second liquid crystal cell such that retardation in said first liquid crystal cell adds to the retardation of said fixed quarter wave retarder and retardation from said second liquid crystal cell subtracts from the retardation of the fixed quarter wave retarder.
27. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 26 in which said first and second liquid crystal cells are serially connected between a source of potential and a source of reference potential and said reference potential is set to be equal to the sum of said first and second levels, and said means for applying said potential levels is coupled to the interconnection of said first and second cells.
28. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 27 wherein each said liquid crystal cell is capable of optically retarding light by up to one fourth of a wave upon application of a potential at said first level and of imposing substantially no retardation upon the application of a potential of a potential at said second level.
29. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 26 wherein each said liquid crystal cell is capable of optically retarding light by up to one fourth of a wave upon application of a potential at said first level and of imposing substantially no retardation upon the application of a potential at said second level.
30. A field sequential color shutter display system as in claim 26 wherein said first and second liquid crystal cells are oriented with respect to said first polarizing means such that upon the application of a potential at said first level, one of said cells converts linearly polarized light to right hand circularly polarized light and the other of said cells passes light substantially without retardation such that the further transmission through said fixed quarter wave retarder results in light passing through said second light polarizing means with a net retardation of one half wave (90 degree rotation of the plane of polarization), and upon application of a potential at said second level, said cell imposes substantially no retardation on impinging light and the other of said cells converts linearly polarized light to left hand circular polarized light which passes through said fixed quarter wave retarder results in light passing through said second light polarizing means with substantially no retardation.
31. A method of providing a field sequential color shutter display system in a high ambient light environment comprising the steps of:
generating a source of light having at least two different wavelength components of a first and a second color;
polarizing the light thus generated using a color selective polarizing filter having first and second substantially orthogonally oriented absorption axes, said first absorption axis passing linearly polarized light of said first color and a uniform first polarization, said second absorption axis passing linearly polarized light of both said first and second colors and a uniform second polarization;
selectively retarding components of said polarized light to produce linearly polarized light of either zero or 90 degree rotation, or circularly polarized light;
linearly polarizing said light for selectively transmitting light of either said first color and polarization, or of a composite color containing both said first and second colors and second polarization determined by the amount by which the light has been optically retarded;
and controlling the amount of optical retardation by at least first and second retardations to result in the emission of light of either said first color and polarization, or a composite color containing both said first and second colors and second polarization.
generating a source of light having at least two different wavelength components of a first and a second color;
polarizing the light thus generated using a color selective polarizing filter having first and second substantially orthogonally oriented absorption axes, said first absorption axis passing linearly polarized light of said first color and a uniform first polarization, said second absorption axis passing linearly polarized light of both said first and second colors and a uniform second polarization;
selectively retarding components of said polarized light to produce linearly polarized light of either zero or 90 degree rotation, or circularly polarized light;
linearly polarizing said light for selectively transmitting light of either said first color and polarization, or of a composite color containing both said first and second colors and second polarization determined by the amount by which the light has been optically retarded;
and controlling the amount of optical retardation by at least first and second retardations to result in the emission of light of either said first color and polarization, or a composite color containing both said first and second colors and second polarization.
32. A method of providing a color display as in claim 31 further including the step of modulating the light being emitted from said source in synchronism with a predetermined control system to produce images appearing to have multiple colors.
33. A method of providing a color display as in claim 31 further including the steps of filtering the light at the beginning and end of the light path before and after the first light polarizing step and the second light polarizing step for limiting emitted light to said first and composite colors to eliminate unwanted colors from the output of said system and to improve display contrast by reducing reflected ambient light without substantially affecting display brightness.
34. A method of providing a color display as in claim 31 in which the variable optical retarding step includes applying first and second control signals to liquid crystal cells for determining the amount of optical retardation imposed by each of said cells.
35. A method of providing a color display as in claim 31 including the step of connecting said first and second liquid crystal cells serially between a source of potential and a source of reference potential wherein said reference potential is set to be equal to the sum of said first and second levels, and applying said potential levels to the interconnection of said first and second cells.
36. A method of providing a color display as in claim 35 including the step of optically retarding light up to one fourth of a wavelength in each said liquid crystal cell upon application of a potential at said first level and of imposing substantially no retardation upon the application of a potential at said second level, and placing a quarter wave retarder between said second liquid crystal cell and said second light polarizing means.
37. A method of providing a color display as in claim 36 including the step of optically retarding light up to one fourth of a wavelength in each said liquid crystal cell upon application of a potential at said first level and of imposing substantially no retardation upon the application of a potential at said second level, and placing a quarter wave retarder between said second liquid crystal cell and said second light polarizing means.
38. A method of providing a color display as in claim 35 further including the step of orienting said first and second liquid crystal cells with respect to said first polarizing means such that upon the application of a potential at said first level, one of said cells converts linearly polarized light to right hand circularly polarized light and the other of said cells passes light substantially without retardation resulting in light passing through said second light polarizing means with a net retardation of one half wave (90 degree rotation of the plane of polarization), and upon application of a potential at said second level, said cell imposes substantially no retardation on impinging light and the other of said cells converts linearly polarized light to left hand circular polarized light which passes through said second light polarizing means with substantially no retardation.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/205,814 | 1988-06-13 | ||
| US07/205,814 US4991941A (en) | 1988-06-13 | 1988-06-13 | Method and apparatus for multi-color display |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1313716C true CA1313716C (en) | 1993-02-16 |
Family
ID=22763744
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000601047A Expired - Fee Related CA1313716C (en) | 1988-06-13 | 1989-05-29 | Method and apparatus for multi-color display |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4991941A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0346549B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH0232692A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1313716C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3887682T2 (en) |
| IL (1) | IL88506A (en) |
Families Citing this family (87)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT1236363B (en) * | 1989-11-30 | 1993-02-25 | Danieli Off Mecc | DIRECT CURRENT ELECTRIC ARC OVEN AND CONTROLLED CURRENT SUPPLY PROCEDURE OF A DIRECT ARC ARC OVEN |
| US5187603A (en) * | 1990-06-26 | 1993-02-16 | Tektronix, Inc. | High contrast light shutter system |
| FR2667972B1 (en) * | 1990-10-12 | 1992-11-27 | Thomson Csf | COLOR IMAGE VIEWING DEVICE. |
| DE69226998T2 (en) * | 1991-07-19 | 1999-04-15 | Sharp Kk | Optical modulation element and devices with such an element |
| US5245451A (en) * | 1991-09-27 | 1993-09-14 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Liquid crystal display method and apparatus with tuneable phase compensation |
| US5347382A (en) * | 1992-04-23 | 1994-09-13 | Rumbaugh Scott H | Liquid crystal cell retarder with driving beyond retardance value and two cells for high speed |
| US5200844A (en) * | 1992-05-22 | 1993-04-06 | Kaiser Aerospace & Electronics Corporation | Color head-up display system |
| JP2800987B2 (en) * | 1992-10-01 | 1998-09-21 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Video camera device and projection display device |
| EP0605191B1 (en) * | 1992-12-25 | 1998-06-17 | Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. | Polarizing color filter |
| US5528262A (en) * | 1993-01-21 | 1996-06-18 | Fakespace, Inc. | Method for line field-sequential color video display |
| US5619355A (en) * | 1993-10-05 | 1997-04-08 | The Regents Of The University Of Colorado | Liquid crystal handedness switch and color filter |
| US5499126A (en) * | 1993-12-02 | 1996-03-12 | Ois Optical Imaging Systems, Inc. | Liquid crystal display with patterned retardation films |
| US5594568A (en) * | 1993-12-15 | 1997-01-14 | Ois Optical Imaging Systems, Inc. | LCD with a pair of retardation films on one side of normally white liquid crystal layer |
| US5570214A (en) * | 1993-12-15 | 1996-10-29 | Ois Optical Imaging Systems, Inc. | Normally white twisted nematic LCD with retardation films on opposite sides of liquid crystal material for improved viewing zone |
| US5576861A (en) * | 1993-12-15 | 1996-11-19 | Ois Optical Imaging Systems, Inc. | Liquid crystal display having a retarder with 100-200nm retardation and having high contrast viewing zone centered in positive or negative vertical region |
| US5907378A (en) * | 1993-12-15 | 1999-05-25 | Ois Optical Imaging Systems, Inc. | Normally white twisted nematic liquid crystal display including retardation films for improving viewing characteristics |
| ES2106674B1 (en) * | 1995-01-13 | 1998-06-16 | Velasco Dorado Dionisio | SYSTEM PRODUCING OPTICAL EFFECTS ON LIGHT SIGNS. |
| US5517340A (en) * | 1995-01-30 | 1996-05-14 | International Business Machines Corporation | High performance projection display with two light valves |
| US5638200A (en) * | 1995-02-03 | 1997-06-10 | Ois Optical Imaging Systems, Inc. | Liquid crystal display with tilted retardation film |
| JP3168010B2 (en) | 1995-04-11 | 2001-05-21 | リトン・システムズ・インコーポレーテッド | Liquid crystal display readable in sunlight |
| US5767820A (en) * | 1995-05-09 | 1998-06-16 | Virtual Research Systems | Head-mounted visual display apparatus |
| US5892497A (en) * | 1995-12-15 | 1999-04-06 | Xerox Corporation | Additive color transmissive twisting ball display |
| US5717515A (en) * | 1995-12-15 | 1998-02-10 | Xerox Corporation | Canted electric fields for addressing a twisting ball display |
| US5760761A (en) * | 1995-12-15 | 1998-06-02 | Xerox Corporation | Highlight color twisting ball display |
| US5739801A (en) * | 1995-12-15 | 1998-04-14 | Xerox Corporation | Multithreshold addressing of a twisting ball display |
| US5737115A (en) * | 1995-12-15 | 1998-04-07 | Xerox Corporation | Additive color tristate light valve twisting ball display |
| US5708525A (en) * | 1995-12-15 | 1998-01-13 | Xerox Corporation | Applications of a transmissive twisting ball display |
| US5767826A (en) * | 1995-12-15 | 1998-06-16 | Xerox Corporation | Subtractive color twisting ball display |
| US5751268A (en) * | 1995-12-15 | 1998-05-12 | Xerox Corporation | Pseudo-four color twisting ball display |
| US5982346A (en) * | 1995-12-15 | 1999-11-09 | Xerox Corporation | Fabrication of a twisting ball display having two or more different kinds of balls |
| US5717514A (en) * | 1995-12-15 | 1998-02-10 | Xerox Corporation | Polychromal segmented balls for a twisting ball display |
| US5892559A (en) * | 1996-11-25 | 1999-04-06 | Colorlink, Inc. | Chromaticity compensating liquid crystal filter |
| US5976428A (en) * | 1998-01-09 | 1999-11-02 | Xerox Corporation | Method and apparatus for controlling formation of two-color balls for a twisting ball display |
| US5900192A (en) * | 1998-01-09 | 1999-05-04 | Xerox Corporation | Method and apparatus for fabricating very small two-color balls for a twisting ball display |
| US6650305B1 (en) * | 1998-10-02 | 2003-11-18 | Honeywell Inc. | Wireless electronic display |
| TW460730B (en) * | 1998-11-13 | 2001-10-21 | Ind Tech Res Inst | Dual board Liquid crystal projection display |
| US6280034B1 (en) * | 1999-07-30 | 2001-08-28 | Philips Electronics North America Corporation | Efficient two-panel projection system employing complementary illumination |
| US6440252B1 (en) | 1999-12-17 | 2002-08-27 | Xerox Corporation | Method for rotatable element assembly |
| US6545671B1 (en) | 2000-03-02 | 2003-04-08 | Xerox Corporation | Rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting |
| US6498674B1 (en) | 2000-04-14 | 2002-12-24 | Xerox Corporation | Rotating element sheet material with generalized containment structure |
| US6504525B1 (en) | 2000-05-03 | 2003-01-07 | Xerox Corporation | Rotating element sheet material with microstructured substrate and method of use |
| US6847347B1 (en) * | 2000-08-17 | 2005-01-25 | Xerox Corporation | Electromagnetophoretic display system and method |
| US6524500B2 (en) | 2000-12-28 | 2003-02-25 | Xerox Corporation | Method for making microencapsulated gyricon beads |
| US6897848B2 (en) | 2001-01-11 | 2005-05-24 | Xerox Corporation | Rotating element sheet material and stylus with gradient field addressing |
| US6690350B2 (en) | 2001-01-11 | 2004-02-10 | Xerox Corporation | Rotating element sheet material with dual vector field addressing |
| US6970154B2 (en) | 2001-01-11 | 2005-11-29 | Jpmorgan Chase Bank | Fringe-field filter for addressable displays |
| US6699570B2 (en) | 2001-11-06 | 2004-03-02 | Xerox Corporation | Colored cyber toner using multicolored gyricon spheres |
| US7417782B2 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2008-08-26 | Pixtronix, Incorporated | Methods and apparatus for spatial light modulation |
| US7274418B2 (en) * | 2003-10-21 | 2007-09-25 | Symbol Technologies, Inc. | Method and system for improving the contrast of LCDs using circular polarization |
| US7502159B2 (en) | 2005-02-23 | 2009-03-10 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for actuating displays |
| US7271945B2 (en) | 2005-02-23 | 2007-09-18 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for actuating displays |
| US7675665B2 (en) | 2005-02-23 | 2010-03-09 | Pixtronix, Incorporated | Methods and apparatus for actuating displays |
| US7304785B2 (en) | 2005-02-23 | 2007-12-04 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Display methods and apparatus |
| US7742016B2 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2010-06-22 | Pixtronix, Incorporated | Display methods and apparatus |
| US8482496B2 (en) * | 2006-01-06 | 2013-07-09 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Circuits for controlling MEMS display apparatus on a transparent substrate |
| US20060209012A1 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2006-09-21 | Pixtronix, Incorporated | Devices having MEMS displays |
| US9158106B2 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2015-10-13 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Display methods and apparatus |
| US9261694B2 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2016-02-16 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Display apparatus and methods for manufacture thereof |
| US7304786B2 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2007-12-04 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for bi-stable actuation of displays |
| US7405852B2 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2008-07-29 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Display apparatus and methods for manufacture thereof |
| US20070205969A1 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2007-09-06 | Pixtronix, Incorporated | Direct-view MEMS display devices and methods for generating images thereon |
| US7755582B2 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2010-07-13 | Pixtronix, Incorporated | Display methods and apparatus |
| US7616368B2 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2009-11-10 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Light concentrating reflective display methods and apparatus |
| US8310442B2 (en) | 2005-02-23 | 2012-11-13 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Circuits for controlling display apparatus |
| US9229222B2 (en) | 2005-02-23 | 2016-01-05 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Alignment methods in fluid-filled MEMS displays |
| US8519945B2 (en) | 2006-01-06 | 2013-08-27 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Circuits for controlling display apparatus |
| US7746529B2 (en) | 2005-02-23 | 2010-06-29 | Pixtronix, Inc. | MEMS display apparatus |
| US7999994B2 (en) | 2005-02-23 | 2011-08-16 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Display apparatus and methods for manufacture thereof |
| US9082353B2 (en) | 2010-01-05 | 2015-07-14 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Circuits for controlling display apparatus |
| US8159428B2 (en) * | 2005-02-23 | 2012-04-17 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Display methods and apparatus |
| US8526096B2 (en) | 2006-02-23 | 2013-09-03 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Mechanical light modulators with stressed beams |
| US7876489B2 (en) * | 2006-06-05 | 2011-01-25 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Display apparatus with optical cavities |
| EP2080045A1 (en) | 2006-10-20 | 2009-07-22 | Pixtronix Inc. | Light guides and backlight systems incorporating light redirectors at varying densities |
| US7852546B2 (en) | 2007-10-19 | 2010-12-14 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Spacers for maintaining display apparatus alignment |
| US9176318B2 (en) | 2007-05-18 | 2015-11-03 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Methods for manufacturing fluid-filled MEMS displays |
| JP4743132B2 (en) * | 2007-02-15 | 2011-08-10 | ティアック株式会社 | Electronic device having a plurality of function keys |
| US8248560B2 (en) | 2008-04-18 | 2012-08-21 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Light guides and backlight systems incorporating prismatic structures and light redirectors |
| US8520285B2 (en) * | 2008-08-04 | 2013-08-27 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Methods for manufacturing cold seal fluid-filled display apparatus |
| US8169679B2 (en) | 2008-10-27 | 2012-05-01 | Pixtronix, Inc. | MEMS anchors |
| US20110205259A1 (en) * | 2008-10-28 | 2011-08-25 | Pixtronix, Inc. | System and method for selecting display modes |
| BR112012019383A2 (en) | 2010-02-02 | 2017-09-12 | Pixtronix Inc | CIRCUITS TO CONTROL DISPLAY APPARATUS |
| US20110205756A1 (en) * | 2010-02-19 | 2011-08-25 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Light guides and backlight systems incorporating prismatic structures and light redirectors |
| US9134552B2 (en) | 2013-03-13 | 2015-09-15 | Pixtronix, Inc. | Display apparatus with narrow gap electrostatic actuators |
| US9713502B2 (en) * | 2014-03-09 | 2017-07-25 | Gyrus Acmi, Inc. | Narrow band imaging with surgical loupes |
| EP3144138A1 (en) | 2015-09-18 | 2017-03-22 | REHAU AG + Co | velcro support foil for an installation system of a surface tempering system comprising such foil, and method for manufacture |
| MA41236A (en) | 2015-09-18 | 2017-10-31 | Rehau Ag & Co | SUPPORT SHEET FOR A VELCRO BAND SYSTEM OF A SURFACE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, SUIT SURFACE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF A SURFACE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM |
| US11204508B2 (en) * | 2017-01-19 | 2021-12-21 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Multiple band multiple polarizer optical device |
Family Cites Families (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR1396828A (en) * | 1964-05-28 | 1965-04-23 | Yaskawa Denki Seisakusho Kk | Method and apparatus for measuring and detecting mechanical force |
| US3694053A (en) * | 1971-06-22 | 1972-09-26 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Nematic liquid crystal device |
| US4097128A (en) * | 1975-04-24 | 1978-06-27 | Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co., Ltd. | Liquid crystal color display devices |
| US4582396A (en) * | 1983-05-09 | 1986-04-15 | Tektronix, Inc. | Field sequential color display system using optical retardation |
| US4635051A (en) * | 1983-09-26 | 1987-01-06 | Tektronix, Inc. | High-speed electro-optical light gate and field sequential full color display system incorporating same |
| US4583825A (en) * | 1983-12-27 | 1986-04-22 | Tektronix, Inc. | Electro-optic display system with improved viewing angle |
| EP0163366A1 (en) * | 1984-04-02 | 1985-12-04 | Tektronix, Inc. | Electro-optic display with optimum transmissivity and viewing angle performance |
| US4652087A (en) * | 1984-08-13 | 1987-03-24 | Tektronix, Inc. | Method and apparatus for reducing optical cross talk in a liquid crystal optical switch |
| US4674841A (en) * | 1985-03-08 | 1987-06-23 | Tektronix, Inc. | Color filter switchable among three state via a variable retarder |
| US4867536A (en) * | 1986-02-05 | 1989-09-19 | Ford Motor Company | Color selectable liquid crystal display system |
| US4770500A (en) * | 1986-06-10 | 1988-09-13 | Kaiser Aerospace And Electronics Corporation | Method and apparatus for multi color display |
-
1988
- 1988-06-13 US US07/205,814 patent/US4991941A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-11-27 IL IL88506A patent/IL88506A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1988-12-02 EP EP88311450A patent/EP0346549B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-12-02 DE DE88311450T patent/DE3887682T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-12-03 JP JP63305178A patent/JPH0232692A/en active Granted
-
1989
- 1989-05-29 CA CA000601047A patent/CA1313716C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH0463596B2 (en) | 1992-10-12 |
| JPH0232692A (en) | 1990-02-02 |
| EP0346549A2 (en) | 1989-12-20 |
| US4991941A (en) | 1991-02-12 |
| IL88506A (en) | 1992-05-25 |
| EP0346549B1 (en) | 1994-02-02 |
| DE3887682D1 (en) | 1994-03-17 |
| IL88506A0 (en) | 1989-06-30 |
| EP0346549A3 (en) | 1990-05-16 |
| DE3887682T2 (en) | 1994-05-11 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA1313716C (en) | Method and apparatus for multi-color display | |
| EP0301142B1 (en) | Colour display | |
| US4987410A (en) | Multiple image forming apparatus | |
| US5822021A (en) | Color shutter liquid crystal display system | |
| US4611889A (en) | Field sequential liquid crystal display with enhanced brightness | |
| KR100258048B1 (en) | Color display with serially connected lc filters | |
| US4877307A (en) | Stereoscopic display | |
| CA2083316C (en) | Color head-up display system | |
| EP0522620B1 (en) | Display device | |
| US5564810A (en) | Full color stereoscopic display with color multiplexing | |
| EP0579382B1 (en) | Two path liquid crystal light valve color display | |
| US4758818A (en) | Switchable color filter and field sequential full color display system incorporating same | |
| CA1208750A (en) | Multicolor liquid crystal display | |
| EP0313640B1 (en) | Improved optical system for full color liquid crystal light valve image projection | |
| US5479279A (en) | Optimized color display device which uses a matrix to control the hue and uses a matrix to control color saturation | |
| GB2184860A (en) | Liquid-crystal variable optical retarder | |
| CN101806993A (en) | Lighting device and projection type video display device | |
| JPH1184378A (en) | Picture display device | |
| CA1317491C (en) | Multiple imaging-forming apparatus | |
| GB2226174A (en) | Liquid crystal display devices | |
| US5229874A (en) | Device for the display of color images | |
| CA1295061C (en) | Method and apparatus for multi color display | |
| WO2005060268A1 (en) | Brightness regulation in lcd projection systems | |
| US20060146406A1 (en) | Display device and optical motor for such a device | |
| JPH0752326B2 (en) | Field sequential color display device and method thereof |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |