Optical display device having prismatic film for enhanced viewing
US6166787A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 17, 1998 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 17, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2203/22
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The display device includes an optical cell having a cell front with at least one cell region being capable of an optically transmissive mode and an optically nontransmissive mode with reference to the cell front. The optical cell contains an optically active material responsive to an applied electrical field such that optical properties of the material are controllably changeable. A reflector may be optically coupled to the cell. A prismatic film including a prismatic surface is optically coupled to the optical cell. The prismatic surface preferably comprises a series of prisms. The prisms have first faces and second faces intersecting the first faces. The first faces are oriented to refract light obliquely intercepting the first faces and the second faces are oriented to minimize refractive, reflective, and optical interactions of the light with the second faces. The prismatic film, the cell, and the reflector optically cooperate such that light entering a display at an incident angle is emitted from the display at an exiting angle distinct from the incident angle for viewing of the display.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.