Light-modulating element, display element, and exposure element
US7050219B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 17, 2002 |
| Grant date | May 23, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 17, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/315
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Subjects for the invention are to provide a light-modulating element having an elevated energy efficiency while preventing a decrease in contrast at low cost without using a display technique employing a waveguide or lightguide plate, and to provide a display element capable of producing high-quality display images and an exposure element capable of exposure treatment.In the invention, the light-modulating element comprises: a total-reflection optical member 2 having such a property that at least part of planar incident light introduced into the light-modulating element is totally reflected at an interface (total reflection plane) 22 of a layer constituted by the light-modulating element and the incident light does not substantially go out through the side opposite to the incident-light introduction side; and light-coupling elements 6 which are disposed on the total reflection plane 22 side of the total-reflection optical member 2 and serve to selectively couple with the incident light and take out the same from the total reflection plane 22.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.