A modulator for modulating an incident beam of light, the modulator comprising a plurality of equally spaced-apart elements, each of which includes a light-reflective planar surface. The elements are arranged parallel to each other with their light-reflective surfaces parallel to each other. The modulator includes means for supporting the elements in relation to one another and means for moving particular ones of the elements relative to others so that the moved elements transit between a first configuration wherein the modulator acts to reflect the incident beam of light as a plane mirror, and a second configuration wherein the modulator diffracts the light reflected therefrom. In operation the light-reflective surfaces of the elements remain parallel to each other in both the first and second configurations. The perpendicular spacing between the reflective surfaces of the respective elements is equal to m/4 × the wavelength of the incident beam of light, wherein m equals an even whole number or zero when the elements are in the first configuration and m equals an odd whole number when the elements are in the second configuration.

Method and apparatus for modulating a light beam

A display system for providing a two dimensional image includes an essentially one dimensional light valve array. The diffractive light valve array includes modulator elements which diffract or reflect light incident thereon to an extent determined by an image element to be represented. The display system is arranged such diffracted light from the light-valve array passes through a magnifying lens and is separated from the reflected light from the array. A magnified virtual image of the array formed by the diffracted light is viewed through the magnifying lens. A scanning arrangement between the viewer and the magnifying lens scans the image of the light-valve array across the field of view of the viewer sufficiently quickly that the viewer perceives the scanned image as a two-dimensional image. In another arrangement a printer is formed by scanning a real image of the diffractive light valve array over a printing or recording medium.

Display device incorporating one-dimensional grating light-valve array

A broadband wire grid polarizer (400) for the visible spectrum has a plurality of elongated elements (1240) supported on a substrate (1210). A region (1250) having a lower refractive index than the refractive index of the substrate is disposed between the elements and the substrate to reduce the longest wavelength at which resonance occurs.

Broadband wire grid polarizer for the visible spectrum

Systems for three-dimensional viewing and projection aimed at full-color flat-screen binocular stereoscopic viewing without the use of eyeglasses for the viewer. According to the invention, light emanating from a display (1) or projected thereat presenting a left image (2) and a right image (3) is directed only to the appropriate left or right eye of at least one viewer using various combinations of light polarizing layers and layers of light rotating means or color filters (16).

Systems for three-dimensional viewing and projection

An electro-optical display system for visually displaying a polarized spatially multiplexed image (SMI) of a 3-D object for use in stereoscopic viewing thereof with high image quality and resolution. In the illustrative embodiment, electro-optical display system comprises a liquid crystal display device and a micropolarization panel of electrically-passive construction. The liquid crystal display device has a display surface for visually displaying a composite pixel pattern representative of a spatially multiplexed image composed of first and second spatially modulated perspective images of the object, consisting of first and second pixel patterns. The micropolarization panel includes an optically transparent laminate portion and an optically transparent substrate portion which is in direct physical contact with the laminate portion. First and second optically transparent patterns are permanently formed in the optically transparent laminate portion. The first optically transparent pattern spatially corresponds to and is spatially aligned with the first pixel pattern displayed on the display surface so as to impart a first polarization state P 1 to light emanating from the first pixel pattern and passing through the first optically transparent pattern. The second optically transparent pattern spatially corresponds to and is spatially aligned with the second pixel pattern displayed on the display surface so as to impart a second polarization state P 2 to light emanating from the second pixel pattern and passing through the second optically transparent pattern.

Electro-optical display system for visually displaying polarized spatially multiplexed images of 3-D objects for use in stereoscopically viewing the same with high image quality and resolution

A full color liquid crystal flat panel display having a step waveplate (22) provides one-quarter and three-quarter wave phase retardation to alternating rows (24, 26) which provide left and right views. The resulting right and left views are circular polarized in opposite directions which to a viewer wearing circularly polarized glasses (23) provides the left and right views to the appropriate eye such that the viewer is able to see full color three-dimensional images.

Harold J Poley

Papers

Full color three-dimensional flat panel display