Optical display device

A method of assembling a device to create a perception of a sky scene in output light, the method comprising arranging the following items on parallel planes to each other:

• a planar array of light sources arranged on a first common substrate;
• a planar array of collimating members that comprise lenses arranged integrally on a second common substrate, and;
• an output aperture;
• wherein the device is configured with the output aperture arranged for viewing whilst mounted to a wall or ceiling from a viewing distance of greater than 0.5 m, and the output aperture has a side length of at least or greater than 0.5m,
• the device comprising an alignment system arranged to align the first common substrate and the second common substrate such that the light sources are each arranged in alignment with an associated collimating member.

A method of generating a perception of a sky scene in output light, the method comprising:

• generating a collimated sunlight component in the output light with a planar array of light sources arranged on a first common substrate, which project through a collimating system that is arranged as a planar array of collimating members that comprise lenses arranged integrally on a second common substrate, and;
• generating a diffuse skylight component in the output light with a diffuse light generation system;
• wherein the device is configured with the output aperture arranged for viewing whilst mounted to a wall or ceiling from a viewing distance of greater than 0.5 m, and the output aperture has a side length of at least or greater than 0.5m,
• the device comprising an alignment system arranged to align the first common substrate and the second common substrate such that the light sources are each arranged in alignment with an associated collimating member.

An optical display device arranged to create a perception of a sky scene in output light, the optical display device comprising:

• a collimated light generation system comprising a light source and a collimating system;
• a diffuse light generation system, and;
• an output aperture for the output light;
• the diffuse light generation system arranged to generate a diffuse skylight component in the output light, and the collimated light generation system arranged to generate a collimated sunlight component in the output light,
• wherein the light source comprises a planar array of emission sources,
• the collimating system comprises a planar array of collimating members that comprise lenses formed integrally from a common substrate,
• the emission sources each arranged with an associated collimating member so that light emitted from the emission sources is collimated, and
• the planar array of emission sources and the planar array of collimating members are aligned with a plane of the output aperture,
• wherein the device is configured with the output aperture arranged for viewing whilst mounted to a wall or ceiling from a viewing distance of greater than 0.5 m, and
• the output aperture has a side length or diameter of at least or greater than 0.5m,
• the device comprising an alignment system arranged to align the planar array of emission sources and the common substrate such that the emission sources are each arranged in alignment with an associated collimating member.