Integration of a light collection light-guide with a field sequential color display

An apparatus comprising:

• an interactive display having a front surface including a viewing area, the interactive display including a display lighting system and an arrangement for spatial light modulation, the arrangement for spatial light modulation including an array of light modulators, each light modulator configured to be switched between an open position that permits transmittance of light from the display lighting system through a respective aperture to the front surface and a shut position that blocks light transmission through the respective aperture;
• a transparent substrate, disposed between the display lighting system and the front surface and substantially parallel to the front surface, and having a periphery at least coextensive with the viewing area;
• at least one light sensor disposed outside the periphery of the transparent substrate;
• and
• means for recognizing, from the output of the light sensor, a characteristic of the object;
• and
• means for switching the light modulators wherein:
• the light modulators are micro electromechanical (MEM) devices disposed proximate to a rear surface of the transparent substrate;
• the light modulators are switched in accordance with a first modulation scheme to render an image, and in accordance with a second modulation scheme to selectively pass object illuminating light through at least one of the respective apertures, the object illuminating light being at least partially unrelated to the image;
• the transparent substrate is configured to pass light emitted by the display lighting system toward the front surface and to receive light reflected through the front surface from an object, the transparent substrate including a first light-turning arrangement that redirects a portion of the received light toward the at least one light sensor;
• the light sensor is configured to output, to the processor, a signal representative of a characteristic of the received, redirected light.

A method comprising:

• switching, with a processor, one or more light modulators of an array of light modulators, wherein
• an interactive display has a front surface including a viewing area, the interactive display including a display lighting system and an arrangement for spatial light modulation, the arrangement for spatial light modulation including an array of light modulators, each light modulator configured to be switched between an open position that permits transmittance of light from the display lighting system through a respective aperture to the front surface and a shut position that blocks light transmission through the respective aperture;
• a transparent substrate is disposed between the display lighting system and the front surface and substantially parallel to the front surface, and having a periphery at least coextensive with the viewing area;
• at least one light sensor is disposed outside the periphery of the transparent substrate;
• the light modulators are micro electromechanical (MEM) devices disposed proximate to a rear surface of the transparent substrate;
• the light modulators are switched in accordance with a first modulation scheme to render an image, and in accordance with a second modulation scheme to selectively pass object illuminating light through at least one of the respective apertures, the object illuminating light being at least partially unrelated to the image;
• and
• the transparent substrate is configured to pass light emitted by the display lighting system toward the front surface and to receive light reflected through the front surface from an object, the transparent substrate including a first light-turning arrangement that redirects a portion of the received light toward the at least one light sensor;
• outputting, from the light sensor to the processor, a signal representative of a characteristic of the received, redirected light;
• and
• recognizing, from the output of the light sensor, a characteristic of the object.