System and method for adjusting light intensity in a display system

A display system comprising:

• a backlight including a housing and one or more light emitting elements received in the housing to generate and project light from the backlight and one or more reflective portions disposed on the housing;
• a first display unit disposed proximate the backlight, wherein the first display unit includes:
• an upper substrate,
• a liquid crystal layer cooperating with the upper substrate of the first display unit,
• a lower substrate disposed opposite the upper substrate of the first display unit and cooperating with the liquid crystal layer,
• a first reflective polarizer having a body including an upper surface and an opposing lower surface that cooperates with the upper substrate of the first display unit, and
• a second reflective polarizer having a body including an upper surface cooperating with the lower substrate of the first display unit and an opposing lower surface;
• a second display unit disposed proximate the first display unit, wherein the second display unit includes:
• an upper substrate,
• a thin film transistor (TFT) display layer cooperating with the upper substrate of the second display unit,
• a lower substrate disposed opposite the upper substrate of the second display unit and cooperating with the TFT display layer,
• a first linear polarizer having a body including an upper surface cooperating with the lower substrate of the second display unit and an opposing lower surface;
• and
• a second linear polarizer having a body including an upper surface and an opposing lower surface cooperating with the upper substrate of the second display unit;
• a diffuser disposed between the first display unit and the second display unit, wherein the diffuser provides a light profile transition for light transmitted through the first display unit;
• and
• at least one microcontroller in communication with one or more of the backlight, the first display unit and the second display unit,
• wherein the at least one microcontroller executes instructions to adjust the liquid crystal layer of the first display unit between at least a first transmissive state and a second transmissive state.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium with computer-readable instructions stored therein for adjusting light intensity of a display system, the display system including a backlight with one or more light emitting elements to generate and project light, a first display unit disposed proximate the backlight including at least one reflective polarizer and a second display unit proximate the first display unit configured to render an image, wherein execution of the computer-readable instructions by a processor of a microcontroller causes the microcontroller to:

• transmit a signal representative of at least a first light intensity value to the one or more light emitting elements to generate and project light at the first light intensity value from the backlight to the first display unit;
• command a pixelated liquid crystal layer of the first display unit to adjust between at least a first transmissive state and a second transmissive state, wherein the pixelated liquid crystal layer is dynamically configured to optically rotate polarized light when adjusted between the first transmissive state and the second transmissive state to produce a local dimming backlight through the first display unit at a pixel level;
• calculate an amount of light recycled by the at least one reflective polarizer of the first display unit to the backlight;
• and
• transmit a signal representative of at least a second light intensity value to the one or more light emitting elements to generate and project light at the second light intensity value from the backlight to the first display unit to display the rendered image on the second display unit.