Display including a prismatic lens system or a prismatic reflective system

A display comprising means for selectively scattering or transmitting light in response to a prescribed input, a light refracting means located in back and on a non-viewing side of said scattering or transmitting means, said light refracting means having front and rear surfaces wherein said front surface is proximate to said scattering or transmitting means, and a light absorptive means substantially disposed along a path between the front surface and the rear surface of said light refracting means such that light transmitted through said scattering or transmitting means from a viewing side thereof is focused onto said light absorptive means for enhancing the contrast of the display.

A display comprising means selectively operable for affecting light incident thereon by selectively scattering or transmitting light in response to a prescribed input, and optical prisms positioned behind and on a non-viewing side of said selectively operable means adjacent thereto for focusing light transmitted through said selectively operable means from a viewing side of said selectively operable means and within a predetermined viewing angle onto a light absorbing surface extending substantially along a face of said optical prisms.

A display comprising means for selectively scattering or transmitting light in response to a prescribed input, and a prismatic lens means positioned on a non-viewing side of the display having a part-reflective and part-transparent surface for focusing light transmitted through said selectively scattering or transmitting means from a viewing side of the display within a viewing angle onto a light absorbing surface at a face of said prismatic lens means and for reflecting light outside of said viewing angle toward said viewing side.

A display comprising means for selectively scattering or transmitting light in response to a prescribed input, and a prismatic reflector means located on a non-viewing side of said scattering or transmitting means for directing light transmitted through said scattering or transmitting means from a viewing side of the display within a viewing angle onto a light absorbing surface extending along a face of said prismatic reflector means and for reflecting light outside of said viewing angle toward said viewing side to enhance the contrast thereof.

A method for contrast enhancement comprising providing a light refracting means having a light absorbing surface at a face thereof for presenting an absence of light over a viewing angle and providing an electro-optical device which scatters light or transmits light according to a prescribed input wherein said light refracting means is located at a non-viewing side of said electro-optical device.

A method for contrast enhancement for a display comprising selectively scattering or transmitting light in response to a prescribed input, focusing by a prismatic lens means light so transmitted from a viewing side of the display and within a prescribed viewing angle onto a light absorbing surface of said prismatic lens means to effect a display of information, and reflecting the transmitted light outside of said viewing angle toward said viewing side.

A method of contrast enhancement for a display comprising selectively scattering or transmitting light in response to a prescribed input, directing by a prismatic reflector light transmitted from a viewing side of the display within a predetermined viewing angle to a light absorbing surface located on a surface of said prismatic reflector, and reflecting transmitted light outside of said viewing angle toward said viewing side.

A display comprising means switchable between a first state in which incident light is at least one of scattered and absorbed and a second state in which the amount of such scattering or absorption is reduced, a light refracting means located in back of and on a non-viewing side of said switchable means, said light refracting means having front and rear surfaces where said front surface is proximate to said switchable means, and a light absorptive means substantially disposed along a path between said front and rear surfaces such that light transmitted through said switchable means from a viewing side thereof is focused onto said light absorptive means.