Method and apparatus for multi-color display

A field sequential color shutter display system, comprising:

• a source of light that emits light rays of a plurality of colors and having substantially first and second different primary colors;
• first and second light polarizing means, said first light polarizing means in optical communication with said source and said second light polarizing means in optical communication with said first light polarizing means, each of said light polarizing means including a color selective polarizing filter having substantially orthogonally oriented absorption axes, the first absorption axis of each light polarizing means passing linearly polarized light of said first color, the second absorption axis of each light polarizing means passing linearly polarized light of both said first and second colors, said respective absorption axes of said first and second light polarizing means being in substantial alignment with one another;
• liquid crystal variable optical retarding means disposed between said first and second light polarizing means;
• and
• switching means in communication with said variable optical retarding means to selectively provide first and second switching states to produce respective first and second amounts of optical retardation to transmit, over a relatively broad range of viewing angles, a light output containing both said first color, having said first and second polarization, and said second color having said second polarization.

A method of providing a field sequential color shutter display system in a high ambient light environment comprising the steps of:

• generating a source of light having at least two different wavelength components of a first and a second color;
• polarizing the light thus generated using a color selective polarizing filter having first and second substantially orthogonally oriented absorption axes, said first absorption axis passing linearly polarized light of said first color and a uniform first polarization, said second absorption axis passing linearly polarized light of both said first and second colors and a uniform second polarization;
• selectively retarding components of said polarized light to produce linearly polarized light of either zero or 90 degrees rotation, or circularly polarized light;
• linearly polarizing said light for selectively transmitting light of either said first color and polarization, or of a composite color containing both said first and second colors and second polarization determined by the amount by which the light has been optically retarded;
• and
• controlling the amount of optical retardation by at least first and second retardations to result in the emission of light of either said first color and polarization, or a composite color containing both said first and second colors and second polarization.