Color display device

A color display device comprising:

• (a) light generating means for illuminating a display element with light of a common set of wavelength intervals, said light generating means including at least one light source and means for forming a real image for each wavelength interval of said common set of wavelength intervals, at least one of said real images spatially dispersed with respect to at least another of said real images;
• (b) wherein said display element provides successive sets of frames of information for optical read-out, the frame sets each corresponding to said common set of wavelength intervals and being combinable to form a color image;
• and
• (c) spatial light modulating means, located at a position where said light generating means forms said real images of said at least one light source and synchronized with said display element, for passing successive frames of a time dependent selection of said wavelength intervals from said display element.

A color display device comprising:

• (a) a white light source for illuminating a display element with light of a common set of wavelength intervals, said display element located at least partially within a path of light from said white light source;
• (b) a prism and lens combination, located within the path of light, for forming a real image for each wavelength interval of said common set of wavelength intervals, at least one of said real images spatially dispersed with respect to at least another of said real images;
• (c) a display element for providing successive sets of frames of information for optical read-out, the frame sets each corresponding to said common set of wavelength intervals and being combinable to form a color image;
• and
• (d) a spatial light modulator, located at a position where said prism and lens combination forms said real images of said white light source and responsive to light from said display element, for providing a time dependent selection of said wavelength intervals appropriate to said successive sets of frames.