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US 6,204,899 B1Granted
High efficiency, color coding light pipe methods for display applications, utilizing chiral liquid crystal materials
OwnerDennis R. Hallinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention teaches methods whereby the lighting efficiency of many lighted displays, including liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) are increased by an order of magnitude through the use of chiral nematic liquid crystal materials incorporated into the light pipes of the displays. The light pipe technology also enables a practical embodiment of the stereoscopic display of Venolia. These methods are also applied to the fabrication of lighted signs for advertising and status indicators in hostile environments. The technology of the light pipes is also applied to the creation of a novel art medium.
Claims3
An illuminated display comprising:
- a first non-birefringent transparent medium having a first main surface and a port allowing injection of light into said medium,
- a light source for injecting light of a first specific color and polarization orientation into the medium through the port, and
- a first chiral liquid crystal (CLC) filter/mirror structure on said main surface of the medium, said first CLC structure including a first CLC filter/mirror layer reflecting light of said first specific color and polarization orientation, said first CLC filter/mirror layer having at least one aperture providing a first display element, whereby light of said fist specific color and polarization orientation when injected into said non-birefringent transparent medium is passed through said first display element to a viewer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.