Reflective optical polarizer device with controlled light distribution and liquid crystal display incorporating the same

A display apparatus configured to manipulate light visible by a viewer defining a front orientation, the apparatus comprising:

• a first polarizer configured to substantially pass a first polarization therethrough;
• a polarization altering means, disposed behind the first polarizer, for selectively altering the polarization orientation of the light as it passes therethrough from the first polarization to a second polarization;
• and
• a reflective dispersing, wire grid polarizer, disposed behind the polarization altering means, configured to pass light of the first polarization and reflectively disperse light of the second polarization back through the polarization altering means and first polarizer;
• and
• the wire grid polarizer including 1) a substrate having a textured surface with a plurality of component surfaces, the component surfaces having an elevated portion defining a peak and a lowered portion defining a valley, a majority of the textured surface being formed by component surfaces with respective diameters greater than the wavelength of visible or near visible light, and 2) a generally parallel arrangement of elongated, separate elements, disposed on the textured surface of the substrate, which have surfaces that reflect a majority of the light of the second polarization in a diffuse manner;
• and
• the elements being configured to interact with electromagnetic waves of the light to generally (i) transmit light having a polarization orientation perpendicular to the elements, and (ii) reflect light having a polarization orientation parallel with the elements.

A display apparatus configured to manipulate light visible by a viewer defining a front orientation, the apparatus comprising:

• a first polarizer configured to substantially pass a first polarization therethrough;
• a polarization altering means, disposed behind the first polarizer, for selectively altering the polarization orientation of the light as it passes therethrough from the first polarization to a second polarization;
• and
• a wire grid polarizer having a generally parallel arrangement of elongated, separate elements, disposed behind the polarization altering means, the elements being configured to interact with electromagnetic waves of the light to generally (i) transmit light having a polarization orientation perpendicular to the elements, and (ii) reflect light having a polarization orientation parallel with the elements back through the polarization altering means and first polarizer;
• and
• the elongated elements having surfaces that together reflect a majority of the light of the second polarization in a diffuse manner.

A display apparatus for manipulating light to create visible images by transmitting and/or reflecting light visible by a viewer over an angular range, the viewer defining a front orientation, the apparatus comprising:

• a) a first polarizer configured to polarize the light so that substantially only light having a single polarization orientation is passed therethrough, defining a first polarization;
• b) a polarization altering means, disposed behind the first polarizer, responsive to means for selectively altering the polarization orientation of the light as it passes therethrough from the first polarization to a second polarization;
• and
• c) a reflective dispersing, second polarizer, disposed behind the polarization altering means, configured to pass light of the first polarization and reflectively disperse light of the second polarization back through the polarization altering means and first polarizer, the second polarizer including:
• 1) a generally parallel arrangement of a plurality of thin, elongated, spaced-apart elements being narrower than the wavelength of visible light and providing means for interacting with electromagnetic waves of the source light beam to generally (i) transmit light having a polarization orientation perpendicular to the elements, and (ii) reflect light having a polarization orientation parallel with the elements;
• and
• 2) each elongated element having an exposed surface that together with the exposed surfaces of the other elements reflect a majority of the light of the second polarization in a diffuse manner.

A display apparatus configured to manipulate light visible by a viewer defining a front orientation, the apparatus comprising:

• a) a first polarizer configured to substantially pass a first polarization therethrough;
• b) polarization altering means, disposed behind the first polarizer, for selectively altering the polarization orientation of the light as it passes therethrough from the first polarization to a second polarization;
• and
• c) a wire grid polarizer, disposed behind the polarization altering means, having a generally parallel arrangement of elongated, conductive elements configured to interact with electromagnetic waves of the light to generally (i) transmit light having a polarization orientation perpendicular to the elements, and (ii) reflect light having a polarization orientation parallel with the elements back through the polarization altering means and first polarizer;
• and
• d) the elements having surfaces that together with the surfaces of other elements form a plurality of component surfaces respectively having an elevated portion defining a peak and a lowered portion defining a valley, a majority of the component surfaces having diameters greater than the wavelength of visible or near visible light to reflect a majority of the light of the second polarization in a diffuse manner.