Sequential color recapture for image display systems

An image display system, comprising:

• a light source operable to produce a beam of light;
• an electronically-switchable filter comprising a plurality of active filters, each filter comprising input and output polarization retardation stacks with a single-cell liquid-crystal switch in between, the electronically-switchable filter operable to:
• receive the beam of light at a first segment upon a first pass, a first portion of the beam of light accented by the first segment of the electronically-switchable filter and a second portion of the beam of light rejected by the first segment of the electronically-switchable filters;
• and
• receive the second portion of the beam of light at a second segment upon a second pass, the second portion of the beam of light accented by the second segment of the electronically-switchable filter on the second pass;
• and
• a modulator operable to:
• receive the first and second portions of the beam of light from the electronically-switchable filter;
• and
• modulate the first and second portions of the beam of light to produce at least a portion of a displayed image.

An image display system, comprising:

• a light source operable to produce a beam of light;
• an electronically-switchable filter comprising a plurality of selectively transmissive and selectively reflective segments, the electronically-switchable filter operable to:
• receive the beam of light at a first segment upon a first pass, a first portion of the beam of light accepted by the first segment of the electronically-switchable filter and a second portion of the beam of light rejected by the first segment of the electronically-switchable filters;
• receive the second portion of the beam of light at a second segment upon a second pass, the second portion of the beam of light accepted by the second segment of the electronically-switchable filter on the second pass;
• and
• be electrically switched off and on to create a scrolling pattern of light;
• and
• a modulator operable to:
• receive the first and second portions of the beam of light from the electronically-switchable filter;
• and
• modulate the first and second portions of the beam of light to produce at least a portion of a displayed image.

An image display system, comprising:

• a light source operable to produce a beam of light;
• an electronically-switchable filter comprising a plurality of selectively transmissive and selectively reflective segments, the electronically-switchable filter operable to:
• receive the beam of light at a first segment upon a first pass, a first portion of the beam of light accepted by the first segment of the electronically-switchable filter and a second portion of the beam of light rejected by the first segment of the electronically-switchable filter;
• and
• receive the second portion of the beam of light at a second segment upon a second pass, the second portion of the beam of light accepted by the second segment of the electronically-switchable filter on the second pass;
• and
• a modulator operable to:
• receive the first and second portions of the beam of light from the electronically-switchable filter;
• and
• modulate the first and second portions of the beam of light to produce at least a portion of a displayed image;
• wherein the electronically-switchable filter comprises a transmissive filter, the first segment of the electronically-switchable filter operable to:
• accept the first portion of the beam of light on the first pass by passing the first portion through the electronically-switchable filter in the direction of the modulator;
• and
• reject the second portion of the beam of light on the first pass by reflecting the second portion from a first surface of the electronically-switchable filter, the first surface proximate to the light source and the second portion reflected in the direction of the light source.

A method for transmitting light in an image display system, comprising:

• generating a beam of light from a light source;
• directing the beam of light at a first segment of an electronically-switchable filter, a first portion of the beam of light accepted by the first segment of the electronically-switchable filter and a second portion of the beam of light rejected by the first segment of the electronically-switchable filter;
• modulating the first portion of the light beam to produce at least a portion of a displayed image;
• recycling the second portion of the light beam to redirect the second portion of the light beam at a second segment of the electronically-switchable filter, the second portion of the light beam accepted by the second segment of the electronically-switchable filter;
• and
• modulating the second portion of the light beam to produce at least a portion of the displayed image.