Systems and method for displaying images with reduced power consumption

A microdisplay-based display illuminated by ambient light, the display comprising:

• a microdisplay including pixels each comprising a layer of ferroelectric material and a layer of liquid crystal material;
• an optical waveguide physically separated from the microdisplay, the optical waveguide including a light-receiving side surface, a light-transmissive first front end surface, and a back end surface and a reflective device at the back end surface, the optical waveguide including a light-responsive dye embedded therein, the light-responsive dye absorbing the ambient light received through the light-receiving side surface and, in response thereto, emitting illumination light, the optical waveguide guiding the illumination light towards the light-transmissive front end surface;
• and
• a polarizing beamsplitter physically separated from one or both of the microdisplay and optical waveguide the polarizing beamsplitter positioned to receive the illumination light from the light-transmissive front end surface of the optical waveguide and to direct a polarization component of the illumination light towards the microdisplay;
• wherein,
• the waveguide additionally includes an additional light-responsive dye embedded therein;
• the light-responsive dye absorbs part of the ambient light and emits a component of the illumination light with a first color;
• and
• the additional light-responsive dye absorbs part of the ambient light and emits a component of the illumination light with a second color, different from the first color.