Light modulation technique for display device - uses modulator, two polarizers and optical waveguides forming light paths to create display of controlled intensity

摘要

A display module is described which contains a light source (7) whose output is transmitted along one or more optical paths (2) towards an observation device (4). The optical path comprises a light modulator (11) which modifies the polarization state of the light by passing it into an optical medium with variable diffusion or rotating power. Polarizers (10,12) are positioned on either side of the light modulator (11), the planes of these two polarizers being s.t. an occultation results for one or more states of the optical medium. The module comprises many such optical paths which are separated on the light input side and recombined on the light output side. The optical paths may be fibres or other optical waveguides. The light inputs may receive coloured light from individual sources or from a common source with many inputs.