Polarizer removal in a microdisplay system

Abstract

A display module includes a display, a first polarizer and a second polarizer. The polarizers can be located at a distance from the image plane of the display to remove the visibility of defects located within the polarizer or between the polarizer and display. The display module can also include at least one lens for magnifying the image produced by the display. The display module can also include a backlight having a first polarizer, a second polarizer and a light source.

1 . A display system comprising: 
 a housing having an aperture;    a liquid crystal display panel having an image plane, and opposed transparent substrates defining first and second sides of the display panel, at least one substrate being directly mounted to and within the housing so as to position the display panel in optical alignment with the aperture; and    a first polarizer disposed relative to the first side of the display panel, the first polarizer being mounted to be optically aligned with the aperture and mechanically spaced by the housing from the image plane by a distance such that visibility of first polarizer defects to a viewer is minimized, the housing having a securement structure for mechanically capturing and securing the first polarizer in place.    
   
   
       2 . The display system of  claim 1  further comprising a second polarizer disposed relative to the second side of the display.  
   
   
       3 . The display system of  claim 2  wherein the second polarizer is spaced from the image plane by a distance such that second polarizer defects are out of the viewer's depth of focus.  
   
   
       4 . The display system of  claim 3  in which the second polarizer is mechanically spaced from the image plane by the housing.  
   
   
       5 . The display system of  claim 4  in which the second polarizer is mechanically secured by the housing.  
   
   
       6 . The display system of  claim 5  in which the first polarizer is held within a first receptacle in the housing.  
   
   
       7 . The display system of  claim 6  wherein the second polarizer is secured within a second receptacle in the housing.  
   
   
       8 . The display system of  claim 1  in which the housing comprises a plurality of housing elements.  
   
   
       9 . A method for assembling a display module comprising: 
 providing a housing having an aperture;    providing a first polarizer and a liquid crystal display panel having an image plane, and opposed transparent substrates defining first and second sides of the display panel, at least one substrate being directly mounted to and within the housing so as to position the display panel in optical alignment with the aperture; and    mounting the first polarizer to be optically aligned with the aperture and, with the housing, mechanically spacing the first polarizer relative to the first side of the display panel by a distance such that visibility of first polarizer defects to a viewer is minimized, the housing having a securement structure for mechanically capturing and securing the first polarizer in place.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising disposing a second polarizer relative to the second side of the display.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising spacing the second polarizer from the image plane by a distance such that second polarizer defects are out of the viewer's depth of focus.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising mechanically spacing the second polarizer from the image plane with the housing.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising mechanically securing the second polarizer with the housing.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising holding the first polarizer within a first receptacle in the housing.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising securing the second polarizer within a second receptacle in the housing.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising providing the housing with a plurality of housing elements.