Backside Reflection Optical Display

Abstract

The disclosure generally involves an optical (perhaps flat panel) display utilizing backside reflection for time-multiplexed optical shuttering. One display comprises a side-illuminated light guide associated with conditions for total internal reflection. A first surface of the light guide is elastomeric. Disposed against this elastomeric surface is an active layer that selectively deforms the elastomeric surface in locations that can correspond to display pixels. This resulting change in the geometry of the elastomeric surface can be sufficient to defeat the conditions for total internal reflection. When appropriate, light is reflected by the particular deformation and is ejected from another surface of the light guide. In this case, each location that allows light to exit could represent an activated display pixel. In certain situations, color flat panel displays of varying sizes may further implement field sequential color and time-multiplexed optical shuttering.

1 . An optical component comprising:
 a light guide adapted to conduct light under conditions of total internal reflection, at least a portion of the light guide being deformable; and   an active layer, disposed on the light guide, that selectively reflects light by deforming a first surface of the light guide such that the light is ejected from some portion of a second surface of the light guide.