Electro-optical display design

Claim 2

In an electro-optical display device having an assembly of individual electrically addressable display elements each having a reflection display surface, said elements arrayed in a plurality of rows and columns, a corresponding array of lenses, each of said display elements aligned with and on the optical axis of a respective one of said lenses with each said reflective display surface facing each said lens, and a screen for receiving images projected along said optical axes, said elements displaying said images in accordance with illumination reflected therefrom, the improvement comprising means for introducing illumination into said assembly from the non-reflective side of such display elements, and illuminating direction means outside each said optical axis for reflecting said illumination onto the reflective display surfaces of each respective display element.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1, wherein said illumination directing means comprises a mirrored surface element positioned in the path of said illumination for reflecting such illumination.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2, wherein said mirrored surface element is a multi-sided reflecting body.

Claim 5

In an electro-optical display having an assembly of individual electrically addressable display elements arrayed in a plurality of rows and columns, a corresponding array of lenses, and a projection screen, each of said display elements aligned with and on the optical axis of a respective one of said lenses, with its reflective display surface facing said lens, said screen receiving images projected along said optical axes, said elements displaying said images in accordance with illumination reflected therefrom, the improvement comprising a source of illumination, a plurality of fiber-optic light pipes, optically coupled to said source of illumination, each of said light pipes being directed to a retaining plate, the retaining plate holding a plurality of said display elements with their display surfaces facing in a direction opposite from the direction of emanation of said illumination, a plurality of apertures located in said retaining plate but outside of said optical axes, means for directing the illumination from said source along said light pipe through said apertures, a plurality of illumination re-directing means, said illumination re-directing means arrayed along the surface opposed to and facing said retaining plate from a direction opposing the direction of illumination entering through said aperture plate, said illumination re-directing means being shaped so as to re-direct said illumination over the reflective surface of each of said display elements in a manner providing an even illumination of said element.

Claim 6

In an electro-optical display having an assembly of individual electrically addressable display elements arrayed in a plurality of rows and columns, a corresponding array of lenses, and a projection screen, each of said display elements aligned with and on the optical axis of a respective one of said lenses, with its reflective display surface facing said lens, said screen receiving images projected along said optical axes, said elements displaying said images in accordance with illumination reflected therefrom, the improvement comprising a source of illumination, a plurality of fiber-optic light pipes, optically coupled to said source of illumination, each of said light pipes being directed to a retaining plate, the retaining plate holding a plurality of said display elements with their display surfaces facing in a direction opposite from the direction of emanation of said illumination, a plurality of apertures located in said retaining plate but outside of said optical axes, means for directing the illumination from said source along said light pipe through said apertures, a plurality of illumination re-directing means, said illumination re-directing means arrayed along the surface opposed to and facing said retaining plate from a direction opposing the direction of illumination entering through said aperture plate, said illumination re-directing means being shaped so as to re-direct said illumination over the reflective surface of each of said display elements in a manner providing an even illumination of said element.

Claim 7

The device of claim 4, wherein said illumination re-directing means comprises a mirrored surface element, said mirrored surface element also forming a lens assembly for said image projection.

Claim 8

The device of claim 4, wherein said illumination re-directing means comprises a multi-sided body, shaped and formed as an inverted pyramid, having a base supported upon a surface opposing the source of illumination, and a plurality of reflective, triangularly shaped sides, each of said triangular sides formed so as to re-direct said illumination towards the reflective surface of the display element.

Claim 9

The device of claim 4, wherein said illumination re-directing means comprises a pyramid having its apex facing towards said source of illumination, and a plurality of reflective sides, each of said sides directing illumination towards a display element, said illumination-directing means being arrayed as plurality of individual pyramidal-shaped elements, each display element receiving illumination from as many pyramidal-shaped objects as there are sides on each pyramidal-shaped bject.