US 11,994,765 B2
Display with polarization dependent diffusive properties
Guy P. Bryan-Brown, Malvern (GB); Richard M. Amos, Malvern (GB); Emma L. Graham, Malvern (GB); and Matthias T. Pfeiffer, Boulder, CO (US)
Assigned to New Vision Display, Inc., Roseville, CA (US)
Filed by New Vision Display, Inc., Roseville, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/072,078.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/284,814, filed on Dec. 1, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0168537 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
Int. Cl. G02F 1/1335 (2006.01); G02F 1/139 (2006.01)
CPC G02F 1/133536 (2013.01) [G02F 1/133504 (2013.01); G02F 1/133553 (2013.01); G02F 1/1391 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electronic display that is diffuse reflective to visible light and non-diffuse retro-reflective to infrared light comprising:
a plurality of optical layers, the plurality of optical layers comprising:
a front polarizer for polarizing visible light incident on the electronic display and for polarizing infrared light incident on the electronic display;
a liquid crystal layer comprising a plurality of liquid crystals, wherein:
the liquid crystal layer introduces a plurality of retardation levels in the visible light; and
the liquid crystal layer introduces a plurality of retardation levels in the infrared light;
a transmissive diffuser layer, wherein:
the transmissive diffuser layer diffuses visible light having a first polarization and diffuses infrared light having the first polarization;
the transmissive diffuser layer does not substantially diffuse visible light having a second polarization and does not substantially diffuse infrared light having the second polarization; and
the second polarization is substantially orthogonal to the first polarization;
a reflective rear polarizer for transmitting the first polarization and reflecting the second polarization;
an absorption layer; wherein:
the absorption layer is transparent to infrared light; and
the absorption layer is opaque to visible light; and
a retroreflecting layer; wherein the retroreflecting layer reflects visible light and reflects infrared light.