A luminaire configured to emit light in different directions. The luminaire may include a frame and optical waveguides disposed in the frame and positioned at different angles relative to one another to direct light outward in multiple different directions. At least one LED may be associated with each optical waveguide. A shield may be associated with the frame and configured to reduce the light from being directed in one or more of the different directions.

A display device and a backlight module thereof are provided. The backlight module includes a collimated light source and a light guide plate. The collimated light source configured to generate a collimated light. The light guide plate has a bottom surface and a top surface opposite to each other, and a light entrance surface connected to ends of the bottom and top surfaces respectively for receiving collimated light from the collimated light source. The bottom surface inclines toward the top surface from the end of the bottom surface connected to the light entrance surface. A plurality of first grooves are disposed side by side on the bottom surface and respectively extend along the light entrance surface. The first groove has a first light receiving surface with a first end extending toward the top surface and inclining away from the light entrance surface. Compared to the first end of the first light receiving surface closer to the light entrance surface, the first end of the first light receiving surface farther from the light entrance surface has a vertical projection position on the light entrance surface that is closer to the top surface.

A waveguide body comprises a length from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis, and a coupling portion that comprises first and second coupling surfaces. The first and second coupling surfaces define, at least in part, an elongate coupling cavity along the entire length of the waveguide body and a surface located opposite the coupling cavity. The waveguide body further comprises first and second opposed sections extending along the length of the waveguide body. The first and second opposed sections further comprise respective first and second lower surfaces disposed at different first and second side section angles with respect to a first axis lying in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis. The first axis bisects the coupling portion. Among other things, such a waveguide may be included in a luminaire along with a light source.

A liquid crystal display device includes a narrow light distribution backlight, a transparent backlight disposed in front of the narrow light distribution backlight, and a transmissive liquid crystal panel in a horizontal electrical field mode. The transparent backlight is a sidelight type backlight including a transparent light guide plate disposed to face the narrow light distribution backlight and a light source disposed on a side surface of the light guide plate. Prism-like irregularities extending in a vertical direction are formed on a surface of the light guide plate on a side of the narrow light distribution backlight. An electrode having a comb-like shape extending in a horizontal direction is disposed in each pixel of the transmissive liquid crystal panel.

A virtual image display device includes a video image element that displays an image, and a light-guiding member that guides video image light from the video image element by reflection and transmission at a plurality of light-guiding surfaces. Among the plurality of light-guiding surfaces, with respect to an incident-side light-guiding surface and an emission-side light-guiding surface that are adjacent to each other, and an opposing light-guiding surface that faces the incident-side light-guiding surface and the emission-side light-guiding surface, a thickness from the incident-side light-guiding surface to the opposing light-guiding surface is caused to be smaller than a thickness from the emission-side light-guiding surface to the opposing light-guiding surface.

A directional backlight apparatus includes a directional waveguide and a light source array, for providing large area directed illumination from localized light sources. Interfaces are provided between the directional waveguide and optical components adjacent the directional waveguide such that the coefficient of friction at the waveguide interfaces is greater than the coefficient of friction at least one outer interface on each side of the waveguide in the stack. Damage from compressive forces on the optical stack may be reduced, achieving improved optical performance and lifetime. Privacy display, low stray light display and autostereoscopic display may be provided with high uniformity, long lifetime and reduced cost mechanical components.

Disclosed is a light guiding valve apparatus including an imaging directional backlight, an illuminator array and an observer tracking system arranged to achieve control of an array of illuminators which may provide a directional display to an observer over a wide lateral and longitudinal viewing range, wherein the number of optical windows presented to the observer as viewing windows is controlled dependent on the lateral and longitudinal position or speed of an observer.

An imaging directional backlight apparatus includes a waveguide and light source array for providing large area directed illumination from localized light sources. The waveguide may include a stepped structure in which steps may include extraction features optically hidden to guided light, propagating in a forward direction. Returning light propagating in a backward direction may be refracted, diffracted, or reflected by the features to provide discrete illumination beams exiting from the top surface of the waveguide. Viewing windows are formed through imaging individual light sources and defines the relative positions of system elements and ray paths. Alignment of the waveguide to mechanical and optical components may be provided by surface relief features of the waveguide arranged in regions adjacent the input surface and intermediate the light emitting regions of the light sources. Efficient, uniform operation may be achieved with low cross talk for application to autostereoscopic and privacy modes of operation.

Light emitting systems and optical systems including a light emitting system and a lens system are described. The light emitting system includes a pixelated light source having a plurality of discrete spaced apart pixels, and includes a plurality of light redirecting elements, each light redirecting element corresponding to a different pixel in the plurality of pixels. The light redirecting elements may be adapted to alter one or both of a central ray direction and a divergence angle of light received from the corresponding pixel. A lens system disposed to receive light from the light emitting system may include a reflective polarizer and a partial reflector.

It is provided that a lightguide structure comprising: a first portion disposed to receive light rays emitted by an external display, a second portion disposed to provide, to a second surface facing a viewer, the light rays from the first portion and ambient light, wherein the second portion has a plurality of first surfaces for reflecting light rays and at least one second surface which the light rays and the ambient light perpendicularly enter into and pass through, an intermediate portion disposed to connect between the first portion and the second portion and reflect the light rays from the first portion for transferring the light rays to the second portion.