Optical devices using reflecting polarizing materials

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides optical devices using reflecting polarizers, such as diffusely reflecting polarizers.
In one embodiment, a display apparatus is provided.
The display apparatus includes a light modulating layer having first surface and a light cavity for providing light to the light modulating layer.
A light guide is disposed to receive light from the light cavity and output light at a low angle relative to the first surface of the light modulating layer.
A turning lens is disposed to receive the low angle light output from the light guide and redirect light towards the light modulating layer.
The display apparatus further includes a diffusely reflecting polarizer disposed between the turning lens and the light modulating layer for receiving the redirected light and transmitting a component of the redirected light having a first polarization toward the light modulating layer and diffusely reflecting a component of the redirected light having a second polarization different than the first polarization.
A lighting system, according to an embodiment, includes a light source for providing light and a reflector which includes a diffusely reflecting polarizer disposed closer to the light source and a specular reflector attached to the diffusely reflecting polarizer and disposed further from the light source.
In use, a component of the light having a first polarization is transmitted by the diffusely reflecting polarizer, specularly reflected by the specular reflector, and specularly retransmitted through the diffusely reflecting polarizer to provide specularly reflected light of the first polarization having a first distribution.
A second component of the light which has a second, different polarization is diffusely reflected by the diffusely reflecting polarizer (without reaching the specular reflector) to provide diffusely reflected light having a second distribution different from the first distribution.
The diffused light may be used as general ambient light while the specularly reflected light of the first polarization may be used as task lighting, for example