VIDEO DISPLAY SYSTEM AND METHOD EMPLOYING PROPAGATING STRESS WAVES

摘要

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA video display system comprising a stress wavepropagating means defining a viewing plane and includingmeans for initiating the propagation of stress waves alongthe propagating means in a first scanning direction in theviewing plane. A light emitting means is disposed to emitlight along a scan line in a second scanning directiongenerally perpendicular to the first scanning direction. Thelight emitting means is disposed in relation to the stresswave propagating means to emit light incident upon each ofthe stress wave propagated along the propagating means overthe extent of the viewing plane in the first scanning direc-tion so that the emitted light interacts with the propagatedstress waves over an entire scanning interval in the firstscanning direction and so that the light emitted along thescan line in the second scanning direction is scanned in thefirst scanning direction over the entire viewing plane bythe stress waves. The emitted light is selectivelymodulated in intensity by a video signal resulting in thedisplay of an image in the viewing plane. In one embodimentof the invention, the stress wave propagating means is trans-parent and the light emitting means is disposed to emit lightthrough the propagating means. A first sheet of transparentpolarized material is disposed intermediate the propagatingmeans and the light emitting means to linearly polarize lightpassing therethrough in a first polarization direction. Asecond sheet of transparent polarized material is disposedin the path of light passing through the first sheet andpropagating means and has a polarization axis disposed perpen-dicular to the polarization axis of the first sheet.In another embodiment of the invention, the stresswave propagating means comprises a surface wave propagatingmedium and surface waves are propagated along a planar sur-face of the medium. The surface of the medium along whichsurface waves are propagated is light reflective over atleast the area of the viewing plane and the light emittingmeans is disposed to emit light parallel to the planar sur-face of the medium so that the emitted light strikes thepropagated wave and is reflect away from the planar surfaceby the propagated surface waves. A color embodiment and aparallel output feature are also disclosed.- 2 -