A polarized light emitting waveguide plate comprises an entrance side for coupling light into the wave guide plate, a major exit surface for coupling light out of the waveguide plate, and a polarizer for selectively directing a component of a first polarization state of light coupled in via the entrance side towards the exit surface, the polarizer comprising an anisotropically light scattering layer which selectively scatters the component of the first polarization state towards the exit surface. Preferably, the waveguide plate is made of conventionally processed polymeric materials in the form of a laminate of waveguide substrate, anisotropically light scattering layer and, optionally, an optically transparent cover layer.
An electro-optical display includes a light source and a Polarization Separation Element ("PSE") coupled to the light source. The PSE generates a first output having a first polarization state and a second output having a second polarization state. The display further includes a Hetero Polar Light Guide ("HPLG") that includes a first region optically isolated from a second region and coupled to the PSE. The first output of the PSE is directed into the first region and the second output of the PSE is directed into the second region, and the first region and second region output light in substantially the same direction.
