Since January 1, 2018, the project

Switchable Waveguides for Novel Laser Displays, WaveGuide Display (WaGuDi)

has been funded with about 198.000 € by the European Regional Development Fund (EFRE) for a period of two years.

Abstract:

The concept of WaGuDi makes it possible for the first time to extract light from a waveguide in a precisely controllable place. This spot then becomes a luminous pixel of a WaveGuide Display. Different from current liquid crystal displays (LCDs), which extract light from the entire waveguide and thus define a picture by wasting energy, WaGuDi uses light only in the places it is needed. If no light is extracted, the respective pixel remains dark, while the light can be used for other pixels. Just like LCDs, WaGuDi can be illuminated with the most efficient light sources, especially with lasers, which considerably improves color rendering. Based on this concept, a display could be more efficient, more cost-efficient, lighter, and faster than previous displays. Moreover, these features may be reached without any backplane.

The project covers the production of first demonstrators showing the controllable extraction of light from a waveguide. The final goal is a simple, transparent color display demonstrating the benefits of this concept in display and lighting technology.