Electro-optic displays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10372008-B2
Application number	US-201213475193-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2012
Priority date	May 21, 2011
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

A wavelength selective reflection display (10) comprises a wavelength selective reflection medium (20) and a backing member (30) having a first, non-reflective optical state, and a second, reflective optical state. Both the wavelength selective reflection medium (20) and the backing member (30) are divided into pixels (40, 50, 60), and the backing member (30) is switchable between its first and second optical states on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The pixels of the backing member (30) are substantially aligned with those of the wavelength selective reflection medium (20).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wavelength selective reflection (WSR) display comprising a wavelength selective reflection medium capable of undergoing a dimensional change in response to an electro-activated process so as to reflect any color of light, the wavelength selective reflection medium having a plurality of pixels and, disposed adjacent the wavelength selective reflection medium, a backing member having a plurality of pixels and having a first, non-reflective optical state, and a second, reflective optical state, the backing member being switchable between its first and second optical states on a pixel-by-pixel basis, the pixels of the backing member being substantially aligned with the pixels of the wavelength selective reflection medium,
wherein the backing member is placed on the opposed side of the wavelength selective reflection medium from the viewer, and comprises a layer of electro-optic material capable of being switched between a reflective state and a non-reflective state, or a reflective state and a transmissive optical state.

2. A WSR display according to claim 1 wherein the backing member has at least one intermediate gray level having a reflectivity intermediate its first and second optical states.

3. A WSR display according to claim 1 wherein the backing member comprises a variable medium having a reflective state and a substantially light-transmissive state, and a non-varying dark surface disposed on the opposed side of the variable medium from the WSR medium.

4. A WSR display according to claim 1 wherein the backing member comprises a variable medium having a non-reflective state and a substantially light-transmissive state, and a non-varying reflective surface disposed on the opposed side of the variable medium from the WSR medium.

5. A WSR display according to claim 1 wherein the backing member comprises a variable medium having reflective, non-reflective and light-transmissive states.

6. A WSR display according to claim 5 further comprising a light source disposed on the opposed side of the variable medium from the WSR medium.

7. A WSR display according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic material comprises a rotating bichromal member, electrochromic or electro-wetting material.

8. A WSR display according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic material comprises an electrophoretic material comprising a plurality of electrically charged particles disposed in a fluid and capable of moving through the fluid under the influence of an electric field.

9. A WSR display according to claim 8 wherein the electrically charged particles and the fluid are confined within a plurality of capsules or microcells.

10. A WSR display according to claim 8 wherein the electrically charged particles and the fluid are present as a plurality of discrete droplets surrounded by a continuous phase comprising a polymeric material.

11. A WSR display according to claim 8 wherein the fluid is gaseous.

12. A WSR display according to claim 1 wherein the WSR medium is an electrically-addressable photonic crystal.

Assignees

• Telfer Stephen J
• Paolini Jr Richard J
• Mccreary Michael D
• Cole David John
• E Ink Corp

Inventors

• Telfer Stephen J
• Paolini Jr Richard J
• Mccreary Michael D
• Cole David John

Classifications

• G02F1/167 Primary

  by electrophoresis · CPC title

• G02F2201/343

  cholesteric liquid crystal reflector · CPC title

• G02F1/16757

  Microcapsules · CPC title