Selectively-transparent electrochromic display

• US 10,429,713 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2015
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Franz, Sue F., Kloeppner, Leroy J., VanderPloeg, John A., Blaker, David A., Theiste, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilkes, Zachary W
• Application Number:
  US14/737,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20150362645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 359265, 359267-273
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/25 using polarisation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/201 in the form of arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133514 Colour filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/153 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor

Abstract

An electro-optic (EO) display includes one or more adjustable-intensity color filters; a transparent backlight; and a transflective layer positioned between the adjustable-intensity color filter(s) and the transparent backlight, wherein the transflective layer reflects light off of one surface of the transflective layer and allows light through another surface of the transflective layer.

Claims

1. An electro-optic (EO) display, comprising:

one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters that each include a first electrochromic medium situated between opposed first and second transparent substrates;

a transparent backlight;

a transflective layer, comprising an optical film and in optical communication with the transparent backlight, the transflective layer disposed on a first surface of the second transparent substrate and positioned within the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters such that the transflective layer is located between the electrochromic mediums of the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters and the transparent backlight, wherein the transflective layer reflects light off of one surface of the transflective layer and allows light through another surface of the transflective layer; and

an electrochromic shutter separated from the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters by the transparent backlight;

wherein the electrochromic shutter is configured to provide a variable range of light transmission;

wherein the electrochromic shutter has a second electrochromic medium disposed between a third transparent substrate and a fourth transparent substrate;

wherein the EO display is configured to selectively operate in a first mode in which light is produced by the transparent backlight and passes through the transflective layer, thereby illuminating the electrochromic color filters;

wherein the EO display is configured to selectively operate in a second mode in which the transflective layer reflects ambient light to illuminate the electrochromic color filters; and

wherein the EO display is configured to selectively operate in a third mode in which one or more of the adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters and the electrochromic shutter are in a transparent state and the EO display is configured to allow light to pass through the EO display.

2. The EO display of claim 1, wherein the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters further comprise a transparent electrode film that is applied to the first transparent substrate and located between the first transparent substrate and the electrochromic medium.

3. The EO display of claim 1, wherein the intensity of the transparent backlight is adjustable independently from the level of light transmission of the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters.

4. The EO display of claim 1, wherein the transparent backlight further comprises a plurality of pixels.

5. The EO display of claim 1, wherein the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters comprise at least a cyan electrochromic color filter, a yellow electrochromic color filter, and a magenta electrochromic color filter.

6. The EO display of claim 1, wherein the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters comprises at least a red electrochromic color filter, a green electrochromic color filter, and a blue electrochromic color filter.

7. The EO display of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters is arranged in homogeneous layers in one pixel.

8. The EO display of claim 1, further comprising a homogeneous black layer.

9. The EO display of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters is arranged in a horizontal arrangement in one pixel.

10. The EO display of claim 1, wherein the transflective layer is disposed between and adjacent to the electrochromic medium and the first surface of the second transparent substrate.

11. The EO display of claim 1, wherein, in the first mode, the electrochromic shutter is in at least a partially darkened state.

12. An electro-optic (EO) display, comprising:

one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters that each include a first electrochromic medium situated between a transparent electrode film applied to a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate that is opposed to the first transparent substrate;

a transflective layer, comprising an optical film, positioned within each of the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters between the electrochromic medium and the second transparent substrate;

a transparent backlight; and

an electrochromic shutter, comprising a second electrochromic medium disposed between a third transparent substrate and a fourth transparent substrate, separated from the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters by the transparent backlight, wherein the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters and the electrochromic shutter can both adjust a level of light transmission through the EO display;

wherein the EO display is configured to selectively operate in a transparent mode in which the electrochromic shutter and one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters are in a transparent state; and

wherein the EO display is configured to selectively operate in a transmissive mode in which the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters are configured to generate images and the electrochromic shutter is in at least a partially darkened state.

13. The EO display of claim 12, wherein the intensity of the transparent backlight is adjustable independently from a level of light transmission of the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters.

14. The EO display of claim 12, wherein the transparent backlight further comprises a plurality of pixels.

15. The EO display of claim 12, wherein the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters further comprise at least a cyan electrochromic color filter, a yellow electrochromic color filter, and a magenta electrochromic color filter.

16. The EO display of claim 12, wherein the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters further comprise a red electrochromic color filter, a green electrochromic color filter, and a blue electrochromic color filter.

17. The EO display of claim 12, wherein a plurality of the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters is arranged in homogeneous layers in one pixel.

18. The EO display of claim 17, further comprising a homogeneous black layer.

19. The EO display of claim 12, wherein a plurality of the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters is arranged in a horizontal arrangement in one pixel.

20. The EO display of claim 12, wherein the transmissive mode comprises a daylight mode in which the transflective layer is configured to selectively reflect ambient light to the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters;

and

wherein the transmissive mode further comprises a nighttime mode in which the transparent backlight is configured to selectively provide light to the one or more adjustable-intensity electrochromic color filters.