Reflectors

• US 20030133284A1
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Chipchase, Jan, Lindfors, Max, Bergquist, Johan
• Application Number:
  US10/319,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20030133284A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/31
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133504 Diffusing, scattering, diffracting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133606
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13476 in which at least one liquid crystal cell or layer assumes a scattering state
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/02 reflective

Abstract

A display device comprising: display element switchable to adjust the transmission of light therethrough; and a reflector located behind the display element for receiving ambient light transmitted through the display element and reflecting it back through the display element; wherein the diffusivity of the reflector is adjustable.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

display element switchable to adjust the transmission of light therethrough; and

a reflector located behind the display element for receiving ambient light transmitted through the display element and reflecting it back through the display element;

wherein the diffusivity of the reflector is adjustable.

2. A display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflector comprises a reflective layer and a layer having adjustable diffusivity located between the reflective layer and the display element.

3. A display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the layer having adjustable diffusivity comprises polymer-dispersed liquid crystals.

4. A display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diffusivity of the reflector is electrically adjustable.

5. A display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display comprises a user-actuable input device and the diffusivity of the reflector is adjustable in response to the operation of the input device.

6. A display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display comprises a light sensor for sensing ambient light and generating an output signal in dependence thereon and the diffusivity of the reflector is adjustable in response to the output of the sensor.

7. A display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the output of the light sensor is indicative of the diffusivity of the ambient light.

8. A display device as claimed in claim 7, comprising a display controller arranged to receive the output of the light sensor and adjust the diffusivity of the reflector in opposite dependence on the sensed diffusivity of the ambient light.

9. A display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensor comprises two or more sensing units arranged in such a way that the diffusivity of the ambient light can be determined from their outputs.

10. A display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diffusivity of the reflector is adjustable to render the display fully reflective.

11. A display device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the display is located on the outer surface of an electronic device.

12. A display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electronic device is a portable device.

13. A display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the outer surface of the electronic device is reflective in the region surrounding the display.

14. A display device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

15. A display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display is a MEMS display.

16. A reflector whose diffusivity is adjustable.