REFLECTIVE DISPLAY DEVICES

• US 20070182706A1
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ntera Incorporated (Ntera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ntera Incorporated (Ntera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cassidy, Micheal, Leyland, Nigel, Corr, David
• Application Number:
  US11/622,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182706A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/107
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/02 Diffusing elements; Afocal elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0808 having a single reflecting layer G02B5/0883, G02B5/0891 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133512 Light shielding layers, e.g. black matrix G02F1/136209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133514 Colour filters
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1677 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/09 transflective

Abstract

An enhanced reflective layer is described herein for use in a display device. Displays including the enhanced reflective layer are also described. The enhanced reflective layer includes particles that reflect, absorb or emit light with desired properties to enhance the display properties. Use of the enhanced reflective layer in displays allows, among other features, full color active matrix reflective or transflective displays.

Claims

1. A display comprising:

(a) an electro-optic material operatively connected to a control element;

(b) a reflective layer located beneath the electro-optic material including first medium and particles;

the electro-optic material being switchable from a first state in which incident light may strike the enhanced reflective layer and a second state in which incident light is at least partially blocked from the reflective layer, and the state of the electro-optic material is controlled through the control element.

2. The display of claim 1, the particles comprise suspended particles including at least one substance selected from the group consisting of light scattering or reflective particles, and emissive substances.

3. The display of claim 2, the light scattering or reflective particles selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, cadmium sulfide, cadmium selenide, sodium aluminosilicate, chromium (III) oxide, and carbon black.

4. The display of claim 2, the emissive substances selected from the group consisting of Lucifer yellow, NBD, R-Phycoerythrin, PE-Cy5 conjugates, 4,4′

-bis(benzoxazol-2-yl) stilbene, ZnS;

Ag+(Zn,Cd)S;

Ag(P4), Y₂O₂S;

Eu+Fe₂O₃ (P22R), ZnS;

Ag+Co-on-Al₂O₃ (P22B), and ZnS;

Cu,Al (P22G).

5. The display of claim 1, the reflective layer comprising a patterned layer including segmented areas and the particles in the segment areas comprise segment particles.

6. The display of claim 5, the segment particles including at least one substance selected from the group consisting of light scattering or reflective particles, and emissive substances.

7. The display of claim 6, the light scattering or reflective particles selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, cadmium sulfide, cadmium selenide, sodium aluminosilicate, chromium (III) oxide, and carbon black.

8. The display of claim 6, the emissive substances selected from the group consisting of Lucifer yellow, NBD, R-Phycoerythrin, PE-Cy5 conjugates, 4,4′

-bis(benzoxazol-2-yl) stilbene, ZnS;

Ag+(Zn,Cd)S;

Ag(P4), Y₂O₂S;

Eu+Fe₂O₃ (P22R), ZnS;

Ag+Co-on-Al₂O₃ (P22B), and ZnS;

Cu,Al (P22G).

9. The display of claim 5, the particles further comprising peripheral particles located in areas other than the segmented areas.

10. The display of claim 9, the peripheral particles including at least one substance selected from the group consisting of light scattering or reflective particles, and emissive substances.

11. The display of claim 10, the light scattering or reflective particles selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, cadmium sulfide, cadmium selenide, sodium aluminosilicate, chromium (III) oxide, and carbon black.

12. The display of claim 10, the emissive substances selected from the group consisting of Lucifer yellow, NBD, R-Phycoerythrin, PE-Cy5 conjugates, 4,4′

-bis(benzoxazol-2-yl) stilbene, ZnS;

Ag+(Zn,Cd)S;

Ag(P4), Y₂O₂S;

Eu+Fe₂O₃ (P22R), ZnS;

Ag+Co-on-Al₂O₃ (P22B), and ZnS;

Cu,Al (P22G).

13. The display of claim 5, further comprising intermediate areas between the segmented areas.

14. The display of claim 13, the intermediate areas further comprising peripheral particles.

15. The display of claim 14, the peripheral particles including at least one substance selected from the group consisting of light scattering or reflective particles, and emissive substances.

16. The display of claim 15, the light scattering or reflective particles selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, cadmium sulfide, cadmium selenide, sodium aluminosilicate, chromium (III) oxide, and carbon black.

17. The display of claim 15, the emissive substances selected from the group consisting of Lucifer yellow, NBD, R-Phycoerythrin, PE-Cy5 conjugates, 4,4′

-bis(benzoxazol-2-yl) stilbene, ZnS;

Ag+(Zn,Cd)S;

Ag(P4), Y₂O₂S;

Eu+Fe₂O₃ (P22R), ZnS;

Ag+Co-on-Al₂O₃ (P22B), and ZnS;

Cu,Al (P22G).

18. The display of claim 1, the reflective layer comprising a patterned layer including segmented areas and the particles further comprise peripheral particles located in areas other than the segmented areas.

19. The display of claim 18, the peripheral particles including at least one substance selected from the group consisting of light scattering or reflective particles, and emissive substances.

20. The display of claim 19, the light scattering or reflective particles selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, cadmium sulfide, cadmium selenide, sodium aluminosilicate, chromium (III) oxide, and carbon black.

21. The display of claim 19, the emissive substances selected from the group consisting of Lucifer yellow, NBD, R-Phycoerythrin, PE-Cy5 conjugates, 4,4′

-bis(benzoxazol-2-yl) stilbene, ZnS;

Ag+(Zn,Cd)S;

Ag(P4), Y₂O₂S;

Eu+Fe₂O₃ (P22R), ZnS;

Ag+Co-on-Al₂O₃ (P22B), and ZnS;

Cu,Al (P22G).

22. The display of claim 1, the enhanced reflective layer comprising two tiers.

23. The display of claim 1, the first medium comprising a substance selected from the group consisting of polyimides, polyurethanes, epoxies polyacrylates and spin-on-glasses.

24. The display of claim 1, the display further comprising an additional transparent layer comprising a second medium on top of the enhanced reflective layer.

25. The display of claim 24, the second medium comprising a substance selected from the group consisting of polyimides, polyurethanes, epoxies polyacrylates and spin-on-glasses.

26. The display of claim 24, the second medium having a refractive index within 50% of the first medium.

27. The display of claim 26, the display further comprising another additional layer comprising a third medium and located beneath the enhanced reflective layer.

28. The display of claim 27, the third medium comprising a substance selected from the group consisting of polyimides, polyurethanes, epoxies polyacrylates and spin-on-glasses.

29. The display of claim 1, where the display is an electrochromic display and the electro-optic material comprises a chromophore.

30. The display of claim 1, where the display is a lateral electrophoretic display and the electro-optic material comprises charged electrophoretic particles.

31. The display of claim 1, where the display is a liquid crystal display and the electro-optic material comprises a liquid crystal.

32. A method of providing enhanced reflectivity in a display device, the display comprising (a) an electro-optic material operatively connected to a control element, (b) a reflective layer located on a substrate and beneath the electro-optic material, the reflective layer including first medium and particles;

the electro-optic material being switchable from a first state in which incident light may strike the enhanced reflective layer and a second state in which incident light is at least partially blocked from the reflective layer, and the state of the electro-optic material is controlled through the control element;

the method comprising;

applying the reflective layer to the substrate and the particles are selected from the group consisting of suspended particles, segment particles and peripheral particles.

33. The method of claim 32, the step of applying a reflective layer comprises applying the first medium with the particles by a method selected from the group consisting of printing, spin coating and laminating.

34. The method of claim 33, the method of printing selected from the group consisting of screen printing and ink-jet printing.

35. The method of claim 32, the step of applying selected from the group consisting of blade-coating, roll coating and spraying.

36. A method of enhancing the brightness in a display comprising providing an enhanced reflective layer including at least one type of particles selected from the group consisting of suspended particles, segment particles and peripheral particles.

37. The method of claim 36, at least one of the particles includes at least one substance selected from the group consisting of light scattering or reflective particles, and emissive substances.

38. The method of claim 37, the light scattering or reflective particles selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, cadmium sulfide, cadmium selenide, sodium aluminosilicate, chromium (III) oxide, and carbon black.

39. The method of claim 37, the emissive substances selected from the group consisting of Lucifer yellow, NBD, R-Phycoerythrin, PE-Cy5 conjugates, 4,4′

-bis(benzoxazol-2-yl) stilbene, ZnS;

Ag+(Zn,Cd)S;

Ag(P4), Y₂O₂S;

Eu+Fe₂O₃ (P22R), ZnS;

Ag+Co-on-Al₂O₃ (P22B), and ZnS;

Cu,Al (P22G).