Display Capable Electrowetting Light Valve
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A light-emitting device for a display, comprising:
- an insulator;
a plurality of electrodes;
an amount of a first liquid separated from at least one of said electrodes by said insulator;
an amount of a second liquid disposed within said first liquid, said second liquid movable relative to said first liquid, and said second liquid having a lower light transmittance than said first liquid;
an illumination source adapted to generate light;
an optical path extending through said second liquid and said insulator, said optical path adapted to transmit light received from said illumination source; and
a voltage source connected to said electrodes, said voltage source adapted to apply an electric field between said electrodes effective to move said second liquid relative to said first liquid to block at least a portion of the light from said illumination source from being transmitted through said optical path.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to light transmissive, transflective, or reflective flat panel display devices and, more specifically, to light emissive flat panel displays constructed from high performance electrowetting light valve (ELV) devices (10a-g). An array of ELV devices (10a-g) is mounted on or adjacent to a backlight (11), employing a reflector (13) allowing for improved transmission. The backlight (11) may be partially diffusely reflective or translucent as to also allow for creation of a transflective display panel.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A light-emitting device for a display, comprising:
-
an insulator; a plurality of electrodes; an amount of a first liquid separated from at least one of said electrodes by said insulator; an amount of a second liquid disposed within said first liquid, said second liquid movable relative to said first liquid, and said second liquid having a lower light transmittance than said first liquid; an illumination source adapted to generate light; an optical path extending through said second liquid and said insulator, said optical path adapted to transmit light received from said illumination source; and a voltage source connected to said electrodes, said voltage source adapted to apply an electric field between said electrodes effective to move said second liquid relative to said first liquid to block at least a portion of the light from said illumination source from being transmitted through said optical path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A light-emitting device for a display, comprising:
-
an insulator; a plurality of electrodes; an amount of a fluid separated from at least one of said electrodes by said insulator; an amount of a liquid disposed within said fluid, said liquid movable relative to said fluid, said liquid and said fluid being confined between said electrodes, and said liquid having a greater refractive index than said fluid; an illumination source; an optical path extending through said-fluid, said liquid, and said insulator, said optical path adapted to transmit light received from said illumination source; and a voltage source connected to said electrodes, said voltage source adapted to apply an electric field between said electrodes effective to move said liquid relative to said fluid and thereby cause an optical phase shift that prevents at least a portion of the light from said illumination source from being transmitted through said optical path. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
-
12. A method of operating a pixel in a flat panel display, comprising:
-
transmitting light through an optical path in the pixel; and moving an amount of a liquid relative to the optical path effective to change an intensity of the transmitted light through the optical path. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification