METHODS AND DEVICES FOR LIGHTING DISPLAYS

• US 20100309103A1
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sampsell, Jeffrey B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,013,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/84
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/001 based on interference in an adjustable optical cavity interference filters G02B5/28; devices or arrangements using multiple reflections in spectrometry or monochromators G01J3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133342 for double-sided displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133616 Front illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials

Abstract

Various devices and methods of lighting a display are disclosed. In one embodiment, for example, a display device includes a transmissive display configured to be illuminated through a back surface and a reflective display configured to be illuminated through a front surface. A light source is disposed with respect to the back of the transmissive display to illuminate the transmissive display through the back surface. A light pipe is disposed with respect to the light source to receive light from the light source and is configured to propagate the light such that this light provides front illumination of the reflective display.

Claims

1-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A display device comprising:

a first display, said first display being reflective;

a light source disposed rearward of said first display;

one or more first light guides disposed to receive light from said light source; and

one or more second light guides disposed forward of said first display, wherein the one or more first light guides are optically coupled to the one or more second light guides such that light emitted by the one or more first light guides is directed into said one or more second light guides, to provide front illumination to said first display

49. The display of claim 48, further comprising a second display positioned such that said light source is disposed rearward of said second display, wherein said light source provides illumination to said second display.

50. The display of claim 48, wherein said one or more first light guides comprises a backplate disposed rearward of said first display.

51. The display of claim 48, wherein said one or more second light guides comprises an optical plate, sheet, or film.

52. The display of claim 48, wherein said one or more second light guides comprises a substrate of the first display.

53. The display of claim 48, wherein said first display comprises a plurality of light modulating elements.

54. The display of claim 53, wherein said plurality of light modulating elements comprises a plurality of interferometric modulators.

55. The display of claim 48, wherein said one or more second light guides includes optical features configured to redirect said light coupled therein to said first display.

56. The display of claim 55, wherein said optical features include mini-prisms, micro-lenses, a hologram, a diffractive optical element, or a diffuser.

57. The display device of claim 48, further comprising:

a processor in electrical communication with said first display, said processor configured to process image data; and

a memory device in electrical communication with said processor.

58. The display device of claim 57, further comprising a driver circuit configured to send at least one signal to said first display.

59. The display system of claim 58, further comprising a controller configured to send at least a portion of said image data to said driver circuit.

60. A method of manufacturing a display device, the method comprising:

providing a first display, said first display being reflective;

providing a light source disposed rearward of said first display;

providing one or more first light guides disposed to receive light from said light source; and

providing a second light guide forward of said first display, such that the one or more first light guides are optically coupled to the second light guide such that light emitted by the one or more first light guides is directed into said second light guide, to provide front illumination to said first display.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising providing a second display such that said light source is disposed rearward of said second display, wherein said light source provides illumination to said second display.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein said one or more first light guides comprises a backplate disposed rearward of said first displaying means.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein said second light guide comprises an optical plate, sheet, or film.

64. The method of claim 60, wherein said second light guide comprises a substrate of the first display.

65. The method of claim 60, wherein said first display comprises a plurality of light modulating elements.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein said plurality of light modulating elements comprises a plurality of interferometric modulators.

67. The method of claim 60, wherein said second light guide includes optical features configured to redirect said light coupled therein to said first display.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein said optical features include mini-prisms, micro-lenses, a hologram, a diffractive optical element, or a diffuser.