Reflective display device

• US 6,753,846 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NGK Insulators Limited
• Original Assignee: NGK Insulators Limited
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Yukihisa, Nanataki, Tsutomu, Shimogawa, Natsumi, Akao, Takayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US10/029,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20020080129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 345/102, 345/105, 345/204, 345/30, 345/108, 349/61-63, 385/901, 359/290-293
• US Class Current: 345/108
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/305 being the ends of optical fibres G09F9/302 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/372 the positions of the elements being controlled by the application of an electric field
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/375 the position of the elements being controlled by the application of a magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

A reflective display device includes a transparent display panel into which light is introduced. A driving section is disposed at the back of the display panel. Actuator elements corresponding to a number of picture elements are arranged in the driving section. A picture element assembly is provided on each of the actuator elements. The picture element assembly includes a light-reflecting layer and a color filter. A light-absorptive material is filled between the display panel and an actuator substrate. The actuator elements are selectively driven according to an attribute of an input image signal for controlling displacement of the picture element assembly in a direction closer to or away from the display panel, thereby adjusting degree of light-absorption and/or light reflection between the display panel and the picture element assembly so that a screen image corresponding to the image signal is displayed on the display panel.

Claims

1. A reflective display device comprising:

a display panel into which light is radiated from a light source through the front of the display panel;

a driving section disposed at the back of said display panel, said driving section including a plurality of actuator elements corresponding to a number of picture elements;

a picture element assembly provided on each of said actuator elements, said picture element assembly including at least one of a light-reflecting section and a light-absorbing section; and

at least one of a light-absorptive and a light-reflective substance filled between said display panel and said driving section,

wherein said actuator elements are selectively driven according to an attribute of an input image signal for controlling displacement of said picture element assembly in a direction closer to or away from said display panel, thereby adjusting the degree of at least one of light-absorption and light reflection between said display panel and said picture element assembly so that a screen image corresponding to said image signal is displayed on said display panel.

2. The reflective display device according to claim 1, wherein said display panel is transparent.

3. The reflective display device according to claim 1, wherein

light emission is effected when a thickness of said light-absorptive substance between said display panel and said picture element assembly is decreased by displacing said picture element assembly in said direction closer to said display panel; and

light emission is stopped when said thickness of said light-absorptive substance between said display panel and said picture element assembly is increased by displacing said picture element assembly in said direction away from said display panel.

4. The reflective display device according to claim 1, wherein

light emission is stopped when a thickness of said light-reflective substance between said display panel and said picture element assembly is decreased by displacing said picture element assembly in said direction closer to said display panel;

and

light emission is effected when said thickness of said light-reflective substance between said display panel and said picture element assembly is increased by displacing said picture element assembly in said direction away from said display panel.

5. The reflective display device according to claim 1, wherein said picture element assembly has a color layer.

6. The reflective display device according to claim 1, wherein said display panel has a color layer.