Optical devices having reflective and transmissive modes for display
First Claim
1. A display apparatus capable of displaying information in a reflective mode using only ambient light and in a transmissive mode using a light source, comprising:
- a light modulating system comprising a light modulating layer between a first polarizing layer and a second polarizing layer;
an isotropic light cavity comprising a light source and a reflector, the light cavity adapted to selectively provide light to the light modulating layer, the light cavity reflecting incident light with a first degree of depolarization of the incident light, the reflector configured to reflect ambient light toward the light modulating layer to illuminate the display using only ambient light in the reflective mode; and
a reflecting polarizer disposed between the light modulating layer and the light cavity, adapted to transmit a component of incident light having a first polarization and reflect a component of the incident light having a second polarization, the polarizer reflecting the light of the second polarization with a second degree of depolarization greater than the first degree of depolarization to provide light of the first polarization.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Display apparatuses are shown capable of displaying information in a reflective mode using only ambient light and in a transmissive mode using a light source. In one embodiment, the display apparatus includes a reflecting polarizer disposed between a light modulating layer and an isotropic light cavity. The light cavity reflects incident light with a first degree of depolarization. The reflecting polarizer reflects light with a second degree of depolarization for at least one polarization that is greater than the first degree of depolarization. In another embodiment of the display apparatus, a microstructured film is included above a light cavity and below a light modulating system where the microstructured film includes sawtooth formations having at least a tilted surface. In another embodiment of a dual-mode display device, the display includes a cholesteric reflecting polarizer disposed between a light modulating layer and a light cavity where the light cavity causes a polarization phase shift upon reflectance.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A display apparatus capable of displaying information in a reflective mode using only ambient light and in a transmissive mode using a light source, comprising:
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a light modulating system comprising a light modulating layer between a first polarizing layer and a second polarizing layer;
an isotropic light cavity comprising a light source and a reflector, the light cavity adapted to selectively provide light to the light modulating layer, the light cavity reflecting incident light with a first degree of depolarization of the incident light, the reflector configured to reflect ambient light toward the light modulating layer to illuminate the display using only ambient light in the reflective mode; and
a reflecting polarizer disposed between the light modulating layer and the light cavity, adapted to transmit a component of incident light having a first polarization and reflect a component of the incident light having a second polarization, the polarizer reflecting the light of the second polarization with a second degree of depolarization greater than the first degree of depolarization to provide light of the first polarization. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A display apparatus capable of displaying information in a reflective mode using only ambient light and in a transmissive mode using a light source, comprising:
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a light modulating system comprising a light modulating layer and a first polarizing layer;
a light cavity for providing light to the light modulating layer;
a reflector located below the light cavity and disposed to receive light from the light cavity and direct light toward the light modulating layer to illuminate the display using only ambient light in the reflective mode; and
a first microstructured film located above the light cavity and below the light modulating system, the first microstructured film comprising sawtooth formations, wherein the sawtooth formations each include a tilted surface;
wherein ambient light strikes the first microstructured film and a first portion of incident energy of the ambient light is refracted in a first angular direction and a second portion of the incident energy of the ambient light is refracted in a second angular direction different than the first angular direction. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A display apparatus capable of displaying information in a reflective mode using only ambient light and in a transmissive mode using a light source, comprising:
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a light modulating system comprising a light modulating layer between a first polarizing layer and a second polarizing layer;
a light cavity comprising a light source and a reflector, the light cavity adapted to selectively provide light to the light modulating layer, the reflector configured to reflect ambient light toward the light modulating layer to illuminate the display using only ambient light in the reflective mode, wherein the reflector of the light cavity causes a polarization phase shift upon reflectance; and
a cholesteric reflecting polarizer disposed between the light modulating layer and the light cavity, adapted to transmit a component of incident light having a first polarization and reflect a component of the incident light having a second polarization. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification