Diffusive display device

• US 8,416,365 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2010
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Ilya D., Hebenstreit, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Qi, Mike
• Application Number:
  US12/980,246
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 349/9, 349/64, 349/74, 349/84, 349/96, 349/112
• US Class Current: 349/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13345 Network or three-dimensional gels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133528 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133541 Circular polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/44 Arrangements combining different electro-active layers, e.g. electrochromic, liquid crystal or electroluminescent layers

Abstract

A diffusive display, such as a polymer network liquid crystal display (PNLCD) and a visible wavelength light polarizer are combined to form a diffusive display device. The diffusive display device may provide black and white or color presentation with refresh rates suitable for playback of animation or full motion video using ambient or emitted light. By altering a state of the diffusive material, such as polymer network liquid crystals, between a scatter state and a clear state an image may be generated.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a polymer network liquid crystal display (PNLCD) configured to maintain a scatter state or a clear state;

a visible light circular polarizer coupled to the PNLCD; and

an organic light emitting diode display (OLEDD) positioned behind the PNLCD and configured to emit light through the PNLCD and the visible light circular polarizer.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the scatter state is configured to scatter at least a portion of light incident to the PNLCD such that polarization of at least a portion of the incident light is altered.

3. The display device of claim 2, wherein the incident light is altered from a first polarization to a second, different polarization.

4. The display device of claim 1, wherein the clear state is configured to leave polarization of light incident to the PNLCD substantially unaffected.

5. The display device of claim 1, wherein the OLEDD comprises elements configured to generate different colors of light.

6. The display device of claim 1, further comprising an interface between the OLEDD and the PNLCD, and wherein the interface acts as a reflector to light incident upon the OLEDD.

7. The display device of claim 1, wherein the visible light circular polarizer is disposed atop the PNLCD.

8. The display device of claim 1, wherein the visible light circular polarizer is disposed between the PNLCD and the OLEDD.

9. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a first control module coupled to the PNLCD and a second, different control module coupled to the OLEDD.

10. A display device comprising:

a diffusive display configured to maintain a scatter state or a clear state;

a visible light polarizer coupled to the diffusive display; and

an emissive display positioned behind the diffusive display and configured to emit light through the diffusive display and the visible light polarizer.

11. The display device of claim 10, wherein the diffusive display comprises a cholesteric display.

12. The display device of claim 10, wherein the scatter state is configured to scatter at least a portion of light incident to the diffusive display such that polarization of at least a portion of the incident light is altered.

13. The display device of claim 12, wherein the incident light is altered from a first polarization to a second, different polarization.

14. The display device of claim 10, wherein the emissive display comprises elements configured to generate different colors of light.

15. The display device of claim 10, further comprising an interface between the emissive display and the diffusive display, and wherein the interface acts as a reflector to light incident upon the emissive display.

16. The display device of claim 10, wherein the visible light polarizer comprise a circular polarizer.

17. A method comprising:

coupling a visible light polarizer to a diffusive display; and

coupling the diffusive display to an emissive display.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the diffusive display comprises a polymer network liquid crystal display (PNLCD) and the visible light polarizer comprises a circular polarizer disposed between the PNLCD and the emissive display.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the visible light polarizer is disposed between the diffusive display and the emissive display.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the visible light polarizer is disposed on a first side of the diffusive display and the emissive display couples to an opposing second side of the diffusive display.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the emissive display comprises an organic light emitting diode display (OLEDD).

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising coupling the diffusive display to a diffusive display driver module and the emissive display to an emissive display drive module.

23. A display method comprising:

acquiring incident light into a display device through a visible light polarizer;

receiving a signal to generate a particular color at a particular pixel of the display device;

when the signal generates a diffuse pixel;

configuring a diffusive display to a scatter state at the particular pixel such that the diffusive display scatters the incident light; and

reflecting at least a portion of the incident light scattered by the diffusive display back through the polarizer; and

when the signal generates a direct pixel;

configuring the diffusive display to a clear state at the particular pixel such that the diffusive display passes the incident light; and

blocking at the polarizer a substantial portion of the incident light upon reflection.

24. The display method of claim 23, further comprising modulating the diffusive display between the scatter state and the clear state at the particular pixel to alter intensity of the reflected light.

25. The display method of claim 23, further comprising, when the particular pixel is an emissive pixel:

configuring the emissive display to emit light at the particular pixel; and

passing through the polarizer at least a portion of emitted light from the emissive display.

26. The display method of claim 25, further comprising modulating the diffusive display between the scatter state and the clear state at the particular pixel to alter intensity of the reflected light or the emitted light.

27. A display device comprising:

a diffusive display configured to maintain a scatter state or a clear state within a plurality of sub-pixels, each sub-pixel configured to generate one or more colors of visible light; and

a visible light polarizer coupled to the diffusive display.

28. The display device of claim 27, wherein at least one sub-pixel of the plurality generates the one or more colors of visible light by reflection from a colored surface.

29. The display device of claim 27, wherein at least one sub-pixel of the plurality generates the one or more colors of visible light by emission of visible light.

30. The device of claim 27, wherein at least one sub-pixel of the plurality generates the one or more colors of visible light by reflection and emission of visible light.

31. The display device of claim 27, further comprising an emissive display coupled to the diffusive display and configured to emit light through the diffusive display and the visible light polarizer.

32. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

receiving a signal to generate a particular color at a particular pixel of a diffusive display coupled to a polarizer; and

configuring a plurality of sub-pixels of the diffusive display within the particular pixel to clear states or scatter states to produce, at least in part, the particular color.

33. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 32, further comprising configuring an emissive display element coupled to the diffusive display to emit light at one or more sub-pixels of the plurality.

34. A method comprising:

coupling a diffusive display configured to change particular pixels between a clear state and a scatter state to a color layer comprising a plurality of distinct colors arranged in a pattern; and

coupling a visible light polarizer to the diffusive display.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising coupling the diffusive display to a display driver module.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the color layer is configured to reflect incident light of a specific color.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the color layer is configured to filter incident light of a specific color.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the color layer is disposed between the diffusive display and the visible light polarizer.