Triple mode liquid crystal display

• US 8,462,144 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2009
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Gilmore
• Original Assignee: Pixel Qi Corporation
• Inventors: Jepsen, Mary Lou
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US12/510,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20100020054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• Field of Search: 345/30, 345 87-102, 345204-212, 345/690, 345/694, 349/33, 349/65, 349/74, 349/96, 349/114, 349/117, 349/171, 359/35, 359/279
• US Class Current: 345/208
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133555 Transflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0439 Pixel structures
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0456 with a reflective area and a transmissive area combined in one pixel, such as in transflectance pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3685 Details of drivers for data electrodes

Abstract

A pixel in a plurality of pixels in an LCD of a system comprises a transmissive part, a reflective part and a latched driving circuit. The driving circuit comprises a transmissive section comprising a transmissive data input coupled to the transmissive part of the pixel, and is configured to drive a transmissive data value from the transmissive data input and to set the transmissive part to a transmissive display state based on the transmissive data value; a reflective section comprising a reflective data input (independent of the transmissive data input) coupled to the reflective part of the pixel, and is configured to drive a reflective data value from the reflective data input and to set the reflective part to a reflective display state based on the reflective data value.

Claims

1. A multi-mode display system comprising:

a multi-mode liquid crystal display comprising a plurality of pixels, a first pixel in the plurality of pixels comprising a first transmissive part and a first reflective part;

a latched pixel driving circuit comprising;

a transmissive latching section comprising a first transmissive data input coupled to the first transmissive part of the first pixel, wherein the transmissive latching section is configured to drive a first transmissive data value from the first transmissive data input and to set the first transmissive part to a first transmissive display state based on the first transmissive data value from the first transmissive data input;

a reflective latching section comprising a first reflective data input coupled to the first reflective part of the first pixel, wherein the reflective latching section is configured to drive a first reflective data value from the first reflective data input and to set the first reflective part to a first reflective display state based on the first reflective data value from the first reflective data input;

wherein the first transmissive part comprises a first capacitor formed in part by a portion of a liquid crystal material in the first transmissive part;

wherein the first transmissive part further comprises a second capacitor connected in parallel with the first capacitor and configured to maintain a charged state of the first capacitor; and

wherein the first capacitor and the second capacitor are separate from the transmissive latching section.

2. The multi-mode display system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pixels includes a second and different pixel, comprising a second transmissive part and a second reflective part;

wherein the transmissive latching section is configured to drive a second transmissive data value from a second transmissive data input and to set the second transmissive part to a second transmissive display state based on the second transmissive data value from the second transmissive data input;

wherein the reflective latching section is configured to drive a second reflective data value from a second reflective data input and to set the second reflective part to a second reflective display state based on the second reflective data value from the second reflective data input;

wherein the second reflective data input is independent of the second transmissive data input.

3. The multi-mode display system according to claim 2, wherein the first reflective data input and the second reflective data input are configured to be driven to a same global reflective data value during a time interval and wherein the first reflective part and the second reflective part are configured to transition to a same reflective display state substantially simultaneously based on the same global reflective data value from the first reflective data input and the second reflective data input.

4. The multi-mode display system according to claim 2, wherein the first reflective data input is configured to be driven to a first non-global reflective data value during a time interval, wherein the second reflective data input is configured to be driven to a second, different non-global reflective data value during the time interval, wherein the first reflective part is configured to transition to a reflective display state in the time interval based on the first non-global reflective data value from the first reflective data input, and wherein the second reflective part is configured to transition to a different reflective display state in the time interval based on the second non-global reflective data value from the second reflective data input.

5. The multi-mode display system according to claim 2, wherein the first transmissive data input and the second transmissive data input are configured to be driven to a same global transmissive data value during a time interval and wherein the first transmissive part and the second transmissive part are configured to transition to a same transmissive display state substantially simultaneously based on the same global transmissive data value from the first transmissive data input and the second transmissive data input.

6. The multi-mode display system according to claim 2, wherein the first transmissive data input is configured to be driven to a first non-global transmissive data value during a time interval, wherein the second transmissive data input is configured to be driven to a second, different non-global transmissive data value during the time interval, wherein the first transmissive part is configured to transition to a transmissive display state in the time interval based on the first non-global transmissive data value from the first transmissive data input, and wherein the second transmissive part is configured to transition to a different transmissive display state in the time interval based on the second non-global transmissive data value from the second transmissive data input.

7. The multi-mode display system according to claim 2, wherein a single basic picture element comprises the first pixel, the second pixel and a third pixel;

and wherein the third pixel comprises a third transmissive part and a third reflective part;

wherein the transmissive latching section is configured to drive a third transmissive data value from a third transmissive data input and to set the third transmissive part to a third transmissive display state based on the third transmissive data value from the third transmissive data input;

wherein the reflective latching section is configured to drive third reflective data value from a third reflective data input and to set the third reflective part to a third reflective display state based on the third reflective data value from the third reflective data input;

wherein the third reflective data input is independent of the first and second reflective data inputs

wherein the first, second and third reflective data inputs are capable of being driven to a same reflective data value.

8. The multi-mode display system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of reflective data value comprises a particular reflective data value, and wherein a reflective part in a pixel of the plurality of pixels is configured to be in a black reflective display state in the plurality of reflective display state based on the particular reflective data value from a reflective data input.

9. The multi-mode display system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of reflective data value comprises a particular reflective data value, and wherein a reflective part in a pixel of the plurality of pixels is configured to be in a non-black reflective display state in the plurality of reflective display state based on the particular reflective data value from a reflective data input.

10. The multi-mode display system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of transmissive data value comprises a particular transmissive data value, and wherein a transmissive part in a pixel of the plurality of pixels is configured to be in a black transmissive display state in the plurality of transmissive display state based on the particular transmissive data value from a transmissive data input.

11. The multi-mode display system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of transmissive data value comprises a particular transmissive data value, and wherein a transmissive part in a pixel of the plurality of pixels is configured to be in a non-black transmissive display state in the plurality of transmissive display state based on the particular transmissive data value from a transmissive data input.

12. The multi-mode display system according to claim 1, wherein the first capacitor and the second capacitor are configured to transition to the charged state based on the first transmissive data value from the first transmissive data input.

13. The multi-mode display system according to claim 1, wherein the first reflective part comprising a portion of a liquid crystal material, a third capacitor, and a fourth capacitor formed in part by the portion of the liquid crystal material, and wherein the third capacitor and the fourth capacitor are configured to transition to a charged state based on the first reflective data value from the first reflective data input.

14. The multi-mode display system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of transmissive data values includes a plurality of intensity values for a specific color.

15. The multi-mode display system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of reflective data values includes a plurality of values for different shades of gray including black and white.

16. The multi-mode display system according to claim 1, wherein the first pixel is coupled to a timing control circuit, wherein the first transmissive part comprising a first pair of electrode layers and a first portion of the liquid crystal layer between the first pair of electrodes, wherein the first reflective part comprising a second pair of electrode layers and a second portion of the liquid crystal layer between the second pair of electrodes, and wherein the first pair of electrodes and the second pair of electrodes are configured to be refreshed based on a timing control signal from the timing control circuit.

17. The multi-mode display system according to claim 1, wherein the timing control signal from the timing control circuit is of a frequency in a range of 10 hertz to 300 hertz, inclusive.

18. The multi-mode display system according to claim 1, wherein two or more pixels in the plurality of pixels form a single composite pixel as a basic picture element.

19. A computer, comprising:

one or more processors;

a multi-mode display system coupled to the one or more processors and comprising;

a multi-mode liquid crystal display comprising a plurality of pixels, a first pixel in the plurality of pixels comprising a first transmissive part and a first reflective part;

a latched pixel driving circuit comprising;

a transmissive latching section comprising a first transmissive data input coupled to the first transmissive part of the first pixel, wherein the transmissive latching section is configured to drive a first transmissive data value from the first transmissive data input and to set the first transmissive part to a first transmissive display state based on the first transmissive data value from the first transmissive data input;

a reflective latching section comprising a first reflective data input coupled to the first reflective part of the first pixel, wherein the reflective latching section is configured to drive a first reflective data value from the first reflective data input and to set the first reflective part to a first reflective display state based on the first reflective data value from the first reflective data input;

wherein the first transmissive part comprises a first capacitor formed in part by a portion of a liquid crystal material in the first transmissive part;

wherein the first transmissive part further comprises a second capacitor connected in parallel with the first capacitor and configured to maintain a charged state of the first capacitor; and

wherein the first capacitor and the second capacitor are separate from the transmissive latching section.

20. The computer according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of pixels includes a second and different pixel, comprising a second transmissive part and a second reflective part;

wherein the transmissive latching section is configured to drive a second transmissive data value from a second transmissive data input and to set the second transmissive part to a second transmissive display state based on the second transmissive data value from the second transmissive data input;

wherein the reflective latching section is configured to drive a second reflective data value from a second reflective data input and to set the second reflective part to a second reflective display state based on the second reflective data value from the second reflective data input;

wherein the second reflective data input is independent of the second transmissive data input.

21. The computer according to claim 20, wherein the first reflective data input and the second reflective data input are configured to be driven to a same global reflective data value during a time interval and wherein the first reflective part and the second reflective part are configured to transition to a same reflective display state substantially simultaneously based on the same global reflective data value from the first reflective data input and the second reflective data input.

22. The computer according to claim 20, wherein the first reflective data input is configured to be driven to a first non-global reflective data value during a time interval, wherein the second reflective data input is configured to be driven to a second, different non-global reflective data value during the time interval, wherein the first reflective part is configured to transition to a reflective display state in the time interval based on the first non-global reflective data value from the first reflective data input, and wherein the second reflective part is configured to transition to a different reflective display state in the time interval based on the second non-global reflective data value from the second reflective data input.

23. The computer according to claim 20, wherein the first transmissive data input and the second transmissive data input are configured to be driven to a same global transmissive data value during a time interval and wherein the first transmissive part and the second transmissive part are configured to transition to a same transmissive display state substantially simultaneously based on the same global transmissive data value from the first transmissive data input and the second transmissive data input.

24. The computer according to claim 20, wherein the first transmissive data input is configured to be driven to a first non-global transmissive data value during a time interval, wherein the second transmissive data input is configured to be driven to a second, different non-global transmissive data value during the time interval, wherein the first transmissive part is configured to transition to a transmissive display state in the time interval based on the first non-global transmissive data value from the first transmissive data input, and wherein the second transmissive part is configured to transition to a different transmissive display state in the time interval based on the second non-global transmissive data value from the second transmissive data input.

25. The computer according to claim 19, wherein a single basic picture element comprises the first pixel, the second pixel and a third pixel;

and wherein the third pixel comprises a third transmissive part and a third reflective part;

wherein the transmissive latching section is configured to drive a third transmissive data value from a third transmissive data input and to set the third transmissive part to a third transmissive display state based on the third transmissive data value from the third transmissive data input;

wherein the reflective latching section is configured to drive third reflective data value from a third reflective data input and to set the third reflective part to a third reflective display state based on the third reflective data value from the third reflective data input;

wherein the third reflective data input is independent of the first and second reflective data inputs

wherein the first, second and third reflective data inputs are capable of being driven to a same reflective data value.

26. The computer according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of reflective data value comprises a particular reflective data value, and wherein a reflective part in a pixel of the plurality of pixels is configured to be in a black reflective display state in the plurality of reflective display state based on the particular reflective data value from a reflective data input.

27. The computer according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of reflective data value comprises a particular reflective data value, and wherein a reflective part in a pixel of the plurality of pixels is configured to be in a non-black reflective display state in the plurality of reflective display state based on the particular reflective data value from a reflective data input.

28. The computer according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of transmissive data value comprises a particular transmissive data value, and wherein a transmissive part in a pixel of the plurality of pixels is configured to be in a black transmissive display state in the plurality of transmissive display state based on the particular transmissive data value from a transmissive data input.

29. The computer according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of transmissive data value comprises a particular transmissive data value, and wherein a transmissive part in a pixel of the plurality of pixels is configured to be in a non-black transmissive display state in the plurality of transmissive display state based on the particular transmissive data value from a transmissive data input.

30. The computer according to claim 19, wherein the first capacitor and the second capacitor are configured to transition to the charged state based on the first transmissive data value from the first transmissive data input.

31. The computer according to claim 19, wherein the first reflective part comprising a portion of a liquid crystal material, a third capacitor, and a fourth capacitor formed in part by the portion of the liquid crystal material, and wherein the third capacitor and the fourth capacitor are configured to transition to a charged state based on the first reflective data value from the first reflective data input.

32. The computer according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of transmissive data values includes a plurality of intensity values for a specific color.

33. The computer according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of reflective data values includes a plurality of values for different shades of gray including black and white.

34. The computer according to claim 19, wherein the first pixel is coupled to a timing control circuit, wherein the first transmissive part comprising a first pair of electrode layers and a first portion of the liquid crystal layer between the first pair of electrodes, wherein the first reflective part comprising a second pair of electrode layers and a second portion of the liquid crystal layer between the second pair of electrodes, and wherein the first pair of electrodes and the second pair of electrodes are configured to be refreshed based on a timing control signal from the timing control circuit.

35. The computer according to claim 19, wherein the timing control signal from the timing control circuit is of a frequency in a range of 10 hertz to 300 hertz, inclusive.

36. The computer according to claim 19, wherein two or more pixels in the plurality of pixels form a single composite pixel as a basic picture element.