Hybrid display assembly including a solar cell

• US 9,761,643 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2015
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Sagardoyburu, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ashok
• Application Number:
  US14/793,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20160043149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13306 Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells G02F1/132, G02F1/133382 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13324 Circuits comprising solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1333 Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methodsG02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133528 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133536 Reflective polarizers G02F1/13362 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133541 Circular polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/44 Arrangements combining different electro-active layers, e.g. electrochromic, liquid crystal or electroluminescent layers
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 10/02 the power supply being a radioactive or photovoltaic source
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/50 OLEDs integrated with light modulating elements, e.g. with electrochromic elements, photochromic elements or liquid crystal elements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/60 OLEDs integrated with inorganic light-sensitive elements, e.g. with inorganic solar cells or inorganic photodiodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

Assembly for the display of at least one piece of information for a portable object, this display assembly (1) including a first, at least partially transparent, display device (2) which is located on the side of an observer (4) and arranged to display at least a first piece of information, a second, at least partially transparent, display device (6) for displaying at least a second piece of information and a solar cell (10) being disposed in that order underneath the first display device (2), the first and second display devices (2, 6) being capable of switching between an active state in which they display information and a passive state in which they do not display information.

Claims

1. An assembly for displaying at least one piece of information for a portable object, wherein the display assembly includes a first, at least partially transparent, display device which is located on the side of an observer and arranged to display at least a first piece of information, wherein a second, at least partially transparent, display device arranged to display at least a second piece of information and a solar cell are disposed in that order underneath the first display device,

wherein the first and second display devices are configured to switch between an active state in which they display information and a passive state in which they do not display information,

wherein the first display device located on the side of the observer is of the reflective type, and wherein the second display device disposed underneath the first display device is of the emissive type,

wherein the first display device includes a reflective liquid crystal display cell arranged to switch between an active state in which the cell is reflective and displays information, and a passive state in which the cell is transparent and does not display any information, and wherein the second display device includes a light-emitting display cell arranged to switch between an active state in which the cell emits light to display information and a passive state in which the cell does not emit any light, and

wherein the reflective liquid crystal display cell is selected from the group consisting of twisted nematic liquid crystal display cells, super twisted nematic liquid crystal display cells and vertically aligned liquid crystal display cells.

2. The display assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first display device is bonded on the second display device by means of an adhesive layer.

3. The display assembly according to claim 2, wherein the adhesive layer is formed of an adhesive film or a liquid adhesive layer.

4. The display assembly according to claim 1, wherein the reflective liquid crystal display cell (20) is bistable.

5. The display assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second display device includes a transparent organic light-emitting TOLED display cell arranged to switch between an active state in which the cell emits light to display information and a passive state in which the cell does not emit any light.

6. The display assembly according to claim 5, wherein the transparent TOLED display cell includes a stack of electroluminescent layers on either side of which are structured an upper transparent electrode and a lower transparent electrode.

7. The display assembly according to claim 1, wherein the reflective liquid crystal display cell is disposed between an absorbent polarizer located on the side of the observer and a reflective polarizer placed underneath the reflective liquid crystal display cell.

8. The display assembly according to claim 7, wherein a circular polarizer is disposed between the reflective liquid crystal display cell and the second display device.

9. The display assembly according to claim 8, wherein the circular polarizer includes an absorbent linear polarizer and a quarter-wave plate.

10. The display assembly according to claim 9, wherein the absorbent linear polarizer has an axis of transmission which is parallel to an axis of transmission of the reflective polarizer.

11. The display assembly according to claim 10, wherein the second display device includes a transparent organic light-emitting TOLED display cell arranged to switch between an active state in which the cell emits light to display information and a passive state in which the cell does not emit any light.

12. The display assembly according to claim 7, wherein the second display device includes a transparent organic light-emitting TOLED display cell arranged to switch between an active state in which the cell emits light to display information and a passive state in which the cell does not emit any light.

13. The display assembly according to claim 8, wherein the second display device includes a transparent organic light-emitting TOLED display cell arranged to switch between an active state in which the cell emits light to display information and a passive state in which the cell does not emit any light.