Solar-powered device comprising a solar cell arrangement and a liquid crystal display and method of making

• US 7,460,188 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2003
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Junghans Uhren GmbH
• Original Assignee: Junghans Uhren GmbH
• Inventors: Brummack, Hanna, Megner, Günter
• Primary Examiner(s): Schechter; Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, WEN YING PATTY
• Application Number:
  US10/514,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20050225686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,036 Days
• Field of Search: 349/25, 349/27
• US Class Current: 349/25
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13324 Circuits comprising solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1335 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. polarisers or reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/03921 including only elements of Group IV of the Periodic Table
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A solar-powered LCD device, e.g., for a clock, includes a solar cell arrangement and a liquid crystal display. The solar cell arrangement includes an at least partially transparent carrier and at least one solar cell provided with at least one at least partially transparent contact, at least one first polarizer, a first at least partially transparent carrier, a first at least partially transparent contact, a liquid crystal, a second transparent contact, a second transparent carrier, a second polarizer, and a reflector in a stacked arrangement. The carrier of the solar cell arrangement is one of the carriers of the liquid crystal display.

Claims

1. A solar-powered liquid crystal display device, comprising a solar structure including:

an at least partially transparent first carrier,

a solar cell arrangement carried by the first carrier and comprising, in stacked relationship;

an at least partially transparent first contact,

a photovoltaically active layer, and

a second contact disposed on a side of the photovoltaically active layer opposite that of the first contact; and

a liquid crystal display carried by the first carrier and comprising;

a first polarizer,

a liquid crystal layer,

a transparent third contact disposed on a side of the liquid crystal opposite that of the first contact,

a transparent second carrier,

a second polarizer, and

a reflector,

wherein the solar cell arrangement includes an internal space formed therein, and the liquid crystal layer display is aligned with the internal space.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the liquid crystal layer display is disposed within the internal space.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein the internal space extends through the photovoltaically active layer and the second contact.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the internal space extends through the second contact, and the liquid crystal display includes a transparent fourth contact disposed on the liquid crystal display and extending into the internal space.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein the fourth contact is disposed between the liquid crystal display and the photovoltaically active layer.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first carrier includes front and rear sides;

and wherein the solar cell arrangement, the first contact, the liquid crystal layer, the second contact, the second carrier, the second polarizer, and the reflector are carried on the rear side of the first carrier, and the first polarizer is carried on the front side of the first carrier.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first carrier comprises a timepiece dial face.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first polarizer is seated on the first carrier.