Liquid crystal display using the photovoltaic behavior of LED backlights as a source of electrical energy
US10310326B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 5, 2017 |
| Grant date | Jun 4, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 9, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG09G2360/144
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A novel liquid crystal display (LCD) is alternately operable in an active display mode, in which its LED array is forward biased and the LEDs emit backlight, or in an inactive display mode, in which the LED array is reverse biased and the LEDs function as photo diodes that harvest the energy of ambient light to generate a photovoltaic (PV) current used to charge the battery of a device, such as a smartphone, in which the LCD is embedded. In one embodiment, the LCD is also alternately operable in a semi-active display mode, in which one or more selected segments of the LED array are forward biased, and the LEDs of the selected segments emit backlight, while one or more unselected segments are reverse biased, and the LEDs of the unselected segments generate the PV current to charge the rechargeable battery.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.