Electrophoretic, high index and phase transition control of total internal reflection in high efficiency variable reflectivity image displays
US6215920A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 2, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 10, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 2, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S385/901
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Charged particles suspended in a medium such as Fluorinert.TM. Electronic Liquid are used to electrophoretically control total internal reflection (TIR) at a retro-reflective surface formed on a high refractive index material. Prismatic structures redirect ambient light from an overhead light source toward a display image and then from the image to the region in front of the image, yielding a high contrast reflective display. A transparent planar waveguide front lights the display with sequential flashes of red, blue and green light to generate a full color display. TIR can also be controlled at retro-reflective surfaces by means of a vapor-liquid phase transition, or by changing the absorption coefficient of a material using electrical, chemical and/or electrochemical methods.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.