Abstract: A reflective structure with transparent and semi-transparent transmission regions and includes a first transparent layer with a textured area, a reflective layer disposed below the first transparent layer and having a portion that is substantially conformal with at least a first portion of the textured area, and a second transparent layer disposed below the reflective layer and having a portion with a refractive index that is substantially equal to a refractive index of the first transparent layer. The transparent transmission region is configured to transmit a portion of light without substantial deviation, and the semi-transparent transmission region is configured to transmit another portion of the light from the first transparent layer with substantial deviation.

Abstract: A reflective structure with transparent and semi-transparent transmission regions and includes a first transparent layer with a textured area, a reflective layer disposed below the first transparent layer and having a portion that is substantially conformal with at least a first portion of the textured area, and a second transparent layer disposed below the reflective layer and having a portion with a refractive index that is substantially equal to a refractive index of the first transparent layer. The transparent transmission region is configured to transmit a portion of light without substantial deviation, and the semi-transparent transmission region is configured to transmit another portion of the light from the first transparent layer with substantial deviation.

Abstract: A transflective display (10) includes a backlight (14) and a display stack (12, 12?). The display stack (10) includes a first electro-optic layer (24) configured to modulate light of a first waveband and a second electro-optic layer (26) configured to modulate light of a second waveband that is different from the first waveband. A mirror (30) is positioned between the first and second electro-optic layers (24, 26) such that the first electro-optic layer (24) is positioned adjacent to a first surface (S1M) of the mirror (30) and has a surface (S1) that is configured to face an external light source (22), and the second electro-optic layer (26) is positioned adjacent to a second surface (S2M) of the mirror (30) and has a surface (S2) that is configured to face the backlight (14). The mirror (30) is also configured to partially reflect and partially transmit wavelengths in the first waveband and to at least partially transmit wavelengths in the second waveband.

Abstract: A light modulation layer of a full-color reflective display (112), the light modulation layer including an addressing layer (404); a mirror (406) positioned above the addressing layer (404), the mirror (406) configured to reflect light of a predetermined wavelength band; and an electro-optic layer (416) positioned above the mirror (406), the electro-optic layer (416) configured to absorb light of a predetermined wavelength band in response to a signal received from a switching device (204) of the addressing layer (404).

Abstract: A cholesteric reflector comprising a substrate and a first cholesteric layer that is disposed over the substrate and reflects a first polarization of light within a design waveband. A second cholesteric layer is disposed over the first cholesteric layer and reflects a second polarization of light within the design waveband.

Abstract: A birefringent diffuser includes a first optical material and a first birefringent material. The first optical material and the first birefringent material are combined to form a planar layer. The planar layer has an internal pattern of the materials presenting a substantially uniform index of refraction for incident light which is substantially normal to the planar layer and exhibiting a varying index of refraction for at least a portion of light which is trapped in guided modes.

Abstract: A display element (10) comprises a light modulating layer (40) for absorbing light in a colour waveband, and a reflector layer (16), substantially parallel to the light modulating layer (40), for selectively reflecting light in the colour waveband, and transmitting at least some non-reflected light. One of the light modulating layer (40) and the reflector layer (16) is fixed and the other of the light modulating layer (40) and the reflector layer (16) is movable. The relative positions of the light modulating layer (40) and the reflector layer (16) can be interchanged. In a first state of the display element (10) the light modulating layer (40) is in front of the reflector layer (16) in an incident light path so as to absorb incident light in the colour waveband. In a second state of the display element (10) the reflector layer (16) is in front of the light modulating layer (40) in the incident light path so as to reflect incident light in the colour waveband.

Abstract: A reflective display device includes a first absorption layer configured to be modulated between being strongly and weakly absorbing of light within a first specified wavelength band and to absorb light weakly in a second specified wavelength band and a third specified wavelength band, a second absorption layer configured to be modulated between being strongly and weakly absorbing of light within the second specified wavelength band and to absorb light weakly within the third specified wavelength band, a third absorption layer configured to be modulated between being strongly and weakly absorbing of light within at least the third specified wavelength band, and at least one reflector arranged between two of the first, second, and third absorption layers, the at least one reflector being configured to reflect light strongly within one of the specified wavelength bands assigned to the absorption layers above the at least one reflector.

Abstract: Various reflective display pixels are provided. In one embodiment, among others, a reflective display pixel for modulating the return of incident visible light is provided that includes one or more stacked cells. Each cell includes a fluid containing a light absorbing medium capable of absorbing incident light in at least one specified wavelength band for that cell and a light returning medium capable of selectively returning at least a portion of the light within the specified wavelength band for that cell. In other embodiments, each cell includes a fluid containing a light absorbing medium capable of absorbing incident light in at least one specified wavelength band for that cell and a light returning medium capable of selectively returning at least a portion of visible light outside the specified wavelength band for that cell.

Abstract: A transflective display (10) includes a backlight (14) and a display stack (12, 12?). The display stack (10) includes a first electro-optic layer (24) configured to modulate light of a first waveband and a second electro-optic layer (26) configured to modulate light of a second waveband that is different from the first waveband. A mirror (30) is positioned between the first and second electro-optic layers (24, 26) such that the first electro-optic layer (24) is positioned adjacent to a first surface (S1M) of the mirror (30) and has a surface (S1) that is configured to face an external light source (22), and the second electro-optic layer (26) is positioned adjacent to a second surface (S2M) of the mirror (30) and has a surface (S2) that is configured to face the backlight (14). The mirror (30) is also configured to partially reflect and partially transmit wavelengths in the first waveband and to at least partially transmit wavelengths in the second waveband.

Abstract: A light modulation layer of a full-color reflective display (112), the light modulation layer including an addressing layer (404); a mirror (406) positioned above the addressing layer (404), the mirror (406) configured to reflect light of a predetermined wavelength band; and an electro-optic layer (416) positioned above the mirror (406), the electro-optic layer (416) configured to absorb light of a predetermined wavelength band in response to a signal received from a switching device (204) of the addressing layer (404).

Abstract: A reflective display device (2) comprises a plurality of controllable light absorption layers (8) arranged in a stack. Each of the layers (8) is capable of absorbing incident light in a specified wavelength band. A selective reflector (10) is immediately behind at least one of the layers (8) and is adapted to reflect at least some wavelengths of light within the wavelength band and substantially to transmit light of other wavelengths.

Abstract: A reflective display device includes a first absorption layer configured to be modulated between being strongly and weakly absorbing of light within a first specified wavelength band and to absorb light weakly in a second specified wavelength band and a third specified wavelength band, a second absorption layer configured to be modulated between being strongly and weakly absorbing of light within the second specified wavelength band and to absorb light weakly within the third specified wavelength band, a third absorption layer configured to be modulated between being strongly and weakly absorbing of light within at least the third specified wavelength band, and at least one reflector arranged between two of the first, second, and third absorption layers, the at least one reflector being configured to reflect light strongly within one of the specified wavelength bands assigned to the absorption layers above the at least one reflector.

Abstract: A reflective display includes a display cell having a light incident wall, a second wall, and a reflective layer. A cholesteric liquid crystal fluid is disposed within the display cell between the light incident wall and the reflective layer and a plurality of pigment particles are movably suspended within the cholesteric liquid crystal fluid.

Abstract: A birefringent diffuser includes a first optical material and a first birefringent material. The first optical material and the first birefringent material are combined to form a planar layer. The planar layer has an internal pattern of the materials presenting a substantially uniform index of refraction for incident light which is substantially normal to the planar layer and exhibiting a varying index of refraction for at least a portion of light which is trapped in guided modes.

Abstract: A cholesteric reflector (100) includes a substrate (110) and a first cholesteric layer (120) which is disposed over the substrate (110) and reflects a first polarization of light within a design waveband. A second cholesteric layer (140) is disposed over the first cholesteric layer (120) and reflects a second polarization of light within the design waveband.

Abstract: A full-color reflective display pixel includes first and second independently addressable electro-optic layers, each layer being independently switchable between a first state in which the layer is configured to absorb at least one color region of visible light and a second state in which the layer is configured to transmit the at least one color region of visible light. A reflective color filter is located between the back surface of the first electro-optic layer and the front surface of the second electro-optic layer, the reflective color filter being subdivided into a plurality of sub-pixels in which each sub-pixel is configured to transmit a first color region of visible light and reflect a second color region of visible light. A broadband reflective layer is located behind the back surface of the second electro-optic layer.

Abstract: Various reflective display pixels are provided. In one embodiment, among others, a reflective display pixel for modulating the return of incident visible light is provided that includes one or more stacked cells. Each cell includes a fluid containing a light absorbing medium capable of absorbing incident light in at least one specified wavelength band for that cell and a light returning medium capable of selectively returning at least a portion of the light within the specified wavelength band for that cell. In other embodiments, each cell includes a fluid containing a light absorbing medium capable of absorbing incident light in at least one specified wavelength band for that cell and a light returning medium capable of selectively returning at least a portion of visible light outside the specified wavelength band for that cell.

Abstract: A light diffuser (20, 46) includes a plurality of fiber-like features (24) disposed in a filler (26) in a two-dimensional array. The features (24) have a longitudinal axis and are substantially parallel to one another. A refractive index of the features (24) is different from a refractive index of the filler (26). The features (24) are either a polymeric solid or a liquid. The filler (26) is substantially solid when features (24) are liquid. When the features (24) are a polymeric solid, at least one feature (24) of the plurality includes at least one predetermined variation in one or both of a longitudinal cross-sectional dimension and a horizontal cross-sectional dimension.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises a layer of liquid crystal material (3) between spaced-apart cell walls (1,2), and electrodes (5) provided on at least one cell wall for applying an electric field across at least a part of said liquid crystal material. The liquid crystal material has anisotropic light-absorbing particles dispersed therein and substantially aligned therewith. The invention also provides a composition for use in the display.