Abstract: A composite lens system may include one or more first optical elements configured to provide a first focal length selected from a first continuous range of focal lengths, as well as one or more second optical elements configured to provide a discrete focal length selected from a plurality of discrete focal lengths. The one or more first optical elements and the one or more second optical elements may be configured in series such that the composite lens system provides an output focal length based on a combination of the selected first focal length and the selected discrete focal length.

Abstract: A reflective display apparatus is provided. The reflective display apparatus includes a textured sub-micron metal film textured in a periodic manner, a phase change material (PCM) layer, and a phase change control layer that is configured to change reflection properties of the textured sub-micron metal film by causing the PCM to switch between at least two of a plurality of phases.

Abstract: A polarizer for use with a display device having a viewing area and a non-viewing area includes a patterned hydrophobic layer, a patterned lyotropic liquid crystal (LC) polarizer layer, a lyotropic LC polarizer alignment layer, a reactive mesogen (RM) quarter wave plate (QWP) layer, an RM QWP alignment layer, a substrate, and an adhesive. The patterned hydrophobic layer surrounds the patterned lyotropic LC polarizer layer. The patterned hydrophobic layer is wholly contained within the non-viewing area of the display device. The substrate is adjacent to the RM QWP alignment layer, and the adhesive is disposed between the substrate and the display device.

Abstract: A reflective display apparatus is provided. The reflective display apparatus includes a textured sub-micron metal film textured in a periodic manner, a phase change material (PCM) layer, and a phase change control layer that is configured to change reflection properties of the textured sub-micron metal film by causing the PCM to switch between at least two of a plurality of phases.

Abstract: A composite lens system may include one or more first optical elements configured to provide a first focal length selected from a first continuous range of focal lengths, as well as one or more second optical elements configured to provide a discrete focal length selected from a plurality of discrete focal lengths. The one or more first optical elements and the one or more second optical elements may be configured in series such that the composite lens system provides an output focal length based on a combination of the selected first focal length and the selected discrete focal length.

Abstract: A display device employs a patterned quantum rod layer having pixel elements driven by pixel splitting to generate a privacy viewing mode. The display device includes a patterned quantum rod layer having first pixel elements including first quantum rods wherein the first quantum rods are aligned in a first alignment direction, and second pixel elements including second quantum rods wherein the second quantum rods are aligned in a second alignment direction different from the first alignment direction. An electronic controller is configured to perform pixel splitting whereby the electronic controller drives the first pixel elements and the second pixel elements such that the patterned quantum rod layer has an off-axis luminance different from an on-axis luminance to generate a privacy viewing mode. The first alignment direction may be oriented 90° relative to the second alignment direction.

Abstract: A liquid crystal (LC) lens structure may include first and second electrode substrates, and an LC layer disposed between the first and second electrode substrates, where each of the first and second electrode substrates include an associated LC alignment layer. The LC lens structure may also include a first lens region and a second lens region separated from the first lens region by an intermediate region. The LC lens structure may also include a first electrode layer having first electrodes segmented into two or more separately addressed electrodes for each of the first and second lens regions. In some examples, an electrical insulation layer may be disposed between the first electrode layer and a second electrode layer including a second electrode positioned within the intermediate region. In other examples, the LC layer may include a polymer wall extending from at least one LC alignment layer in the intermediate region.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus that has increased contrast in displayed images, from the viewing side includes; a first external linear polarizer layer having a transmission axis aligned along in a first direction, a color filter substrate layer. A patterned color filter layer including individual color filters, a guest-host in-cell polarizer alignment layer an in-cell guest-host polarizer layer having a transmission axis aligned along the first direction, a first liquid crystal (LC) alignment layer, an LC layer, a second LC alignment layer, a first electrode layer, a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate layer, a second external polarizer layer having a transmission axis aligned along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a backlight unit configured for illuminating the LCD apparatus.

Abstract: A display device employs a patterned quantum rod layer having pixel elements driven by pixel splitting to generate a privacy viewing mode. The display device includes a patterned quantum rod layer having first pixel elements including first quantum rods wherein the first quantum rods are aligned in a first alignment direction, and second pixel elements including second quantum rods wherein the second quantum rods are aligned in a second alignment direction different from the first alignment direction. An electronic controller is configured to perform pixel splitting whereby the electronic controller drives the first pixel elements and the second pixel elements such that the patterned quantum rod layer has an off-axis luminance different from an on-axis luminance to generate a privacy viewing mode. The first alignment direction may be oriented 90° relative to the second alignment direction.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a reactive mesogen (RM) guest-host polarizer is disclosed. The method includes forming an RM guest-host polarizer material on a substrate that promotes a substantially uniform planar alignment configuration of the RM guest-host molecules, forming a temporary layer on the RM guest-host polarizer material to align RM guest-host molecules of the RM guest-host polarizer material in the substantially uniform planar alignment configuration, performing polymerization of the RM guest-host polarizer material, and removing the temporary layer from the RM guest-host polarizer. The temporary layer includes at least one of a temporary fluid layer, a temporary particulate layer, a temporary gaseous layer, a temporary vacuum layer, and a temporary alignment substrate layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal (LC) device includes an optical stack arrangement including from the viewing side: a first electrode component; a first LC alignment layer; an LC layer; a second LC alignment layer; and a second electrode component. A voltage is applied to the LC device to create a potential difference between the first and second electrode components to switch an alignment of liquid crystals of selected portions of the LC layer from a first state when no voltage is applied to a second state when the voltage is applied. The first and second LC alignment layers are vertical alignment layers that induce a vertical alignment of the liquid crystals such that the first state when no voltage is applied is a vertical alignment state, and the liquid LC crystals switch to a planar alignment state as the second state when the voltage is applied.

Abstract: A quantum rod display device has an enhanced alignment of the quantum rods that is achieved by employing an aligned block copolymer material to align the quantum rods. The display device may be a transflective display device. The display device includes a liquid crystal layer and a quantum rod structure optically coupled to the liquid crystal layer. The quantum rod structure includes an aligned block copolymer material including a first polymer strain and a second polymer strain that are aligned relative to each other, and quantum rods that are embedded within either the first polymer strain or the second polymer strain, and the quantum rods are aligned by the alignment of the polymer strain in which the quantum rods are embedded. The quantum rod structure may be unpatterned whereby the quantum rod structure emits light of a single color or a combined color emission, or patterned into regions whereby at least two of the regions include quantum rods that emit light of different colors.

Abstract: A quantum rod display device has an enhanced alignment of the quantum rods that is achieved by employing an aligned block copolymer material to align the quantum rods. The display device may be a transflective display device. The display device includes a liquid crystal layer and a quantum rod structure optically coupled to the liquid crystal layer. The quantum rod structure includes an aligned block copolymer material including a first polymer strain and a second polymer strain that are aligned relative to each other, and quantum rods that are embedded within either the first polymer strain or the second polymer strain, and the quantum rods are aligned by the alignment of the polymer strain in which the quantum rods are embedded. The quantum rod structure may be unpatterned whereby the quantum rod structure emits light of a single color or a combined color emission, or patterned into regions whereby at least two of the regions include quantum rods that emit light of different colors.

Abstract: A switchable view angle control device includes an electrically switchable zenithal bistable liquid crystal display view angle control liquid crystal device (ZBD view angle control LCD) that is operable in a first state and a second state; a front polarizer located on a viewing side of the switchable ZBD view angle control LCD; and a polarized light source located on a non-viewing side of the switchable ZBD view angle control LCD that emits light that is polarized in a first direction. When the switchable ZBD view angle control LCD in the first state, the view angle control device operates in a narrow angle view mode in which the polarization of the light from the polarized light source is changed by the switchable ZBD view angle control LCD to be polarized in a second direction that is at least partially absorbed by the front polarizer, and on-axis light passes through the switchable ZBD view angle control LCD and the front polarizer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device (LCD) is configured for minimizing unwanted internal ambient light reflections. The LCD includes a plurality of layers, the layers comprising from a viewing side: a first linear polariser; an external retarder that is made of a cyclic olefin polymer (COP) material or a cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) material; a colour filter substrate; a colour filter layer; an internal reactive mesogen (RM) retarder alignment layer; an internal reactive mesogen (RM) retarder; a liquid crystal (LC) layer; and a second linear polarizer. The external retarder and the internal RM retarder are configured such that the optical properties (for example light polarization control function) of the external retarder and the internal retarder are matched to negate each other for light passing through the external retarder and the internal RM retarder. The LCD simultaneously maintains high image quality in both high and low ambient lighting conditions.

Abstract: A switchable view angle control device for a privacy view display system includes an electrically switchable view angle control LCD that is operable in a first state and a second state; a front polarizer located on a viewing side of the switchable view angle control LCD; and a polarized light source located on a non-viewing side of the switchable view angle control LCD that emits polarized light. When the switchable view angle control LCD in the first state, the view angle control device operates in a narrow angle view mode in which off-axis polarized light from the polarized light source is changed by the switchable view angle control LCD so that the off-axis light is absorbed by the front polarizer, and on-axis light passes through the switchable view angle control LCD and the front polarizer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device (LCD) has improved brightness by the use of a patterned alignment structure. The LCD includes a liquid crystal (LC) layer; an electrode arrangement configured to apply an electric field to the LC layer, the electrode arrangement including a patterned electrode layer having a plurality of individual electrode elements and adjacent individual electrode elements are spaced apart from each other by an inter-electrode gap; and a patterned alignment structure that is deposited on the patterned electrode layer and is positioned to align LC molecules of the LC layer. The patterned alignment structure is configured such that a stronger anchoring energy is present at electrode edges of the individual electrode elements of the patterned electrode layer, as compared to a weaker anchoring energy present at electrode centers of the individual electrode elements and/or present at least at a portion of the inter-electrode gaps between adjacent individual electrode elements.

Abstract: A transflective display has a viewing side and a non-viewing and includes a front polarizer with a transmission axis arranged in a first direction; a front substrate coupled to the non-viewing side of the front polarizer; a liquid crystal (LC) layer coupled to the non-viewing side of the front substrate; a quantum rod layer with one or more quantum rods aligned in a second direction, wherein the quantum rod layer is coupled to the non-viewing side of the LC layer; a rear substrate coupled to the non-viewing side of the quantum rod layer; and a backlight coupled to the non-viewing side of the quantum rod layer, wherein the quantum rod layer emits partially polarized light with a major axis substantially parallel (i.e. within ±15°) to the second direction. Each of the one or more quantum rods includes a long axis and a short axis, and the long axis is substantially parallel to the second direction.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device (LCD) includes from the viewing side: a first electrode layer; a viewing side first liquid crystal (LC) alignment layer; an LC layer; a non-viewing side second LC alignment layer; and a second electrode layer; wherein one of the electrode layers is a common electrode layer and the other of the electrode layers is a segmented electrode layer, and at least one of the first and second LC alignment layers is a bistable alignment layer that is switchable between a first alignment state and a second alignment state. The LCD is operated by applying a first voltage pulse to the segmented electrode layer and applying a second voltage pulse to the common electrode layer (Vcom pulse), the first and second voltage pulses combining to form a resultant voltage pulse. The bistable alignment layer switches from the first alignment state to the second alignment state when a magnitude of the resultant voltage pulse exceeds a switching voltage threshold.

Abstract: A display device includes an optical stack arrangement including from the viewing side: a front polarizer; a first electrode layer; a viewing side bistable liquid crystal (LC) alignment layer; an LC layer; a non-viewing side bistable LC alignment layer; a second electrode layer; and a rear polarizer. The bistable LC alignment layers induce alignment of LC molecules of the LC layer adjacent to respective surfaces of the bistable LC alignment layers. The non-viewing side bistable LC alignment layer is switchable between two stable LC alignment states and the viewing side bistable LC alignment layer is also switchable between two stable LC alignment states. A combination of structural parameters of the viewing side and non-viewing side bistable LC alignment layers and the front and rear polarizers renders the display device operable to achieve four stable distinct optical states, each stable distinct optical state having a different optical response when viewed from the viewing side of the display device.