Abstract: A device and method for optimizing lighting for a display (108) in a multi-display electronic device (100), is disclosed. The method includes emitting light waves (302) from at least one light source (244), to a back surface (122, 132) of each display in a plurality of displays (108, 110), thereby back-lighting the plurality of displays (108, 110). At least one display of the plurality of displays is selectively back-lighted.

Abstract: The present invention includes a light guide system (200) and a method (300) for increasing the efficiency of light guide systems. The light guide system can include a light conduit (204) having non-luminescent light directing portions (210) that direct light to a display structure (208) in a non-random manner and a reflective material (206) coated on interior surfaces (220) of the light directing portions of the light conduit for immediately directing the light to the display structure. The reflective material can be coated on the interior surfaces without a boundary between the light conduit and the reflective material.

Abstract: A highly readable LCD display (300) with sub-pixels (100) that each has two portions, a tinted portion (116, 120, 124) that is at least partially transmissive and is covered by a color filter (108, 110, 112) in order to color that sub-pixel (100). Sub-pixels (100) further include an un-tinted portion (118, 122, 128) that is at least partially reflective and is not covered by a color filter. The absence of a color filter for the un-tinted at least partially reflective portion of the LCD cell results in greater contrast and reflective brightness for that portion of the cell. The tinted and un-tinted portions are part of the same LCD cell (102, 104, 106) and darken along with the tinted portion of the respective sub-pixel. Three sub-pixels (102, 104, 106) are used to form a three-color pixel (100), a number of which are arranged in a rectangular display array (300).

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a display-input apparatus (108) for displaying alternate character sets, in correspondence with a selected mode of operation of the device. The display-input apparatus uses first and second cholesteric display layers (302, 304) to display the different character sets. Each cholesteric display layer displays a different character set when active. When not active, the cholesteric display layer is rendered transparent.

Abstract: The present invention includes a light guide system (200) and a method (300) for increasing the efficiency of light guide systems. The light guide system can include a light conduit (204) for directing light and a reflective material (206) coated to the light conduit without a boundary between the light conduit and the reflective material. The light guide system can also include a light source (202) optically coupled to the light conduit. A method of increasing the efficiency of a light guide system can include the steps of providing (304) a light conduit and coating (306) the light conduit with a reflective material without a boundary between the coating and the light conduit.

Abstract: A communication device (100) comprising a body portion (110) and a display portion (130) that is rotatably connected to the body portion. A switch (160,161, 162, 163,164) is operable to reverse the modes of the inner (141) and outer (142) bistable clear-reflective layers in response to rotation of the display portion (130) with respect to the body portion (110).