Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display (70) comprises a liquid crystal cell (38) disposed between a front substrate (40) and a rear substrate (36), a front polarizer (46) located in front of the front substrate (40) and a rear polarizer (32) located behind the rear substrate (36), a front retarder (42, 44) located between the front substrate (40) and the front polarizer (46), a rear retarder (62, 64) located between the rear substrate (36) and the rear polarizer (32), and a light source (30) located behind the rear polarizer (32). A transflective display having a number of differently colored sequentially flashing backlights is also provided.

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display (70) comprises a liquid crystal cell (38) disposed between a front substrate (40) and a rear substrate (36), a front polariser (46) located in front of the front substrate (40) and a rear polariser (32) located behind the rear substrate (36), a front retarder (42, 44) located between the front substrate (40) and the front polariser (46), a rear retarder (62, 64) located between the rear substrate (36) and the rear polariser (32), and a light source (30) located behind the rear polariser (32). A transflective display having a number of differently coloured sequentially flashing backlights is also provided.

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display (70) comprises a liquid crystal cell (38) disposed between a front substrate (40) and a rear substrate (36), a front polariser (46) located in front of the front substrate (40) and a rear polariser (32) located behind the rear substrate (36), a front retarder (42, 44) located between the front substrate (40) and the front polariser (46), a rear retarder (62, 64) located between the rear substrate (36) and the rear polariser (32), and a light source (30) located behind the rear polariser (32). A transflective display having a number of differently coloured sequentially flashing backlights is also provided.

Abstract: A reflective optical element is described comprising a microscopically structured surface with a reflective layer thereon. The reflective element allows for oblique incident light to be redirected and scattered into pre-determined angles by means of irregular piece-wise linear blazed structures. The reflective optical element can be used as a blazed scattering reflector internal or external to a display device. Several methods are described to produced such a reflective optical element.

Abstract: This invention relates to a scattering transflector wherein the reflectivity of a surface of the transflector is dependent on the angle at which light is incident on the surface of the transflector. This invention also relates to a display device comprising an optical modulating element and the foregoing scattering transflector.

Abstract: This invention relates to a scattering transflector wherein the reflectivity of a surface of the transflector is dependent on the angle at which light is incident on the surface of the transflector. This invention also relates to a display device comprising an optical modulating element and the foregoing scattering transflector.

Abstract: A switchable liquid crystal device, for instance for use as a reflective display, includes a cell containing a helical polymer network and a nematic liquid crystal. Electrodes are provided for applying a field across the cell so as to switch between different optical states. In a reflective state, the cell reflects incident light within a waveband which is relatively insensitive to temperature variations. The device is formed by filling the cell with the liquid crystal and polymer precursor material and then cross-linking or polymerising, for instance by photopolymerisation, the precursor material to form the helical polymer network.