Abstract: A transflective Liquid Crystal Display device has a liquid crystalline (LC) cell with reflective portions (101 R) and transmissive portions (101 T). The LCD device has a dual cell-gap design, the cell gap (dT) for the transmissive portions differs from the cell gap (dR) for the reflective portions. According to the invention, this cell gap difference is effected by means of an optical retarder (120) inside the LC cell. A thickness of said optical retarder (120) is such as to compensate the difference in cell gaps. Preferably, the optical retarder is a patterned retarder extending essentially only over the reflective portions (101 R) of the cell, and having quarter wave retardance.

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a liquid crystal layer (3) sandwiched between a front substrate (1) and a back substrate (2), and an optical layer (7) comprising a birefringent material, said pixels being divided into at least one transmissive (5) and at least one reflective subpixel (4), and said optical layer (7) being at least partly sandwiched between the liquid crystal layer (3) and one of said front substrate (1) or back substrate (2), and being patterned into domains (8, 9), each domain covering at least part of a reflective subpixel (4) or at least part of a transmissive subpixel (5).

Abstract: A transflective Liquid Crstal Display device has a liquid crystalline (LC) cell with reflective portions (101 R) and transmissive portions (101 T). The LCD device has a dual cell-gap design, the cell gap (dT) for the transmissive portions differs from the cell gap (dR) for the reflective portions. According to the invention, this cell gap difference is effected by means of an optical retarder (120) inside the LC cell. A thickness of said optical retarder (120) is such as to compensate the difference in cell gaps. Preferably, the optical retarder is a patterned retarder extending essentially only over the reflective portions (101 R) of the cell, and having quarter wave retardance.

Abstract: A flat display device, preferably of the PALC type, in which the plasma channels are formed by etching laterally-spaced slots in a spacer plate, attaching a thin dielectric sheet over the etched spacer plate, and bonding the etched spacer plate to a transparent substrate such that each channel is formed by the portion of the substrate between flanking walls formed by the etched slots in the spacer plate, adjacent flanking walls in the spacer plate, and the overlying portion of the thin dielectric sheet. In a modification, strengthening crossbars are formed between adjacent flanking walls.

Abstract: A flat display device, preferably of the PALC type, in which the plasma channels are formed by etching laterally-spaced slots in a spacer plate, attaching a thin dielectric sheet over the etched spacer plate, and bonding the etched spacer plate to a transparent substrate such that each channel is formed by the portion of the substrate between flanking walls formed by the etched slots in the spacer plate, adjacent flanking walls in the spacer plate, and the overlying portion of the thin dielectric sheet. By positioning the flanking walls between channel electrode pairs, thus providing glass-to-glass interfaces, anodic bonding can be employed to assemble the three channel elements. Etching can be simplified by pre-attaching the unetched channel plate to the substrate or thin dielectric cover sheet with an intervening etch stop, and etching in situ using the-etch stop to prevent etching of the substrate or thin dielectric cover sheet.

Abstract: Plasma channels in a PALC display have a minimal width, which implies that substantially all light passes via optically planar surfaces so that depolarization is prevented. The small width also enhances the extinction rate of the plasma so that less critical gas mixtures may be used. In a specific embodiment, the microsheet may be dispensed with.

Abstract: A flat display device, preferably of the PALC type, in which the plasma channels are formed by etching laterally-spaced slots in a spacer plate, attaching a thin dielectric sheet over the etched spacer plate, and bonding the etched spacer plate to a transparent substrate such that each channel is formed by the portion of the substrate between flanking walls formed by the etched slots in the spacer plate, adjacent flanking walls in the spacer plate, and the overlying portion of the thin dielectric sheet. In a modification, strengthening crossbars are formed between adjacent flanking walls.

Abstract: Display device based on the scanning window principle in which uniform light segments (30) are obtained via light sources, or backlights, (12, 40) which introduce light into a side (10) of a waveguide (15). Segments are defined via liquid crystal switches, or shutters, (21) or parts of a row of LEDs (40).

Abstract: A flat display device, preferably of the PALC type, in which the plasma channels are formed by etching laterally-spaced slots in a spacer plate, attaching a thin dielectric sheet over the etched spacer plate, and bonding the etched spacer plate to a transparent substrate such that each channel is formed by the portion of the substrate between flanking walls formed by the etched slots in the spacer plate, adjacent flanking walls in the spacer plate, and the overlying portion of the thin dielectric sheet. In a modification, strengthening crossbars are formed between adjacent flanking walls.

Abstract: A flat display device, preferably of the PALC type, in which the plasma channels are formed by etching laterally-spaced slots in a spacer plate, attaching a thin dielectric sheet over the etched spacer plate, and bonding the etched spacer plate to a transparent substrate such that each channel is formed by the portion of the substrate between flanking walls formed by the etched slots in the spacer plate, adjacent flanking walls in the spacer plate, and the overlying portion of the thin dielectric sheet. By positioning the flanking walls between channel electrode pairs, thus providing glass-to-glass interfaces, anodic bonding can be employed to assemble the three channel elements. Etching can be simplified by pre-attaching the unetched channel plate to the substrate or thin dielectric cover sheet with an intervening etch stop, and etching in situ using the etch stop to prevent etching of the substrate or thin dielectric cover sheet.

Abstract: A plasma-addressed liquid crystal color display device comprising a layer of liquid crystal material, data electrodes coupled to the liquid crystal layer and adapted to receive data voltages for activating pixels of the liquid crystal layer, and a plurality of ionizable-gas-filled plasma channels extending generally transverse to the data electrodes for selectively switching on said liquid crystal pixels. The plasma channels are sealed off by a thin dielectric sheet. To reduce the magnitude of the data voltages needed to activate the device, the LC layers are given compositions such that a much higher fraction of the applied data voltages appears across the liquid crystal layer thereby allowing a smaller data voltage to be used to obtain the same effect on the liquid crystal pixels.

Abstract: An electronic array of data elements, in particular, a flat display device preferably of the PALC type in which the plasma channels are defined by walls of an organic material, preferably a polyimide material. A protective layer is provided over the polyimide walls to prevent deterioration. Spaced electrode portions are preferably provided on facing surfaces of the walls. The preferred method is to lay down a thick layer of polyimide material and a thin resist over the polyimide layer, pattern the resist, and then use the resist to pattern the polyimide layer in the shape of the desired walls. The walls are then covered with a thin dielectric sheet-like member to form the plasma channels.

Abstract: A flat display device preferably of the PALC type in which the plasma channels are formed by depositing successive layers of electrically conductive and electrically insulating material on a substrate containing spaced walls of a resist material that are preferably structured with a negative slope to form in the space between the resist walls flanking channel walls comprising an electrode layer and rising above it a wall of insulating material with the electrode layer sides exposed to adjacent channels. Subsequently, the resist walls are removed by a lift-off process removing with it the layer deposits on the resist walls leaving behind the layer deposits between the resist walls. The remaining insulating walls are then covered with thin dielectric sheet-like member to form the plasma channels.

Abstract: A channel member for a PALC panel has a channel in its surface and a wire in the channel as an electrode of the PALC panel.

Abstract: A process for fabricating the channel substrate of a plasma-addressed electro-optic display device comprising a layer of electro-optic material, data electrodes coupled to the electro-optic layer and adapted to receive data voltages for activating portions of the electro-optic layer, and a plurality of plasma channels extending generally transverse to the data electrodes for selectively switching on said electro-optic portions and closed off by a thin dielectric sheet, typically a thin glass sheet. The channel substrate is fabricated using anodic bonding to attach the thin glass sheet to an etched or walled preferably glass substrate containing the channels. This reduces stresses in the thin glass sheet. Reduced stress allows post processing of the thin sheet, particularly further etching to reduce its thickness.

Abstract: A flat display device, preferably of the PALC type, in which the plasma channels are formed by etching in a substrate laterally-spaced channels and bonding a thin dielectric sheet over the etched substrate. Adjoining each of the channels are shallow ledges, also formed by etching, which serve as recessed areas to receive enlarged ends serving as contact pads for each of the electrodes. Holes are formed in the thin dielectric sheet and contact material deposited on the bonded thin dielectric sheet such that the deposited material makes electrical contact with the underlying electrode contact pads and seals off the holes, which allows a plasma-forming atmosphere to be provided in the channels. This arrangement results in a glass-to-glass interface between the substrate and the thin dielectric sheet, which allows anodic bonding to be employed to assemble the two elements and thus eliminates the frit glass sealing process required in other constructions.

Abstract: A plasma-addressed liquid crystal color display device comprising a layer of liquid crystal material, data electrodes coupled to the liquid crystal layer and adapted to receive data voltages for activating pixels of the liquid crystal layer, and a plurality of ionizable-gas-filled plasma channels extending generally transverse to the data electrodes for selectively switching on said liquid crystal pixels. The plasma channels are sealed off by a thin dielectric sheet, and a color filter layer is provided in the device through which changes in the attenuation of the liquid crystal pixels may be viewed to obtain a color image. To reduce the magnitude of the data voltages needed to activate the device, the device layers are configured and given compositions such that a much higher fraction of the applied data voltages appears across the liquid crystal layer thereby allowing a smaller data voltage to be used to obtain the same effect on the liquid crystal pixels.

Abstract: A flat display device preferably of the PALC type in which the plasma channels are defined by walls of an organic material, preferably a polyimide material. A protective layer is provided over the polyimide walls to prevent deterioration. Spaced electrode portions are preferably provided on facing surfaces of the walls. The preferred method is to lay down a thick layer of polyimide material and a thin resist over the polyimide layer, pattern the resist, and then use the resist to pattern the polyimide layer in the shape of the desired walls. The walls are then covered with a thin dielectric sheet-like member to form the plasma channels.

Abstract: A plasma-addressed electro-optic display device having a layer of electro-optic material, data electrodes coupled to the electro-optic layer and adapted to receive data voltages for activating portions of the electro-optic layer, and a plurality of plasma channels extending generally transverse to the data electrodes for selectively switching on the electro-optic portions. The plasma channels each contain spaced elongated cathode and anode plasma electrodes and an ionizable gas filling. The cathode and anode electrodes are arranged in groups to reduce the connections required. Reference voltages are applied to the grouped cathode and anode electrodes such that the data voltages required to operate the panel are reduced decreasing vertical crosstalk. Various driving voltage waveforms can be used for further crosstalk reduction, to reduce the number of voltage levels required, and cause the cathode and anode electrodes to exchange roles during operation to extend lifetime.

Abstract: A flat display device, preferably of the PALC type, in which the plasma channels are formed by etching laterally-spaced slots in a spacer plate, attaching a thin dielectric sheet over the etched spacer plate, and bonding the etched spacer plate to a transparent substrate such that each channel is formed by the portion of the substrate between flanking walls formed by the etched slots in the spacer plate, adjacent flanking walls in the spacer plate, and the overlying portion of the thin dielectric sheet. By positioning the flanking walls between channel electrode pairs, thus providing glass-to-glass interfaces, anodic bonding can be employed to assemble the three channel elements. Etching can be simplified by pre-attaching the unetched channel plate to the substrate or thin dielectric cover sheet with an intervening etch stop, and etching in situ using the etch stop to prevent etching of the substrate or thin dielectric cover sheet.