Abstract: A process for fabricating a diffuse reflector includes: mixing a fluid that is immiscible in a solution containing mesogens into the solution to create a mixture containing droplets of the fluid suspended in the mixture; depositing a layer of the mixture on a surface; and processing the layer to form a film in a manner such that the droplets of the fluid disrupt alignment of the reactive mesogens in the solution and nucleate defects that propagate through the film. A diffuse reflector may include a first layer of cholesteric material that reflects a first wavelength of light and fluid droplets distributed in the layer to nucleate defects and separate domains.

Abstract: A reflective display device includes a pixel structure (200) and a liquid crystal (210) containing a dye. The pixel structure (200) provides the liquid crystal (210) with a first tilt state and a second tilt state that are stable absent application of an electric field. In the first tilt state, the liquid crystal (210) is in an untwisted configuration. In the second tilt state, the liquid crystal (210) is in a twisted configuration, and the dye has an effective absorption that is higher than an effective absorption of the dye when the liquid crystal (210) is in the first tilt state.

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 diffuse reflector (100) uses a host layer (120) containing particles (122). The host layer (120) contains a cholesteric material that reflects a first frequency of light, and the particles (122) in the host layer (120) create separate cholesteric domains (126) that reflect light of the first frequency in different directions.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a diffuse reflector includes: mixing a fluid that is immiscible in a solution containing mesogens into the solution to create a mixture containing droplets of the fluid suspended in the mixture; depositing a layer of the mixture on a surface; and processing the layer to form a film in a manner such that the droplets of the fluid disrupt alignment of the reactive mesogens in the solution and nucleate defects that propagate through the film. A diffuse reflector may include a first layer of cholesteric material that reflects a first wavelength of light and fluid droplets distributed in the layer to nucleate defects and separate domains.

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 display device includes a pixel structure (200) and a liquid crystal (210) containing a dye. The pixel structure (200) provides the liquid crystal (210) with a first tilt state and a second tilt state that are stable absent application of an electric field. In the first tilt state, the liquid crystal (210) is in an untwisted configuration. In the second tilt state, the liquid crystal (210) is in a twisted configuration, and the dye has an effective absorption that is higher than an effective absorption of the dye when the liquid crystal (210) is in the first tilt state.

Abstract: A diffuse reflector (100) uses a host layer (120) containing particles (122). The host layer (120) contains a cholesteric material that reflects a first frequency of light, and the particles (122) in the host layer (120) create separate cholesteric domains (126) that reflect light of the first frequency in different directions.