Abstract: An electronic device comprises a photovoltaic unit, an energy storage unit, a voltage detector, a load switch and an application load. The device is configured to harvest and store energy from ambient illumination, and to optimise power delivery to the application load from at least one of the harvested energy and the stored energy. The photovoltaic unit, the energy storage unit, the voltage detector and an input of the load switch are connected to a common point. The photovoltaic unit harvests energy from the ambient illumination. An output of the load switch is coupled to the application load. The voltage detector measures a voltage at the common point and turns on the load switch when the measured voltage has increased to a level that is greater than or equal to a first voltage, in order to provide optimised power delivery to the application load from at least one of the energy storage unit and photovoltaic unit.

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 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 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: An LCD apparatus includes a first substrate and a second substrate. A first TFT array is deposited on the first substrate. A first array of drive electrodes is also deposited on the first substrate. A second TFT array is deposited on the second substrate. A second array of drive electrodes is deposited on the second substrate. The first TFT array, the second TFT array, the first array of drive electrodes and the second array of drive electrodes are configured to enable pixels or sub-pixels of the LCD apparatus to modulate light. The first TFT array may at least partially overlap the second TFT array, and the first array of drive electrodes may at least partially overlap the second array of drive electrodes, from an LCD viewing perspective.

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 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: An LCD apparatus includes a first substrate and a second substrate. A first TFT array is deposited on the first substrate. A first array of drive electrodes is also deposited on the first substrate. A second TFT array is deposited on the second substrate. A second array of drive electrodes is deposited on the second substrate. The first TFT array, the second TFT array, the first array of drive electrodes and the second array of drive electrodes are configured to enable pixels or sub-pixels of the LCD apparatus to modulate light. The first TFT array may at least partially overlap the second TFT array, and the first array of drive electrodes may at least partially overlap the second array of drive electrodes, from an LCD viewing perspective.

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 multimode display device is configured for enhanced performance of a non-directional (public) viewing mode and one or more directional (narrow) viewing modes. The display device includes a switchable optical assembly disposed on a viewing side of a top emitting electroluminescent display. The switchable optical assembly includes one of a switchable parallax layer that includes an electro optic material, or a non-switchable parallax layer in combination with a switchable scattering device that includes the electro-optic material and is disposed on the viewing side of the non-switchable parallax layer. The switchable optical assembly is switched so as to re-configure the display device between the non-directional and directional viewing modes.

Abstract: A backlight system controls a viewing angle in a switchable privacy display system that achieves a strong private mode and enhanced brightness in the private and public modes as compared to conventional configurations. The backlight system includes a first backlight unit that emits light from a non-viewing side of the backlight system toward a viewing side of the backlight system; a second backlight unit located on a viewing side of the first backlight unit that emits light toward the viewing side of the backlight system; and a privacy optic that includes a liquid crystal material and is located on a non-viewing side of the second backlight unit and between the first backlight unit and the second backlight unit, wherein the privacy optic operates to transmit light from the first backlight unit in a limited viewing angle range.

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 multimode display device is configured for enhanced performance of a non-directional (public) viewing mode and one or more directional (narrow) viewing modes. The display device includes a switchable optical assembly disposed on a viewing side of a top emitting electroluminescent display. The switchable optical assembly includes one of a switchable parallax layer that includes an electro optic material, or a non-switchable parallax layer in combination with a switchable scattering device that includes the electro-optic material and is disposed on the viewing side of the non-switchable parallax layer. The switchable optical assembly is switched so as to re-configure the display device between the non-directional and directional viewing modes.

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 light-emitting device for use in a display device has enhanced directional light emission, and enhanced on-axis light emission in particular. A light-emitting device includes a layer structure that includes from a non-emitting side: a first electrode layer; a first charge transport layer; an emissive layer; a second charge transport layer; a second electrode layer; an optically transparent layer; and a partially transmitting reflector layer. The light-emitting device comprises a plurality of regions and each region emits light of a different wavelength, such as for example red, green, and blue light-emitting regions. The optically transparent layer is present in at least one of the plurality of regions. The optically transparent layer may be present in more than one of the plurality of regions, and a thickness of the optically transparent layer may differ in different regions to optimize light emission at different wavelengths.

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.