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 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.

Abstract: A display device in which ambient light reflections, for example, from IPS or FFS type displays are reduced by a circular polariser (e.g., linear polariser combined with external quarter waveplate) to make the light circular polarized, as it traverses the multiple reflective layers between the polariser and LC layer, and then an internal quarter waveplate converts the light back to linear polarisation before it enters the LC, so the display can operate as normal, while the circular polariser absorbs unwanted reflections of ambient light from within the display.

Abstract: A switchable view angle control device for a privacy view display system includes an electrically switchable 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 view angle control LCD; and a polarized light source located on a non-viewing side of the switchable view angle control LCD that emits polarized light. When the switchable view angle control LCD in the first state, the view angle control device operates in a narrow angle view mode in which off-axis polarized light from the polarized light source is changed by the switchable view angle control LCD so that the off-axis light is absorbed by the front polarizer, and on-axis light passes through the switchable view angle control LCD and the front polarizer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device (LCD) has improved brightness by the use of a patterned alignment structure. The LCD includes a liquid crystal (LC) layer; an electrode arrangement configured to apply an electric field to the LC layer, the electrode arrangement including a patterned electrode layer having a plurality of individual electrode elements and adjacent individual electrode elements are spaced apart from each other by an inter-electrode gap; and a patterned alignment structure that is deposited on the patterned electrode layer and is positioned to align LC molecules of the LC layer. The patterned alignment structure is configured such that a stronger anchoring energy is present at electrode edges of the individual electrode elements of the patterned electrode layer, as compared to a weaker anchoring energy present at electrode centers of the individual electrode elements and/or present at least at a portion of the inter-electrode gaps between adjacent individual electrode elements.

Abstract: A transflective display has a viewing side and a non-viewing and includes a front polarizer with a transmission axis arranged in a first direction; a front substrate coupled to the non-viewing side of the front polarizer; a liquid crystal (LC) layer coupled to the non-viewing side of the front substrate; a quantum rod layer with one or more quantum rods aligned in a second direction, wherein the quantum rod layer is coupled to the non-viewing side of the LC layer; a rear substrate coupled to the non-viewing side of the quantum rod layer; and a backlight coupled to the non-viewing side of the quantum rod layer, wherein the quantum rod layer emits partially polarized light with a major axis substantially parallel (i.e. within ±15°) to the second direction. Each of the one or more quantum rods includes a long axis and a short axis, and the long axis is substantially parallel to the second direction.

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: Provided is a display device capable of high-quality three-dimensional displaying. During three-dimensional displaying for a viewing position ?, in a first term, an entirety of a first predetermined region of a second liquid crystal panel takes on a light-blocking state and a first adjacent region, which is adjacent to the first predetermined region in the first direction, takes on a light-transmitting state. In a second term, at least one of two side regions in the first predetermined region takes on the light-transmitting state, a remaining region of the first predetermined region takes on the light-blocking state, and at least part of the first adjacent region takes on the light-transmitting state.

Abstract: A display system which includes a first image display; a second image display; a reflective polariser disposed between the first image display and the second image display, with the second image display disposed on a viewing side of the display system; and a controller for addressing image data to the first image display and the second image display, wherein the controller, the first image display and second image display are configured to selectively operate in accordance with: a first display function in which the first image display is visible to a viewer through the second image display and the second image display appears substantially transparent to the first image display; a second display function in which the display system is in a reflective mode that conveys information to a user; and a third display function in which images are addressed to both the first image display and the second image display.

Abstract: A display system includes a first image display, a second image display, a specular reflective polariser disposed between the first image display and the second image display, and an optical diffuser layer disposed between the first image display and reflective polariser. The reflective polariser and optical diffuser may be combined into a single film with the reflective polariser disposed on a viewing side of the display system, and the optical diffuser disposed between the first image display and reflective polariser. A controller is configured to address image data to the first image display and the second image display. The controller, the first image display and second image display are configured to selectively operate to pass light through the specular reflective polariser and the optical diffuser layer in accordance with multiple display functions in which the first image display and the second image display have different viewing properties to a viewer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device (LCD) includes from the viewing side: a first electrode layer; a viewing side first liquid crystal (LC) alignment layer; an LC layer; a non-viewing side second LC alignment layer; and a second electrode layer; wherein one of the electrode layers is a common electrode layer and the other of the electrode layers is a segmented electrode layer, and at least one of the first and second LC alignment layers is a bistable alignment layer that is switchable between a first alignment state and a second alignment state. The LCD is operated by applying a first voltage pulse to the segmented electrode layer and applying a second voltage pulse to the common electrode layer (Vcom pulse), the first and second voltage pulses combining to form a resultant voltage pulse. The bistable alignment layer switches from the first alignment state to the second alignment state when a magnitude of the resultant voltage pulse exceeds a switching voltage threshold.

Abstract: A display device includes an optical stack arrangement including from the viewing side: a front polarizer; a first electrode layer; a viewing side bistable liquid crystal (LC) alignment layer; an LC layer; a non-viewing side bistable LC alignment layer; a second electrode layer; and a rear polarizer. The bistable LC alignment layers induce alignment of LC molecules of the LC layer adjacent to respective surfaces of the bistable LC alignment layers. The non-viewing side bistable LC alignment layer is switchable between two stable LC alignment states and the viewing side bistable LC alignment layer is also switchable between two stable LC alignment states. A combination of structural parameters of the viewing side and non-viewing side bistable LC alignment layers and the front and rear polarizers renders the display device operable to achieve four stable distinct optical states, each stable distinct optical state having a different optical response when viewed from the viewing side of the display device.

Abstract: A display device in which ambient light reflections, for example, from IPS or FFS type displays are reduced by a circular polariser (e.g., linear polariser combined with external quarter waveplate) to make the light circular polarized, as it traverses the multiple reflective layers between the polariser and LC layer, and then an internal quarter waveplate converts the light back to linear polarisation before it enters the LC, so the display can operate as normal, while the circular polariser absorbs unwanted reflections of ambient light from within the display.

Abstract: A display component controls a viewing angle in a display system that achieves a strong private mode and enhanced brightness in the private and public modes as compared to conventional configurations. A display system that is operable in the private mode and the public mode includes the display component in combination with an image panel.

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 flexible circular polarizer includes from a viewing side: a substrate; a liquid crystal (LC) polarizer layer; and a quarter wave plate reactive mesogen (RM) retarder layer. An optical axis of the RM retarder is aligned in a first direction and a transmission axis of the LC polarizer is aligned in a second direction different from the first direction, and an angle between the first and second directions has a value of 45°±15°. At least one of the substrate and the LC polarizer has a surface configuration that imparts an alignment to an adjacent non-viewing side layer. The LC polarizer layer may have a surface configuration that imparts an alignment to the RM retarder in the first direction, and/or the substrate may have a surface configuration that imparts an alignment to the LC polarizer in the second direction. A flexible display system includes from a viewing side the flexible circular polarizer, and a display device that is adhered to the flexible circular polarizer.

Abstract: A flexible circular polarizer is provided that is suitable for flexible and bendable display systems. A flexible circular polarizer includes from a non-viewing side: a substrate; a quarter wave plate reactive mesogen (RM) retarder layer; and a liquid crystal (LC) polarizer layer. An optical axis of the RM retarder at a first position in the RM retarder layer is aligned in a first direction and a transmission axis of the LC polarizer is aligned in a second direction different from the first direction. At least one of the substrate and the RM retarder has a surface configuration that imparts an alignment to an adjacent viewing side layer. A flexible display system includes from a viewing side the flexible circular polarizer and a display device that is adhered to the flexible circular polarizer. The flexible display system is repeatedly reconfigurable between a planar state and a non-planar state, such as being bent, folded, rolled, flexed, and/or curved from the planar state.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) array system is configured to apply suction forces for the manipulation of objects. The MEMS system includes includes a two-dimensional MEMS array of a plurality of individual MEMS elements. Each MEMS element comprises: a casing structure; a flexible membrane attached to the casing structure; and an electrode structure, wherein a voltage applied to the electrode structure actuates the MEMS element to cause the flexible membrane to flex relative to the casing structure. The flexible membrane and the casing structure define a gap into which the flexible membrane may flex, and a foot extends from the flexible membrane in a direction away from the casing structure, wherein the foot and the flexible membrane define a clearance region on an opposite side of the flexible membrane from the gap. When the MEMS element interacts with an object to be manipulated the foot spaces the membrane apart from the object.

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 display device includes an optical stack arrangement including from the viewing side: a front polarizer; a first electrode layer; a viewing side bistable liquid crystal (LC) alignment layer; an LC layer; a non-viewing side bistable LC alignment layer; a second electrode layer; and a rear polarizer. The bistable LC alignment layers induce alignment of LC molecules of the LC layer adjacent to respective surfaces of the bistable LC alignment layers. The non-viewing side bistable LC alignment layer is switchable between two stable LC alignment states and the viewing side bistable LC alignment layer is also switchable between two stable LC alignment states. A combination of structural parameters of the viewing side and non-viewing side bistable LC alignment layers and the front and rear polarizers renders the display device operable to achieve four stable distinct optical states, each stable distinct optical state having a different optical response when viewed from the viewing side of the display device.