Abstract: The method of the present invention produces a plurality of bi-level waveforms on the ROW/common lines and COLUMN/segment lines of a passive multiplexed liquid crystal display (LCD). These waveforms drive the LCD display using binary data from display memory locations. At periodic intervals a counter is incremented while the counter value is then used to 1) look-up in a table the bi-level data to output on the ROW/commons; 2) look-up memory locations associated with the active COLUMN/segments; and 3) to provide inverted COLUMN/segments data before sending the bi-level data to the COLUMN/segment lines of the LCD. The counter increments from zero to four times the number of ROW/commons before being reset to zero and the waveforms repeated. Thus, an algorithm produces one ON/select voltage and one OFF/non-select voltage that are provided to the LCD.

Abstract: A flat panel display (10) uses active matrix addressing. Two parallel substrates (20, 30) have an organic electroluminescent medium (40) that emits visible light in response to an electrical signal, sandwiched between them. The top substrate is transparent to allow emitted light (50) to be discernible to an observer. The bottom substrate does not need to be transparent, as the active matrix display operates in a emissive or reflective mode. An array of electrodes (22) is situated on an inside face of the bottom substrate, and a transparent electrode (32) corresponding to the array is situated on an inside face of the top substrate. The electrodes serve to define an array of pixels. A number of switches (24) are located on the backside of the bottom substrate, and are each connected to respective electrodes (22) by an electrically conductive via (28) in the bottom substrate.

Abstract: A method of multiplex driving a passive liquid crystal display (LCD) using a bi-level LCD multiplex driver for providing one or more bi-level waveforms on the ROW/common lines and COLUMN/segment lines of a multiplexed liquid crystal display (LCD). These waveforms drive the LCD display using binary data from display memory locations. At periodic intervals the machine state is advanced with the present state used to 1) look-up in a table the bi-level data to output on the ROW/commons, and 2) look-up memory locations associated with the active COLUMN/segments; and 3) to provide inverted COLUMN/segments data before sending the bi-level data to the COLUMN/segment lines of the LCD. The states advance four times the number of ROW/commons before being reset to the initial state and the waveforms repeated. Thus, the machine produces one ON/select voltage and one OFF/non-select voltage are provided to the LCD according to predetermined formulas.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is made with plastic substrates (#1) and has an isotropic, non-birefringent polynorbornene alignment layer (#4) formed over an electrode pattern (#2). This isotropic, non-birefringent polynorbornene alignment layer also functions as a moisture barrier to prevent degradation of the liquid crystal fluid. No additional moisture barrier layers are needed.

Abstract: A novel method of driving an LCD simultaneously provides improved viewing angle and improved contrast. Multiple driving voltages are applied to the LC cell to optimize both the viewing angle and the contrast. A first voltage that is optimized for wide viewing angle is applied to the LCD. A second voltage that is greater than the first voltage is selected to provide maximum contrast in the LCD. The first and second voltages are alternately applied to In the LCD, resulting in a display that has high contrast and a wide viewing angle.

Abstract: The driving voltage of a liquid crystal display can be adjusted by irradiating the liquid crystal fluid in the display with ultraviolet light. After the fluid is placed in the display, it is exposed to a predetermined dose of high intensity ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light alters the chemical composition of the fluid, thus changing the switching voltage of the fluid and the driving voltage of the display.

Abstract: A color filter for a liquid crystal display is made by depositing a layer (22) of colored dye in a pattern on a transparent substrate (20). The pattern is in pixel format, covering most of the substrate surface and leaving portions (23) of the surface between the pixels uncovered. A layer of silver halide (25) covers both the colored dye pixels and the exposed portions of the substrate surface. The silver halide layer is treated by exposing it to light so that those portions of the silver halide layer that lie directly over the colored dye pattern become transparent and those portions of the silver halide layer that lie between the pixels become black, blocking any transmitted light.

Abstract: A dual function electro-optical display device operates as a bistable display when driven at one voltage, and operates as a nematic display when driven at another voltage. In the first mode, the image in the display zone is formed by applying a first electrical signal to the device, and the image persists upon removal of the first electrical field. In the second mode, the image is formed by applying a second electrical signal to the device, and the image disappears upon removal of the second electrical signal. In a liquid crystal display, the liquid crystal fluid (9) is a blend of at least one liquid crystal nematic compound and at least one liquid crystal cholesteric compounds, and is maintained in a gap (4) between two substrates (1).

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is constructed by arranging two transparent substrates (1,1') in parallel fashion, using only one polarizer. The display has an active display area for displaying characters that have an embossed appearance. A single polarizer (8) is on the back side of one substrate (1), and a birefringent film (5) is on the front side of the other substrate (1'). The background (15) and the embossed appearing characters (10) have substantially the same appearance, but are differentiated from each other by a dark border (12), thus rendering the characters with an embossed appearance. The border has a substantially different appearance from the embossed appearing characters and the background, the border being preferably darker than the background. The transparency of the embossed appearing characters and the background are within about .+-.10% of the other.