Abstract: A multimodal electronic device (100) includes a shutter enabled dynamic keypad for presenting one of a plurality of keypad configurations to a user. Each keypad configuration, which is presented by an optical shutter (204) that opens or closes windows or shutters that are geometrically configured as alphanumeric or device keys or symbols. Each keypad configuration, in one embodiment, is limited to those needed for the particular mode of operation of the device (100). The optical shutter (204) is a low-resolution display that presents user actuation targets to a user in a low-resolution key area. As each mode of the device changes, the corresponding keypad configuration presented changes accordingly.

Abstract: A multimodal electronic device (100) includes a shutter enabled dynamic keypad for presenting one of a plurality of keypad configurations to a user. Each keypad configuration, which is presented by an optical shutter (204) that opens or closes windows or shutters that are geometrically configured as alphanumeric or device keys or symbols. Each keypad configuration, in one embodiment, is limited to those needed for the particular mode of operation of the device (100). The optical shutter (204) is a low-resolution display that presents user actuation targets to a user in a low-resolution key area. As each mode of the device changes, the corresponding keypad configuration presented changes accordingly.

Abstract: Disclosed are circuits and user interfaces of a mobile communication device that include a light source and a shutter that are driven by at least one common voltage line. Also disclosed are circuits and user interfaces of a mobile communication device that include a sensor and a shutter that are driven by at least one common voltage line. Further disclosed are circuits and user interfaces that include a light source, a sensor and a shutter that are driven by at least one common voltage line. The shutter may be divided into a plurality of segments so that one segment may be in optical alignment with a light source and another segment may be in optical alignment with a sensor. A shutter may be part of the same circuit as a light source and/or a sensor without needing its own circuit and driver.

Abstract: In a method of controlling a lighting unit of a display, a maximum value of ambient light intensity is determined (156). Ambient light intensity is sensed (154) from a first direction relative to the display and from a second direction, different from the first direction, relative to the display. The lighting unit is driven so that light from the lighting unit has a low intensity (172) when the maximum value is less than a first intensity threshold and so that light from the lighting unit has a high intensity, greater than the low intensity, when the maximum value is greater than a second intensity threshold.

Abstract: Described are a backlight, a backlight assembly for use in an electronic device and an electronic device configured to activate the backlight's first light source and to activate the backlight's second light source independently of one another. The described double-sided backlight may illuminate either the primary display or the secondary display. The disclosed backlight includes two light sources, each used to direct light in opposite directions from the double-sided backlight. The light guide of the backlight is configured to direct light from the first light source in a first direction to exit the light guide via its first face, and to direct light from the second light source in a second direction different from the first direction to exit the light guide via its second face.

Abstract: A system and a method are provided for driving a liquid crystal display (LCD) (30) in manner to reduce audible noise therefrom. A video display system (18) includes a thin film transistor liquid crystal display panel (32) having a plurality of gate electrodes (56), a plurality of source electrodes (58), and a common electrode (62). A common electrode function generator (40) is provided to generate a voltage waveform to drive the common electrode at a plurality of frequencies.

Abstract: A two-way trans-reflective display pixel (100) having two viewable sides (102, 104) is disclosed. The two-way trans-reflective display pixel has a first transparent layer (106), a second transparent layer (108), and light modulating medium (110) sandwiched between them. Both the first and second transparent layers (106, 108) have light reflectors (132, 136) and light absorbers (130, 134), which allow light entering from either viewable sides (102, 104) to partially reflected, partially absorbed, and partially transmitted, allowing an image to be viewable from both viewable sides (102, 104). A two-way trans-reflective display (402) comprising a plurality of two-way trans-reflective display pixels (100) and a transparent light source (412) is also disclosed. The transparent light source (412) provides color light, and enables an image from the two-way trans-reflective display (402) to be viewable in color from both first and second viewable sizes (418, 602).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a plurality of displays for an electronic device including a display layer (102, 104), a light guide layer (108), and a damping material layer (110) coupled between the light guide layer and the display layer. The display layer in one embodiment is a liquid crystal display layer, but other types of display layers may be used. The light guide layer may serve as a back light for the display layer, and may be between approximately 0.05 mm and 2 mm in thickness. Devices described herein include at least one interposed layer of acoustic and/or mechanical energy absorbing material, also referred to herein as damping material, between the display layer susceptible to vibration, and a hard layer near the display layer. The damping material as described herein may reduce the audio noise. The energy absorbing layer may take the form of an audio energy absorbing sheet interposed between layers of the display.

Abstract: An antenna suitable for use in a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag is disclosed. The antenna includes a plurality of discrete loop antennas (130, 140, 150) disposed concentrically on a substrate. Each one of said plurality of loop antennas is electrically isolated from each other one of said plurality of loop antennas.

Abstract: A flexible active signal cable (100, 200) includes a flexible printed circuit substrate (105), two electrical connectors (110), at least two metal conductors (115), at least one flexible optical waveguide (120), an optical transmitter (125), and an optical receiver (130). In some embodiments, the flexible active signal cable is less than 0.5 meters long and is capable of being wrapped and unwrapped from a 5 millimeter diameter mandrel 10,000 times with a low probability of failure at a test temperature, while supporting data rates greater than 25 megabits per second.

Abstract: Portable devices (100) that include displays (102) and are used in widely ranging ambient light conditions use selectable or adjustable optoelectronic input/output compensation functions to drive their displays. According to certain embodiments, a camera (122) or a light sensor (120) is used to measure the ambient light level, and an optoelectronic input/output compensation function that is specifically chosen based on the measured ambient light condition is used to drive the display. Furthermore, according to certain embodiments, the optoelectronic input/output compensation function is selected based on whether a display backlight (230) is turned on or off.

Abstract: An illuminated keypad (400) includes a substantially transparent keypad (420) having a plurality of actuator buttons (412), a plurality of switches (404) residing substantially and correspondingly below the plurality of actuator buttons, a display laminate layer (415) residing between the plurality of actuator buttons and the plurality of switches, and a light source (417) reflectively illuminating a pattern of a symbol on the laminate layer by radiating light through the substantially transparent keypad. The display laminate can include a driver layer (406) having a conductor pattern configured in the pattern of the symbol to be displayed on the substantially transparent keypad, a transparent conductor layer (410), and an electrically active ink layer (408) disposed between the transparent conductor layer and the driver layer.

Abstract: A two-way trans-reflective display pixel (100) having two viewable sides (102, 104) is disclosed. The two-way trans-reflective display pixel has a first transparent layer (106), a second transparent layer (108), and light modulating medium (110) sandwiched between them. Both the first and second transparent layers (106, 108) have light reflectors (132, 136) and light absorbers (130, 134), which allow light entering from either viewable sides (102, 104) to partially reflected, partially absorbed, and partially transmitted, allowing an image to be viewable from both viewable sides (102, 104). A two-way trans-reflective display (402) comprising a plurality of two-way trans-reflective display pixels (100) and a transparent light source (412) is also disclosed. The transparent light source (412) provides color light, and enables an image from the two-way trans-reflective display (402) to be viewable in color from both first and second viewable sizes (418, 602).

Abstract: A flexible active signal cable (100, 200) includes a flexible printed circuit substrate (105), two electrical connectors (110), at least two metal conductors (115), at least one flexible optical waveguide (120), an optical transmitter (125), and an optical receiver (130). In some embodiments, the flexible active signal cable is less than 0.5 meters long and is capable of being wrapped and unwrapped from a 5 millimeter diameter mandrel 10,000 times with a low probability of failure at a test temperature, while supporting data rates greater than 25 megabits per second.

Abstract: An antenna suitable for use in a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag is disclosed. The antenna includes a plurality of discrete loop antennas (130, 140, 150) disposed concentrically on a substrate. Each one of said plurality of loop antennas is electrically isolated from each other one of said plurality of loop antennas.

Abstract: A transflective color liquid crystal display (200) with internal rear polarizer (275) has a front polarizer (260), a front substrate (210), a first color filter layer (212), a front transparent electrode (240), a liquid crystal layer (250), a rear transparent electrode (230), a rear polarizer (275), a reflector (235), and a rear substrate (220). The inclusion of an internal rear polarizer (275) results in little optical path difference between a reflective mode and a transmissive mode of the transflective color LCD (200). The internal rear polarizer (275) also results in little parallax, because the internal reflector (235) is very close to an image-forming layer (250). Additionally, a second color filter layer (214) can be added behind the internal reflector (235) to enhance the brightness and color saturation of the transflective color LCD (200) with internal rear polarizer (275) during the transmissive mode.

Abstract: An illuminated keypad (400) includes a substantially transparent keypad (420) having a plurality of actuator buttons (412), a plurality of switches (404) residing substantially and correspondingly below the plurality of actuator buttons, a display laminate layer (415) residing between the plurality of actuator buttons and the plurality of switches, and a light source (417) reflectively illuminating a pattern of a symbol on the laminate layer by radiating light through the substantially transparent keypad. The display laminate can include a driver layer (406) having a conductor pattern configured in the pattern of the symbol to be displayed on the substantially transparent keypad, a transparent conductor layer (410), and an electrically active ink layer (408) disposed between the transparent conductor layer and the driver layer.

Abstract: A transflective color liquid crystal display (200) with internal rear polarizer (275) has a front polarizer (260), a front substrate (210), a first color filter layer (212), a front transparent electrode (240), a liquid crystal layer (250), a rear transparent electrode (230), a rear polarizer (275), a reflector (235), and a rear substrate (220). The inclusion of an internal rear polarizer (275) results in little optical path difference between a reflective mode and a transmissive mode of the transflective color LCD (200). The internal rear polarizer (275) also results in little parallax, because the internal reflector (235) is very close to an image-forming layer (250). Additionally, a second color filter layer (214) can be added behind the internal reflector (235) to enhance the brightness and color saturation of the transflective color LCD (200) with internal rear polarizer (275) during the transmissive mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical retardation film comprising a layer of an anisotropic polymer material with an optical axis substantially parallel to the plane of the layer. The invention furthermore relates to a process of preparing the optical retardation film, to the use of such an optical retardation film in liquid crystal displays, and to a liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal cell and such an optical retardation film.

Abstract: The present invention provides co-doped zinc oxide to flat panel, light emissive display devices and vacuum microelectronic devices to improve their efficiency and lifetime. This material has a low growth temperature and is compatible with metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) processing technology. It is tranparent, chemically stable and has a low work function, which result in many advantages when being used as the cathode for the aforementioned devices. In one embodiment of the emissive display device, an organic light diode (OLED) display has a high work function metal anode, such as platinum (Pt), gold (Au) or nickel (Ni) and a low work function co-doped zinc oxide cathode. Because of the energy level alignment provided by these two materials, the potential energy barriers to injection of electrons from the cathode and holes from the anode into the organic emissive medium are minimized so the display device operates more efficiently.