The present invention enables a user of a portable electronic communications device such as a
cell phone to view information on a larger remote reflective cholesteric display. The
portable communications device may connect with the
remote display by wire or wirelessly. The
remote display is separate from the
portable communications device but can interact with it. The
remote display receives and / or receives and sends information relative to the
portable communications device. This information can include e-mail text and
graphics. The remote display, being a bistable
cholesteric liquid crystal display, possesses low power requirements unmatched by other display technologies. Moreover, the remote display can serve a
dual purpose of displaying images and collecting
solar power whereby a photovoltaic material behind the display generates electrical energy from light incident on the
cholesteric liquid crystal material, which may be used not only to power the remote display but also the portable communications device. This may result in a completely self-powered remote display and associated portable communications device. The
solar cell itself can be a component of the display. A display having only a single substrate may employ the
solar cell as the substrate. A dispersion layer comprised of
cholesteric liquid crystal material dispersed in a
polymer matrix, may be disposed over the substrate. Another aspect of the invention features a drapable remote bistable cholesteric display.