Pixel Structure With Tunable Photonic Crystal For Grayscale Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current photonic crystal displays using electrically tunable photonic crystal layers cannot directly display white or grayscale due to their inability to adjust reflectivity for these color levels.
Innovation Solution
A pixel structure with a 2×2 sub-pixel array configuration, where pairs of sub-pixels with different areas are arranged in various layouts, and an electrically tunable photonic crystal layer is used to apply electric or magnetic fields, allowing for the display of different colors and achieving gray levels by mixing complementary colors, thereby enabling the display of various white levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If electric or magnetic field control is used to adjust the photonic crystal layer, then the display can show different colors with high saturation and reflectivity, but the photonic crystal layer cannot directly display white or grayscale
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel is divided into multiple sub-pixels with different areas (first sub-pixels, second sub-pixels with twice the area, third sub-pixels with twice the area of second sub-pixels, and fourth sub-pixels with twice the area of third sub-pixels). Each sub-pixel is controlled by independent switching devices, allowing selective activation to achieve grayscale and white display through combinations of different area sub-pixels while maintaining the photonic crystal layer's color saturation and reflectivity advantages.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sub-pixels of different areas are arranged in a 2×2 array configuration, then grayscale and white levels can be achieved through area variation, but the pixel structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric sub-pixel area design where second sub-pixels have twice the area of first sub-pixels, third sub-pixels have twice the area of second sub-pixels, and fourth sub-pixels have twice the area of third sub-pixels. This geometric progression of areas (1:2:4:8 ratio) within a compact 2×2 array enables efficient grayscale representation (2^4=16 gray levels) and white display capability while maintaining relatively simple pixel structure compared to using more uniform sub-pixels.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The pixel structure effectively displays different levels of white and gray by manipulating the areas and arrangements of sub-pixels and applying electric or magnetic fields, overcoming the limitations of existing photonic crystal displays.
Implementation Method 1
Current photonic crystal displays employ electrically tunable photonic crystal layers with regular lattice structures. Therefore, due to Bragg reflection, when an external light source is incident, a light having a specific wavelength is reflected.
Implementation Method 2
The photonic crystal display may be driven by an applied electric or magnetic field which alters a lattice distance in the photonic crystal layer, so that light of different wavelengths are reflected
Implementation Method 3
The photonic crystal display may be driven by an applied electric or magnetic field which alters a lattice distance in the photonic crystal layer
Data Source
AI summary
A pixel structure including a pair of first sub-pixels, a pair of second sub-pixels and an electrical tunable photonic crystal layer is provided. The pair of first sub-pixels are substantially identical in area, and the pair of second sub-pixels are substantially identical in area. The area of each second sub-pixel is twice the area of each first sub-pixel. In addition, the electrical tunable photonic crystal layer is disposed over the pair of first sub-pixels and the pair of second sub-pixels.