Semi-Reflective Display Pixel Stacking to Preserve PPI
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic ink displays face challenges in achieving full color gamut display while maintaining thinness and high resolution, with microcapsule displays having limited refresh rates and electrowetting displays increasing device thickness and reducing light reflectivity.
Innovation Solution
A display structure is proposed where a reflective display layer and an emissive display layer are stacked at a pixel level, with each pixel capable of switching between grayscale and color modes, using a transparent resin or electrowetting ink materials to maintain pixel density and enhance light transmittance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If three stacked electrowetting structures are used to implement full color gamut display, then color display capability is improved, but device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display is divided into separate functional layers: an emissive display layer (LCD or OLED) for color generation and a reflective display layer for grayscale control. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specialized function independently, avoiding the need for three stacked electrowetting structures while achieving full color gamut display.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the emissive and reflective display functionalities into a single integrated structure where the emissive layer provides color information and the reflective layer controls grayscale, combining both capabilities in one plane rather than stacking multiple layers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If three stacked electrowetting structures are used to implement full color gamut display, then color display capability is improved, but light reflectivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the display into emissive and reflective layers, the reflective layer can be optimized specifically for light reflection without being blocked by upper structures, maintaining high light reflectivity while the emissive layer handles color generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The emissive display layer acts as an intermediary that generates color light which then passes through to the reflective layer, allowing both color and reflection functions to coexist without interference, unlike the blocked structure of stacked electrowetting displays.
3Adaptability or versatility
If first pixel zones and second pixel zones are alternately arranged in semi-emissive and semi-reflective display, then grayscale and color display are enabled, but pixel per inch (PPI) is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges grayscale and color display capabilities into the same pixel locations by stacking the reflective and emissive layers, allowing both functions to operate simultaneously at full pixel density without the need for alternate zone arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of arranging grayscale and color pixels in different spatial zones (2D plane separation), the patent uses vertical stacking of display layers (3D dimensionality) to enable both grayscale and color display at the same pixel positions, maintaining high PPI.
4Use of energy by stationary object
If microcapsule electronic ink display is used, then low power consumption is achieved, but refresh rate is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The display structure is designed to be multi-functional, capable of operating in both reflective mode (for low power consumption) and emissive mode (for high refresh rate), allowing the system to adapt to different performance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The display can dynamically switch between reflective and emissive operating modes depending on the content being displayed, enabling low power consumption for static content while achieving high refresh rates for dynamic content.
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
This structure maintains display resolution without reducing pixel per inch (PPI) and ensures high-definition imaging by optimizing light transmission and reflection, supporting both grayscale and color display modes effectively.
Implementation Method 1
An electronic ink display is a reflective display. When external ambient light is incident on the display, the light is reflected out of the display by ink particles to implement developing.
Implementation Method 2
The electrowetting electronic ink display utilizes a surface tension property of liquid to control ink droplets to spread and contract on a hydrophobic layer to implement imaging.
Implementation Method 3
The electrowetting electronic ink display utilizes a surface tension property of liquid to control ink droplets to spread and contract on a hydrophobic layer to implement imaging.
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides a display and a terminal device, and relates to the field of image display, to resolve a problem of PPI decrease of a semi-emissive and semi-reflective display. The display includes a reflective display layer and an emissive display layer disposed under the reflective display layer, where the reflective display layer includes a first cover plate, an ink filling layer, and a first thin-film transistor TFT electrode layer from top to bottom, and the emissive display layer includes an emissive display module layer and a first substrate from top to bottom; the emissive display module layer includes a plurality of pixels, each pixel includes an effective light transmitting zone and a non-effective light transmitting zone, the effective light transmitting zone includes an emissive luminescent material, and the non-effective light transmitting zone includes a second TFT electrode layer; and the ink filling layer includes a first zone corresponding to the effective light transmitting zone and a second zone corresponding to the non-effective light transmitting zone, where the second zone is filled with an electronic ink material.