Spatially Addressable Backlight for Color Infusion in Reflective Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display technologies face limitations in providing both power efficiency and color display capabilities, with reflective displays being limited to monochromatic images and color displays consuming significant power and being difficult to view in bright light conditions.
Innovation Solution
A display device incorporating a monochromatic image generator and a spatially addressable backlight generator with colored light sources to infuse colored light into monochromatic visual information, using a transflective spatial light modulator to enhance visibility and color presentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If reflective display technology is used to achieve power efficiency and visibility in bright light, then power consumption is reduced and visibility in bright conditions is improved, but color display capability is lost (limited to monochromatic images)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines reflective display technology with a backlight generator in a hybrid transflective display system. The reflective display component maintains power efficiency and bright light visibility, while the added backlight generator provides color capability, thus merging the advantages of both display types to resolve the contradiction between power efficiency and color display capability
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid display system achieves multi-functionality by incorporating both reflective and transmissive modes. The display can operate in reflective mode for power-efficient monochromatic display and in transmissive mode with backlight for color display, making the system adaptable to different application requirements and environments
2Adaptability or versatility
If color display technology (LCD/OLED) is used to achieve vibrant color visuals, then color display capability is improved, but power consumption increases and visibility in bright light conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using full-color displays for all content, the patent applies color selectively through the backlight generator only where and when needed. The majority of the display can remain in power-efficient reflective monochromatic mode, while color is added partially to specific regions or content elements, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining color capability where required
3Adaptability or versatility
If a hybrid transflective display system is implemented to provide both monochromatic and color display capabilities, then color information presentation is improved and power efficiency is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display system is segmented into distinct functional components: a reflective display layer for monochromatic content and a separate backlight generator for color infusion. This segmentation allows independent control and optimization of each component, managing complexity by dividing the system into manageable functional modules that can be controlled separately
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 solution allows for the presentation of color information while maintaining power efficiency and visibility advantages of reflective displays, offering a visually appealing and flexible display solution.
Implementation Method 1
The spatially addressable backlight generator may include an array of colored light sources that are driven to selectively emit light toward a non-reflective side of the transflective spatial light modulator
Implementation Method 2
The monochromatic image generator may reflect light from a primary light source using a transflective spatial light modulator
Implementation Method 3
allowing it to control the amount and direction of light passing through it
Data Source
AI summary
Some implementations related to a display device that includes a display surface and a monochromatic image generator. The generator may be designed to produce monochromatic visual information for display, incorporating a primary light source and a transflective spatial light modulator. The display device may include a spatially addressable backlight generator configured to backlight the transflective spatial light modulator. This generator may include an array of colored light sources, which are driven to selectively emit light towards a non-reflective side of the modulator, infusing colored light into the monochromatic visual information. This may result in infused color information being presented at the display surface with the monochromatic visual information. The display device may include one or more processors configured to effectuate the presentation of the infused color information.