EP0326248A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Visual display
Assignee: Raychem Corp
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Filing: 1989-01-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-01-12
Abstract
Abstract A visual display comprising a display medium (12) and a gain reflector (14) disposed behind the display medium (12) for reflecting incident light. The display medium (12) may comprise a liquid crystal material containing a dye that conforms to the structure of the liquid crystal material and a containment medium for inducing distorted alignment of the liquid crystal material which in response to such alignment scatters and absorbs light and which response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such scattering and absorption.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew L. Dalisa
- 👤 Richard Willey
- 👤 James Mccoy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:35
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1335; G02F1/133553; G02F1/1334; G02F1/03; G02F1/055; G02F1/137; G02F1/13743; G02F1/1375; G02F1/13756
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A visual display comprising a display medium (12) switchable between a first state in which incident light is at least one of scattered and absorbed and a second state in which the amount of such scattering or absorption is reduced, and a gain reflector means (14) disposed behind said display medium (12) for reflecting light passing through said display medium (12), characterised in that said gain reflector means (14) is such that said reflected light is angularly offset from specular reflection from said display medium (12).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A visual display comprising a display medium (12) switchable between a first state in which incident light is at least one of scattered and absorbed and a second state in which the amount of such scattering or absorption is reduced, and a gain reflector means (14) disposed behind said display medium (12) for reflecting light passing through said display medium (12), characterised in that said gain reflector means (14) is such that said reflected light is angularly offset from specular reflection from said display medium (12).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
A visual display as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that said liquid crystal material (22) is contained in a containment medium means (44) for inducing a distorted alignment of said liquid crystal material (22) which in response to such alignment at least one of scatters and absorbs light and which in response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such scattering and absorption.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
A visual display as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that said liquid crystal material (22) is birefringent and has an ordinary index of refraction in the presence of said prescribed input that is substantially matched to the index of refraction of said containment medium means (44) to minimise refraction and scattering of light, and an extraordinary index of refraction in the absence of said prescribed input that is different from the index of refraction of said containment medium means (44) to cause refraction and scattering of light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A visual display as claimed in Claim 3, characterised by input means for applying said prescribed input to said liquid crystal material (22), said input means comprising electrode means (32, 33) at opposite surfaces of said liquid crystal material for applying an electric field across said liquid crystal material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
A visual display apparatus characterised by a display medium (12) and a gain reflector means (14) disposed bhind said display medium (12) for reflecting light passing through said display medium (12), characterised in that said display medium (12) comprises a liquid crystal material contained in a containment means (44) for inducing a distorted alignment of said liquid crystal material which in response to such alignment at least one of scatters and absorbs light, and which in response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such scattering and absorption.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
A visual display apparatus characterised by a display medium (12) and a gain reflector means (14) disposed bhind said display medium (12) for reflecting light passing through said display medium (12), characterised in that said display medium (12) comprises a liquid crystal material contained in a containment means (44) for inducing a distorted alignment of said liquid crystal material which in response to such alignment at least one of scatters and absorbs light, and which in response to a prescribed input reduces the amount of such scattering and absorption.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A visual display as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that said display medium (12) comprises a dynamic scattering liquid crystal material (22).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A visual display as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said display medium (12) comprises an encapsulated operationally nematic liquid crystal material (22).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A visual display as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that said encapsulated operationally nematic liquid crystal material contains a dye (46).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A visual display as claimed in Claim 8, characterised in that said dye is a pleochroic dye having a structure operative to absorb light when said liquid crystal material is in distorted alignment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A visual display as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that said display medium (12) is a material selected from the group consisting of twisted nematic liquid crystal material and super twist liquid crystal material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A visual display as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said display medium (12) comprises a PLZT ferroelectric ceramic material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A visual display as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised by a front lighting source.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A visual display as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised by a color lens disposed between said display medium (12) and said gain reflector means (14).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A visual display as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that said gain reflector means (14) includes a pattern of fluorescent colors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
A visual display as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that said gain reflector means (14) comprises a plurality of similar units disposed in substantially contiguous relation, each unit including an emitting surface which is convex in a plane defined by first and second axes and concave in planes perpendicular thereto.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A visual display as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that said gain reflector means (14) comprises a roughened mirrored surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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