US4834508A — Complementary color liquid crystal display

Claim 1

Independent Claim 101 words

A liquid crystal color device, comprising at least one picture element (pel) means for controllably affecting light incident thereon to produce output light, said at least one picture element (pel) means including at least two color subsets, one subset including first and second color parts, respectively of a first color and the complement thereof, and the other subset including first and second color parts, respectively of a second color and the complement thereof, said subsets being arranged in optical additive relation, and means for selectively controlling each of the colors of said subsets to determine the color of such output light.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 101 words

A liquid crystal color device, comprising at least one picture element (pel) means for controllably affecting light incident thereon to produce output light, said at least one picture element (pel) means including at least two color subsets, one subset including first and second color parts, respectively of a first color and the complement thereof, and the other subset including first and second color parts, respectively of a second color and the complement thereof, said subsets being arranged in optical additive relation, and means for selectively controlling each of the colors of said subsets to determine the color of such output light.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 21 words

The device of claim 1, said picture element means comprising a plurality of picture element means arranged in optical additive relation.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 16 words

The device of claim 2, said picture element means being arranged in a substantially flat display.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 64 words

The device of claim 3, further comprising light source means for providing incident light for impingement on one side of said display, and said means for selectively controlling comprising driving means for selectively applying electrical input to said picture element means to determine the effect each of said picture element means has on such incident light thereby to determine characteristics of such output light.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 10 words

A color television display comprising the device of claim 4.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 64 words

The device of claim 3, further comprising light source means for providing incident light for impingement on one side of said display, and said means for selectively controlling comprising driving means for selectively applying electrical input to said picture element means to determine the effect each of said picture element means has on such incident light thereby to determine characterisitics of such output light.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 10 words

A color television display comprising the device of claim 6.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 53 words

The device of claim 1, each of said subsets comprising one plurality of volumes of liquid crystal containing pleochroic dye of one of said first and second colors and a second plurality of volumes of liquid crystal containing pleochroic dye of the respective complement of said one of said first and second colors.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 70 words

The device of claim 8, each of said volumes of liquid crystal material and pleochroic dye comprising operationally nematic or operationally smectic liquid crystal in a containment medium means for distorting the natural structure of the liquid crystal therein to cause coloring or color filtering of incident light, and said liquid crystal and pleochroic dye reducing the extent of such coloring or color filtering in response to such prescribed input.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 29 words

The device of claim 1, said picture element means further comprising at least a third color subset, said third color subset including a third color and the complement thereof.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

The device of claim 10, said first, second and third colors comprising a red, green and blue triad.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

The device of claim 11, said picture element means comprising a plurality of picture element means arranged in generally two dimensional relation to form a multicolor display.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 56 words

The device of claim 1, wherein said color subsets of a plurality of said picture element means are operative in response to a prescribed input to transmit substantially all incident light thereon with substantially no coloring of such light thereby to produce a bright appearance that is a function of the color of the incident light.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 127 words

A method for displaying a multicolor output using a liquid crystal device, comprising directing incident light to at least one picture element means for affecting light such incident thereon to produce a specified output light, such picture element means having at least two color subsets, one color subset including a first color and the complement thereof, and the other including a second color and the complement thereof, the two colors of such respective subsets being in optical serial relation, and such color subsets being in optical additive relation, said directing including directing incident light to all of such subsets of such picture element means, and selectively controlling each of the colors of such subsets thereby to determine the color of output light of the liquid crystal device.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 127 words

A method for displaying a multicolor output using a liquid crystal device, comprising directing incident light to at least one picture element means for affecting light such incident thereon to produce a specified output light, such picture element means having at least two color subsets, one color subset including a first color and the complement thereof, and the other including a second color and the complement thereof, the two colors of such respective subsets being in optical serial relation, and such color subsets being in optical additive relation, said directing including directing incident light to all of such subsets of such picture element means, and selectively controlling each of the colors of such subsets thereby to determine the color of output light of the liquid crystal device.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 14, further comprising controlling said picture element means to transmit substantially all light incident thereon without coloring such light thereby to produce a bright output of a color that is substantially the same as that of the incident light.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 20 words

The combination of subtractive and additive elements in an optical display cooperative to provide independent control of color and brightness.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 20 words

The combination of subtractive and additive elements in an optical display cooperative to provide independent control of color and brightness.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 15 words

The combination of claim 16, said elements being independently operative to control saturation and hue.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 13 words

The combination of claim 17, wherein each element comprises a complementary color pair.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 25 words

The combination of claim 18, wherein said elements comprise three complementary color pairs, each pair having a different respective primary color and the complement thereof.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 16 words

The combination of claim 19, wherein each pair is capable of providing a two color system.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 28 words

The combination of claim 16, wherein light is controlled by plural volumes of liquid crystal in a containment medium, and pleochroic dye in respective volumes of liquid crystal.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 43 words

The combination of claim 21, wherein respective groups of volumes of liquid crystal are discriminating with respect to a prescribed input to alter the output color of light produced in response to incident light on such volumes of liquid crystal and pleochroic dye.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 47 words

The combination of claim 16, said elements being operative to color light or to transmit substantially all light incident thereon without coloring the light thereby to produce a relatively bright output which is a color that is substantially the same as the color of the incident light.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 22 words

A color display using a multiplicity of elements made up of complementary color pair parts, each part being controllable to affect light.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 22 words

A color display using a multiplicity of elements made up of complementary color pair parts, each part being controllable to affect light.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 13 words

The display of claim 24, each of said elements comprising a picture element.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 24 words

The display of claim 24, further comprising reflector means for reflecting light through the respective complementary color pairs to achieve a prescribed color output.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 19 words

The display of claim 24, wherein said complementary color pairs are arranged to transmit light to color the same.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 19 words

The display of claim 23, further comprising a light source to provide input light to said complementary color pairs.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 19 words

The display of claim 24, wherein each of said elements comprises a set of primary colors and their complements.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 12 words

The display of claim 29, said primary colors comprising three primary colors.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 15 words

The display of claim 30, said three primary colors comprising, respectively, red, green and blue.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 15 words

The display of claim 30, wherein said primary colors are a set of unique hues.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 13 words

The display of claim 24, wherein each element comprises plural complementary color pairs.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 13 words

The display of claim 33, wherein each element comprises three complementary color pairs.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 32 words

The display of claim 24, further comprising reflector means for reflecting light transmitted through the complementary color pairs, whereby the display is operative to provide color output in response to ambient lighting.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 18 words

The display of claim 24, wherein said complementary color pairs are operative to provide substantially full gray scale.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 21 words

The display of claim 24, said complementary color pairs comprising plural groups of volumes of liquid crystal and respective pleochroic dyes.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 72 words

The display of claim 37, wherein said liquid crystal comprises operationally nematic liquid crystal, said volumes comprise volumes of liquid crystal material in a containment medium, and said containment medium including means for distorting the natural structure of the liquid crystal in the absence of a prescribed input to effect coloring of light by the dye; and such liquid crystal being responsive to such prescribed input to reduce the amount of coloring.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 28 words

The invention of claim 24, wherein light is controlled by plural volumes of liquid crystal in a containment medium, and pleochroic dye in respective volumes of liquid crystal.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 49 words

The display of claim 24, wherein said complementary color pair parts are controllable to color light or to transmit substantially all incident light thereon without substantially coloring such light to produce a bright output that has a color which is substantially the same as that of the incident light.

Claim 45

Independent Claim 31 words

A method of producing a controllable optical output, comprising directing light at or through an array of elements made up of electrically controllable complementary color filtering devices, and controlling such devices.

Claim 46

Independent Claim 31 words

A method of producing a controllable optical output, comprising directing light at or through an array of elements made up of electrically controllable complementary color filtering devices, and controlling such devices.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 41, said controlling including controlling the amount of filtering by respective devices.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 42, said controlling further comprising controlling the alignment properties of liquid crystal and pleochroic dye.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 41, said complementary color filtering devices comprising plural complementary color pairs, and said controlling comprising controlling the filtering by such complementary color pairs to achieve color and brightness control.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 44, wherein a display includes a plurality of such complementary color pairs to form a picture element, each picture element including a triad of complementary color pairs, and said controlling comprising controlling respective picture elements to produce a variety of color and brightness output responses.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 45, further comprising controlling a plurality of such picture elements to form a dynamic image.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 41, wherein the color filters include liquid crystal material that is responsive to a prescribed input to change at least one characteristic of the liquid crystal.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 47, wherein at least one of such liquid crystal materials has a response that is frequency dependent, and said controlling comprising applying a prescribed input of a predetermined voltage and/or frequency.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 28 words

The invention of claim 41, wherein light is controlled by plural volumes of liquid crystal in a containment medium, and pleochroic dye in respective volumes of liquid crystal.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 41, further comprising controlling said elements to transmit substantially all light incident thereon without coloring such light thereby to produce a bright output of a color that is substantially the same as that of the incident light.

Claim 56

Independent Claim 35 words

A method of controlling a picture element, comprising directing light to or through an array of electrically controllable pairs of complementary color filters, and controlling the filtering characteristics of at least one of such filters.

Claim 57

Independent Claim 35 words

A method of controlling a picture element, comprising directing light to or through an array of electrically controllable pairs of complementary color filters, and controlling the filtering characteristics of at least one of such filters.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 51, further comprising placing respective pairs of complementary color filters in optical series alignment.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 52, wherein such pairs of complementary color filters comprises plural such pairs.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 53, said pairs comprising three pair, and each pair including a respective primary color.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 51, wherein the color filters include liquid crystal material that is responsive to a prescribed input to change at least one characteristic of the liquid crystal.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 55, wherein at least one of such liquid crystal materials has a response that is frequency dependent, and said controlling comprising applying a prescribed input of a predetermined voltage and/or frequency.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 51, further comprising controlling said pairs of complementary color filters to transmit substantially all light incident thereon without coloring such light thereby to produce a bright output of a color that is substantially the same as that of the incident light.

Claim 64

Independent Claim 51 words

A method of controlling an optical display formed of plural picture elements, each picture element including plural pairs of complementary color filters, comprising directing light to or through an array of such electrically controllable pairs of complementary color filters, and controlling the filtering characteristics of at least one of such filters.

Claim 65

Independent Claim 51 words

A method of controlling an optical display formed of plural picture elements, each picture element including plural pairs of complementary color filters, comprising directing light to or through an array of such electrically controllable pairs of complementary color filters, and controlling the filtering characteristics of at least one of such filters.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 28 words

The invention of claim 58, wherein light is controlled by plural volumes of liquid crystal in a containment medium, and pleochroic dye in respective volumes of liquid crystal.

Claim 67

Independent Claim 55 words

A method of parametric color control of a liquid crystal device, formed of plural picture elements, each picture element including plural pairs of complementary color filters, comprising directing light to or through an array of such electrically controllable pairs of complementary color filters, and controlling the filtering characteristics of at least one of such filters.

Claim 68

Independent Claim 55 words

A method of parametric color control of a liquid crystal device, formed of plural picture elements, each picture element including plural pairs of complementary color filters, comprising directing light to or through an array of such electrically controllable pairs of complementary color filters, and controlling the filtering characteristics of at least one of such filters.

Claim 69

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 60, wherein the color filters include liquid crystal material that is responsive to a prescribed input to change at least one characteristic of the liquid crystal.

Claim 70

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 61, wherein at least one of such liquid crystal materials has a response that is frequency dependent, and said controlling comprising applying a prescribed input of a predetermined voltage and/or frequency.

Claim 71

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 60, wherein such prescribed input is electric field, and the color output of the device is a function of the application of such electric field.

Claim 72

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method of claim 63, wherein such color filters are responsive to at least one of magnitude of electric field or frequency of electric field, and further comprising altering at least one of the magnitude or frequency of electric field to effect parametric control of color response of such color filters.

Claim 73

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method of claim 64, wherein the color filters include liquid crystal materials and pleochroic dye, such liquid crystal materials being responsive to such prescribed input to change the alignment characteristics of such liquid crystal material and pleochroic dye contained therein to alter the color filtering effected by such pleochroic dye.

Claim 74

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 50, further comprising controlling said pairs of complementary color filters to transmit substantially all light incident thereon without coloring such light thereby to produce a bright output of a color that is substantially the same as that of the incident light.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-05-29	1992-11-28	1993-05-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-05-29	1996-11-28	1997-05-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-05-29	2000-11-28	2001-05-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Complementary color liquid crystal display

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