US5138472A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Display having light scattering centers
Assignee: Tyco International Ltd Bermuda
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Filing: 1991-02-11
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Granted: 1992-08-11
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Expires: 2011-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A display having (a) a first electrode; (b) a second electrode; (c) a display medium positioned between the first and second electrodes, which display medium is 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 and/or absorption is reduced; and (d) scattering centers disposed in front of the second electrode for scattering incident light with a scattering half angle of between about 2 and about 40 degrees when the display medium is in its second state, while permitting at least 10% of the incident light to be transmitted.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip J. Jones
- 👤 Akira Tomita
- 👤 Mark F. Wartenberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:48
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1334; G02F1/137; G02F1/13706; G02F2202/00; G02F2202/04; G02F2202/043; G02F2203/00; G02F2203/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A display comprising: a first electrode means; a second electrode means; a display medium positioned between the first and second electrode means, which display medium is 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 and/or absorption is reduced; and plural scattering centers for scattering incident light with a scattering half angle of between about 2 and about 40 degrees when the display medium is in its second state, while permitting at least 10% of the incident light to be transmitted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A display comprising: a first electrode means; a second electrode means; a display medium positioned between the first and second electrode means, which display medium is 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 and/or absorption is reduced; and plural scattering centers for scattering incident light with a scattering half angle of between about 2 and about 40 degrees when the display medium is in its second state, while permitting at least 10% of the incident light to be transmitted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A display according to claim 1, wherein the display medium comprises positive dielectric anisotropy, operationally nematic liquid crystals dispersed in a containment medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A display according to claim 2, wherein the liquid crystals contain a pleochroic dye.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A display according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the scattering centers are disposed in a layer between the display medium and the second electrode means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A display according to claim 4, wherein the second electrode means is reflective, for reflecting light passing through the display medium back through the display medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A display according to claim 4, wherein the second electrode means is transparent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A display according to claim 4, wherein the scattering centers are selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, alumina, and other metal oxides; and silica.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A display according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the scattering centers are dispersed in the containment medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A display according to claim 8, wherein the second electrode means is reflective, for reflecting light passing through the display medium back through the display medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A display according to claim 8, wherein the second electrode means is transparent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
A display according to claim 6, wherein the scattering centers are selected from the group consisting of particles of titanium dioxide, alumina, and other metal oxides; silica particles; hollow spheres; glass beads; gas bubbles; silicone oil droplets, smectic liquid crystal droplets, droplets of operationally nematic liquid crystal having a negative dielectric anisotropy; latex particles; and cholesteric liquid crystal droplets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
106 words
A liquid crystal display medium 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 and/or absorption is reduced in the presence of a sufficient electric field, comprising: a containment medium; discrete volumes of liquid crystals dispersed in the containment medium; and plural scattering centers dispersed in the containment medium for scattering incident light with a scattering half angle of between about 2 and about 40 degrees when the display medium is in its second state, while permitting at least 10% of the incident light to be transmitted.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
106 words
A liquid crystal display medium 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 and/or absorption is reduced in the presence of a sufficient electric field, comprising: a containment medium; discrete volumes of liquid crystals dispersed in the containment medium; and plural scattering centers dispersed in the containment medium for scattering incident light with a scattering half angle of between about 2 and about 40 degrees when the display medium is in its second state, while permitting at least 10% of the incident light to be transmitted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A liquid crystal display medium according to claim 12, wherein the liquid crystals are positive dielectric anisotropy, operationally nematic liquid crystals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A liquid crystal display medium according to claim 13, wherein the liquid crystals contain a pleochroic dye.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
A liquid crystal display medium according to claim 12, 13, or 14, wherein the scattering centers are selected from the group consisting of particles of titanium dioxide, alumina, and other metal oxides; silica particles; hollow spheres; glass beads; gas bubbles; silicone oil droplets, smectic liquid crystal droplets, droplets of operationally nematic liquid crystal having a negative dielectric anisotropy; latex particles; and cholesteric liquid crystal droplets.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-08-11 | 1996-02-10 | 1996-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-11 | 2000-02-10 | 2000-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-11 | 2004-02-10 | 2004-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |