Reflective Display Having Improved Brightness and Contrast

Abstract

A reflective display, comprising a plurality of pixels (10), each having a first electrode, a light-modifying layer (12), and a second electrode (3; 16) arranged to enable formation of an electric field in the light-modifying layer (12) through application of a voltage between the electrodes. The pixel (10) further includes an active portion (16) which is switchable between light-modifying states by means of said electric field, and an inactive portion (17). The inactive portion (17) is arranged for reflecting light so as to direct at least a fraction of incoming light (20) impinging on the inactive portion (17) towards the active portion (16). As a result, a contrast ratio of the reflective display is improved, since light is now directed from the inactive portion towards the active portion and thus contributes to the displayed image as observed by a viewer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.