Transflective liquid crystal display
AssigneeSony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
InventorAlexander HUNT
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention describes a display comprising a liquid crystal layer, an illumination system and a reflective layer, where the reflective layer is arranged below the liquid crystal layer, where the reflectivity of the layer is adjustable. In this way the amount of ambient light passing through the display and being reflected by the reflective layer can be altered. Moreover, the present invention describes a method and computer program for controlling reflectivity of a flat display panel in a portable electronic device.
Claims21
A display for a portable electronic device, the display comprising:
- a liquid crystal layer adapted for presenting information on the display;
- an illumination system for regulating the amount of light supplied to the liquid crystal layer and;
- wherein
- the display further comprises a reflective layer below the liquid crystal layer, wherein the reflectivity of the layer is adjustable such that the amount of ambient light passing through the display and being reflected by the reflective layer is adjustable.
Portable electronic device comprising:
- a display comprising a liquid crystal layer adapted for presenting information on the display;
- an illumination system for regulating the amount of light passing through the liquid crystal layer and;
- a control unit configured to control the illumination system by means of a second control signal,
- wherein
- the display further comprises a reflective layer below the liquid crystal layer, wherein the reflectivity of the layer is electrically controllable by the control unit via a first control signal.
Portable electronic device according to claim 17, wherein the portable electronic device further comprises a light sensor adapted to detect the amount of ambient light impinging onto the display.
Method for controlling reflectivity of a flat panel display in an portable electronic device comprising the steps:
- receiving an input signal indicative of the level of ambient light impinging onto the flat panel display;
- comparing the received input signal with one or more threshold values indicative of different lighting conditions;
- transmitting a first control signal dependent on the comparison to a reflective layer in the flat panel display;
- controlling the reflectivity of the reflective layer in the flat panel display by means of the first control signal.
Computer program for controlling reflectivity of a flat panel display in portable electronic device, comprising instruction sets for:
- receiving an input signal indicative of the level of ambient light impinging onto the flat panel display;
- comparing the received input signal with one or more threshold values indicative of different lighting conditions;
- transmitting a first control signal dependent on the comparison to a reflective layer in the flat panel display;
- controlling the reflectivity of the reflective layer in the flat panel display by means of the first control signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.