US 6,144,353 A · Display system having electrode modulation to alter a state of an electro-optic layer

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for display systems which modulate a control electrode to cause an electro-optic layer to be reset to a state in which display data is not viewable. In one embodiment of the invention, a display system includes a first substrate having a first plurality of pixel electrodes for receiving a first plurality of pixel data values representing a first image to be displayed. The display system further includes an electro-optic layer which is operatively coupled to the pixel electrodes and an electrode operatively coupled to the electro-optic layer. The electro-optic layer comprises a polymer dispersed liquid crystal material. The display system displays the first image and then applies a first control voltage to the electrode to alter a state of the electro-optic layer such that the first image substantially not displayed and then the display system displays a second image represented by a second plurality of pixel data values after the electrode receives a second control voltage. Various other apparatuses and methods are described.

Claims47

Dependent claims

A method for operating a display system, said display system comprising a first substrate having a plurality of pixel electrodes, an electro-optic layer operatively coupled to said pixel electrodes and an electrode operatively coupled to said electro-optic layer, said electro-optic layer comprising a polymer dispersed liquid crystal material, said method comprising:

applying a first plurality of pixel data values to said plurality of pixel electrodes such that a first pixel data represented by said first plurality of pixel data values is displayed;
applying a first control voltage to said electrode to alter a state of said electro-optic layer such that said first pixel data is substantially not displayed;
applying a second plurality of pixel data values to said plurality of pixel electrodes, said second plurality of pixel data values representing a second pixel data, said second plurality of pixel data values being applied while a voltage applied to said electrode causes no pixel data values to be displayed;
displaying said second pixel data.

1 more element

A method for operating a display system, said display system comprising a first substrate having a first plurality of pixel electrodes and a second plurality of pixel electrodes, an electro-optic layer operatively coupled to said first and said second plurality of pixel electrodes, said electro-optic layer comprising a polymer dispersed liquid crystal material, and a first electrode and a second electrode, said method comprising:

(a) applying a first plurality of pixel data values to said first plurality of pixel electrodes, said first plurality of pixel data values representing a first portion of an image;
(b) applying a first control voltage to said first electrode to alter a state of a first portion of said electro-optic layer such that said first portion of said image is not displayed, said first control voltage being applied to said first electrode while applying said first plurality of pixel data values to said first plurality of pixel electrodes such that said first portion of said image is not displayed;
(c) displaying said first portion of said image;
(d) applying a second plurality of pixel data values to said second plurality of pixel electrodes, said second plurality of pixel data values representing a second portion of said image;
(e) applying a second control voltage to said second electrode to alter a state of a second portion of said electro-optic layer such that said second portion of said image is not displayed, said second control voltage being applied to said second electrode while applying said second plurality of pixel data values to said second plurality of pixel electrodes such that said second portion of said image is not displayed;
(f) displaying said second portion of said image.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Display system having electrode modulation to alter a state of an electro-optic layer

Life of this patent

Display system having electrode modulation to alter a state of an electro-optic layer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims47