Display device and electronic timepiece

A display device comprising:

• a color polarizer that transmits a specific wavelength of light polarized in parallel with a first polarization axis while transmitting substantially all wavelengths, in the visible light region, of light polarized in a direction perpendicular to said first polarization axis;
• a liquid crystal which rotates the polarization axis of an incident light by 90.degree. in a non-voltage applied state while not rotating the polarization axis of the incident light in a voltage applied state;
• a polarization separator that transmits light polarized in parallel with said first polarization axis while reflecting light polarized perpendicular to said first polarization axis;
• and
• a light emitting element that emits light having a wavelength different from said specific wavelength.

A display device comprising:

• a color polarizer that transmits a specific wavelength of light polarized in perpendicular to a first polarization axis while transmitting substantially all wavelengths, in the visible light region, of light polarized in a direction parallel to said first polarization axis;
• a liquid crystal layer which rotates the polarization axis of incident light by 90.degree. in a non-voltage applied state while not rotating the polarization axis of the incident light in a voltage applied state;
• a polarization separator that transmits light polarized in parallel with said first polarization axis while reflecting light polarized perpendicular to said first polarization axis;
• and
• a light emitting element that emits light having a wavelength different from said specific wavelength.

An electronic watch for counting and displaying time, comprising:

• a polarization axis changing element that selectively changes a polarization axis of light transmitted therethrough;
• a first polarization separator and a second polarization separator respectively arranged on front and rear sides of said polarization axis
• changing element with said polarization axis changing element interposed therebetween;
• and
• a light source arranged on a side of said second polarization separator opposed to said polarization axis changing element with said second polarization separator interposed therebetween;
• said first polarization separator transmitting all wavelengths, in the visible light region, of light linearly polarized in a first direction, and transmitting a specific wavelength, in the visible light region, of light linearly polarized in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction with the remaining wavelengths of light linearly polarized in the second direction not transmitted therethrough;
• said second polarization separator transmitting light linearly polarized in a third direction while reflecting light linearly polarized in a direction perpendicular to said third direction;
• and
• said light source emits colored light.

An electronic watch comprising:

• a color polarizer which transmits a specific wavelength of a light polarized in parallel with a first polarization direction while transmitting substantially all wavelengths, in the visible light region, of light polarized in a direction perpendicular to said first polarization direction;
• a liquid crystal which rotates the polarization axis of incident light by 90.degree. in a non-voltage applied state while not rotating the polarization axis of the incident light in a voltage applied state;
• a polarization separator that transmits light polarized in a second polarization direction while reflecting light polarized in a direction perpendicular to said second polarization direction;
• and
• a light emitting element that emits light of a color different from said specific wavelength,
• wherein when said first polarization direction is parallel to said second polarization direction, a light color derived from external light in a non-voltage applied state is a color corresponding to said specific wavelength and a light color derived from the external light in a voltage applied state is a color corresponding to substantially all wavelengths in the visible light region;
• when said first polarization direction is parallel to said second polarization direction, a light color of said light emitting element in the non-voltage applied state is an emission color, and the light color of said light emitting element in the voltage applied state is black;
• when said first polarization direction is perpendicular to said second polarization direction, the light color derived from the external light in the non-voltage applied state is the color corresponding to substantially all wavelengths in the visible light region and the light color derived from the external light in the voltage applied state is the color corresponding to said specific wavelength;
• and
• when said first polarization direction is perpendicular to said second polarization direction, the light color of said light emitting element in the non-voltage applied state is black and the light color of said light emitting element in the voltage applied state is the emission color.

The electronic timepiece for counting and displaying time, comprising:

• a polarization axis changing element that selectively changes a polarization axis of light transmitted therethrough;
• a first polarization separator and a second polarization separator respectively arranged on front and rear sides of said polarization axis changing element with said polarization axis changing element interposed therebetween;
• and
• a light source arranged on a side of said polarization separator opposed to said polarization axis changing element with said second polarization separator interposed therebetween;
• said first polarization separator transmitting all wavelengths, in the visible light region, of light linearly polarized in a first direction, and transmitting a specific wavelength, in the visible light region, of light linearly polarized in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction with the remaining wavelengths of light linearly polarized in the second direction not transmitted therethrough;
• said second polarization separator transmitting light linearly polarized in a third direction while reflecting light linearly polarized in a direction perpendicular to said third direction;
• and
• said light source emits colored light.

An electronic timepiece comprising:

• a color polarized which transmits a specific wavelength of a light polarized in parallel with a first polarization direction while transmitting substantially all wavelengths, in the visible light region, of light polarized in a direction perpendicular to said first polarization direction;
• a liquid crystal which rotates the polarization axis of incident light by 90.degree. in a non-voltage applied state while not rotating the polarization axis of the incident light in a voltage applied state;
• a polarization separator that transmits light polarized in a second polarization direction while reflecting light polarized in a direction perpendicular to said second polarization direction;
• and
• a light emitting element that emits light of a color different from said specific wavelength,
• wherein when said first polarization direction is parallel to said second polarization direction, a light color derived from external light in a non-voltage applied state is a color corresponding to said specific wavelength and a light color derived from the external light in a voltage applied state is a color corresponding to substantially all wavelengths in the visible light region;
• when said first polarization direction is parallel to said second polarization direction, a light color of said light emitting element in the non-voltage applied state is an emission color, and the light color of said light emitting element in the voltage applied state is black;
• when said first polarization direction is perpendicular to said second polarization direction, the light color derived from the external light in the non-voltage applied state is the color corresponding to substantially all wavelengths in the visible light region and the light color derived from the external light in the voltage applied state is the color corresponding to specific wavelength;
• and
• when said first polarization direction is perpendicular to said second polarization direction, the light color of said light emitting element in the non-voltage applied state is black and the light color of said light emitting element in the voltage applied state is the emission color.