Switchable display system
AssigneeSTMicroelectronics S.r.l.
InventorMichele Palmieri
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A display system for a portable device is switchable by electrical addressing. The display system can absorb ambient light and reflect at least a portion of the absorbed light to render an image on a surface of the display. The display includes a plurality of pixel electrodes. Each of the plurality of pixel electrodes includes linkers with acceptor molecules and donor molecules that form groups having respective color properties. In an off-state, a respective pixel is configured to reflect white light. In an on-state, a respective pixel is configured to reflect light according to the molecular grouping of the acceptor-donor group.
Claims20
A display system comprising:
- a first electrode plate;
- a second electrode plate;
- an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate;
- a first linker coupled on a first end to the first electrode plate and having a negative charge disposed at a free end, the first linker comprising a plurality of acceptor molecules disposed in proximity to a plurality of acceptor recognition sites;
- and
- a second linker coupled on a first end to the second electrode plate and having a positive charge disposed at a free end, the second linker comprising a plurality of donor molecules disposed in proximity to a plurality of donor recognition sites,
- wherein the first linker and second linker are configured to vary in configuration such that the plurality of acceptor molecules and plurality of donor molecules are adjusted in proximity to each other.
A portable device comprising:
- a controller;
- and
- a display configured to absorb ambient light and reflect at least a portion of the absorbed light to render an image on a surface of the display, the display comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes, each of the plurality of pixel electrodes comprising respective color properties, each pixel electrode comprising:
- a first electrode plate,
- a second electrode plate,
- an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate,
- a first linker coupled on a first end to the first electrode plate and having a negative charge disposed at a free end, the first linker comprising a plurality of acceptor molecules disposed in proximity to a plurality of acceptor recognition sites, and
- a second linker coupled on a first end to the second electrode plate and having a positive charge disposed at a free end, the second linker comprising a plurality of donor molecules disposed in proximity to a plurality of donor recognition sites,
- wherein the first linker and second linker are configured to vary in configuration such that the plurality of acceptor molecules and plurality of donor molecules are adjusted in proximity to each other,
- wherein the controller is configured to vary a voltage to respective ones of the plurality of pixel electrodes to cause portions of the display to reflect the absorbed light as colored light.
A method for operating a display, the method comprising:
- addressing at least one pixel electrode by setting a configuration of acceptor and donor molecules in the pixel electrode in one of a grouped configuration and an ungrouped configuration, wherein when in the grouped configuration, an acceptor donor group is configured to absorb light in a given spectral region;
- absorbing ambient light;
- and
- reflecting at least one of:
- colored light when in the acceptor and donor molecules are in the grouped configuration, and
- white light when acceptor and donor molecules are in the ungrouped configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.