SCATTERING TUNABLE DISPLAY METHOD USING REFLECTION AND EDGE-LIT WAVEGUIDE TRANSMISSION MODES OF ILLUMINATION AND DISPLAY DEVICE EMPLOYING THE SAME

摘要

A scattering tunable display is provided that uses reflection and edge-lit waveguide transmission modes of illumination. A front panel is provided with an array of selectable display pixels arranged in a plurality of sequences. A backlight panel includes a plurality of edge-coupled waveguide pipes formed in a plurality of rows. Each waveguide pipe has an optical input connected to a corresponding light emitting diode (LED), and an optical output index-matched to a corresponding sequence of display pixels. A display pixel is enabled and ambient visible spectrum illumination is measured. In response to the measured ambient illumination being above a first minimum threshold, the display pixel is operated in a reflective illumination mode. In response to the measured ambient illumination being below the first minimum threshold, the display pixel is operated in a transmissive illumination mode.