Apparatus having a flat display

[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus comprising a display device having a flat display, provided with means for visualizing images in two planes located on opposite sides of the display. The invention also relates to a display device for such an apparatus.

[0002] Examples of such a display device are TFT LCDs or AM LCDs which are used in laptop computers and in organizers, but they also find an increasingly wider application in GSM telephones based on both passive and active drive. Instead of LCDs, display devices based on other effects such as, for example, electroluminescence may also be used.

[0003] Electronic apparatus in which the information can be visualized on two sides of the display is increasingly being used, not only in said laptop computers and organizers but also in, for example, cash registers.

[0004] In the known apparatuses, two different displays are generally used, one for each of the two viewing sides. It will be evident that this has a considerable cost-increasing effect, even if only two substrates are used for realizing the two displays, as is shown in GB 2,305,232.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution by providing the display device with sub-pixels associated with pixels which are visible on both sides of the display, which sub-pixels are provided with electrodes on at least a first substrate, each electrode comprising a transparent and a reflective sub-electrode.

[0006] The sub-pixels will usually coincide with pixels although the surface of a pixel intended (and also observed) as a single pixel on one side may comprise a plurality of pixels as observed from the other side.

[0007] In a first embodiment, which may be based on light-modulating effects such as LCD effects as well as on emissive effects such as (organic) LEDs, the first substrate and the second substrate are provided with electrodes each comprising a transparent and a reflective sub-electrode, in which, viewed transversely to the substrates, the transparent and the reflective sub-electrode are substantially complementary with respect to each other.

[0008] By driving, during viewing from one side, the reflective sub-electrodes with or without simultaneous illumination with a lamp functioning as a frontlight in the embodiment based on light-modulating effects, the display device is used as a reflective display device in one mode.

[0009] When viewing from the other side, the transmissive sub-electrodes are driven, in which the same lamp now functions as a backlight.

[0010] Another embodiment, based on emissive effects, comprises a light-emitting material between two transparent substrates in which again, viewed transversely to the substrates, the transparent and the reflective sub-electrode are substantially complementary with respect to each other.

[0011] By driving, during viewing from one side, the appropriate sub-pixels, light is emitted in the display device in one mode via transmissive sub-electrodes, while light is emitted in the other mode via transmissive sub-electrodes which are complementary therewith on the other side.

[0012] These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from and will be elucidated, by way of non-limitative example, with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter.

[0013] In the drawings:

[0014]FIG. 1 shows a first apparatus according to the invention, for example, a personal digital assistant,

[0015]FIG. 2 shows a mobile telephone according to the invention,

[0016]FIG. 3 is a cross-section of an LCD display device according to the invention,

[0017]FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a LED display device according to the invention,

[0018]FIG. 5 shows the electrical equivalent of FIG. 4, while

[0019]FIG. 6 is a cross-section of another LCD display device according to the invention, and

[0020]FIGS. 7 and 8 show a further display device according to the invention.

[0021] The Figures are diagrammatic and not drawn to scale; corresponding components are generally denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0022]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a personal digital assistant or, for example, a laptop computer <b>1</b> with an associated display <b>2</b> in a housing <b>3</b> which is connected via a hinge to a further housing <b>4</b> accommodating further components of the laptop computer <b>1</b> such as a keyboard <b>5</b> (FIG. 1<i>a</i>) which is not visible in the closed state (FIG. 1<i>b</i>). In the closed state, a viewer sees the other side of the display <b>2</b>. Similar remarks apply to the mobile telephone <b>6</b> shown in FIG. 2.

[0023] A liquid crystal display device suitable for such a viewing from two sides is shown in FIG. 3.

[0024]FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic cross-section of a part of a light-modulating device <b>10</b>, in this example with a twisted nematic liquid crystal material <b>12</b> which is present between two substrates <b>13</b>, <b>14</b> of, for example, glass, provided with the electrodes <b>15</b>, <b>16</b>, <b>17</b>, <b>18</b>. If necessary, the device comprises one or more orientation layers <b>19</b> which orient the liquid crystal material on the inner walls of the substrates. In this case, the liquid crystal material has a positive optical anisotropy and a positive dielectric anisotropy.

[0025] In the relevant example, the first substrate <b>13</b> is provided with transparent (picture) electrodes <b>17</b> and reflective electrodes <b>18</b>, while the second substrate <b>14</b> is provided with transparent (picture) electrodes <b>15</b> and reflective electrodes <b>16</b>. Facing pairs <b>14</b>, <b>16</b> and <b>15</b>, <b>17</b> of (picture) electrodes jointly define (sub-)pixels together with the intermediate liquid crystal material <b>12</b>.

[0026] During use, for example, in the closed state of the personal digital assistant <b>1</b> or the mobile telephone <b>6</b>, the display is viewed by a viewer from the direction <b>7</b>, which is diagrammatically indicated by the eye <b>20</b> in FIG. 3. Ambient light <b>21</b> passes the transparent (for example ITO) electrodes <b>15</b> so as to display an image defined by drive signals (diagrammatically denoted by means of the connections <b>21</b>, <b>22</b>) on the electrodes <b>15</b>, <b>18</b>, dependent on the voltage on the electrodes <b>15</b>, <b>18</b> and after reflection on the electrode <b>18</b>.

[0027] In the same way, the display in the open state is viewed by a viewer from the direction <b>8</b>, which is diagrammatically indicated by the eye <b>22</b> in FIG. 3. Ambient light <b>23</b> now passes the transparent electrodes <b>17</b> so as to display an image defined by drive signals (diagrammatically denoted by means of the connections <b>24</b>, <b>25</b>) on the electrodes <b>16</b>, <b>17</b>, dependent on the voltage on the electrodes <b>16</b>, <b>17</b> and after reflection on the electrode <b>16</b>.

[0028] The transparent electrodes <b>17</b> on the first substrate <b>13</b> have a complementary pattern with respect to the transparent electrodes <b>19</b> on the second substrate <b>14</b>, but also with respect to the reflective electrodes <b>18</b> on the first substrate <b>13</b> which, in their turn, have a complementary pattern with respect to the reflective electrodes <b>16</b> on the second substrate <b>14</b>. Although they are shown here as single electrodes, the (combined) electrodes will usually have a matrix or chessboard pattern, but other patterns are not excluded. Active drive (by means of TFT transistors or two-pole switches (diodes, MIMs) is alternatively possible.

[0029]FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic cross-section of a part of a light-emitting device <b>30</b>, in this example with a matrix of organic (polymer) LEDs <b>35</b> between two substrates <b>13</b>, <b>14</b> of, for example, glass, provided with electrodes <b>15</b>, <b>16</b>, <b>17</b>, <b>18</b>.

[0030] The first substrate <b>13</b> is provided again with transparent (sub-)electrodes <b>17</b> and reflective electrodes <b>18</b>, while the second substrate <b>14</b> is provided with transparent (picture) electrodes <b>15</b> and reflective electrodes <b>16</b>. Facing pairs <b>14</b>, <b>16</b> and <b>15</b>, <b>17</b> of (picture) electrodes again define (sub-)pixels together with the intermediate emissive material <b>31</b>.

[0031] During use, for example, in the closed state of the personal digital assistant <b>1</b> or the mobile telephone <b>6</b>, the display is viewed from the direction <b>7</b>. Light <b>32</b> generated in the emissive material <b>31</b> passes the transparent (for example, ITO) electrodes <b>15</b> so as to display an image defined by drive signals (diagrammatically indicated by means of the connections <b>21</b>, <b>22</b>) on the electrodes <b>15</b>, <b>18</b>, dependent on the voltage on the electrodes <b>15</b>, <b>18</b>. The exiting light is shown by means of the cone <b>34</b> in FIG. 4. A part of the generated light may exit through the electrodes <b>15</b>, possibly after reflection on the electrodes <b>18</b>.

[0032] In the same way, the display in the opened state is viewed from the direction <b>8</b>. Light <b>33</b> generated in the emissive material <b>31</b> passes the transparent (for example, ITO) electrodes <b>17</b> so as to display an image, dependent on the voltage on the electrodes <b>16</b>, <b>17</b>. The exiting light is again indicated by means of the cone <b>34</b> in FIG. 4.

[0033]FIG. 5 is an electrical equivalent of FIG. 4 diagrammatically showing a number of LEDs <b>35</b><i>a</i>, <b>35</b><i>b </i>whose emitted light is alternately emitted in the direction <b>7</b> and in the direction <b>8</b>. By means of switches <b>36</b>, a plurality of diodes <b>35</b><i>a </i>(sub-pixels) may, if necessary, be connected via a connection <b>38</b> to a current source <b>37</b> in the case of driving in one of the two directions, while, for example, in the case of driving in the other direction, the diodes <b>35</b><i>b </i>(sub-pixels) may, if necessary, be connected separately via connections <b>39</b> to current sources <b>40</b>. The adjustment of the current source or sources determines the grey values of the (sub-)pixels. The resolution, viewed in one direction may thereby be larger than that in the other direction.

[0034]FIG. 6 shows a part of a transflective display device with a light-modulating device <b>10</b>, in this example with a twisted nematic liquid crystal material <b>12</b> which is present between two substrates <b>13</b>, <b>14</b> of, for example, glass, provided with electrodes <b>15</b>, <b>17</b>, <b>18</b>. During use, when viewing from the direction <b>7</b>, the display is viewed again by a viewer from the direction <b>7</b>, which is diagrammatically indicated by means of the eye <b>20</b>. Ambient light <b>21</b> passes the transparent electrodes <b>15</b> so as to display an image defined by drive signals (diagrammatically denoted by means of the connections <b>21</b>, <b>22</b>) on the electrodes <b>15</b>, <b>18</b>, dependent on the voltage on the electrodes <b>15</b>, <b>18</b> and after reflection on the electrode <b>18</b>. In the case of insufficient ambient light, the frontlight <b>43</b> is switched on; for light <b>21</b>′ coming from the frontlight <b>43</b>, the same considerations as those for ambient light <b>21</b> apply.

[0035] When viewing from the direction <b>8</b>, the same frontlight <b>43</b> works as a backlight and a beam <b>44</b> is modulated by the liquid crystal element. To this end, the display device <b>10</b> is further provided with, for example, compensation foils <b>41</b> and polarizers <b>42</b>. The other reference numerals have the same significance as those in the previous Figures.

[0036]FIG. 7 shows a foil display. In this case, the substrate <b>13</b> is a switching foil and is provided again with transparent (sub-)electrodes <b>17</b> and reflective electrodes <b>18</b>. Light <b>45</b> which is coupled into the waveguide <b>46</b> is coupled out when the foil is driven in such a way that it is in optical contact with the waveguide. If the foil is not in optical contact with the waveguide, no light is coupled out. The light which has been coupled out passes a color filter <b>47</b> in this example and then arrives on a plate with alternately transparent and (diffusely) reflecting electrodes <b>17</b>, <b>18</b>. In the example of FIG. 7, the green pixel is on for one side of the display (beam <b>48</b>). The light which has been coupled out and is incident on the reflecting electrodes is reflected (beam <b>49</b>) and provides images on the other side. In FIG. 7, the green pixel is on for one side of the display and the blue pixel is on for the other side of the display. The resolution on both sides of the display device may of course differ.

[0037] In FIG. 8, the waveguide on the other side is also provided with a layer of alternating reflective and transparent electrodes <b>15</b>, <b>16</b>, which are complementary to the electrode layer on the “upper side”. The reflecting electrodes <b>15</b> are preferably specularly reflecting because otherwise the light in the waveguide will extend at an angle which is larger than the critical angle so that a part of the light may be coupled out. Also the refractive index of the transparent material is adapted as much as possible so as to prevent unwanted coupling-out.

[0038] The invention is of course not limited to the examples described, but several variations are possible within the scope of the invention. Similarly as described with reference to the device of FIG. 5, it is also possible to use pixels of a different format on the different sides in LCD display devices. Fixed icons may also be adjusted.

[0039] The protective scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The invention resides in each and every novel characteristic feature and each and every combination of characteristic features. Reference numerals in the claims do not limit their protective scope. Use of the verb “comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements other than those stated in the claims. Use of the article “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.