The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 05, 2006
Filed:
Feb. 19, 2002
Seiichi Mitsui, Kitakatsuragi-gun, JP;
Masaaki Kabe, Atsugi, JP;
Teiyu Sako, Kuki, JP;
Hideki Uchida, Nara, JP;
Seiichi Mitsui, Kitakatsuragi-gun, JP;
Masaaki Kabe, Atsugi, JP;
Teiyu Sako, Kuki, JP;
Hideki Uchida, Nara, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A display includes a polarizing member and a reflective display element behind an EL element. The EL element self-emits light to display information and doubles as a display-use light source for the reflective display element. In a sufficiently bright environment, ambient light enters a liquid crystal layer after passing through a frontal substrate of the reflective display element, and is reflected from a metal electrode to produce displays. In addition to the direct light from the EL element, light that enters the liquid crystal layer is simultaneously used. In a dark environment, the EL element emits light, and displayed contents are visible owing to the reflection from the metal electrode as well as directly exiting light. The structure makes it possible to provide a novel type of display that allows a user to select one of various display modes at his/her own discretion according to surrounding conditions and that also shows information in a clearly visible fashion, be it outdoors under clear skies or in a dark place, without giving up their thin, lightweight features.