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:
Jun. 10, 2008
Filed:
Apr. 21, 2004
Keith M. Kotchick, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Kenneth A. Epstein, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Patrick H. Marushin, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Donald J. Mcclure, Shoreview, MN (US);
Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Woodbury, MN (US);
Keith M. Kotchick, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Kenneth A. Epstein, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Patrick H. Marushin, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Donald J. McClure, Shoreview, MN (US);
Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Woodbury, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, Saint Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
Color transmissive displays have historically used only backlight for forming the color image, and have not used ambient light. Usually, such a display is not used in bright sunlight, since the color image becomes washed out. Transflective color displays form an image by reflecting ambient light or by transmitting backlight, and can be used in bright sunlight. The transflector in such displays reflects the ambient light while also transmitting the backlight. The requirements on the transflector, however, are different from those used in monochromatic displays. According to the invention, a color transflective display device uses comprises a transmissive display unit having a viewing side and a back side and defining picture elements. A structured transflector is disposed to the back side of the color display unit. The structured transflector includes a structured surface and a layered dielectric reflector disposed over the structured surface.