A total internal reflection-based display may be driven by an apparatus and method to move electrophoretically mobile particles into and out of an evanescent wave region to create static and video images. The apparatus may comprise one or more of a host microprocessor/controller, display controller, TIR display panel, frame buffer memory 1, frame buffer memory 2, host interface, temperature/environmental sensor, timing controller, look up table, power management integrated circuit or display panel interface.

This invention relates to electrophoretic fluids comprising at least two immiscible liquids and black, white and/or coloured particles and/or dyes, and electrophoretic display devices comprising such fluids.

Color derived from metallic nanostructures are often more efficient, more robust to environmental changes, and near impossible to damage or bleach due to overexposure. The embodiments combine these advantages with the millisecond re-configurability of liquid crystals to actively control a reflective color of a metallic nanostructure. Of the current technologies that boast active color tunability, many are pigmentation based (e-ink in e-readers) and/or need seconds to change color (photonic ink, electrochromic materials). Speed is an advantage of the embodiments and is comparable to current liquid crystal displays (˜120 Hz). Traditional LC displays use static polymer films (color filters) and white back light to generate color. Being able to actively tune the color from a single metallic nanostructure allows for smaller pixel size, increased resolution, and decreased fabrication cost compared to a conventional RGB color pixel without needing external white light source for extremely low power operations.

Semi-retro-reflective total internal reflection-based image displays may be equipped with at least one dielectric layer. The at least one dielectric layer may be deposited on one or more of a front electrode layer, rear electrode layer or pixel walls. This may lead to displays with enhanced brightness, improved electrophoretic particle responsiveness, improved grayscale and chemical stability in the presence of an electrophoretic medium, and improved resistance to high electric fields and high temperatures. In one embodiment, a total internal reflection-based image display comprises a dielectric layer formed by one or more of methods molecular layer deposition, atomic layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition, plasma enhance chemical vapor deposition, spin coating or slot die coating. In another embodiment, a total internal reflection-based image display comprises at least one dielectric layer and at least one surface modification layer.

Color may be achieved in TIR-based image displays by addition of a sub-pixel color filter array (CFA). Color may be enhanced by tuning the size, shape, arrangement and colors of the sub-pixel color filters in the CFA. CFAs comprising of pixels further comprising one to four or more different repeating sub-pixel color filters may be capable of creating a wide gamut of displayable colors. The sub-pixels may be arranged in repeat cells wherein the sub-pixels within the repeat cell may be mapped to one or more pixels. Sub-pixel rendering may be used during driving of a TIR-based display. Sub-pixel rendering uses logical dynamic pixels where a single sub-pixel may be used in one or more pixels depending on the image displayed.

An optical communication switch, an optical controlling method, an array substrate and a display device are provided, the optical communication switch including: a first substrate and a second substrate opposite thereto; a first optical medium layer formed therebetween by a phase-change material, which has a first refractive index in a first state in which light rays implement one of an optical path state and an optical drop state, and a second refractive index in a second state in which light rays implement the other one of the optical path state and the optical drop state; a second optical medium layer also formed therebetween and in contact with the first optical medium layer by abutting against it closely, the second optical medium layer having a refractive index matching the first or second refractive index; and a heating device enabling the phase-change material to switch between the first and second states.

Total internal reflection (TIR) based image displays comprise at least one high refractive index (>1.5) convex protrusion interfaced with a low refractive index (<1.5) medium. Total internal reflection of light is frustrated at this interface by movement of electrophoretically mobile particles into and out of the evanescent wave region. The size, shape and arrangement of the convex protrusions, typically in the shape of lenses, affects TIR at the interface and ultimately the brightness of the display. The brightness is a critical aspect of reflective displays. The degree of brightness determines what applications the displays may be used for and their ultimate acceptance by consumers. For example, high brightness displays allow for the use of color filter arrays for applications requiring color. The shape of the convex protrusions may be described by a polar coordinate system.

The present disclosure relates to a display panel. The display panel includes: a light guide member, a light extraction member and a modulation member sequentially arranged along a first direction; and wherein the light extraction member is configured to extract light propagating within the light guide member in a collimated manner to one side of the light extraction member away from the light guide member, and the modulation member is configured to modulate a reflectance and transmittance of the light extracted in a collimated manner by the light extraction member within the modulation member.

A display panel and a method for manufacturing the same, and a display device, and the display panel includes a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer; a first matrix including a plurality of grooves; and a second matrix, disposed in the grooves of the first matrix; the grooves are shaped so as to enable total reflection of light which is incident incident from the second matrix or the first matrix to an interface between the second matrix and the first matrix, and at least one of the first matrix and the second matrix is configured to change its refractive index in operation according to a change of a voltage difference between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer.

A display device includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels each having a plurality of sub-pixels; and a light path adjustment film on the display panel, wherein the light path adjustment film includes a first base film, and a pattern layer on a surface of the first base film, wherein the pattern layer includes a plurality of first patterns having a first refractive index, and a plurality of second patterns between the first patterns and having a second refractive index less than the first refractive index, and wherein the first pattern includes a top surface spaced apart from the display panel and parallel with the display panel, a bottom surface between the top surface and the display panel, and a slanted surface connecting the top surface and the bottom surface.