In order to configure or produce an electrically controllable optical element on the basis of the electro-optic Kerr effect with a low threshold and operating voltage, a minimized temperature dependence of the effect and a low response time, the Kerr liquid according to the invention comprises a mixture of rod-shaped molecules and non-rod-shaped molecules as active composites, a thin layer having a pre-stamping, wide-mesh, anisotropic network between structured and/or planar conductive layer applied to a substrate thus configure a thin-film cell in such a way that without electric field the state of the active composite of the Kerr liquid in the working temperature region RT is isotropic and that by electrically continuous adjustment, of the voltage U or by a switching-on or switching-off a change the voltage U, in the optical element a voltage-induced phase shift or a refractive index deviation is generated and the light passes through an electrode gap perpendicular to the electrodes.

The inventive devices may be produced in various form factors including single display element form factors, dual element form factors, or form factors that incorporate one or more flexible panels instead of hinged flat panels. The devices also include sensors to determine the device configuration. The devices may be placed into various configurations including an upright laptop, stand, tent, small tablet, large tablet, dual monitor display, or book configuration. These devices may change display modes based on the current device configuration, the current task being performed on the device, and/or spatial context as determined by any one of various environmental and configuration sensors. Different display modes include normal, presentation, sharing, augmented reality, tracing, scanning, unobstructed, ambient light, 2.5D/3D modes. Applications can be written that take specific advantage of the inventive display elements, display modes, device form factors, and device configurations.

The display includes a transparent display (TD) element or layer such as at least one Transparent Organic Light Emitting Diode (TOLED) element and at least one active shutter (AS) element or layer such as a liquid crystal shutter. The AS may be opaque or transparent. The TD may be transparent or display or emit light in mixtures of color. Black may be displayed by a TD pixel by having the TD be transparent and turning an AS opaque. Each display is composed of elements that can have many states. The states can be used to create different display modes. Devices with these displays can have many form factors and configurations. These devices may change display modes based on spatial context as determined by any one of various environmental and configuration sensors.

In order to configure or produce an electrically controllable optical element on the basis of the electro-optic Kerr effect with a low threshold and operating voltage, a minimized temperature dependence of the effect and a low response time, the Kerr liquid according to the invention comprises a mixture of rod-shaped molecules and non-rod-shaped molecules as active composites, a thin layer having a pre-stamping, wide-mesh, anisotropic network between structured and/or planar conductive layer applied to a substrate thus configure a thin-film cell in such a way that without electric field the state of the active composite of the Kerr liquid in the working temperature region RT is isotropic and that by electrically continuous adjustment, of the voltage U or by a switching-on or switching-off a change the voltage U, in the optical element a voltage-induced phase shift or a refractive index deviation is generated and the light passes through an electrode gap perpendicular to the electrodes.

The display includes a transparent display (TD) element or layer such as at least one Transparent Organic Light Emitting Diode (TOLED) element and at least one active shutter (AS) element or layer such as a liquid crystal shutter. The AS may be opaque or transparent. The TD may be transparent or display or emit light in mixtures of color. Black may be displayed by a TD pixel by having the TD be transparent and turning an AS opaque. Each display is composed of elements that can have many states. The states can be used to create different display modes. Devices with these displays can have many form factors and configurations. These devices may change display modes based on spatial context as determined by any one of various environmental and configuration sensors.