SWITCHABLE TRANSFLECTOR AND TRANSFLECTIVE DISPLAY

摘要

A switchable transflector (1) comprises a suspended particle device (SPD). The transflector (1) may be switched into transmissive, reflective or intermediate states by applying one or more electric fields to a particle suspension (2). An enhanced reflectivity state may be achieved by applying two mutually orthogonal electric fields simultaneously. An intermediate state may be achieved by applying a non-saturating electric field or by applying two or more electric fields alternately according to a timing scheme. The transflector (1) may be maintained in a given state by applying voltage pulses at intervals less than a relaxation time associated with the SPD 1. The transmittance and reflectance properties of the transflector (1) may be tuned in accordance with the output of a light sensor (14). The transflector (1) may be incorporated in a transflectiv e display (15) which comprises a display device, such as an LCD (16). In order to illuminate the LCD (16), the transflector (1) is arranged to transmit light (20) emitted by a light source (17) and/or reflect ambient light (21). The relative proportions of transmitted and reflected illumination may be determin by the output of the light sensor (14).