Patent ID: 6894821
Filing Date: 2005-05-17
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
1. A display apparatus capable of displaying information in a reflective mode using only ambient light and in a transmissive mode using a light source, comprising: a light modulating system comprising a light modulating layer between a first polarizing layer and a second polarizing layer; an isotropic light cavity comprising a light source and a reflector, the light cavity adapted to selectively provide light to the light modulating layer, the light cavity reflecting incident light with a first degree of depolarization of the incident light, the reflector configured to reflect ambient light toward the light modulating layer to illuminate the display using only ambient light in the reflective mode; and a reflecting polarizer disposed between the light modulating layer and the light cavity, adapted to transmit a component of incident light having a first polarization and reflect a component of the incident light having a second polarization, the polarizer reflecting the light of the second polarization with a second degree of depolarization greater than the first degree of depolarization to provide light of the first polarization.