Patent ID: 6577291
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: G02F,G06T,G09G

Abstract:
A liquid crystal display device having an array of display elements capable of switching between a substantially gray scale mode of operation and a color mode of operation, comprising:an array of display elements, each representing a pixel sub-component of the display device, each display element of the array including a switchable filter cell that is separately and selectively controllable with respect to the switchable filter cells included in the other display elements of the array and that is separate from the switchable filter cells included in the other display elements of the array, thereby enabling the display element to operate in either of two modes of operation and to switch between the two modes of operation by varying the voltage applied to an electrode associated with the switchable filter cell, wherein the two modes of operation include: a color filter mode of operation for displaying an image in color, wherein, when the display element operates in the color filter mode, the portion of the image represented by the display element is displayed using a color associated with the particular display element, the array of display elements including display elements having different associated colors when operating in the color filter mode; and a substantially gray scale mode of operation for displaying an image in a gray scale, wherein, when the display element operates in the substantially gray scale mode of operation, the portion of the image represented by the display element is displayed using a gray scale substantially without color; and a back light that provides light for the display elements, such that the liquid crystal display device operates as a back light liquid crystal display device.