U.S. patent application number 11/784617 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-16 for display element and display device using the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Seiji Nishiyama, Naohide Wakita.
Application Number | 20070189667 11/784617 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32314048 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070189667 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wakita; Naohide ; et
al. |
August 16, 2007 |
Display element and display device using the same
Abstract
A display element is provided with a light source and a
waveguide that propagates a light emitted from the light source,
wherein the light propagated in the waveguide is extracted to
outside from a waveguide lateral face, and wherein the light is
extracted out of the waveguide from the waveguide lateral face by
changing a shape of the waveguide lateral face.
Inventors: |
Wakita; Naohide; (Suita-shi,
JP) ; Nishiyama; Seiji; (Hirakata-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HAMRE, SCHUMANN, MUELLER & LARSON P.C.
P.O. BOX 2902-0902
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402
US
|
Assignee: |
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,
Ltd.
Kadoma-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
32314048 |
Appl. No.: |
11/784617 |
Filed: |
April 9, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10533663 |
May 3, 2005 |
7236663 |
|
|
PCT/JP03/14047 |
Nov 4, 2003 |
|
|
|
11784617 |
Apr 9, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
385/31 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 6/357 20130101;
G02B 6/0038 20130101; G09G 3/3413 20130101; G02B 26/0833 20130101;
G09G 3/3473 20130101; G02B 6/3502 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
385/031 |
International
Class: |
G02B 6/26 20060101
G02B006/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 5, 2002 |
JP |
2002-320895 |
May 9, 2003 |
JP |
2003-131340 |
Claims
1. A display element comprising a light source and a waveguide that
comprises a deformable core and propagates a light emitted from the
light source, wherein the light propagated in the waveguide is
extracted to outside the display element from a waveguide lateral
face, the display element further comprising a plurality of
actuators that deform a shape of the waveguide, wherein the
actuators are attached to the waveguide lateral face, wherein the
shape of the waveguide lateral face is changed by deformation of
the actuators, and wherein the actuators are operated selectively
to deform a surface shape of at least a portion of the core on the
waveguide lateral face to a concavo-convex shape, and the surface
of the core deformed to the concavo-convex shape reflects the light
propagated in the waveguide toward a direction that extracts the
light out of the display element from the waveguide lateral
face.
2. (canceled)
3. The display element according to claim 1, wherein the waveguide
comprises a cladding formed along one lateral face of the core,
wherein the actuators are attached to the cladding and the shape of
the waveguide lateral face is changed by deforming the
actuators.
4. (canceled)
5. (canceled)
6. The display element according to claim 1, wherein the actuators
comprise a piezoelectric element, and wherein the shape of the
waveguide lateral face is changed by deforming the piezoelectric
element by applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element.
7. The display element according to claim 1, wherein the actuators
comprise: a first electrode film arranged at the waveguide lateral
face, a piezoelectric element layered on the first electrode film,
and a second electrode film layered on the piezoelectric element,
wherein the shape of the waveguide lateral face is changed by
deforming the piezoelectric element by applying a voltage between
the first electrode film arranged at the waveguide lateral face and
the second electrode film layered on the piezoelectric element.
8. The display element according to claim 1, wherein the actuators
comprise a convex portion, and wherein the shape of the waveguide
lateral face is changed by applying pressure to the waveguide
lateral face with the convex portion.
9. The display element according to claim 1, wherein the actuators
comprise: an electrode film arranged at the waveguide lateral face,
and an external electrode film that is in opposition to and
adjacent to the waveguide, wherein the shape of the waveguide
lateral face is changed by an electrostatic force produced by
applying a voltage between the external electrode film and the
electrode film.
10. The display element according to claim 9, wherein the external
electrode film comprises a convex portion at the waveguide lateral
face, and a shape of the waveguide lateral face is changed by the
convex portion of the external electrode film applying pressure to
the waveguide lateral face by using the electrostatic force.
11. (canceled)
12. The display element according to claim 1, wherein at least a
portion of the waveguide comprises an elastic material.
13. The display element according to claim 1, wherein at least a
portion of the waveguide comprises a transparent gel.
14. The display element according to claim 1, wherein the actuators
are formed for each of a plurality of pixels.
15-23. (canceled)
24. The display element according to claim 1, wherein the light
source is a 3-color LED or a 3-color laser.
25. A display device comprising: the display element according to
claim 1, a light source drive circuit for driving the light source,
an actuator drive circuit for driving the actuators, and a control
circuit that controls the light source drive circuit and the
actuator drive circuit.
26. (canceled)
27. A display device comprising: the display element according to
claim 14, and an active matrix element that controls the respective
actuators.
28. (canceled)
29. The display device according to claim 27, wherein the active
matrix element is a TFT or a TFD.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Division of application Ser. No.
10/533,663, filed May 3, 2005, which is a National Stage of
PCT/JP2003/014047, which applications are incorporated herein by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to display elements and
display devices using these display elements in which display is
carried out by extracting light propagated by a waveguide from a
lateral face of the waveguide.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Display devices in which light propagated by a waveguide is
extracted from a lateral face of the waveguide are disclosed in JP
H7-287176A (particularly pages 6-7 and FIGS. 1 to 20) and JP
H11-202222A (particularly pages 3-4, paragraph (0010), and FIG. 2)
for example. These display devices are provided with actuator
portions that are connected to light extraction portions and made
of a ceramic piezoelectric film. Rest and displacement of the
actuator portion is carried out by applying a voltage to the
actuator portion such that the light extraction portion comes in
contact with or moves away from the light waveguide, thereby
extracting leakage light in a controlled manner.
[0004] Display devices that use the above system have been
implemented as large size display panels. A commercialized example
of these is presented in a CeramVision/CeramBoard brochure (fifth
page, lower left column) at the following Internet address:
http://www.ngk.co.jp/ELE/product/07/index.html (accessed on Jul.
25, 2002).
[0005] With traditional displays, light that is totally reflected
and propagated within the waveguide is made to leak to the outside
from a lateral face of the waveguide by bringing the waveguide and
the light extraction portion together to a distance less than the
wavelength of the light. That is, so called evanescent waves are
extracted (particularly see paragraph (0009) of JP H7-287176A and
claim 1 of JP H11-202222A). As shown in drawings such as FIGS. 1
and 4 of JP H7-287176A, the extraction of light from a lateral face
of the waveguide is controlled by whether or not a flat surface of
a displacement transmission portion (light extraction portion) is
made to come into contact with a planar waveguide.
[0006] Furthermore, FIG. 3 of JP H11-202222A shows the
transmissivity of light when evanescent light of light that is
totally reflected by a total reflection surface is extracted at an
extraction surface that has been brought in to proximity with the
total reflection surface. According to this, transmissivity of
approximately 50% is shown for light that has an incident angle in
the range of 50.degree. to 80.degree. to the total reflection
surface when the distance between the total reflection surface and
the extraction surface is in the range of 0.1 to 0.05 .mu.m.
[0007] Furthermore, for example, a display device is disclosed in
"Waveguide Panel Display Using Electromechanical Spatial
Modulators," X. Zhou, E. Gulari, SID98 Digest, 1998, pages 1,022 to
1,025, in which an electrostatic actuator, in which a metal
electrode film is formed on a polyimide film, is used as the
actuator portion and an LED is used as the light source. In this
display device, in contrast to the light extraction portion's width
of 0.23 mm, the thickness of the waveguide is 0.5 mm. Furthermore,
a surface of the waveguide is an ITO film, and the surface of the
light extraction portion that comes into contact with the ITO film
is made by forming a film doped with titanium dioxide particles,
which affect the diffusion properties of the polyimide, on an
electrode, such that this film becomes a composite material harder
than polyimide.
[0008] The above-described conventional display device has low
efficiency in extracting from the waveguide the light that is
propagated in the waveguide. Moreover, unless the light extraction
portion exerts a large pressure on the waveguide, the extracted
light has insufficient brightness and is uneven.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0009] The present invention has been devised to solve these
issues, and it is an object thereof to provide a display element
and a display device in which light propagated in a waveguide can
be extracted with high efficiency from a lateral face of the
waveguide.
[0010] A display element according to the present invention is
provided with a light source and a waveguide that propagates a
light emitted from the light source, wherein the light propagated
in the waveguide is extracted to the outside from a waveguide
lateral face, and wherein the light is extracted out of the
waveguide from the waveguide lateral face by changing a shape of
the waveguide lateral face.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a
display element according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a structure of a
display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a structure of a display
device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a
display element according to Embodiment 2 of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a
display element according to Embodiment 3 of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a structure of a
display device according to Embodiment 3 of the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a structure of a display
device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a
display element according to Embodiment 4 of the present
invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0019] A display device according to the present invention
extracts, from a lateral face of a waveguide, light that is
propagated in the waveguide by changing the shape of the waveguide
lateral face, and therefore is capable of extracting propagated
light with high efficiency. This makes possible a display that is
bright and uniform.
[0020] Furthermore, it is preferable that the display element is
further provided with a plurality of actuators that change a shape
of the waveguide, wherein the shape of the waveguide lateral face
is changed by selectively operating the actuators to extract the
light out of the waveguide from the waveguide lateral face. In this
way, light propagated in the waveguide can be extracted with high
efficiency.
[0021] Furthermore, it is preferable that the waveguide is provided
with a core and a cladding formed along one lateral face of the
core, wherein the actuators are attached to the cladding and a
shape of the waveguide lateral face is changed by deforming the
actuators. In this way, light propagated in the waveguide can be
extracted with high efficiency.
[0022] Furthermore, it is preferable that the light is extracted
out of the waveguide by deforming at least a portion of the core of
the waveguide. In this way, light can be extracted precisely.
[0023] Furthermore, it is preferable that the actuators are
attached to the waveguide lateral face, and a shape of the
waveguide lateral face is changed by deforming the actuators. In
this way, light can be extracted easily.
[0024] Furthermore, it is preferable that the actuators are
provided with a piezoelectric element, and a shape of the waveguide
lateral face is changed by deforming the piezoelectric element by
applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element. In this way,
actuators that operate at high speed can be formed and therefore
high precision video display can be supported.
[0025] Furthermore, it is preferable that the actuators are
provided with a first electrode film arranged at the waveguide
lateral face, a piezoelectric element layered on the electrode
film, and a second electrode film layered on the piezoelectric
element, wherein the shape of the waveguide lateral face is changed
by deforming the piezoelectric element by applying a voltage
between the first electrode film arranged at the waveguide lateral
face and the second electrode film layered on the piezoelectric
element. In this way, high efficiency light extraction can be
achieved with small external pressure.
[0026] Furthermore, it is preferable that the actuators are
provided with a convex portion, and a shape of the waveguide
lateral face is changed by applying pressure to the waveguide
lateral face with the convex portion. In this way, high efficiency
light extraction can be achieved easily.
[0027] Furthermore, the actuators are provided with: an electrode
film arranged at the waveguide lateral face, and an external
electrode film that is in opposition to and adjacent to the
waveguide, wherein the shape of the waveguide lateral face is
changed by an electrostatic force produced by applying a voltage
between the external electrode film and the electrode film. In this
way, high efficiency light extraction can be achieved easily.
[0028] The external electrode film is provided with a convex
portion at the waveguide lateral face, and a shape of the waveguide
lateral face is changed by the convex portion of the external
electrode film applying pressure to the waveguide lateral face by
using the electrostatic force. In this way, actuators that operate
at high speed can be formed and therefore high precision video
display can be supported.
[0029] Furthermore, it is preferable that the light is extracted
out of the waveguide by deforming at least a portion of the core of
the waveguide. In this way, light can be extracted precisely.
[0030] Furthermore, it is preferable that at least a portion of the
waveguide is made of an elastic material. In this way, high
efficiency light extraction is possible with small external
pressure.
[0031] Furthermore, it is preferable that at least a portion of the
waveguide is made of a transparent gel. In this way, high
efficiency light extraction is possible with small external
pressure.
[0032] Furthermore, it is preferable that the actuators are formed
for each pixel. This makes possible a display using an active
matrix.
[0033] Furthermore, it is preferable that the waveguide is provided
with a waveguide electrode film on the waveguide lateral face, an
opposing electrode film that opposes the waveguide electrode film,
and particles arranged between the waveguide electrode film and the
opposing electrode film, wherein, by applying a voltage between the
waveguide electrode film and the opposing electrode film, the
particles and the waveguide electrode film are brought into contact
such that the light is extracted out of the waveguide from the
waveguide lateral face. With such a structure, the particles and
the waveguide can be integrated by bringing the particle into
contact with the waveguide electrode film, and the light can be
extracted out of the waveguide from the waveguide lateral face by
changing the shape of the waveguide lateral face. In this way, high
efficiency light extraction is possible by applying only a very
uniform and small pressure.
[0034] Furthermore, it is preferable that the light is extracted
out of the waveguide by deforming at least a portion of the core of
the waveguide. In this way, light can be extracted precisely.
[0035] Furthermore, it is preferable that the particle is
electrically charged. In this way, it is possible to control the
particle with an electrostatic force and therefore control can be
achieved easily.
[0036] Furthermore, it is preferable that the particle has a
magnetic property. In this way, it is possible to control the
particle with an electrostatic force and therefore control can be
achieved easily.
[0037] Furthermore, it is preferable that a surface tension of the
waveguide electrode film and a surface tension of a surface of the
particles are different from each other. In this way, it is easy to
cause the particles to contact the waveguide electrode film. For
this reason, contact and non-contact of the particles can be
controlled with a low voltage.
[0038] Furthermore, a coating material is applied to the waveguide
electrode film. In this way, it is easy to cause the particles to
contact the waveguide electrode film. For this reason, contact and
non-contact of the particles can be controlled with a low
voltage.
[0039] Furthermore, it is preferable that the waveguide electrode
film and the opposing electrode film are provided for each pixel.
This makes possible display using an active matrix.
[0040] Furthermore, the particle is fluorescent. In this way, it is
possible to extract light of various wavelengths by varying the
wavelength of the light from the light source.
[0041] Furthermore, the light source emits ultraviolet light. In
this way, it is possible to achieve RGB display even when the light
source is one type of LED.
[0042] Furthermore, the light source is a 3-color LED or a 3-color
laser. In this way, the number of waveguides can be reduced.
[0043] Furthermore, it is preferable that the display device
according to the present embodiment is provided with: the
above-described display element, the light source drive circuit for
driving the light source, an actuator drive circuit for driving the
actuator, and a control circuit that controls the light source
drive circuit and the actuator drive circuit. In this way, it is
possible to achieve a display device capable of higher luminance
and uniform display with lower power consumption.
[0044] Furthermore, it is preferably provided with the
above-described display element, the light source drive circuit for
driving the light source, a particle drive circuit for applying a
voltage between the waveguide electrode film and the opposing
electrode film, and a control circuit that controls the light
source drive circuit and the particle drive circuit. In this way,
it is possible to achieve a display device capable of higher
luminance and uniform display with lower power consumption.
[0045] Furthermore, it is preferably provided with the
above-described display element and an active matrix element that
controls the respective actuators. This achieves a display device
using an active matrix.
[0046] Furthermore, it is preferably provided with the
above-described display element and an active matrix element that
controls respective voltages between the waveguide electrode films
and the opposing electrode films. This achieves a display device
using an active matrix.
[0047] Furthermore, the active matrix elements may be a TFT or a
TFD.
[0048] The following is a description of more specific examples of
embodiments according to the present invention with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1
[0049] The following is a description of a display element and a
display device according to an embodiment of the present invention
with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a
cross-sectional view showing a structure of a display element 1
according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The display
element 1 is provided with a light source 2, a waveguide 3 that
propagates the light emitted from the light source 2, and a
plurality of actuators 4 that change the form of the waveguide
3.
[0050] The waveguide 3 is provided with a core 3a, through which
light propagates, and a cladding 3b. The cladding 3b is arranged
along the surface on one side of the core 3a. Cladding is not
arranged on the surface on the opposite side from the cladding 3b
such that air acts as the cladding there. A sheet of silicone gel,
which is an extremely soft material, with a thickness of 100-.mu.m
for example may be used as the core 3a, through which light
propagates. A transparent fluoric polymer for example with a low
refractive index may be used as the cladding 3b. The core 3a is
coated with the cladding 3b to a thickness of 10 .mu.m.
[0051] The light source 2 is arranged at an end portion of the
waveguide 3 and the light source 2 is arranged with an orientation
such that the light emitted from the light source 2 is coupled into
the waveguide 3. It is preferable that a 3-color LED for example is
used as the light source 2. The 3-color LED can have a structure in
which RGB 3-color LED chips are accommodated in a single lamp, with
each color independently controlled.. In conventional flat panel
displays using LCD or PDP, the pixels of the three RGB colors are
separated in a stripe form. However, in Embodiment 1, by using a
3-color LED, the light of the three colors R, G, and B can be input
to a single waveguide 3, and therefore it is possible for a single
waveguide 3 to emit any of the three colors R, G, and B. It should
be noted that it is preferable for a prism 2a to be placed and
optically coupled at an incident location of the waveguide 3 to
facilitate entrance of the light from the light source 2 even when
the waveguide 3 is thin.
[0052] The actuators 4 are provided with a piezoelectric element
4a, and electrode films 4b and 4c that are arranged respectively on
opposite sides of the piezoelectric element 4a. The actuators 4 are
attached at a lateral face on the cladding 3b side of the waveguide
3. The piezoelectric element 4a may be polyvinylidene fluoride
(PVDF) for example, on which a plurality of the electrode films 4b
and the electrode film 4c are formed by applying on both sides
thereof a silver paste for example. The actuators 4 are attached
with an adhesive at a lateral face, that is, the cladding 3b, of
the waveguide 3. The electrode films 4b have a width of 70 .mu.m
and are formed in a striped pattern with a pitch of 90 .mu.m. It
should be noted that these stripes are formed extending vertically
with respect to the paper plane in FIG. 1. Four of these stripes of
electrode films 4b constitute a single actuator 4. Furthermore, the
electrode film 4c facing the electrode films 4b is a continuous
coating that spreads uniformly on the waveguide 3 and is shared by
a plurality of actuators 4.
[0053] The following is a description of how light is extracted
from a lateral face of the waveguide 3 of the display element 1
shown in FIG. 1. Positive and negative voltages are alternately
applied to the four stripes of electrode films 4b of the actuators
4 arranged at the waveguide 3. In this way, the piezoelectric film
4a contracts in locations of the electrode films 4b supplied with a
positive voltage, and the piezoelectric film 4a lengthens in
locations of the electrode films 4b supplied with a negative
voltage. Since the length of the cladding 3b is prescribed and does
not change, the actuators 4 alternately project up and down as
shown in FIG. 1. That is, the actuators 4 become wave shaped. This
makes the cladding 3b change to the same shape as the actuators 4
and the surface of the core 3a on the cladding 3b side is also
deformed.
[0054] The lengths of the cladding 3b and the piezoelectric film 4a
are the same when no voltage is applied, and therefore the
actuators 4 assume a planar shape.
[0055] In this way, it is possible to change the form of the
lateral face of the waveguide 3 by selectively controlling the
voltage that is applied between the electrode films 4b and the
electrode film 4c.
[0056] Light of a desired color emitted from the light source 2 is
propagated in the waveguide 3. Here; when concavity and convexity
are produced in desired locations on the surface of the core 3a on
the cladding 3b side in the waveguide 3 by selectively applying
voltages, a portion of the light propagated in the waveguide 3, for
example, a light 2c shown as a dot-dash line, undergoes a change of
angle with respect to the surface of the core 3a, and therefore is
emitted out of the waveguide 3 from a lateral face (the side on
which actuators 4 of the waveguide 3 are not arranged) of the
waveguide 3 after being totally reflected. Furthermore, a light 2b,
which is shown by a broken line, is transmitted through the core 3a
and the cladding 3b due to the changed form of the waveguide 3 and
is then reflected by the silver electrode film 4c such that it is
scatter-reflected and emitted out of the waveguide 3 from a lateral
face of the waveguide 3.
[0057] In this way, by controlling the application of voltages to
control the color of emitted light from the light source 2 that is
incident on the waveguide 3, it is possible to extract light at a
desired position and of a desired color from the lateral face
(display surface 1a) of the waveguide 3 of the display element 1
and carry out display.
[0058] Furthermore, the greater the voltage applied to the
actuators 4, the greater the change in form of the waveguide 3.
Increases in the luminance of the extracted light were observed
according to measurements along with gradual increases in applied
voltages starting from zero. Luminance was saturated when the
voltage applied was .+-.30 volts and it was possible to extract 80%
or more of the light from the light source 2 that was incident on
the waveguide 3.
[0059] A light source 2 that provides high directivity for emitted
light is preferable for extracting light efficiently. In the
waveguide 3 of the display surface 1a in FIG. 1, the total
reflection angle at the interface between the core 3a and the air
is 60.degree.. Accordingly, when the angle (incident angle) of the
light propagated in the waveguide 3 with respect to the normal line
of the display surface la is smaller than 41.8.degree., which is
the critical angle, light leaks from the waveguide 3. Conversely,
when the incident angle is large and the travel direction of the
light is close to parallel to the waveguide 3, total reflection
occurs repetitively in the core 3a and the spacing between
locations of such total reflection becomes extremely large such
that locations in which light extraction is desired are passed
over, thus tending to reduce efficiency and produce uneven
luminance.
[0060] For these reasons, it is preferable that the incident angle
of light emitted from the light source 2 to the waveguide 3 is
larger than the critical angle of 41.8.degree. but close to the
critical angle of 41.8.degree. with a light of high directivity.
For example, when the light source 2 is an LED, the directivity can
be varied according to the shape of the lens that is molded, and
therefore the half-value width of the emitted light angle
distribution of the 3-color LED serving as the light source 2 was
set at approximately 10.degree..
[0061] It should be noted that it is possible to use a light source
2 other than an LED. For example, it is possible to use a light
source 2 in which directivity has been improved by arranging a
micro-lens array on an organic EL panel and it is also possible to
use a semiconductor laser as the light source 2.
[0062] When the waveguide 3 is too thick, the light propagated
inside the waveguide 3 undergoes repetitive total reflection at the
display surface 1a (the interface between the waveguide 3 and the
air) and the spacing between locations of total reflection becomes
extremely large. For this reason, the propagated light may pass
over the arranged locations (pixels) of the actuators 4, thus
bringing about light beams that cannot be extracted. Therefore, it
is preferable that the waveguide 3 is not too thick.
[0063] Specifically, setting the thickness D of the waveguide 3 in
FIG. 1 at not greater than 1/2 of the length L (the length of the
actuators 4 in the propagation direction of light in the waveguide
3) of the portions of the waveguide 3 that are made to change form
by the actuators 4 is preferable in terms of efficient
extraction.
[0064] The thickness of the waveguide 3 is determined according to
the number of pixels and the size of the display area. In the
display element 1, the length L of the portions of the waveguide 3
that are made to change form by the actuators 4 corresponds to the
length of one pixel in the horizontal direction (propagation
direction of light in the waveguide 3). For example, the display
size of a display device 100 using the display element 1 described
below is that of a HDTV in the range of 60 to 100 inches. In this
case for example, the size of a single pixel is approximately in
the range of 230.6 .mu.m (vertical).times.691.8 .mu.m (horizontal)
to 384.3 .mu.m (vertical).times.1,153 .mu.m (horizontal). It should
be noted that here vertical is the length in the perpendicular
direction with respect to the propagation direction of length in
the waveguide 3 and horizontal is the length in the propagation
direction of light in the waveguide 3. The thickness D of the
waveguide 3 here is preferably not greater than 345.9 .mu.m and not
greater than 576.5 .mu.m. The thickness D of the waveguide 3 is
preferably not greater than 1/2 of the length L (the length of the
actuators 4 in the propagation direction of light in the waveguide
3) of the portions of the waveguide 3 that are made to change form
by the actuators 4.
[0065] On the other hand, when the waveguide 3 is too thin, the
angles at which light can be propagated in the waveguide 3 are
limited such that the propagated light is close to single mode, and
therefore the amount of propagated light is reduced. Furthermore,
it is difficult to provide incident light when the waveguide 3 is
too thin. For this reason, it is preferable that the thickness of
the core 3a is at least 30 .mu.m or more.
[0066] The following is a description of a display device 100
according to Embodiment 1 with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a
perspective view showing a structure of the display device 100
according to Embodiment 1. With the above-described display element
1 vertical with respect to the propagation direction of light in
the waveguide 3, the display device 100 can be configured by
arranging in a row a plurality of the display elements 1 such that
the display surfaces la are on the same side. As shown in FIG. 2,
with the display device 100 of Embodiment 1, the waveguides 3 of
the display elements 1 are arranged in an array of n rows in the
row direction (X direction) of the screen. Here, n is a natural
number. The respective light sources 2 are arranged at end portions
of the waveguides 3 and actuators 4 for m lines are arranged in a
line direction (Y direction), which is the direction in which
waveguides 3 extend. The number of pixels of the display device 100
is n.times.m pixels.
[0067] A display device 100 according to Embodiment 1 operates the
actuators 4 in line sequence to change the form of the lateral face
of the waveguide 3 and thereby change the direction in which light
conveyed in the waveguide 3 by total reflection is reflected, thus
extracting light from within the waveguide 3 and causing the light
emission from the display surface 1a.
[0068] A display device 100 with this configuration is capable of
displaying a given image by controlling the application of voltages
to the various chips for the 3-color LEDs serving as the light
sources 2 for the waveguides 3 that extend in the row direction of
the display plane (XY plane), based on the color and luminance
information of the pixels on the lines for which extraction is
selected with the electrode films 4b and the electrode film 4c.
[0069] A block diagram showing a configuration of the display
device 100 of Embodiment 1 is shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 illustrates a
specific configuration for actually operating the display device
100. In addition to the above, the display device 100 is provided
with a light source drive circuit 50 for driving the light sources
2, an actuator drive circuit 51 for driving the actuators 4 by
applying voltages to the electrode film 4b and 4c, and a control
circuit 52 that synchronizes these circuits, inputs signals, and
displays images. The control circuit 52 inputs luminance
information of the colors RGB of pixels in lines selected by the
actuator drive circuit 51 to the driver LSI of the light source
drive circuit 50, and the light source drive circuit 50 inputs
applied voltages corresponding to the luminance information to the
light sources 2 to enable full color image display.
[0070] Since 3-color LEDs are used as the light sources 2, it is
possible to make light of three colors incident on a single
waveguide 3. This makes it possible to display light of three
colors with a single display element 1, that is, with one line.
With conventional display devices such as liquid crystal displays
and PDPs, a pixel is configured by three sub-pixels of the three
primary colors R, G, and B. However, with the display device using
the waveguide 3 of Embodiment 1, it is not necessary to divide the
waveguides 3 that extend in the row direction for each color and
the three primary colors can be incident on a single waveguide 3,
and therefore it is possible to reduce the number of waveguides 3
(display elements 1), thus providing the effect of reduced
costs.
[0071] Uniformly bright planar display could be confirmed by
sequentially applying voltages of .+-.30V to the actuators 4 in the
display elements 1 of the display device 100. With conventional
structures in which light is extracted using evanescent waves, it
has not been possible to reduce to zero the distance between the
waveguide and the light extraction surface due to the influence of
submicron size particulates that exist in multitude even in clean
rooms. For this reason, it has not been easy to achieve high
extraction efficiency even when pressing the light extraction
surface against the waveguide with considerable force.
[0072] However, with the display elements 1 of the display device
100 of Embodiment 1, by using soft waveguides, light is extracted
by causing the waveguides to change form with small external force,
thus changing the reflection direction of light propagated in the
waveguides. For this reason, it was possible to achieve a higher
extraction efficiency than using extraction of evanescent
waves.
[0073] Furthermore, high speed operation is possible since
piezoelectric elements are used in the actuators 4. For this
reason, high-speed scanning is possible, thus also supporting
high-definition image display.
Embodiment 2
[0074] The following is a description of a display element 11
according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention with reference
to FIG. 4. In the display element 11 of Embodiment 2 and the
display element 1 of Embodiment 1, the actuators are different.
Other than that the structure is substantially the same and
therefore members having the same function will be given the same
numerical symbol and description thereof will be omitted.
[0075] As shown in FIG. 4, the display element 11 of Embodiment 2
is provided with a light source 2, a waveguide 3 that propagates
the light emitted from the light source 2, and actuators 14 that
change the form of the waveguide 3. The light source 2 and the
waveguide 3 are the same as in the display element 1 of Embodiment
1. The light source 2 is a 3-color LED for example, and the light
emitted by the light source 2 propagates in the waveguide 3. The
waveguide 3 is provided with a core 3a and a cladding 3b, and since
the core 3a is exposed on the opposite side of the cladding 3b, the
air acts as cladding. It should be noted that in Embodiment 2, the
core 3a is a flat sheet of a 100 .mu.m thickness and is made of a
silicone gel material, while the cladding 3b is a transparent
fluoric resin with a film thickness of 5 .mu.m.
[0076] The actuators 14 are provided with an electrode film 14a
arranged on a lateral face of the waveguide 3, a polycarbonate
insulation thin film 14b of a thickness of 0.1 .mu.m for example
that is applied to the electrode film 14a, a substrate 14d made of
0.15 mm thick PET film arranged in opposition to the insulation
thin film 14b, and external electrode films 14c, which are formed
on the substrate 14d on the insulation thin film 14b side and have
a concavo-convex shape. There are a plurality of the concavo-convex
shaped external electrode films 14c on the substrate 14d, and a
single actuator 14 is configured for each external electrode film
14c. The electrode film 14a is formed on the entire surface of the
waveguide 3 (cladding 3b) and is common with respect to the
actuators 14.
[0077] A method for manufacturing the above-described waveguide 3
and the actuators 14 is to coat the cladding 3b on the core 3a for
example, then further apply a silver paste with screen printing for
example on the surface of the cladding 3b to form the electrode
film 14a. Further still, a polycarbonate is applied to the
electrode film 14a to form the insulation thin film 14b. Then, an
indented concavo-convex portion 14e is formed by being pressed
formed in a striped pattern on the surface of the substrate 14d,
which is made of a 0.15 mm thick PET film. The concavo-convex
portion 14e has a cross-sectional depth of 3 .mu.m for example and
a pitch of 30 .mu.m. The aluminum external electrode films 14c are
formed on the concavo-convex portion 14e by carrying out aluminum
deposition for example. Finally, the substrate 14d and the
waveguide 3 are arranged so as to oppose each other.
[0078] The following is a description of the operation of the
thus-structured display element 11.
[0079] When no voltage is applied between the electrode film 14a
and the electrode film 14b, only the convex portions of the
concavo-convex shaped external electrode films 14c and the
insulation thin film 14d are connected at the end portions of the
display element 11 shown in FIG. 4. For this reason, the lateral
face of the waveguide 3 is flat. However, by applying a voltage
between the electrode film 14a and the external electrode films
14c, an electrostatic force is produced therebetween such that
these are attracted to each other. Due to this, as shown in the
central area of the display element 11 shown in FIG. 4, the
electrode film 14a and the external electrode film 14c cling toward
each other and the electrode film 14a and the external electrode
film 14c are deformed to the same concavo-convex shape.
Furthermore, the electrode film 14a is adhering to the waveguide 3,
and therefore the cladding 3b and the surface of the core 3a are
deformed to the same concavo-convex shape as the external electrode
films 14c. That is, the lateral face of the waveguide 3 changes
shape. It should be noted that the core 3a is particularly soft and
therefore changes shape greatly. In this way, light that is being
propagated while being totally reflected in the waveguide 3 can be
extracted to the outside from the lateral face of the waveguide 3.
As in Embodiment 1, a light 12c that is being propagated while
being totally reflected in the waveguide 3 by the surfaces of the
core 3a can be leaked to the outside from the lateral face of the
waveguide 3 by deforming the lateral face on one side of the
waveguide 3.
[0080] That is, when desired locations of the surface of the core
3a are made to deform to a concavo-convex shape, of the light that
has been propagated in the waveguide 3, the light 12c shown by the
one-dot dash line for example, is emitted out of the waveguide 3
from the lateral face (the side on which the actuators 4 of the
waveguide 3 are not arranged) of the waveguide 3 after being
totally reflected since the angle of the surface of the core 3a
changes. Furthermore, there is also light for example that
penetrates the core 3a and the cladding 3b and is then reflected by
the silver electrode film 14a such that it is scatter-reflected and
emitted out of the waveguide 3 from a lateral face of the waveguide
3.
[0081] In this way, by controlling the application of voltages to
control the color of emitted light from the light source 2 that is
incident on the waveguide 3, it is possible to extract light at a
desired position and of a desired color from the lateral face
(display surface 1a) of the waveguide 3 of the display element 1
and carry out display.
[0082] When sequential line scanning actually is carried out by
introducing incident light to the waveguide 3 from the 3-color LED
light source 2, applying +10V as a selective voltage between the
electrode film 14a and the external electrode film 14c, and
applying 0V to a non-selective location, a uniformly bright display
is achieved from the lateral face (display surface 1a) of the
waveguide 3. Even at low voltages, it is possible to extract to the
outside almost all the incident light of the light source 2, thus
achieving a display element 1 with high power efficiency.
[0083] A display device can be configured in the same way as the
display device 100 by arranging in a row a plurality of the display
elements 11 shown in FIG. 4 vertical with respect to the
propagation direction of light in the waveguide 3, such that the
display surfaces la are on the same side, as shown in FIG. 2. The
number of pixels when n rows of the display elements 11 are
arranged in the row direction of the screen and actuators 14 for m
lines are arranged in the direction (line direction) in which the
waveguides 3 extend is n.times.m pixels.
[0084] The method for achieving extraction from the lateral face
(display surface 1a) of the waveguide 3 to carry out image display
is the same as for the display device 100 of Embodiment 1, and
therefore will not be further explained. Only the structure of the
actuators is different between the display device of Embodiment 1
and the display device of Embodiment 2, and the rest of the
structure is substantially the same.
[0085] Furthermore, in order to actually operate the display device
of Embodiment 2, it is sufficient to provide, as shown in FIG. 3, a
light source drive circuit 50 for driving the light sources 2, an
actuator drive circuit 51 for driving operating the actuators 14 by
applying voltages to the electrode films 14a and 14c, and a control
circuit 52 that synchronizes these circuits, inputs signals, and
displays images.
[0086] Since a light modulation medium is sandwiched between line
electrodes and row electrodes in conventional XY matrix-type flat
display elements, it was difficult to increase the size of the
devices due to the occurrence of crosstalk. However, with the
display devices of Embodiment 1 and 2, there is no electrical
connection between the drive circuits of the lines and rows, and
therefore crosstalk essentially does not occur and, moreover, it is
easy to increase the size of devices since the structure is simple.
Moreover, since it is not particularly necessary to provide ITO,
which requires high temperature processing and because the
structure is simple, it is possible to achieve thin flexible
display devices that resemble film. Furthermore, LEDs or the like
with high light-emission efficiency are used as the light source,
and therefore it is possible to achieve high light extraction
efficiency with low power actuators, such that power consumption
also can be reduced.
[0087] As described above, with a display element and a display
device according to Embodiment 1 and 2, by using a soft waveguide,
it is possible to achieve a innovative display that has a large
thin screen capable of being, hung or attached on a wall and that
has high light emission efficiency and low power consumption.
[0088] It should be noted that in embodiments 1 and 2, an example
of silicone gel as the core 3a of the waveguide 3 was described,
but a transparent material that easily deforms and shows so called
rubber elasticity, for example urethane based rubber will achieve
the same effect. A material with a Young's modulus smaller than
10.sup.6N/m.sup.2 may be used as the core 3a.
[0089] Furthermore, in embodiments 1 and 2, the entire core 3a was
structured with the same material, but it is sufficient for the
surface of the core 3a of the waveguide 3 to be easily deformable,
and therefore the surface on the side of the waveguide 3 may be
structured with a hard material such as an ordinary plastic while
only locations to be deformed are structured as layers arranged by
a soft layer. Furthermore, it is also possible to use a waveguide 3
in which only the core 3a is structured without the cladding 3b
such that the cladding on both sides is air. Furthermore, to
facilitate handling, it is possible to use a waveguide 3 in which
cladding is provided on both sides of the core 3a.
[0090] It should be noted that in embodiments 1 and 2 a simple
matrix type display device was shown in which the waveguides 3 were
arrayed according to the number of rows and a plurality of 3-color
LED light sources 2 were arranged, but the type of light source and
the type of actuator, as well as the structure of the positioning
of these is in no way limited to this. Any structure by which it is
possible to achieve high extraction efficiency with low power by
deforming a soft waveguide 3 may be used. For example, a structure
is possible in which the waveguide 3 is made of a single flat sheet
with a single light source 2 arranged in an XY matrix with a number
of actuators 4 or 14 according to the number of pixels. In this
case, an active element that, drives the actuators 4 or 14 are
added to each actuator and driven for each pixel such that
gradation is carried out by controlling the time in which the core
deforms. A TFT (thin flat transistor) or a TFD (thin flat diode)
may be used as the active element.
[0091] With the display element and the display device according to
embodiments 1 and 2, the light extraction efficiency is improved in
display elements and display devices that use a technique in which
light propagated in the waveguide 3 is extracted from the lateral
face of the waveguide, which enables greater luminance with reduced
power consumption as well as improved uniformity of display.
Furthermore, it is possible to achieve sheet-shaped thin display
devices regardless of the screen size even for large screens
exceeding 100 inches and small screens for mobile applications.
Embodiment 3
[0092] The following is a description of a display element
according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention with reference
to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of
a display element 21 according to Embodiment 3. As shown in FIG. 5,
the display element 21 is provided with a light source 22, a
waveguide 23, an opposing electrode film 25 that opposes the
waveguide 23, and particles 26 arranged near the waveguide 23.
[0093] The waveguide 23 is provided with a core 23a that propagates
light, a cladding 23b, and waveguide electrode films 23c. A sheet
of acrylic resin for example, which is an extremely soft material,
with a thickness of 100-.mu.m is used as the core 23a. Furthermore,
a transparent fluoric polymer that has a low refractive index is
coated as the cladding 23b to a thickness of 10 .mu.m on a surface
on one side of the core 23a. The waveguide electrode films 23c are
ITO and are attached directly with an adhesive on a surface on the
opposite side of the core 23a from the cladding 23b. The cladding
23b is arranged on one surface only of the core 23a and a plurality
of the waveguide electrode films 23c are arranged on the reverse
surface. The waveguide electrode films 23c are ITO and a plurality
of these are arranged in the direction in which the waveguide 23
extends. The length W of the waveguide electrode film 23c in the
propagation direction of light in the waveguide 23 is 300 .mu.m for
example. The cladding on the opposite side of the cladding 23b is
air. Furthermore, the waveguide electrode films 23c are a portion
of the core and the light propagated in the waveguide 23 is also
totally reflected by the interface of the waveguide electrode films
23c and the air. It should be noted that this also may be a
structure in which no cladding 23b is provided.
[0094] The light source 22 is arranged at an end portion of the
waveguide 23 and the light source 22 is arranged with an
orientation such that the light emitted from the light source 22 is
coupled into the waveguide 23. It is preferable that a prism 22a is
placed and optically coupled at an incident location of the
waveguide 23. It should be noted that the light source 22 may be
the same as the light source 2 in Embodiment 1 and it is preferable
that a 3-color LED is used for example.
[0095] A light source 22 that has high directivity is preferable to
enable efficient extraction of light from the waveguide 23. In the
waveguide 23, the total reflection angle at the interface between
the core 23a and the air is 60.degree.. The state of light
propagation in the waveguide 23 is shown conceptually in the
cross-sectional view of FIG. 5.
[0096] When the incident angle (angle with respect to the normal
line of the display surface 21a) to the waveguide 23 of the light
22b shown as a broken line emitted from the light source 22 is
smaller than 41.8.degree., which is the critical angle in
Embodiment 3, the light 22b leaks from the waveguide 23.
Conversely, when the incident angle is greater than the critical
angle of 41.8.degree. as with the light 22c shown by the dot-dash
line, the travel path of the light 22c is close to parallel to the
waveguide 23. In this way, total reflectance occurs repetitively in
the core 23a and the waveguide electrode film 23c and the spacing
between locations of such total reflectance becomes extremely large
such that locations in which light extraction is desired are passed
over, thus tending to reduce efficiency and produce uneven
luminance. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 3 of JP H7-287176A,
the extraction ratio of evanescent waves becomes smaller and
efficiency is reduced. For these reasons, it is preferable that the
incident angle of light emitted from the light source 22 to the
waveguide 23 is larger than the critical angle of 41.8.degree. but
close to the critical angle of 41.8.degree. with a light source 22
of high directivity. For example, when the light source 22 is an
LED, the directivity can be varied according to the shape of the
lens that is molded, and is therefore preferable. That is why, in
Embodiment 3, a 3-color LED in which the half value width of the
emitted light angle distribution is set to 10.degree. is used as
the light source 22.
[0097] It should be noted that, other than an LED, it is also
possible to use a light source whose directivity has been improved
by arranging a micro-lens array on an organic EL panel, as the
light source 22, and it is also possible to use a semiconductor
laser. By using 3-color LED as the light source 22, it is easier to
make light of three colors incident on a single waveguide 23. With
conventional displays such as liquid crystal displays and PDPs, a
pixel is configured by three sub-pixels of the three primary colors
R, G, and B, but by configuring a pixel as described above, it is
not necessary to divide the waveguides 23 that extend in the row
direction for each color and the three primary colors can be
incident on a single waveguide 23. Therefore it is possible to
reduce the number of waveguides 23, thus providing the effect of
reduced costs.
[0098] The opposing electrode film 24 is arranged in opposition to
the waveguide 23. The opposing electrode film 24 is ITO for
example, and is deposited on a substrate 25 of an acrylic resin.
The spacing between the waveguide electrode film 23c and the
opposing electrode film 24 is 35 .mu.m for example.
[0099] Particles 26 are arranged in the vicinity of the waveguide
23. The particles 26 are positioned between the waveguide electrode
film 23c and the opposing electrode film 24, are made of an acrylic
resin, and are electrically charged. The mean particle size of the
particles 26 is 6 .mu.m for example. The particles 26 are filled
into the space between the waveguide electrode film 23c and the
opposing electrode film 24 to a filling rate of 20%. It should be
noted that the filling rate is the ratio of the volume occupied by
the particles per unit of volume. The volume occupied by the
particles 26 can be obtained by multiplying the number of particles
26 per unit of volume by the volume per particle that is obtained
from the mean particle size of the particles 26.
[0100] When applying a voltage of 70V for example so that the
selected waveguide electrode film 23c becomes negative and the
opposing electrode film 24 becomes positive, the particles 26
contact the surface of the waveguide electrode film 23c. In this
way, the particles 26 and the waveguide 23 become integrated. That
is, the particles 26 become a portion of a lateral face of the
waveguide 23 and the shape of the lateral face of the waveguide 23
on the side of the waveguide electrode film 23c is changed.
[0101] Light of a desired color emitted from the light source 22 is
propagated in the waveguide 23. Here, by selectively applying
voltages to the waveguide electrode film 23c and the opposing
electrode film 24, the shape of the lateral face of the waveguide
23 on the side of the waveguide electrode film 23c is changed by
the particles 26. By changing the shape of the waveguide 23, the
state of propagation changes and the light that has been propagated
in the waveguide 23 leaks outside from the waveguide lateral face
of the waveguide 23. By setting the refractive index of the
particles 26 to approximate the refractive index of the core 23a or
the cladding 23b, it is possible to extract light to the outside
from the particles 26. It is preferable that the refractive index
of the particles 26 for example is substantially equivalent to the
refractive index of the core 23a.
[0102] In this way, light leaks from the contacting portions of the
particles 26 and the waveguide electrode film 23c, and therefore
light can be extracted in the direction of the acrylic resin
substrate 25 such that the substrate 25 can be made a display
screen.
[0103] On the other hand, when a voltage of 70V is applied to
reverse the electric field, that is, such that the waveguide
electrode film 23c becomes positive and the opposing electrode film
24 becomes negative, the particles 26 move away from the waveguide
electrode film 23c. For this reason, the light being propagated
inside the waveguide 23 cannot be extracted as leaked light and is
guided as it is within the waveguide 23, and therefore display is
not conducted.
[0104] In this way, since light is extracted from the lateral face
of the waveguide 23 by bringing individual particles 26 into
contact with the waveguide electrode film 23c, the contact surface
area is small and it is not necessary to have contact within the
entire surface such as with conventional flat shaped piezoelectric
elements. For this reason, a very uniform small pressure can be
applied to the waveguide 23 and, moreover, the pressure can be
applied electrostatically to make control possible. It should be
noted that in the above description charged particles 26 were used,
but instead of these it is also possible to use particles that are
magnetic and to control contact and non-contact of the particles 26
to the surface of the waveguide 23 by controlling a magnetic field
between the opposing electrode film 24 and the waveguide electrode
film 23c.
[0105] Furthermore, particles 26 made of an acrylic resin
containing rhodamine, which is a fluorochrome, may be used as the
particles 26. In this case, the light extracted from the lateral
face of the waveguide 23 when using a green LED that emits a 520 nm
wavelength light as the light source 22 was observed to be an
orange light with a wavelength of 580 nm. In this way, by
selectively using particles 26 that contain a fluorochrome or a
fluorescent substance, and an LED light source 22 that corresponds
to the excitation wavelength of the fluorochrome or the fluorescent
substance, it is possible to extract light, of various wavelengths.
Furthermore, by using an ultraviolet light LED as the light source
22 and by using the fluorescent substances used in PDPs as the
particles 26, it is possible to achieve display of RGB even when
using a single color LED as the light source 22.
[0106] The following is a description of a display device 300
according to Embodiment 3 with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a
perspective view showing a structure of the display device 300
according to Embodiment 3. The display device 300 can be configured
by arranging a plurality of the above-described display elements 21
in a row vertically with respect to the propagation direction of
light in the waveguide 23. As shown in FIG. 6, with the display
device 300 of Embodiment 3, the waveguides 23 of the display
elements 21 are arranged in an array of n rows in the row direction
(X direction) of the screen. It should be noted that n is a
positive integer. The light sources 22 are arranged respectively at
end portions of the waveguides 23. At the lateral face of the
waveguide 23, the electrode films 23c for m lines are arranged in
the line direction (Y direction), which is the direction in which
waveguides 23 extend. The opposing electrode film 24 for the
display elements 21 is common and is arranged such that it covers
all the waveguides 23 of the display elements 24. Furthermore, also
the waveguide electrode films 23c of the same line are shared by
the respective waveguides 23 and cover the lines thereof. The
number of pixels of the display device 300 is n.times.m pixels.
[0107] With the display device 300 of Embodiment 3, the particles
26 are made to undergo contact or non-contact to the waveguide
electrode film 23c by controlling, line by line, the voltages
applied between the waveguide electrode film 23c and the opposing
electrode film 24 such that light propagated in the waveguide 23 by
total reflection is extracted from a lateral face of the waveguide
23 and emitted toward the opposing electrode film 24.
[0108] A display device 300 configured in this way is capable of
displaying a given image by controlling the application of voltages
to the various chips for the 3-color LEDs for the waveguides 23
that extend in the row direction of the display plane (XY plane),
based on the color and luminance information of the pixels on the
lines for which extraction is selected with the waveguide electrode
film 23c and the opposing electrode film 24.
[0109] A block diagram showing a configuration of the display
device 300 of Embodiment 3 is shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 illustrates a
specific configuration for actually operating the display device
300. In addition to the above, the display device 300 is provided
with a light source drive circuit 60 for driving the light sources
22, a particle drive circuit 61 for making the particles 26 undergo
contact or non-contact with the waveguide electrode film 23c by
applying voltages to the waveguide electrode film 23c and the
opposing electrode film 24, and a control circuit 62 that
synchronizes these circuits, inputs signals, and displays images.
The control circuit 62 inputs luminance information of the colors
RGB of pixels in lines selected by the particle drive circuit 61 to
the driver LSI of the light source drive circuit 60, and the light
source drive circuit 60 inputs applied voltages corresponding to
the luminance information to the light sources 22 to enable full
color image display.
[0110] Since 3-color LEDs are used as the light sources 22, it is
possible to make light of three colors incident on a single
waveguide 33. This makes it possible to display light of three
colors with a single display element 21, that is, with one line.
With conventional display devices such as liquid crystal displays
and PDPs, a pixel is configured by three sub-pixels of the three
primary colors R, G, and B. However, with the display device using
the waveguide 23 of Embodiment 3, it is not necessary to divide the
waveguides 3 that extend in the row direction for each color and
the three primary colors can be incident on a single waveguide 23.
Therefore it is possible to reduce the number of waveguides 23
(display elements 21), thus providing the effect of reduced
costs.
Embodiment 4
[0111] The following is a description of a display element 31
according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention with reference
to FIG. 8. The display element 31 according to Embodiment 4 is a
structure in which a coating material 37 that has a relatively
large surface tension is applied on the waveguide 23 of the display
element 21 according to Embodiment 3, on the side on which the
waveguide electrode film 23c is arranged. Specifically, the surface
tension of the coating material 37 is preferably not less than 50
mN/m. The coating material 37 covers the core 23a and the waveguide
electrode film 23c such that the coating material 37 is a portion
of the core, and the light propagated in the waveguide 23 is also
totally reflected by the interface of the coating material 37 and
the air. Since the same function is indicated for portions other
than the coating material 37, the same numerical symbols will be
used and their further description will be omitted.
[0112] The coating material 37 is a glycerin for example with a
surface tension of 63.4 mN/m and is applied to have a thickness of
approximately 2 .mu.m. Furthermore, it is preferable that a
material with a small surface tension is used for the particles 26.
Specifically, the surface tension of the particles 26 is preferably
not more than 30 mN/m.
[0113] A display element 31 was actually formed using the particles
26 made of Teflon (registered trademark) with a surface tension of
18.4 mN/m, for example. The mean particle size of the particles 26
was set at 6 .mu.m and the filling rate of the particles 26 in the
space between the waveguide electrode film 23c and the opposing
electrode film 24 was set at 20%. A voltage of 50V was applied so
that the waveguide electrode film 23c of the selected line became
negative and the opposing electrode film 24 became positive. In
this way, the particles 26 came in contact with the surface of the
waveguide electrode film 23c and the leaked light from the contact
portion was extracted toward the substrate 25. On the other hand, a
voltage of 50V was applied to reverse the electric field, namely so
that the waveguide electrode film 23c became positive and the
opposing electrode film 24 became negative. In this way, since the
particles 26 move away from the surface of the waveguide electrode
film 23c, the light from the light source 22 propagated in the
waveguide 23 cannot be extracted as leaked light. In this case,
display and non-display can be switched by a small voltage in the
display element 31 of Embodiment 4. This is because the surface
tension of the glycerin, which is the coating material 37 is
sufficiently larger than the surface tension of the Teflon
(registered trademark) of the particles 26. In this way, the so
called springiness at the contact surface between the particles 26
and the coating material 37 becomes greater. Springiness is a
physical phenomenon in which springing occurs without the coating
material 37 spreading against surface of the particles 26. That is,
the greater the springiness between the particles 26 and the
coating material 37, the greater the rebound at contact between the
particles 26 and the waveguide electrode film 23c. For this reason,
the particles 26 can be made to move away more easily from the
waveguide electrode film 23c. Accordingly, contact and non-contact
between the particles 26 and, the waveguide electrode film 23 can
be controlled with a low voltage.
[0114] In this way, by providing the coating material 37 with a
different surface tension from the particles 26 on the surface of
the core 23a and the waveguide electrode film 23c, it is possible
to reduce the voltage required to control contact of the particles
26. It should be noted that the surface tension of the particles 26
may be different from the surface tension of the surface of the
waveguide 23 (the waveguide electrode film 23c). However, generally
the structure is such that the surface tension of the particles 26
is smaller than the surface tension of the surface of the waveguide
23.
[0115] A display device can be configured in the same way as the
display device 300 by arranging in a row a plurality of the display
elements 31 shown in FIG. 8 vertical with respect to the
propagation direction of light in the waveguide 23, such that the
display surfaces 21a are on the same side, as shown in FIG. 6. When
n rows of the display elements 31 are arranged in the row direction
of the screen and the waveguide electrode film 23c for m lines are
arranged in the direction (line direction) in which the waveguides
3 extend the number of pixels is n.times.m pixels.
[0116] The method for achieving extraction of a desired light from
the lateral face (display surface 21a) of the waveguide 23 to carry
out image display is the same as for the display device 300 of
Embodiment 3, and therefore its explanation will be omitted. A
point of difference between the display device of Embodiment 4 and
the display device of Embodiment 5 is that the coating material 37
is arranged on a surface of the waveguide 23 and otherwise the
structures are substantially the same.
[0117] Furthermore, in order to actually operate the display device
of Embodiment 4, as shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to provide a
light source drive circuit 60 for driving the light sources 22, a
particle drive circuit 61 for making the particles 26 undergo
contact or non-contact to the waveguide electrode film 23c by
applying voltages to the waveguide electrode film 23c and the
opposing electrode film 24, and a control circuit 62 that
synchronizes these circuits, inputs signals, and displays
images.
[0118] With the display devices of Embodiment 3 and 4, display of a
given image was achieved by controlling the application of voltages
to the various chips for the 3-color LEDs serving as the light
sources 22 for the waveguides 23 that extend in the row direction
of the display plane (XY plane), based on the color and luminance
information of the pixels on the lines for which extraction is
selected with the waveguide electrode film 23c and the opposing
electrode film 24. However, the configuration of the type of light
source and the positioning for example is not limited to these. For
example, a structure is possible in which the waveguide electrode
film 23c and the opposing electrode film 24 are arranged in an XY
matrix corresponding to the number of pixels. In this case, each
pixel may be driven by connecting an active element to the
waveguide electrode film 23c and the opposing electrode film 24. A
TFT or a TFD may be used as the active element for example.
[0119] With the display element and the display device according to
embodiments 3 and 4, the light extraction efficiency is improved by
controlling contact of the particles in a display device making use
of a technique in which light is guided from an end face of the
waveguide and light is extracted from a surface of core of the
waveguide, thus making it possible to achieve higher luminance with
lower power consumption. Furthermore, the uniformity of display is
improved. With embodiments 3 and 4, it is possible to achieve
sheet-shaped thin display devices regardless of the screen size
even for large screens exceeding 100 inches and small screens for
mobile applications.
[0120] The present inventors produced a display device in which
light is extracted from a waveguide with a structure that is the
same as the conventional structure of the previously mentioned
"Waveguide Panel Display Using Electromechanical Spatial
Modulators," X. Zhou, E. Gulari, SID98 Digest, 1998, pages 1,022 to
1,025. However, it was evident that luminance was low and
brightness is increased as thickness is reduced in conventional
structures in which the thickness of the waveguide is thicker than
the pixel width (width of propagation direction of light).
[0121] The reason for this is that the distance between locations
of total reflection in the waveguide in which propagated light
undergoes repetitive total reflection at the interface between the
core and the air is dependent on the thickness of the waveguide.
For example, for total reflection at a reflection angle of
45.degree., the distance between locations of total reflection is
double the width of the waveguide. And for this reason the
thickness of the waveguide must be not greater than 1/2 of the
width of the pixels in the light propagation direction. If not, the
distance between locations of total reflection becomes greater than
the pixel width and the reflected light passes over the pixels such
that extraction from the waveguide lateral face cannot be
achieved.
[0122] Accordingly, from the point of view of extraction
efficiency, the thickness of the waveguide in the display element
of embodiments 1 to 4 is preferably less than 1/2 of the pixel
width and, moreover, in consideration of the angle distribution of
the incident light, it is more preferably thinner still. It should
be noted that, specifically, the pixel width is the length of the
electrodes 4 and 14 in the longitudinal direction of the waveguide
3 in FIGS. 1 and 2 for the display elements of embodiments 1 and 2,
and is the length in the longitudinal direction of the waveguide
electrode film 23c or waveguide 23 in FIGS. 5 and 6 for embodiments
3 and 4.
[0123] For example, when the thickness of the waveguide 3 and 23 is
set at 1/4 or less than the pixel width, then light with a
reflection angle of 60.degree. or less also becomes extractable.
When light of an LED with high directivity is incident on such a
waveguide, it is possible to extract almost all the incident light.
On the other hand, when the waveguides 3 and 23 are too thin,
single mode is approached, at which the angles at which light can
be propagated in the waveguide 3 and 23 are limited. This reduces
the amount of light that can be transmitted. Moreover, since it
becomes difficult to introduce incident light when the waveguide 3
and 23 are too thin, it is preferable that the thickness of the
waveguide 3 and 23 are at least 30 .mu.m.
[0124] It should be noted that a 3-color laser (RGB) for example
may be used for the light sources 2 and 22 of the display elements
according to embodiments 1 to 4.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0125] A display element and a display device of the present
invention can be used in sheet-shaped thin display devices
regardless of the screen size even for large screens and small
screens for mobile applications.
* * * * *
References