A video-speed reflective display based on electrowetting: Principle and properties

Electrowetting is presented as a novel principle for a reflective display. By contracting a colored oil film electrically, an optical switch is obtained with many attractive properties that make it very suitable for use as a reflective display, for instance, as electronic paper. Firstly, it has the high reflectivity (>40%) and contrast ratio (15) required for a paper-like optical appearance. In addition, the principle shows a video-rate response time (<10 msec) and has a clear route toward a high-brightness color display.¹ Finally, the electro-optical response is independent of cell-gap thickness, which will be very beneficial when moving toward a flexible display.