Transflective Displays

Transflective TFT modules have both transmissive and reflective modes, meaning they both transmit and reflect light. This application note will show the abilities of a transflective TFT display.

1. Introduction

Transflective TFT modules have both transmissive and reflective modes, meaning they both transmit and reflect light. Transflective displays are unique in that they can be visible with or without a backlight. This aspect of the transflective display is beneficial for reducing power consumption of the backlight by using the reflected light to create the readable image. Because transflective displays can use reflected light to display its image there is no need to overpower the backlight to compensate for bright ambient light. This makes transflective displays a perfect solution for indoor and outdoor applications, especially in direct sunlight.

Backlights are often the largest power drain on a display. Using the ambient light to illuminate the display makes transflective displays very energy efficient and are an ideal solution for battery powered devices. For example, a cellphone will increase the brightness of its display when brought into bright ambient lighting. This results in the battery of the device to drain very quickly. Conversely, transflective displays can use this bright ambient lighting to illuminate the display which reduces the power demand of the backlight thus conserving battery life.

Transflective displays can also utilize the transmissive mode to increase the backlight in darker environments. The display can use a combination of transmissive and reflective modes to maximize power efficiency depending on the environment and ambient light available. An outdoor display could adjust the backlight power depending on how much light is available over the course of the day. 

Below is an example of a transflective TFT display at different ambient lighting levels and the corresponding backlight power levels. The display in this example is a 2.0” transflective TFT (display: E20RB-FW345-N) with a white LED backlight at 345 nits. For more information on this display refer to the data sheet. Some important features of this display are below.

• Low Input Voltage: 3.3V
• Display Colors: 65k/262k
• Resolution: 240×320 pixels
• Brightness: 345 nits
• Display Mode: VA Transflective

The first image is the transflective TFT in the transmissive mode. The transmissive mode of the transflective TFT is using the backlight at 100% brightness. The transmissive TFT is the standard TFT mode and is great for indoor applications.

Focus LCDs Transflective TFT: Transmissive Mode

Transflective TFT’s can be used all lighting environments, using both display modes, in complete darkness to full sunlight. Below is the transflective TFT in the reflective mode in bright ambient lighting. The transflective TFT below compares the reflective aspect of the display with and without the use of the backlight LED’s. The difference between fully reflective mode at 0% backlight power and 100% backlight power is minimal in direct sunlight, using the backlight in direct sunlight has little effect for the transmissive mode of a TFT.

Focus LCDs Transflective TFT: Reflective Mode (No Backlight)

Focus LCDs Transflective TFT: Reflective Mode (With Backlight)

The transflective TFT reflects the bright ambient lighting to illuminate the display. Power is conserved when opting not to use the backlight LEDs which make transflective displays energy efficient and ideal for outdoor applications. It is important to note that displays in very bright environments will appear to have reduced color. In dark environments the image will appear to be more vibrant and colorful. The perceived color variation is due to the contrast in the lighting environment. A transmissive TFT would typically have limited visibility in direct sunlight while the transflective TFT can be visible in any environment. The ambient lighting levels can compensate for the lower power consumption of the backlight without sacrificing image visibility.

A combination of the reflective and transmission modes can be used to optimize the transflective display in any ambient lighting environment. This is especially beneficial for saving power in bright environments where the backlight LEDs can be turned off. This is a small 2.0” TFT at 345 nits that would require 80mA at 3.3V to maintain a constant brightness in the transmissive mode. This power cost becomes much greater for larger TFT’s. There is little difference in the TFT appearance at 100% and 0% backlight power in full sunlight when utilizing the full reflective mode of the transflective TFT. Transflective TFT’s are a great solution for efficient power use in applications where bright ambient lighting is available.

DISCLAIMER

Buyers and others who are developing systems that incorporate FocusLCDs products (collectively, “Designers”) understand and agree that Designers remain responsible for using their independent analysis, evaluation and judgment in designing their applications and that Designers have full and exclusive responsibility to assure the safety of Designers’ applications and compliance of their applications (and of all FocusLCDs products used in or for Designers’ applications) with all applicable regulations, laws and other applicable requirements.

Designer represents that, with respect to their applications, Designer has all the necessary expertise to create and implement safeguards that:

(1)     anticipate dangerous consequences of failures

(2)     monitor failures and their consequences, and

(3)     lessen the likelihood of failures that might cause harm and take appropriate actions.

Designer agrees that prior to using or distributing any applications that include FocusLCDs products, Designer will thoroughly test such applications and the functionality of such FocusLCDs products as used in such applications.