Display with integrated photovoltaics

Abstract

A display with patterned photovoltaic (PV) material integrated on the front side and/or back side of the display is disclosed. Light may reach PV material situated behind a display through fully or partially transmissive features or gaps within the display. Display-generated light may also reach PV material behind a display. A patterned PV material situated in front of a display may collect both ambient light as well as display-generated light.

1 . A display device displaying an image toward a front side, with a back side opposite the front side, the display device comprising:
 a display comprising an array region having a front side and a back side, the array region including active pixel areas and inactive areas;   a photovoltaic cell including a photovoltaic material formed over one of the front side and the back side of the array region, wherein the photovoltaic material is patterned to correspond to a pattern of at least some of the inactive areas, the pattern including isolated islands within the array region; and   a power supply, wherein the photovoltaic cell is configured to provide power to the power supply.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic material includes a deposited thin film photovoltaic material. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic material further serves as a black mask to reduce reflections in the inactive areas of the array region. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the photovoltaic material is configured to reflect or transmit less than 10% of visible light incident upon the photovoltaic material. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the photovoltaic material is capable of receiving light from both the front and back sides of the photovoltaic material. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , further including a transparent conducting film in electrical contact with the photovoltaic material. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the transparent conducting film connects one isolated island of photovoltaic material to another isolated island of photovoltaic material. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the photovoltaic material is capable of receiving light incident upon the photovoltaic material through the transparent conducting film from the front and the back of the photovoltaic cell. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the display includes a backlight. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic material is formed over the back side of the array region. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the display includes a reflective display technology. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the active pixels include liquid crystal display pixels. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the active pixels include emissive elements. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the emissive elements are selected from the group including light-emitting diodes, organic light-emitting diodes, field emission displays, and liquid crystal displays. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the active pixel areas include microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the MEMS devices include interferometric modulators. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the inactive areas include transparent inactive structures capable of allowing ambient light to reach the photovoltaic material and wherein the photovoltaic material is patterned to correspond to a pattern of the inactive structures. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the transparent inactive structures include spaces between pixel areas. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic material is formed over the front side of the array region. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the photovoltaic material is patterned to mask the inactive areas of the array region. 
     
     
         21 . A method of manufacturing a display device, the display device configured to display an image toward a front side, with a back side opposite the front side, the method comprising:
 providing a display including an array region, the array region including active pixel areas and inactive areas;   disposing a photovoltaic material over one of the front side and the back side of the array region;   patterning the photovoltaic material to correspond to a pattern of at least some of the inactive areas, the pattern including isolated islands within the array region; and   providing a power supply, wherein the photovoltaic material is configured to provide power to the power supply.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further including aligning the patterned photovoltaic material with the pattern of the inactive areas. 
     
     
         23 . A display device displaying an image toward a front side, with a back side opposite the front side, the display device comprising:
 a display comprising an array region having a front side and a back side, the array region including active pixel areas and inactive areas;   means for converting light into electrical current, the light-converting means including a photovoltaic material formed over one of the front side and the back side of the array region, wherein the photovoltaic material is patterned to correspond to a pattern of at least some of the inactive areas, the pattern including isolated islands within the array region; and   a power supply, wherein the means for converting light is configured to provide power to the power supply.   
     
     
         24 . The display device of  claim 23 , wherein the means for converting light includes a photovoltaic cell.