Emissive displays having improved contrast

1. An emissive display device, comprising:

a) a reflective electrode and a transparent electrode;

b) one or more light-emitting layers formed between the reflective and transparent electrodes;

c) a scattering layer separate and in a different layer from the light-emitting layer positioned in the emissive display device to scatter light trapped in the one or more light-emitting layers; and

d) a circular polarizer located on the side of the scattering layer opposite the reflective electrode.

2. The display device claimed in claim 1 , wherein the scattering layer is formed between the light-emitting layer and the circular polarizer.

3. The display device claimed in claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting layer is formed between the scattering layer and the circular polarizer.

4. The display device claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

e) a substrate, wherein the light-emitting display is a bottom-emitting display and the light is emitted through the substrate and the circular polarizer is located on the substrate.

5. The display device claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

e) a substrate; and

f) a cover located above the light-emitting layer and affixed to the substrate and the circular polarizer is located on the side of the cover opposite the light-emitting layer.

6. The display device claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

e) a substrate; and

f) a cover located above the light-emitting layer and affixed to the substrate and the circular polarizer is located between the cover and the light-emitting layer.

7. The display device claimed in claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting layer emits white light and the light-emitting display further includes color filters that filter the white light.

8. The display device claimed in claim 7 , wherein the color filters are formed between the circular polarizer and the light-emitting layer.

9. The display device claimed in claim 7 , wherein either the reflective or transparent electrodes are patterned to form distinct light-emitting areas and further includes a black matrix formed between the distinct light-emitting areas.

10. The display device claimed in claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting layer comprises organic materials.

11. The display device claimed in claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting layer comprises inorganic phosphorescent or fluorescent materials.

12. The display device claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reflective or transparent electrodes are patterned to form distinct light-emitting areas and the scattering layer is formed only in the distinct light-emitting areas.

13. The display device claimed in claim 1 , wherein one of the electrodes is patterned to form light-emitting areas, and further comprising a contrast-enhancement layer that includes a plurality of alternating light-absorbing portions and light-transmissive portions located on the side of the scattering layer opposite the reflective electrode and located in each light-emitting area