Reversible configuration of content presentation direction in transparent displays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11275286-B2
Application number	US-201916428740-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2019
Priority date	Mar 15, 2019
Publication date	Mar 15, 2022
Grant date	Mar 15, 2022

Abstract

Display technologies are provided for configuring the direction of content presentation using a single display assembly. In some embodiments, the display assembly includes a transparent display unit intercalated between a first switchable layer and a second switchable layer. Each one of the first switchable layer and the second switchable layer is formed to reversibly transition between a transparent state and an opaque state in response to an applied electric field. The transparent display unit, the first switchable layer, and the second switchable layer can be operated individually to configure a particular direction of presenting digital content. In other embodiments, the display assembly includes a switchable layer intercalated between a first transparent display unit and a second transparent display unit. The switchable layer, the first transparent display unit, and the second transparent display unit can be operated individually to configure a particular direction of presenting digital content.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display apparatus, comprising:
a switchable layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;
a first transparent display unit forming an interface with the first surface; and
a second transparent display unit forming an interface with the second surface,
wherein the switchable layer is intercalated between the first transparent display unit and the second transparent display unit, wherein the switchable layer comprises a first portion in one of a first transparent state or a first opaque state, and a second portion in one of a second transparent state or a second opaque state, and wherein each of the first transparent display unit and the second transparent display unit is a single display as a whole, and
wherein the display apparatus is configured to utilize light of different polarizations for stereographic presentation of a plurality of digital content at a vehicle window comprising the display apparatus.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the switchable layer comprises an electrochromic material.

3. The display apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a control unit configured to cause the first portion of the switchable layer to transition to the first opaque state, and wherein the control unit is further configured to cause the second portion to transition to the second transparent state.

4. The display apparatus of claim 3 , wherein to cause the first portion of the switchable layer to transition to the first opaque state, the control unit is further configured to cause an electrode assembly to apply an electric field along a defined direction relative to an orientation of the first portion of the switchable layer.

5. The display apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the control unit is further configured to cause the first transparent display unit to present first digital content of the plurality of digital content and further cause the second transparent display unit to present second digital content of the plurality of digital content.

6. The display apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the control unit is further configured to cause the first portion and the second portion of the switchable layer to transition to respective states having respective optical properties.

7. The display apparatus of claim 6 , wherein to cause the first portion and the second portion to transition to respective states, the control unit is further configured to cause the electrode assembly to apply respective electric fields in respective defined directions relative to an orientation of the switchable layer.

8. The display apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the control unit is further configured to cause the first portion of the switchable layer to transition to the first transparent state.

9. The display apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the control unit is further configured to cause the first transparent display unit to present first digital content of the plurality of digital content and further cause the second transparent display unit to present the first digital content.

10. A method, comprising:
configuring a first portion of a switchable layer in one of a first opaque state or a first transparent state, wherein the switchable layer forms a first interface with a surface of a first transparent display unit, and wherein the switchable layer forms a second interface with a surface of a second transparent display unit;
configuring a second portion of the switchable layer in one of a second opaque state or a second transparent state;
configuring respective groups of display parameters of one or more of the first transparent display unit or the second transparent display unit; and
causing at least one of the first transparent display unit or the second transparent display unit to present respective digital content,
wherein the switchable layer is intercalated between the first transparent display unit and the second transparent display unit, wherein the switchable layer comprises a first portion in one of a first transparent state or a first opaque state, and a second portion in one of a second transparent state or a second opaque state, and wherein each of the first transparent display unit and the second transparent display unit is a single display as a whole, and
wherein the display apparatus is configured to utilize light of different polarizations for stereographic presentation of a plurality of digital content at a vehicle window comprising the display apparatus.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the switchable layer comprises an electrode assembly formed from transparent conductors, and wherein configuring the first portion of the switchable layer comprises causing the electrode assembly to apply a defined electric field along a defined direction relative to an orientation of the switchable layer.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are adjacent to each other, and wherein configuring the first portion comprises configuring the first portion in the first opaque state, and further wherein configuring the second portion comprises configuring the second portion in the second transparent state.

13. A vehicle, comprising:
a display apparatus comprising:
a switchable layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;
a first transparent display unit forming an interface with the first surface; and
a second transparent display unit forming an interface with the second surface,
wherein the switchable layer is intercalated between the first transparent display unit and the second transparent display unit, wherein the switchable layer comprises a first portion in one of a first transparent state or a first opaque state, and a second portion in an opposite state to a state of the first portion, and wherein each of the first transparent display unit and the second transparent display unit is a single display as a whole, and
wherein the display apparatus is configured to utilize light of different polarizations for stereographic presentation of a plurality of digital content at a vehicle window comprising the display apparatus.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising a control unit configured to cause the first portion and the second portion of the switchable layer to transition to respective states having respective optical properties.

15. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein a control unit is configured to cause the first portion of the switchable layer to transition to the first opaque state.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein to cause the first portion of the switchable layer to transition to the first opaque state, the control unit is further configured to cause an electrode assembly to apply an electric field along a defined direction relative to an orientation of the first portion of the switchable layer.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the control unit is further configured to cause the first transparent display unit to present first digital content of the plurality of digital content and further cause the second transparent display unit to present second digital content of the plurality of digital content.

18. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the control unit is further configured to cause the first portion of the switchable layer to transition to the first transparent state.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the control unit is further configured to cause the first transparent display unit to present first digital content of the plurality of digital content and further cause the second transparent d

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Larry Mark
• Lavoie Erick
• Guo Biaohe

Classifications

• G02F1/1313

  specially adapted for a particular application · CPC title

• G02F2201/44

  Arrangements combining different electro-active layers, e.g. electrochromic, liquid crystal or electroluminescent layers · CPC title

• G02F1/163 Primary

  Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor · CPC title

• G02F2203/01

  transmissive · CPC title

• B60R11/0235

  of flat type, e.g. LCD · CPC title