System and apparatus for see-through display panels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9251745-B2
Application number	US-201414555164-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 26, 2014
Priority date	Sep 4, 2008
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention provide for systems and apparatus directed toward using a contact lens and deflection optics to process display information and non-display information. In one embodiment of the invention, a display panel assembly is provided, comprising: a transparent substrate that permits light to pass through substantially undistorted; a reflector disposed on the transparent substrate; and a display panel aimed toward the reflector and substantially away from a human visual system, wherein the reflector reflects light emitted from the display panel toward the human visual system. The reflector may comprise a narrow band reflector or a polarization reflector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display panel assembly, comprising:
an electro-luminescent display that is transparent;
a liquid crystal display that is transparent and segmented, wherein the liquid crystal display is mounted to the electro-luminescent display such that a segment of the liquid crystal display is substantially aligned with one or more pixels within the electro-luminescent display; and
a control mechanism that varies a liquid crystal pixel gray level for the segment in order to modify an amount of ambient light passed through the electro-luminescent display.

2. A display panel assembly, comprising:
an electro-luminescent display that is transparent;
a liquid crystal display that is transparent and segmented, wherein the liquid crystal display is mounted to the electro-luminescent display such that a segment of the liquid crystal display is substantially aligned with one or more pixels within the electro-luminescent display; and
a control mechanism that varies a liquid crystal pixel gray level for the segment in order to modify an amount of ambient light passed through the electro-luminescent display, wherein the electro-luminescent display comprises an organic light emitting diode display.

3. A display panel assembly, comprising:
an electro-luminescent display that is transparent;
a liquid crystal display that is transparent and segmented, wherein the liquid crystal display is mounted to the electro-luminescent display such that a segment of the liquid crystal display is substantially aligned with one or more pixels within the electro-luminescent display; and
a control mechanism that varies a liquid crystal pixel gray level for the segment in order to modify an amount of ambient light passed through the electro-luminescent display, wherein an algorithm modifies the liquid crystal pixel gray level based on a content of the electro-luminescent display.

4. A display panel assembly, comprising:
an electro-luminescent display that is transparent;
a liquid crystal display that is transparent and segmented, wherein the liquid crystal display is mounted to the electro-luminescent display such that a segment of the liquid crystal display is substantially aligned with one or more pixels within the electro-luminescent display; and
a control mechanism that varies a liquid crystal pixel gray level for the segment in order to modify an amount of ambient light passed through the electro-luminescent display, wherein an algorithm modifies the liquid crystal pixel gray level based on a brightness of the one or more pixels within the electro-luminescent display.

5. A display panel assembly, comprising:
an electro-luminescent display that is transparent;
a liquid crystal display that is transparent and segmented, wherein the liquid crystal display is mounted to the electro-luminescent display such that a segment of the liquid crystal display is substantially aligned with one or more pixels within the electro-luminescent display; and
a control mechanism that varies a liquid crystal pixel gray level for the segment in order to modify an amount of ambient light passed through the electro-luminescent display, wherein an algorithm modifies the liquid crystal pixel gray level based on a color of the one or more pixels within the electro-luminescent display.

6. A display panel assembly, comprising:
an electro-luminescent display that is transparent;
a liquid crystal display that is transparent and segmented, wherein the liquid crystal display is mounted to the electro-luminescent display such that a segment of the liquid crystal display is substantially aligned with one or more pixels within the electro-luminescent display; and
a control mechanism that varies a liquid crystal pixel gray level for the segment in order to modify an amount of ambient light passed through the electro-luminescent display, wherein an algorithm modifies the liquid crystal pixel gray level based on a gaze angle of an eye of a viewer.

7. A display panel assembly, comprising:
an electro-luminescent display that is transparent;
a liquid crystal display that is transparent and segmented, wherein the liquid crystal display is mounted to the electro-luminescent display such that a segment of the liquid crystal display is substantially aligned with one or more pixels within the electro-luminescent display; and
a control mechanism that varies a liquid crystal pixel gray level for the segment in order to modify an amount of ambient light passed through the electro-luminescent display, wherein an algorithm modifies the liquid crystal pixel gray level based on time periods.

8. A display panel assembly, comprising:
a transparent display panel having a viewable side, the transparent display panel comprising a display pixel;
a polarizer affixed to the viewable side;
a transparent pixelated liquid crystal array affixed to the polarizer, the transparent pixelated liquid crystal array comprising at least one liquid crystal pixel that substantially aligns to the display pixel; and
a control mechanism configured to electrically control the transparent display and the transparent pixelated liquid crystal array, wherein in a first time period, the control mechanism sets the display pixel to a predetermined brightness level and sets the liquid crystal pixel to a first orientation at every location where a display pixel is set to at least partially illuminated, and in a second time period, the control mechanism sets the display pixel to emit no light and sets the liquid crystal pixel to a second orientation.

9. A display panel assembly, comprising:
a transparent electroluminescent panel having a first electroluminescent panel side and second electroluminescent panel side;
a first transparent pixelated liquid crystal array having a first array side and a second array side, wherein a polarizer is affixed to both the first and second array sides, and the second array side with the polarizer is affixed to the first electroluminescent panel side, and;
a first transparent liquid crystal shutter panel having a first shutter panel side and a second shutter panel side, wherein the second shutter panel side is affixed to the first array side; and
a first control mechanism configured to electrically control the transparent electroluminescent panel, the first transparent pixelated liquid crystal array, and first transparent liquid crystal shutter panel, wherein in a first time period, the control mechanism sets the first transparent liquid crystal shutter to a first polarization orientation and sets the first transparent pixelated liquid crystal array to a first gray level orientation proper for forming a desired image, and in a second time period, the control mechanism turns off the transparent electroluminescent panel and sets the first transparent liquid crystal shutter panel to a second polarization orientation.

10. The display panel assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:
a second transparent liquid crystal shutter panel affixed to the second electroluminescent panel side, wherein a polarizer is affixed to both sides of the second transparent liquid crystal shutter panel; and
a second control mechanism configured to electrically control the second transparent liquid crystal shutter panel, wherein in a third time period, the second transparent liquid crystal shutter panel is set to block light from transmitting, and in a fourth time period, the second transparent liquid crystal shutter panel is set to allow light to transmit.

11. The display panel assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:
a second transparent pixelated liquid crystal array affixed to the second electroluminescent panel side, wherein a polarizer is affixed to both sides

Assignees

• Innovega Inc
• Innovega Inc

Inventors

• Sprague Randall

Classifications

• G09G2320/0626

  for control of overall brightness · CPC title

• G09G2300/0478

  related to liquid crystal pixels · CPC title

• G02C7/12

  Polarisers · CPC title

• G02C7/101

  having an electro-optical light valve (electro-optical elements per se G02F) · CPC title

• G02C7/04

  Contact lenses for the eyes (disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00) · CPC title