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US 10,254,577 B2Granted
Electronic panel having a see-through mode
AssigneeLim Industries LLC
InventorKevin J. Lim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic panel has, in an embodiment, a front layer, a liquid crystal display device located behind the front layer, a lighting device located behind the liquid crystal display device, a back layer and a frame. The electronic panel also has at least one processor operable to control a plurality of viewing modes.
Claims20
An electronic panel comprising:
- a front layer comprising a front surface positionable to face toward a first environment located opposite of a second environment;
- a liquid crystal display device located behind the front layer, the liquid crystal display device being associated with an image display area within a perimeter;
- an intermediate layer located behind the liquid crystal display device, the intermediate layer being see-through behind the image display area when the electronic panel is in a see-through mode, wherein the intermediate layer entirely overlaps the image display area, wherein the intermediate layer comprises a continuous medium that extends at least substantially to the perimeter;
- at least one radiator configured to generate light;
- a frame which supports the front layer, intermediate layer, the liquid crystal display device and the at least one radiator;
- and
- at least one processor operatively coupled to the liquid crystal display device and the at least one radiator, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to control:
- the see-through mode based on a first event to enable first visible light to pass between the first and second environments;
- and
- a display mode based on a second event so that the at least one radiator generates the light, which causes the intermediate layer to provide second visible light to illuminate the liquid crystal display device, facilitating a display of one or more images toward the first environment.
7 more elements
An electronic panel comprising:
- a front layer comprising a front surface positionable to face toward a first environment that is located opposite of a second environment;
- a liquid crystal display device located behind the front layer, the liquid crystal display device being associated with an image display area within a display perimeter;
- an intermediate layer located behind the liquid crystal display device, wherein the intermediate layer entirely overlaps the image display area, the intermediate layer comprising a continuous medium that extends at least substantially to the display perimeter;
- at least one radiator configured to radiate light;
- a frame which supports the intermediate layer, the liquid crystal display device, and the at least one radiator, the frame defining an opening sized at least as great as the image display area;
- at least one processor operatively coupled to the liquid crystal display device and the at least one radiator, the at least one processor being programmed to control a plurality of viewing modes comprising a blocking mode, a see-through mode and a background mode;
- wherein, in the blocking mode, the at least one processor is programmed to control the liquid crystal display device to block first visible light of the second environment from passing through the liquid crystal display device, thereby preventing the blocked first visible light from reaching the first environment;
- wherein, in the see-through mode, the at least one processor is programmed to control the liquid crystal display device to enable the first visible light to pass from the second environment through the liquid crystal display device, to the first environment;
- wherein, in the background mode, the at least one processor is programmed to control the at least one radiator, causing the intermediate layer to emit second visible light as a result of receiving light from the at least one radiator, wherein the emitted second visible light is sufficient to illuminate the liquid crystal display device;
- wherein, the at least one processor is programmed to be responsive to a plurality of commands comprising:
- a blocking command triggering the blocking mode;
- a first display command causing the liquid crystal display device to generate a first image during the see-through mode, the first image being displayed so as to overlap any physical object in the second environment located behind the intermediate layer;
- and
- a second display command causing the liquid crystal display device to generate a background image and a second image during the background mode, wherein:
- (a) the second visible light illuminates the background image and the second image;
- and
- (b) the second image is displayed against the background image.
14 more elements
An electronic panel comprising:
- a front layer comprising a front surface positionable to face toward a first environment;
- a liquid crystal display device located behind the front layer, the liquid crystal display device being associated with an image display area within a perimeter;
- a first sub-layer located behind the liquid crystal display device;
- a second sub-layer supported by the first sub-layer, wherein the second sub-layer entirely overlaps the image display area, wherein the second sub-layer comprises a continuous medium that extends at least substantially to the perimeter;
- at least one radiator configured to provide light;
- and
- a frame that supports the front layer, the liquid crystal display device, the first and second sub-layers, and the at least one radiator,
- wherein the electronic panel comprises a see-through characteristic when the electronic panel is in a first mode, wherein the see-through characteristic is structured to pass first visible light from the first environment to a second environment located opposite of the first environment;
- wherein the electronic panel comprises an image display characteristic when the electronic panel is in a second mode, wherein image display characteristic is based on second visible light provided by the second sub-layer, which is based on the light provided by the at least one radiator, wherein the second visible light is sufficient to illuminate the liquid crystal display device, facilitating a display of one or more images toward the first environment;
- and
- at least one processor operatively coupled to the liquid crystal display device, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to:
- activate the see-through characteristic for the first mode;
- and
- activate the image display characteristic for the second mode.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.