# US 10,871,653 B1 · Viewing direction independent single-layer, pixelated light dimming filter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,653 B1 - Document ID: US10871653B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/496,104 - Filed: 2019-04-24 - Published: 2020-12-31 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-24 - Assignees: LC-TEC Displays AB - Applicants: LC-TEC Displays AB - Inventors: Jesper Osterman; Fredrik Kihlborg; Terry J. Scheffer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871653B1 ## CPC - G02B 27/0172: {characterised by optical features} - G09G 5/10: Intensity circuits - G02B 2027/0118: {comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility} - G02B 2027/0178: {Eyeglass type (eyeglass details G02C)} - G09G 2360/141: the light conveying information used for selecting or modulating the light emitting or modulating element - G09G 2360/144: the light being ambient light - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## Abstract A system included in a wearable viewing device (10) prevents reduction in legibility of a near-eye image display for observation in combination with an observer's visual exterior view. The system includes a near-eye image source (14) from which emanates near-eye image-carrying light and which is positioned out of the observer's direct visual exterior view. A dimming matrix display (12) including multiple pixels is positioned so that the observer (22) can see though them a scene (30, 32) in an exterior view. A partly transparent optical element (20) is positioned so that the observer can see the scene in the exterior view and reflect the near-eye image-carrying light to provide an image for observation by the observer. A dimming controller (34) controls amounts of scene-carrying light propagating through the multiple pixels from the locations in the scene and thereby prevents wash-out of the near-eye image when outside illumination is very bright. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a wearable viewing device, a system for preventing a reduction in legibility of a near-eye image display for observation in combination with an observer's visual exterior view, comprising: a near-eye image source from which emanates near-eye image-carrying light, the near-eye image source positioned out of the observer's direct visual exterior view; a dimming matrix display including multiple pixels and positioned so that the observer can see the exterior view through the multiple pixels, the exterior view including a scene, and locations in the scene viewed by the observer defining lines of sight for the observer, the lines of sight intersecting and passing through the multiple pixels at polar and azimuthal angles; a partly transparent optical element positioned so that the observer can see the scene in the visual exterior view and so that the near-eye image-carrying light reflects off the partly transparent optical element to provide an image for observation by the observer; and a dimming controller operatively connected to the dimming matrix display to control amounts of scene-carrying light propagating through the multiple pixels from the locations in the scene, so that the scene-carrying light, as perceived by the observer, has for the lines of sight passing through the multiple pixels at their respective polar and azimuthal angles a value within an operational tolerance that prevents wash-out of the near-eye image when outside illumination is very bright. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The viewing device of claim 1, in which the dimming matrix display comprises a liquid crystal cell including first and second spaced-apart electrode structures that are positioned, respectively, nearer to and farther from the partly transparent optical element, and further comprising a light polarizer placed on the second electrode structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The viewing device of claim 2, in which the light polarizer placed on the first electrode structure constitutes a first light polarizer, and further comprising a second light polarizer placed on the second electrode structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The viewing device of claim 1, in which the dimming matrix display has a display output side set nearer to and a display input side set farther from the observer, and further comprising a light polarizer positioned between the partly transparent optical element and the observer and no light polarization state blocking device positioned on the display output side of the dimming matrix display. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The viewing device of claim 4, in which the dimming matrix display has a display output side set nearer to and a display input side set farther from the observer, the partly transparent optical element includes a polarizing beamsplitter, and no light polarizing state blocking device is positioned on the display output side of the dimming matrix display. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The viewing device of claim 1, in which the near-eye image source includes a light transmissive source. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The viewing device of claim 6, in which the light transmissive source is a liquid crystal matrix display or an organic light emitting diode array. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The viewing device of claim 1, in which the near-eye image source includes a light reflective source. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The viewing device of claim 8, in which the light reflective source is a liquid crystal on silicon display or a digital micromirror display array. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The viewing device of claim 1, in which the dimming matrix display includes a vertically aligned nematic liquid crystal display. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The viewing device of claim 1, in which the dimming matrix display includes a twisted nematic liquid crystal display. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The viewing device of claim 1, further comprising a photodetector that is responsive to an amount of ambient light and operates in cooperation with the dimming controller to enable it to control the amounts of scene-carrying light propagating through the multiple pixels. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The viewing device of claim 1, configured as a wearable augmented reality (AR) viewing device.