# US 10,871,693 B2 · Curved segmented active dimmable lens for a display system

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- Number: US 10,871,693 B2
- Document ID: US10871693B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/732,870
- Filed: 2020-01-02
- Published: 2020-07-02
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2019-01-02
- Assignees: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Paul Fredrick Luther Weindorf; Elijah Auger; Qais Sharif
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871693B2

## CPC

- G02F 1/13475: {in which at least one liquid crystal cell or layer is doped with a pleochroic dye, e.g. GH-LC cell (G02F1/13476 takes precedence)}
- G02F 1/137: characterised by the electro-optical or magneto-optical effect, e.g. field-induced phase transition, orientation effect, guest-host interaction or dynamic scattering
- G02F 1/133512: {Light shielding layers, e.g. black matrix (G02F1/136209 takes precedence)}
- G02F 1/133528: {Polarisers}
- G02F 1/1339: Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells
- G02F 1/13439: {characterised by their electrical, optical, physical properties; materials therefor; method of making}
- G02F 1/133562: {on the viewer side}
- G02F 1/13725: {based on guest-host interaction (G02F1/13762, G02F1/13737, take precedence)}
- G02F 2201/44: Arrangements combining different electro-active layers, e.g. electrochromic, liquid crystal or electroluminescent layers
- G02F 2202/04: dye
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS

## Abstract

Various displays may benefit from suitable lenses. For example, certain vehicle displays may benefit from a curved, segmented, active-dimmable lens. According to certain embodiments, a system may include a segmented indium-tin-oxide layer. The system may also include a rigid lens disposed over the segmented indium-tin-oxide layer. The rigid lens may be curved.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A display system comprising:
a control circuit;
a display in communication with the control circuit operable to generate an optical signal; and
an active dimmable lens cooperating with the display to receive the optical signal from the display and vary a transmission of the optical signal through the lens, wherein the active dimmable lens includes:
a curved cover layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface,
an active cell disposed adjacent the second surface of the cover layer operable to vary the optical signal transmitted from the display through the active cell in response to a signal from the control circuit, wherein the active cell includes:
an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) common plane layer disposed on the second surface of the cover layer,
one or more segmented ITO layers adjacent the ITO common plane layer,
a dye-doped liquid crystal disposed between the ITO common plane layer and the one or more segmented ITO layers, and
an encapsulation layer, wherein the encapsulation layer cooperates with the ITO common plane layer to retain the dye-doped liquid crystal and one or more ITO segmented layers, and
a linear polarizer operable to polarize the optical signal disposed adjacent the encapsulation layer of the active cell and positioned between the encapsulation layer and the display.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The display system of claim 1 wherein the cover layer is formed of a rigid optically clear substrate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The display system of claim 1 wherein the active cell of the active dimmable lens further comprises a perimeter seal disposed between the one or more segmented ITO layers and the ITO common plane layer, wherein the perimeter seal is configured to contain the dye-doped liquid crystal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The display system of claim 1 wherein the active cell of the active dimmable lens further comprises ITO segmentations cooperating with the ITO common plane layer to define the one or more segmented ITO layers therebetween, wherein the ITO segmentations are non-conductive paths.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The display system of claim 1 wherein the cover layer of the active dimmable lens is configured to define a display area.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The display system of claim 5 wherein a fade pattern is disposed around a periphery of the display area.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The display system of claim 6 wherein the fade pattern comprises a sinusoidal fade pattern.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The display system of claim 7 wherein the sinusoidal fade pattern comprises a half-sinusoidal fade pattern.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The display system of claim 7 wherein the sinusoidal fade pattern relies on halftone fade technology.

### Claim 10

A display system comprising:
a control circuit;
a display in communication with the control circuit operable to generate an optical signal; and
an active dimmable lens cooperating with the display to receive the optical signal from the display and vary a transmission of the optical signal through the lens in response to a brightness signal from the control circuit, wherein the active dimmable lens includes:
a curved cover layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the curved cover layer is configured to define a display area,
a fade pattern disposed around a periphery of the display area,
an active cell disposed adjacent the second surface of the cover layer operable to vary the optical signal transmitted from the display through the active cell in response to a signal from the control circuit, wherein the active cell includes:
an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) common plane layer disposed on the second surface of the cover layer,
one or more segmented ITO layers adjacent the ITO common plane layer,
ITO segmentations cooperating with the ITO common plane layer to define the one or more segmented ITO layers therebetween, wherein the ITO segmentations are non-conductive paths,
a dye-doped liquid crystal disposed between the ITO common plane layer and the one or more segmented ITO layers,
a perimeter seal disposed between the one or more segmented ITO layers and the ITO common plane layer, wherein the perimeter seal is configured to contain the dye-doped liquid crystal, and
an encapsulation layer, wherein the encapsulation layer cooperates with the ITO common plane layer to retain the dye-doped liquid crystal and one or more ITO segmented layers, and
a linear polarizer operable to polarize the optical signal disposed adjacent the encapsulation layer of the active cell and positioned between the encapsulation layer and the display.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The display system of claim 10 wherein the fade pattern comprises a sinusoidal fade pattern.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The display system of claim 11 wherein the sinusoidal fade pattern comprises a half-sinusoidal fade pattern.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The display system of claim 11 wherein the sinusoidal fade pattern relies on halftone fade technology.

### Claim 14

An active dimmable lens for use with a display in a display system, the active dimmable lens comprising:
a curved cover layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface;
an active cell disposed adjacent the second surface of the cover layer operable to vary an optical signal transmitted from the display, wherein the active cell includes:
an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) common plane layer disposed on the second surface of the cover layer,
one or more segmented ITO layers adjacent the ITO common plane layer,
a dye-doped liquid crystal disposed between the ITO common plane layer and the one or more segmented ITO layers, and
an encapsulation layer, wherein the encapsulation layer cooperates with the ITO common plane layer to retain the dye-doped liquid crystal and one or more ITO segmented layers; and
a linear polarizer operable to polarize the optical signal from the display disposed adjacent the encapsulation layer of the active cell.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The active dimmable lens of claim 14 wherein the active cell further comprises a perimeter seal disposed between the one or more segmented ITO layers and the ITO common plane layer, wherein the perimeter seal is configured to contain the dye-doped liquid crystal.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The active dimmable lens of claim 14 wherein the active cell further comprises ITO segmentations cooperating with the ITO common plane layer to define the one or more segmented ITO layers therebetween, wherein the ITO segmentations are non-conductive paths.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The active dimmable lens of claim 14 wherein the cover layer of the active dimmable lens is configured to define a display area.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The active dimmable lens of claim 17 wherein a fade pattern is disposed around a periphery of the display area.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The active dimmable lens of claim 18 wherein the fade pattern comprises a sinusoidal fade pattern.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The active dimmable lens of claim 19 wherein the sinusoidal fade pattern comprises a half-sinusoidal fade pattern.