# US 12,223,928 B1 · Displays with privacy control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,223,928 B1 - Document ID: US12223928B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/234,851 - Filed: 2023-08-16 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-09-21 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Olivier C. Barthomeuf; Christopher B. Lyons; Joshua A. Spechler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12223928B1 ## CPC - G09G 5/10: Intensity circuits - G09G 2320/0626: for control of overall brightness - G09G 2354/00: Aspects of interface with display user - G09G 2358/00: Arrangements for display data security - G09G 2360/144: the light being ambient light - 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 Privacy control can be provided for displays that output content for users within an enclosed space. Display systems can include sensors that detect an external illuminance of an external environment outside the enclosed space. Based on the external illuminance and the brightness output by the display, the display system can control one or more of a variety of operating parameters to enhance privacy for the user within the enclosed space. For example, the display can be controlled with a reduced brightness when the external illuminance is low. By further example, windows separating the enclosed space from the external environment can be provided with an ability to adjust a transmissivity thereof and thereby reduce transmission of light from the display to the external environment. By further example, the display can be operated to change or omit certain content that has a relatively high privacy threshold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A display system for an enclosed space, the display system comprising: a sensor configured to detect a level of an external illuminance outside the enclosed space; and a display disposed inside the enclosed space and configured to output content having a privacy threshold, the display being configured to adjust a display brightness of the display based on the level of the external illuminance outside the enclosed space and until the privacy threshold is satisfied, wherein the privacy threshold is based on a characteristic of the content and wherein the display is further configured to: determine whether the privacy threshold is satisfied based on the level of the external illuminance and the display brightness of the display; and if the privacy threshold is not satisfied, change the content on the display. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The display system of claim 1, further comprising a light emitter within the enclosed space, the light emitter being configured to adjust an emitter brightness based on the display brightness. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The display system of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch-sensitive surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The display system of claim 1, further comprising a window separating the enclosed space from an external environment outside the enclosed space, the window having an adjustable transmissivity for controlling an amount of light transmitted through the window, wherein the window is configured to adjust the transmissivity based on the level of the external illuminance and the display brightness. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The display system of claim 1, further comprising an additional sensor configured to determine a location of the enclosed space, wherein the privacy threshold is determined based on the location. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The display system of claim 1, further comprising an additional sensor configured to detect a presence outside the enclosed space, wherein the privacy threshold is determined based on a detection of the presence. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The display system of claim 1, wherein the enclosed space is part of a movable platform, wherein the privacy threshold is determined based on a speed of the movable platform. ### Claim 8 A display system for an enclosed space, the display system comprising: a sensor configured to detect a level of an external illuminance in an external environment outside the enclosed space; a display inside the enclosed space and configured to provide an output at a brightness; and a window separating the enclosed space from the external environment, the window having an adjustable transmissivity for controlling an amount of light transmitted through the window, wherein the window is configured to adjust the transmissivity based on the level of the external illuminance in the external environment and the brightness of the display, wherein the output comprises content having a privacy threshold, the privacy threshold being based on a characteristic of the content and wherein the display is further configured to: determine whether the privacy threshold is satisfied based on the level of the external illuminance, the brightness of the display, and the transmissivity of the window; and if the privacy threshold is not satisfied, change the output of the display. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The display system of claim 8, wherein the window is one or multiple windows separating the enclosed space from the external environment, each of the windows having an adjustable transmissivity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The display system of claim 8, wherein the window is selected from the group consisting of: an electrochromic device, a polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal device, a suspended-particle device, and microblinds. ### Claim 11 A display system for an enclosed space, the display system comprising: a sensor configured to detect a level of an external illuminance outside the enclosed space; and a display disposed inside the enclosed space, the display being configured to: output content at a brightness, the content having a privacy threshold; determine whether the privacy threshold is satisfied based on the level of the external illuminance and the brightness of the display; and if the privacy threshold is not satisfied, change the content on the display. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The display system of claim 11, wherein the display is configured to change the content by removing at least some of the content. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The display system of claim 11, wherein the display is configured to change the content by outputting a notification corresponding to the privacy threshold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The display system of claim 11, further comprising an additional sensor configured to determine a location of the enclosed space, wherein the privacy threshold is determined based on the location. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The display system of claim 11, further comprising an additional sensor configured to detect a presence outside the enclosed space, wherein the privacy threshold is determined based on a detection of the presence. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The display system of claim 11, wherein the enclosed space is part of a movable platform, wherein the privacy threshold is determined based on a speed of the movable platform.