Method and apparatus for controlling information display areas in a mirror display
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsGeorge D. Kokkosoulis, Jane K. Wardhana
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mirror display with controllable information display areas. The mirror display includes a reflective viewer side to function as a mirror and an LCD device located on a non-viewer side to provide information display areas, which are viewable through the mirror display on the viewer side. A processor is electronically connected with the LCD device for controlling a position, such as the location and size, of the information display areas on the viewer side of the mirror. The position of the information display areas can be controlled via user input or a signal received from a sensor associated with the mirror.
Claims17
A mirror display with a controllable information display area, comprising:
- a mirror having a reflective viewer side and a non-viewer side opposite the viewer side, wherein the mirror comprises a glass sheet and a reflective polarizer on the non-viewer side of the glass sheet;
- an LCD device located on the non-viewer side of the mirror and having a display area capable of displaying information and having at least one information display area displaying information within the display area, wherein the information within the information display area is viewable through the mirror on the viewer side;
- a processor electronically connected with the LCD device for controlling a position of the information display area;
- a first sensor, located proximate the LCD device, electronically connected with the processor for providing a first signal to the processor for use in controlling the position of the information display area;
- and
- a second sensor, not located proximate the LCD device, electronically connected with the processor for providing a second signal to the processor for use in controlling the position of the information display area,
- wherein the processor controls the position of the information display area on the viewer side of the mirror based upon both the first and second signals, and the position of the information display area is reconfigurable between a first position within the display area and a second position within the display area different from the first position.
A method for controlling an information display area on a mirror display, comprising:
- displaying at least one information display area on a mirror having a reflective viewer side and a non-viewer side opposite the viewer side, wherein information displayed within the information display area is provided from the non-viewer side of the mirror and is viewable on the viewer side of the mirror, wherein the mirror comprises a glass sheet and a reflective polarizer on the non-viewer side of the glass sheet;
- and
- controlling, using a processor, a position of the information display area on the viewer side of the mirror based upon a first signal from a first sensor located proximate the mirror and upon a second signal from a second sensor not located proximate the mirror,
- wherein the position of the information display area is reconfigurable between a first position within the mirror and a second position within the mirror different from the first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.