# US 2019/0377219 A1 · Steerable viewing system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0377219 A1 - Document ID: US20190377219A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/433,494 - Filed: 2019-06-06 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-07 - Assignees: Bombardier Inc. - Applicants: Bombardier Inc. - Inventors: Victor Daniel GHEORGHIAN; Robert C. GRANT - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190377219A1 ## CPC - G02F 1/133509: {Filters, e.g. light shielding masks} - H04N 13/31: using parallax barriers - B64D 11/0015: {Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television} - G02B 27/0093: {with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking} - H04N 13/315: the parallax barriers being time-variant - H04N 13/368: for two or more viewers - H04N 2013/40: {Privacy aspects, i.e. devices showing different images to different viewers, the images not being viewpoints of the same scene} - H04N 2013/403: {the images being monoscopic} - 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 - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A steerable viewing system and an associated method of operation are disclosed. The system comprises a steerable filter for placing in front of a display area of a display device and a controller for causing the steerable filter to define one or more viewing passages extending through the steerable filter and permitting viewing of the display area from a first position through the steerable filter and one or more viewing barriers preventing viewing of the display area from a second position different from the first position through the steerable filter. The viewing passages are defined by LCD elements of the steerable filter in the transmissive state. The viewing barriers are defined by LCD elements of the steerable filter in the light-blocking state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A steerable viewing system comprising: a steerable filter for placing in front of a display area of a display device, the steerable filter including a plurality of superimposed liquid crystal display (LCD) screens, each LCD screen including a plurality of LCD elements controllable between a transmissive state and a light-blocking state; and a controller operatively coupled to the LCD screens of the steerable filter and configured to, using data indicative of a first position relative to the display area of the display device, cause the states of the LCD elements of the LCD screens to cooperatively define: a first viewing passage extending through the steerable filter and permitting viewing of the display area from the first position through the steerable filter, the first viewing passage being defined by LCD elements of the LCD screens in the transmissive state; and a first viewing barrier adjacent the first viewing passage and preventing viewing of the display area from a second position different from the first position through the steerable filter, the first viewing barrier being defined by LCD elements of the LCD screens in the light-blocking state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, wherein: the first viewing passage has a passage axis extending through the LCD screens of the steerable filter and intersecting the first position; and the first viewing barrier has a barrier axis extending through the LCD screens of the steerable filter, the barrier axis being substantially parallel to the passage axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system as defined in claim 2, wherein the second position is apart from the passage axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, wherein: the first viewing passage has a passage axis extending through the LCD screens of the steerable filter and intersecting the first position; and the first viewing barrier prevents viewing of the display area along a direction transverse to the passage axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, comprising a plurality of first viewing passages and a plurality of first viewing barriers, the first viewing passages and the first viewing barriers being alternatingly disposed across at least part of the steerable filter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first viewing barrier comprises one or more LCD elements in the light-blocking sate in each of the LCD screens. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the steerable filter comprises between five and twenty superimposed LCD screens. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the steerable filter comprises between ten and twenty superimposed LCD screens. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the steerable filter is steerable in two axes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system as defined in claim 9, wherein the steerable filter comprises between ten and forty superimposed LCD screens. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system as defined in claim 9, wherein the steerable filter comprises between twenty and forty superimposed LCD screens. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to: cease causing the states of the LCD elements of the LCD screens to cooperatively define the first viewing passage and the first viewing barrier; and use data indicative of the second position to cause the states of the LCD elements of the LCD screens to cooperatively define: a second viewing passage extending through the steerable filter and permitting viewing of the display area from the second position through the steerable filter; and a second viewing barrier adjacent the second viewing passage and preventing viewing of the display area from the first position through the steerable filter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system as defined in claim 12, wherein: the first viewing barrier comprises a first string of LCD elements in the light-blocking state, the first string of LCD elements being oriented horizontally relative to a first viewing orientation associated with the first position; the second viewing barrier comprises a second string of LCD elements in the light-blocking state, the second string of LCD elements being oriented horizontally relative to a second viewing orientation associated with the second position; and the first viewing orientation associated with the first position is different from the second viewing orientation associated with the second position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the display device and is configured to: when the first viewing passage and the first viewing barrier are defined, cause the display area of the display device to display first visual content intended to be viewed from the first position; and when the second viewing passage and the second viewing barrier are defined, cause the display area of the display device to display second visual content intended to be viewed from the second position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system as defined in claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to cause the steerable filter to repeatedly alternate between: a first mode of operation where the first viewing passage and the first viewing barrier are defined, and the first visual content is displayed in the display area; and a second mode of operation where the second viewing passage and the second viewing barrier are defined, and the second visual content is displayed in the display area. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system as defined in claim 15, wherein repeatedly alternating between the first and second modes of operation is conducted at a frequency that substantially prevents a perception of interruption of the first and second visual content by a human. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system as defined in claim 15, wherein repeatedly alternating between the first and second modes of operation is conducted at a frequency that is equal to or greater than 50 Hz. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system as defined in claim 15, wherein repeatedly alternating between the first and second modes of operation is conducted at a frequency that is between 50 Hz and 600 Hz. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, comprising one or more detectors for detecting a viewer at the first position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, comprising one or more detectors for detecting glasses worn by a viewer at the first position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to: receive data indicative of a first viewing orientation associated with the first position; and cause the first viewing barrier to be oriented based on the first viewing orientation associated with the first position. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) An aircraft comprising the system as defined in claim 1. ### Claim 23 A method of operating a steerable viewing system comprising a steerable filter disposed in front of a display area of a display device, the steerable filter including a plurality of superimposed liquid crystal display (LCD) screens, each LCD screen including a plurality of LCD elements controllable between a transmissive state and a light-blocking state, the method comprising: using data indicative of a first position relative to the display area of the display device, causing the states of the LCD elements of the LCD screens to cooperatively define: a first viewing passage extending through the steerable filter and permitting viewing of the display area from the first position through the steerable filter, the first viewing passage being defined by LCD elements of the LCD screens in the transmissive state; and a first viewing barrier adjacent the first viewing passage and preventing viewing of the display area through the steerable filter from a second position different from the first position, the first viewing barrier being defined by LCD elements of the LCD screens in the light-blocking state. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method as defined in claim 23, wherein: the first viewing passage has a passage axis extending through the LCD screens of the steerable filter and intersecting the first position; and the first viewing barrier has a barrier axis extending through the LCD screens of the steerable filter, the barrier axis being substantially parallel to the passage axis. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method as defined in claim 24, wherein the second position is apart from the passage axis. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method as defined in claim 23, wherein: the first viewing passage has a passage axis extending through the LCD screens of the steerable filter and intersecting the first position; and the first viewing barrier prevents viewing of the display area along a direction transverse to the passage axis. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The method as defined in claim 23, wherein the first viewing barrier comprises one or more LCD elements in the light-blocking sate in each of the LCD screens. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The method as defined in claim 23, comprising: ceasing to cause the states of the LCD elements of the LCD screens to cooperatively define the first viewing passage and the first viewing barrier; and using data indicative of the second position to cause the states of the LCD elements of the LCD screens to cooperatively define: a second viewing passage extending through the steerable filter and permitting viewing of the display area from the second position through the steerable filter; and a second viewing barrier adjacent the second viewing passage and preventing viewing of the display area from the first position through the steerable filter. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method as defined in claim 28, wherein: the first viewing barrier comprises a first string of LCD elements in the light-blocking state, the first string of LCD elements being oriented horizontally relative to a first viewing orientation associated with the first position; the second viewing barrier comprises a second string of LCD elements in the light-blocking state, the second string of LCD elements being oriented horizontally relative to a second viewing orientation associated with the second position; and the first viewing orientation associated with the first position is different from the second viewing orientation associated with the second position. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The method as defined in claim 28, comprising: when the first viewing passage and the first viewing barrier are defined, cause the display area of the display device to display first visual content intended to be viewed from the first position; and when the second viewing passage and the second viewing barrier are defined, cause the display area of the display device to display second visual content intended to be viewed from the second position. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method as defined in claim 30, comprising causing the steerable filter to repeatedly alternate between: a first mode of operation where the first viewing passage and the first viewing barrier are defined, and the first visual content is displayed in the display area; and a second mode of operation where the second viewing passage and the second viewing barrier are defined, and the second visual content is displayed in the display area. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method as defined in claim 31, wherein repeatedly alternating between the first and second modes of operation is conducted at a frequency that substantially prevents a perception of interruption of the first and second visual content by a human. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The method as defined in claim 31, wherein repeatedly alternating between the first and second modes of operation is conducted at a frequency that is equal to or greater than 50 Hz. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The method as defined in claim 31, wherein repeatedly alternating between the first and second modes of operation is conducted at a frequency that is between 50 Hz and 600 Hz. ### Claim 35 (depends on 31) The method as defined in claim 31, wherein repeatedly alternating between the first and second modes of operation comprises steering the steerable filter in two axes. ### Claim 36 (depends on 23) The method as defined in claim 23, comprising generating the data indicative of the first position by detecting a viewer at the first position. ### Claim 37 (depends on 23) The method as defined in claim 23, comprising generating the data indicative of the first position by detecting glasses worn by a viewer at the first position. ### Claim 38 (depends on 23) The method as defined in claim 23, comprising: detecting a change in the first position by tracking a position of a viewer; and causing adjustment of the first viewing passage and of the first viewing barrier to accommodate the change in the first position. ### Claim 39 (depends on 23) The method as defined in claim 23, comprising: receiving data indicative of a first viewing orientation associated with the first position; and causing the first viewing barrier to be oriented based on the first viewing orientation associated with the first position.