Viewing angle control element and image display based on same
US7551239B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 1, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jun 23, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 15, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/13476
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A viewing angle control element of the present invention contains transparent regions 23 having a transmittance T1 and light shield regions 24 capable of switching between a transmittance T2 and a transmittance T3 which is less than T1 and T2 according to an external signal. Each of the transparent regions 23 and the light shield regions 24 is positioned opposite to one of pixels. Displays are produced at or close to the original brightness of the image display element in wide viewing angle mode, whereas in narrow viewing angle mode, light transmission is limited to achieve narrow viewing angles. This is in contrast with other viewing angle control elements which produce displays at or close to the original brightness of the image display element in narrow viewing angle mode, whereas in wide viewing angle mode, light is diffused or otherwise modified to achieve wide viewing angles. Thus, the viewing angle control element is capable of achieving both wide viewing angles and narrow viewing angles, and still preventing image quality deterioration at wide viewing angles due to decreased brightness of the image display element.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.