Optical component and display
US9599874B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 6, 2012 |
| Grant date | Mar 21, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 31, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/133562
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An optical component (1) is switchable between a directional mode and a 2-D mode. The optical component (1) comprising a lens array and an electro-optic layer, for example a liquid crystal layer, disposed in the path of light through the lens array. In the 2-D display mode the lens array has an optical effect on light passing through the component and the electro-optic layer at least partially nullifies the effect. For example the electro-optic layer may, in the 2-D display mode, scatter light or diverge light so as to nullify the focusing effect of the lens array. The optical component (1) may be disposed in the path of light through an image display panel (2) to form a display that may be switched between a directional display mode, eg a 3-D display mode, and a 2-D display mode by suitably switching the optical component (1).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.