Reald Spark, LLC

Ben Ihas

Graham John Woodgate

Michael Geraint Robinson

Jonathan Harrold

Robert A Ramsey

Graham J Woodgate

A switchable privacy display device comprises a spatial light modulator comprising an in-plane display polariser, an out-of-plane polariser and a polarisation switch arranged between the in-plane display polariser and the out-of-plane polariser. The display achieves high image visibility to an off-axis user in a wide-angle mode and high image security to an off-axis snooper in privacy mode of operation.

Privacy displays

A switchable privacy display device comprises a spatial light modulator and a switchable diffractive view angle control retarder arrangement arranged between a display polariser of the spatial light modulator and an additional polariser. The display achieves high image visibility to an off-axis user in a share mode of operation and high image security to an off-axis snooper in privacy mode of operation.

Switchable privacy display

A switchable privacy display comprises a spatial light modulator, and switchable liquid crystal retarder arranged between crossed quarter-wave plates and polarisers. In a privacy mode of operation, on-axis light from the spatial light modulator is directed without loss, whereas off-axis light has reduced luminance to reduce the visibility of the display to off-axis snoopers. The display may be rotated to achieve privacy operation in landscape and portrait orientations. Further, display reflectivity may be reduced for on-axis reflections of ambient light, while reflectivity may be increased for off-axis light to achieve increased visual security. In a public mode of operation, the liquid crystal retardance is adjusted so that off-axis luminance and reflectivity are unmodified. The display may also be operated to switch between day-time and night-time operation, for example for use in an automotive environment.

Directional display apparatus

A switchable privacy display comprises a spatial light modulator with output polariser, a reflective polariser, a polar control liquid crystal retarder and an additional polariser. The electrodes of the polar control liquid crystal retarder are patterned with a mark. In wide angle and narrow angle operational modes, the electrodes of the liquid crystal retarder are driven such that the mark is not visible. In a mark display state, the electrodes are driven to provide visibility of the mark in reflected light to an off-axis observer.

Marks for privacy display

A display apparatus comprises at least one spatial light modulator and at least one curved view angle control element that comprises plural retarders arranged between the display polariser of each spatial light modulator, and an additional polariser. The curvature of the view angle control element provides increased luminance uniformity for a head-on user and increased visual security to an off-axis snooper.

Optical stack for privacy display

A switchable privacy display apparatus comprises a spatial light modulator, a light control film, and a polar control retarder that comprises plural retarders arranged between a display polariser of the spatial light modulator and an additional polariser. The display achieves high image visibility to an off-axis user in a public mode of operation and high image security to an off-axis snooper in privacy mode of operation.

A switchable privacy display for an automotive vehicle comprises a spatial light modulator, a first switchable liquid crystal retarder and first passive retarder arranged between a first pair of polarisers and a second switchable liquid crystal retarder and second passive retarder arranged between a second pair of polarisers. The first switchable liquid crystal retarder comprises a homeotropic alignment layer and a homogeneous alignment layer. The second switchable liquid crystal retarder comprises two homeotropic alignment layers or two homogeneous alignment layers. In a privacy mode of operation, on-axis light from the spatial light modulator is directed without loss to the passenger, whereas off-axis light has reduced luminance to reduce the visibility of the display to off-axis driver leaning towards the display. In a shared mode of operation, the liquid crystal layers are controlled so that off-axis luminance and reflectivity are unmodified.

A switchable privacy display for an automotive vehicle comprises a spatial light modulator, a first switchable liquid crystal retarder and first passive retarder arranged between a first pair of polarisers and a second switchable liquid crystal retarder and second passive retarder arranged between a second pair of polarisers. A first switchable liquid crystal retarder comprises a two homeotropic alignment layers and a second switchable liquid crystal retarder comprises two homogeneous alignment layers. In a privacy mode of operation, on-axis light from the spatial light modulator is directed without loss to the passenger, whereas off-axis light has reduced luminance to reduce the visibility of the display to off-axis driver leaning towards the display. In a shared mode of operation, the liquid crystal layers are controlled so that off-axis luminance and reflectivity are unmodified.

A privacy display comprises a liquid crystal spatial light modulator, a switchable retarder and a passive compensation retarder arranged between a pair of polarisers. In a privacy mode of operation, on-axis light from the spatial light modulator is directed without change of image contrast, whereas off-axis light has reduced contrast to reduce the visibility of the display to off-axis snoopers over a wide polar angular range. In a wide angle mode of operation, the retardance of the switchable retarder is adjusted so that off-axis contrast is substantially unmodified.

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

Ben Ihas