The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 15, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 19, 2005
Robert Winlow, Oxford, GB;
Zabbie J. Acosta, Devon, GB;
Martin D. Tillin, Oxfordshire, GB;
Paul Bonnett, Oxford, GB;
Diana U. Kean, Oxfordshire, GB;
Grant Bourhill, Stow-on-the-Wold, GB;
Michel Sagardoyburu, Angais, FR;
Emma Jayne Walton, Oxford, GB;
Koji Yabuta, Nara, JP;
Hiroshi Fukushima, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Tomoo Takatani, Nara, JP;
Robert Winlow, Oxford, GB;
Zabbie J. Acosta, Devon, GB;
Martin D. Tillin, Oxfordshire, GB;
Paul Bonnett, Oxford, GB;
Diana U. Kean, Oxfordshire, GB;
Grant Bourhill, Stow-on-the-Wold, GB;
Michel Sagardoyburu, Angais, FR;
Emma Jayne Walton, Oxford, GB;
Koji Yabuta, Nara, JP;
Hiroshi Fukushima, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Tomoo Takatani, Nara, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A display is provided for switching between a narrow or private viewing mode and a wide or public viewing mode. The display comprises a display device which is controlled to provide display of a desired image or sequence of images. This is associated with a liquid crystal device having at least one liquid crystal layer whose molecules are switchable between a first state providing a first angular viewing range and a second state providing a second angular viewing range which is within and smaller than the first angular viewing range. With the molecules in the second state, the device at least partially blocks light propagating towards part of the first angular viewing range outside the second angular viewing range. The or each liquid crystal layer is in contact with at least one alignment surface, the or each of which comprises a uniform non-patterned alignment surface.