Multi-view display

Abstract

A display device includes a first display screen operable to display a first image. A second display screen is operable to display a second image, wherein the first and second display screens overlap, and wherein the second display screen is further operable to display the second image for viewing from a first viewing angle and contemporaneously for reducing visibility of the second image from a second viewing angle.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 528,334, filed Mar. 13, 2006, naming Gabriel Engel as the inventor, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and having attorney docket number PURE-P013, which is a National Stage Application filed under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application Number PCT / NZ03 / 000215, filed Sep. 19, 2003, which claims the benefit of New Zealand Patent Number 521505, filed Sep. 20, 2002. These applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and for all purposes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]In-car navigation systems and in-car entertainment systems are available as an accessory in new cars, or are available separately for retrofit, commonly called after market sales. The displays for the systems are placed in or on top of the car dash board. Since the displays are typically of the wide-viewing angle colour liquid crystal type, both the front passenger a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Enables multiple viewers to see distinct images from the same display without increasing component count or weight, reducing driver distraction and enhancing passenger enjoyment while maintaining safety and design flexibility.

Problems solved by technology

This is federally mandated safety requirement in many countries and is somewhat of a disadvantage as it is desirable for the front passenger, and only the front passenger, to view in-car entertainment.

In practice many owners disable this safety feature resulting in potentially fatal distraction for the driver.

With present systems this would interrupt the passenger's entertainment.

A potential solution would be to supply separate displays to the passenger and driver, however this is increases expense and takes up almost double the area restricting design flexibility of the dash board control canter and reducing the space available for peripheral devices and storage space.

Long airplane flights are particularly boring for passengers.

This problem has been alleviated in some airplanes with separate displays for each passenger, however a display for each passenger generally increases expense requires individual displays to be quite small, and can add significant weight to the plane increasing costs for airlines.

It has previously been considered undesirable for displays to have a narrow viewing angle because this prohibits multiple users from viewing the same image.

Images