Smart-Glas-Display

Abstract

Smart Glass Display (202), comprehensive: a first glass layer (206) of a window (200) of a vehicle; a second glass layer (208) of the window (200); a display layer (205) arranged between the first glass layer (206) and the second glass layer (208) and comprising an array of light-emitting diodes, further comprising: multiple sensors (404) for external ambient light and one sensor (407) for internal ambient light, configured to detect an ambient light level at the display layer (205), wherein the multiple sensors (404) for external ambient light are arranged within a periphery of the display layer (205), and the sensor (407) for internal ambient light is arranged outside the periphery of the display layer (205) and along it; an auto-shading layer (212) having suspended particle devices, wherein the auto-shading layer (212) is configured to provide different levels of transparency by varying voltages; and a control module (230) configured to i) sets a dimming level based on an auto-shading level of the auto-shading layer (212) and an output of the sensor (407) for internal ambient light to compensate for an auto-shading amount and to determine an actual level of internal ambient light, and wherein the control module (230) is further configured to perform the following steps based on the actual level of internal ambient light thus determined and the outputs of the multiple sensors (404) for external ambient light: ii) sets a transparency level of at least a part of the auto-shading layer (212) based on an output from the multiple sensors (404) for external ambient light and the sensor (407) for internal ambient light, iii) Triangulation is used to determine the positions of one or more selected points on the display layer (205) between the multiple sensors (404) for external ambient light, iv) estimates an ambient light level at one or more selected points, and v) adjusts at least one brightness level of a corresponding section of the display layer (205) and a dimming level of a corresponding section of the auto-shading layer (212) based on the estimated ambient light levels at the one or more selected points.

Description

introduction

[0001] The information provided in this section serves to give a general overview of the context of the disclosure. The work of the inventors mentioned herein, insofar as it is described in this section, as well as aspects of the description that were not part of the prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor implicitly recognized as prior art with respect to the present disclosure.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to display devices and in particular transparent display devices with automatic brightness and shading adjustment.

[0003] A display device can contain an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on a transparent layer such as glass. Transparent spaces exist between the pixels of the LED array. As the distance between the LEDs in the array increases, the transparency level of the display device also increases. Smaller display technologies, such as micro-LEDs, can be used, offering the possibility of producing increasingly transparent display devices.

[0004] The display device can be used in varying ambient light levels. Higher ambient light levels on the front or back of the display device tend to reduce its contrast. The reduced contrast under these lighting conditions makes it more difficult to see displayed content such as images or graphics.

[0005] US 2011 / 0 267 279 A1 discloses a glass display comprising a transparent display panel, for example, an OLED panel. A layer switchable between opaque and transparent states is arranged between this transparent display panel and a solid background layer. US 2012 / 0 218 239 A1 discloses a dynamic backlight control system for electronic displays. The system comprises an ambient light sensor for detecting the ambient light intensity, a backlight for illuminating the electronic display, and a switch for controlling the backlight. US 2009 / 0 085 485 A1 discloses a display device comprising a light source and a display modulator for modulating the light provided by the light source. WO 2020 / 043 791 A1 discloses a head-up display system for a vehicle. Summary

[0006] A smart glass display is disclosed, comprising a first glass layer of a vehicle window, a second glass layer of the window, a display layer, an auto-shading layer, and a control module. The display layer is positioned between the first and second glass layers and includes an array of light-emitting diodes, multiple external ambient light sensors, and one internal ambient light sensor. The multiple external ambient light sensors and the internal ambient light sensor are configured to detect an ambient light level at the display layer. The multiple external ambient light sensors are located within a periphery of the display layer, and the internal ambient light sensor is located outside the periphery of the display layer and along its periphery. The auto-shading layer includes particulate matter devices.wherein the auto-shading layer is configured to provide different transparency levels by varying voltages. The control module is configured to i) set a dimming level based on an auto-shading level of the auto-shading layer and an output from the indoor ambient light sensor to compensate for an auto-shading amount and to determine an actual level of indoor ambient light, and wherein the control module is further configured to perform the following steps based on the actual level of indoor ambient light thus determined and the outputs of the multiple outdoor ambient light sensors: ii) set a transparency level of at least a portion of the auto-shading layer based on an output from the multiple outdoor ambient light sensors and the indoor ambient light sensor, iii) use triangulation,to determine the positions of one or more selected points on the display layer between the multiple external ambient light sensors and the internal ambient light sensor, iv) estimate an ambient light level at the one or more selected points, and v) on the basis of the estimated ambient light levels at the one or more selected points, adjusts at least one brightness level of a corresponding section of the display layer and a dimming level of a corresponding section of the auto-shading layer.

[0007] In other features, the display layer is an outward-facing display layer, so that an image displayed on the display layer is visible on an outside of the smart glass display.

[0008] In other features, the display layer is an inward-facing display layer, so that an image displayed on the display layer is visible on an inside of the smart glass display.

[0009] Other features of the control module include: a comparator configured to obtain a brightness level based on the output of the multiple external ambient light sensors and the internal ambient light sensor; a vehicle message transceiver configured to receive an image for display on the display layer; and an address driver configured to adjust the brightness of at least part of the display layer based on the brightness level and to drive the display layer to display the image.

[0010] In other features, the control module includes: a comparator configured to receive a dimming level based on the output of the multiple external ambient light sensors and the internal ambient light sensor; a vehicle message transceiver configured to receive an image to display on the display layer; an address driver configured to drive the display layer to display the image; and a shading driver configured to drive the auto-shading layer to adjust the transparency level of at least part of the auto-shading layer based on the dimming level.

[0011] Further applications of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, the claims, and the drawings. The detailed description and the specific examples serve only for illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Brief description of the drawings

[0012] The present disclosure is more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, whereby: Fig. 1A is a side cross-sectional view of an example window with an integrated smart glass display, which includes a single sensor for external ambient light, according to the present disclosure; Fig. 1B a front view of the window of Fig. 1A is; Fig. 2A a lateral cross-sectional view of an example window with an integrated smart glass display, which includes multiple sensors for external ambient light arranged within a perimeter of a display layer, according to the present disclosure; Fig. 2B a front view of the window of Fig. 2A is; Fig. 3A is a side cross-sectional view of an example window with an integrated smart glass display, which includes multiple sensors for external ambient light arranged outside a perimeter of a display layer, according to the present disclosure; Fig. 3B a front view of the window of Fig. 3A is; Fig. 4A is a side cross-sectional view of an example window with an integrated smart glass display, which includes multiple sensors for external ambient light and one sensor for internal ambient light, according to the present disclosure; Fig. 4B a front view of the window of Fig. 4A is; Fig. 5 a functional block diagram of an example of a contrast control system for a smart glass display according to the present disclosure; Fig. 6 a functional block diagram of an example of a calibration system for automatic or auto-shading with a look-up table (LUT) according to the present disclosure; Fig. 7 illustrates a contrast control method according to the present disclosure; Fig. 8 illustrates a calibration procedure for an auto-shading system according to the present disclosure; Fig. 9 an example of a display incorporating sensors for external and internal ambient light, according to the present disclosure; Fig. 10 a lateral cross-sectional view of an auto-shading layer in a transparent mode according to the present disclosure; Fig. 11 a lateral cross-sectional view of the auto-shading layer of Fig. 10 in a dimming mode according to the present disclosure; Fig. 12 an example of a display comprising an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), rows of floating particle devices (SPDs) and sensors for external and internal ambient light, according to the present disclosure; Fig. 13 an example of a display comprising an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), rows and columns of suspended particle devices (SPDs) and sensors for external and internal ambient light, according to the present disclosure; Fig. 14 a lateral cross-sectional view of a combined display and auto-shading layer in a transparent mode, which includes LEDs and / or ambient light sensors, according to the present disclosure; Fig. 15 a side cross-sectional view of the combined display and auto-shading layer of Fig. 14 in a dimming mode according to the present disclosure; and Fig. 16 a front view of a window incorporating an integrated smart glass display with a different pattern of ambient light sensors, as disclosed herein.

[0013] Reference numbers can be reused in the drawings to identify similar and / or identical elements. Detailed description

[0014] The present disclosure relates to display devices capable of operating in transparent and non-transparent modes with high contrast ratios. While the preceding description relates to display devices and systems for vehicles, the display devices and systems described herein are also applicable in other fields of application, such as residential buildings, commercial buildings, computer games, etc. The examples disclosed herein are applicable to automotive glass and non-automotive glass, including architectural and construction glass. The examples can be applied to any window of a vehicle, including front, side, and rear windows, sunroofs, and moonroofs.

[0015] A display device can be made transparent by selectively placing transparent spaces between its pixels and controlling their transparency or opacity. Smaller display technologies, such as micro-level light-emitting diodes (LEDs), offer more possibilities for manufacturing display devices with higher transparency. However, the increased transparency of the display device reduces the contrast ratio due to unwanted ambient light. For example, if the display is exposed to strong ambient light conditions such as sunlight, readability deteriorates.

[0016] Auto-shading devices can be used to change the light transmittance from transparent to opaque by applying or removing voltage to embedded electrodes. This allows the background of an image to be darkened to adjust the image's contrast ratio. Examples of auto-shading technologies include suspended particle devices and / or electrochromic devices. Outer transparent layers of glass or film are separated by spacers. Transparent conductive coatings or layers are arranged on the inward-facing surfaces of the outer transparent layers. Suspended particles are located between the conductive coatings or layers.When a voltage is applied to the electrodes, the particles align themselves with the applied field, and the corresponding areas become transparent. When the voltage is removed, the particles return to their original orientation, and the corresponding areas become opaque. Different levels of transparency can be achieved by varying the voltage.

[0017] The smart glass displays according to this disclosure provide high selective contrast ratios compared to other transparent display devices. Locally located ambient light sensors are integrated into the smart glass displays and are used for selective global and local control of the contrast ratios. This includes adjusting the contrast ratios of specific cells and / or zones of the smart glass displays. Each cell can contain one or more LEDs (or LED-transistor circuits), and each zone can comprise one or more cells.

[0018] This document discloses methods for automatically adjusting the brightness (or intensity) of smart glass displays and auto-shading levels based on signals from laminated ambient light sensors. Control algorithms are implemented to modify the display brightness levels and auto-shading levels of the respective smart glass display based on external and internal lighting conditions. Since the laminated ambient light sensors are integrated into the smart glass displays, they measure light levels directly in front of and / or behind the smart glass display. Control systems for smart glass displays provide local and global control of the brightness and auto-shading levels of the smart glass displays. In some examples, multiple external ambient light sensors and one or more internal ambient light sensors are integrated into the smart glass displays.The smart glass displays incorporate auto-shading layers to locally control auto-shading levels. In some examples, and depending on the layer structure / stack and the arrangement of the smart glass display, a calibration procedure for the dimming levels is implemented to calibrate the internal ambient light sensor(s), including determining the actual levels of the internal ambient light and compensating for set levels for auto-dimming.

[0019] By integrating ambient light sensors into the smart glass displays, the displays are not over- or under-illuminated depending on the ambient light conditions, which is crucial for the readability of a transparent display. The ambient light sensors provide an accurate measurement of ambient light levels on the smart glass displays. This contrasts with a system that places ambient light sensors in front of or above the vehicle's interior, or inside the vehicle, such as on a dashboard. Ambient light sensors in these locations do not provide accurate measurements of ambient light for use in controlling the brightness levels and / or auto-darkening levels of transparent displays.

[0020] Fig. Figures 1A-1B show a window 100 with an integrated smart glass display 102, which includes a single sensor 104 for external ambient light. The window 100 comprises a front (or outer) glass layer 106 and a rear (or inner) glass layer 108. The smart glass display 102 comprises a display layer 110 and an auto-shading layer 112, which are arranged between the glass layers 106 and 108. A first resin layer 114 may be arranged between the front glass layer 106 and the display layer 110. The ambient light sensor 104 and the display layer 110 may be arranged on and connected to a substrate 116. The auto-shading layer 112 comprises a transparency control layer 120 arranged between two resin layers 122, 124. The auto-shading layer 112 is arranged between the substrate 116 and the rear glass layer 108. The resin layers 114, 122, 124 can, for example, be made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB).

[0021] The ambient light, represented by arrow 126, is detected by the ambient light sensor 104. A control module 130 receives an ambient light signal from the ambient light sensor 104 and adjusts the brightness level of the display layer 110 and / or the dimming level of the auto-shading layer 112 via the transparency control layer 120. This can be achieved by adjusting the voltages supplied by the display layer 110 and the auto-shading layer 112. This is described in detail below. The ambient light sensor 104 can be located anywhere around the periphery of the display 102 or integrated into the display layer 110, as described below.

[0022] In this example, the single embedded ambient light sensor 104 is used for global control of the brightness of the display layer 110 and dimming of the auto-shading layer 112. In some embodiments, the example is modified by Fig. 1A-1B is applied to the side window of a vehicle. This control can be used to save power when displaying images by reducing brightness levels in darker ambient light conditions. Brightness can be increased when conditions require higher brightness levels, such as when the window faces the sun.

[0023] The display layer 110 can be either outward-facing or inward-facing. In one embodiment, the display layer 110 shows an image to a person outside the vehicle, which has the window 100. In another embodiment, the display layer 110 shows an image to a person inside a vehicle, which has the window 100.

[0024] Fig. Figures 2A-2B show a window 200 with an integrated smart glass display 202, which contains several sensors 204 for external ambient light arranged within a perimeter of a display layer 205. The window 200 comprises a front (or outer) glass layer 206 and a rear (or inner) glass layer 208. The smart glass display 202 comprises the display layer 205 and an auto-shading layer 212, which are arranged between the glass layers 206 and 208. A first resin layer 214 may be arranged between the front glass layer 206 and the display layer 205. The ambient light sensors 204 and the display layer 205 are arranged on and connected to a substrate 216. The auto-shading layer 212 comprises a transparency control layer 220 arranged between two resin layers 222, 224. The auto-shading layer 212 is arranged between the substrate 216 and the rear glass layer 208.The resin layers 214, 222, 224 can, for example, consist of PVB.

[0025] The ambient light, represented by arrows 226, is detected by the ambient light sensors 204. A control module 230 receives ambient light signals from the ambient light sensors 204 and adjusts one or more brightness levels of the display layer 205 and / or one or more dimming levels of the auto-shading layer 212 via the transparency control layer 220. This is described in detail below. The ambient light sensors 204 can be located at any point within the periphery of the display layer 205.

[0026] Although a specific number of ambient light sensors 204 are shown, any number of ambient light sensors can be included. In one embodiment, a matrix (or array) of ambient light sensors is included. Each of the ambient light sensors 204 can have corresponding regions 240 in which, for example, the brightness levels of the LEDs and / or a dimming level of a portion of the auto-shading layer 212 are set based on the output signals of these ambient light sensors 204. For example, the brightness levels of the LEDs of the display layer 205 in one of the regions 240 can be the same and can be set directly based on the output signal of the ambient light sensor associated with that region.The dimming level of the portion of the auto-shading layer 212 that is directly adjacent to and opposite the area of ​​the ambient light sensor assigned to that area can be set directly based on the output signal of that ambient light sensor. Brightness levels of other areas (i.e., areas of the display layer 205 located between areas 240) and dimming levels of other areas of the auto-shading layer 212 (i.e., areas adjacent to and opposite areas 240) can be set based on the output signals of the ambient light sensors 204 using interpolation, triangulation, weighting, etc. Ambient light levels in areas outside areas 240 can be estimated, and the brightness and dimming levels are then set based on the estimated ambient light levels.

[0027] The display layer 205 can be either outward-facing or inward-facing. In one embodiment, the display layer 205 shows an image to a person outside the vehicle, which has the window 200. In another embodiment, the display layer 205 shows an image to a person inside a vehicle, which has the window 200.

[0028] The example in Fig. 2A-2B comprises a display device with multiple (or matrix-arranged) embedded ambient light sensors, enabling the estimation of ambient light levels experienced on the display layer 205. The control module 230 can perform triangulation to determine the locations or positions of selected points on the display layer 205 that lie between the ambient light sensors 204. The positions of the ambient light sensors 204 are known and can be used to determine the positions of the selected points. Ambient light levels at these points can be estimated using interpolation of the distances between the points and the ambient light sensors, and based on the ambient light levels measured by the ambient light sensors 204.This information can be used to provide more accurate data for global dimming control or to perform localized dimming control based on detailed conditions of the external ambient light via the display layer 205. The smart glass display 202 can thus be brightened and / or dimmed locally or segment by segment to compensate for uneven lighting conditions.

[0029] The inclusion of multiple ambient light sensors provides more accurate data for improved global and / or localized brightness and / or dimming control. The multiple ambient light sensors can be used for: localized ambient light measurements; verifying the accuracy of each ambient light sensor; and / or backing up data collected by each ambient light sensor. For example, if a first ambient light sensor detects a high light level and a second ambient light sensor detects a low light level, brightness and dimming actions can be performed in the area around the first ambient light sensor, and the opposite brightness and dimming actions can be performed in the area around the second ambient light sensor.If the four ambient light sensors near the periphery (or corners) of display layer 205 detect a high level of ambient light, and the central ambient light sensor detects a low level, then it is likely that the central ambient light sensor is malfunctioning. Local brightness and dimming control can be implemented to compensate for detected "hot spots" of light and glare. For example, the brightness in one or more zones of display layer 205 can be increased to manage or compensate for light from nearby streetlights that causes one or more bright spots on the front glass layer 206 and display layer 205.

[0030] Fig. Figures 3A-3B show a window 300 with an integrated smart glass display 302, which contains several sensors 304 for external ambient light, arranged outside the perimeter of a display layer 305. The window 300 comprises a front (or outer) glass layer 306 and a rear (or inner) glass layer 308. The smart glass display 302 comprises the display layer 305 and an auto-shading layer 312, which are arranged between the glass layers 306 and 308. A first resin layer 314 can be arranged between the front glass layer 306 and the display layer 305. The ambient light sensors 304 and the display layer 305 can be arranged on and connected to a substrate 316. The auto-shading layer 312 comprises a transparency control layer 320 arranged between two resin layers 322, 324. The auto-shading layer 312 is arranged between the substrate 316 and the rear glass layer 308.The resin layers 314, 322, 324 can, for example, be made of PVB.

[0031] The ambient light, represented by arrows 326, is detected by the ambient light sensors 304. A control module 330 receives ambient light signals from the ambient light sensors 304 and adjusts one or more brightness levels of the display layer 305 and / or one or more dimming levels of the auto-shading layer 312 via the transparency control layer 320. This is described in detail below. The ambient light sensors 304 can be located outside the perimeter of the display layer 305 and around it.

[0032] Each of the ambient light sensors 304 can be used to estimate ambient light levels at points across the display layer 305. The brightness levels of areas of the display layer 305 and the dimming levels of areas of the auto-shading layer 312 can be set based on the outputs and output signals of the ambient light sensors 304, respectively, using interpolation, triangulation, weighting, etc. Ambient light levels in areas of the display layer 305 that are remote from the ambient light sensors 304 can be estimated, and the brightness and dimming levels are then set based on these estimated ambient light levels.

[0033] The display layer 305 can be either outward-facing or inward-facing. In one embodiment, the display layer 305 shows an image to a person outside a vehicle that has the window 300. In another embodiment, the display layer 305 shows an image to a person inside a vehicle that has the window 300.

[0034] Fig. Figures 4A-4B show a window 400 with an integrated smart glass display 402, which contains several sensors 404 for external ambient light and one sensor 407 for internal ambient light. The window 400 comprises a front (or outer) glass layer 406 and a rear (or inner) glass layer 408. The smart glass display 402 comprises a display layer 410 and an auto-shading layer 412, which are arranged between the glass layers 406 and 408. A first resin layer 414 can be arranged between the front glass layer 406 and the display layer 410. The ambient light sensors 404 and 407 and the display layer 410 can be arranged on and connected to a substrate 416. The auto-shading layer 412 comprises a transparency control layer 420 arranged between two resin layers 422, 424. The auto-shading layer 412 is arranged between the substrate 416 and the rear glass layer 408.The resin layers 414, 422, 424 can, for example, be made of PVB.

[0035] The external ambient light, represented by arrows 426, is detected by the ambient light sensors 404. The internal ambient light, represented by arrows 428, is detected by the ambient light sensors 407. A control module 430 receives ambient light signals from the ambient light sensors 404 and 407 and adjusts one or more brightness levels of the display layer 410 and / or one or more dimming levels of the auto-shading layer 412 via the transparency control layer 420. This is described in detail below. The external ambient light sensors 404 can be located within a periphery of the display layer 410, as shown, or outside a periphery of the display layer 410 and around it. The sensor 407 for internal ambient light can be located outside the periphery of the display layer 410 and along it, or it can be located within a periphery of the display layer 410.

[0036] Although a specific number of external ambient light sensors and a specific number of internal ambient light sensors are shown, any number of each can be included. Because the variance of external ambient light across display layer 410 can be high, and the variance of internal ambient light across display layer 410 is typically minimal, fewer (e.g., 1-2) internal ambient light sensors than external light sensors (e.g., 1-10) can be included. The internal ambient light sensors enable the control module 430 to detect when, for example, an interior space or cabin is brightly illuminated by the sun or other light sources, and to compensate for this by adjusting the contrast ratio(s) of the smart glass display.

[0037] Each of the ambient light sensors 404 and 407 can be used to estimate the ambient light levels at points across the display layer 410. Brightness levels of areas of the display layer 410 and the dimming levels of areas of the auto-shading layer 412 can be set based on output signals from the ambient light sensors 404 using interpolation, triangulation, weighting, etc. Ambient light levels in areas of the display layer 410 that are far from the ambient light sensors 404 can be estimated based on the output signals of the ambient light sensors 404, and brightness levels and dimming levels are then set based on the estimated ambient light levels. By collecting information about the indoor and outdoor lighting directly at the smart glass display 402, the brightness and auto-shading, respectively, can be controlled.Auto-shading can be set to provide high contrast ratios across the Smart Glass Display 402. If the Display Layer 410 is facing outwards and the vehicle interior is bright, the brightness levels of Display Layer 410 and the dimming levels of Auto-Shading Layer 412 can be increased to improve the contrast ratio(s) of the Smart Glass Display 402 for enhanced viewing of an image displayed on Display Layer 410.

[0038] The display layer 410 can be either outward-facing or inward-facing. In one embodiment, the display layer 410 shows an image to a person outside a vehicle that has the window 400. In another embodiment, the display layer 410 shows an image to a person inside a vehicle that has the window 400.

[0039] The sensor for indoor ambient light and / or additional sensors for indoor ambient light can be found in the examples of Fig. 1A-3B can be installed.

[0040] Fig. Figure 5 shows a contrast control system 500 for a smart glass display 502. The smart glass display 502 can be described as one of the smart glass displays disclosed herein (e.g., one of the smart glass displays of the Fig. 1A-4B, 9, 12-13 and 16 and / or variations thereof). The contrast control system 500 comprises a control module 504, which can replace and / or operate similarly to any of the other control modules disclosed herein, a memory 506, and a power source 507. The control module 504 may include a GPIO (general purpose input / output) interface 510, a first comparator 512, a vehicle message transceiver 514, an LED address driver 516, and a shadowing driver 518. The smart glass display 502 may include (not shown) laminated or composite glass, an LED display layer 520, an auto-shadowing layer 522, one or more external ambient light sensors 524, and one or more internal ambient light sensors 526. The memory 506 can store one or more brightness and / or dimming look-up tables (LUTs) 530 (or database).The brightness and dimming LUTs relate ambient light levels to the brightness and dimming levels. A vehicle bus and / or communication interface 532 can be included and communicate with the vehicle message transmitter / receiver 514. The operation of the contrast control system 500 is described below in relation to the procedure of [missing information]. Fig. 7. The power source 507 can contain a battery pack or a set of rechargeable batteries and be a standalone power source or receive power from an external power source. The power source 507 can be powered by mains electricity.

[0041] Fig. Figure 6 shows a calibration system 600 for auto-shading with LUT. The calibration system 600 for auto-shading with LUT can include the shading driver 518, one or more sensors 526 for internal ambient light, a second comparator 602, a memory 604, and the memory 506. The second comparator 602 can be located in the control module 504 of Fig. 5. Memory 604 and memory 506 can be implemented together as a single memory. Memory 604 can store a calibration table, such as the one shown below as Table 1, where N is an integer. The calibration table can relate auto-shading levels to multipliers. This can include global and / or local multipliers. Memory 506 can store a dimming LUT 608, which can be part of a brightness and dimming LUT or separate from it. The operation of the auto-shading calibration system 600 with LUT is described further below in relation to the procedure of Fig. 7 described. Table 1 - Conversion of Auto-Shading Level to Multiplier Auto-Abschattungspegel Multiplier M i ASL1 M1 ASL2 M2 ASL3 M3 ⋮ ⋮ ASL N M N

[0042] Fig. Figure 7 shows a contrast control method. Although the following procedures primarily relate to the contrast control system 500 of Fig. The processes described in Section 5 are also applicable to the other embodiments disclosed herein. The following processes can be performed iteratively. The method can begin at 700.

[0043] At 702, the levels of external and / or internal ambient light are detected via sensors 524 and 526. The GPIO interface 510 can receive signals from one or more sensors 524 for external ambient light and / or one or more sensors 526 for internal ambient light. This can include receiving signals from any of the ambient light sensors that are in the Fig. 1A-4B, 9, 12-13 are shown and / or referenced here.

[0044] At 704, the control module 504 can determine whether auto-shading is ON or switched on. If so, operation 706 can be performed; otherwise, operation 708 can be performed. At 706, the control module 504 can perform an auto-shading calibration procedure with LUT, as described below. Fig. 8 described.

[0045] At 708, the first comparator can compare the levels of external and internal ambient light with one or more brightness and dimming LUTs to provide one or more brightness levels and / or one or more dimming levels. The brightness levels are provided to the vehicle message transmitter / receiver 514 and / or the LED address driver 516. The dimming levels are provided to the shade driver 518. The control module 504 and / or the comparator 512 can determine a brightness profile via the smart glass display and set the brightness levels and / or dimming levels accordingly to provide high contrast ratios via the smart glass display.

[0046] At 710, the vehicle message transmitter 514 receives an image to be displayed on the LED display layer 520, which is one of the ones in the Fig. The display layers shown and / or described in sections 1A-4B, 9, and 12-13 can be used. To name just a few examples, the images to be displayed can be obtained via the control module 504, received from the vehicle's bus and / or communication interface 532, and / or retrieved from a memory (e.g., the memory 506). The images can be used for advertising, driver assistance, and / or communication purposes. The images can be intended for people outside or inside a vehicle.

[0047] At 712, the LED address driver 516 controls the LED display layer 520 to display the images received by the vehicle message transmitter 514 based on the brightness levels received by the first comparator 512 and / or the vehicle message transmitter 514.

[0048] At operation 714, the shading driver 518 generates auto-shading signals to control SPDs of the auto-shading layer 522 based on the dimming levels received by the shading driver. The dimming levels received by the first comparator 512 of the shading driver 518 are converted into auto-shading levels and / or output voltages, which are provided to the SPDs of the auto-shading layer 522. The auto-shading levels are used to set the transparency levels or tint levels of cells and / or zones of the auto-shading layer. Each cell can contain one or more SPDs, and each zone can contain one or more cells. Operation 714 can be performed while operation 712 is being performed. Operation 702 can be performed after operations 712 and 714.

[0049] Fig. Figure 8 shows a procedure for auto-shading calibration. Although the following procedures primarily relate to the 600 auto-shading calibration system with LUT of the Fig. The procedures described in Sections 5-6 are applicable to the other embodiments disclosed herein. The following procedures can be performed iteratively. Although the following procedures are described with respect to a single uncalibrated indoor ambient light level UL, a single auto-shading level, and a single calibrated indoor ambient light level CL, the procedures can be performed for multiple uncalibrated indoor ambient light levels from multiple ambient light sensors and / or multiple auto-shading levels for multiple zones to provide multiple calibrated indoor ambient light levels.

[0050] The procedure can begin at 800. At 802, an uncalibrated level UL for internal ambient light is detected via one of the 526 internal ambient light sensors.

[0051] In the 804, the shading driver 518 can receive one or more initial, previous, and / or default auto-shading levels i. In the 806, the second comparator 602 determines a multiplier M based on the auto-shading level i, where i is an integer. The second comparator 602 can compare the auto-shading level i with other auto-shading levels in Table 1 to determine the multiplier M.

[0052] In 808, the second comparator 602 generates a calibrated level CL for internal ambient light. The calibrated level CL for internal ambient light can be generated using Equation 1. CL=UL×Mi, where M≥1

[0053] At operation 810, the second comparator 602 updates the dimming LUT 608 in memory 506, which can then be used by the shading driver 518 when a dimming level of the auto-shading layer 522 is set. The process can end at operation 812 after operation 810.

[0054] The procedure of Fig. 8. This is compensated when an auto-shading layer is positioned between (i) a display layer containing an interior ambient light sensor and (ii) a background of the smart glass display and / or a rear glass layer of the smart glass display. The background may refer to the interior of a vehicle for an outward-facing display or to the exterior of the vehicle for an inward-facing display. In this configuration, and with auto-shading active, the interior ambient light sensor cannot detect the actual level of interior ambient light due to the dimming or glare of the auto-shading layer. The method of Fig. 8 increases the uncalibrated indoor ambient light level to the calibrated indoor ambient light level based on the dimming level to obtain an estimate of the actual indoor ambient light level. If the display layer and the auto-shading layer, as in Fig. As shown in 12-13, integrated into a single layer, the process of Fig. 8 will not be carried out.

[0055] Fig. Figure 9 shows a display 900, which includes sensors 902 for external ambient light and a sensor 904 for internal ambient light. The display 900 comprises a data line 908, a scan line 910, and an array of transistor circuits 912-11, ... and 912-NM of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), where N and M are integers (collectively, LED transistor circuits 912). A display controller (or control module) 950 communicates with the data line 908 and the scan line 910. Electrodes 930 and 932 connect the data line 908 and the scan line 910 to the LED transistor circuits 912. The display controller 950 executes a display application that selectively supplies current to the LED transistor circuits 912. The LED-transistor circuits can each contain an LED, a transistor and / or other passive circuit elements.

[0056] The color of each LED in the 912 LED transistor circuit can be displayed in an on / off mode or with varying intensity between fully on and fully off. In the example shown, the LEDs in the 912 LED transistor circuit differ in color in each row (e.g., red, green, and blue, then repeating) to form pixels. In some examples, the 900 display forms part of a windshield, rear window, side windows, instrument panel, infotainment display, rearview mirror, or other window or display.

[0057] Although a rectangular (N x M) array is shown, non-uniform layouts with other shapes can be used. Selectively transparent gaps correspond to SPDs in another layer (not shown), such as one of the auto-shading layers in Fig. 1A-4B. The selectively transparent gaps can be configured to be transparent to opaque depending on the voltage applied to the SPD electrodes, as described below.

[0058] The display controller 950 is configured to execute the display application 952, which controls the LED transistor circuits 912 and the SPD electrodes of the display 900 based on the output signals of sensors 902 and 904, respectively. The display application 952 also controls the current supplied to the SPD electrodes. In some examples, the display application 952 selectively controls switches to apply voltage to the SPD electrodes, determining whether the selectively transparent areas are transparent or opaque, based on detected data such as ambient light conditions or other information.

[0059] Fig. Figures 10-11 show an auto-shading layer 1000 of a transparent display device in a transparent mode (auto-shading off) and a dimming mode (auto-shading on), respectively. The dimming mode offers various levels of transparency and can be referred to as a non-transparent or opaque mode when the dimming level is high and no light passes through the auto-shading layer 1000. The auto-shading layer 1000 can be one of the auto-shading layers of the Fig. Replace 1A-4B.

[0060] The auto-shading layer 1000 contains suspended particles. In some examples, the auto-shading layer 1000 comprises a display side 1006 adjacent to a display layer (not shown) and an opposite side 1008. The auto-shading layer 1000 can contain one or more zones 1010 (three zones 1010a-c are shown) with the same or different transparency (or dimming) levels. Any number of zones can be included.

[0061] The auto-shading layer 1000 comprises transparent layers 1014 and 1016, which are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a direction transverse to the viewing direction of the auto-shading layer 1000. In some examples, the transparent layers 1014 and 1016 are made of glass, a transparent resin film, or another transparent material. In some examples, the zones 1010 are spaced apart from each other by spacers 1022.

[0062] In zones 1010, transparent conductive coatings or layers 1020 and 1024 are arranged in a pattern on inner, facing surfaces of the transparent layers 1014 and 1016. Particles 1028 are suspended between the conductive coatings or layers 1020 and 1024. A display controller (or control module) selectively applies a voltage across the conductive coatings or layers 1020 and 1024 to change the transparency level of the selective zones 1010.

[0063] When a voltage potential is applied across the transparent conductive coatings or layers 1020 and 1024, the suspended particles align themselves with the applied field and the selectively transparent area 1010 becomes transparent, as shown in Fig. Figure 10 shows that when the voltage potential is removed, the suspended particles 1028 return to a disordered state and the selectively transparent region 1010 is darkened by the suspended particles 1028, as shown in Figure 10. Fig. 11 is shown.

[0064] In some examples, the suspended particles comprise crystals approximately 0.3 to 0.5 micrometers (µm) long, although other types of particles can be used. The crystals act as induced dipoles when an electric field is applied to the conductive coatings or layers in the film. When the electric field is applied, the crystals align and transmit light. When the electric field is removed, the crystals tend to shift or become misaligned due to Brownian motion. The misaligned crystals cause the glass to become colored.

[0065] The activation of the auto-shading can be controlled based on the occurrence of one or more events. For example, the auto-shading can be transparent when the ambient light detected by the ambient light sensors is below a predetermined threshold, and opaque when the ambient light is above the predetermined threshold. In other examples, the auto-shading can be activated or deactivated in response to the presence or absence of an occupant in the vehicle. The auto-shading can be activated or deactivated when the vehicle is started or in motion. For example, the auto-shading is deactivated if the ambient or interior light is too dim, or if no one is in the vehicle when using interior-facing display applications.

[0066] Fig. Figure 12 shows a display 1200 with an array of LED-transistor circuits 1212, rows of floating particle devices (SPDs) 1216, sensors 1202 for external ambient light, and a sensor 1204 for internal ambient light. The display 1200 includes a data line 1208, a sampling line 1210, and an array of LED-transistor circuits 1212-11, ..., and 1212-NM, where N and M are integers (collectively, LED-transistor circuits 1212). A display controller 1250 communicates with the data line 1208 and the sampling line 1210. Electrodes 1230 and 1232 connect the data line 1208 and the sampling line 1210 to the LED transistor circuits 1212 and the SPDs 1216-1, 1216-2, ... 1216-N (collectively SPDs 1216) between the first rows of the LED transistor circuits 1212. The LED transistor circuits 1212 are arranged in rows.The SPDs are arranged in second rows and are positioned between adjacent pairs in the first rows. A display controller 1250 executes a display application 1252, which selectively supplies current to the LED transistor circuits 1212 and / or the SPDs 1216.

[0067] The color of each LED in the 1212 LED transistor circuit can be displayed in an on / off mode or with varying intensities between fully on and fully off. In the example shown, the LEDs in the 1212 transistor circuit differ in color in each row (e.g., red, green, and blue, then repeating) to form pixels. In some examples, the 1200 display forms part of a windshield, rear window, side windows, dashboard, infotainment display, rearview mirror, or other window or display.

[0068] Although a rectangular (N x M) array is shown, non-uniform layouts with other shapes can be used. Selectively transparent gaps corresponding to the SPDs 1216 are arranged between the LED transistor circuits 1212. The selectively transparent gaps can be configured to be transparent or opaque depending on the voltage applied to the SPDs, as described below. As further described below, the selectively transparent gaps and the LED transistor circuits 1212 are arranged in the same plane, which is located between transparent layers, as described below. Fig. 14-15 is described.

[0069] Fig. Figure 13 shows a display 1300 with an array of LED transistor circuits 1362, rows and columns of particle sensor devices (SPDs) 1366, sensors 1302 for external ambient light, and a sensor 1304 for internal ambient light. The LED transistor circuits 1362 and SPDs 1366 alternate in both row and / or column directions. The display 1300 includes a data line 1308, a sampling line 1310, an array of LED transistor circuits 1362-11, 1362-12, ..., and 1362-NM (collectively, LED transistor circuits 1362), and an array of SPDs 1366-11, 1366-12, ..., and 1366-NM (collectively, SPDs 1366). Electrodes 1330 and 1332 connect data line 1308 and scanning line 1310 to LED transistor circuits 1362 and SPDs 1366. The LED transistor circuits 1362 and SPDs 1366 alternate in each row and / or column.In some examples, adjacent rows are aligned with each other or offset from each other to create an alternating pattern in each row and column. A display controller 1350 executes a display application 1352 that selectively supplies current to the LED transistor circuits 1362 and / or the SPDs 1366.

[0070] Fig. Figures 14-15 show a combined display and shading layer 1400 including LED transistor circuits 1402 (one LED transistor circuit 1402 is shown) and / or ambient light sensors 1404 (one ambient light sensor is shown), which may include sensors for external and / or internal ambient light. Fig. Figure 14 shows the display and auto-shading layer in a transparent mode (auto-shading turned off). Fig. Figure 15 shows the display and auto-shading layer in a dimming mode (auto-shading enabled). The display and auto-shading layer 1400 contains suspended particles arranged in the spaces between LED-transistor circuits, ambient light sensors, and / or pixels (including multiple LED-transistor circuits). In some examples, the display and auto-shading layer 1400 comprises a display side 1406 and a opposite side 1408. The display and auto-shading layer 1400 contains selectively transparent areas 1410 and LED / pixel areas 1412. In some examples, the LED / pixel areas 1412 are arranged in an array and spaced apart at regular intervals by the transparent areas, although non-uniform spacing or other arrangements of pixels can also be used.

[0071] The display and auto-shading layer 1400 contains transparent layers 1414 and 1416, which are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in one direction transverse to the viewing direction of the display and auto-shading layer 1400. In some examples, the transparent layers 1414 and 1416 are made of glass, a transparent film, or another transparent material. In some examples, the transparent areas 1410 are spaced apart from each other by spacers 1422, which are located between the selectively transparent areas 1410 and the LED / pixel areas 1412.

[0072] In the selectively transparent regions 1410, transparent conductive coatings or layers 1420 and 1424 are arranged in a pattern on inner, facing surfaces of the transparent layers 1414 and 1416. Particles 1428 are suspended between the conductive coatings or layers 1420 and 1424. A display controller selectively applies a voltage to the conductive coatings or layers 1420 and 1424 to change the transparency level of the selectively transparent regions 1410.

[0073] When a voltage potential is applied across the transparent conductive coatings or layers 1420 and 1424, the suspended particles align themselves with the applied field and the selectively transparent area 1410 becomes transparent, as shown in Fig. Figure 14 shows that when the voltage potential is removed, the suspended particles 1428 return to a disordered state and the selectively transparent region 1410 is darkened by the suspended particles 1428, as shown in Figure 14. Fig. 15 is shown.

[0074] The LED / pixel areas 1412 are located between the selectively transparent areas 1410. Each of the LED / pixel areas 1412 comprises one or more electrodes 1472 on which the LED transistor circuits 1402 and the ambient light sensors 1404 are arranged. For example, each of the LED / pixel areas 1412 can have LED transistor circuits with red, green, or blue LEDs.

[0075] Fig.Figure 16 shows a window 1600 with an integrated smart glass display 1602, which contains another exemplary pattern of sensors 1604 for external ambient light. These sensors can be arranged in an array across a surface of the smart glass display 1602 and can have respective zones 1608. The smart glass display 1602 can be configured similarly to other smart glass displays disclosed herein and can include a display layer and an auto-shading layer. The display layer and the auto-shading layer can be integrated into a single layer or can consist of separate layers. The display layer can include the sensors 1604 for external ambient light and a sensor 1610 for internal ambient light.

[0076] The displays referenced herein may contain mini-LEDs, micro-LEDs, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and / or other light sources. The ambient light sensors referenced herein may be implemented as phototransistors and laminated in glass. The external ambient light sensors referenced herein are outward-facing sensors. The internal ambient light sensors referenced herein are inward-facing sensors. The glass layers referenced herein may include laminated glass. By integrating the ambient light sensors into the same layer as the display layer, the examples disclosed herein minimize the number of layers stacked to form a smart glass display and simplify manufacturing. It is easier to integrate the sensors into a layer containing circuitry, as opposed to a passive layer that does not contain circuitry.

[0077] The examples disclosed herein enable global and local adjustment of brightness levels and auto-shading levels to control the transparency and contrast ratio of displays for improved visualization of the displayed images. A global adjustment refers to setting the brightness level of an entire display layer and / or setting the auto-shading level of an entire auto-shading layer. A local adjustment refers to setting different brightness levels for cells and / or zones within a display layer and / or setting different auto-shading levels for cells and / or zones within an auto-shading layer. This applies when the display layer and the auto-shading layer are integrated together as a single layer.

[0078] The preceding description is merely illustrative and intended to limit the scope of the revelation, its application, or uses. The comprehensive doctrine of revelation can be implemented in a multitude of forms. Therefore, although this revelation contains particular examples, the true scope of the revelation should not be so limited, since other modifications will become apparent upon study of the drawings, the description, and the following claims. It should be understood that one or more steps within a process may be carried out in a different order (or simultaneously) without altering the principles of the present revelation.Furthermore, although each of the embodiments described above is characterized by certain features, one or more of these features described in relation to any embodiment of the disclosure may be implemented in one of the other embodiments and / or combined with features of one of the other embodiments, even if this combination is not expressly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and permutations of one or more embodiments with each other remain within the scope of this disclosure.

[0079] Spatial and functional relationships between elements (for example, between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.) are described using various terms, including "connected," "interlocked," "coupled," "adjacent," "near or beside," "on," "above," "below," and "arranged." Unless explicitly described as "direct," when a relationship between first and second elements is described in the above disclosure, this relationship may be a direct relationship, in which no other intervening elements exist between the first and second elements, or it may be an indirect relationship, in which one or more intervening elements (either spatial or functional) exist between the first and second elements.As used here, the phrase “at least one of A, B and C” should be understood as meaning a logical (A OR B OR C) using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be understood as meaning “at least one of A, at least one of B and at least one of C”.

[0080] In the diagrams, the direction of an arrow, as indicated by its tip, generally illustrates the flow of information (e.g., data or instructions) that is relevant to the illustration. For example, if Element A and Element B exchange a variety of information, but information transferred from Element A to Element B is important for the illustration, the arrow may point from Element A to Element B. This unidirectional arrow does not imply that no other information is transferred from Element B to Element A. Furthermore, Element B may send requests for, or acknowledgments of, information to Element A in connection with the information transferred from Element A to Element B.

[0081] In this application, including the definitions below, the term "module" or the term "controller" may be replaced by the term "circuit". The term "module" may refer to, be part of, or include an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC); a digital, analog, or mixed analog / digital discrete circuit; a digital, analog, or mixed analog / digital integrated circuit; a combinational logic circuit; a field-programmable gate array (FPGA); a processor circuit (shared, dedicated, or group) that executes code; a memory circuit (shared, dedicated, or group) that stores code executed by the processor circuit; other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality; or a combination of some or all of the above components, such as in a system-on-a-chip.

[0082] The module may contain one or more interface circuits. In some examples, the interface circuits may include wired or wireless interfaces connected to a local area network (LAN), the internet, a wide area network (WAN), or combinations thereof. The functionality of any given module of this disclosure may be distributed among multiple modules connected via interface circuits. For example, multiple modules may enable load balancing. In another example, a server module (also known as a remote or cloud module) may perform some functions for a client module.

[0083] The term "code," as used above, can include software, firmware, and / or microcode, and can refer to programs, routines, functions, classes, data structures, and / or objects. The term "shared processor circuit" refers to a single processor circuit that executes some or all of the code from multiple modules. The term "group processor circuit" refers to a processor circuit that, in combination with additional processor circuits, executes some or all of the code from one or more modules. References to multiple processor circuits include multiple processor circuits on separate chips, multiple processor circuits on a single chip, multiple cores of a single processor circuit, multiple threads of a single processor circuit, or a combination of the above.The term shared memory circuit refers to a single memory circuit that stores some or all of the code from multiple modules. The term group memory circuit refers to a memory circuit that, in combination with additional memory, stores some or all of the code from one or more modules.

[0084] The term storage circuit is a subset of the term computer-readable medium. The term computer-readable medium, as used here, does not include transitory electrical or electromagnetic signals that propagate through a medium (such as on a carrier wave); the term computer-readable medium can therefore be considered material and non-transient.Non-restrictive examples of a non-transient, physical, computer-readable medium include non-volatile memory circuits (such as a flash memory circuit, a erasable programmable read-only memory circuit, or a mask read-only memory circuit), volatile memory circuits (such as a static random access memory circuit or a dynamic random access memory circuit), magnetic storage media (such as an analog or digital magnetic tape or a hard disk drive), and optical storage media (such as a CD, a DVD, or a Blu-ray Disc).

[0085] The devices and methods described in this application can be partially or fully implemented by means of a special-purpose computer created by configuring a general-purpose computer to perform one or more specific functions embodied in computer programs. The functional blocks, flowchart components, and other elements described above serve as software specifications that can be translated into computer programs through the routine work of a person skilled in the art or a programmer.

[0086] Computer programs contain instructions executable by processors, stored on at least one non-transient, physical, computer-readable medium. Computer programs may also contain or rely on stored data. Computer programs may include a basic input / output system (BIOS) that interacts with the computer's special-purpose hardware, device drivers that interact with specific devices of the computer for special purposes, one or more operating systems, user applications, background services, background applications, etc.

[0087] The computer programs can contain: (i) descriptive text to be parsed, such as HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), XML (Extensible Markup Language), or JSON (JavaScript Object Notation); (ii) assembly code; (iii) object code generated from source code by a compiler; (iv) source code for execution by an interpreter; (v) source code for compilation and execution by a just-in-time compiler; etc. For example, source code can be written using syntax from languages ​​such as C, C++, C#, Objective-C, Swift, Haskell, Go, SQL, R, Lisp, Java®, Fortran, Perl, Pascal, Curl, OCaml, Javascript®, HTML5 (Hypertext Markup Language 5th Revision), Ada, ASP (Active Server Pages), PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor), Scala, Eiffel, Smalltalk, Erlang, Ruby, Flash®, and Visual Basic®. Include Lua, MATLAB, SIMULINK and Python®.

Claims

[1] Smart glass display (202), comprising: a first glass layer (206) of a window (200) of a vehicle; a second glass layer (208) of the window (200); a display layer (205) arranged between the first glass layer (206) and the second glass layer (208) and comprising an array of light-emitting diodes, further comprising: multiple sensors (404) for external ambient light and one sensor (407) for internal ambient light, configured to detect an ambient light level at the display layer (205), wherein the multiple sensors (404) for external ambient light are arranged within a periphery of the display layer (205), and the sensor (407) for internal ambient light is arranged outside the periphery of the display layer (205) and along it; an auto-shading layer (212) having suspended particle devices, wherein the auto-shading layer (212) is configured to provide different levels of transparency by varying voltages; and a control module (230) configured to i) sets a dimming level based on an auto-shading level of the auto-shading layer (212) and an output of the sensor (407) for internal ambient light to compensate for an auto-shading amount and to determine an actual level of internal ambient light, and wherein the control module (230) is further configured to perform the following steps based on the actual level of internal ambient light thus determined and the outputs of the multiple sensors (404) for external ambient light: ii) sets a transparency level of at least a part of the auto-shading layer (212) based on an output from the multiple sensors (404) for external ambient light and the sensor (407) for internal ambient light, iii) Triangulation is used to determine the positions of one or more selected points on the display layer (205) between the multiple sensors (404) for external ambient light, iv) estimates an ambient light level at one or more selected points, and v) adjusts at least one brightness level of a corresponding section of the display layer (205) and a dimming level of a corresponding section of the auto-shading layer (212) based on the estimated ambient light levels at the one or more selected points. [2] Smart glass display (202) according to claim 1, wherein the display layer (205) is an outwardly facing display layer, such that an image displayed on the display layer (205) is visible on an outside of the smart glass display (202). [3] Smart glass display (202) according to claim 1, wherein the display layer (205) is an inwardly facing display layer, such that an image displayed on the display layer (205) is visible on an inside of the smart glass display (202). [4] Smart glass display (202) according to claim 1, wherein the control module (230) comprises: a comparator (512) configured to obtain a brightness level based on the output of the multiple sensors (404) for external ambient light and the sensor (407) for internal ambient light; a vehicle message transceiver (514) configured to receive an image for display on the display layer (205); and an address driver (516) configured to adjust the brightness of at least part of the display layer (205) based on the brightness level and to drive the display layer (205) to display the image. [5] Smart glass display (202) according to claim 1, wherein the control module (230) comprises: a comparator (512) configured to receive a dimming level based on the output of the multiple sensors (404) for external ambient light and the sensor (407) for internal ambient light; a vehicle message transceiver (514) configured to receive an image for display on the display layer (205); an address driver (516) configured to drive the display layer (205) to display the image; and a shading driver (518) configured to drive the auto-shading layer (212) to adjust the transparency level of at least part of the auto-shading layer (212) based on the dimming level.

Images