Active Display Diffuser Mask Reduces Screen-Door Effect
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large LED displays used in cinemas and advertising applications face the challenge of allowing audio to pass through without degrading the visual image quality, as traditional methods result in the screen-door effect due to the presence of audio ports, which can make the image appear as if viewed through a screen door.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a diffuser mask with alternating opaque and non-opaque areas between the LEDs and the audience position, allowing light to be distributed in a manner that creates the appearance of multiple light sources, reducing the visibility of audio ports and thus minimizing the screen-door effect without the need for additional LEDs or increased pixel density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If audio ports are created in the LED display to allow sound waves to pass through, then audio transmission is improved, but visual image quality deteriorates due to the screen-door effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating audio ports at specific locations between LED pixels rather than uniformly across the display. The ports are strategically positioned in regions that minimize visual impact while maximizing audio transmission efficiency, thereby locally optimizing both audio and visual performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer or structure that manages the interaction between light emission and audio transmission. This intermediary element helps to bridge the conflict between maintaining visual continuity and enabling audio passage by mediating how light and sound interact at the port locations
2Object-affected harmful factors
If pixel pitch is increased to reduce the screen-door effect, then visual comfort is improved, but display resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of port positioning rather than altering pixel pitch. By adjusting where audio ports are located within the existing pixel structure, the solution achieves reduced screen-door effect while maintaining the original high-resolution pixel density, avoiding the need to increase pixel pitch
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively reduces the screen-door effect, allowing for improved audio transmission while maintaining high visual quality, even for viewers close to the display, by creating a visual effect of more sources of light without increasing the number of LEDs or pixel density.
Implementation Method 1
a diffuser with a mask that has opaque areas and non-opaque areas for allowing light to pass through
Implementation Method 2
audio ports for allowing sound waves to pass through the LED display
Data Source
AI summary
An active display can be used in a theatre with reduced screen-door effect. For example, the active display can have a structure, such as a diffuser structure, or a diffuser and mask structure, that can have, or appear to have, transmissive areas and opaque areas to reduce the audience from detecting gaps or other non-light sources in the active display. The active display may additionally or alternatively have audio ports to allow sound to pass through the active display and appear to the audience as if the sound is coming from the active display.