Display Panel Privacy Filtering for Partial Viewing Angle Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices lack the ability to dynamically adjust the viewing angle of specific areas of a display panel for user privacy, particularly in scenarios where partial layers of an image require narrower viewing angles.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device employs display driver circuitry and processing circuitry to apply a filter for user privacy to specific layers of an image, adjusting the viewing angle by performing pixel processing on a sub-pixel basis, using a composition list that dictates the position, stacking order, and filter application for each layer, thereby narrowing the viewing angle in targeted areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a filter for user privacy is applied to a second layer positioned below a first layer to partially overlap the first layer, then user privacy is enhanced by limiting viewing angle in specific areas, but the device complexity increases due to multi-layer filter management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewing angle control for privacyVSAvoidmulti-layer filter management
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display is divided into multiple layers (first layer and second layer), each capable of having different privacy filters applied independently. This segmentation allows selective privacy control in different areas of the display without affecting the entire screen, resolving the contradiction by enabling targeted privacy enhancement while managing complexity through modular layer structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different viewing angle restrictions are applied to different layers and regions of the display. The first layer may have a wider viewing angle while the second layer has a narrower viewing angle in overlapping regions, providing localised privacy control. This allows privacy enhancement in specific areas without uniformly restricting the entire display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If pixel processing is performed to apply filter to specific layers and overlapping portions, then viewing angle is narrowed in targeted areas for privacy, but the processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewing angle restrictionVSAvoidpixel processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The composition list is prepared in advance, containing pre-determined information about which layers should have privacy filters applied and the stacking order of layers. This preliminary preparation allows the display driver circuitry to efficiently apply filters without performing complex real-time analysis, reducing processing time while maintaining effective viewing angle control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Pixel processing is applied selectively only to specific layers and overlapping portions where privacy is needed, rather than processing the entire display uniformly. This partial action approach reduces the total computational burden and processing time while still achieving the desired privacy effect in critical areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the viewing angle of overlapping layers is narrowed for privacy security, then user privacy is protected, but the adaptability of the display for different viewing scenarios is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy securityVSAvoidviewing angle flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The display system dynamically adjusts viewing angles on a per-layer basis rather than applying a uniform restriction to the entire display. This allows the system to adapt different viewing scenarios for different layers - for example, maintaining wider viewing angles for non-sensitive content while applying stricter restrictions to sensitive information in overlapping regions, thus preserving both security and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different viewing angle parameters are assigned to different layers based on their content sensitivity and stacking position. The first layer may have a larger viewing angle parameter while the second layer has a smaller parameter in overlapping regions. This parameter differentiation allows the display to maintain versatility for various viewing scenarios while ensuring privacy security through selective parameter adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4730308A1Electronic device capable of changing viewing angle of partial area of display panel
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4730308A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4730308A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4730308A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a display panel. The display panel is configured to adjust a viewing angle of an image displayed on the display panel. The electronic device includes display driver circuitry. The electronic device includes at least one processor including processing circuitry.